Be a JOYfilled Mom!

This summer, I decided… my word would be participation. I would no longer be the mom on the sidelines.

There is so much JOY in participating! Pave your life in stones of DOING!

Throw being ‘cool’ or ‘refined’ out of your vocabulary.

Jump in pools with your kids.
Wear an Ironman mask and play light sabers in the front yard.
Throw water balloons and get really wet!
Go on a walk to pick up discarded sticks, bark and recycling for a fairy house.
Skip.
Jump.
Love.
Dance in the kitchen.
Stay up late and watch movies on the couch with your kids.

And go kiss your husband. IN PUBLIC!

I promise you.

Your life will feel a bit lighter, a bit brighter and you’ll be JOYful too!

I love... a few good links

This was snapped on our trip up North in the fall. 

On Membership and Belonging: a Conversation with Wendell Berry

How to Raise our Girls and Ourselves with Self Esteem (via DesignMom)

How to Raise Women without the Mommy Wars as a Backdrop

This Studio Space

Robert from Sweet Wood on The Asceticism of Marriage

Holly's practical ideas to cut your grocery bill in half.

What are you reading around the web?

Kerry for I love

**My comments are not working well on the first post on the homepage. If you would like to comment, please open up the post by clicking the header (I love... Knitting and Reading) above then you should be able to comment easier. I haven't made it a priority to fix that. So at least there seems to be a work around for now.

Joy is...

Joy is homemade lattes in the morning, kids making it to the bus, wearing my favorite yellow dress and finishing an epic book.

Joy is a husband who does dishes, reads Winter in the Big Woods to a bath tubbin' little boy, roars like a monster, practices math flash cards and helps freshly washed babes into pajamas.

Joy is a special lady loosing her front tooth! Finally! We've been calling her Nanny McPhee.

Joy is sunsets and sunrises, for birth and death. For new beginnings, brimming with abiding joy. For a long earthly obedience and life everlasting.

Joy is a cleaned house. A wise woman once stood in my kitchen and loosely quoted Thich Nhat Hanh, it's not about how clean your house is... it's just about the process. Joy is scrubbing floors on hands an knees. As Grandma Eunice would say, "I'm thankful I am able to do it."

Yarn Along: Vests and Authenticity

This week, thanks to a wonderful book. There has been much more reading than knitting. But I am still working on this little project. And it's been really nice to do most of the project in garter stitch so when I do have a minute or two I grab it out of my bag and work a few rows.

And it's been pretty cold in our house so snuggling under a few blankets on the couch (or soaking in the bathtub) has been the best way to enjoy a new book!

I picked up the book, An Unquenchable Thirst by Mary Johnson at the library and I can't put it down. I'm about half way through it. And it's such a unique look inside her experience as a nun in the Catholic Order-- the Missionaries of Charity. It's a realistic look, not sugar coated and not blasphemy, but a healthy dose of honesty and humanness. It has been wonderful to see the depth of devotion and sacrifice given to God but, it is also facinating looking into a world I'm not super familiar with.


What are you reading? Knitting? If you want to see all the books I've finished this year, I'm trying to catalog them here.

What's In Store for the Weekend

This weekend, I am really looking forward to relaxing with our little family and to some celebrating this weekend.

These are the things I'm planning on (in no particular order):
Snow! (mmmm... is this coming???)
Hot Chocolate
Some snowshoeing? (see #1)
Celebrating new babies and soon-to-be babies
Dinner with Friends
Jalapeno poppers for the Big Game
Folding an amazing amount of laundry (YAY ERIC!)
Making Valentines Decorations (to replace the Christmas Decorations that are STILL UP... o boy)
Lattes
Meal Planning
Baking Bread
Painting some small paintings
Clean out the car
Reading Isabel's library books
Sew a little something
Knit a bit on my project

*2-6-12 Note: I think I did good on my list. But there is still more to go. I wish we would have gotten snow!

