Day 17: Summer

Posted in family, Gratitude, happily ever after, intention, Love, Mindfulness, motherhood, one love, parenting, positive living, rooted, simple living, spark joy, work life balance, working mom by adrianahartley

All these lemons came from the same tree, and this picture made me think of my kids.

You see I’m thankful that I have one large, one medium and one small one. As the two big ones are growing up and becoming more independent and less needy of me, I still have the small one to grow for a little while longer and this makes me very happy. Having the little one makes me remember that the big one was once small too and makes me even more aware that the little one is going to get bigger too one day, which makes me be even more present with all three of them. This is an amazing, little, magical gift of three.

Today the little one and I went to the craft store together to get stuff to make stuff. We like to make things together and I love that he is creative. He picked out a wood burning tool and some wood pieces to create some art, even though we were really going in the store to find neon, erasable white board markers that would show up on his metal black board. Luckily we found some of those too on the clearance rack.

And that’s my happily ever after story for the day. How was your day? Did you make lemonade from lemons today?

Oh, and P.S., This was my way of making lemonade out of lemons today…I was actually momentarily sad about the feeling of letting go and really knowing that my kids are growing up. There’s usually a back story to every happily ever after, isn’t there? Just sayin’

nAMaste BeLoveRs

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!

23Jun2016

Day 13: Summer

Posted in exercise, Gratitude, happily ever after, nature, positive living, rooted, simple living, work life balance by adrianahartley

When you’re counting the days, you’re more aware of time passing. I feel like the kids just got out of school, but we’re already going on two weeks out. The summer is going to fly by!

My favorite tree has a major broken limb. It’s still beautiful, just the way it is, perfectly imperfect, just like this one beautiful life we are living.

🙂

18Jun2016

Day 8: Summer

Posted in family, Friends, Gratitude, happily ever after, Happiness, Love, one love, positive living, space, work life balance, working mom by adrianahartley

I wasn’t planning to count the days of summer when I started with day 1, but I’m kinda liking it and keeping track of the days passing by.

This is my first summer as a working mom and it has been a bit of an adjustment this first week, as I worked from home and volunteered, had a birthday to celebrate and was helping my kids prepare for their volunteer service trip, along with some other personal stuff. I was thankful for the weekend to arrive today and to sleep in, however I was still awake at 5:15 am. That seems to be my new normal, along with the birds.

Today I enjoyed celebrating a friend’s surprise birthday party and relaxing with girlfriends in the sunshine. I also was thankful for my birthday flowers that are all over my house and fill the space with a wonderful fragrance and beauty.

I love that I have such great friends and family with whom to share this beautiful life.

Please send good thoughts and prayers for the kids and youth leaders who leave tomorrow to build houses in Mexico for those less fortunate and keep them safe.

Life is good!

nAMaste

16Jun2016

Day 5: Summer

Posted in cats, connection, family, Gratitude, happily ever after, Love, memories, motherhood, parenting, positive living, rooted, simple living, space, work life balance, working mom by adrianahartley

This was my afternoon stress relief. Charlie invited me and actually insisted that I come sit with him to watch some funny game show that he knew would make me laugh. Kids are so smart. He was right. He wanted my attention and I reluctantly wanted his. As soon as I flopped into the couch as close to him as possible, Kanan came to claim his spot. His purring was comforting too.

Thank you Charlie for making me slow down! I love you and appreciate you.

I hope you’re having a good week!

13Jun2016

Day 3: Summer

Posted in family, motherhood, work life balance, working mom by adrianahartley

The birds were chirping early in the morning and I was anxious to wake up and to start the day with them and coffee, of course.

This is my first summer as a working mom and I am new at this. I am volunteering this week at our church’s vacation bible school in the morning, so I’m juggling my work hours before and after my volunteer hours. I worked from 6-7:30 am and from 1:00 to 6:30 pm. I was able to take the kids with me to volunteer and come home to have lunch together. I am thankful for a flexible work schedule. Luckily the family helped with shopping, chores and making dinner. It’s kinda nice to have big kids and I couldn’t do it without them, yet I have to admit it was a little bit chaotic and crazy at the same time.

How do working moms, especially work from home moms, do it and keep up with it all, with everyone home at the same time? I am still learning! Please do share your best tips and strategies.

I hope you had a good Monday!

nAMaste

2Jun2016

Chaperoning in Chinatown

Posted in connection, family, Gratitude, happily ever after, Happiness, intention, joy, motherhood, parenting, positive living, simple living, spark joy, work life balance, working mom by adrianahartley

I got to chaperone a field trip to Chinatown in San Francisco today and am thankful.

I’m thankful that Charlie wanted me to go with him. I’m thankful that he was excited to go on this trip with his classmates and I loved hearing his anticipation about possibly getting a straw hat all week.

I enjoyed the car ride with the other chaperones and was thankful I wasn’t riding the bus with all the kids.

I loved letting my little group lead and negotiate which direction we should head and which shops and sites we should visit, while I watched over all of them and kept them safe and together.

The weather was gorgeous in the city today and I loved the break in my routine.

I am thankful for my flexible work schedule that allowed me to chaperone without feeling guilty.

And I’m thankful that Charlie found joy with his new straw hat. It’s the little things worthy of celebrating!

Today was good.

How was your day? What made you feel thankful, wise one?

Namaste.

26May2016

Yesterday

Posted in connection, family, Gratitude, happily ever after, Happiness, intention, joy, nature, positive living, rooted, simple living, work life balance by adrianahartley

Silicon Valley

Yesterday, I enjoyed this beautiful view with my BFF. We saw a snake too, and that was a little bit scary.

Yesterday a friend texted me, sharing a connection from a post I shared long ago about roses and thorns. This really made me smile.

The day before yesterday, a friend brought me a gift and surprised me, because it’s not my birthday. She liked the tree poster I posted awhile back and found us a replica. I am honored.

Today. I enjoyed today because I had a special lunch date and my kids had friends over and later, when we went to the Food Trucks for dinner, we ran into more friends.