so grateful!

As a follow-up to my post a few days ago, I came across this amazing project about being grateful. Take a peak at her flickr slideshow. What an awesome thing to do! Wouldn't this be a fun thing to start on a birthday? (I have one coming up this summer!) And create a big piece of artwork out of it so you are constantly reminded about the truly important things in life? Hmmm... Now all I need is to find an old polaroid before then! I just may have to try this.

my sweetest angel

I am still somewhat new to blogging, and am trying to navigate what I want to put out there and what I'd like to keep closer to home. When I have these conversations in my head, what I always come back to is this: put out there what is truly in your heart. You can never go wrong with that, can you? So here goes. We are in the midst of an extremely stressful time. Many, many things lie uncertain and as much as I try to hold onto those things in my life that I am grateful for (& there are many!), I do have my days. Yesterday morning was a particularly upsetting time, and I just started to cry. My daughter came in our room and saw me, and I bent down to tell her I was okay, and she just wrapped her arms around me and hugged me... and didn't let go for what seemed like forever. Well this made me cry even harder. She knew, at 3-1/2, exactly what I needed. How does she know? How does this little three year old already know how to comfort her mother in a way like no one else does? And why am I so lucky to be her mom? Oh I do hope that I can always know what her little soul needs and be able comfort her in the way she does me. I will hold onto that hug and that memory forever, and can barely write this without tears brimming in my eyes. The lyrics to this song so beautifully tell her what she means to me. It's by the wonderful Jonatha Brooke called Sweetest Angel:

Every night about eight o'clock
I wind the stem of my little clock
And when I look in the crystal glass
I see a lot of faces pass
Of those I knew
And those I know
And you now coming
And you to go

Here's a word I'd like to whisper
And I'd like to have you listen

All this world is made of love
You are fresh from heaven above
You're the sweetest angel in this world
You're the sweetest angel in this world
You're the sweetest angel in this world
You're the sweetest angel

When I hold you by your hand
I'm in my happy promised land
When I kiss you in the dark
I'm just happy as a lark
So let me come as close as I can
And lay me down beside you

Here's a word I'd like to whisper
And I'd like to have you listen

All this world is made of love
You are fresh from heaven above
You're the sweetest angel in this world
You're the sweetest angel in this world
You're the sweetest angel in this world
You're the sweetest angel

So let me come as close as I can
Let me bring my scattered pages
Let me lay down here beside you
Tonight, and I will whisper

All this world is made of love
You are fresh from heaven above
You're the sweetest angel in this world
You're the sweetest angel in this world
You're the sweetest angel in this world
You're the sweetest angel

nurtured heart approach

I have been going to parenting classes to learn about the Nurtured Heart Approach, a very progressive and refreshing parenting theory that focuses on the positive and beautiful qualities all children possess. It's about celebrating children's greatness and instilling inner wealth. The champion of this theory, Howard Glasser, defines inner wealth as "the ability to feel successful, cope, be happy, and grow within ourselves and with other people. It is a multifaceted inner experience of our greatness and deeply connected to our feeling that we have meaning, that we are important just by virtue of being alive." I love this. And the class has been such a refreshing way to think about how to be in the world and a wonderful reminder to not only celebrate our children, but our family, friends and even strangers we come in contact with every single day. Just see what happens the next time you truly stop to thank a bus driver, or tell the cashier at the grocery store what a fabulous job they are doing. This was part of our homework, and what a simple, powerful assignment it was! It baffles me why we don't all stop for one minute to make someone else's day. Go ahead... give it a try! I'll bet it will make you feel even more wonderful than the person receiving the compliment! It certainly did me, and it was amazing how the simplest little act could feel so empowering for both people. This method is definitely a learning curve and a wonderful way to grow as a person and a parent. I'm far from perfect at it, but I'm working on it and if there is anything in my power that I can do as a mom to instill inner wealth and raise children who feel great about who they are, exactly as they are, well I would be one thrilled mama.

recipes on cabinets?

and how! I am LOVING this idea, and adore the lettering and small illustrations to go with it. (photo courtesy of dinner a love story) I can't wait to be able to write some family favorites on our cabinets once we are settled in a more permanent home. What recipes would I write? Hmmmm..... What recipes would you write?

me too!

This little one tries so hard to keep up with that big brother of hers, and I have to say she does a heck-of-a job of it! When O started riding his 'pedal' bike, M wouldn't stop asking when she was going to get a pedal bike too. We did a bike trade with our cousins and ended up with the perfect little pipsqueak pedal bike for her. It came with training wheels and took all of one ride to the park and back to tell us she wanted them off. A couple of rides up and down the sidewalk with dad holding on from the back and she was off! She was so excited & so proud, and what a special moment for our family to cheer her on, especially her big brother whom she adores like crazy. Another special milestone, yet at the same time, another reminder that my little girl is growing up. (stop please!) I often tease her and tell her to stop growing, and she just laughs and laughs and tells me she has to grow. But I really mean it... I really want time to stop because I love having little ones. Their pure innocence and ability to always be in the present is simply one of the greatest joys to be part of. I'm so proud of my girl not only for learning to ride a bike without pedals, but for having the most loving heart. I love her fiery determination, her unwavering spirit and the fact that she makes me smile countless times in a day. This girl has gusto... and I feel so incredibly blessed to be her mom every single day.

mini quilts

I just saw the cover of this book at my very favorite local boutique craft shop Fancy Tiger and I love it... already. I have never made a quilt, but it's been on my list, and this sweet little number just might have moved quilting to the top of my ever-growing list of crafting projects I must try!

art in underwear

We just had spring break and on our last day, I asked the kids what they wanted to do ~ a picnic at the park, an adventurous bike ride, bake something special? Well none of the above was the answer, and all they really wanted to do was stay home - in their underwear - and do art (and dance a bit too!). I learn more & more that it really is the simplest, sweetest little things in life that bring the most joy. Oh my kiddos are the BEST reminder of this every single day. Just the greatest blessing of all. Here's to having an art in underwear day too!

healthy cookies

Since my rough February, I have really been focused on putting very healthy foods in my body. Not that I didn't eat healthy before, but I do love my sweets! On my road to recovery, I lost that sugar craving and haven't looked back. I started reading this book and have become more & more convinced about how foods in their most natural state can heal your body and keep you feeling your best self. So to discover this cookie recipe that was butter-less, flour-less, egg-less, and sugar-less (sans the chocolate) was right up my alley! It's from my go-to natural cooking blog that I adore. Eat 'em up, eat 'em up, yum, yum, yum!