Mentors are such an important role. A good mentor will not tell you what to believe, who you are, or even who you should be. A mentor can guide you to find all these answers on your own by listening and then asking the right questions.

Today was my uncle's funeral and I found myself in a struggle with my beliefs. One thing about having my own, unique beliefs is that when there is a conundrum it's answer is completely dependent on me. If I am at an impasse I need to know the right question to ask to help me move through the obstacle. Luckily I am blessed to have just such a mentor!

The thing about beliefs is that everyone has them in one form or another. So when someone questions their own it is easy to project ours for them to see. They still have the option to listen or not. But what if we went a whole different way? What if we helped guide them through their own beliefs instead of planting our own?

As I let my tears fall tonight talking to my dear friend and mentor she offered me this gift. It isn't what we believe or don't believe that poses the problem. The issue comes from why we are choosing to resist one belief or cling to another. The question isn't which belief is right. The question is what is it about the gap that triggers us.

I'm so grateful for powerful questions. I'm grateful for questions that pull me back and make me think. I'm grateful for this beautiful woman and all her wisdom. I'm grateful to be able to call her a friend as well as a mentor. I'm grateful for the beautiful memories my uncle has left with us still here. I'm grateful to see others remembering him for the safe generosity and kindness that I will remember him by. I'm grateful for the reminder to be the person today I want to be remembered by tomorrow.

Who in your life asks the right questions instead of giving you their own answer? 

May we find our own path and our own beliefs while respecting each others'. May we find peace within what we choose to believe. May we all have at least one person in our lives willing to hold their own answers and just ask the right questions. Have a beautiful day!

Often I write my blog about what I was grateful for throughout the day or even what will be happening tomorrow. It is rare that I write about this exact moment. Part of that is because the gratitude I feel in this moment is usually a build up of things through the day. The other part, if I'm being honest, is that my mind is generally recalling what has happened or planning what will happen and rarely in this exact moment. 

I find myself sitting with my daughters and getting distracted. Even when I am focusing on being present I stop to take pictures. 

Recent events have reminded me how important it is to be in the moment and present with the ones we love. We never know when someone will be called away from this life so it is important to make the most of the moments we have together. 

Also, as a mom, I am recognizing the need to be present with myself in the few moments I am alone. It is not that I can't work on my to do list but rather being present with the task instead of letting my mind race to all the things that I need to do next. I believe this presence with turn into a present, a true gift to myself.

So tonight I challenge myself to be in THIS moment.

I'm grateful for the soft, cool breeze of the air conditioner blowing across me. I'm grateful for the soft hum of the fan that even now is trying to lull me to sleep. I'm grateful for a baby monitor that allows me to monitor both of my girls, in separate rooms, from the comfort of my own bed. I'm grateful they are sleeping peacefully. I'm grateful for the weight of my comforter and back support of my pillows because, yes, I am writing my blog from bed tonight. I'm grateful for this ability to write my blog from wherever I want or need. I'm grateful to still have the pack'n'play here next to me though my baby moved to her crib a few days ago. It brings mixed emotions about her growing up so fast but I'm grateful for its presence all the same. 

Well I admit I typed several things I am grateful for that I ended up erasing because I realized I was slipping into tomorrow or earlier today. One thing I will add is that I'm grateful in this moment to be relatively pain free. It makes all the difference!

How do you feel? What are you grateful for in this exact moment? Being present in body and mind, what comes up for you?

May today allow us to be present with the moments. May we flow with the fun and the challenging moments and keep our center in the process. May we stay present with the ones we love. Have a beautiful day!

After a scorching hot end of Summer it was nice to have some slightly cooler temperatures today. I'm not a fan of being cold but it is possible that I own about a dozen jackets that I love to wear. This morning provided the perfect opportunity to wear one. 

I love when I can wear a jacket in the morning, be comfortably warm in the afternoon, then have a drive with the windows down ride home from work. Today met all this criteria. Autumn is finally creeping out of hiding! 

The cooler temperatures have me looking forward to pumpkin spice candles, pumpkin chocolate chip cookies, pumpkin spice cereal. It isn't just my nose and taste buds looking forward to Autumn; my eyes are ready for the beautiful colored leaves that grace us this time of year. 

Driving home tonight I was thinking about Halloween and my birthday that are both approaching. I looked up at the beautiful sunset and clouds and couldn't help but see a mask. It was like two orangish-yellow eyes glowing at me and reminding me pumpkin carving season is just around the corner too.

In case you couldn't tell, this is my favorite season! It has all my favorite things and in return I have an abundance of gratitude! 

