i feel like i have dealt with my fair share of life lessons this week and its just thursday. the rawness of the human experience always takes me by surprise- sometimes it takes my breath away; my heart. i melt into this comfortable little life of semi-perfection,  complain about things that don’t matter but seem like they do {crumbs on the carpet, or too many dishes, cellulite}, and forget to be truly thankful for the gifts i have been infinitely blessed to receive. and i am sure once this open wound has healed {and it will…i know it will, because it has before}, that the events that envelop our daily existence will return to a quiet sustainability, and perhaps the occasional mini-struggle for flavor. even as a mother, and that is the job that defines me most, you get numb from….too much perfect. {if there is very too much, right?} in a way, its nice to be reminded that this journey is genuine and real in every way…good and bad.

daily mantra: life is the art of drawing without an eraser….{unknown}

dear Mikki and Katie…

having faith is important. i am not talking about faith in religious sense, although that may be important to you someday. i am talking about faith in people. when you look at the world, watch the news, read the newspaper, or listen to your friends, it is easy to get enveloped in the cynicism that holds humanity. my hope is that you will feel a common connection with every person you meet. you have not felt the same things, endured the same struggles, or lived the same life, but you have both shared in the same emotions that make us all vulnerable, and reachable. it is easy to sit back from afar and judge each passer-by with conviction, and i must admit, i have made this mistake myself on several occasions.  what i love the most about people is when you least expect it, a genuine, heartfelt kindness emerges from out of the blue. people will surprise you in every possible way. mostly…for the good. i promise.

all my love darlings,

Little Miss August joined me this weekend for a super fun, and somewhat rainy session on Saturday. She was such a doll, and reminded me just how much I love the ‘almost 2′ stage.

daily mantra:
in summer, the song sings itself.

william.carlos.williams

dear mikki and katie…

life is full of surprises. good and bad. that is what makes it rich. my grandmother used to say that in order to appreciate the good times,  you had to have some really bad ones too. she lived through a lot of bad things, so i am sure she knew what she was talking about. days flow and ebb like the ocean. bad days will come, sometimes a few in a row, sometimes just one, but they do come. it is easy to become blinded with emotion and easy to let the wind blow and take you wherever it pleases.  its okay to let yourself float on your life raft for a little while…i think we all do it. but then, after a few days, start writing down what you are thankful for, and what you have, and what brings you happiness, peace, and joy, and write down the long list of people who love you. suddenly, i promise, your glass will be half full…as will your soul.

all my love darlings,

p.s…if it doesn’t become half full, mom will fill it up.

pps…daily mantra….positive thoughts are not enough. there have to be positive feelings and positive actions….unknown