If photographs are a freeze-frame of time, then cameras are the time machine. While my camera cannot give me the ability to physically travel back to Ireland in 2011, it certainly gave me the ability to relive experience with clarity.

As I look back at pictures of trips taken I find myself remembering more of the trip by photographs of pieces I had forgotten. "Oh yeah, remember the quiet fishing lake in Ireland?" "Ha! Remember that bird in Costa Rica that kept trying to take food off my plate!" "Ah yes, the friendly retired couple I met out hiking alone in Arizona and we all went for ice cream when we got back. I wonder how they're doing."

I love the way pictures give the mind a mini vacation as I am transported back to another place and time. And now with a child that seems to warp time I love photos even more. "Ha! Remember when we were so tired those first few weeks we would sleep ANYWHERE if the baby would sleep?" "Look how the dogs would form a perimeter around her, close enough to protect but just out of her reach." "The first time she tried baby food! She had so many expressions!"

I think I could look at pictures all day. I love looking back and taking time to remember all the beautiful times gone by. And yet I need to live in this moment as well and capture the beauty of here and now. My camera allows me to do that so effectively.

I'm grateful for my camera. I'm grateful for a camera on my phone that is with me at most times. I'm grateful for my large professional camera that allows me to get crisper photos and have more control over the depth and effects of the photo subject. I'm grateful for my travels and all the beauty I have seen. I'm grateful for the many ways my daughter has changed my life and all the beauty she adds to it. I'm grateful to know I will have time again in the future to travel and when I do I will have an added companion to help me see with renewed awe. I'm grateful to capture the special moments and the ordinary, to build my time machine well so that I will have plenty of times to travel to as I reflect in the future.

What are some of your favorite photos? Do you take pictures often or do you rely on your mind's eye to remember?

May today remind us that our past helped create who we are today. May we cherish each moment as we consciously create our future selves. And may we have fun reflecting on the photos of the past. Have a beautiful day!

Last night was the Full Moon. Before my daughter was born, I used to celebrate with friends out at the park each Full Moon. We would take the time to reconnect with nature, soak up the energy, and do a meditation together that always helped me feel more balanced.

Now it is more typical for my husband to point it out through our bedroom window as we get ready for bed. Even with it on my calendar I rarely take the time to go out and soak up the moonlight even just by myself. And last night this realization made me a little sad.

Rather than mope about it after an already stressful day, I decided to give myself a few minutes under the moon. I sat quietly,doing my own breathing meditation and letting the moonlight flow over me. It was less than five minutes time but it helped. 

Some days life seems to be going too fast. I can't believe the year is nearly half over. My daughter's second birthday looms on the horizon and I realize the last two years have basically been a blur. Time is on fast-forward and instead of a fast moving train, somedays feel more like a tilt-a-whirl. 

It is these moments with nature that bring me back. There is something about nature that grounds my spirit and brings things back into focus. And with this knowledge, under the light of the moon, I made myself a promise to make it a priority to slow down and reconnect with nature in some way each day.

I'm grateful for my time with the moon last night. I'm grateful for my husband pointing it out when my exhaustion had erased my awareness once again. I'm grateful to make time for my gardens. I'm grateful for the bees and ladybugs that are frequent guests. I'm grateful for the ways my daughter helps me slow down as she inspects the gardens we pass on our walks and asks about everything she sees. And I'm grateful for this beautiful place I call home and the nature that surrounds me here.

When was the last time you just sat with nature? Do you enjoy connecting in this way or is there something else that renews your spirit?

May today help us to slow down. May we find the connections that feed our souls and rejuvenates our hearts. Have a beautiful day!

When we designed my daughter's room after I found out I was pregnant, we had big ideas. We wanted an underwater adventure theme with sunken ship and a textured mural on the walls. Our hope was to create a room that she could interact with and sparked her imagination.

It took quite a while and lots of creativity to paint the alcove as wooden planks and try to create an illusion of a sunken ship. Then with the help of sand paint and some textured wallpaper books we were able to create a textured mural, complete with turtles, fish, kelp, clams, and even a ray around her room.

As we prepare for my daughter's second birthday we turn our attention to the other bedroom. The theme my husband and I have in mind, trees! Our daughter loves to climb and the other bedroom lends itself so well with its vaulted ceiling. 

Last night we stayed up way to late comparing notes and ideas for how to make the treehouse room "come to life." In my world, there is nothing better than letting the creativity flow and getting to share and expand on it with the man I love. 

I'm grateful for the way creative projects energize me. I'm grateful to share ideas with my husband and build this idea together. I'm grateful for my over the top nature and his way of bringing the best pieces in. I'm grateful for the love I feel every time I go into our daughter's room. I'm grateful to build out the new room with the same eagerness and love. And I'm grateful to bring a little more nature into our home.

What makes you feel alive and excited? What sparks your creativity? 