I'm grateful for pumpkin spice everything. I'm grateful for pumpkin chocolate chip cookies which are amazing! I'm grateful for all the beautiful colors the leaves turn here in the heartland. I'm grateful for anticipation. I'm grateful for the first hints of Autumn weather. I'm grateful for birthdays that mean I was blessed with one more year. I'm grateful for my jackets and sweatshirts. I'm grateful for Halloween and fun, playful costumes. I'm grateful for the delicious Autumn soups and other cooler weather foods that will be gracing my table. I'm grateful my husband is an amazing chef!

What is your favorite thing about Autumn? What do you look forward to this time of year? What is your favorite time of year?

May today renew our hope and remind us that change can be beautiful. May we take time to enjoy the beauty of this season as it rolls in. Have a beautiful day!

This week has been a big reflection on death, what's important, and what will be remembered. Monday brought the untimely loss of my uncle. Today is my grandpa's birthday. He passed away three years ago, just days before my first daughter was born, but I still miss him like it was a month ago.

Right now everyone is talking about my uncle. He was always there to help in whatever way he could. He stayed with my grandpa in the hospital. He was always up for watching any of his grandkids. He would give you the shirt off his back. He was silly and fun. And it is hard to believe we will never get to hear his laugh again.

When my grandma passed away my parents took my grandpa to go visit some siblings in the northwest. I was struggling with the idea that I would never hear my grandma's voice again. I would not get to hear her funny saying. One of the people they went to visit was my grandma's sister, whom I knew best by her outrageously fun personality and loud laugh. I asked my mom, when they saw her, to record her laugh for me. I didn't have a recording of my grandma but I could get one of her sister's merriment at least. Unfortunately it wasn't the trip for merriment.

My grandpa will forever be remembered by his orneriness first and foremost. He was also a wealth of knowledge on natural remedies and cures. I frequently asked for his opinion and wisdom and I still find myself feeling a little lost and heartbroken each time I have to try to research an issue on my own. I will always remember his smile.

So in reflecting on what I cherish in memory of my loved ones, I must ask myself; how do I want to be remembered? Will they say I would do anything for my family? Will they remember me as playful and fun and laughing or serious and stressed and rushed? How will my kids remember me as a mom? And what do I need to change to offer positive traits to remember me by?

I'm grateful for this week of reflection, though I would give anything for it to be under different circumstances. I'm grateful for my uncle's laugh and generosity. I'm grateful for my grandpa's orneriness and wisdom. I'm grateful for my great aunt's over the top playful personality. I'm grateful for my playful, silly side. I'm grateful for my creativity and my big heart. I'm grateful to truly believe family is the most important thing in the world. I'm grateful to start today in making little changes to be sure I am remembered for the positive traits that are part of me. I'm grateful to remember to live and to live for today.

How will you be remembered? What gap is there between daily life and who you want to be immortal?

May today remind us that each day is a choice to be our best self. May we take steps to bridge the gap between how we act and how we want to be remembered. Have a beautiful day!

If ever there was an appropriate day to ditch the to do list, this is it. The news last night of my uncle's unexpected passing still hasn't fully processed into reality.

Rather than add stress by rushing around to clean and run errands it seems to be a good day for sitting back. It has proved the perfect day for the word "yes". "Mommy will you read me another book?" -Yes. "Mommy will you snuggle me?" -Yes. "whuaaaaaaaa!" (Translation:"Mommy will you hold me all day long, never put me down or be out of my sight?") -Yes. "Mommy can I have..." -Yes "...a carrot?" Wait, what? My kid wants a carrot? Absolutely! Haha. 

Today we woke early so it was a nice slow morning getting round for school. There was extra time for books. The kids in my daughter's class all loved the snack of pepper cups stuffed with cucumber and carrots. (Who says kids don't love vegetables?!) After lunch we made time for a craft and even a short walk. The added beauty being my daughter went down or nap with no protest...well, my older daughter anyway. The baby lasted all of ten minutes before reminding me of my previous "yes".

Three loads of laundry sit and stare at me. The dishes still need done from last night. The house needs vacuuming. The house could use a good general cleaning. And yet here I sit because in this moment none of that seems as important as the sleeping baby in my arms. Time is precious. If one good thing could come from the loss of a loved one it is the message to prioritize our minutes.

I'm grateful to just sit and hold my daughter. I'm grateful to type my blog up this afternoon so I can take the time I need to be with my extended family tonight. I'm grateful to just sit and honor resting after lack of good sleep last night. I'm grateful to prioritize and to get to say "yes". I'm grateful for snacks I can feel good about sharing with my daughter's class. I'm grateful for art. I'm grateful for soft music. I'm grateful to allow the process. I'm grateful for family. I'm grateful to know at some point the to di list will get done.

