Week In The Life | Wednesday

Wednesday photos

I don't have a lot to say so I'm just going to jump right to the photos. I will say this, I am still loving this project I think I might miss it come next week.



The story of today includes me waking up at the crack of dawn, 4:40am to be exact, so I can get my workout in and then head to violin lessons. If I don't do it then, it won't get done.





The story of today includes us being sufficiently occupied while Bella has her violin lesson. Megan's reading Counting By 7s. She is loving it. While I work on updating my Project Life journal.



The story of today includes Bella dressed as a nerd for spirit week at school (they dress up everyday and Wednesday was NERD day) and her violin teacher not realizing she was in costume. Megan and I couldn't help giggle when she asked Bella if she got new glasses.



The story of today includes coming home from violin to find the scriptures open on the kitchen counter clearly having been read. It made me smile and I couldn't help make a note that Tess chose to spend her morning this way.



The story of today includes another morning routine -- making lunches. Yep I'm one of those moms that make their kids do it themselves, that is unless they fall behind and need added help.



The story of today includes me getting ready as quickly as I can. Breakfast is an important part of my morning and I wanted to make sure I had time to eat before I had to be out the door.



The story of today includes me and my dear friend working at Welfare Square at the bakery slicing and packaging bread. It was such a delightful four hours to not only be able to serve, but chat with her while we worked. Plus, it doesn't hurt to be able to take home a fresh loaf or two.



The story of today includes this little one feeding the puppy. She has not always been fond of Lola, but she sure did enjoy the close proximity today. Lola is obsessed with her smallness.



The story of today includes this little rascal. He, along with her, kept me moving constantly all afternoon.



The story of today includes this messy room. I try to advert my eyes when I walk passed, but Lewis likes to spend time in the loft, so I found myself in there quite a bit today. I'm ashamed of it myself, my kids really can be so messy, so disorganized. If you have an ideas for me to help me encourage my kids to have room pride, I'm all ears.



The story of today includes this boy, this boy, and this dog. They all seems to have quite an affection for one another. Lewis calls Adam uncle and demands to be played with whenever he's in the room, of course Adam is more than happy to oblige. I do wish he would of had a son.



The story of today includes my sweet girls helping me with these two when they got home from school so I could get dinner made. We had such a busy night, we were just beginning.



The story of today includes someone else picking up the camera and taking some pics. Thanks Bella.



The story of today includes getting this in the mail. Tech heaven! I had gone back and forth for weeks and finally decided it's going to happen so it should happen now. I have yet to set it up because I don't have a case and knowing my track record (i drop my phone at least once a day) I don't dare walk around with it without a heavy duty case. You better believe I'll be shopping for one tomorrow.



The story of today includes Megan inviting friends to the neighborhood trunk or treat.



The story of today includes this scene. I will never tire of this scene. We have been soaking in the sun, the delightful fall weather as much as possible while it lasts. I've said this before, but it's truly been an epic Autumn.



The story of today includes sitting around our island together for dinner. What can I say, it was chaotic and sadly I ended up frustrated by the time we left for the trunk or treat (so much to do with not enough hands to get it done). Although I got frustrated, I did love having this table full of people. I couldn't do it every day, not if I'm to stay sane, but I definitely appreciated the moment.



The story of today includes Megan getting sprayed by a neighborhood hooligan at the trunk or treat.



The story of today ends with these two zombies. Bella had a ballroom and orchestra performance tonight at the Junior High, and these two were definitely the highlight. I have loved watching her blossom.

I just finished reading Year of Wonder by Geraldine Brooks and out of so much death (the book is about the plague) the main character faces, she finally does find a reason for being one of the survivors. It's got me thinking about my life, my purpose.

I've always thought I was put on this earth for a specific purpose. Adam tells me we all feel that way...do you?

Lately, I'm beginning to see my life changing. My life once full of babies and diapers and the constant I need you and middle of the night wake ups is slowly passing and being replaced with more self sufficient independent girls ready and willing to do for themselves. I can see in the distance this change in season and I wonder what else is out there for me? I dream of greatness and not in the famous way, heavens no, in the I want my life to be about something way. I don't want to just let the days pass and hope I fill my time wisely. I don't want to wake up 20 years from now and wonder what it is I did for all those years. I don't want to just live for living sake, I want to make a difference...I want my life to have meaning and purpose.

