Friendship is a wonderful gift. There is something about spending time with a friend that lifts my spirits. And I am so blessed to have such a wonderful variety of friends.

I'm grateful for friends who take time to make my kids feel special. I'm grateful for friends who can hold a conversation even with frequent interruptions from little ones. I'm grateful to make time to see my friends when I can. I'm grateful to invite them to tag along, even on errands, just to connect. I'm grateful for phones and internet that allow me to keep in touch over the distances. I'm grateful for beautiful flowers. I'm grateful for breaths of fresh air. I'm grateful to be emerging from my winter "slumber". 

Who has been your friend the longest? What friendships have spanned long distances? What are the best traits you bring to a friendship?

​May we take time to stay connected. May we cherish our friends like family. Have a beautiful day!

It's mowing season again but the yard isn't the only thing in need of tending. At work I have been working with my colleague to give a fresh look to an older space. At home I have been working to clear out some of the clutter, both organizing and donating. And I have been trying to add a bit more movement into my day as well. 

I have noticed I tend to go in cycles with cleaning and organizing. It definitely spurs me more in Spring and Fall as the weather is cooler. But with my focus on doing things for myself and seeking balance I am finding the fresh looks to be very energizing too. 

I'm grateful to clear out some stuff that needed taken care of for a few months. I'm grateful to cross of a couple things from my husband's list in the process. I'm grateful to tidy my workspace so I don't feel so crowded. I'm grateful to file the stack of papers that needed filed. I'm grateful for my little one's patience and ability to entertain herself. I'm grateful to take frequent breaks to play with my kids or do something for myself. I'm grateful to be feeling more energized the more I get done.

What is on your to do list? What fresh look would you like to see in your space?

​May we move into the next season with a fresh perspective and renewed motivation. Have a beautiful day!

Kansas weather is never boring. Yesterday was sixty degrees and windy as can be. Today, blizzard conditions with temperatures in the teens and snow expected all day. It kind of makes you feel alive and energized, right?

Yesterday my exercise was walking at a toddler's pace around the beautiful park lake. Today I will be bundled head to toe and shoveling my bodyweight in snow that is deeper than my snow boots. To make it extra playful, my driveway is steeper than some of the best sledding hills in town! Woohoo! 

I'm grateful to let the weather enliven me rather than weigh me down. I'm grateful to have a backup plan today for clients that obviously had to be canceled. I'm grateful for all the companies that look out for their employees and let them stay safe at home. I'm grateful for the snow crew that has been making rounds through the city, tirelessly. I'm grateful for the beautiful day yesterday. I'm grateful for the moisture for the plants today. I'm grateful for the playfulness of a snow day. 

Does your weather give you jump starts? What weather perks you up?

May you be safe and warm today. May you find the beauty in even the most bizarre twists of weather. Have a beautiful day!

Humor is so important. Laughing is essential to my healthy state of mind. And my family clearly understands this importance because they have been cracking me up all day!

This cute little mouse prank got a good laugh when I went to grab the last plate. Kudos to my husband for getting creative. It didn't fool me for a second since it has glitter on it but it made me laugh all the same.

My girls always keep me laughing with their silly non-sensical jokes. They even give me plenty of laughs with just their commentary. "I'll give you a hint what I want for lunch...it rhymes with Jel... san...wi...." Turns out it was not Pel dan hicks. And with some mistakes that are too absurd not to laugh. "You put toothpaste on your hairbrush?! Wuahahaha!" 

And in classic mom fashion we also get some good laughs while rocking out to Raffi's "Down By the Bay" and creating our own rhymes. 

I'm so grateful for all the laughter. I'm grateful for my kids' sense of humor and their acceptance of mine. I'm grateful to my husband for putting in the effort of silly pranks. I'm grateful to hear my family laugh. I'm grateful for every morning that starts with laughter. I'm grateful for jokes. And I'm grateful my kids forgive me for laughing at some of the things they do that are just too amusing.

What makes you laugh? How can you add laughter to your day?

May today bring laughter. May you laugh heartily all the days of your life. Have a beautiful day!

This weekend we got several inches of snow. As I wrapped up work on Saturday, I suddenly felt the call to play. It is not a new call for me, of course, I tend to be a pretty playful person. Usually I carry out my playfulness with me kids. But my kids were off at my parents' house this weekend.

Rather than ignore the need for play, I followed my heart. I popped into the store to by a sled and rushed home. Our home is built on a fairly steep hill. As I stood on the sled (yes, I bought a stand on kind) and looked down the hill I felt a rush!

I wiped out four or five times going down the hill as I tried to maintain balance and steer between our garden lined with rocks and our neighbor's garden lined with pavers. Even as I crashed face first in snow over and over I couldn't help giggling with joy. This is living. This is play. This is my heart-space.

When we are doing what our heart desires, it doesn't have to go well to be enjoyable. Whatever play you enjoy that puts you in this joyous space, find a way to do it as often as possible.

