This is the morning of my week that requires a little extra oomph. Instead of taking a shower and then getting my girls ready for the day; I wrangle a dog into the shower, then each of my girls and finally do a quick shower myself. It is a process for sure but much faster than giving everyone a separate bath. 

On this particular morning I also had some vacuuming to do because my vacuuming day is Thanksgiving this week. I am grateful for my vacuum and a clean house...but I am not using it on Thanksgiving if I don't have to!

In the midst of everything I am feeling excited and a little nervous as I took on another commitment starting December 1st. I did something for myself that I have always wanted to do. I joined a book club. It is a weekly one that is only for the month of December so it is quite a commitment. 

When I was asked to join my initial reaction was "I absolutely can't take on one more thing!" I mean I'm working and navigating the covid cancelations and surveys and precautions, homeschooling, raising two girls, caring for an ailing dog, treating our house for the fleas she had, trying to maintain the house and spend some few minutes a day with my husband...oh and blogging. Some days it feels like a lot! 

Something stopped me from saying no. Perhaps it was the book that was going to be discussed and how it resonated especially as I process a recent loss. Perhaps it was a need to reconnect with these friends that I have not gotten to physically be with during the pandemic. Perhaps it was just wanting to do something for ME and it being one thing I've been wanting to do for years. No matter what the reason I finally told myself, "I can do this." And if keeping up with everyone else doesn't work, the worst that happens is I read when I can and chat with them later. Either way there is nothing to lose if I am moving forward with grace.

The most important factor in success is in what we tell ourselves. How are we going to frame it? What defines failure anyway? Success is only gained from trying and believing in ourselves is the first step.

I'm grateful to give myself some faith. I'm grateful to believe I can do this. I'm grateful to believe this book has something to offer even as it is different from my usual type of books (or possibly BECAUSE it is different). I'm grateful to say yes when I could have said no. I'm grateful to give myself this opportunity. I'm grateful for my friends inviting me. I'm grateful for a productive morning and a day of leisure and thanks tomorrow. I'm grateful for all my husband's help in cleaning and in helping with the shower shuffle of children. 

What can you reframe today? Where can you give yourself some grace and where can you believe in yourself a little more? What is one thing you have been wanting to do?

May today give us the boost of self-confidence to say yes. May we take the opportunities as they come and know it will work out as it is meant to work out. Have a beautiful day!

We decided to go on a short weekend camping trip. Isn't that the whole beauty of owning a camper? So off we went, just the five of us, on a little getaway just an hour away. 

It was only our second time camping with our little camper so there were still a few kinks to work out. We are figuring out a routine of how things need loaded and what needs brought along. There were a couple hiccups as things got forgotten, but nothing we couldn't make do without. 

I managed to get us ninety percent packed Friday so that when my husband got off work we could head out quickly. We knew we needed to be home before noon Sunday so that we could still meet up for family lunch. It gave us all day Saturday to just enjoy nature and family time.

When we camp we all get less sleep. We are up later but usually wake at the same time, sometimes earlier. We skip the baby's morning nap unless she grabs it as we hike but we do still try to take some time to rest in the afternoon. 

This trip we got to explore and play in a lake. I hadn't thought about it but it was my preschooler's first time in a lake. Having grown up around a lake it hadn't occurred to me the newness of seeing it through my kids' eyes as they experienced it for the first time. There was sand! There were waves! Look at the boats! 

Even making the hike back to the campground solo, carrying two crying kids and our stuff was still a memory worth making. (One kiddo got sand in her eye, the other cut her hand on a rock, and Dad was back at camp already making dinner.) We got to see a whole group of deer eating, take evening walks, and even took a whole family, snuggly nap. 

We got home, unloaded in record time, showered and made it to family lunch just a few minutes behind schedule. There is no question that I am completely exhausted. But it is the best kind of tired I could ask for at the end of a weekend. It is a tired full of memories made, moments shared, and treasures to cherish. 

I'm so grateful for our camper. I'm grateful for this trip. I'm grateful for the beautiful memories we made and will be able to keep making. I'm grateful for my girls' love of nature and getting dirty. I'm grateful the baby can be entertained for hours with just the gravel of the camp pad. I'm grateful for the renewed life our trips have brought out in my sweet dog, who is 14 years old. I'm grateful my preschooler is so inquisitive and wants to learn about everything. I'm grateful for my husband's sense of adventure that equals my own. I'm grateful to just say, "let's do it." whether "it" is a last minute trip or swimming even when I forgot a suit for myself. I'm grateful to seize the moment and live fully.

What is your best tired? What is your favorite way to seize the moment? How are you finding ways to live fully even in these odd times?

May we find plenty of moments to live fully. May we embrace the moment and float on the waves. Have a beautiful day!

