When it comes to support there are different types for different situations. As a parent (especially) I get to practice all the different types.

I love accompanying my preschooler as she tries new things. I love exploring the world by her side and seeing it through her eyes. It is so fun to jump in the puddles or dance like no one is watching. And secretly I also find courage in doing some of these things together.

I love hanging back and watching my little explorer, daredevil, test out her limits. I love celebrating with her when it ends well and helping her get back up when it doesn't.

Every once in a while my daughter asks me to go first. Sometimes she needs to witness it to have the courage to try it herself. Today was one of those days and I was honored to get to be a part of her first haircut. We both walked away with cute bobs and each left about eight inches of hair on the floor. 

I'm grateful for a fun mommy daughter day with my preschooler. I'm grateful for the trust she has in me when trying new things. I'm grateful for her courage and spunk. I'm grateful to have no attachment to my hairstyle and not think twice to having it chopped to show my daughter it doesn't hurt. I'm even grateful to have cute matching bobs. I'm grateful to look forward to easy brushing tomorrow.

Who do you support by accompaniment? Who do you support by leading or having their back? And when do you need each of these types of support?

May we always find the support we need. May we give the support our loved ones need. And may we find the balance in leading, accompanying, and following. Have a beautiful day!

The gifts I wanted most for Christmas came early. Friday morning my preschooler gave me a gift I have been wanting pretty much since she was born. All I have wanted was to be able to snuggle her while she sleeps on me, when she isn't sick. 

It isn't that she isn't snuggly. If my daughter is awake or not feeling well then she is fine with snuggling. But if my daughter is awake, she is talking. She falls asleep talking and sometimes I swear she wakes up mid sentence.

Friday morning she came and crawled into bed next to me. This in itself is rare because she knows we don't let her sleep in our bed at night, but it was around six. It struck me as odd because she cuddled right into me when usually she would prefer to lie next to me without really touching much. The real shock came when she didn't start talking but instead fell back to sleep cuddled on my shoulder. I will admit I instantly assumed she was ill. But I was wrong and when we got up an hour later she was perfectly fine. I had just received the best Christmas gift she could give me.

The same day my baby girl was in the best mood. She filled the air with big belly laughs over everything from me eating to her sister jumping. Everything seemed to tickle her. Up until this point she really hasn't been big on laughing. She laughs little giggles on occasion if my finger brushes her rib while I change a diaper or if her sister does something extra silly. I can say she is a happy baby but she isn't overly giggly. Hearing her laugh big belly laughs, I thought this was the best gift she could give me for Christmas.

Little did I know my baby girl had another great gift in store. That night she slept nine straight hours! It was beautiful! Best. Gift. Ever. 

​To round out the weekend of best gifts, my parents came Saturday and my husband and I got a date night. In my book it was our best one in a long time. We got in the car with no plan but it all fell into place. We stopped for warm drinks before heading out to a local trail to walk. Despite being the Winter Solstice the sun was warm and high while we walked. We shared laughter and enjoyed the fresh air and reconnection to nature. It was perfect.

As if that weren't wonderful enough, we found a little hole in the wall kind of place that serves some authentic Chicago style food. While I didn't even know what that really meant, me husband was ecstatic so we went in. We ordered what turned out to be two delicious meals. As a bonus, while we were waiting for the meals to come out, we got to play pinball! 

I'm so grateful for my family and the perfect Christmas gifts they provided. I'm grateful to truly feel my heart overflow with joy. I'm grateful to get to snuggle my daughter while she is healthy. I'm grateful to have felt her soft snores on my neck as she cuddled in close. I'm grateful for the beautiful sound that is my baby's laugh. I'm grateful to have been blessed with an abundance of her laughter if even for the day. I'm grateful for her wonderful stretch of sleep, even if it isn't a nightly occurrence. I'm grateful she is a pretty good sleeper over all. I'm grateful to enjoy the outdoors this weekend with my husband. I'm grateful to spend the solstice outside walking the trail. I'm grateful for the laughter my husband and I shared as we reconnected. I'm grateful for the kind couple that owns Pizza Man, the Chicago style eatery. I'm grateful for a weekend of blessings and to receive the best gifts my heart could have asked.

What do you want for the holidays? What would be the best gift to your heart and soul? 

May today remind us what is important. May we celebrate the season by giving and receiving the gifts that mean the most. Have a beautiful day!

Despite a pretty good night, we were awakened at five thirty this morning by a distraught three year old who had just thrown up in her bed. Our hopes that her stomach bug had passed were tossed as we got to work on clean up and comfort.

The baby woke congested and gagged on mucous throughout the morning. She threw up a little milk a couple times too. Other than needing to be held she was pretty laid back as usual.