Project Life: January 2012

I love the idea of project life, but doing something daily or weekly seems a little too much for me. Plus, I LOVE the supplies. Well designed and systematic. And I know I'd go a bit crazy on them. In an effort to memory keep in a sustainable way (and save a bit of money)-- I thought I'd do one 12x12 page a month and share it with you here. So I can keep a record what joys we've had, perhaps at the end of the year I'll print them all and make a scrapbook.  O my, did I just say that?!

make believe: The kids went on a "date" pretending to be Eric and I. Isabel wore 'more jewelry than mom usually does' and Truman told her that their date was important, "makes us better mommies and daddies."

weekend visit: The four of us traveled up to visit Kerry and her beautiful family. There was lots of love, conversation good food and coffee. Next time, perhaps, Truman will sleep. That will make it waaaay more fun!

date in omaha: Eric and I took 24 hours to ourselves. He surprised me with a night away, a new outfit and my nails done. Then dinner at our favorite restaurant. I think this is where Truman heard the speech about dates making us better mommies and daddies. It's so true you know.

on a walk: In the first week of January, we took a walk to visit Grandma Bonnie and Grandpa John. It was very cold so Isabel decided to wear everything she could fit on her body. She loves layering you know. It makes Truman's wardrobe of hat, gloves, coat, scarf seem so... simple.

snow play: Eric and Isabel made their first snowman together. Truman and I stayed warm and baked chocolate applesauce muffins. Then we made faces as they threw snowballs at us.

ready for bed: One night we cut Isabel's hair before bedtime. This photo of Truman clowning around (:

garden planning: Sketchbook Saturday Morning a few weeks ago, Isabel decided to plan the garden for next year. So she drew everything she would like us to grow. We're going to have to think about bananas and plums. I'm not sure we'll be able to have a exotic orchard in the back yard.

grand arrival: My bestest friend had a beautiful girl. And they sent us their Christmas video. What a treat. Oh I cried when I saw that new little bundle. Truman kept kissing the ipad screen. I can't wait to see her in March!

adventure: We were on our way to Sketchbook Saturday Morning looking for patches of snow to stop in. And half melted puddles to jump in. What a good combo for a 4 year old adventurer.

sketchbooks: We love our Sketchbook Saturday Morning. A few hours of relaxation, coffee, books, coloring, knitting.


This template is from Rebecca Cooper, a month in photos. I've made a few edits to it.

Quotable Sunday: Lazy Language

So avoid using the word ‘very’ because it’s lazy. A man is not very tired, he is exhausted. Don’t use very sad, use morose. Language was invented for one reason, boys - to woo women - and, in that endeavor, laziness will not do.

-Dead Poets Society, 1989

Quotable Sunday: a tradition started by Kyrie of Are So Happy and carried on with Kerry of Young Ones and Linnea of PeppermintAlley.

Greetings from the Left Coast

I am sitting at my sister's desk, my family is all in this room in certain states of reading and waiting. That's how this weekend has gone, talking and eating, reading and waiting.

My grandma who's been on the cusp for quite sometime took a turn on Friday and I was on a plane Saturday morning. It's been a whirlwind, but so good, so sad and just so.... everything.

I didn't bring my camera, so I'm choosing to rely on my memories for the beauty that surrounded me this weekend.

Brushing and braiding Grammy's hair, painting her nails, painting watercolor pictures with her. All these little bits of beauty, made this sad weekend fuller, brighter.

And the fact my sisters (all four of us) and my parents were all present at dinner. Just the six of us, I'm not sure when that has happened in the last ten years. It was a gentle gift.

Dreaming:: South of France

A few things have my mind sailing away to a place I've never been...
Sara Midda's South of France: A Sketchbook

(via not your average ordinary, images from google books)

And a a song:

this moment:: Little Fish

{this moment} - A Friday ritual. A single photo - no words - capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember. ~Amanda Soule

 I met Isabel's swim teacher last night, she was the checker at our local grocery store. 

She said, "Hi Truman!" (he shyly peeks from behind me!). She said, "I loved having Isabel in swim lessons! She's such a fish!" 

Ahhh, it is true. 

Wishing you lots of swimming this weekend. We have a heat index warnings today and tomorrow. Via baby er kiddie pools and icy lemonade! Sunscreen!

Weekending

Friday night dinner with around our kitchen table with friends.

