Little Things

My daughter McKenzie lost her third tooth yesterday and could not wait to tell her mom.  She was so excited that the tooth fairy was going to come see her and bring her $10 dollars!  The economy must really be bad when inflation drive the price of a tooth up that much.  Don't worry I know the tooth fairy personally and she only got $4 dollars :).  Seeing this excitement that she displays got me to thinking about what happened to me, and where did the joy of the little things go.  I think growing older we lose perspective of these things that used to excite us immensely.  Now granted I don't think that losing teeth at my age would be something that I would get excited about, call a dentist probably, but there are little things that happen in our everyday life that should still excite us.  Everyone's life and circumstances are different, so I cant tell you about yours but I did take a little look at myself and I will share a few things that I came up with.  There are times that I don't get excited enough abut the word daddy.  I here it many times daily out of two yung uns that are wonderful and I need to do a better job of letting them know how excited I am to be their dad.  There are so many people out there who can't have kids and I am blessed with two (going on three ) and I need to remember that.  I don't get as excited about my truck as I should.  I know you think this is stupid, but really it is not.  That truck takes me to work to provide for my wife and kids.  That truck picks up my kids every day, and we have great conversations in that truck.  Conversations that we will remember for ever.  Some of the best conversations I remember with my dad were in truck rides. I bet yours were too.  That truck is more than a lot of people have, so I am going to get more excited about my truck.  I need to be more excited about my students.  In the everyday grind of teaching, it is easy to lose your excitement for your students.  There ain't a one of you out there that has not said "Thank you Jesus" when that certain little Johnny or Suzy did not come that day, I know I have.  I shouldn't be that way.  I tell every student that walks in my class good morning.  But it is like ritual, I need for it to be more heart felt.  Let them know that I am truly excited that they are in my class today.  I need to be more excited abut being an American.  Say what you want about gas prices, economy, housing market, Obama, but I would take it any day over so many other circumstances that I could be in.  We take it for granted.  And most people complain, which they can because we are America(another reason why you should be excited).  I have always been very patriotic, but just because that is the way I am.  Really though I should express my excitement and thankfulness with my patriotism, because this country is still the greatest.  So I am going to be more excited about that.  And lastly I am going to be more excited about time.  I can be so negative at times about many things.  But being negative is wasting TIME.  Precious time that we cant get back.  I am going to be more excited by the amount of time that I am being given.  Time to throw the ball with my son, time to read a book to my daughter, time to talk with my wife and kids.  Be excited about time to pay bills, yes pay bills.....after all I am  lucky to have them.  Be excited about time to work because I am not part of that unemployment rate.  Be excited about times that my kids scream and holler and cry..... I am told they grow up fast..... so I should be excited about even these times. These are a few things I came up with, I am sure I will think of more.  Take some time to reflect...... and then get excited about a few little things.