It’s been raining on and off for a couple of days here.
The kids want to go outside and although it isn’t raining now, it is overcast and the roads are wet and full of puddles.
Which of course, calls for the necessity of rain boots.
Little moments… just because… laughing and playing …. making beautiful memories… splish, splash!!
~K
Today, I was able to take two hours to myself at the gym. This is rare. And so good for my soul.
My husband took care of the kids, - once in the morning and then once again… holy guacamole,… in the evening - during bathtime. So I could go to yoga. Even though I’d already been there once in the morning.
I am so grateful for these moments to recharge. I am so grateful to my husband for all of his goodness.
It does not go unappreciated and is so often more than I deserve.
~K
"Enjoy the little things, for one day you may look back and realize they were the big things." ~Robert Brault
Spiders from ceiling fans. Scarecrows and excited trips to Hobby Lobby. Cool days and blue jeans. Ice cream sundaes and hide and go seek giggles. Glasses of wine and homemade soup. Friendships and Tuesday lunches. Tambourines and yoga.
Life is good… big and little.
~K
Our task must be to free ourselves... by widening our circle of compassion to embrace all living creatures and the whole of nature and its beauty.
Albert Einstein
I spent the weekend with these sweet peas. I found the little one scared and walking through traffic on Saturday afternoon and did what any reasonable person would do, picked her up and brought her home while we searched for her owner. The two of them became fast friends and reminded me a little bit of The Fox and The Hound. As wild as this weekend’s ride was with this little dog, I am very content on Sunday evening that she is someone else’s Belle… and while I would have kept her, I am much happier still that she is safe from traffic and someone else is smiling and grateful to have their little hound back.
~K
My little bitty son and I laid on our tummies together today.
Side by side.
Outside.
On a little bitty brick walkway. Together.
Deep in concentration. And conversation.
We spent about ten minutes like this. (Until my husband came home and asked legitimately from out of his car window why we were laying on the side of the road with our heads to the concrete walk)
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We were watching an ant. We were watching an ant carry a crumb. To who, we wondered. Probably his mommy, we decided. Will he share, we asked. Most certainly, we concluded.
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This was hours ago. And yet, those ten little bitty minutes, laying with my little bitty son, watching an little bitty ant carry an little bitty crumb, …. those ten little bitty moments, where I stopped what I was doing and joined my boy….. were the best and most wonderful moments of the day.
~K
So much to be grateful for.
I had my annual ‘girls doctor’ appointment today.
It’s one of those things that, while isn’t painful, can certainly qualify for a very uncomfortable 45 minutes or so of your year day.
But you do it. We do it. As women.
Because we’re supposed to.
(And because if you want a refill of birth control, this is a prerequisite).
After it was over, I shook the kind doctor’s hand, thanked him for his ‘help’ and told him I’d see him next September.
Done and done.
Checked off my list.
Prescription refilled.
BUT…. though it was an uncomfortable 45 minutes, it was also an uneventful 45 minutes. And for that, I am so grateful. That under ‘problems’, I can check no boxes. That everything is all going as it should and that there isn’t any follow up here or there.
Just an ordinary, uncomfortable, perfectly healthy checkup. Just as expected. Done and done.
But you know? We have these ordinary, ‘as expected’ moments in life where we often take the ‘as expected’ for granted, -- and so for today, I’m going to acknowledge the ‘as expected’ and be grateful for it.
~K
Me love you.
That’s what he told me today.
My boy.
2 years old.
To his mommy.
My favorite part of today.
A moment to cherish.
~K
CIRCLE THE WORLD
by Dana Lyons
What if we could circle the world
Flying peace doves beneath the sun?
Giant twenty foot wings of fabric
That are handmade by everyone
Once a year we circle the world
Saying ain’t it time to bury the guns?
Our time has come and we have begun
To Circle the World
It's a dream and it's a vision
It's a prayer that we may see
When every person, every creature
Will be treated with dignity
When every war will be a memory
We never shall repeat
Our time has come and we have begun
To Circle the World
It’s a parade and it’s a party
Giant puppets with many drums
It’s a song with many rhythms
That is sung in many tongues
It’s a giant snake dance
In every country beneath the sun
Our time has come and we have begun
To Circle the World
Happy International Day of Peace.
~K
Each morning as I take my daughter to school, we are so fortunate to drive into the east just as the sun is rising it’s hot pink glare into the morning sky.
