Monday, September 28, 2009

Feeling The Squeeze and Making Juice


Where it is often simple, life can also get very confusing. There are so many questions and answers, what couldaz,’ shouldaz’, and “may have beenz” or “might bees” dancing about.

The way I see it, the main problem is that there is no real instruction manual for how to go about things, make choices and face hardships. We can pray for guidance, listen to the spirit within us and hope that the choices we make are the right ones at that moment ...But in the end, we have to keep making lemonade out of the squeeze, changing the recipe a little each time, until the flavor is right.

The ingredients I am using this week: patience, humility, sadness, confidence, strength, perseverance, communication, respect, love and intellect.

Saturday, September 26, 2009

Changes Big and Small, Smiles of Plenty


Li-lo grew several inches, gained several pounds and turned seven this year. She also increasingly became a more diverse and accomplished artist: took a more active interest in photography, began using several new mediums and techniques, exploring her sense of fashion and style, took a more active role in her hair colors and cosmetics, and developed an insatiable love for baking!

This amazing, passionate, sweet little person also gave up her big day to go grocery shopping and attend her brother’s soccer game with no fuss at all. She said that “between dinner at (her fave restaurant) and getting to bake cookies with her new birthday set, it was the best birthday ever.”

The next day she continued to shine when the sun wouldn’t. After a month of beautiful weather, our plans to go celebrate her birthday at a local amusement park with friends were foiled under a huge rain cloud. Loren said “That’s okay, we’ll just find something else to do.” That is her way, and that is only one of the countless reasons she is so very special.

Saturday, September 19, 2009

The City


A Perfect time and place to remember and make new memories...

Ten years ago, Jim and I drove into Manhattan where he purposed on a romantic carriage ride through Central Park and we took in a day at the Met. This Fall we brought our children back to the city for an adventure filled with great memories from the past and many new ones we are sure to never forget.

Saturday, September 12, 2009

Gratefully Moving Forward


Fall is creeping in and just like any other season, we are taking in all the fresh air we can, looking for adventure in unlikely places and stepping forward with renewed hope at a time when we need to be most thankful for all of our blessings & generous with what little gifts we can offer.

Together we always find ways to have an incredibly great time even when things get really tough. We remind ourselves that it is so good to be continually making a home and enjoying our family...the good, the bad and the otherwise...we still have one another.

As we continually work on many home projects and I stay on the “job hunt,”coordinating resulting/upcoming childcare, after-school activities and all the other nuances of daily life, Our Family is generally staying very, very busy.

Looking ahead we are gearing up for a productive season, finishing the interior walls, yard & outside projects & hoping to start laying out the floors and gutting our charming 60s style bathrooms this Winter. ...But we’ll have to see...

This is our family life - a crazy, fast pace, blessed and full life, complete with everyday struggles and surprises at every turn.

While we pioneer the unknown course ahead with all of you, we wish you health & happiness.

Tuesday, September 8, 2009

Happy Campers


The only thing better than spending a long relaxing day on the beach is a few days where no one has to drive home for dinner afterward. Instead? ...a short walk back to camp where we grilled up some burgers, roasted marshmellows and shared funny stories and cold brew around the campfire with friends.

We will never forget Labor Day Weekend 2009 - It will now be long-lived as our very “first family camping trip” and a super fantastic time!