this moment {let summer begin}

Joining SouleMama, and many others, in this moment. 

In Amanda's words: "A Friday ritual. A single photo - no words - capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember."

Please link to your moment too -- I love to see what you are enjoying this week!

this moment {apple glasses}

Joining Soulemama, and many others, in this moment. 

In Amanda's words: "A Friday ritual. A single photo - no words - capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember."

Please link to your moment too -- I love to see what you are enjoying this week!

Wishing you a weekend full of goodness!

the deep end

I know that there will be many a rite of passage for my children.  Some big.  Some subtle.  All an important part of growing up.  I've already witnessed some:  the first time newly walking feet walk away from Mama, the start of Kindergarten, reading a chapter book on one's own.  Many rites are yet to come:  a friend sleepover, a first kiss, college.

This summer has brought a rite of passage that is part accomplishment, part freedom: passing the deep end test.

For most of the summer Buddy has dreamed about and discussed passing the deep end test.  Passing would allow him to swim in the six foot deep area of our local pool.  There was much talk and anxiety about how hard the test would be, after all certain lengths of swimming and treading is involved.  Treading water is hard.  Treading water while a lifeguard is watching and counting seems even harder.

But Buddy did it.  He passed.

I stood by, quietly watching, hoping for him.  And snapped a few phone pictures as the lifeguard declared his passage and made it official by writing his name in the "deep end test" notebook.

Buddy glowed.

And jumped.  And dove.  And swam.  Over and over he rocketed to the very bottom of the deep end, touching it with his hand before resurfacing.

I relished his ability and desire to reach the bottom of the pool, then realized that his newly gained status as a deep end swimmer is another of many steps toward his independence.  His jumping in and swimming into the depths is solo.   An exploration of his world from the underside of the water, while I wait poolside above the water.  He couldn't do this just a couple months ago.  I couldn't anticipate my bittersweet pride at his reaching this rite.

So it seems, his rites of passage changing him, and me as well.

a bag of one's own

One recent evening as I tucked my oldest son into bed I spent some extra moments snuggling him.  It was the eve of his birthday and I was feeling a bit of poignancy at his turning another year older.  As I snuggled him I dreamed about the ways I want to mother him and nurture his wonderful creativity, enthusiasm, maturity and humor.  I was also thinking about the tasks to do before I could go to bed, which included wrapping his presents.  It was then that I had the idea that the adventuring gear we got for him would be oh so much better if it all came in an adventurer's bag.

So some late-night Mama magic happened.

Based loosely on a Lotta Jansdotter's diaper bag pattern, I used scrap denim I had on hand to create the messenger style bag.  I sized the bag so that The Dangerous Book for Boys could fit in the main pocket, with room to spare.  With some creative stitching a sample fabric, that had two coordinating fabric swatches attached, became the outside pocket with two little bonus pockets -- perfect for the compass, magnifying glass, pocket knife and found treasures!

A button and ribbon to hold it closed and, voila, there was an adventurer's bag to encourage my growing son to pack up some supplies and seek out adventures in his expanding world!