Tuesday, January 31, 2012

Great Expectations!


"We must learn to reawaken and keep ourselves awake,
not by mechanical aid,
but by an infinite expectation of the dawn."
Henry David Thoreau


The little parts of my days don't often seem like much.
Simple job.
Phones, paper shuffling, errands.
A few hours by myself in the morning
and a few shared with my husband in the evening.
Enjoy some TV or a craft.
Write a blog post and read a post or two.
Simple.


It's the learning.
And the connections.
It's chasing the shadows
and embracing the light 
that turns the simple
into the magical.
Even when
the little parts of our days don't often seem like much.




Black and White Wednesday
Linking up with Heidi

Monday, January 30, 2012

bean town


I love Boston.
I know I've said before that one of the things I adore here
is the blending of the old and new.
Here are some of the beautiful old town houses of the Back Bay
set against the towering, mirrored Hancock building.
And you don't have to try hard to get these shots -
took this one quickly out of the car window as we headed home.

We went in town yesterday to meet some 'old' friends
and visit a 'new' church.
Some of our kids were with us
and the day, like the photo,
was a wonderful mingling of old and new...
of generations,
of history and adventure...
Of what we know and what's still to be discovered.




and
 then, she {snapped}

Sunday, January 29, 2012

...and unseen kindness



This week, a dream came true!
I hosted the first meeting of a book club that I've been dreaming about for a long time.

We shared thoughts about "The Shack" ~ a book I just finished again.
For the third time.

The first time I read this book, I was severing ties with a church group where 
I had worshiped for twenty-five years.
I was in pain.
I had contributed to the pains of others.
This book helped open my heart and allowed me to hope again.
For healing. 
And for renewed faith.
When I read it for the second time, shortly after, I mostly re-read the 
highlighted and underlined parts. 
(there were a lot of highlighted parts)
There is so much in these pages that challenges and encourages 
a new perspective on basic principles of the Christian story.
Doesn't "change" the story.
But calls me to a new perspective.

Two years passed.
And I read the book for the third time - another copy.
None of the old highlights or underlines.
And this time, the book touched me 
in places that had nothing to do with religion.
Childhood hurts, personal struggles, fears and tired places inside
were opened up and woken up.
As it turns out, I'm no longer as afraid of some of these 
darker corners of my soul as I once was.
My 'great sadnesses' are lifting.


The book leaves me hoping for a revolution ~

".....not a revolution that will overthrow anything, or if it does, it will do so in ways we could never contrive in advance. Instead it will be the quiet daily powers of dying and serving and loving and laughing, of simple tenderness and unseen kindness, because 
if anything matters, 
then everything matters."
William Paul Young


                                                                                    


Friday, January 27, 2012

What's it Worth?




Stop the sales, toss the coupons.
I'm not a fan of either.
When I find a 'real' bargain
I don't feel like a winner...
Nope. I feel more like I've
been conned, persuaded, cajoled, and mocked...
lured in by a system to
play a game that eats up
time and lets the greedy win.

I find myself thinking that the
notions of worth and value have
long since disappeared. I'd rather pay
a full, honest price than swipe
a 'rewards'card or enter a
code. Seems unthinkable, doesn't it?



Melissa's word for us this week? BARGAIN

Thursday, January 26, 2012

Holding on to the Bigger Picture



Blank pages.
Piles of photos.
My mind starts turning.
My heart starts churning.

How to tell the story?
What did this day mean to them, to me?
What was the joke that brought that smile to their faces?
Did we know, in the moment, that we were making a memory?

Each time I sit to craft a page,
To weave together photos, words, colors and texture,
I find I'm transported back.
Remembering.
And transported ahead.
Imagining others as they pour over the pages and study the books for years to come.
More than anything, I'm right in the moment of the making.
The making of the page that captures the making of the memory.
I'm clear.
I'm present. Engaged. And happy.

Every moment recorded, every page completed and
Every book on the shelf
Adds up to a bigger picture.
The picture of a family born. A family grown.

It's so easy to loose the bigger picture in life as the moments of our days march on by.
As I focus to preserve our memories, our moments,
It never ceases to amaze me much more clearly I see that wonderful
Bigger Picture.