Each morning we gasp and declare it’s for certain just the look of pink lemonade. We then try to figure if it’s higher in the sky than the day before, if it’s light is spreading it's salmony fingers into the horizon or staying a crisp hot circle.
And then, each morning I tell her, ‘Boy, it sure is a beautiful day today, don’t you think?’
Today she responded…. “You know, you say that every day, don’t you, mom?”
I try to, I thought to myself.
~K
“Everything you can imagine is real.”
–Pablo Picasso
I moved some things around so that my kids could play together on Friday. And before I knew it….little voices questioning each of us and any guests, “Would you like to come to our art studio?”
Their imaginations are beautiful.
An old train table and a package of scented markers turned the playroom of our home this weekend into an ‘art studio’ and it provided all of us with plenty of smiles.
~K
I should have taken a picture. Words will have to describe.
After a late night picnic with friends, both of my kids fell sound asleep in their respective car seats on the long drive home.
Heads hanging down, a bottle of water in one little hand, dreams of outdoor games and watermelon in their minds, the picture was perfect. Side by side sleeping angels.
My perfect picture of peacefulness for the day.
~K
My kids are little. They will do nearly anything for a piece of bubblegum. To an extent which makes me crazy. The two year old says, “Mommy, me behave piece gubble gum?” and the six year old plots and plans, negotiates and barters for a piece of the chewy fun as well. It’s nonstop from both of them. Every. Single. Day.
And then there’s band aids. I think my daughter scrapes her legs intentionally so she can wear one. She asks me if things are ‘bandaidworthy’ (yes, I believe I coined that phrase after too many ‘unworthy’ reasons for a band aid). We spend so much time with them hanging outside of the grocery cart, lingering over the decision of which colorful box to purchase for refills. My floors are covered with the wrappers of band aids and the paper inserts from each package. They apply the band aids to their bodies as though it’s an accessory, turned at the right angle, facing upwards, in an area certain to be noticeable by all.
Bubblegum and Band Aids. Such large parts of my day to day life. They are the cause of headaches and exhaustion of answering the same questions (no you can’t because you’ll put it on my furniture like you did last time and no that bruise is not bandaidworthy, you will be fine and because they cost money, they are not stickers and it’s minty, you won’t like it, trust me)… I could go on and on.
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And then I look at my friends who have older children. Children who have long since passed the obsession with bubblegum. Children who grow, as children do and who don’t care if their band aids have Dora the Explorer or Hello Kitty on them. And I remind myself that while I’d love to fool myself into thinking that my babies will always be 6 and 2, I know that before I blink, they will be 16 and 12. And there will be no one to care about all of these little things and no one to bother me about the worthiness of Dora or the wrappers of gubblegum.
So while it is here, I will cherish it. Lavishly pass it out. Look into purchasing gum remover at the store (do you suppose it’s near the band aid aisle?) and reward every little freckle with some Hello Kitty stickiness.
Then I’ll laugh. Close my eyes and hold the memory. Take pictures. And appreciate these moments. These moments that are here only for today, though I wish would last forever. Today, I will notice and appreciate them for all they are worth- and it is so very much.
~K
"It was one of those perfect English autumnal days which occur more frequently in memory than in life."
- P. D. James
I saw someone had quoted this and found it to be so perfect for this time of year. Things are cooling off, leaves are slowly starting to fall, school is back in session and football is beginning.
Perfect fall days… here and more to come. I want to remember this quote and enjoy each day as it comes.
~K
What a day to be grateful for unexpected surprises.
Just when you feel like the world makes no sense, something will happen… a sign of some sort… to remind you that for certain, life is a precious miracle and there is so much each day is worth appreciating and celebrating.
~K
I spent an hour this evening in a yoga studio… taking one of the best classes I’ve ever had. I enjoy yoga and have really been trying to get a couple of classes in each week.
It was so wonderful. I so appreciate my husband, who is truly my best friend. He happily bathed the kids and put them to bed while I excitedly snuck out for my class.
He is respectful and kind to me, allowing me to have these moments of peace that he knows are so important to me and I am so grateful to have him in my life.
Ben and Yoga.
Two reasons to be so perfectly grateful today.
Namaste.
~K
It was that time of day this afternoon. I was tired. The kids were tired and all over the place. It was still an hour left before my husband was home and I could feed them and move on with our day. It was that time of day when things usually have the potential to go downhill.
Instead… when all else fails, let ‘em run!
