My Rainy Day Sunshine

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It’s been raining here in California and we are so thankful. It poured all day and made us want to stay indoors and enjoy the sounds of the pitter patter on the sky lights. We need rain and I hope it continues falling all week.

We finally went outside around 2pm to watch Charlie’s basketball game. As we walked up to the gym, we saw this beautiful rainbow. I love rainbows and think they’re so magical. You have to be present to “win.”

After the game, we decided to have a coffee date. But lately we’ve been really into drinking bubble teas. If you want to know more about what these are, check them out on wikipedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bubble_tea We can’t get enough of the tapioca pearls and love trying new flavors. We keep visiting the various tea shops around Silicon Valley, trying to find our favorite mix.

Today Juliana tried a peach tea. Jeff tried a green milk tea and I was in LOVe loVe with my genmai brown rice tea with extra tapioca pearls. The boys chose to go next door for a McFlurry and everyone was happy.

Because of the rain and because of my back pain, we are slowing down and I have to say I am loving the change. Would love for the pinched nerve to disappear, but hanging out together with my family and doing less is actually a beautiful thing.

Love this life. Love the rain. And love my little Miss Sunshine.

Hope you had a good weekend and that you’re rested and ready to move forward into next week.

7Feb2015

The Simple Things

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I went for a spontaneous walk today with one of my BFFs and these are a few things that made me smile, in addition to the three+ miles we walked and chatted the entire way.

I also accomplished a goal today by finishing a book that I began so long ago. It is hard for me to sit still and to read and today I sat for two hours this morning and finished it. This made me incredibly happy and proud and I’m ready to start the next one.

How was your day? What did you do or not do that made you smile?

We had friends join us for another raclette dinner and enjoyed the art of cooking and chatting and sharing. It’s late and I’m tired so it’s off to sleep I go. Sweet dreams!

6Feb2015

The Power Of Women

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Today I am thankful for all the women in my life. I love the men too. It’s just the women that give me energy.

I started off my day with coffee and chatting with a group of women who gathered to share parenting stories. I learned so much from them and didn’t want the hour to end. There is power when women gather, acknowledge one another, and lift each other up. The art of communication and sharing is a gift to each of us.

I spent the afternoon with a dear friend who recently had surgery. Usually she is working and we don’t have as much time to share. Today I was oddly thankful that we are both injured and had time to recover, together. Our routines have been shaken up. I don’t want us to have to experience pain, but somehow there was a joy in this new space and knowing that we are growing old together. We understand each other. It’s ok to be in pain. It’s ok to not be able to do what we usually do, and we’re doing it together.

I came home to rest for awhile before picking up kids, and had a conversation with my mama. She’s fighting a nasty cold and has a cast on her broken hand. She didn’t even know she had two broken bones and carried on for a week before going in for x-rays. She’s my hero. When you’re a mama, you still have work to do, even with a cough and swollen hand. You just keep doing your best and try to rest, and you patiently wait to feel normal again. I was thankful that she understands me and I understand her. I loved sharing a virtual cup of tea together over the phone.

I got to talk with both my sisters today too. Even though we don’t live close to each other, knowing how they’re doing and hearing about their loves and challenges and sharing our joys and struggles makes me feel connected and loved. I love these two souls and am so thankful my mama gave me sisters.

There were emails and texts and phone calls today that made me smile. The power of women. The power of connection. The power of taking care of each other. The power of listening to one another and being a witness to this wonderful, chaotic, crazy life and navigating it together.

Be love. Be loving. BeLoveRs.

xo with gratitude for being wonderful you xo

5Feb2015

Love Wins

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I was and am sad today. I am still dealing with neck/shoulder/back pain and I am not liking it. I am accepting it and am aware that I am aging and I don’t like this reflection of reality, even though I get it.

Instant gratification is not an option. I understand that healing takes time and patience and I have to wait. Ok. I surrender. I just don’t like it.

When I don’t like something, I get quiet. I take time to reflect and feel it and sit with the uncomfortable feeling. I know this won’t last forever, that feelings are fleeting, but even knowing so, I still feel sad, and I stay quiet.

I quietly folded the laundry and did chores after my physical therapy appointment. Dinner was already ready, as ML and I cooked earlier in the week together, so all I had to do was wait for everyone to get home and heat things up.

This created space and time. I was looking forward to sitting on the couch with a cup of coffee and reading this afternoon, since I had “nothing” to do. Whenever I get quiet, it’s like the kids just know something is wrong and they want to be right with me and in my space.

