Day 24: Summer

Posted in Friends, Gratitude, happily ever after, Happiness, memories, motherhood, positive living, simple living by adrianahartley

Happy Independence Day, America!

It was a gorgeous day to be with family and friends and to enjoy the day together.

We helped out with our friend’s rummage sale early this morning. Afterwards, I was so lucky that everyone in my family rallied to go on a hike with me! This is a hard feat to master these days and I was giddy with excitement!

When we got back from the hike, Jeff and I prepared some tritips to smoke on the Traeger for a neighbor’s BBQ. He tended to the steaks and when they were ready, we all joined the festivities.

Finally, we ventured out to catch the fireworks. When we thought we found a nice spot to park our blankets and chairs on the local high school’s grass, the sprinklers went on and sprayed everyone, which made me laugh uncontrollably. I love stupid humor and innocent stupid stuff that doesn’t harm anyone, but is just uncomfortable to watch that you just have to laugh.

Today was good! The only thing we had planned today was the 5:00 BBQ. The rest of the day just flowed with the open space. Maybe, just maybe, I’m getting the hang of this.

Happy 4th of July!

Love, Adriana

3Jul2016

Day 23: Summer

Posted in connection, family, happily ever after, Happiness, Mindfulness, simple living by adrianahartley

C is for Creating Space. Actually, it’s C for Charlie and he was using his new wood burning tools and enjoying our staycation at home this afternoon.

As I was sitting next to him, and designing and burning images with him, he asked me if this was what I was going to write about on my blog tonight. I found it interesting that he found it worthy of sharing and that he was curious whether I would want to share our experience. I told him I’d only share it if he wanted me to, as I respect his privacy. I find myself wanting to share less about their story as I share my “happily ever after”a that we’re living together. Some experiences I want to burn on my brain only and hold close, especially as they’re getting bigger and aren’t little kids anymore.

I was thankful for the space we created, even though I resisted doing “nothing” today. Sometimes I guess I need the uncomfortable space of nothingness to enjoy the flowing moments like these that show up when you surrender.

nAMaste

2Jul2016

Day 22: Summer

Posted in connection, family, Friends, Gratitude, happily ever after, Happiness, joy, Love, memories, parenting, positive living, rooted, simple living by adrianahartley

We celebrated my oldest’ birthday today, and I enjoyed watching him do all the things he chose and seeing him have fun. What he wanted most today was to hang out with family and friends, and to have red velvet cake. 🙂

Simple dreams come true.

I love being his mom, and I am thankful for another year together.

What are you celebrating this month? Make it good!! xo

30Jun2016

Day 20: Summer

Posted in family, happily ever after, Happiness, intention, Mindfulness, motherhood, positive living, rooted, simple living, work life balance by adrianahartley

This staycation keeps getting better! Who says you need to travel far to enjoy summer vacation? I still want to go away, but not just yet.

These two sawed pieces of scrap wood and practiced writing with their new wood burning tool, while I worked from home. I had to come see their work and play a little too. This was fun!! Charlie painted a sign for his room and Juliana did the lettering for him.

Charlie was craving Vietnamese pho for dinner and Christian wanted Korean BBQ. I told my international kids we could cook together instead of going out and save some money. I had them chopping and dicing and we prepared a bit of both, and stopped at the Korean market to buy a few side dishes to go with our homemade meal, that we enjoyed out on our patio.

The cool thing about this staycation thing is that the days and nights are long!! We are not in a rush and the crazy thing is that when you’re not rushing, time slows down and we seem to have more time to do all the things we wish to do. It’s really ironic what you can learn when you slow down.

What did you enjoy today? How is your summer going and are you enjoying your moment?

Life is good.

29Jun2016

Day 19: Summer

Posted in connection, family, Friends, happily ever after, Happiness, intention, joy, memories, motherhood, space, working mom by adrianahartley

Flowing…going with the flow and being in the moment. That is what I’m doing this week and am loving having the time and space to flow, even though I find it challenging to let go of schedules, expectations and control.

Tonight we ate dinner at 9pm, after Christian prepared it for us. We never eat this late, but tonight this is what flow felt like and we flowed, eating on the couches in the family room sharing crazy, chaotic, interrupted conversations.