I couldn't help but think this morning "remember when life was simple and there was only one kid throwing up." For that matter, remember when life was simple and I only had to take care of myself. And yet even as I thought these things, with a laugh, I had to admit I wouldn't change it. I wouldn't change the sick days or even the tantrum days if it meant missing one single smile or hug from my girls.

There are moms out there who have this blessing taken away. There are moms out there that never get to physically become moms, only dream, wish, and pray. So I will take every single day as a blessing with my girls even if it means cleaning up some puke. 

I'm grateful my life isn't "simple" anymore. I'm grateful for each day I get to see my girls' beautiful, loving faces. I'm grateful to get to be home with them today as we worked through their separate symptoms. I'm grateful for the love and care I feel taking care of them. I'm grateful to be a mom after years of thinking this dream would never come true. I'm grateful my preschooler was a trooper and handled throwing up like a champ. I'm grateful that (hopefully) her stomach is on the mend and tomorrow can be a day on the mend. I'm grateful for all the time I got holding the baby and getting nothing else done, because these days are rare and going by too fast. I'm grateful for this beautiful life.

What is NOT simple in your life? How has it enhanced your life and who you are as a person? 

May today make life a little blessedly complicated. May we rise to the occasion and find gratitude along the way. Have a beautiful day!

I had one of those moments this evening where I just had to laugh at myself. I was driving and letting my mind wander over the idea that this year is almost over. It has been a big year of change with pregnancy and then the addition of our youngest daughter.

There is a little over a month until 2020 and these last weeks always fly by with the holidays. In my mind I was beginning to formulate what my 2020 theme would be and what key words and pictures might capture that in my new year's vision board. I reflected on the parts of my vision board from this year that I manifested and which I let go.

Notice I did not say which things I am still trying to manifest. As I thought on my current vision board I have written off the things not carried out. It isn't that I feel I'm giving up on them but rather my priorities and vision have changed from when I made the board in January. Instead I am looking forward to the next one in January.

Wait! This is that moment I had to give a chuckle. If my vision board is no longer fitting and I already have clear ideas and intentions of what I want to shift to next...why am I waiting?! Why is a date on the calendar dictating when I begin?

Every moment of every day is an opportunity to create what we desire. I know this. I have said this a hundred times! So why am I waiting? Time to move forward whether it is January first or not. My "new year" starts now.

I'm grateful to laugh at myself. I'm grateful to see the humor in this lapse. I'm grateful to envision my future and put that vision in physical form. I'm grateful for the beautiful changes that happened this year and I'm grateful for how it shifted me and my goals. I'm grateful for all the visions I achieved or am moving toward already and I'm grateful to let others go that no longer suit my dreams. I'm grateful to start my new year now.

What are you waiting to do? Why are you waiting? How can you take the first step today?

May today be the mark of an opportunity seized. May we take the steps needed to go after our dreams. Have a beautiful day!

When I woke up today I didn't think about what lessons I would teach my daughters. I didn't write out a list of things to remember to teach them, and not just because it was a school day. My preschooler, in particular, will provide a million opportunities without me needing to even think about it. 

My preschooler loves learning. She loves soaking up new information and then telling it to the next person she sees. 

Today's lessons seemed extra impactful... to me. This morning I said I loved the sunshine. My preschooler responded "but not in my eyes. It hurts when the sun is in my eyes." Rather than just say "true" and move on; I felt a little stirring in my soul. Yes, that's right, my life became a musical as I informed my daughter there was a song about that very thing. Then I broke out in an off pitch rendition of John Denver's "Sunshine on My Shoulders". She giggled and asked me to sing it again. 

Later when I picked her up from school it was warm and sunny. I decided to park the car and pick her up in person rather than in the drive thru. As she does on all nice, dry days she asked if she could have some time to roll down the hill. Of course! After a few times up and down the hill she surprised me. "Mommy, will you roll with me?" The playful child in me gave an instant yes as I plopped the infant carrier with the baby down in the grass out of the way. I will admit there was a part of me that looked at the long carpool line and even the dad picking up his daughter from my daughter's same class and thought "should I be doing this?" Luckily that voice was much quieter as I proceeded to roll down the hill in a race with my daughter to see who could roll fastest. Life is too short to not play and she is growing up too fast to miss these invitations over something silly like what other people may think. I hope I can teach that to my kids by modeling it every chance I get.

It isn't a one way road though. My daughters teach me too. Listening to a song in the car this afternoon I felt myself get a little emotional. I told my preschooler, "I want you to know that as you get bigger you will make some mistakes, everyone does, but that I will love you no matter what. I will always be here for you even if you can't see me. Ok?" She said, "Yeah, I know. Besides if I can't see you I can just look around or maybe call for you. Then when I see you I can run and jump in your arms!" She may not have a firm grasp on this growing up stuff but she sure knows what my mommy heart needs to hear. I'm grateful to be reminded that love can be so solid and unwavering.

