it's all good

Something has been afoot here.  Some shifts, some stresses, some changes, some serious changes, some summer weeks flying by as if they are rushing towards something unseen.  A friend of mine e-mailed yesterday and described this summer as a doozy.  Yes, oh yes, a doozy indeed. 

As these summer weeks have marched along at a fast clip, I've kept wanting to pause it all and plan our dream list.  Brainstorm the must-do's, make a long list with the kids, think big about how to spend our summer days.  But it seems we haven't spent our summer days, they have spent us.  Now all that is left is making peace with it, that our perfect summer alluded us, alluded me.

But then I remember a moment, or a day, or a special little trip and I realize that added together they have made our summer good.  Not perfect, but good.  In a doozyish kind of way.

So I'm keeping the very long to-do list in perspective, thinking of ways to fully enjoy these last weeks of summer, believing that all of the loose ends will twine together beautifully, and remembering a moment, a day, a special trip.  Because really there have been many...

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?

gladsome was filled

How can words fully express the feelings that accompany a dream come true?  I am not sure they can.  But I will try to write them, and show a few pictures too.

For almost two years I'd been dreaming of planning a women's retreat.  It began with a sprinkling of ideas jotted in a notebook.  Then more ideas came at other times, other days.

A long while these remained a collection of unconnected ideas.  Thoughts for another time.  A maybe.  Until I gained the courage to say my dream aloud to a couple creative friends.  My saying it aloud garnered their enthusiasm.  Then their support and help.

Our friendship and their incredible insight fueled more serious planning.  Then ultimately I took a leap.  A huge leap.

And those jotted ideas became gladsome a retreat to nourish your creative spirit.

Eleven amazing women joined in this leap of mine.  In a way, we took this leap together, I simply brought along the necessary art supplies.  They, however, supplied the compassion and energy that made the nourishing possible.

And gladsome was filled with nourishment, in so many ways.

gladsome was filled with creating.  Women experiencing making in ways they may not have before.

gladsome was filled with reflection.  Journaling in handmade books with prompts to move into a space of deeper understanding of our creative self.

gladsome was filled with stretching oneself.  And relaxing oneself.

gladsome was filled with music and movement and laughter.  Oh the laughter.

gladsome was filled with beauty and heart and sharing and affirmation.  A coming together in the way that only women can.

gladsome was filled with nature's perfect timing of a sunset.

gladsome was filled with quiet and peace. Night and day.

And gladsome was filled, and filled me, with a pure contentment.  Contentment beyond words or pictures.