hammock required

Isn't there something just so wonderful about a hammock?

Here at the resort in Mexico we have a hammock right on our patio...everyone does.

Actually, a hammock is a vacation requirement here.

I love everything a hammock represents.  It feels like a hug when you get in one.  You immediately feel snuggled, held...supported.  And then when you have little people it only adds to the sweetness and snuggly feeling.  Here half of our family is in our own little snuggle fest cocoon.

Tessa is often so busy being a toddler that snuggling isn't on the top of her list of things to do.  But the hammock brought it out in her.  This position was her favorite, I think because we are together, but she is also independent of me while being snuggled in.  I love how relaxed we are here.  I love the way our skin is contrasting.  I love how her little body just fits right into mine. I just love it

Can you just feel Tessa's inner sweetness below?....Here her sweetness is coming right through.  

She is totally relaxed, at ease and being oh so sweet.

A hammock might be required right now for me to see this sort of sweetness....

that is fine with me.  I can swing in a hammock all summer if that is what it takes!

project 64

The paper mama "sweet" photo challenge

www.papermama.blogspot.com




Guess what....our second photo of us in a hammock won the "Paper Mama's "Sweet" photo challenge!   Now you can vote for it!

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paper mama

Hola!

Hola from Riviera Maya, Mexico.
I am blissfully in a state of relaxation at this moment and can hardly muster up the energy to blog....but I must to share with you how much fun we are having.

But don't be fooled, vacation with 4 kids isn't vacation.  There should be its own term for such a venture.   for now I will call it "adventures in parenthood".   Maybe vacation with 4 kids should simply be "crazy time".  Or best yet, "you seriously thought you would be on vacation?" vacation.

Whatever it is....the best part of it is that we are all together doing nothing more than whatever we want.  not on any schedule.  don't need to be anywhere.  not doing homework.  playing in the water (with me on sun screen patrol). Merely getting ourselves to one of the resorts' restaurants to eat is our most pressing activity...sort of vacation.

Yep, life is so good....

i heart faces- slice of life!

A Slice of Life.....i heart faces photo challenge

I love this subject sooo much that I couldn't resist entering a photo even while on vacation.  Take a photo that is a slice of life really is my favorite thing to do.  If you can capture a natural moment, well to me that is beautiful.

Jack Jack is becoming such a big boy.  At times trapped between being my little one and being a big boy.  He idolizes his brother Juddy.  Wants to be just like him in every way.  Sometimes wants to be a big brother to Tessa, but sometimes is frustrated by it.  

Here he is working on writing his name....I can hardly believe it.

little sister gets married.

My little sister is getting married....

tomorrow.

This is photo is from 1983....my brother, Tyler, is about 7.   Krissy is about 3.   I am about 10.

This is us 27 years later.

In this photo, Krissy is about to have this sweet baby.

Eleanor Leona.

 Eleanor knows, like the rest of us, that her Mommy and Daddy love each other very much.

Tomorrow they will say it out loud  .....

commit to a life together through the good times and bad times.

to love and cherish one another as they both grow and change. 

to nurture and love their family.

it will be a truly happy day.

Krissy....I love you and will be with you in my heart tomorrow.

Steve....you are already apart of our family. We love you and how you love our sweet Krissy.

Here's to a lifetime of love together!

Outside my comfort zone....

This is me....at a pulpit....giving a sermon.

I know...weird!  It was a surreal experience, for sure.  But now that it is behind me I am so glad I had the opportunity to push myself.  For me, this is REALLY outside my comfort zone.  First of all, it is public speaking.  yuck.   I have always have dreaded it all the way back to communications class in high school.   Really, really dread it.    

Second, I am speaking in a church to a congregation (3 times!) about my "calling" to AIDS Walk Africa and our adoption.  Speaking about my personal journey and spirituality.   I am almost too tired to explain all of that..(more here:gentle-nudges)...but for me this is big.  I have for so long struggled with my own spirituality, the constraints of organized religion and the literally interpretations of the bible.

It is only recently that I have come to understand the role of religion in my life, for my family and my own personal growth.  It is good where I am at today...the struggles aren't completely gone, but I am at more peace with it than ever.  I feel much more at peace about religion and understanding its place in my life...I am even embracing it.  

So, standing in front of a congregation talking about my spiritual calling was meaningful.  The process of writing the sermon was cathartic, it opened my eyes to how God has worked in my life despite my resistance.  It is remarkable really.....how god "nudged me" for years about Africa, about adoption and how those journeys were all intertwined.  How I received the call when I finally could hear it.   Certainly, I continue to be a work in progresss, but am grateful for the presence I feel in my life today. 

Today was  way outside my comfort zone.  And so I am officially crossing off:

#38:Do something outside of my comfort zone  &

#13:  Service the church

from my "40 before 40" list.  

2 for one....double bonus points

I am smiling as I type this.....just makes me happy.

P.S.  Isn't my church (St. John's United Church of Christ) just so pretty? The wood, the organ pipes.  There is so much more to show that isn't in this shot....there are stained glass windows surrounding to "ooh and ahh" over.   Not that a church being pretty matters....well, to most.  it does to me and I love that part of going to this church.

Scavenger hunt Sunday

FROZEN:

Scavenger Hunt Sunday:

Scavenger hunt Sunday is dedicated to our sweet girl....who is very busy, adorbable, very busy, never stops, she is a little scientist,  experimenting and ripping the house apart at every turn.  How is it that someone this adorable and be full of so much excess energy?...did I mention she is very busy and exhausting me?

1.  Camera

Oh beloved camera and its accessory friends get to sit all snuggly in its new home the epiphanie camera bag.   ahhh....and my favorite colors to boot.

2.  Camera Phone

In the "Vantastic"....Tessa is wiggling around.  I am happy because, well, she is strapped in!  

Really a day in the life kind of shot.

3.   Chair

This is the chair Tessa sits in at the kitchen counter.  

If you look closely it is likely fairly ucky even though I wipe it down daily.

It is also a play area....no toys needed, just climbing objects like this chair.

4. Shoes

These are the Wee Squeak "squeaker" shoes.  We always know what she is getting into with these on those little feet!  Perfect for the most active of toddlers on the loose.  seriously.









5.  Imperfection

 I am flawed and sometimes like a little wine to unwind from chasing Tessa all day (among other things)!

This perfect bottle of wine is from our Napa trip last fall....ahh.  

Notice the wine cork floating inside.  yep, I did that.

I could care less....perfectly imperfect.

Scavenger Hunt Sunday

what my art is all about.

I am so flattered to be featured as an artist on Julie's blog
click here....
The eyes of my eyes are opened

this is why I create.  This is what my art is all about.  finding inspiration, a message and connecting.....