Please do not misunderstand me, I'm not trying to say that my rolls as a mother and wife are not meaningful, they are the most important and rewarding purpose I have, rather as my life begins to change and my family will need me in different ways so shall the way I go about my life change. Demands will be different

I like to believe my purpose will find me, like fate, that one day I will look in the mirror and realize I have what I was searching for, but I understand enough of life to know that greatness isn't found it's created. Adam told me to envision what it is I want and that will determine the path I should follow. It's sounds simple enough, except, I'm not quite sure I know what that is.

I think for this reason, not really knowing what road to take and being afraid of what else is out there, are the reasons I kept thinking about having more children. Being a mom is what I know, it's what I do. I admit without it I'm not quite sure I know entirely who I am. Please do not misunderstand me, I'm not trying to say that my rolls as a mother and wife are not a grand purpose, they are the most important and rewarding purpose I have, rather the prospect of looking outside that is frightening and at times overwhelming that it makes perfect sense to continue with what I know.

I know what I'm leaning towards...definitely something create. Besides my family and my faith it is the one thing that brings me so much pleasure. I'm hoping my love of creating and XYZ will come together and make a The problem is I like my own vision. Yes, I can do a lot of things, but

sucess fot me is spending your time doing something you love

Of course, this year, it's been strange, me and creativity have not really been friends. I can't understand how it happened, but I have lost my way a little bit and I am desperate to find my way back. Perhaps I need to issue myself another project a week challenge. can do a lot of things, but I don'

week in the life | Tuesday

All I can say is how much I love this project. I mean really love.

I'm writing this post on Thursday so I have another day and a half under my belt as I share these thoughts. The documentation I have done this week is not getting old or overwhelming. In fact, it has actually sparked in me a creative spirit I've longed for for some time.

My philosophy I have stressed for the last few years as I've taught classes about documenting your life and the everyday moments is that through the lens you can see how truly beautiful your life is. That statement is once again solidified by this experience. At the end of each day as I reflect back on the moments that made up that day, I am more and more grateful for the life I have and the individuals in it. Capturing these seemingly basic everyday moments has opened my heart.

Ok so onto Tuesday photos.



The story of today includes Bella's morning routine. She is up at 5am to get her violin practicing done. Then like any good teenager it's spending the rest of the time getting ready.



The story of today includes trying to get Megan out of bed. It's not easy. Remember how I said she was a free spirit? She has a much harder time than anyone else in the family at getting up from her slumber.



The story of today includes violin practice for not only Bella, but Megan too. If the morning goes my way she will have her violin practice done before school. Usually this mean I make her lunch.



The story of today includes me getting pumpkin bread ready with a bow and tag to drop off at a few neighbors.



The story of today includes visiting the Junior High to help with reality days. The 9th graders choose a career are told how many children they have (if they have any), what there husband does (if they have one), and then go about making their way with all the responsibility of adult life. Bella choose to be a composer even though her annual income was very low. She said it was important to her to choose something she loved. I think after this experience she will be very careful about what she decides to do in the future -- after all she had to get a second job. Go Bella.



The story of today includes a half hour break from my regular routine to got to a LDS Relief Society class. I was late due to reality days, but I was grateful for the bit I did hear. It was the last one this year.



The story of today includes these two puppies following behind me as I carried my lunch to my studio. A regular occurrence to eat with an audience. As a side note, June is Lola's across the street friend.



The story of today includes me working through my Week In The Life photos from Monday and other editing left from weeks past.



The story of today includes these two girls coming home from school together and Lola waiting to welcome them home. I don't know how dogs know the time, but Lola gravitates towards the door at 245pm and waits.



The story of today includes spending a good amount of time with this girl in the car back and forth from dance. She's spunky and into being silly and I particularly love that she'll do selfies with me.



The story of today includes the puppy getting too much love. Look at that expression!