I'm grateful to listen to my heart. I'm grateful to play. I'm grateful for plenty of snow to play in. I'm grateful to go for it and laugh the whole way. I'm grateful to share my sled with my kids when they got home and watch their joy too. I'm grateful for these beautiful moments.

May we all take time to play the way it speaks to our hearts. Have a beautiful day!

Today was a beautiful change of scenery. My family has pretty much kept to our own space as the covid numbers once again soar. But today I was invited to have tea with just a couple close friends and the benefit of social connection was too important to pass up. 

I'm so grateful to have this connection. I'm so grateful for the beauty of blooming tea. I'm so grateful to catch up on what is happening with friends. I'm grateful for connections that last even through pauses and changes. I'm grateful to leave the solo (family only) existence for a couple hours to spend time with friends. I'm grateful for my little one's easy-going personality as she tagged along and kept herself occupied. I'm grateful for this beautiful day!

How are you getting the connection you need these days? What little things bring beauty and light to your week?

May we all take time to nourish our soul. May we make time for the people who are important. Have a beautiful day!

One of the things my family wrote on our 2022 bucket list is to try at least one new food each month. This month we decided to help the girls explore new fruits.

Dragonfruit was an easy choice being its exotic look and fun name. The girls were so excited making their predictions on what color it would be inside and how it might taste. It was definitely a hit for both of them which is a bonus for me!

Watching my two little eaters exploring with such excitement made me remember how great new experiences can be. This pandemic has changed a lot of things. In some ways it has removed a lot of the experiences and opportunities that we used to take for granted. In other ways it has given us new adventures and new opportunities that we wouldn't have gotten creative and explored without our normal routine being in upheaval. 

I found myself complaining the other day about the lack of things to do. Then I stopped myself mid-complain and said, "actually, I'm more creative than this. Time to stop complaining and find or create something new to do!" 

It is easy to get in a rut. Routines can be so comfortable. But there is a lot to learn about and explore in this world and even if that adventure looks a little different than it used to does not mean the adventure is over. I, for one, plan to be an explorer every day of my life. So now is a great time to get back to it!

I'm grateful to catch myself and the silly box I created around my view. I'm grateful to burst out of that box and start searching for new ways to explore. I'm grateful for my sweet girls who are always great teachers. I'm grateful for their natural explorative nature. I'm grateful for dragonfruit to get us started on our food journey. I'm grateful to be researching and exploring new ways to adventure.

What will you create this week? What will you explore this month?

May we keep our nature to explore and learn no matter our age. May we adapt when needed and keep moving forward. Have a beautiful day!

The weather has been so beautiful the last few days! It is so nice to enjoy walking and seeing the autumn colors on the trees. I have been trying to soak up these warm days of sunshine before the cooler temperatures return.

I'm so grateful for days like today. I'm grateful for the way sunshine spurs me to be more productive and yet also brings me back to the present all at the same time. I'm grateful to just wander with my family, looking at leaves and wildlife. I'm grateful to learn about lady beetles and ladybugs. I'm grateful to find joy in discovering a leaf bigger than my head. I'm grateful for the majestic sycamore tree that always provides such beauty. I'm grateful to get a lot done the last few days and still have plenty of time to sit and relax and play. I'm grateful for this gorgeous time of year and the beautiful weather. I'm grateful for the beautiful Autumn colors. 

What has been helping your gratitude shine lately? Have you taken a stroll outside recently? 

May we enjoy the beauty of the seasons we witness. May we take time in each one to find joy and gratitude. Have a beautiful day! 

This weekend was packed full of fun from birthday parties to Halloween events. Every day was so full of abundance and blessings. And to add to the festivities I got creative with our food too, from ghost pancakes to bat quesadillas and mummy hotdogs. 

My daughter's enjoyed riding a unicorn and petting goats and bunnies at their friend's birthday bash. It was so nice to be with friends and enjoying time outside together.

We also got to have a fun, relaxed time celebrating my dad. I could not have asked for a better Papa to my kids or a more generous, loving dad. We are so blessed to have him as such a big part of our lives!

Halloween this year brought the return of trick-or-treating which was a first for our two year old. The neighbors did a great job of sitting outside and handing out candy in the safest ways possible. And it was so sweet how several of our neighbors even made special goodie bags for our girls as we have become more like family with them. It was a beautiful reminder of how important community and connection is to a joyous life. 

I'm so grateful for all the kind gestures of our neighbors. I'm grateful to have built good relationships with several neighbors. I'm grateful to see the joy on my girls' faces to trick-or-treat this year and feel seen and known within our neighborhood. I'm grateful to celebrate a friend this weekend. I'm grateful to celebrate my dad. I'm so grateful to have been so blessed to get him as a dad. I'm grateful for the millions of ways he has been there for me and my family! I'm grateful for the abundance of blessings that were so obvious this weekend but are always present.

What reminds you that you're blessed? When do you feel an abundance of blessings? How do you share gratitude and love with others?

May today remind us there are blessings every day. May we cherish those in our life that add to its beauty. Have a beautiful day!