this moment

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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

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 {a new belt}

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

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!

this moment {first tooth}

Headed off to gladsome in a couple hours.  Such goodness awaits...
You can get a glimpse on Twitter, just follow along at bcomingclaudine.

~ ~ ~

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!

a few moments ago

His first day.

My big kid.

He was excited.

His Mama and Daddy were tearful.

How can it be already?  Already?

Though I know you are ready my dear one.

Sending you into this new world of yours, and yours alone.

With love and hope and keeping a soft place for you to land back home.

Always.

this moment

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 grace and goodness!

weekending

We began packing this weekend.  The eleventh hour seemed the right time.

 

As I suspected, once the first box was packed, the household devolved into a pretty spectacular mess.   One that doesn't seem worthy of the usual end-of-day tidy up because I know that the mess will continue to organically change as more gets packed.  Piles of boxes will slowly grow and become the predominant feature in rooms.  Not toys, or books, pictures, or furniture.  

I already sense the shift in our daily lives from living here, to moving from here.  Bittersweet, my friends.  Bittersweet, indeed.

We did have a respite this weekend when the family went to Munchkin's soccer game Sunday evening.  I took advantage of the soccer field being close and walked there, which helped me let go of the many tasks waiting at home and instead accept the gift of being outside with my family, and their antics that bring such pleasure.  I brought along my Nikon, which I too haven't used much recently, and was reminded why I love taking photographs outdoors.

It made me excited for summer, and the adventures that lie ahead for my family, and the beauty that I will find in them.

on earth day

:: I had my first sips of coffee before three of the kids were up this morning.  Oh a rare treat.

:: The kids set up a Free Water stand for Earth Day.  How sweet is that?

:: Munchkin had the idea to actually deliver water to people out in the neighborhood.  Thus, the mobile Free Water stand.

:: The people we delivered water to were delighted, if not a bit surprised.

:: House projects.

:: Oh glorious sun.

:: And budding trees.  We are happy you've finally come.

:: The always-fun pastime of jumping off of the front steps.

:: Finding comfort in the reminder of these words.  I'll spare you the nitty gritty of our house hunt, but will share with you that we are having to be really, really patient for the house we really, really want.

this moment {date night}

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!

goodness

Our easing has allowed me to see the goodness happening around us.  Such goodness.

:: some January thaw that allowed shorts, shorts!, to be worn for a day
:: making snowmen -- of the chalkboard variety -- as we await more snow
:: allowing the kids to run in the rain, splashing in puddles, and enjoying that January thaw (that is until this Mama discovered all the squeals of joy were from dumping cones-full of puddle water over their heads...oh my!  Then the parenting wheels came off.  Not a stellar mothering moment.)
:: being a winner over at Soulemama!
:: kitchen experiments.  Where water, flour, and dried out play-doh is all that is needed.
:: receiving a meaningful mama merit badge from Amy
:: handmade pine cone bird-feeders
:: an organized basement
:: uncovering, in that basement clean-out, a sweet little rocking chair that Lovey and I picked up at the thrift store for a couple dollars some time ago.  It simply needed a good wipe-down.
:: deciding to mix my own non-toxic laundry detergent, inspired by watching this movie
:: a family portrait by Lovey.  It was immediately put into a frame and placed in a prominent spot.
:: the first issue of Kindred, a beautiful literary magazine created by Amanda
:: a boy discovering the magic of headphones and an iPod
:: opening the very last jar of our homemade grape jelly goodness.  Oh, we must make much, much more next fall.

What goodness do you see these days?

basement and boots

I was really hoping for a longer post today.  Alas, most of my Wednesday was spent cleaning out my basement.  Hours.  More than 12.

So I didn't get outside much either, except for the occasional trip of taking out a newly-filled garbage or recycling bag.

I also had a quick photo shoot of those well-loved boots above.  They are one of Munchkin's many pairs that he has worn through until they leak.  I think I will always picture him as a little boy in boots.  Though I've saved his first pair, I've figured that to keep each and every pair was unnecessary.  But I couldn't not take a photo before the boots joined the garbage bag.

Funny enough, when I stepped outside to photograph the boots I had a friend, very close, watching me.

I am not sure if I was more excited to get a cool shot or if I was more creeped that he was fearless so near to me.  After all, there is a history.

this moment

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!

this moment {superhero chef}

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!

time well spent

As a Mama I've come to know when individual time with a particular child is needed.  Necessary even, for us to smooth through some challenge, or struggle, or grumpiness.  (Often on my part, ahem.) 

Our being together, one on one, allows us the opportunity to focus solely on each other and talk and listen closely.  I've found these times to be so nourishing for the parent-child relationship I am hoping to have with each of my children.  A relationship of presence and comfort and trust.

So it was last week with Munchkin.  He and I needed some time.  To simply wander together and find adventure in the form of ice cream and guitars and walking hand in hand and a long game of Eye Spy.

He discovered the wonderfulness of the whammy bar, the little lever on the electric guitar that gives it a whaaa whaaa whaaa sound. 

I discovered that when given the space and time Munchkin grows in his confidence, and silliness too.

We both discovered a renewed feeling of peace.