Linking up today {for the first time} with Simple Moments.
Today's link up is at Sarah's place.
Thanks, Alita for the inspiration to join in!

Wednesday, January 25, 2012

The Written Word


Few things encourage me like a hand written letter.
Or note.
Or card.
This letter came in early January all the way from
a friend in France.
I'll carry it with me...as a book mark,
stuck in my purse or schedule book...
It will be somewhere close to me for a good while.
Then, perhaps, it will get left tucked in a book, or in my bible...
and I'll find it at a much later date and that
smile that it brought when I first read it
will return.

....now, to write back!



Black and White Wednesday

Monday, January 23, 2012

Captured My Moment


The light.
The clouds rolling in.
Blue sky still peeking through.
Snow drifting gently across the icy pond.

Crisp.
Clean.
Clear.
Creation.
The Creator.
This was a perfect moment for me.





and
 then, she {snapped}

Sunday, January 22, 2012

The Little Things


"In the sweetness of friendship let there be laughter,
and sharing of pleasures.
For in the dew of little things
the heart finds its morning and is refreshed."
Khalil Gibran


The pink glow of the early morning sky.
Two quiet weekend mornings.
{shared with my husband}

Just two of the 'little' things refreshing my heart this week.



Friday, January 20, 2012

Do You Know What Today Is?


For those who might not know,
For those who have not heard,
I'm spreading the word - telling you
all {six words at a time}
that....you ready?...drum roll please!
Today is National Penguin Awareness Day!!
Lest you think I jest, here's
link that'll help you believe.

We love penguins at my house.
My son is madly in love
with the aquatic birds from Antarctica.
Obsessed, one might suggest. He loves
the real ones, the stuffed ones,
the cartoon, statuette or decorative ones.
And each and every endangered one.

So, today I'll ask you to
STOP what you're doing and GO
here for photos: The Daily Penguin 
Or here to learn more: Wikipedia
Share a penguin book or movie
with your kids, or just hug
the penguin lover in your life!

My sweet Jer, consider yourself hugged!



to Melissa and company:
forgive the silly liberties I took
with this week's topic - Stop and Go!

Thursday, January 19, 2012

"My" Sky


This week Mama Kat's Writer's Workshop asked, 
"What brings you joy in good times and bad?"

There's a HUGE patch of sky in Oregon
that will always bring me joy
{ it rises above the foothills and spreads itself out atop a beautiful valley}
Joy.
Without fail. Every time I see it.
That deep, soul soothing kind of joy.

Other things that get the job done?
{"my" patch of sky is kind of far away after all}
Sunflowers, Christmas, weddings, babies, taking pictures,
scrapbooking, Nail Polish, writing, cranberries,
camping, worshipmuseums,
bold, black coffee,
good friends, long chats...
and
Family



Mama’s Losin’ It
Visit Mama Kat's 
BLOG
for more tales of Joy 
{and other things}

Wednesday, January 18, 2012

My Little House


View of my house from the top of the hill across the street.
Pretty from up here
with its snow covered roof.




Black and White Wednesday

Monday, January 16, 2012

Carpet Picnic


Raclette.
White wine.
Pat's game.
Just the two of us.
Perfect.


Linking up with Rachel for:

and
 then, she {snapped}

Sunday, January 15, 2012

taking the dive


"Be not the slave of your own past - plunge into the sublime seas, 
dive deep, 
and swim far, so you shall come back with self-respect,
with new power, with an advanced experience,
that shall explain and overlook the old."
Ralph Waldo Emerson

I don't have a great track record when it comes to taking good care of myself.
Physically that is.
One of the things I really hope to do this year
is go for a walk most days.
In order to motivate myself,
I've decided to combine a couple of things I love and do consistently
with this walking thing...which doesn't come easily.

so...

I'm going to use my love of blogging, instagram and journaling
to help motivate my less than enthusiastic 
relationship with exercise.
On the right side bar is a button that links to 
"taking the dive 365"
My own little project 365.
{brought to you by instagram!}
To keep up with my 365, I'll walk the neighborhoods,
take some photos, and add them to my project 365.
And that which I love will keep me
walking. 
Walking away from the slavery of past failure
and towards new power and more self respect.

I will take pictures.
I will blog,
and write in my journal.
And I will keep walking!




