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By lovely mama, February 4, 2010 3:34 pm

February is my least favorite month of the year. It’s dreary, grey, cold, and there’s nothing but more of the same to look forward to for the entire month. I often joke that it’s the longest short month of the year. So, as the calendar turned the page to this month, my mood got a bit sour. I’ve had a bad case of the grumps, frankly. I’ve been snippy, short and rather unpleasant.  I justified my bad attitude with the fact that it’s February.

And then I saw this video, and fell utterly convicted.  I’m now mindful that these February days are full of promise. Oh, yes, full of the promise that ordinary, dreary grey February days can, in fact, be full of beauty. May your month be blessed with an abundance of Ordinary Days.

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By lovely mama, December 30, 2009 8:13 pm

Have any of you participated in Ali’s One Little Word?  If you haven’t, it’s a fabulous way to intentionally start your year.  Let’s face it, resolutions are broken before Feb hits, and then the rest of the year goes just as every other has.  With the one-word focus, though, you’re able to gently remind yourself throughout the year of what your intention was in the beginning just by reminding yourself of your word.

I’ve been thinking about what my word for 2010 would be for a few weeks now.  I had settled on “Balance” since I really need to find some amidst the many things pulling for my attention.  But then, I was catching up on blog reading today and came across a post at MckMama that has changed my mind. In it, she writes about “who you are when no one is looking” and so much of the post resonated with me.  But there’s one line, in which she writes about bringing two elements of her life into “better harmony” and my heart literally skipped a beat at reading the word “harmony”  It sounds so cheesy, but I instantly knew that it had to be my word.  So, 2010 will be the Year of Harmony for me.  The definition I’m going with is:

A pleasing combination of elements in a whole

Here’s to a harmonious 2010!

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By lovely mama, November 5, 2009 1:06 am

It’s too hard to resist the big piles of crunchy leaves along the path we take to school.  The Talker couldn’t stop himself from leaping into just about every one we passed, this big goofy grin on his face every time.  I’m savoring these afternoons when we can walk to school, the crisp air a refreshing break to our day.  The memories of thes walks will (hopefully) sustain me through the dreary winter days ahead.

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By lovely mama, October 29, 2009 2:33 pm

This week has been a pretty stressful one here at our house. The mammogram and ultrasound on Tuesday revealed more questions than answers, and we’re still just…waiting. Yesterday, even though it was a rainy day, we decided that the entire family needed a mental health day! We went to see Where to see Where the Wild Things Are. Visually, it was a stunning movie. The Wild Things were really fabulous, the cinematography was excellent, and the location choices were spot-on. The storyline though…let’s just say this was not the best movie to see when you were already feeling a bit emotionally fragile. It was not a kids’ movie. Very heavy thematically, and I was disappointed because it truly is my very favorite book to read with the boys and I really wanted to love this movie.

After that, we went to lunch and then to the orchard to pick apples and pumpkins. By the time we arrived at the fields, the sun had come out (even though rain had been forecasted for all day) and we enjoyed having the fields all to ourselves! We picked a bushel of empire and golden delicious apples (hello, apple pie filling!) and then we each picked a pumpkin. We schlepped all our goodies home, and The Hubster cleaned all the pumpkins out to roast the seeds while the boys + I got to carving. I think our efforts paid off pretty well, dontcha agree?

I’m sharing these pictures at You Capture this week, because for once I finally have pics that fit the theme, LOL!  Be sure to go check out all the other lovely pictures!

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By lovely mama, October 21, 2009 6:20 pm

I love the inspiration to soak up the everyday life from The Simple Woman’s Daybook via Ali Edwards.

Outside my window…the sun is shining on the fallen leaves in the backyard, awaiting the raking-and-jumping festival that will commence on Saturday morning.

I am thinking…about the tests I have scheduled for next week.

I am thankful for…God’s presence with me as I think about those tests.

From the kitchen…cider-glazed pot roast with veggies cooking in my beloved cast iron, making the whole house smell divine.

I am wearing…black yoga pants and a comfy grey Old Navy tee, pulled on as I contemplated a workout while Rusty naps.

I am creating…a layette set that I’m knitting for a good friend’s baby shower next weekend. She’s a huge Penn State fan, so it’ll be Nittany-approved!

I am going…to watch the Phillies tonight (and they will clinch!)

I am reading…actually reading? Good and Angry. Audible reading? The Monuments Men. (It’s fantastic!)

I am hoping…that all this worry will be for nothing.

I am hearing…blissful silence (for the first time in 4 days!)

Around the house…there is a large pile of laundry waiting to be folded on my bed.

One of my favorite things…is that Dash* loved to do crafts as much as I do. He was home the past two days due to an asthma flare, and we spent several lovely hours making loop potholders, painting, and knitting together.

A few plans for the rest of the week…playground tomorrow, Family Movie Night on Friday, and leaf fun on Saturday!

A picture to share…

Me and the Craftster

* Dash isn’t his real name. The boys have all recently expressed discomfort with me using their real names (though they are fine with pictures, so weird!) So, I’ve taken to using nicknames that represent them. This guy is “Dash” because he’s an incredible athlete who runs like the wind, and is also quite quick with the flip comments when needed. He could also easily be called the Craftster since he’s oh-so-crafty (in more ways than one!)