Read something in another blogger's "about" yesterday that reminded me why I ever started this. From journaling about pregnancy & impending life changes in Lil' Fish's Babysite, to Tumblr'ing after John was born as an outlet for all the nuances of being a new parent - learning to redefine the norm and now this "family blog" where I try & stow lil' thoughts & memories - creating virtual momentos to look back on & savor...the motivation was purely intrinsic :)
The blog I came across was This Good Life and she used the term "intentional living" - I was intrigued, then compelled by what I read next..."finding meaning and beauty in the experience of daily life" (check) and "sharing my thoughts on the significance of love, spirituality, the home, simple living" (double check).
Intentional Living - I like that, I believe in that, I try to live like that. Life is not something that happens to us. It's a gift - beautiful, wonderful and sometimes painful. We all have the choice of how we "accept" our gift, how we spend it, how we nurture it, how we share it with others. The choice is what marks the intention and I believe in consciously trying to seek inspiration and beauty in the every day. I believe if you set it in your heart to seek what is good - you will find it. Not that there won't be sadness, but that won't be what defines you.
A beautiful verse that speaks so eloquently and boldly to this is Phillipians 4:8...
Whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is gracious, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things.
With so much going on in the world - be it the world as a whole or the every day world of "stuff" to deal with...it would be easy to be distracted from the above, from enjoying life's most precious gifts.
So, the sum of that - thankful for the new term, "intentional living" - glad to get a nudge/reminder of what it's all about. A lil' inspiration to finish the week off :)
There was really no great reason to write today, just compelled to do so. The "fun things" barely scratch the surface and it's nice to sometimes truly open the door to the day-to-day goings on.
This was a short week because of the holiday. As usual, short weeks always feel long. Tuesday morning, chatting about the daycare drop off after we were both at work - realized John had his 3 yr well-check that morning at 9:30 - oops! So, Seth went to get him (since he's downtown & oh-so-much closer now) and I met them there. I could hear John as soon as I walked in. Big boy was using his out-on-the-football-field voice to tell everyone in earshot about the fish in the big tank. There's a Nemo & a Dory - exciting stuff :) Because we paid the light bill the 1st year of John's life at the dr's office - there's a lot of recollection of time spent there w.John. So being there with him as a big 3 year old - just neat. He got to do some cool stuff on this well check...got an eye exam, blood pressure check and there were lots of questions for us & him. To hear him make his own spin on the items on the eye chart to just marveling at how much he's grown physically and socially...we were just beaming :) John saw Dr. Bo and as always, it was a delight to see him. He's always been stellar w.John and he was the 1st dr. to come see Ella at the hospital. We like him a lot :) He couldn't say enough good about John and the job we're doing with him - those "pats on the back" feel pretty good!
Our other lil' darling is growing too. She skipped right from 1/2 oatmeal, 1/2 1st foods to a whole whopping 2nd foods & sometimes more per feeding seemingly overnight. And the crawling thing - still in awe over that. Remarked how she skipped straight from the less than graceful army crawl to this almost refined lil' perfectly formed crawl. In some ways, she's quite the delicate lil' girl - don't let her, um, burly-ness fool you :) She's also showing some tender tendencies - she lets you know when you frustrate her or hurt those lil' feelings. Most often this is done with face wiping, taking something away or just messing with her when she doesn't want to be messed with (trust me, she'll let you know). Moreover, and a big moreover at that - she's bar none the sweetest baby on earth. That is my completely honest & biased opinion :) But she is. I've never seen a more delightful, joyful, beaming baby than our sweet Ella Bella. She is pure joy and we just bask in her glow thanking God that she's ours.
Um, what else since I'm wringing out today...
Work is going good for Seth & I both. That we have jobs is outset good :) He's moved offices & is closer to home and to State - that's a blessing in many ways. His building is right across from the capitol. This is busy season for me at work. Working on my calendar (that should have been done last week) & lots of new student orientations. Worked my first orientation fair since John was born yesterday - I now think/talk in terms of, "if it were my child" - funny how perspectives change :) Again, just counting blessings in having jobs that afford us a living and allow us both opportunities to grow.
I guess I should make small mention that I currently have a handful of stitches in the middle of my back. Last week the dermatologist took a bottle cap size chunk of tissue out. This was round 2. Hopefully, this was the final round. Moral of the story - the sun is not my friend - it's not your friend either. Being tan, overrated. Glad the vice has been relinquished. Add to life's "hard lessons learned" - just praying this is the extent of the eye opening needed. Point taken.
So, looking forward to another weekend at home together - the collective favorite. Looking forward to "movie nights" w.John. New tradition since The Paci Fairy. On non-school nights John can lay in bed w.me to "watch a movie" after bath. The 1st week it was a Paul Newman movie w.Jennifer Lopez - there was a horse & that's what John remembers. He keeps wondering if we can watch that movie :). Last week "watching a movie" turned into A LOT of chatter. John, "I like brown - I like blue - I like green...(long pause) - I like black - I don't like yellow - Mommy do you like yellow? I don't like 'mercials, do you like mercials?" Don't remember what else we talked about, John's stream of consciousness is pretty elaborate :)
Speaking of, I'd say my stream of consciousness is spent for now :) Happy WACDD!
