light | 04/52

I watch this little guy on Tuesdays and must say, his sweet calming spirit has the ability to add so much light, not only to my day, but to the girls as well.

We've loved having him around.

project life | first three weeks

The year project life had it's big start I wanted to give it a go. I was excited to be able to document our everyday life this way, but also felt realistic about the amount of time I would be able to spend on it. It just seemed like the perfect solution. Unfortunately the kits sold were at a very limited quantity so I never did get one and my desire sort of fizzled out -- (for some reason when I don't start at the beginning I have a hard time jumping in in the middle). So I found 12of12 and started doing that project.

At the end of 2010 I decided to give project life another chance. I purchased Becky Higgins kit and had every intention of diving in. I can't be sure what happened, but the box sat in my room for nearly two years -- yes I looked at the box, unopened mind you, for two years. It always haunted me, but somehow I was able to put it out of my head and stopped seeing it every time I walked in my studio.

Fast forward to the end of 2012. I started getting excited again about working on this project. I have loved 12of12 and will continue to participate in it, but last year I lost so many stories just by failing to write them down that I was determined to have something to help me get back on track. So I grabbed the box, whipped off the dust, and pulled out my kit. Admittedly I wasn't in love with the kit as I must have been when I bought it originally so I sold many of the pieces, but was able to use the binder and plastic sleeves. I also purchased the seafoam addition that suited my style and the direction I wanted to go this year. 

I am three weeks in and loving it. I can't believe I waited so long to do it. I suppose I didn't want to start a project I knew I wouldn't' finish and so I always hesitated, but I feel like I've missed out these four years. It's easy and simple and by scheduling time every week to put the weekly page together I am staying on top of it. What I'm saying is it's very doable. 

Right now I am keeping track of our week with a medium size moleskin graph journal. That way I can even play with the layout ahead of time when I know the photos and/or words I want to include. Also I'm having Adam help me as well. When he's out with the girls one on one like he was Saturday I asked him to take some shots of their time together or when he's out of town, which it seems he will be quite a bit I will put it in our week. 

Have you heard about project life?

Are you doing it?

week one | 01-05 January




6x12 insert of a blog post


I am also including Bella's instagram photos as well.

week two | 06-12 January






I chose to included my 12of12 with an insert. I wanted to keep the photos square so I added the journaling at the bottom.




week three | 13-19 January

missing the one photos of adam and megan. just need to print it.

light | 3/52

I brought my camera to church to take some photos of the primary children for a mural they are working on. While waiting I saw a mirror, and well, I couldn't help take the shot. When I got home and looked through my images I stopped on this one -- I didn't realize I had captured the painting of Christ with the little children along side my reflection. It made me smile, I love that painting, and then the song I Am a Child of God played through my head.



It's one of the very first songs I remember learning as a little girl and singing, not only in church, but with my family at home. Years later I sang it to my girls when I would put them down to sleep or when they were scared to calm their fears. It's still to this day a very comforting song to me. It brings light when darkness threatens to cloud my spirit, reminding me that I am and will never be alone in this vast world of growing uncertainty. I have no doubt who I am, where I came from, and where I want to be -- this alone brings peace beyond measure to my life.


Below is my favorite verse of the song. Go here to read more and/or listen to the song.

I am a child of God.
Rich blessings are in store;
If I but learn to do his will,
I'll live with him once more.

Chorus
Lead me, guide me, walk beside me,
Help me find the way.
Teach me all that I must do
To live with him someday.

first attempt

One of my wants this year is to learn Adobe Illustrator. Ouch! I know. The program is a beast, but I am determined. I've tried playing around with it in the past, but got so frustrated I decided Photoshop would have to suffice.

Until now.

As you know, I've been very interested in graphic design. I'm tired of just dreaming about it and really want to push further, which unfortunately means getting uncomfortable. The more I looked into my ultimate goal, my own designs, the more I want to use the tools in Illustrator that will make the creations easier and quicker.

After 2 weeks of playing in the program, believe it or not, I am picking up on it rather quickly, but I'm not the only one. Megan has been watching me and finally asked if she could take a turn. I taught her some of the basics and this is what she created.