We went outside… breathed in some early fall air. I cut the grass, which always improves my mood… the organization, the lines, the evenness of it all. The kids rode bikes. We played soccer around the tall pine trees and chased each other in the yard.
And so, instead of going crazy… we went for some fresh air! Instead of going crazy, we laughed and played, played and ran, hugged and smiled.
We were all much better and far happier for it. What a great decision… taking control of the crazy!
~K
Here’s to positive ‘hippie’ thoughts, days full of laughs and sunshine and to my dad… who is finally talking….again.
After all- you can’t beat a freebie…. especially if you’re behind.
Peace.
~K
Nine years ago today I was newly married and we were returning to our home from our honeymoon.
The world changed that morning as ours together began. It was such an oxymoron of new beginnings for us personally and devastating endings and realizations for the country in which we lived.
Each year as this date passes, I remember the two of us, waking up as newlyweds full of love and hope and going to sleep as two people together with a world - - changed and confused and frightened.
September 11th, 2001- We will never forget. Take a moment today to be grateful for all that is today positive and healing. Take a moment to be grateful for days without devastation and acknowledge and appreciate the strength and peace of so many.
~K
“Measure your life in love…”
Tonight I went to see RENT with a friend of mine. I have never seen it before and to top it had no idea what it would be about.
What a beautiful story and so much for us all to learn about humanity, about life, about death, about love.
A wonderful tale full of important lessons and fantastic reminders about how to live your life… a great way to end the week.
~K
Grateful today for a peaceful day with my family.
No more, no less… but it is so very much to be appreciative of.
~K
"While Eeyore frets ...
... and Piglet hesitates
... and Rabbit calculates
... and Owl pontificates
...Pooh just is,”- Benjamin Hoff, The Tao of Pooh
I love this. A simple reminder to just “be” and to relax and
be perfectly fine in doing so.
~K
"Most of the important things in the world have been accomplished by people who have kept on trying when there seemed to be no hope at all." ~ Dale Carnegie
None of us ever make all of the best choices all of the time. If you are so bold to think that you do, then allow me to tell you now that you are mistaken.
Some of us are dealt far greater hands than others. This is life. We cannot choose the hands we’ve been dealt.
What we can do is choose is how we will respond. To life, to difficulty, to happiness, to failure.
And then, we can continue to choose how we can continue to respond. When things don’t go as we’d planned. When the road is still bumpier than you’d like it to be. When we fall off course.
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Here’s to a good friend today whose persistence is paying off.
Here’s to a good friend who set a goal, played the cards dealt, acknowledges mistakes and continues to each day to hold her head high and to keep her eye on the prize.
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Congratulations, Miss Schmitt! Enjoy your first day of teaching, my friend! I’m smiling for you and you deserve this! Thank you for your persistence! Now, go change the world!
~K
We spent an hour this weekend paddle boating through so many of these lily pads growing naturally. The aroma, the blue skies, the reminders of natural beauties often too easily overlooked on a perfect day….
~K
Thoroughly enjoyed a day of ‘catchup’ today…. so many to do list items crossed off, tackled and taken care of.
A day in the house cleaning toys with the kids. A day in the yard, making up for 2 months worth of work.
Absolutely loving a day of catchup and especially glad it fell on a three day weekend when tomorrow can be a day of relaxation and fun!
~K
Big wheels and lilypads. Paddleboats and pinecones. Neighborhood cats and fresh peaches. Friends and cooler weather. Tennis courts and bedtime stories. Roasted pecans and bubble baths.
Random smiles all around. So grateful for each special moment.
~K
So grateful for long weekends. Catch up weekends.
Find time to enjoy each other weekends. Still warm weekends.
Three days. Uninterrupted bliss.
~K
9
Nine.
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Wow.
It’s been 9 years today.
Where did the time go?
How is it possible for nine years to pass in the blink of an eye?
How did we do this?
Who were we before?
Nine years ago I embarked on a journey whose destination I could not possibly imagine .
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Nine years ago today, I quit living my life with just me and started living my life with you. Our life. And then she. Followed by he. And we became us. An amazing, unbelievable, solid, precious ‘us’. In the blink of an eye.
Nine years. Nine years that went too fast. Nine years that I wouldn’t trade for anything and hope and pray for so much more of.
I’m so glad to be on this path with my favorite person.
Happy Anniversary today to you, Ben. I am so grateful for ‘us.’.
~K