What are your priorities today? What will you choose to say yes to?

​May today accept us as we are. May we allow the process to flow. May we find our priorities in line with our hearts. Have a beautiful day!

I write from a place of shock and sadness tonight. Within the last two hours I learned that the earth lost another good soul. I was not blessed enough to have known my uncle my whole life. He entered our family when I was already an adult and yet he was just as much family as any other.

Some people are "born" carpenters, salesmen, entrepreneurs or whatever other vocation they may have become. My uncle was "born" for family. He was made to be a grandpa and just a couple months ago welcomed a new beautiful granddaughter. 

I loved watching his Facebook posts because they seemed to be either positive messages or adorable pictures of his grandkids. He was a good man and he will be missed. 

I had just got home from work and was sitting at my table eating dinner and nursing my baby when I got the news. In that moment I looked over at my husband and as I told him the news my attention was brought by a flutter to the window. There sat a red cardinal on the branch outside my kitchen window.

Cardinals became a significant symbol in my life the day my grandmother passed away. Again they flocked to me after my grandpa passed. They were a source of comfort in some ways, like knowing their spirit was right there with me still. 

Tonight seeing the Cardinal on the branch I was grateful, but I do not feel its comfort yet. Tonight is for allowing all the feelings. Perhaps tomorrow the beautiful red feathers will bring comfort.

I'm grateful to have known my uncle. I'm grateful for the years he spent with our family. I will forever be grateful for all he did while my grandpa was declining in health. I'm so grateful for all his positive messages that he sent to me on Facebook. I'm grateful to have gotten to witness his playful grandpa side. And I'm so grateful he was able to meet his newest granddaughter. I'm grateful for my family. And I'm grateful to hug them all a little tight tonight as I remember how blessed I am for each moment we are together.

Who is important in your life? Who helps put a smile on your face? Have you told the ones you love how much they mean to you lately? 

May we remember how precious each moment is and spend it with the ones we love. May we remember to tell people how much they mean to us while we have the chance. Have a beautiful day!

I was blessed to take a little trip this weekend with my family. It was our first trip out of town with our newest edition. We didn't go far, just three hours away to visit my mother-in-law. Yet in just two days, a couple hours from home, I found renewal. 

We were celebrating my daughter's birthday as well as my mother-in law's. We went out to dinner one night but the rest of the time my husband cooked his amazing meals for us. My mother-in-law went back and forth between helping him prepare food and helping me play with the girls. In return she received baby smiles and coos and preschooler love in the form of "will you read me another book?!" 

Somehow it felt more like my birthday. I got to sit and play with my preschooler as we imagined all kinds of things. My favorite was when she decided the whole room was a moon elevator! We had a lot of fun with that scenario. 

I also got to just spend time to sit on the floor with my baby and soak up her smiles and coos and really pay attention to her personality that is emerging. I feel like in the chaos of our everyday schedules she doesn't get the one-on-one time she deserves. (I do recognize that part of this is the unfair comparison to all the time I was able to just sit and stare at my first daughter...because she was my first and didn't have to share attention.) It really filled my heart to have this time to just be with her.

I'm beyond grateful to have made it out of town. I'm grateful for my mother-in-law's graciousness as allowing us to overtake her house for the weekend. I'm grateful for how well both girls handled the transition and being in new beds at night. I'm grateful to leave feeling renewed. I'm grateful to recognize the feeling of demands pulling at me now that I am back home so that I can take an honest look at what I can whittle away. I'm grateful to have a reminder of how calm and simple life can be. I'm grateful to look for ways to simplify our schedules so we can get more of these calm, bonding times here at home. I'm grateful for all my husband did to make this weekend go so smoothly. 

How do you recharge? How often do you feel yourself needing to recharge from your everyday life? How can you add more "recharge" moments into your daily practice so you don't have to "get away" from your life as often? This is definitely the question I will be pondering as I make some changes moving forward.

May today remind us to just sit and be in the moment whenever possible. May we consciously choose lifestyles that nourish our mind, body, and soul. Have a beautiful day! 

Today was International Talk Like a Pirate Day and I will fully admit I did not do very well at staying in the role. Part of the reason for this was just running around trying to keep up our usual Thursday schedule of school and swim class and nap times and work. The other part was I had several phone calls to make to doctor's offices.