May today help us feel energized and alive. May we let the creativity flow in whatever way is best for the tasks at hand. Have a beautiful day!

Having a toddler means seeing the world through fresh eyes. It means exploring new things each day and getting a different take on even the most ordinary ones. 

Each morning for the last week, my daughter and I have gone out and checked our blackberry bushes for ripe berries. She loves getting to pick and eat her own food. I love it too and blackberries are one of my favorite berries; but they taste even better with her there. 

Yesterday my daughter turned twenty-two months and I wanted a picture. When I tell her to smile I get this cheesy, fake, toothy grin. Instead I started asking her to say what I was saying. She loves repeating and it didn't take too long before we found a word that she decided was hilarious. Yesterday's gem, "pumpernickel." 

There is no better sound to me than my daughter's laughter. It goes straight to my heart!

Then there are the moments of cuddles between my toddler and my dog. My daughter will say, "You ok, sweetie? Let snuggle, huh?" as she situates herself between the dogs front legs and cuddles into her neck. My two babies snuggled up together takes the cake of the sweetest things. I am so blessed!

I'm grateful for these beautiful blessings. I'm grateful to recognize these precious moments while they are happening and cherish them. I'm grateful for my daughter's sweet personality and joyous laugh. I'm grateful for how my heart swells in these moments and so many other moments. I'm grateful for my beautiful family and the miracle of having my daughter in my life. I'm grateful for my dog's patience and gentleness when it comes to my daughter. And I'm grateful to know there are a few blackberries out on the vine waiting to be eaten. 

What are the sweetest things in your life? What moments do you cherish most?

May today allow us to be present in mind and heart so that we can see the blessings around us. May we cherish these little moments that fill our hearts. Have a beautiful day!

There is something very soothing to me about the sound of rain. It is more than just knowing my gardens are getting nourished; it is renewing to my soul as well.

I tossed and turned last night. Yet when I woke this morning to the sound of the rain I felt calmed. 

I'm grateful for the rumble of thunder that is so satisfying. I'm grateful for the sound of the rain as it drums down on the roof. I'm grateful to wake to such a calming sound. I'm grateful to still hear some birds singing from the yard. I'm grateful for the rain we have been getting lately and how it comes in amounts long enough to nourish the garden. I'm grateful to watch the raindrops fall. And I'm grateful I got the opportunity to run through the rain yesterday. 

What is your favorite thing about rain? What do you like to do on a rainy day?

​May today remind us of the simple blessings all around us. May we find the bright side in each moment today. Have a beautiful day!

I have a lot of nicknames for my daughter. One of those nicknames is "Monkey" and it is usually pretty fitting. The closer we get to her turning two, the more I see myself as a zookeeper, at least one in training.

My daughter is awesome. She is highly verbal and communicates exceptionally well which has left me fielding questions I didn't think I would be dealing with until elementary school. She loves to climb up things like the outside of the stair railing and crawl under things or into tiny spaces. And being petite, she fits just about anywhere.

It is getting harder and harder to catch good pictures of her that aren't blurry. But in some ways those are the best pictures because they are true to life. They show we are really living it. 

Talks have begun about having a second child. Preparation is being made for designing a second kid's room. And so I have begun taking extra notice of moms with more than one child, especially in these younger years. I watch how the kids interact and how the mom handles different situations. And more and more I realize, "Mom" is the endearing title of a human "Zookeeper". 

As I prepare to take my daughter to the zoo today, I realize I am once again at a prime spot to observe. How do Zookeepers keep the monkeys from unlocking (or locking!) the door? How do they respond when the food bowl flies? How do they prepare the animals for bedtime?

Haha, in reality I know the two worlds are different. And I wouldn't change a thing about my sweet monkey or this zoo. But humor goes a long way in keeping a smile on my face and being silly with my daughter.

I'm grateful for my little monkey. I'm grateful to be her zookeeper...I mean mom. I'm grateful for all the moms at the playground that endure my stares and even field some questions. I'm grateful for the ones who are gracious and understand that moms need each other and I'm grateful for the ones who accept compliments. I'm grateful for the awesome network of moms I have in my life and the variety of parenting styles to observe. Most of all I am grateful to get to spend most of my day with the child I love so much. And I'm grateful when she reminds me that dishes can wait because it is time to get in our table fort. 

Do you have children? What areas of your life make you feel like a zookeeper? How do you use humor to uplift your day? And what gratitude can you find in this moment?

May today allow us some laughs. May we make humor even when none is rolling our way and may we remember life was meant to be enjoyed. Have a beautiful day!

Today is the Summer Solstice; the longest day of daylight of the year. The sun is currently tucked behind the clouds and it is supposed to be a cooler, rainy day today. As much as I love the sun and would enjoy celebrating it on the Solstice; it is nice to have a break from the intense heat we have had this year.

