5 21 11: finding rainbows

Finding Rainbows

This week I am reminded to find the rainbow on rainy days! When we are all so crazy, running around and trying to get lots done... when I hear bad and sad news from family, friends and students- that's when I found a magnificient rainbow reminding me to STOP and see the beauty and gifts I am so fortunate to have.

So today I'm thankful for finding an intense, brief double full arc rainbow that my daughters and I got to share together.

Thanks, God.

Sorry for the poor photo quality. I did a quick edit so I could post and run... :)

Day 114: I'm so lucky

Day 114: I'm so lucky...

Today is crazy. Following a fun and family filled, crazy holiday weekend away, the girls had to get up and get to school. I need to reassemble my house, find places for all the new things, get food, do laundry, and put away the new clothes we picked up last week before going out of town. Whew.



My little Miss S slowly got up, and gradually got ready. I threw on my sneakers next to her as she finished getting dressed at the top of the stairs, so that she can sit on the heat vent. When she was ready, she crawled in to my lap, gave me one of my favorite around the neck squeezes, and said, "I'm so lucky I have you."



Melt. My. Heart.



The conversation that flowed was brief and filled with "I love you more than..."'s. It was a perfect moment.

It's a great day to be Mom. Thanks God, for that. What a great shot in the arm on a day that is filled with drudgery. I am so grateful.



And thank you to Tara Whitney (amazing photographer, artist, Mom, you name it) for posting a heart warming moment on her blog, which spurred me to write down this golden nugget. It was such a quick flash, something that can fade from memory so quickly. I am grateful for the inspiration to write it down.

Day 66: Sunny side ice

Day 66: Ice and sun

Today I am thankful for the sun. We woke up this morning to snow, ice and huge puddles (flooding) everwhere around. As I went around town running errands, the grey sky gave way to a bright and cheery sun, making all the snow and ice postively glisten.

Today is my day off, so I have time. I stopped and played with my phone camera, I played with my "Hiptastic" app, and my Instagram app. I played with reflections, and laughed at myself in hat and giant goofy sunglasses... maybe I'll post that tomorrow. But it is amazing just how heartening the sun beaming down and lighting up the day is. I am thankful to have had the chance to play with the sun and it's glorious light for a little bit. Yay sun!

Day 64: cleaning up

Day 64: cleaning???

Yup. Cleaning.

Today I am grateful for picking up pieces, putting things where they belong, and doing some light dusting and sweeping. It feels good to have a clean floor to walk across, to feel like our home is open and welcome, ready to greet us and all our friends or fammily who may join us here. I am happy to have the kids clothes ready for them, and my kitchen ready for the next meal. I am thankful to have a place for our family, the art we create, the toys we play with and even more importantly, the space where we can live, love and be together. Having a few hours of picking up and doing light cleaning helps me to remember how blessed we are. So for today, I am thankful for cleaning.

Day 63: just because

Day 63: Just because...

I fell out of the habit. I didn't have a photo, so I put it off.

I'm back. I am grateful today for friends who notice the importance of taking care of each other. I'm grateful for the internet, and being able to easily find renewing, inspiring sites that help me reintention (made up word of the day) my day and purpose. I am grateful for the knowledge that being grateful makes me more grateful, which makes me more appreciative, which brings more of everything right into my path. "The car goes where the eyes go"- Racing in the Rain.

Today, I am grateful for the reminders the universe has sent to me to be grateful!

Day 54: Light

Day 54: Light and clowns

Today, I am thankful for light. My home is blessed with plenty of beautiful light. As a photographer, that makes me happy. For my soul, it feeds me! The sun filling up our space, our place where we play, read, work, talk... it just makes it all feel a lot more comfortable and welcoming.

As a photographer, it enables me to set up things like this: put the background in place and let the kids be themselves. The clowning around follows! :D

Today, I am thankful for light.

Day 53: Feeling healthy

Day 53: Feeling healthy!

My photos have little to do with my post, but that's okay :D

This is one of our cats, Sammy. The first is a simple edit, cat in the basket. The second is one I played with in Picnic, and had fun with. Just 'cause.

Today, after a week with the flu, which then went into an upper respiratory infection, I am thrilled to wake up breathing, energetic and wheeze free. I am thankful I can do simple things like laundary (did I really just write that???), bake, take some photos and take the kids to the movies. I can finally begin to enjoy vacation!

I am thankful for our health. I am thankful we can think of something we need or want to do, and can make a plan and do it with little thought. I am thankful we can breathe, climb stairs, walk out the door, boogie to iTunes, whatever. It is great to have our health!