The story of today includes this amazing girl. The more time I spend with her the more I realize my eldest is rad. Really RAD. She is one of the most fun people to be with -- very down to earth, considerate, and hilarious! I love her.



The story of today includes delightful fall smelling candles and some Halloween ones to throw into the mix.



The story of today includes a oovoo chat with my friends Bella and Michelle. What a blessing of technology that we can video chat with friends and family who live afar. My 2 cents for today -- oovoo is so much better than skype.



The story of today includes our typical "dad out of town" menu. Homemade pizza and salad.



The story of today includes getting our tax return in the mail (we always file oct15). Not going to lie, it wasn't bad. :)



The story of today includes watching how the evening light behaves in our home. I love this golden hour, but wish it didn't come so quickly.



The story of today includes being painfully aware of just how dark it is at 7:10pm. I love the fall, but man the fading light is hard for me. I wish I could stop it there, but come Sunday this is what 6pm will look like. Shedding a tear. I took this on my way back from getting Megan from dance (I was pulled over). I really do love where we live.



The story of today includes all of us congregating in my room before heading to bed. Bella was catching up on laundry (when you don't get it in on Monday you're on your own), while Tess and Megan joke about


If Week In The Life isn't something your interested in I would encourage you start now to document your life in your own way. You could even join me for 12of12  and just document 1 day a month for a year. Whatever you decide start now -- you will not regret it.

Week In the Life | Monday

You guys know how fond I am of documenting my everyday, right? Right. So it shouldn't be a shock I have decided to give Ali Edwards Week In The Life another go.

If you've been with me a while you'll recall I participated in the first WITL organized by Ali back in fall 2008. It was such a great experience and I loved the outcome, however it was a pretty intense week. Constantly being on, with camera in hand -- it was a lot. Due to the intensity I sought out a different way to capture my everyday on a consistent basis -- enter the 12of12 project. I thought it was the perfect combination of documenting the bits and pieces of my life without feeling overwhelmed. I have absolutely loved the result of capturing one day a month.

When Ali first started talking about doing another WITL I went back and forth about whether I wanted to participate or not. Should I? Shouldn't I? Ultimately I decided 6 years was long enough and it would be fun to capture an entire week of our life again, after all out life looks so much different than it was in 2008.

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As per Ali's suggestion (our days are built with stories) I am starting this week and taking pictures based on the stories that make up our day. I am also working with her daily sheets that you can find here.



The story of today includes my Monday morning routine. Getting up at 5:30am and heading off to my friends insanity workout class. It's a hard workout and I mostly hate it, but I love seeing friends and especially love it when I'm done.



The story of today includes Tess' morning breakfast routine. It's usually buttered toast or Rice Crispies, and it's always the first thing she does in the morning. Today she just happened to be telling Bella all about her dream last night, you know the one where all your friends are dressed up in scary costumes? Ya that one.



The story of today includes Megan's morning routine or lack there of. Of all my girls the only thing she does consistently is not follow a routine. We are lucky, today she decided to get clean.



The story of today includes Adam staying home later than usual. He's usually up and gone by 6am so it was nice to be able to say goodbye to him. Also the picture on the left he was saying, "todays on the 12th, is it?" He wasn't the only one that asked that. :)



The story of today includes our one, yes one, outdoor decoration. It's our take on The Bones of Fred McFee, our favorite Halloween book.



The story of today includes Lolapuppy in her usual position. Asleep. She wakes about noon to see what I'm having for lunch.



The story of today includes me taking care of my house hold duties. I always start with the kitchen. If the kitchen is clean the house seems cleaner.



The story of today includes snowfall. Yes people, it was the first snowfall of the season. I teared up. Not sure I'm ready for the season to change just yet.



The story of today includes the beautiful view I get to enjoy as I drive Bella to orchestra rehearsal.



The story of today includes Tess reading The Maze Runner. It was the first thing she did when she got home from school after grabbing a snack. This is very unusual for her and I loved seeing it.



The story of today includes picking this girl up from soccer practice (not sure why she changed back into her street clothes) and her telling me all about how her team is going to dress up like zombies for their final game Saturday.



