Day to day...sometimes moment to moment...life goes up and down and back again and all around. Sometimes I feel gray on auto-pilot, and others I feel light and see details with an optimism and calm that is so refreshing and so foreign on those gray days...
and I must admit, some days I'd like to (and sometimes do ) : slam doors, cry, scream and walk away.
Rising above circumstances, staying present and connecting with God -- all words to live by that I've heard and briefly contemplated plenty over the years. As these years roll by, the words mean more and more, and I try to really listen and fuse them into my days. And it's tough...it's certainly not a cure-all for the gray (dark would be a better adjective for some) days but it provides me more awareness and hope for trudging through them.
If I can lasso my stray and selfish thoughts, sling 'em at His feet -- get present, take a deep breath, be thankful -- I can sometimes bring myself back to lightness and humility and connection.
Most people's life's works produce ultimate highs and lows as well as everything in between. Here's a little update about my life's work:
Graham, as many an 8 year-old, has entered the spring dual sports zone. Last week Thursday at 6pm, he had a baseball game, soccer practice and first communion rehearsal. First communion took precedence hands-down and both sports were, conveniently for Graham's schedule, rained-out.
Estelle is fully immersed in the Disney movie's, Frozen, culture, of which seems to be epidemic in little girls. Though I cannot help smiling and feeling my heart warm at the flamboyant dancing and belting of 'let it goooo! let it gooooooo!'.
Ambitious, energy- and action-packed Jason tore his achilles tendon in late March! What a shocker -- but -- in typical Jason-fashion, he's really confidently yet humbly and strongly cruised through all of the steps so far and seems to be progressing even better than predicting with PT.
Probably most of these posts talk at some length about busy-ness! I won't break the trend -- a facebook 'friend's' post:
Stop the glorification of busy
"NOTHING....is becoming rare and precious. Everything is hype, noise, desire, desperation, speed and greed. We in the modern world are good at 'doing,' but anemic at 'being.' Entertainment, busy-ness, texting while walking or even driving...'Efficiency' is an addictive myth based on our fidgety fear of opening up. We can not 'do' properly until we can, first, 'be' fully. Practice doing nothing - then - we can accomplish...ANYTHING."
A lot of bouncing around (the pictures themselves are out of timeline, too!) -- now some pictures of Jason's fine foods but mostly of the kiddies and the last few months. Some quantity here:
 |
| Graham's First Communion the first weekend of May! |
 |
| Some of Graham's First Communion projects... |
 |
| Our first full dozen at one time from Goby and Maple!!! By contrast, we only had one this morning... |
 |
| Beautiful Freesia...favorite...our wedding flower |
 |
| 8 Years for Big G |
 |
| Pool time March in Biloxi...thank goodness it was heated! |
 |
| My Mom and Graham did a clean-up adventure along the Gulf coast. Many leveled lots still. Quite profound. |
 |
| A pretty sweet treat to go to Disney along with Jason for his work! |
 |
| Boardwalk car bike |
 |
| Big Lego store! |
 |
| Lotta princesses around Disney World |
 |
| ELSA and ANA!!!...and Estelle |
 |
| Jason pre-achilles repair surgery |
 |
| And post-surgery -- toes above the nose for a week! |
 |
| Estelle's first baby shower with Auntie Kacky for her now-arrived new cousin Rowan! |
 |
| Celebrating Joe's 22nd in Oshkosh! |
 |
| Easter egg hunt with Mike and Kristen! |
 |
| at Schiltz Audubon |
 |
| grassy plain at Schlitz |
 |
| A Jason specialty -- cracker crust and all |
 |
| Graham's First Communion with class |
 |
| Estelle can climb to the top of this 'web' all by herself! |
 |
| Grilled salmon, brown rice and Andrew Weil's kale salad -- so healthy and so good! |
 |
| Some of Jason's casual everyday meals seem like Christmas dinner or something -- mashed potatoes are of course from scratch with cauliflower |
 |
| More salmon with a iced and roasted whole cauliflower (thanks Jay!) and roasted potatoes |
 |
| This was a part WI produced tuna salad with Growing Power's greens and the exquisite Hay River Pumpkin Seed Oil (thanks again Jay & Ken!) |
 |
| During our gluten- and dairy-free trials - GF herb bread, our backyard eggs, Growing Power greens again and almond milk |
 |
| Super treat to visit Nan in Biloxi at her awesome pool- and beach-side condo -- when in [or near] the bayou -- eat crawdads! |
 |
| They were reallllly good! |
 |
| Seafood market in Biloxi |
 |
| A live shrimp! We went on a shrimp fishing boat -- fascinating -- what a culture. So cool. |
 |
| Roasted sweet potatoes and broccolini and grilled organic chicken. Really nice. |
hope you smile lots today...have a great one! xoxo, holly