And not to be left out my baby daughter taught me today that even though you've changed a full diaper that doesn't mean there isn't another explosion lurking a few minutes down the road. Thanks for the reminder baby girl. Haha! She also reminds me to be more present and enjoy the moments she is awake as she is growing too fast.

I'm grateful for a day of important lessons. I'm grateful to let go of opinions of others and do what makes me happy. I'm grateful to have this playful nature. I'm grateful to be invited to join in today. I'm grateful to do all that rolling without throwing up. I'm grateful to have gotten a little grass stain on my pants...its been too long. I'm grateful to see my daughters' joy. I'm grateful for their laughs that is the best sound in this world. I'm grateful for love and for all we teach each other as we grow.

Who is your biggest teacher? What lessons did you learn today?

​May today remind us that every moment is an opportunity. May we find beauty in the lessons. Have a beautiful day!

I think at some point we have all said, "I would love to do that" or "that would be an awesome accomplishment." But how many of these ideas have we really followed? Some of them are not really our hearts' desire but others simple get lost in the day to day grind.

So what if we take the time to dream? What if you had to change jobs tomorrow? What would you do? What if for some reason you had to relocate? Where would you go? And are the answers you give based on what is easiest or what you would truly desire?

When we were kids we dreamed all the time. I want to be an astronaut. I want to be a teacher AND a veterinarian. The possibilities were endless. Once upon a time I wanted to be a National Geographic photographer. I wanted to dive into the deepest caverns and hike through the wilderness in search of that perfect shot. It was one of many creams I have had and I'm not saying all of them were meant to come true. But how many did I even try to pursue?

I'm not saying this from a place of shame or disappointment. I love the path I've chosen. Rather I'm speaking from the place that knows how important dreaming is to my spirit. The possibilities are endless and I have the power to change course at any time so why not keep dreaming and actually try out a new thing or two? 

I have a big family so it provides a lot of inspirational people. One cousin not only built up an amazing photography and boutique business but recently was featured in Fashion Week. It was amazing to watch her dreams unfolding! Another cousin has done all kinds of things from Zumba instructor to flight attendant and seems to have an amazing gift of brightening any room. She is an inspiration on just going for it and smiling along the way. These are just two of the dozens of people in my life that inspire me to keep dreaming.

I'm grateful for all the inspiration. I'm grateful for a big family that provides lots of love and inspiration. I'm grateful to have pursued several dreams and seen them come to fruition. I'm grateful to keep dreaming. I'm grateful to feel the wheels turning as something new is brewing. I'm grateful for all the possibilities. I'm grateful to play and imagine all that is possible. I'm grateful to trust I will know which ones to pursue.

What do you dream? What will you be? What path will you take next? Where will you go?

May today bring inspiration and imagination. May we play with the possibilities. Have a beautiful day!  

When my three year old forgets her manners or starts to have a meltdown instead of just asking for what she needs we offer her a redo. It is a chance to take a breath and try again. It is a way of reminding her to use her words and manners while also giving her grace to still possibly receive what she wanted. 

It works for other things too. If I swoop her up to carry her upstairs to bed she can ask for a redo to climb the stairs herself if I forgot to ask if she wanted carried. 

Tonight was my chance to ask for a redo. I lost my temper right before it was time for her dad to take her to bed. I was left feeling very sad about how I had handled the situation and also sad I had missed out on a bedtime hug. I needed to make it right, so I asked for a redo. 

Her dad got her out of bed to come to the doorway. We got our hugs and I got to apologize. I got to tell her my "thank yous" for the day on what I thought she did really well and how much I love her. She got to tell me how much she loves me and misses me while she sleeps. 

Some people may say that teaching her she can have a redo doesn't prepare her for real life. There are certainly some things we can't redo and can't undo. Having a redo this way isn't about rewinding and pretending it didn't happen; it is about the grace of admitting a mistake and making amends as best we can. It's a lesson that isn't limited to preschoolers. In fact I think it is a powerful lesson for her to see that Mommy is human, and humbled by her own need to redo sometimes.

I'm grateful to have a redo. I'm grateful for my husband's help and support. I'm grateful to be humbled when I mess up. I'm grateful to still be blessed with hugs and snuggles from two precious girls. I'm grateful to have the opportunity to teach my girls so much. I'm grateful to be able to be home with them a good portion of the week. I'm grateful to love and be loved. And I'm grateful that when I make a mistake I can find grace waiting for me.

When do you need a redo? How do you go about making amends? If you have children, how do you teach them this valuable skill?

May we all find grace for our mistakes. May we be strong enough to admit our stumbles so we can grow each day. Have a beautiful day!

