June, the sweetest of months.
Welcoming the arrival of warmer days spent soaking in the sunshine.
Settling in nicely to our new summer routine, love the ease of our days.
Just a few things I'm delighted by:
Summer edition of Rhythm of the Home arrived today.
So happy to have a pitcher of the perfect iced coffee in my fridge.
This book and this one next on my list to be read.
Counting down until we head here for a family vacation. Love this place.
Hello June!
Hello June!
"Traveling from the known to the unknown requires crossing an abyss of emptiness.
We first experience disorientation and confusion. Then, if we are willing to cross in wonder, we enter an expansive and untamed country that has it's own rhythm.
Time melts.
Thoughts become stories, music, poems, images, ideas.
This is the intelligence of the heart.
-a vast range of receptive and connective abilities: intuition, wisdom, meaning making,.
It is aesthetic, qualitative, creative, sensitive, innovative.
And it is here that we uncover our purpose and passion.
The future exists only in our imaginations."
-Dawna Markova
fr: Wide Open
The first step to uncovering purpose and passion is paying attention to what your heart is gently telling you. You know, that rhythmic beat beat beat that starts to move a little faster when you've seen or done something that just feels right? That elation you feel when your knee deep in a moment that makes you so very happy? A memory created that you take with you always, recalling every single little detail that always brings a smile to your face? Time melts.
I have felt the abyss of emptiness, I have felt the disorientation and confusion.
This is know: when I follow the yearnings of my heart, when I listen to the small voice within that quietly leads me down my life path, I am fulfilling my passion and purpose. The emptiness is filled, the disorientation falls away, the confusion becomes clarity.
It's been there all the time.
Sitting here with a big smile on my face as I enjoy the caramel macchiato Lars just brought home for me.
It's all about the little things, you know?
I'm a seeker of those small things in life that make my life richer because I looked for them.
I choose to be surrounded by happiness. Oh, there can be ugly moments yet I always find my way back to what brings me joy.
Life is a gift. Life is certainly always changing. Life is how we choose to make it.
I'm feeling a profound sense of utter joy and contentment mixed with a surge of creativity I haven't felt in many months. It feels good. I'm letting it happen, surrendering to the dishes in the sink, piles of laundry and who knows what else that could be attended to. Instead, tending to the innermost needs of my soul. Creating new pages in my Discovery journal, organizing my files of pictures, filling up photo albums, reading, coloring with the kids, being still.
I'm savoring this feeling because like all things it won't last forever. I accept that. I'm learning that when it does arrive, it's all the sweeter, so much more appreciated.
A little bit of randomness here in this post but I think you know what I'm getting at, right?
I thought so.
Here's to a long happy weekend!
Just a few things around the web I'm loving that I'd like to share with you.
Really love this book and tea print, just perfect! Too bad for me it's sold out. boo.
Excited to be receiving my new issue of 3191 Quarterly and Taproot magazine in the mail.
A very inspiring thought over at Chookooloonks.
Eagerly awaiting the release of Smitten Kitchen cookbook.
Did you know that Gretchen has a new book coming out?
Seriously obsessed with this new to me PictureShow app for my iPhone.
Kelly Rae Roberts heartfelt post that must be read. I am a huge fan of this amazing woman.
Homemade poptarts on the menu, seriously scrumptious.
Homemade Pantry cookbook is well loved in my kitchen lately, a must have for every kitchen.
Added this paper to my ever growing collection, can't wait to use it in my Discovery journal.
So many good things abound. I'm inspired by all the creative souls in the world, grateful for the ways in which the goodness can be shared.
Enjoy!
Summer break starts today at 2:00. It's no stretch to say that I'm one giddy mama! I feel as though I'm the kid with the summer off and I guess in a way that's true. I'll also admit that I'm officially a summer girl now, how can one not be with the energy right outside my door? It's completely energizing and I'm feeling it in a big way. I haven't felt this surge of inspiration and joy in a long time and it feels incredible. I'll credit the expanse of ease the next three months holds in its hands, the warmth of the days, early morning light, afternoons spent outside reading or knitting in the shade while the kids play in the pool, morning walks heightened by the happiness of birdsong, a family vacation to plan for, adventures with the kids, lots of popsicles consumed, the squeal of happiness from two little kids who feel the joy. It's a general state of happiness abounding around here and it feels really, really good! In anticipation for today I was up bright and early with a spring in my step ready to begin the day. I think after school we will celebrate with snow cones, I love those.
I have thoughts to share on Zach's first year of school that I will post about soon. I will say that gratitude abounds for the many blessings this school year has brought into our lives.
I'm happy to be back in this space on what I hope to be a daily basis. On my desk sits a cute little notebook with pages of blogging ideas that I can't wait to start sharing. Thank you for your patience and visits even when it's been quiet for a period of time. Stepping away and then thinking I would stop blogging all together has made me want to do it even more. This sharing a little of myself is something I enjoy immensely and find to be such a fun creative outlet. Thanks again for visiting my little world.
Here's to a fun filled, memory making next three months of pure bliss!!
Hip hip hooray!!!
"It's only when you make
process your goal that the
big dream can follow."
-Oprah
".....when she walks into the room,
everybody turns:
Some kind of light is coming from her head.
Even the geraniums look curious,
and the bees, if they were here, would buzz
suspiciously around her hair, looking
for the door in her corona.
We're all attracted to the perfume of fermenting joy.
We've all tried to start a fire,
and one day, maybe it will blaze upon it's own.
In the meantime, she is the one today among us
most able to bear the idea of her own beauty,
and when we see it, what we do is natural;
we take our burned hands
out of our pockets,
and clap."
-fr: "Grammar"
by Tony Hoagland
"Whatever wholeness we
achieve requires enormous
work, which is the effort
of life; and that work
is never complete."
-Unknown
I love this quote. I really love this picture, it evokes a feeling that would be too hard for me to put into words. The minute I snapped the picture, I had a little lump in my throat, I knew that I had captured something very meaningful. I also knew I would include this exact quote to go along with the picture. What I didn't realize until a little later was this picture also defined what wholeness means to me; a place of peace.
I'm grateful for the immense power of words and images, the ability they have to be a guiding force in my life. If you have a chance, read Amanda's beautiful thoughts on words. Just lovely.
Looking forward to a very warm (85 degrees) weekend. Better pick up that new pool I know the kids will be begging to take a dip in.
Happy mail today, can't wait to read this book from front to back and dream of all the goodies to make.
Hoping to finish what will be my first successful knitting project this weekend (a scarf, just in time for summer. ha!)
Excited for a little outing with my girl this afternoon.
Eager to sit in the sun, soak up the warmth of a much anticipated weekend full of sunshine.
Take a nap. I love naps.
What are your plans for the weekend?
Happy Friday!
"All nature is alive, awake and
aware with the Divine Presence,
and everything in life responds
to the song of the heart."
-Ernest Holmes
A walk with Skylar outside our back door earlier this week. A few hours filled with the warmth of the sunshine on our backs, chatter of birds welcoming the warm day, the scent of freshly mown grass, flowers blooming, such beauty to behold. After these winter months, it was welcome with open arms.
Good days ahead, I can feel it.