The story of today includes me making chicken noodle soup and sweet Lolapuppy resuming her usual position by my feet. The smell of the chicken keeps her close.



The story of today includes one of my favorite parts of my day -- eating together as a family. I'm digging the reflection.



The story of today includes how as a family we finished the Book of Mormon after 5 years. It was quite a momentous occasion.



The story of today includes the relationship between these two. Could it be sweeter? Lolapuppy lives to spend time with her Alpha.



The story of today includes finishing homework, and surprise texts from friends. Good times.


If you want to learn more about Week In The Life see Ali's latest getting ready post.

Are you participating? Will you start now?

12of12 | October

01) Megan and Lola puppy deep asleep. Megan had her tonsils out and is doing great and sleeping so much better!
02) Tess' choice of breakfast -- grapefruit.
03) Adam and Lola puppy have the sweetest relationship. Adam's giving her a little love before he heads off to his church meetings.
04) Waiting for Adam to come home so I can go to my church meetings. We're splitting up our time at home to be with Megan. Seems almost silly since she is doing so well -- she's bouncing off the walls.
05) Megan's good friend came to visit this afternoon with a nice gift. She gave her matching jammy pants. Megan could not have been more thrilled.
06) I attended two primary programs and a Baptism this evening. I love being in the primary.
07) I was gifted this old Canon film camera. I am excited to get some film and start to play with it. :)
08) From the other room I could hear bursts of laughter. I followed the sound and found these two girls having the best time together. Love stumbling upon this.
09) The sun finally came out this afternoon and the puppy lost no time in enjoying it.
10) Tess wanted us to play her bean boozled game. Half of the jelly beans in the box are flavors you're familiar with like popcorn, licorice, etc. and the other half are disgusting flavors like barf, boogers, baby wipes, etc. You take your changes and hope you don't get one of the bad ones (they are disguised). I of course got barf and I couldn't get the taste out of my mouth for a long time. I don't advise this game unless you have good luck.
11) Bella got dirty socks, but she kept saying, "Wait I don't know if this is tutti fruit or dirty socks?" Still not sure how she didn't know. Tess and Adam got good flavors -- why am I not surprised. Megan opted out.
12) I am increasingly dismayed by the rapidly changing light. It's the hardest thing about the change of season into fall for me. I wish I could bottle it up.

Sundays are among my favorite days of the week so I love the chance to document, especially because it's usually a low key day. How was your Sunday? I hope it was the perfect end to your weekend. Don't forget to share your day with the rest of us on our Facebook group. Find us here.

xo

brave little Meg

As I watched her turn the corner and walk down the stark white hall with the anesthesiologist I whispered a little prayer for the doctor, you have a huge piece of my life in your hands, please take extra care.



Megan’s getting her tonsils out this afternoon. It’s a routine surgery that only takes about 40 minutes. I’m feeling really good about it, but there is still a level of anticipation. I think it’s more for the post op than anything else. I had my tonsils out when I was five and I remember the experience like it was yesterday. It’s not an easy recovery, but at least there are some perks — nothing but popsicles and ice cream for days.

She was so excited about this fact, telling everyone she could about her “awesome luck”, but the truth is, right when life gives you the green flag to eat all the liquid sugar you can, you don’t want any of it. I know I’m going to be forcing popsicles down her all weekend.



This little girl of my mine adds so much light and color to my life. I'm so proud of her for being brave and pushing away her uncertainty. We joke that there's so much Megan, and there is, but it's precisely her boldness that makes her a force in this world and I know she's going to be A OK.

