Thankful

I am a to-do list type of girl. I have a hard time being present in the moment which, I suspect, is why I love to read so much. It suspends my body and mind in time and I can escape my busy brain. I am on a continual quest to enjoy the moment, to be grateful, to pause, to rest. But then something happens in the life of a friend and suddenly, with intense clarity, all artifice is stripped away and I see the very real threads of God’s grace and provision in my own life – in the moment and the entirety – my marriage, my girls, my friendships, my sisters. It is humbling.

Cate and Jane came home and immediately went upstairs to play ballet class. Dinner’s usual time has come and gone but I have not called them down. How can I when I hear such sweet bits of conversation from upstairs?

The four pictures above are scenes from the week. Henry needs a walk and my books are out of control but what else is new? Sherry and I went on a walk (my idea) in an epic downpour. We were soaked. Full stop. Cate asked early on Friday morning – Mom, can we do a craft? I said yes with only the teensiest hesitation and we pulled out the Kiwi Crate. So great for non-crafters like me. I am in an order-every-other-month phase and I think that’s just about right.

Comments are again available. I had a really pretty theme on wordpress.com but it didn’t allow for comments. At first I didn’t mind so much but then a couple of my loyal (all two of you!) readers mentioned it and I changed the theme today. Comment away.

New Addition

I am still wondering why in the world we think this is a good idea. But we do. We pick up George next Friday. He's a labradoodle and will be eight weeks old. I am excited and totally nervous. It's been a long time since we did the puppy thing. The girls are put out a bit because they both want to name him Payton. I said no. George. Henry turns eight in April and I really think he needs a companion. He has not loved me going back to work. He sighs and ignores us as we get ready in the morning and literally turns his back on the window as we back out of the driveway. A puppy will cheer him up! Or at least I hope so? Grammy is going to watch George a couple days a week when I have long days at work and I am hoping to work at home a little more in the next month just to keep my eye on him. Prepare for the onslaught of puppy pictures.

 

Four Favorites

picstitch

Four things I am loving this week.

  1. marcona almonds (bought from costco and then improved greatly with this barefoot contessa recipe). cate and telfer and I can’t stop eating them. Cate even had a little bowlful for breakfast this morning.
  2. the buffalo photograph arrived in our dining room over the weekend and I am completely enamored. Mr. Buffalo is a benevolent presence but if behavior turned south at dinner, I think he could definitely have a change of heart. Is that terrible? Cate and Jane will be in therapy someday “My mom told us a buffalo photograph on the dining room wall would come alive and gore us if we didn’t turn on our listening ears at the dinner table.”
  3. city ballet docu-series on aol. The girls and I are watching this together at night. Narrated by Sarah Jessica Parker, a fascinating look at the New York City ballet. Each episode is about six minutes long. When we finish watching there’s usually a lot of twirling and leaping.
  4. acorn slippers. On Christmas morning when I realized I didn’t get any slippers, I took matters into my hands and ordered myself a pair. Mom and Alyssa also have this same brand and love. My old ones were very sorry-looking indeed. I feel very fancy wearing these.

Twenty Fourteen

We spent the first day of the new year out at the Lake House. I love it out there. I don’t get any cell phone reception and I can’t cross much off my to-do list. And so we relax and play and eat and watch cartoons and read and walk. Telfer took the girls for a boat ride and I walked Henry around the lake. I am always restored by the very idea of a New Year. I find it comforting to know that I can spend my time in different ways and my focus can shift. It’s such a valuable act for me to at least think and reflect and pray about the coming year. I love it.

Things I am looking forward to this year (in no particular order): capture micro-moments of grace and gratitude, learn to make french press coffee really well, my kitchen, start a little free library, spend the time I have to myself more carefully, schedule regular one-on-one time with the girls, make risotto and gnocchi expertly, cultivate a peacefulness of heart, read a lot of books. To very loosely paraphrase David Brooks: I am the happiest when there is a steady, almost overwhelming, flow of both information and affection coming in and out my life.

On a related and fun note, RaChelle and I bought these perpetual gratitude calendars (at least we are using them that way) for each other for our 35th birthdays as well as Christmas. Not cheap but so lovely. It’s been sitting on my desk in my little office looking lonely so I am thrilled that it’s January…