You are currently browsing the monthly archive for March 2012.
“What feeling is so nice as a child’s hand in yours? So small, so soft and warm, like a kitten huddling in the shelter of your clasp” Marjorie Holmes
Baby’s Daddy had Quintuple Heart Bypass surgery today. OMG! We’re all quite shocked that it was that bad. I’m focusing my energies on Baby Girl as she really doesn’t understand any of what is going on, and just needs some consistency and routine to her day. Our theme for the week in our 365 Challenge is “hand” – this is my contribution. I love these tender moments . . .
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“There is a garden in every childhood, an enchanted place where colors are brighter, the air softer, and the morning more fragrant than ever again.” ~Elizabeth Lawrence
Hanging out with the Little this morning before heading off to have lunch with some long-time friends that I don’t get to see often enough. Baby was so happy this morning playing around the house as I did some cleaning and organizing. I sat down for a few minutes and before I knew it she had brought me my shoes! When I didn’t put them on . . . she decided she would! One of the “allowances” in our 365 Project is that we can include a few “DNA” shots . . . I think this qualifies, especially since she’s in my shoes!
67-365
“If we would amend the world, we should mend our selves; and teach our children to be, not what we are, but what they should be.” William Penn
Baby spent the morning at Day Care while I did some chores. I picked her up at 12:30 and headed to CostCo. What better place to get lunch, than browsing the sample tables! She loves it . . . and picked up a few books for her Easter Basket. (She won’t remember, right??) She had a rough night last night, and I think is battling a cold and feeling the stress of not having Mommy around much at all. Daddy is having surgery on Wednesday, so trying to keep things as normal as possible for her right now. Even tho she loves me and we have a good bond, there is no one like Mommy to make everything all better. It was too cold to go to the park today, so we did our CostCo shop and then came home and played and read books till nap time.
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“Children will soon forget your presents. They will always remember your presence though.” Author: Anonymous
Today is another snuggle picture with the baby. Daddy is still in hospital and will be for another week. Mommy is spending all her waking hours with Daddy. Baby is really feeling the tip in the equilibrium of her life today. She’s needing many more snuggles, and is upset easily – not normal behaviour for this very happy child. I am feeling incredibly blessed to be in a position to help out and to give baby as much normalcy in her life at this time of upheaval as I can. I’m a firm believer that giving of your heart and time is far more valuable than spending money on presents and just showing up once in awhile. I will climb on playground equipment and chase them around, go for walks and read stories for as long as I am able. That’s what these Little’s will remember – not the toys I bought them or the money I spent on them. Now – that doesn’t mean I don’t like to buy things for them! Not at all! However, I’m not that Grandma that will buy them whatever they want to make them happy. I’d much rather sit in the grass and count bugs with them than wander through a shopping mall spending money on stuff they’ll throw in the corner tomorrow.
And being there for them in moments like this . . . priceless!
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“Surely, two of the most satisfying experiences in life must be those of being a grandchild or a grandparent.” Donald A. Norberg
I’m staying with my Daughter for the next week or so in the SF Bay Area as we wait for Baby Daddy to be scheduled for triple, or possibly quadruple, bypass surgery. He’s in hosp as his condition is critical, and Dghtr is spending all her time with him. Took this shot tonight just before bedtime. Ella was feeling very cuddly, I’m sure missing her Mommie. I am just learning about off camera flash so took several shots while we were snuggling. She was quite intriqued!
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“Change will not come if we wait for some other person or some other time. We are the ones we’ve been waiting for. We are the change that we seek.” Barack Obama
Interesting day today. I flew to the SF Bay Area this morning. My daughter is flying to Denver on Sunday for five days for business. Of course, I volunteered my services to take care of 16 month old Ella. Well, actually I had the flight booked before my daughter finished telling me she was having to go on the business trip!
I arrived at the airport two hours ahead of my flight – a bit early but I like to be early rather than late. This allowed me the opportunity to have higher priority seating so I was able to get my favored window seat. I ended up with a seat mate who was in her mid to late 40’s and heading to the SF Bay Area for her Mother’s 80th birthday celebration. However, she has family dynamics that had her quite nervous and anxious about the week long event and family interactions. We quickly realized that we each have similar stories about growing up “invisible” and with the expectation that we take care of everyone except ourselves. Our “self” had no value. I finally realized about 15 years ago that I did have value, it was ok for me to nurture “self”. She is just going through that “awakening” now. We spent the entire two hour flight talking about accountability, and how I believe that we each are the source of our own experience in life – be it good or bad. I have choice in everything I do, say, believe. I have choice in how I want to put myself out there, and how I react and interact with others. I also have choice in whomever I want to include in my sphere of influence. I choose to set boundaries with people that I feel are toxic. I want to include people in my life who are like minded and support me and accept me for who I am. This gal was really struggling with all these issues, and had created a few strategies to help her deal with the one family member in particular. By the end of the flight, we both came away feeling buoyed and strengthened with the sense that if we stay in our own power and realize that we can only change ourselves . . . all will be ok. It may not be easy, but it will be ok. Be true and honest and kind to “self”, and you’ll be amazed at the truly amazing life you will attract to yourself!
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“Behavior is a mirror in which every one displays his own image.” Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
More goofing around with my ipad and it’s apps. This image is fairly significant in that I have to remind myself every day that I am the source of my experience of life. It is through my own choices, actions and reactions to whatever energy is happening around me that I create the experience I want in life. If I stay true and honest to Self then I stand strong in my own energy which in turn creates a positive experience for those I interact with, whether long term or fleeting. By no means am I perfect in this practice. I stumble on a regular basis . . . however I do firmly believe that as long as I keep the focus on what is most important to me . . . I can’t fail!
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‘The eye sees only what the mind is prepared to comprehend” Henri Bergson
My picture today is inspired by several fellow 365’ers. I used my 50mm 1.8 lens with the aperture wide open, stood in front of my camera with my 35mm 1.8 lens mounted. The challenge is to get the eye in perfect focus. I also wanted the lens rim to be in focus . . . but really struggled with getting close enough to the camera to make it work. However – on this shot I was amazed at how in-focus my eye actually is. Oh the things I’m learning!
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“Green is the prime color of the world, and that from which its loveliness arises.” Pedro Calderon de la Barca
Continuing on a Theme . . . I found this beautiful handblown globe that someone had given us when we got married. It is a perfect vessel for today’s shot . . .
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“An optimist is a person who sees a green light everywhere, while a pessimist sees only the red stoplight… the truly wise person is colorblind.” Albert Schweitzer
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Nurture Self 365 