Never change.
Love you little MG. xx

12of12 | September

01. Bella getting ready for school. Still blows my mind that I have a daughter who's a freshman.
02. Tess making her lunch with the puppy under foot waiting for a kick back.
03. Adam is usually not home in the morning when the girls head off to school, but for some reason he slept in today (6am) and exercised at home so was here and able to say goodbye to the girls.
04. Making their way to school -- thank goodness it's Friday
05. Taking my time with breakfast -- I had a busy day ahead.
06. One of the hardest things anyone has ever asked me to do was make cookies when I wasn't eating sugar. Don't try it -- it's not fun.
07. Lola puppy having her afternoon play date with her bff June.
08. Tess getting a bit of screen time after school.
09. I was surprised this was the only color in our camp ground. I thought for sure there would be more colorful trees. Not complaining though, it was beautiful being there. Can't say the same about how cold it got.
10. Girls gathered around the fire to keep warm talking all teenagery. I believe the last thing they asked me as I headed to bed was, "mom do you remember your first kiss?" Still trying to decide if I should be afraid.
11. Adam and our friend Joe setting up the tent.
12. Watching the last bit of light leave us.

While working on this collage I looked back on the last few months of my 12of12s and I couldn't help but smile. I absolutely love this project. Of course there are times when I wake up and I can't bear the thought of documenting another day, but I am always so glad I did. I love how I am able to take a piece of the present and keep it forever. Do you feel that way?

I hope you have enjoyed this project this year. Hard to believe we only have 3 more left before we say goodbye to 2014. Remember to share on facebook. Looking forward to seeing what you were up to.

xo

12of12 reminder

Hi friends.

Just wanted to remind you that tomorrow (or today depending on when you're reading this) is the 12th for those of you playing along with the 12of12 project. And for those of you've who aren't -- it's never to late to start. :)

It's possible I'll be camping tonight which would keep me from posting my 12of12 post Friday night, but will be sure to get it up Saturday.

Have fun!

12of12 | August

01. I woke up at 6am to find Megan on the computer playing minecraft. I asked her what she was doing and she proclaimed she couldn't sleep. Poor girl may have inherited my insomnia.
02. Lola puppy looking out the door for her friend June Bug. They have been getting together at least one time each day to play. Love that she has a friend across the street.
03. A friend of Bella's came over to "hang out". They hadn't seen each other in a long while so there were all sorts of hollers and giggles from behind the door.
04. Finally found some time to do a bit of photo editing.
05. Took a photo of our circular stairs while I sat outside getting a bit of sun. Needed to get outside -- even in the heat.
06. Today was a working day, didn't feel like summer at all as I paid my bills and sat at the computer indoors, but it does feel good to have it done.
07. Was finally able to get my typewriter fixed. Not sure what the girls did to it, but we are back in business!
08. Talked to a friend for a good long time this afternoon on the phone and finished up the puzzle while we spoke.
09. It was still summer for the girls. Although it was a bit cloudy they still managed to swim.
10. The August break prompt today was on the table. On my table -- months and months of piled up stuff. One of the things I didn't get to today, but wanted to was cleaning off my studio desk. I am a bit ashamed you can't see the bottom.
11. Made potstickers for dinner. Delicious and so worth the time.
12. Adam got busy, as per usual, to get a few projects done after dinner. Finally got the glass for our pantry doors.

It was sad when I realized this was our last 12of12 for the summer. I knew it would fly by, it always does, but I'm not near ready to move into another season. Good thing we still have a few more weeks -- I'm going to need it.

I hope you all had an enjoyable day. Like I said, I was able to check a lot of "need to get done" assignments off my list. Not my favorite way to spend a day, but necessary nevertheless. And really it feels so good to get it done, I don't know why I always procrastinate.

What did you do today?

Join the Facebook group and share.

He learned to love her before she thought it was even possible, so she didn't have a chance to hide & mess it up & while it was a little scary at times, mainly she could not even imagine the world without him there.

get ready for an August break

My lovely friend Susannah is doing her August break again.

I had such a good time participating last year, and even though I didn't really need to take a break from my blog per say, I was already on break (insert smiley face), I enjoyed very much participating in the photo prompts. Not only is it a great chance to take a break from all the words and focus on the photos, but I love the creativity that flows as I think over each photo prompt. I'm definitely looking forward to doing it again this year.

Susannah is not only providing photo prompts again, but she'll be adding a bit of inspiration for you this year via daily emails. You can sign up for those and get more info from her August Break page. Make sure to check out all the ways she is helping us share our photos online.