Last night I stayed up later than usual so I could watch the tribute to John Lewis. He was a great man and I wonder why it is that we celebrate people so much more in death. I knew some of the great things he had done but I learned even more last night. He modeled what it means to be the change we wish to see. He didn't just speak it, he acted!

I have good ideas. I have a good heart. But I will admit that up until a few months ago I was incredibly naive to all the ways racism is ingrained in our country. I have been learning. I have a long way to go in the learning process and I will never fully understand. I hope to educate myself so I can raise my girls to be better, know more, and have those blinders removed. But is that it? Is that where it stops? Is educating the next generation enough?

Isn't that just saying that they will fix it? Are we really going to leave our messes for our children to clean up? And would we really be okay letting injustices go on in the meantime?! 

I realized last night from my place on the couch just how little I have DONE. I talk about being the change and I try to put positive messages out int he world and help those who come to me. But when I really break it down, the people I help are either paying me or friends and family. There are very few instances of deep help that I have given just to give and this awareness hurts my heart. 

I could say it begins with me but to be frank and honest that is complete b.s. It doesn't start with me because the crusade has been going for decades. The mere fact that it hasn't gotten further is heartbreaking and angering all at the same time. I will not let these feelings be pushed down and placated, I will put them to use. I will quit merely talking about being the change and start acting. 

John Lewis was a brother and friend to this country. He saw the ways it could be better and he acted. We owe it to him to keep the fight going. We must not let his efforts stop just because he is gone. Our children deserve to live in a country that is free. Everyone deserves to be free and until every person can be treated with equal respect, dignity, and rights, we are not free. 

Please stand with me. Don't let the sign in the yard be "enough". Don't let a couple shared Facebook posts be the end of your effort. Look in the eyes of every child, of every color, of every background, and of every orientation and see the divine child there. This has gone on long enough. It is time to stand. Who out there is willing to throw away your blinders, apologize for not seeing it sooner and stand for what is right?

I'm grateful to feel this passion surge through me. I'm grateful to have watched this special tribute. I'm grateful to witness the guilt I feel and know that I can start making changes today. I'm grateful for John Lewis and everyone who has been fighting this battle longer than they should have had to. I'm grateful for their persistence and their willpower. I'm grateful for the ways they made change happen. I'm grateful for a model to strive toward. 

Rest in peace, Mr. Lewis. Know that we will win this fight. There will be freedom.

What will you choose? Silence is a side. 

May we fight for the country we were promised, with freedom and liberty for all. May we let go of white privilege knowing we only win when we have true equality. Let your passions spark and find a way to make change. Have a beautiful, powerful day.

Today marks one year since my sweet baby surprised us by arriving a month early. Somehow stepping into motherhood a second time was... maybe not easier, but definitely more graceful. I have learned so much (again) this second time around.

This has certainly been a crazy year with lots of curveballs but it was made more beautiful by having this sweet child in the world. Staying home during covid gave me the opportunity to really play with my girls. It gave me the opportunity to see my baby crawl for the first time. Most of all it gave me the reminder of what is important. 

Baby girl, you are shy yet sassy. You don't let yourself get pushed around but you are always ready for a snuggle. You reserve your smiles for the worthy moments which makes them all the more beautiful when they shine through. I am so blessed to get to be your mama and nurture the person you will grow into. 

May you always find a reason to smile. May you live life to the fullest in your own unique way. May you chase your dreams with a passion and not let anyone back you down. May you always know how deeply loved you are! May you let yourself shine in all your unique ways.

I'm so grateful to have been blessed with a second daughter. I'm so grateful for all the ways being a mom has helped me grow into a better person. I'm grateful to learn from my children every day. I'm grateful for the surprise that happened one year ago today as my baby chose her own arrival date. I'm grateful for all the beautiful memories we have created this year and I'm grateful for all the moments to come. I'm grateful for your dimples and your snuggles. I'm grateful for every day I get to wake to your sweet face. I'm grateful to know love much deeper than I ever knew before kids. 

How can you celebrate you today? What steps are you taking to reach your dreams? Who helped you get to this point?

May today remind us to celebrate each moment with the ones we love. May we remember the world needs our unique beauty to shine. Have a beautiful day!

I have been so focused on everything that is going on and the short term. It was nice to take a break today and look a little further into the future. It was nice to construct some dreams and take steps to making them reality.

I read a study several years ago that said it was good for your mental health to plan a trip. The study said people who were planning a trip and looking forward to going somewhere were happier and mentally healthier. The study also found that people were actually happier while planning the trip than actually taking it.

It makes sense. There is all the excitement and anticipation in planning and none of the "plot twists" and hiccups that actually going may entail. For the last several years I have held on to this idea and when I am feeling low I will plan a trip.