So, the sum of that - thankful for the new term, "intentional living" - glad to get a nudge/reminder of what it's all about. A lil' inspiration to finish the week off :)
There was really no great reason to write today, just compelled to do so. The "fun things" barely scratch the surface and it's nice to sometimes truly open the door to the day-to-day goings on.
This was a short week because of the holiday. As usual, short weeks always feel long. Tuesday morning, chatting about the daycare drop off after we were both at work - realized John had his 3 yr well-check that morning at 9:30 - oops! So, Seth went to get him (since he's downtown & oh-so-much closer now) and I met them there. I could hear John as soon as I walked in. Big boy was using his out-on-the-football-field voice to tell everyone in earshot about the fish in the big tank. There's a Nemo & a Dory - exciting stuff :) Because we paid the light bill the 1st year of John's life at the dr's office - there's a lot of recollection of time spent there w.John. So being there with him as a big 3 year old - just neat. He got to do some cool stuff on this well check...got an eye exam, blood pressure check and there were lots of questions for us & him. To hear him make his own spin on the items on the eye chart to just marveling at how much he's grown physically and socially...we were just beaming :) John saw Dr. Bo and as always, it was a delight to see him. He's always been stellar w.John and he was the 1st dr. to come see Ella at the hospital. We like him a lot :) He couldn't say enough good about John and the job we're doing with him - those "pats on the back" feel pretty good!
Our other lil' darling is growing too. She skipped right from 1/2 oatmeal, 1/2 1st foods to a whole whopping 2nd foods & sometimes more per feeding seemingly overnight. And the crawling thing - still in awe over that. Remarked how she skipped straight from the less than graceful army crawl to this almost refined lil' perfectly formed crawl. In some ways, she's quite the delicate lil' girl - don't let her, um, burly-ness fool you :) She's also showing some tender tendencies - she lets you know when you frustrate her or hurt those lil' feelings. Most often this is done with face wiping, taking something away or just messing with her when she doesn't want to be messed with (trust me, she'll let you know). Moreover, and a big moreover at that - she's bar none the sweetest baby on earth. That is my completely honest & biased opinion :) But she is. I've never seen a more delightful, joyful, beaming baby than our sweet Ella Bella. She is pure joy and we just bask in her glow thanking God that she's ours.
Um, what else since I'm wringing out today...
Work is going good for Seth & I both. That we have jobs is outset good :) He's moved offices & is closer to home and to State - that's a blessing in many ways. His building is right across from the capitol. This is busy season for me at work. Working on my calendar (that should have been done last week) & lots of new student orientations. Worked my first orientation fair since John was born yesterday - I now think/talk in terms of, "if it were my child" - funny how perspectives change :) Again, just counting blessings in having jobs that afford us a living and allow us both opportunities to grow.
I guess I should make small mention that I currently have a handful of stitches in the middle of my back. Last week the dermatologist took a bottle cap size chunk of tissue out. This was round 2. Hopefully, this was the final round. Moral of the story - the sun is not my friend - it's not your friend either. Being tan, overrated. Glad the vice has been relinquished. Add to life's "hard lessons learned" - just praying this is the extent of the eye opening needed. Point taken.
So, looking forward to another weekend at home together - the collective favorite. Looking forward to "movie nights" w.John. New tradition since The Paci Fairy. On non-school nights John can lay in bed w.me to "watch a movie" after bath. The 1st week it was a Paul Newman movie w.Jennifer Lopez - there was a horse & that's what John remembers. He keeps wondering if we can watch that movie :). Last week "watching a movie" turned into A LOT of chatter. John, "I like brown - I like blue - I like green...(long pause) - I like black - I don't like yellow - Mommy do you like yellow? I don't like 'mercials, do you like mercials?" Don't remember what else we talked about, John's stream of consciousness is pretty elaborate :)
Speaking of, I'd say my stream of consciousness is spent for now :) Happy WACDD!
Advice: If they'd listen to me this world'd be a better place, my grandpa used to say & my grandma always nodded & said, you're right. Someday we're going to kick ourselves for that one & he'd frown & turn off his hearing aid.
~Story People~
~Story People~
Oh~ What a delight to end my week with reading your 'end of the week' blog~ Life is good, God is good~ John makes me laugh~ and Ella makes my heart rejoice~ I'll be smiling~
ReplyDelete~ love to know the 'life' things:)
Love, Mama, aka Nana
i'm liking the whole "intentional living" concept :) soaking up the daily blessings can so easily become overlooked. i pray that your results are good from the dermatologist. keep me posted please.
ReplyDeleteoh...& i'm still laughin' at the word burly-ness :)