The overall theme today seemed to be health. As I reached out to make appointments for my daughter's and myself for our health care needs my mind was on schedules and health not keepin' me eye on the accent. But it was a good reprieve off and on to add this little form of play into my day. 

On top of doctor's appointments I also got to take our annual health assessment in preparation for our annual lab work through my husband's work. It is kind of fun each year to see all the levels of health beyond just the blood pressure and cholesterol and "normal" tests during a physical. So many different things are tested and I like to compete with my last-year-self to see how my health is doing. 

I imagine it will be a little less healthy than last year just because I have not, understandably, lost all my pregnancy weight yet. I also have been enjoying more chocolate than I normally would, but hey we all need a vice right? 

I'm grateful for the extensive health screens we get for free. I'm grateful to have an annual check to see how my health is maintaining. I'm grateful to have a little fun with me mateys as I tested out my pirate lingo. I'm grateful for fun, playful holidays. I'm grateful to have a easy night at work so I could get home and prepare for the weekend ahead. I'm grateful for my health. I'm grateful to renew my commitment to my health and be taking steps to get back on track. I'm grateful to give myself grace post-baby. I'm grateful to have had a fun day. (And I'm grateful for this picture of my childhood dog that I loved so much.)

What steps are you taking for your health? What areas of health would you like to pay more attention? What ways can you add play into your day? Did ye talk like a pirate today, matey?

May today remind us to loosen up and have fun. May we see the beauty of health as we make conscious choices to take care of ourselves. Have a beautiful day!

Tonight I had a last minute change in schedule. My last client couldn't make it and I was able to make it home by six o'clock. Now by six my children were just finishing up their meals and my husband was about to prepare his. By the time I prepared a salad topped with leftover steak and sat down, everyone else was finished. 

Even though I was the only one eating it was still nice to just be home for dinner. It was ok that my daughters took turns interrupting every few bites. It was nice to see their excitement to have me home early. 

It was nice to have food on a plate with a metal fork. It was nice to hear the business of the evening. It was nice to just be there for a "normal" evening.

After dinner was even better as my preschooler and I played Candyland using all the gingerbread men to represent our family even though we took all the turns. My husband ended up winning even though he was out mowing the lawn. Which was another perk of getting home early; knocking something unexpected off the to do list.

Even being on the receiving end of a volcanic milk explosion from the baby was something to laugh off. In that moment I knew my self-care adjustments are helping and the short work night was the icing on the cake. My gratitude abounds!

I'm grateful for an unexpected short evening at work. I'm grateful for the blessing of having a flexible job that I love. I'm grateful for the delicious salad I had. I'm grateful for steak and spinach to boost my iron. I'm grateful for the amazing, deliciousness that is parmesan flakes and crumbles. I'm grateful to get to spend extra quality time with my daughter playing a game from my childhood. I'm grateful to get to hold and snuggle my baby a little extra. I'm grateful to laugh as I dripped with milk vomit. I'm grateful to be there for the baby during this explosion to calm and comfort her. I'm grateful to even have a few minutes to shower peacefully by myself.

What little things make your day? How can one simple change in schedule make a big difference? How do you like to spend your quality time?

May we remember to cherish the little blessings. May we laugh off the messes and focus on the bigger picture. Have a beautiful day!

At three years old my oldest daughter's manners are hit and miss. Lately they seem to be more miss, or at least questioning "why?" a dozen times before following through. 

The experts say you have to tell a preschooler something about two hundred times before it is really remembered. When they say two hundred times that obviously excludes songs, books, and the person half a restaurant away that said a bad word.

This age is notorious for the demand instead of the ask. My personal "favorite" is the cranky demand followed by a "please-y" with sweet, head cock at the end as she catches herself. Somehow she believes adding the Y at the end is cuter and thereby excuses all else.

Every once in a while it all seems to click. Tonight was one of those nights and beautifully it happened on family dinner night at my parents'. She remembered to say please several times and even tossed in a "no thank you" for good measure. After we left she said "Oh no! I forgot to tell MauMau and Papa what good dinner I ate. I forgot to tell the what good dinner they gave us!" My mommy heart was equal parts proud and melted for this sweet child.

I'm grateful to see hard, repetitive work paying off. I'm grateful to do my bet at modeling the behavior I want to see as well. I'm grateful for the days that go well. I'm grateful to hear my daughter's sweet voice saying kind words. I'm grateful for everyone who uses manners and speaks with love. I'm grateful to feel I'm doing something right.

What have you been doing or practicing over and over? How do you acknowledge break throughs and success?

May today remind us hard work does pay off. May we relish the little wins and focus on progress. Have a beautiful day!