After being cooped up at home for the majority of the last four months, however, I am seeing the very real need to physically go somewhere. Even if there are hiccups and plot twists and tantrums from two kiddos who haven't been socialized well for a third of a year; we still need a change of scenery. 

I'm grateful to plan. I'm grateful for the uplift just this tiny step makes in my mood. I'm grateful to take it a step farther and take steps toward getting a camper for our family. I'm grateful to see nature calling and a clear path to achieving our goals in this category. I'm grateful for the excitement our preschooler has over the idea too. I'm grateful for all the things that fell into place for this to be possible. I'm grateful to have a solution for getting out in this crazy time.

What are your dreams? How are you working toward them today? If you could travel anywhere, where would you go?

​May today remind us to dream. May we take steps each day to reach the dreams that will fulfill our hearts. Have a beautiful day!

Things are beginning to open back up. The numbers seem to be holding steady so far without a spike in cases. The light at the end of the tunnel seems to be glimmering ahead. 

I got to take the first active steps in planning for my return to work and was met with eager responses. But what is the new normal? There are new protocols and measures in place which means different scheduling. My coworkers and I have to do more co-planning. 

It is also an opportunity to create the schedule I want now that my family has slowed down and re-prioritized. It is a chance to hold my boundaries. It is a chance to rebuild.

I'm grateful for this opportunity. I'm grateful to feel the pull in all directions to remind me what I don't want. I'm grateful to create how things will look moving forward with my husband's input. I'm grateful for a flexible family. I'm grateful for a great client community and an eager welcome back. I'm grateful to love what I do and look forward to creating this new normal.

What will your new normalcy be as we move forward? How do you want your life to look?

May we make conscious steps moving forward to create the path we want. May we have the courage to step out of the ruts of where we have been. May we find joy, beauty, and gratitude as we move forward. Have a beautiful day!

As the state and city begin making plans for re-opening there are a lot of questions and uncertainty. Divided beliefs on whether or not it is safe to re-open and to what extent rings out from every outlet. 

Who will re-open and when? Who will attend and with what precautions? I have gotten survey after survey in my email as every place from my girls' swim school to the local children's museum to our bank try to get an idea when people will return for business. Meanwhile, I find myself searching for the same information on when I can safely assist my clients again without much guidance from the organizations that were full of leadership in shutting us down.

The financial hardship caused during this pandemic is having impacts on every level. My daughter's school has decided to close permanently. It was a beautiful school where teachers were like extended family and the loss cuts deep for me, and more so for my preschooler who is already struggling with her world being turned upside down. When she asks where her friends will go and who will be her teacher now I have no answers. 

I sit in this place of discomfort knowing I am at a crossroads. I could change everything going forward or nothing. I have been given an opportunity and yet I have not got the sleep or focus to make clear decisions. It is sitting in the midst of a hurricane and being asked, "Which flooring do you want when you rebuild your home? Will the cabinets be painted?" 

Part of me feels stuck. The other part of me whats to race around and "fix" everything with any plan I can find just to not feel this discomfort and uncertainty. But what if I just sit with this feeling? What happens if I don't stuff it or brush it aside OR cling to it? What if I just feel it? 

When I actually sit and say, "I don't know..." then I feel a small whisper calling,"yet". When I just sit and allow myself to feel the overwhelm and fear...it actually starts to melt away. Not because I have a solution or because I am covering it up but rather because deep down, when I allow myself to hear it, I have a deep trust.

It is a trust in the river continuing to flow even as its course is changing. It is a trust in things moving forward however they are meant to move. It is a trust in myself to make the best choices from what presents itself and trusting that the path will present itself. It is a trust that I am not in this alone but rather am so very supported by so many loving and wonderful people in my life. It is a trust that I am brave enough to make changes that need made even if it makes waves. It is a trust that this storm will pass like every one that has come before. And it is a trust that everything happens for a reason and this will help me make changes and navigate my best course. It is a trust that sitting in discomfort for a little while will ultimately bring me the joy and peace I was seeking. 

I'm grateful to just sit. I'm grateful to allow the feelings to flow. I'm grateful to hear that little voice whispering the most important word, yet. I'm grateful for trust. I'm grateful for all the support and love I'm blessed with each day. I'm grateful for health. I'm grateful for options. I'm grateful to see so many paths laid out in front of me and knowing that it is my choice which way to go. I'm grateful to pause and make the next steps consciously and purposefully.

What are you sitting with today? What whispers do you hear? What do you trust?

May today remind us we have survived one hundred percent of our challenges so far. May we have confidence and trust as we make our next steps. May we find support at each turn. Have a beautiful day!

Today I am drawing on something I learned several years ago. I read a positive psychology article about the power of planning a vacation. The article said feelings of happiness increased just by planning a trip and that happiness was actually higher in the planning a trip than actually taking it. Basically taking the trip added the stress element of hiccups in the plan and the stress that travel can bring. 

