Helping Others 

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My day was filled with helping others and my heart is full. I think it’s true what they say about how when you help others you actually create happiness for yourself. It’s counterintuitive but it works and I’m hoping I can teach this life skill to my kids.

This week we are volunteering at our church’s Vacation Bible School. Charlie is working with me and Juliana is helping with our special needs ministry team. Christian was helping in the office, providing administrative help as needed.  I loved seeing them in action and hearing their stories. I didn’t hear a single complaint, not even the one that required them to get up early. I think they enjoyed serving as much as I did and found a bit of happiness. Who knew?  I think they are  learning a life secret through practice.

Life is a practice. Today practice was good!

Do you find happiness by helping others? Do you encourage your kids to give of their time? Just curious.

Summer Love

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Today I enjoyed my baby love. 

  
We had a busy day and enjoyed a delicious BBQ with new friends. 

I loved sitting back and watching my little “big” one having fun, climbing trees and holding his breathe under the water and splashing me. 

These are the best days of my life. 

I know. 

I am thankful.

Hope you enjoyed your Sunday and are ready and refreshed for the week ahead.

nAMaste

The Girl That Loves

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 I am the girl that loves.

I love this life, even the struggle when I don’t have all the answers.

I loved being part of PEO and being with sisters this morning for an initiation and shared brunch.

I loved being a witness to a Mormon baptism this afternoon.

I loved being invited to dinner at a friend’s house this evening.

I loved enjoying drinks, dinner and dessert together with my family and friends.

I am the girl that loves this life right now. How about you? Are you that girl or guy too?
nAMaste

Live Love Laugh

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My birthday is coming up and I received this birthday gift today from one of my BFFs along with a pair of silver dangling earrings and salted caramel chocolates. She knows me well and more than the material gifts, I loved the gift of time with her. She makes me smile and is a good listener and story teller and I just admire her so much.  I wish I had half her ability to remember details!! 

Thank you M for coming to spend the day with me. 

How did you live today?

Who did you love today?

When did you laugh today?

I lived it up by hiking and having friends over and playing with the kittens. I made Vietnamese Banh Mi Chicken sandwiches and spring rolls for dinner as requested by my husband and snuggled in with my family to watch the Warriors win tonight. 

  I loved my friends and my family today and I loved my mama on our phone chat this morning.

I laughed when Charlie snuck up from behind and startled me.

Today was good.  Hope you had a good day too, living it up, loving and laughing out loud!

Namaste

  

Babies

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I love babies. I see them and want to hold them and love them and take pictures of them and hold them again. I love their innocence and playfulness and I love just watching them be.

I didn’t know how much I would love fur babies.  I must be getting soft in my old age.  I can see how my family loves them and this makes me love them even more.  I find myself sneaking in their room to see how they’re doing and I talk to them in that squeaky voice and surprise myself.  They are super cute!

   
     

I was never an animal lover before but I think I’ve changed!  

Life is good.  

xo

Fresh and Fallen

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Our cousin Cassie likes to make mandalas out of fallen flowers and gives them new life. She inspired me to play with the fallen blooms as I hung up our fresh, new plant.

It feels good to play and be creative. I loved thinking of her today and enjoyed my sidewalk art.  Thank you Cass for the inspiration!! xo

Love this life. Yep, she says that too. 

xo

 

Cool Teens

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It was hotter than heck today and our first day of no school.

I have a few standards for the kids.

They can’t sleep all day and they can’t be in front of screens all day either.  They have to read and exercise and be helpful and do something active, creative and/or productive. They can choose, just as long as they aren’t lazy all day. I don’t want to be rigid and I want them to relax and slow down. I just don’t want them to be sloths. I expect them to contribute to the family and to enjoy their lives.

Today didn’t disappoint.  I loved their choices and just admired them.

My favorite part of the day was when their friends decided to come over and hang out all day. I love kids and I love them all at my house. I love their laughter and them just being.

They played board games and played with the kitties and watched sports and listened to music and laughed all day. Friends and siblings all hung out and filled my house with joy. I went to the store and bought them ice cream and fruit and helped serve them. I absolutely loved them being here and stayed out of their way.  I want them to come back and hang out every week. We have ten and a half weeks of summer break and today was the best beginning.

I didn’t take any pictures as I wanted to respect their space and privacy. My heart was full and I am content.

This was the best Monday in a long time! Happy summer days!!

nAMaste

Wiped Out

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I have no pictures to share today.

My story is one of “rest,” meaning I didn’t go anywhere or “do” anything of significance to write about. It felt good to just be home.

We packed up my dad’s truck with girl furniture for my niece and sent them on their way home.

I did laundry and sorted some piles of stuff, trying to make more space and getting rid of clutter. It takes soooo long to dwindle.

The kittens were enticing and several friend came by to meet them and to visit, which was a perfect way to spend the day.

Dinner was left overs and pizza and samosas from the freezer while we watched the Warriors lose. The boys cleaned up the kitchen and I got to work on my volunteer project.  

Even though summer vacation officially starts tomorrow, I still have several projects to work on this week.  I think that’s a good thing.  

Keeping busy and doing what I love. Tomorrow we get to sleep in. I hope I don’t wake up with the sun rising!!

nAMaste and I hope you had a good weekend. xo

Vacation Begins

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All the promotions and celebrations are complete and we had “nothing” to do today!!!! Yay, for summer vacation!

My kids were most excited for our kittens to arrive and have been counting down the days. 

  
They are finally 10 weeks old and today they were finally ready to join our family, after gaining two pounds and being big enough to be spayed and neutered.

I love the feeling of anticipation and preparing and waiting for something BIG to happen.  Getting kittens was one of those BIG events for my kids and I loved seeing their joy and excitement.

  

Juliana said it’s only the first day of summer break and it’s already the best. She is one, lucky girl and I love her happy soul.  

 

The kids and furry ones are having a slumber party together tonight. So far, so good and no meowing coming from their room. 

Good night! xoxo