Titled: Kitty with Leg Warmers



This is her first attempt.

Adam and I have both recognized lately, not only how much her artistic eye and skills are growing, but how often she spends her time with paper and pen in hand. We should have known her attention to detail would have been expressed this way. All her school work comes home with doodles all over it. I hope she keeps this up.

Can't wait to see where she goes as she evolves.

12of12 | January

[enlarge]

01. On our way

02. Ice formations on the window -- it's cold out this morning.

03. Bagel day -- not even the snow will stop us.

04. Getting a workout with the girls dancing to Just Dance 4.

05. We decided to go sledding up in the canyon. The hill/slope was really small so it was hard to get any really speed, but when you did, you had a long trek back.

06. Five sets of boots

07. Bella didn't last long sledding. She spend the last bit in the car trying to warm up.

08. Megan and Tess had the best time. They didn't even know they were frozen till we left.

09. How could Adam and I resist going down together.

10. A new toy. I got the Bamboo tablet with some of my amazon gift cards for Christmas. Thanks all! I'm really looking forward to playing with it and learning illustrator this year.

11. View sledding (iphone)

12. Saying good night from my studio.


The majority of my collage is from the beginning our our day because, sadly, I accidentally erased 1/2 my photo card. Deep breath. I don't have the words at how bummed I am that it happened. I really don't get it. My camera changed the date back to 1/1/2000, so somehow the photos got missed when I went to import them. My heart hurts every time I remember a photo that I can't get back. Deep breath.
I am choosing to let it go -- there' s nothing I can do about it now. Sigh! I hope you all had better luck than me.

Actually I really hope you all had a great day. I know we did. Always fun when the 12th lands on a Saturday.

So I'm mixing it up this year and trying a new link system. You should easily be able to share your link and choose the photo you want to put in the thumbnail. If you run into any troubles let me know, I will make a tutorial (have been unable to find one).

still no snow day

This was yesterday morning.



We woke up to at least two feet of snow and still the kids were not given a snow day. Bummer for them. Apparently as a state, we're just too prepared for the snow. I guess it's a good thing. :)

I loved it, especially because I had no reason to go out in it and it kept the inversion away. What a beautiful day!


p.s. I got a message from the district last night apologizing for not cancelling school. Oops!

here we go again | 12of12

If there is possibly a way for me to do a year in review in 2012, it's using my 12of12 photos. I wasn't good at all last year at sharing my everyday, but when I look through my twelve collages I have a great representation of what last year was like (I hope if you participated in 2012 you're feeling the same). It was the one project I did and finished all the way through and I can't be happier about seeing them all together.

Twenty Twelve

January | Thursday

February | Sunday

March | Monday

April | Thursday

May | Saturday

June | Tuesday | St. George, UT

July | Thursday 

August | Monday

September | Thursday | Squam Lake, NH

October | Friday

November | Monday

December | Wednesday

I have to be honest, when January hit I considered, quite seriously, if I would do the 12of12 challenge again this year. I am tackling other projects (more to come on that) and wasn't sure if I had it in me to do this too, but when it came down to do, I don't think I could really give it up. It really is one of my favorite ways to document our year.

If you are new to the 12of12 challenge please visit my first post here, which explains the who, what, where, and whys. Basically you take photos on the 12th of each month and share 12 photos that you feel best represent your day. It maybe of something you don't want to forget, it maybe of a book you're reading, it maybe of a specific routine you always do that day of the week. Whatever it is, take photos you think will best represent where you are and how you're feeling -- your everyday.

Have a look at my other years to get a better understanding.
Twenty Ten
Twenty Eleven


What do you think? Will you be joining me this year for 12of12?

Glist

Today I'm grateful...



for clear skies. I loved being able to see the valley again.

for time with my friend Amy and her advice that life isn't life without sugar. We should limit instead of eliminate. I accept.

to stumble upon kid doodles.

to get our snow blower fixed just as we usher in another winter storm.

for the mild weather. It's 30 degrees --downright balmy.

for finding time for my hope tos.

for a space heater that's keeping my studio nice and cozy.

for leftovers, which made an easy, yet satisfying lunch.

for my girls honesty.

for snowy evenings safe at home.

for a family movie night -- we watched born to be wild.

for a new blank journal.