Well I am sitting in a great place then! We all are. We have plenty of time to dream and plan that trip we want to take. So today, I dream! I plan big! I imagine that month long trip with my family in our new tent or, hey, maybe that camper we have been dreaming about will be added. 

At the same time I am looking back through old pictures. For Christmas I got a picture frame, one of those huge picture frames that holds like 24 pictures. I decided it would be fun to add some of my first born's baby pictures into the frame as well as the recent photos. It is always fun seeing how similar the girls looked at different stages. 

I'm grateful to use some creativity to boost the mood. It may be raining outside but on my vacation it will be sunshine and cool breezes! I'm grateful for something to help my mind wander. I'm grateful for my girls that keep the days so busy. I'm grateful for all the beautiful pictures we have of our girls. I'm grateful for strong genes that make it fun to see the stages of each girl. I'm grateful for their differences too. I'm grateful for time to think and space to dream.

Where would you go if you could go anywhere? What pictures bring you joy? Do you have them up where you can easily see them?

May today remind us to keep dreaming and imagining our best life. May we dream bigger and love deeper as we re-emerge in the world. Have a beautiful day!

As I looked out my front door on this stormy morning I was captured by the beauty of the clouds. Perhaps it was how dark some of them looked rolling in or perhaps it was the light peeking through. It was beautiful!

My daughter looked at me like I had lost my mind when I dashed to grab my camera and snap some photos. She looked out the same door I was looking out and asked, "what are you taking a picture of?" I told her how beautiful the sky looked. She looked at it and looked back at me saying, "it's cloudy." 

When I finished taking pictures she asked to see them. She studied them in an attention to detail she was born with, taking in the sky through my lens. Then she asked, "what did you see?" I showed her how the sunlight was coming through the clouds and the contrast of the darker and lighter clouds. She smiled and told me that it was a "nice contrast, Mommy" patting my arm like I had lost a few marbles. Perhaps I have after being up since 3 am on less than five hours sleep, but I still stand by the beauty I choose to see. 

I have been letting dreams fill my mind. No, not the sleeping kind...obviously from my last paragraph THAT hasn't happened. Instead I have been letting dreams fuel my thoughts instead of fears. Rather than focus on not being able to do massage, I am realizing this is a calling to come back to my coaching or maybe a new endeavor that I had put off because of the routine. 

So with that in mind, I ask you the same question I have been asking myself. Where will you shine? What dream has been waiting for a moment just like this to use as a catalyst for change? What do you want to emerge doing and LIVING on the other side of this?

I'm grateful for passion. I'm grateful for purpose. I'm grateful to love what I do but love what I could be doing more. I'm grateful for this grand opportunity that threw me out of routine and opened my eyes to this beautiful question. I'm grateful to take action. I'm grateful to let myself shine!

May today light the little spark inside all of us that leads us to a better place. May we choose to chase our dreams and let this be the beginning of a new and beautiful adventure. Have a beautiful day!

I try to use creativity when it comes to meals and snacks. It is fun for my daughter and adds some fun to my day as well. I could give my daughter a plate of cheese, crackers, fruits and veggies and be done...or I could make a face! 

Our fun with food has translated into her telling me what animal she wants to take for snack when it's her turn to provide for her class. We then figure out how to make that animal. We have done everything from butterflies to bears and even things like boats. It is a lot of fun and keeps things playful. 

Today we were attempting bear snacks so yesterday we made bear shaped pancakes with blueberry eyes. Banana chunks completed the noses. They weren't perfect but we sure had fun working together to make them.

Most of the time when we do pancakes we make "cloud" pancakes. That means I pour them in lumpy cloud shapes and then we try to guess what they look like, as you would with passing clouds. Imagination is a great tool.

My day is much the same way. It looks how I make it to look. I could look outside at the grey clouds and feel the drag of my lack of sleep this week. I could make my day "blah". Or I could look at the fun creative things my daughter and I did today. I could focus on my husband's help or the baby's cuddles. I could even focus on getting some time to get a few things done today. I could "create" my day in a beautiful way. It doesn't happen every day, but when I remember to use my creative side I can make my day look pretty great just the way it was.

I'm grateful for a good imagination. I'm grateful my daughter has a great imagination to keep me on my game. I'm grateful to strive to make things fun and playful. I'm grateful for the energy boost it gives me to find fun activities and playful snacks. I'm grateful for a playful day. I'm grateful for how the schedule worked out smoothly today. I'm grateful for my amazing husband that came to my aid. I'm grateful to (maybe) get a good night's sleep!

What are you creating? How do you choose to make your day, your drive, your dinner?

May today add a little fun to the schedule. May we spark our creativity in whatever way brings us joy. Have a beautiful day!