I would so love for you to play along this year. It's a lot of fun and a great reason to take out your camera and play.

xo

feels like some kind of ride but it's turning out just to be life going absolutely perfectly ~storypeople

a delicate balance

On our drive to Mexico, yes i know -- crazy, I had amble time between intermittent conversation, listening to podcasts/talks, and reading to get some good thinking done. I had 16 hours people and when you consider round trip was 32 hours I had a lot of time on my hands. (actually putting it in those terms I should have got way more done. :/)

One of the things that filled up my head space was navigating through being the mother of a teenage daughter. I knew this day would come, I had feared it in a way, not really knowing what to expect. I have been pleasantly surprised, thus far, with the ease of this transition. I have loved the ability to have serious conversations with her, you know the kind where they can actually participate with their own thoughts and ideas? Ya that. We are communicating and I have been forever grateful of what has come up, the depth to which we have been able to talk. I trust her, she trusts me, and although we don't always sees eye to eye and I know sometimes I drive her crazy when I remind her of her commitments (e.g. violin or school -- trust me I've had the eye roll plenty of times), there has always been an open dialog where we can talk honestly. (Yes I know this is likely to change as she grows and needs different things from me, but for now I am grateful for where we are at.)



She knows I will always been there, at least I hope she knows, but there is always room for improvement. I need to be a better listener. You know when you talk to a man (most men) and all they want to do is fix the problem when all you want them to do is listen? I think too often my first reaction is to answer like a man or maybe I should be fair to men and say answer like a mother and I give my opinion too decidedly. As the words are spewing from my mouth it occurs to me that she never really asked for my advise per say, she's just bouncing off ideas. She just needs to talk and needs me to listen.

Sometimes I worry. I don't want her to make mistakes or fumble. I want her to be able to learn from my experience, you know give her a leg up, save her from pain, but this is her life and her experience and the only way for her to grow is to go through it in her own way and on her own path. I need to trust that she's got it under control. And I do. I need to not be so quick to jump in and allow her come to her own conclusions. Unless of course she needs me and then I'm all in.

I'm all in.

It's quite a delicate balance, I have decided, this mothering gig, to do right by your child and be for them what they need, when they need, and how they need. I'm trying not to get to overwhelmed as I type that. It's a learning experience for me too, isn't it? Even when I think I've got this one figured out I've got two more girls months/years from getting all teenagery (let's be honest, if they haven't already) and I know my experience with them will be vastly different then the one I'm having now. My girls are all so different and they'll need different things from me. In fact, I will be maneuvering through these unclear waters for quite some time. Who am I kidding, I will always be learning how to be their mother as the years progress and my girls life circumstances change.

Life is great that way, isn't it? Always giving us opportunities from growth. :)

12of12 | July

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01. I will never understand how I can have a delightful morning to sleep in and I'm up at 5:30am? I was bummed, but I definitely made good use of my time.
02. The puppy sat at my feet on the way to the bagel store. She is always out of her mind excited to get in the car. Her face in this picture - I can't stop laughing. She is such a funny dog.
03. So many choices and yet they always get the same thing. The usual: Adam - whole wheat toasted with peanut butter. Tess & Megan - cinnamon sugar toasted with butter.
04. Adam and Tess with an early morning face off about his morning coke.
05. All of us missing Bella, who's at a friends cabin, at our traditional Saturday morning bagel breakfast, aka bagel day.
06. Adam drove us in Daisy, his new man toy. I've never laughed so hard as the Puppy took my spot and wouldn't budge. By the end of the ride home I was on the floor.
07. Violin practice. I wish I could say I enjoy this time together, but it always ends up with the two of us battling it out for who knows best. Perhaps we could both do better at listening.
08. We ran several errands today, most of which were in preparation for Megan's birthday. In case you're wondering, no she hasn't stopped talking about it.
09. An afternoon of swimming. Good times!
10. Adam spent his day working on the pool. As you can see it is not going well. I think if I can recall as he climbed up the latter he yelled, "why must everything be broken?"
11. Adam got in the pool with the girls & tossed them around.
12. We ended the night with Rusted Sun Pizza. Can't complain about that!