One week from today I will return to work. I cannot complain, I will have had eight full weeks off. It is two more weeks than I took with my first and it was much needed. 

After my first daughter I rushed back to work for financial reasons and physically was not ready. I pushed through but it was not what was best. This time I hoped to wait until I was physically ready but also the timing was just not right for me going back earlier. Between school starting back up and my daughter's third birthday we all really needed me home this extra time. 

I will admit that I am a little nervous about going back. I know my husband will adapt amazingly to having the girls by himself in the evening. I know the girls will do well having their daddy time. And I know I will even do well to have some time away to recharge. But there will always be that little pull on the heartstrings for me. It is my reminder of what is truly important to me. My heart is always with my family no matter how much I enjoy my job.

I'm grateful to have a full schedule of clients to welcome my return. I'm grateful for a job I love. I'm grateful to feel I am making a positive difference in people's lives through my job. I'm grateful for a schedule that allows me or my husband to be with our girls each day. I'm grateful for these weeks home with my family to bond and adjust. I'm grateful for the tug at my heart that reminds me what is most important. I'm grateful for my amazing family and to be so blessed to spend most my day with my girls.

What is your favorite thing about your job? What calls to your heart while you are working? What is most important to you in your life?

May we recognize what matters most and cherish the ones we love. May we find balance within our wants and needs. Have a beautiful day!

Nine years ago my life felt like it was crumbling apart. My marriage was ending and the tunnel seemed too deep for there to be light on the other end. Yet today I can look back and the sting of those wounds seem dulled and ancient. 

Unfortunately I have a friend going through something similar. I have a loved one feeling a similar sting. And I stand by and watch as their lives feel like they are shattering all around them. It is sand paper over my own healed wounds. I know they will get through this. I know it is happening for a reason. Someday they will be able to look back from a place in the sunshine. But there are no words to make it better in this moment.

I'm grateful wounds heal with time. I'm grateful to have faith that the people I care about will find the light again. I'm grateful to be here for them as they were there for me. I'm grateful to be with a an amazing man who is good and loving and faithful. I'm grateful for the beautiful family we have together. I'm grateful that dream came true. And I'm grateful for the crumbling that had to happen to clear the way for these blessings.

When has your life crumbled to give way to something better? Who were there for you in your time of need? Can they count on you in the same way?

May we have faith that the rebuild is always worth the fall. May we let go of the past and allow old wounds to heal. And may we, as a society, make more effort to grow love and supportive relationships with the people around us. Have a beautiful day!

My oldest daughter will turn three in one month. I can't believe how the time haws flown. In these three years she has proved to be an exceptional child. She is observant, precocious, stubborn, with the most joyously infectious personality I think I've ever met. 

She has been picking out her outfits since she was barely one year old. Her fashion sense and mine do not generally agree but I do my best to guide a little and give as much fashion freedom as I can. Currently she is very into skirts and tutus. 

Back in the Spring, my daughter's school had an art show. I had the privilege of helping set up for it and one of the tasks I got to be a part of was helping the kids paint a skirt for the art teacher to wear on the big night. Yes, you read that right. The art teacher made a white skirt and let each student add a little paint decoration to it for a completely custom art show outfit. I love this art teacher and all her creativity! 

My daughter talked about the skirt for weeks. So with her birthday approaching I asked her if she would like to make a special birthday outfit rather than buy one. She emphatically said yes! And just like that we were off to the fabric and craft store to get some supplies. 

Currently my sweet daughter's favorite color is white. In all the years I have worked with preschool age children I believe she is the first kid I have known to claim white as their favorite color. This made it easy to find a t-shirt to paint! One white t-shirt, check. Next we went to the fabric section to pick out the tulle for a special birthday tutu. Much to my surprise she decided she wanted lime green tulle only but with white ribbon trim. Hopefully what I can pull off is satisfactory to the image she has in her head. 

There are three things I love most about this project. One, it honors creativity and her own sense of style. Two, it will allow her to be part of the process and show her how capable she is as she designs and carries out helping make her outfit. Three, it is one of those bonding moments that I will cherish forever as we get to spend this special time together.

I'm so grateful for my daughter's awesome art teacher. I'm grateful for this fun idea of making a special outfit. I'm grateful to have some basic sewing skills and an abundance of creativity myself. I'm grateful to do creative projects with my daughter and watch her excitement. I'm grateful for my daughter's strong personality and fashion sense. I'm grateful to try my best to honor her and let her be herself. I'm grateful for these moments that I will cherish forever.

What is a memory you will always cherish? How do you make things special, whether it be an outfit, a birthday, or just a moment in time? What is your creative outlet?

May today remind us to honor each other as uniquely beautiful beings. May we take every opportunity to create cherished memories. Have a beautiful day!