what's missing

I have been spending a lot of time lately trying to figure out all the things in my life that aren't necessary. It is fun to see what I can actually live without and what things I don't want to get rid of! But in all this seaching, I am beginning to see all the things in my life that I need. Some of them are obvious, my home, my car, etc. But some of these things have gone unnoticed or absent from my life until now.
First of all, I need a positive attitude. With so much negativity around me in the media, tv and facebook posts of the terrible days people are having, I get a kick out of the positive feedback here, the positive facebook status' and the smiles from my kids. Which leads to my second need, my kids. I love homeschooling! I need to have my kids around me to teach me to let go sometimes and find the kid in me. They show me that sometimes we just need to back out of the moment and spend time laughing and playing. I also know that I need encouragement to get through each day. I am blessed with a great family that supports and encourages me in all the crazy things I do!

So, what I have learned from this revelation of needs is, as I rid my life of the unecessaries, I need to fill it with what is necessary. Positive encouragement that will give a smile to someone that may need it.

On a side note, my 7 year old has noticed the changes we have made and has asked few questions. He has been great to go along with what we are doing! But tonight was the best! I made fish tacos for dinner, which usually have consisted of frozen fish sticks with the trimmings. I decided this time to try a healthier version, so I used fresh tilapia. As I was cooking, he came to me and the conversation went something like this:

Gavin: That doesn't look like fish!
Mom: Well, it is.
Gavin: But it doesn't look like fish!
Mom: But it is.
Gavin: No! They are shaped like sticks! That isn't fish!

The great part about it, he loved the tilapia and was still snitching pieces out of the bowl as it was being put away!