Visit Tabitha and friends who 
are sharing quotes and thoughts
today over at freshmommy blog

Friday, January 13, 2012

From Lost to Found



LOST a freind a while
back. Gave into fear and confusion
and dysfunctional group politics. To call
it what it was....I was
selfish. Lazy. Not kind enough to
sit down, reach out...talk it
out. Lucky for me the roots
of our friendship run deep. Lucky
for me she held out her
hand and invited me back into
her life. And her heart. In
our way we share sisterhood. And
celebrate milestones - marriages, baptisms, graduations and
championships - as family does. We share
courage, laughter, exhaustion, faith...and the
comfort born of a friendship FOUND.


{This past Sunday we got to share in the beautiful baptism of a young woman ~ the daughter of my dear, refound friend. So when this Six Word Friday topic was "Lost and Found" I knew right away what I'd share about today! My daughter took all the photos.}

Thrilled to be linking up
with Melissa for

Thursday, January 12, 2012

Talk




We carve out our time,
late at night,
settled into the old, comfy couches.
No topic too boring.
No topic too trite.

We cherish our time,
late at night,
DVR emptied of familiar faces...
We ask, "Do we let go,
and what's worth the fight?"

Time fades away as I 
get clued in, pulled in
to the college boys life.
We remember.
We look ahead.
Analyze.
Wonder.
Share.
And learn from each other.

We can't help but find time -
day or night -
for our talks. Always have, always will.
Keeps us connected.
Keeps our hearts light.




Written for Mama Kat's Writers Workshop
Mama’s Losin’ It
She asked us to write a poem inspired by the last conversation we had with our child.




Wednesday, January 11, 2012

Flurries


Yesterday morning we were greeted by a light dusting of snow.
It's finally feeling a little like January!


Linking up with Heidi for
Black and White Wednesday


Black and White Wednesday

Sunday, January 8, 2012

in her element


That's my girl!
Doing one of the things she loves the most.




and then, she {snapped}

Saturday, January 7, 2012

Walk


Blue skies.
Sun on my face.
Crisp, fresh air.
Huge, cawing crow perched high on a leafless branch.
Soaring crow lost in the bright sunshine.
Frost on the grass catching the light.
Shades of beige and brown.
Branches.
Busy street.
Deserted golf course.
Thoughts.
Bridge.
Quiet cul-de-sac.
Crunchy leaves.
Pretty porches.
Lingering wreathes.
More branches.
More thoughts.

By many standards I do not live in a particularly beautiful town.
Amazing, though, what there is to see when I
remember to look.


Joining Tabitha and friends for:



Friday, January 6, 2012

Someday is Now!


I'm looking forward to having fun.
Instagram fun. With my new iPhone.
I've got stories to tell that
have been waiting for these photos ~
photos from the camera that's in
the phone that's in my pocket.

I look back and remember when
I had to wait two weeks
to see the pictures taken with
my Kodak "instamatic". Two whole weeks.
Down the stairs I'd run when
my dad got home from work
hoping for that envelope of prints.
For days he'd hold out his
empty hands and sing to me,
"Some Day Your 'Prints' Will Come!"
For days. So now that "insta"
really means instant...I'll be counting
 to 365 with the help of
the camera that lives in the
phone that's tucked in my pocket.


Linking up with Melissa
who asked us what we were
LOOKING FORWARD to!

Thursday, January 5, 2012

Wasn't Gonna.....

Really. 

I wasn't gonna share these photos from New Years Eve. 
We were playing Kinect, and I got some pretty funny shots. 
But then I saw that one of the prompts for 
was: 
"Tell us about something you punched."
So, how could I resist??!!

Now, I've never actually punched someone. Or something. I've thrown a few things, I'm ashamed to admit. But never hit or punched anything. Until the other night. While waiting to ring in the new year, I punched the air. As hard as I could. So that my snowman character would knock out my husbands one-eyed
little martian character. 

And it was pretty fun, I have to admit!


I wasn't nearly as good or intense as the twenty-somethings in the room.
But I might be up for a rematch!

Mama’s Losin’ It

Wednesday, January 4, 2012

The Shack


My first read this year?
It's a re-read.
Looking forward to diving in again to see 
what this beautiful book
will bring me
three years later.



Black and White Wednesday