When I have moments like I did last month where I struggled I think, i don' know, maybe this project has run it's course and then I have a month like today and my spark of documenting is lit. I really do love this challenge. I love that it helps you look at your life in a whole new way. Today was easy, there was lots going on, but I do love having more of challenge to see pieces you can often overlook.

I hope you had a great summer day. Looking forward to seeing what pieces of your day you captured on our Facebook group. If you're not a member follow the link and join us.

Today, for some reason, I see how short our lives actually are & how often I forget to look in your eyes & stop time entirely & say, You have made this life for me. -storypeople

I had a dream the other night about death. You know the kind you wake up with a start, your heart beating at a rapid pace, and tears fall with gratitude -- it was only a dream? It's certainly not the first time I've dreamt of someone I care about dying and certain not the last, but it stuck with me, as those dreams tend to do, and I spent my day processing found my self thinking about it.  I've even had the reverse happen where I dream of someone who is dead, but in my dream they're very much a live and it's so real I forgot reality and wake up ying because it was true, but that a story for a different day.

But this time after some time to process my dream and shake it off it got me thinking about life and how fragile it is and how we never know how much time we have left to experience. I wondered what I could do daily to make life more meaningful and if I knew today was my last day to live what would I do differently than I did yesterday? How much would it change the way I used my time? How would I spend time with my girls? How would I end the day with Adam? How would I speak with friends? How would my priorities SHIFT?

What would you do differently, or how would you live your life if you knew it was your last?

Well first let's put it this into perspective -- obviously if I knew today was my last I wouldn't be on the computer blogging and my girls wouldn't be in school and Adam would be off work and we would spend the day together and who knows what hilarity would ensure. (makes me smile just thinking about it -- the "day" not the "last" part). No I mean looking at life as a whole, a true day to day. if you knew it was your last day but you didn't know it at th time, meaning you would go about life as normal, you would change anything but you make the day count more, make your time more meaningful.

Don't get me wrong there is a lot I need to work on, but I feel like I'm pretty good about the details. Taking everyday photography has really helped me to find gratitude in daily life and appreciate the little things I may not have noticed before, but 

There are too many days were busyness takes over and often a day will go by and i can't find the details. Because you mind is focused on whatever the end result instead if letting the end result move you through the day.

Taking photos helps with the details I think, but it's more than that. I'm talking about stuff you can't photography. The mood in your home in the morning before school particularly when it gets crazy, the goodbye you share or are am I took quick to shut the door looking for peace, the do I spend my day focused on me or reaching out to family and friends, am I taking time to nourish my body's and soul, am I taking moments to express gratitude, do I longer at night or am I too quick to jump in bed,  I help ease the tension of after school with positivity, do I smile, I I suppress a crazy thought, do I make sure to touch Adam,

I think when we become conscious of our days we life becomes more meaningful and we slow down and stop to smell the roses so to speak , or at least that is true for me. Indtead of walking up begrudging the day because piles of laundry are waiting or your going back to the same desk and the same faces as the day before and shift our thinking to this day being the best so far I believe it truely can be.

It reminds me of quote I heard once, could have been in a movie I can't now remember, "tomorrow is my best day"

right now + reminder

I'm appreciating very much the relationship I have with my boy.

I'm listening to the puppies (Lola and her friend Junebug) play out back.

I'm organizing photos.

I'm loving this summer.

I'm looking for a good movie to see. Any suggestions? Is been forever since I've seen a good movie.

I'm craving Indian food.

I'm feeling like there's change on the horizon. Not sure what it is, but I'm confident it has something to do with the SHIFTING I've been calling in this year.

I'm drinking a ton of water to try to curb my sugar addiction (yep I'm addicted). Some days it works, some days it doesn't. Today it's working!

I'm planning time to spend in my studio. Yes!

I'm writing thank you notes.

I'm trusting God.

I'm looking forward to spending the day with my camera. Consider this a reminder -- tomorrow is the 12th!!

I'm navigating through some of my personal roadblocks. I'm beginning to really look at my fears in the face and make an ACTION (being the operative word) plan to overcome them. 

I'm waiting for Adam to get home. We have a date tonight.

I'm happy.