Tonight I caught up with an old friend in between drop off and pick up points, because I’ve missed her and was curious enough to text and attempt to connect at the last minute and she said, YES! This is what flow felt like in the moment of not being too busy! It was great to give her and her girls hugs and to share a few moments together.

I could get used to this perfectly imperfectly unstructured summer and can’t believe we are almost 3 weeks in already. Where does the time go?

Life is good, especially when we flow.

nAMaste

26Jun2016

Day 16: Summer

Posted in connection, Gratitude, happily ever after, Happiness, intention, one love, positive living, rooted, simple living by adrianahartley

Tonight they made it home safely along with 69 of their church friends from their service trip to Mexico.

They worked really hard in the hot sun, building houses for 4 days. It was demanding work and they received an IKEA like manual instructing them how to put the homes together. They didn’t get to use power tools and instead cut wood with a hand saw, mixed concrete by hand and learned how to pound nails straight into the planks.

They slept in crowded tents, used stinky outhouses for toilets and helped bathe each other using buckets of cold water that they kept having to refill. This wasn’t a glamorous trip and it cost a lot of money to participate. And did I mention they had no cell phones with them for a week? They survived.

And guess what? They didn’t complain. They are tired and sore and happy to be home and thankful for the experience.

I am thankful that our church provides these volunteer opportunities for our youth, so that they can learn to be of service to others, to sacrifice their time and comforts to be giving and loving and in return, they benefit too in so many ways. Juliana walked into our house and said we have a big house! Their perspectives on life are hopefully changed by seeing how other people live and by working hard, side by side with their peers for a few days, sharing a God moment.

I am thankful for the advisors who cared for our kids and treated them like their own and for the deeper relationships that were strengthened through this shared experience.

Life is good!! Love is love is love is!! One Love. Love this life.

25Jun2016

Day 15: Summer

Posted in connection, family, food, Gratitude, happily ever after, Happiness, motherhood, parenting, positive living, rooted, simple living by adrianahartley

My big kids come home from Mexico tomorrow. I have been anxious all day waiting to hear news about how they’re doing and was happy to see a post that they were finally state side. I started nesting again, like I did when I was pregnant with them. That’s all I wanted to do today and I think that’s weird, but it’s my truth.

So we folded all the laundry, fixed Juliana’s headboard and decluttered some more.

I was thankful when Charlie suggested we get out of the house and came up with a plan. He wanted to get frozen yogurt, Japanese snacks and sushi from the Japanese market and take it home to watch a movie together. This combination made me laugh and I loved that I have a kid who loves froyo and sushi. It made for a perfectly relaxing evening and settled my anxiety.

Life is good. What simple thing did you enjoy today?

nAMaste

24Jun2016

Day 14: Summer

Posted in Happiness, joy, Mindfulness, nature, rooted, simple living, space, work life balance, working mom by adrianahartley

Summer is a great time to break routines and schedules and to relax.

I’ve shifted my work hours to the early mornings, so that I can be “done” with my work by noon-ish, which means I am waking up by 5:30am and starting work at 6. So far, I am loving this practice.

I made a big salad and ate a late lunch outside on the back patio all by myself. After I was done, I put up the umbrella and decided to rest on the outside sectional sofa, closing my eyes for a half hour in the middle of the day. It felt good to do nothing and I rarely just sit. I loved it, and could get used to this inactivity.

I love summer, especially this second week with the kids away! Life has been less chaotic and I got to celebrate the moments with less stress.

TGIF – have a great weekend!

21Jun2016

Day 11: Summer Lovin’

Posted in connection, happily ever after, Happiness, intention, Love, memories, simple living, Uncategorized by adrianahartley

Today we celebrate 19 years of marriage!

I am thankful that we have never given up, despite the struggles and tribulations! I am thankful for the three kids we’ve created and are raising together, who were born out of love. I am thankful for my husband’s unconditional love and support.

Love is good!

xoxoxoxo

20Jun2016

Day 10: Summer

Posted in belovers, family, happily ever after, Happiness, joy, positive living, working mom by adrianahartley

Happy 1st Day of Summer!

Today finally felt relaxing. Charlie went to camp, the big kids are in Mexico and I was able to work from home with limited interruptions and got a workout in too.

Tonight we had time to play a game together that Charlie picked out for me for my birthday, Pie Face. I love this kind of humor and laughed so hard!!

Oh guys, take time to laugh really hard!! It’s so good for your soul and it makes other people laugh too!