Just breathe...

When you arise in the morning, think of what a precious privilege it is to be alive - to breathe, to think, to enjoy, to love.

~Marcus Aurelius

deep sigh...

(sniffle, cough, blow nose) The "breathe" sentiment is both literal and figurative right now :)

Since almost a week ago, I've been battling what I'll call a severe head cold. Severe because it's persisted now for over a week. Head b/c it started with a 3 day long head ache & pressure. And cold because I am running through kleenex's worse than I run through toilet paper (I'm a "pull, let spin, wrap like a glove" TP consumer - fyi). This has been rough :( I still feel like my head weighs a ton & I'm just sorta walkin' around in a haze...

Today's the 1st day back at work since last Thursday - out last week for me - been out this week for Ella. Lil' girl's been battlin' some diarrhea :( Poopies are still kinda yucky, but thinkin' she's past the worst of it. And unlike her usual beyond pleasant disposition, she's been a lil' fussy - I'm also convinced she might be teething.

Seth & John are no beacons of health right now either - John's got a horrible cough & is constantly wiping his snotty nose on the back of his arm. For a change, Seth's the least sick although he's surely battling some of the same symptoms as the rest of us.

My parents (God bless them) visited this past weekend after fair warning of the sick zone they were entering. I've yet to hear any report of them taking anything home with them- despite my attempts to aggravate my Deddy by blowing my nose in obnoxiously close range to him at every opportunity. His overreactions warranted the obnoxiousness :)

That about covers the literal "breathe" objective...

The figurative (moreover) sentiment...albeit mid-week - here's some snapshots of "precious privileges" enjoyed this past weekend ~

(in no particular order - too much mucus in head for that)

Mother's Day from John ~ flower petals are his fingerprints (sigh)



Doodle sittin' up more & more by herself (more sighs)



Mother's Day breakfast via sweet as pie husband



enjoying my coffee on the porch whilest I waited ~ "happiness", certainly :)



adorning kitchen window w.fresh peonies...love LOVE love :)



chalk fun :)

"LIVE" a Traci Fisher original ~ made specially for Nana



snacks, of course



bubble fun



Ella Bella "horsin' around"



our lil' slugger :)



craftin' w.Nana



new hats ~ always a winner

Ella Bella's 1st jewelry ~ pink pearls (sigh)



new books :)



some relief

preparing for Teacher Appreciation Week ~ we are so blessed by the loving care our children are in

tutu's for sweet pea ~ oh my :)

indeed it is...



2 names on my card ~ twice as blessed
 

the sweetest gift to date ~ thanks darlin'...and thanks to the lil' hands & feet of my other darlins (you make my heart swell)



being a daughter & a mother



the thundering beats of my heart



"Be filled with joy" ~ each & every day



I read something last week that put pause in me. Simple, yet profound. A challenge and a validation. It was about Mothers...

I've come to believe all women are mothers because we all bring life to the world. Most often through the birth of physical children from our bodies.

But in other ways too…when we write, cook, plant, make beauty where there was none, speak an encouraging word, say a prayer, take a hand and form hope out of thin air, resurrect a marriage, save a life from poverty, bring forth light and truth and goodness in ways women are uniquely created to do.

We are mothers in more ways than one.

Humbled, honored & so very blessed...Happy Belated Mother's Day