They want to comfort me and want my attention. It’s like they have a 6th sense. My kids are usually busy too, doing their own things.

But when I get quiet and less busy, suddenly they aren’t busy anymore and they become attached. First I get frustrated by this, and then I surrender and all is good. We laugh and play and just enjoy each others’ company.

They love me and I love them and they want my happy spirit to come back. I surrender. Love wins. It always does. Goodbye, pain. I’ve got more lovin’ to do.

4Feb2015

Love vs Hate

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I choose Love.

I celebrate Love every day.

I am sickened and saddened to my core by the hatred that (I don’t even want to mention their name here) a group of barbaric, uncivilized creatures could hurt another human being with such torture. It reminds me of the days of Hitler and how a group of people, if we were to call them that, could bring such harm to others in such inhumane ways. This is not just and I don’t understand.

I know that there is a yin to my yang, but this is hard core and hard to believe.

Sending Love to Muadh al-Kasasbeh’s family and wishing you peace.

Namaste.

3Feb2015

Love Month

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It’s Valentine’s Month. I know – typically we call it Valentine’s Day, but I love to celebrate love every day, and even more so during the days of February. Yes, I am sappy, but you already know that.

I had some grand plans to create special valentine’s for one person each day during the month, but instead I’ve set an intention for each special someone each day and have gotten so far as to send a quick text message.

I’m not sure that counts 100%, but maybe it counts for the thought? And for the moment that I’m writing to my BeLoveD, I do think of them with love and also about what I love about them.

Yes, my life is busy and full just the way I love it to be – and I haven’t made this Love Project the top of my priority list, even though it should be!! I’d like to think that I’m loving those in my circle of love by cooking and cleaning and shopping and chatting and driving here and there and working on spreadsheets and sharing great visions. Yeah, that’s it – I feel better now. I’m still spreading the love, just in a different way than I had originally intended and it’s a beautiful thing.

I think we should celebrate each other while we’re alive and give thanks for those who make our lives awesome by being in it together with whatever gifts they bring, even if that’s just with a quick text to say hi, I see you and miss you and love you, bye. In your own words, of course. 🙂

Who do you love? Have you told them lately? I bet they would love to hear it from you.

Spread the love BeLoveRs – it’s free and powerful and feels great! No calories. xoxo

2Feb2015

Happy Hours

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Have you heard that helping others can increase your happiness?

The magic number seems to be 100 hours per year, which amounts to about 2 hours per week. Who knew that helping others could enrich our own lives?

Are you volunteering or helping someone other than your immediate family? If so, how much time do you spend being of service?

This has been a question I’ve been noodling on for awhile and am using as a guide as I’m always trying to maximize the Happy Hours in my days.

When I felt like everything was ok in my life and still felt like I was missing something, it was Susanne who asked me how I was being of service and how much time I was dedicating to this part of life. She loves to help youth and seniors and spends a fair part of each week helping others and she told me how helping others really made her happy. Her face would light up when she’d share stories with me. She inspired me to think about how I was spending my time.

I belong to a Christian’s women’s group that runs a thrift shop. All proceeds from sales goes into an endowment fund, from which scholarships are given to women pursuing higher education goals. I love being part of this volunteer organization and believe in the mission. I started volunteering one day per week for an hour or two, helping out with donations. I love going to the shop and seeing the ladies who work there regularly, and feeling appreciated for my little Happy Hour of service.

Recently I joined the board of directors, who make decisions about running the store. I have been working on a strategic change project that has been taking a lot more than 2 hours per week. I love being involved and using my business background and interest in change management to help lead the change and “working” with a team. As I share my time, I feel helpful and happy to be making a difference. I think this is an example of how helping others can actually make you happy. I feel thankful for the relationships I am building and for the difference I am making. Happy Hours well spent.

Life is good.

1Feb2015

Superbowl Sunday Fun

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Today was Superbowl Sunday. We were excited to watch the game with friends and family and to consume as many calories as possible! I heard that the average American would consume at least 2000 calories while watching the game. That is more calories than most women and children consume in one day.

When the Weight Watchers commercial came on during the show, I felt incredibly guilty and wished that they would disappear.

We loved watching Katy Perry perform and entertaining us. She was awesome. The lion she came in on was magical. She is so powerful and didn’t even need Lenny or Missy to complete the show.

We enjoyed the American spirit, eating great food, drinking adult beverages, and enjoying the game together.

This is our life and we’re living it up the best way we know how.I am thankful that Laurie shared her favorite appetizer recipes with me.