November 22, 2010

I have come to greatly understand, more today than any other day before, how precious life truly is.  In an instant, your world can be completely flipped, leaving you grasping on to the edge.  We get so caught up in the idea that we are invincible, that tomorrow is just another day.  For those of us that are lucky, tomorrow is another gift.  The people we get to spend that tomorrow with are a gift.  It is time we start to realize this.  It is not enough to just say I love you.  It is not enough to simply feel it.  We need to start embracing those that we love and express to them how they are cherished.  It's just not enough anymore to simply let these moments pass. We need to start right now.  We need to start loving with our whole beings.

November 14, 2010

Thanksgiving is creeping around the corner.  Is it just me, or does it seem like the holidays are coming faster than years past.  Or maybe it is just because my life is so full that the days go by in a blink.  More than enough reason to stop and think of what I am thankful for.  In the whirlwind of my days, it is not often that I can stop and reflect on such things.  But I do know what I am thankful for and they greet me each and every morning.

My husband has been the sparkle of my eye since August 24, 2002.  I fell in love with his charm and his ability to make me weak in the knees.  I knew I had to seal the deal with him and made him my husband November 4, 2006.  It hasn't all been bliss, but life has certainly been magical with him.  He is my lover and my friend and the father to my beautiful Lovey.

Little Miss Sophia graced my life on August 13, 2009 but had been touching my life since the moment I knew that I was carrying her.  God, I never knew I could love so much.  I never knew love could hurt so much.  The pitter patter of her feet on my floors reminds me of the simplicities in life which I am most grateful for.  No matter what, I have a drooly faced angel to kiss me every day.  Ahhhh, life is good.

I have a friend that knows my soul in and out like the back of her hand.  Our hearts just go hand in hand like we have known each other in all of our different lives.  We are simply inseparable and I love her with every beat of my heart.

My mama is the mother I could not have even dreamt up.  She is an angel.  She loves without boundaries and nurtures beyond comparison.  If only I can become half of the woman she is to me.

There are so many other wonderful people and things in my life to which I am eternally grateful.  I do not have this outlook every day, as the weight of the world sometimes falls on my shoulders and demons haunt me with a vengeance.  But in the end, it is love that truly conquers all.  Our future begins with a past and there isn't any ray of sunshine brighter than that.

I took this picture the other night when the setting sun lit up the dusk sky.  I was in heaven looking at the spectrum of colors above me.  It's times like these that I can connect to Mother Earth and feel grounded to this world I live in.

November 8, 2010

As a native New Englander, I do not fall prey to the changes in weather.  Of course, considering it is only the beginning of November, I was quite perplexed to find snow on the ground.  Arrived quiet as a mouse those frosty flakes.  So nonetheless, I cranked up the heat to our pellet stove and grabbed a nice hot cup of coffee.  Oooo, with Caramel Macchiato cream.  The morning has finally greeted me.

As I was contemplating sitting outside during my morning joe time, I walked past my favorite little corner of my house.  It's that cozy spot that everyone seems to have.  It beckons your name and speaks to your soul with such peace.  I stared at this corner.  I grabbed my camera.  I needed to have this peacefulness brought back to me in times of chaos.  Snapped the picture and decided that it would be much more soothing to enjoy my cup of coffee snuggled up right there.  The snowy weather would just have to wait. 

As I traveled on in my contemplative journey, I also thought I would snap a photo of one of my favorite little sayings.  This little plaque sits on my mantle and reminds me every time I pass by it about one of the greatest treasures in life, friends.  I cannot imagine my life without another person who literally completes me.  My friends are the gifts in which have given the greatest meaning to my life.  And when in doubt, these friends are there to share a glass of wine and laugh at all of the stupid things we have done.  Here is a picture to celebrate the friends I have.

I finally did get around to snapping a photo of our first fallen snow.  You really have to squint your eyes to see it, although my skin felt the drop in temperature instantly.  Oh how I loathe the deep dark hole of winter.  However, the sights and smells of the holidays revitalize me.  This year, I will find the beauty in the cold months.  Besides, sipping hot cocoa under a warm blanket is pretty fantastic.

November 7, 2010

I had the opportunity to sleep in this morning which I had been looking forward to for weeks.  Lovey was off to Nonie and Grampy's for the night and hubby and I were off to a class reunion.  With the "fall back" time change, I was banking on an extra hour of sleep.  Too bad the pooch didn't get that memo.  My feet hit the floor at the usual time and coffee was beckoning my name.  Just a couple of hours later, my little lovey's feet were pitter pattering on the floor.  Life was back to the way it was meant to be for a Sunday.  I had hubby, lovey and my Dunkin Donuts coffee (large coffee I might add) all wrapped up together.

I heard the saying today, "Love what you do".  I smiled.  This is so true.  For five years, i worked for corporate America.  Sat in a cube for 9, 10, 11 hours a day and crunched numbers.  I did not stand out.  Well, I guess I did not want to stand out.  I did my job and went home.  That is, until September 17th.  I decided to stay at home with my then one-year old daughter.  I wanted to wake up every morning to her smiling, puffy little face.  I wanted to dance to children's songs and roll around on the floor and wipe runny noses.  I had the calling to be a stay at home mom like you wouldn't believe.  I took the leap and I couldn't be happier.  My little lovey is the best boss I could ask for.  I absolutely love what I do.

One of my passions is taking photos of anything that catches my eye.  Here are just a few.  I am not a professional photographer and have never taken any sort of training.  I just like to capture.  I will add, though, I am a bit neurotic about it actually.  I am thinking that Sophia is coming to believe that the camera is a body part.  Oh well.  Enjoy.  Oh... and have a wonderful end to your night.

"Eyes of Wonder"

This photo was taken at a local park.  Sitting on the grass, I was in heaven watching Sophia and all of her different facial expressions.  She stopped to watch some kids play soccer and it was as if she was trying to understand it all.

"I love you this much"

Heaven.  A late summer season day, playing outside with Daddy.  This hug literally took my breath away.  And the grip she has on his arm shows so much passion.  You don't see Daddy's face, but you can only imagine that he is breathing this moment in.

"Sweet smelling"

Nothing better than a squeaky clean baby fresh from a bath.  Little lovey got bathed by her Nonie and was just in the middle of getting cozy when I decided to snap a picture of her darling face.  At the same time, she reached for me.  Her eyes speak of such love and what a feeling knowing that I am on the other end of that camera.