While we have not been camping yet this year because Winter pretty much turned straight to the heat of Summer; we talk about it a lot. My daughter gets so excited seeing camping trailers and talking about tents and s'mores. I''m looking forward to using these cooler days to get outside. And I'm looking forward to a camping trip coming up in our future.

I just love the outdoors. I love the sounds and scents of nature. I love going to bed and waking up with the sun. I love the way the flame of the campfire flickers in the dark and eating food cooked over the fire. I love kayaking and the relaxation of fishing. 

On this longest day of the year, I'm grateful to take the time to celebrate the cooler temperatures and the great outdoors. I'm grateful for the friends who taught me about all the symbolism held in the Summer Solstice. I'm grateful for the beauty of nature. I'm grateful to pass on some of my love of nature to my daughter. I'm grateful for the promise of a camping trip in our future. And I'm grateful for this cute sticker art that my daughter made that is actually pretty accurate for a toddler. I'm grateful for my sweet, bright, loving little girl.

What is your favorite thing about Summer? How can you celebrate the longest day of daylight today? 

May beauty and blessings abound. May we find joy in celebration. Have a beautiful day!

Today is National Take a Hike with a Geek Day. The benefit of knowing a geek is that you get to learn all kinds of facts you never even knew to ask. Now combine this with the beauty of nature and you've got yourself a good hike.

Did you know that every part of the dandelion is edible? Did you know that deer have no gall bladders? Did you know that the vanilla we use in baking comes from the vanilla orchid where as vanillin (imitation vanilla) is most often derived in a lab from wood pulp? 

There are unlimited fun facts to learn if you are hiking with the right person. There is also unlimited beauty to soak up as you stroll along, whether silently or learning. Either way, I am happy to have my husband as my hiking partner.

Life is not always a smooth, paved path. In fact sometimes there isn't a path at all. But as I hike along, it only matters where my heart is and who I am traveling alongside. 

I'm grateful to take life's hike with my husband. I'm grateful to be married to a geek and all the ways it enhances our lives. I'm grateful to learn fun facts. I'm grateful to ask off the wall questions only to find out he already knows the answer. I'm grateful when I do stump him and we get to seek the answer together. But no matter the subject we are talking about, or the times we walk in silence, I'm grateful for a man that I know will always take the hike of life with me.

Who is your best geek-friend? What have you learned from them? When was the last time you got out an hiked and how does it reflect your day to day life journey?

​May today remind us the importance of the journey. May we cherish the people who hike beside us. Have a beautiful day!

Technology has come so far in my lifetime. There are apps for just about anything now. And while computers and I don't always have the best relationship, I love have answers at my fingertips.

What pain medicine can I give my dog? How deep do I plant Vinca Minor? What do you do for flakey scalp on a toddler? Are these symptoms serious? Where is a fun vacation spot for a family with a small child AND dog? Why do barnacles grow? Can you boil super glue? 

Actually that last one I never wondered about until I saw a video with that title on YouTube. There is so much information and most of it I didn't even know I wanted to know!

I'm grateful for the ease of gaining information. I'm grateful for apps that help me find what I need easier. (Where is the nearest playground?!) I'm grateful for the help it brings, as a parent, to be able to do a quick search. I'm grateful for the answers I can get on the internet but also the answers I can get intuitively. I'm grateful for technology and all the great ways it continues to help make life better.

What technology do you most appreciate? How have you witnessed the change in technology since you were a child?

May today remind us that some answers are only found within. May we find gratitude in the wealth of knowledge that is shared and the benefits it brings to our lives. Have a beautiful day!

My family and I spent the weekend up in Iowa visiting some of my husband's family. To those of you saying that Iowa would not be your ideal vacation spot, you clearly haven't met my husband's family. It's not so much about where we vacation, but who we spend it with that matters.

Mostly we just relaxed and caught up on what's going on with everyone. My daughter did pretty well at filling them in on all she could do herself. We played with hot wheels and went out to watch the parade.

As it turns out, small town parades are awesome! There were not only the typical fire truck, tractor, and a band, but campers, a school bus, and a cement mixer! My daughter was thrilled to see most of her favorite vehicles! And besides candy we caught hotdogs, water, light-up bouncy balls, and a hockey jersey. 

It was a great trip and we still made it home in time to have dinner with my dad. Family is so important. I was blessed with a large one to begin with but married into another awesome bunch. 

I'm grateful to get to know some of my husband's family better. I'm grateful to have made the weekend trip north. I'm grateful that my daughter adjusted well to another new place. I'm grateful for all the love and generosity we felt on our trip. I'm grateful for two long car rides just talking to my husband without the radio. I'm grateful for the awesome parade that even got me excited and all the abundance that rained down from it. I'm grateful for these trips that instill just how blessed we are and how important family is to me and my family.

How did you choose to spend the weekend? When was the last time you were able to go visit family?

May we find the time for what is most important to us. May we find delight even in the ordinary. Have a beautiful day!