Saturday morning park date and donutless-bakery date. Heat-induced-mild-crabbiness from 5 kids.
Lazy, quiet time afternoon. Cool sheets, special snacks and a oasis from the heat afternoon movie.
A mud bath with the beloved neighbor kids.
Mama cleaning the house. 
A rinse off bath then a bubble bath post mud bath.
A late night visit from two of my favorite women-- while our Men were out together.
Sangria and coffee plus waaay-past-bedtime-children-wrangling. 

Sunday morning quiet with a visit to church.
Pork ribs, cheesy-rice and fruit salad for lunch. Simple. 
Another lazy quiet time-- a stack of books with my boy. 
A visit to our favorite pond, meeting some favorite friends by happy accident.
Hours wading in the water-- splashing, laughing.
A quick picnic.
A sunset drive home.
Time for bed.
Laundry to wash, dishes to be done.
Reading out loud, knitting away.
Waking up to a thunderstorm-- snuggle down into safe warm bed for sleep.


How was your weekend?


Joining Amanda.

A gift

This spring was filled with grief, deep unimaginable grief. And now that I am a few months away from it, I think we can talk about it a little.

One of my best friends lost a precious child.

And for weeks that's all my brain could process. It still catches me, daily. The reality of it all.

In a memorial for this little one, a group of us planted a tree with the family a Royal Red Maple. Planted in the little clearing where her parents were married.

A couple weeks ago, we went to visit that Royal Red Maple. And Isabel was surprised to find these little mushrooms. Perfect, earnest mushrooms around the tree.

And she honestly believes that fairies leave mushrooms as gifts. If we wake up from a wet night to a ring of mushrooms in our front lawn, she can craft a whole story on what fairy gatherings took place.

With all sincerity she said, "the fairies must be watching out for this little tree."

EAT! Rosemary Lemon Shortbread

We are full swing into our Late Spring Manifesto here-- last night we made homemade pizza, had coffee with friends, finished reading Little Women, I snuggled my little people and folded laundry with a vengeance last night.

It feels good to reclaim a bit of normalcy (and to reclaim the laundry pile)!

This weekend I have plans for more cooking. Not just homemade pizza-- but Rosemary Lemon Shortbread. My friend Tara made it for last weekend. And it was in a word: divine. Really.

This recipe inspired me to use more herbs in baking. I already make a Lavender-Almond Tea Cake which tastes like heaven... so now I'm thinking about all the other combinations that could flavor Shortbread or Tea Cakes. Any suggestions?

Her recipe is barely sweet (in a good way!), buttery, pinch of salt to round out the rosemary and enough tang of lemon to keep you coming back for more. You will not be disappointed. I asked her if she'd share the recipe so I could share it with you... and she gave a resounding, YES.

So here it is, in all it's Lemony-Rosemary glory.

Rosemary Lemon Shortbread

1 c. all purpose flour

1/2 c. powdered sugar

1/2 c. butter, softened

1/4 c. cornstarch 

2 T. finely chopped fresh rosemary OR 2 t. dried rosemary, finely crumbled

1 egg yolk

1 t. grated lemon rind

1/4 t. salt

Preheat oven to 325 degrees F.  Line a 9 x 9 x 2" square baking pan with aluminum foil and coat with non-stick spray.  Combine all ingredients in a large bowl.  With a pastry blender or fork, combine until mixture is uniform and resembles coarse crumbs.  Scrape into prepared pan, press lightly to compact.  With a fork, poke holes around the surface of the cookie dough, every few inches.  Bake for 25-30 minutes or until the outside edges are lightly golden.  Gently lift the aluminum foil  out of the pan (once it's cooled for just a few minutes) and set onto a cutting surface.  Slice into bars with a serrated knife.  Transfer to wire rack to cool completely.  You can also double the recipe and use a 9 x 13" pan for a slightly thicker cookie.

Izzo in the Sky with Diamonds

Last night as we pulled into the driveway of our little home. A place I longed to be at but, was working past dinner to hit a deadline. Several in fact.

And my eyes woke up looking at those trees as I unbuckled my girl from her seat.

I noticed the light-- it wasn't the typical grey and cold. The night was brisk and the sun was casting rays of golden gifts.