What are you grateful for today??

hypocrite

I walked into my closet this morning and looked down at my feet...



I am such a hypocrite :)

In our home we've emphasized the importance of being clean and organized. I find it really hard to get anything accomplish when there's chaos all around -- not to mention how hard it is to have light in my life when where I live and work is in disarray. I find I first need to attack the mess before I can do anything else, which lately means I haven't been able to spend time on what I want -- there is always something to put in order.

In the past we've had systems in place (charts) for the girls to help them get all their essential activities done, e.g. homework, practice, etc., and they've worked out really well, but over the years we've been lax on those systems and everything has seemed to fall apart in that department just as their lives have become more complicated.

Suddenly I've had enough.

After feeling like our stuff is beginning to own us, I've been going from room to room decluttering like mad. Over the break I did the entire basement plus the girls rooms. Saturday I did our library. We've given away about 35 large garbage bags full of clothes, toys, books, etc., not to mention the amount we've thrown away. Since then I can't believe how much lighter I feel after getting rid of all the stuff that's weighing me down.

But

Then I come into my closet, which made me think of my studio, the two spaces in my house that are completely mine, and my heart sunk. How can I possibly talk about picking up after oneself, cleaning, and organizing when my own personal spaces look like the above?

Sigh.

It's shameful. Going through the house didn't seem like such a big deal, I was actually excited to let it all go, but when it comes to my own personal things, I don't even know where to begin.

Gratefully I'm finding that perspective (thanks Susannah) and beginning my week with more compassion, understanding that there's a learning curve for all of us. It is going to take time and patience for them to learn these skills, apparently it's something i haven't mastered, at least with my own things. So I've issued myself a goal to not only keep my closet organized and clutter free, but to attack my studio in a serious way -- I have a ton of supplies I don't use anymore that need a different home. I am being kind and giving myself four weeks to complete my task and by sharing it here I'm hoping the accountability will help me accomplish my goal.

Do you find yourself decluttering in January?

funny to me

I know it's the third, but well, I couldn't resist.

Already eating sugar again.

lighten up

DO | 2007

LIVE | 2008

GIVE | 2009

CHOOSE | 2010  

TRUTH | 2011

Ah, the five little words that have significantly impacted who I am in the last 1/2 decade.

They hold meaning to me on a very personal level, and each time I hear one or read it in a passage, I can't help think about the year it was mine and how it shaped me over the 365 days. So much so that I've considered several times recycling one of the words from my list because it made such a difference. What I never realized when I started the practice of choosing a word each year, was that the word would not only help me throughout my year and give me focus, but would stay with me long after the year had past. As silly as it sounds, these words are apart of me now and have been apart of my time since.

You will notice that 2012 is missing from the list. It's not a mistake, I never did choose a word last year. It wasn't intentional, I thought very carefully for a long time, but that long time turned into months and before I knew it 2012 was wordless. Looking back I completely think it was meant to be. While 2012 was an amazing year for many reasons, and a hard year for others, it was apparently a year of breaks, reinvention, and letting go. I got exactly what I wanted (so to speak) in 2012 and I guess you could say I needed to allow myself to be present, all in (thanks tracey), if you will, as I realized my dream, but I also wanted a chance to realign my goals and figure out what was next.



“Whatever you are physically...male or female, strong or weak, ill or healthy--all those things matter less than what your heart contains. If you have the soul of a warrior, you are a warrior. All those other things, they are the glass that contains the lamp, but you are the light inside.” ~Cassandra Clare

LIGHT. 

2013 will be a year full of light.

I want to focus on the light and continue to see the good in my everyday. 
I want to do the things that will keep the light in my life.
I want to share the light within me. 
I want to find time to seek out the light -- photography. 
I want to be open to the light of others. 
I want to let my light shine.