Meditations on Life and Parenting
We went for a couple of nights to a cabin on an island about an hour and a half from home. Although our circumstances didn’t change much – we went from being snowed it at home to being snowed in on vacation, our perspective did. Being all together in a different house with different board games magically renewed our spirit of joy and delight.
Wishing everyone a Happy New Year with a renewed spirit of joy and delight!
Before I had kids, I would walk my dog early on Christmas morning and notice all the houses with young children bustling with excitement. Now that’s my house.
The presents are carefully chosen and wrapped, there’s so much anticipation in the giving and getting that we might possibly burst and the energy in the air is both warm and electric.
There is no gift better than this for me. I’m so grateful!
Sending wonderful Christmas wishes to you all!
After a week of the entire family being sick, I was surprised to flip through my phone and see that I had several photos to choose from – mountains, snow, Christmas decorations, shopping.
I choose this one because it spoke to me of the drop-by-drop flow of happiness. I captured this moment in a store where my toddler was hiding and laughing while wearing pants that say “peek-a-boo” on the waist band.
Sometimes, even if or especially if, I am dragging through the week muzzy-headed and achy because of a cold, it’s great to remember the joy of the moments when it all came together perfectly and we laughed!
Here’s looking at you, Kid!
Last year we couldn’t visit my mom’s apartment in her retirement community because of COVID regulations. That makes this year all the sweeter as she explains all the Christmas treasures she’s collected over the years to my 2-year-old!
My kids and I were lucky enough to be able to play around in a hot tub on the deck of a moored boat yesterday. Even cloaked in the late autumn mist, the calm waters both inside and outside the break wall and wide open vista were stunningly refreshing.
My mom captured this picture of Mt. Rainier this week when she was flying home from a trip. With 26 glaciers, Mt. Rainier is the most heavily glaciated mountain in the lower 48 states of the United States. But even so the hot weather this past summer melted the mountain so bare that it is such a relief to see her covered in white again.
This is the mountain that made me want to climb mountains. I’ve stood on top twice and spent countless hours hiking around and admiring her majesty and mystery. Even with this long history, every time I catch a glance of Mt. Rainer out the window or while standing on her flanks, I feel a rush of awe, inspiration and peace. She speaks to me of beauty, timelessness and the Divine and I listen.
Thanks for the picture, Mom!
Surprised By Joy 