Day 16: Summer

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

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.

Day 15: Summer

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

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

Day 14: Summer

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

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!

Day 13: Summer

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

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.

🙂

Day 12: Summer – Helping Others

Posted in Uncategorized by

I was excited to see pictures of one of my kids, working with her friends, building homes for the less fortunate people outside of Tijuana, Mexico today. I anxiously watch Facebook for any one of the advisors to post updates to social media. Our kids were not allowed to bring their phones with them on this service trip. I love that they are free to be without any attachments, and can truly be present, doing what they’re doing without any distractions. I can’t wait to hear about this experience from their perspectives. I wonder how they’re feeling half way through the trip. I am feeling proud and am excitedly anticipating their safe return this weekend.


We are watching over a friend’s house while they are on vacation. I am thankful that we have the opportunity to give back and to take care of their home, as they always take care of us when we are away. It’s true what they say about when you’re giving, you’re actually receiving. I loved watching Charlie take the lead, happily watering all the potted plants and picking the ripe, red tomatoes, eating a few here and there.


 I loved that he and I got to take a walk together, and he put his arm around me as we walked down the street arm in arm, almost at equal eye level. I got to see and feel how tall he is getting and loved the shared moment alone, just him and I, walking and working together.

These are the simple days of our summer so far. I’m loving this now.

How are the first few days of your summer going?  I hope you are doing well and living it up, serving others and loving your one, beautiful life.

namaste.

 

 

 

 

Day 11: Summer Lovin’

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

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 

Day 10: Summer

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

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!

I am thankful for my crazy peeps that laughed with me with whipped cream all over their faces and melted the stress away!

Happy 1st day of summer, BeLoveRs! Be free.

Day 9: Summer

Posted in belovers, connection, family, Gratitude, happily ever after, Happiness, intention, Love, love and light, motherhood, one love, parenting, positive living, simple living by

Caravan 2016 – Mexico


Our high schoolers left first thing this morning with their caravan, heading to Mexico for the next week, on a mission trip to serve others and to work side by side with their peers and advisors. I am scared, excited, happy, proud, anxious, grateful, in awe, and mostly thankful. 


I am thankful that our church believes in our youth and provides opportunities for them to practice our values in a loving environment. I am thankful for the plethora of advisors and volunteers who are dedicated to loving and supporting our youth and who give up their time graciously to be an active part of their lives. This trip takes a lot of work and preparation and dedication on so many levels. It truly is amazing to feel the synergy and I am proud of my kids for choosing to participate and am thankful to be part of this community.

Please send your good thoughts and prayers to keep them safe.

Our future is bright, BeLoveRs.

Happy Father’s Day. 

xoxo

Day 8: Summer

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

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

Day 7: Summer

Posted in connection, fear, Happiness, intention, joy, love and light by

I’m already exhausted!

It’s been a challenging week and I am over it, or at least the week is over and that makes me very happy. That’s how I roll …deep breaths and surrender and flow.  

It’s the simple things these days that make me happy, like ice cream cake the day after my birthday!

thank you juliana!


I fell asleep in the middle of writing this blog. I must be tired, so I’ll say goodnight and wish you well before I fall asleep again.
Good night.