2009

Happy New Year, friends.

a little bit of peace

A beautiful family walk in the cold and sun. Feeling a little peace again in my heart for the first time since I heard the news. Remembering that I need to invite joy in to live beside the sadness; gratitude along with the grief. That nothing can take away the sadness of this time, or the horror of what these people I love are facing, but that being fully and wholly present with my own children, with my own life is more important now than ever.
It is all so precious. Every single moment a treasure. And I want be present for every sun-filled, gingerbread scented, snowsparkling day on this planet that I can. Really present. The way little W. is. The way all our incredible little people are.

heartsick

Just last week I chatted with my friend when she came to pick up her oldest daughter from preschool about how her littlest one seemed to finally be over the stomach flu. This week they are dealing with the words: cancer. ICU. chemotherapy. surgery. It is horrifying to imagine what those words must sound like when spoken about your own child. I am heartsick for this dear sweet little girl, for her amazing parents, for her four-year-old big sister. They will have to spend many months far from home while precious W. undergoes treatment. I want to make this nightmare go away for them. My heart is filled with constant prayers and thoughts of love and strength and healing for this sweet little one and her family as they traverse this impossibly difficult journey.

fa la la la la

Have I mentioned that the days are flying by? If only we could make the time pass this quickly in say, March, we'd be set. Just a few quick pictures of our days.

::lots of holiday crafting. Stringing a cranberry garland. This was a bit hard for Ari, but he was happy to help and then to play with the garland as it was being made. It was turned into a fishing net, a bracelet, and a piano until I had to put it up to keep it from turning into cranberry jam.
:candles at breakfast.

:: such beautiful sunny days.

:: and getting out to play everyday. Perry and a couple of our landmates flooded the pond last weekend and there has been lots of playing on the ice in boots during the day and then in the evening Perry and Ari have been heading out for a before-bedtime skate. So great.

:: and Dori has been regularly falling asleep while we are playing outside in the afternoon and then finishing his nap in his snowsuit. He doesn't seem to mind.

::playing inside. Taking a train to visit Auntie L and Uncle J.
:: our activity advent has been so great. Having a daily focus just helps the days go by so much more smoothly.
We are going to get our tree and decorate this weekend. I think this is my favorite tradition of all. I hope everyone has a lovely weekend.

adventing

Hello Hello. I am finding it so hard to get to this space, the days are just flying past. I love this season, it is just so full! I did get the advent calender done (laughing at myself the whole time seeing as neither boys are really old enough to care,) and I am really pleased with it. There are no numbers on the pockets yet and it is super simple, but it is perfect for us. The pockets are just big enough to hold a little activity card , or a small treasure. Next year I plan to embroider the dates onto some felt and sew them onto the pockets. I am also thinking of little flaps to cover up the days that have passed, but I am really liking how festive this looks on this usually bare wall, so I might just leave it. The advent gnome I made last year moves along the pockets to mark the days and that is probably enough.

A little glimpse of the Lucien my folklore fabric that I adore. I'm pleased to use such a tiny bit so I can savour the 1/2 yard I've got.

And holiday crafting is hitting a frenzy over here. There are 6 different projects on needles and several sewing projects lined up. I love it. This is a picture from a recent try at knitting and reading at the same time. Something I wouldn't have even thought of until Melody posted about it. A little crazy but more relaxing than you'd think.
Hope you all had a lovely weekend.