Truman fell asleep in the very short ride home from the post-dinner fetching and retrieving trip of me. And he was quietly tucked in his bed. And Isabel was boldly awake.

So she and I stepped outside so I could capture this fleeing light.

But what I captured was the essence of her.

Do you see her? All stripes and 'coca-dots'? Windblown hair, it's natural slight wave slight tangle-- that cringes at the sight of a hair bush.

And her face, so expectant.

Grandma Bonnie once got a fortune from a cookie that said, "Meet each day with Curiosity and Hope."

And this my friends is the unspoken, inborn motto of this little woman's life.

Today:: Lovely Links for a Grey Day

This morning is grey and cold. And it feels a bit raw outside, I think I feel a bit raw inside. But last night I had two wonderful conversations and a full night of snuggling with my girl. I've had my tea but, perhaps I'll go pour another cup and then add a dash of grace for today.

This weekend is another girls crafting weekend and a baby shower! A weekend full of girl time is just what the doctor ordered.

Another thing the doctor ordered? Sweet potato fries. We made some. I want more...

Why don't you look at some lovely things.

Snack Bags Tutorial

Cake Lollipops

Great Food Book Covers


Delightful Bird Ornaments for a good cause

Vintage Botanical

Nanaimo Bars

Explaining Creative Process to Preschoolers

And then there's Molly's post. It hit so close to home I choked up a bit... I had my own bout of postpartum depression after birthing Isabel. I think it's good to talk about these things, it makes us all feel so much less alone. You can see more about Molly on her blog, Mommycoddle.

Friends who make your heart soar...

"I think it's an interesting question to ask one self too, you know? And the question is when is the last time that you had a great conversation, a conversation which wasn't just two intersecting monologues, which is what passes for conversation a lot in this culture. But when had you last a great conversation, in which you overheard yourself saying things that you never knew you knew. That you heard yourself receiving from somebody words that absolutely found places within you that you thought you had lost and a sense of an event of a conversation that brought the two of you on to a different plane. And then fourthly, a conversation that continued to sing in your mind for weeks afterwards, you know? And I've — I've had some of them recently, and it's just absolutely amazing, like, as we would say at home, they are food and drink for the soul, you know?"

Have you heard this Krista Tippett interview John O'donohue? 

I had one of these conversations/evenings this weekend-- one that "continued to sing in my mind... that was food and drink for my soul." And I highly recommend it. 


Have you had good conversations lately?

A little watercolor prayer...

I painted this with intention for my sister whose been very sick. And with the events happening in Japan today, it seems to have been a timely intentional painting.

Good Morning!

Do you know what day it is? It's Rhythm of the Home, Spring launch day!

So grab a cup of tea and stop by some amazing articles:

Herbal Healing for Spring

Wet on Wet Watercoloring

PoeTree

Signs of the Robin

You can see my article about Revisiting Sanctuaries too!

For Today: I love...

Outside: Cold and sunshine. Sparkling Ice, light catching snow.

Inside: Warm and grey. Tea and honey.

Listening: An interview.

Learning:  Today is a choice, worry is a choice. I am not choosing worry.

Thinking: About her. And how much I miss her. And movie nights.

Doing: Watercolor.

Reading: Parts or all of these.

Seeing: Beauty.

Girls Craft Weekend...

This sounds silly to say but, I am rejuvenated by the weekends. We usually have just a few things planned and we spend the majority of our time together, cooking, playing games, playing trucks, dressing up... you know all the things you want to do when you're in preschool.

This weekend was a bit different, about once a quarter my girl friends get together for a crafty weekend. We rent a space at a local church and set up tables then spend most of Friday and Saturday together. We craft or scrapbook, sew and paint, eat and laugh.

I love these weekends-- it's rare to get that much time with each other without kids and husbands. So we cherish-- and look forward to our next weekend.

*********

Exciting house keeping:

What am I cooking? is a new food blog with a few blogging friends. I have a gluten free beef and veggie soup up for today.

Revisiting Sanctuaries is filling up, secure your place soon!

Kerry is starting a new series tomorrow! Yay!

Allison won the spot in Revisiting Sanctuaries! We'll be so glad to have you!