What's working...

Claudia has put out a challenge to say out loud what is working.....

I like the idea of focusing on what we are doing right around here.

WHAT IS WORKING?!

Here goes-

Coffee in the morning.  Meeting for coffee with a friend.  iced coffee.

(Not surprising this is what came to me first as I wake up with my cup of joe)

 Yoga.....i need it body and soul.  This photo is from my recent yoga retreat in Cabo.   Making that week to embrace health, relaxation and to get strong body and soul.

Making time for me...whether it is taking an art course, painting in the studio, time with friends, going to yoga, meditating, having a babysitter.  These are all things that are working for me.  That I need to make time for to create balance.

 Spring....thank goodness for Spring!  I love watching the blooms...seeing the regrowth.  The symbolism and beauty.   Seeing the fiddleheads again!  That works for me...just lifts me up!!

Serendipity 7 is my venture with my soul friend, Marcie.  It is all things vintage, up cycled and good.  I love it....we are getting ready for our first vintage sale on April 21st....this is working for me.  I am loving everything about it!   Time with my soul friend, a new challenge, creating awesomeness.

 Jack....my 5 year old boy.   I love the alone time we are getting in the afternoon.  This week we snuggled and watched a movie.   Went to the art studio and created.  I love his sweet snuggles.   Next year is Kindergarten for this big boy so this alone time is working for me.

 Alone time with my son and travel.....similar themes as above...but making alone time with my son away from home is priceless.  This photo is from our trip to Guatemala.  This time was precious to me.

You know what else is working but I don't have a photo of?   breaking the cycle of an old bad nuerotic habit.....I am trying to stop picking and biting at my nails.  I got a set of acrylic gel nails put on a month ago.   That stopped the old pattern right there.   I just filed them down and soaked off the acrylic gel to the natural nail and have a pretty decent manicure that I have no desire to pick at.  Really, really working on this and so far it is working.  gotta keep working at it.

Being a mommy and staying at home full-time.....this is working for me.

I love it.  It isn't perfect and neither am I in it.

But I wouldn't trade it or this time for anything.

my marriage is working....

we have our differences, our faults and some how we manage to raise above it.

We are getting awfully good at the art of compromise.

We are listening to each other.

We are aware of each others needs

my hubby is a wonderful, loving man.

He is the ying to my yang. 

   I love him and am so glad he is my partner in life.

There it is- what is working.
...I love staying focused on all of what is working.

Thanks

my goodness....do I have so very much to be thankful for....

the kid table, which was right next to

the grown up table, where everyone was too busy eating and talking to look at me and my camera.  Seems about right! 

This is my nephew....seriously adorable.

gobble, gobble.

Last Thanksgiving I was so thankful for our sweet girl's referral.  

This Thanksgiving I give thanks for so many blessing in our lives, 

and being able to hold her in our arms is one of the greatest of all.

Hope your heart is full of thanks...and your belly too.

2 months home

We have been home for 2 months....goodness gracious, where did the time go.  It really have been a full 2 months for us.  I think it is fair to say that the first half was full of transitioning.  Getting into our "new normal".  And now I can honestly say, I feel like we have made it back to a "state of normalcy"...or whatever that is.  Right?  So, very subjective.  And I also realize it can change on a moments notice for any of us.  But the new normal is pretty darn great.

It has been 2 months of being a Mom of 4, even if there are time I feel completely overwhelmed and crazy.  But tell me who wouldn't!?  I do love it, love it, love it.  That is life here in all of its messiness.  From where I sit at this includes: baby toys on the floor, matchbox cars under foot,  Legos on the dining room table, little socks on the couch, goldfish crackers on the counter, blue toothpaste in the sink, handmade artwork on the wall, hugs and slobbery kisses, holding (sometimes sticky) little hands.  Its all good...we are blessed beyond words.

What is right.

I have always thought of myself as a "glass is half full" kind of person. Perhaps I am most of the time, but I think sometimes when I feel stressed I start to lose sight of that half full glass. This is precisely when I start feeling like I am sinking in that glass that my perspective changes. I feel negative, tired, anxious and tend to focus on what is wrong in my world. Obviously, during this transition in our family there is stress and I am trying to juggle many, many things. All by choice, but stressful none the less. So, while I didn't realize it I was seeing things a bit too half empty.

An ever insightful and wise soul friend, Margo, so kindly pointed out to me that perhaps I should look for "what is right".

Instead of feeling frustrated by, disappointed in or overwhelmed by what is wrong. This simple and yet powerful suggestion really flipped the switch in me! What is right...what is right...what is right! Gosh, there are soooo many things that are right! It is so much more pleasant and enjoyable to focus on what is right in my life.

So here goes.

Me focusing on....what is right, right now in this moment.

* Our sweet girl, home at last and happily napping in her crib

* My healthy babies, full of laughter, love and smiles

* A safe, warm, beautiful home to embrace our family

* Amazing friends and family supporting us....calling us, emailing us, visiting us

* Dinner is being delivered to my house every Monday and Thursday. Tonight is carmel french toast. Yummy.

* Andy has taken a half day off to be with us. yeh! He is wonderful

in so many ways.

* Our silly dog...he makes me laugh and always wants to snuggle

* It feels like spring! I can see the daffodils starting to peek up!

* The sun is out and that always lifts me up!

* There is mint chocolate chip ice cream in my freezer and I am not sharing

* My new diaper bag...it is fantastic, cute and will keep me organized

* Cecil, our old cat just rubbed my neck....looking for love.

* Tessa's curly, soft hair next to my cheek. Her little body in my arms. Her funny sounds and smile that lights up a room.

* I am surrounded by love, love, love. I know it and I feel it.

There are so many things going right.....I am staying on the "right" path.

Life is but a dream....

You know the song   "Life is but a dream"... ?   It is stuck in my head!!

Here are the lyrics...by Dion

Will you take part in my life, my love?
That is my dream

Life is but a dream; it's what you make it
Always try to give; don't ever take it
Life has its music, life has its song of love, love

Life is but a dream, & I dream of you
Strange as it seems, all night I see you
I'm tryin' to tell you just what you mean to me

Wo I love you with all my heart
I adore you & all your lovin' charms
I want you to do your part
Come here to my open arms

Life is but a dream, & we can live it
Oh we can make a love none to com
That is my dreamm (life is but a dream

That pretty much sums up how I feel!  Life is a dream for me and I am so grateful.  To top it off, we are having the most beautiful weather and somehow it feels like it is reflecting just how joyful I am feeling.  

We have now given our sweet girl her first name...drum roll, please......Tessa!  Her name comes from her Ethiopian name Tesfanesh, which means "you are hope".  We had never considered this name before her referral and it is unlike other names I had been obsessing about for years.  Tessa feels like a very beautiful and special name from both us and her Ethiopian name.  What is really wild is that one of the meanings of Tessa in Greek is "fourth child"!  I had already fallen in love with this name, while talking with Marcie, and then looked it up on-line and saw that it was fate!  And as I look at her photos I see a little girl who to me looks like Tessa.  

Life is but a dream...sweet Tessa...sweet Tessa... sweet Tessa....sweet Tessa....sweet Tessa...sweet Tessa