Denial can be a place of bliss || OM [one moment] meet up

HELLOOOOooooooo!

I know, it's been a while. I've been in Denial. Upon our return from Hawaii, I got stuck there and found it difficult leave. Needless to say, I've taken my time acclimating to normal life. But, I'm coming around. Slowly.

We had a fabulous time in Maui. I will share some pictures with you next week.

I do want to mention that tomorrow is National Womens and Girls HIV/AIDS Awareness Day. This is the 3rd year (out of 4) that I've been involved in the Red Pump Project.

Every 47 minutes, a woman tests positive for HIV in the United States.  There are approximately 1.1 million people living with HIV/AIDS in the U.S and almost 280,000 are women. (CDC)

Today, more than ever, it's important for us to get involved and bring attention to  a cause that affects women (and their families) all over the world.

Have a great weekend!  I'll be back in some form or the other next week!

My letter from Lil' Miss Thang :: OM [one moment] meetup

This week, I received an incredibly sweet letter from my little neighbor in Rhode Island. When we moved into our home there, she was just a baby. We spent 7 years as neighbors and I watched her grow into a lovely young girl of almost 8. It was hard saying goodbye.

Lil' Miss Thang,' as I've been known to call her affectionately, wrote that she missed me. I cannot tell you how much that makes my heart smile.  I miss her, too. We shared a lot in common.  She and I were surrounded by boys: her 2 older brothers, my 2 sons. We would laugh at the boys and talk art. I would make her accessories that she would proudly wear. I appreciated seeing her smile and wave every morning as we all started our days heading in different directions.

She included a drawing of me in the letter. It's hanging on my inspiration board in my studio.I had planned to write a friend for this month's Project Letter Writing. Now I look forward to adding Lil' Miss Thang to my list. I'll include photos and maybe an easy origami project.

There is nothing like getting a letter from a child. They are filled with so much joy, sincerity, and innocence.  Project Letter Writing and my OM [one moment] serendipitously collided this week. January could not have started off better.  Thanks, Lil' Miss Thang!
What was your moment this week?

A ramble, Dooce, and some fun images to lighten my mood || OM [one moment] meet up

photo by By truebluetitan

Well, I'll start with my ramble and must warn you I'm keeping it vague. 

Life is such a funny, complicated, always changing, necessary, uncontrollable force that we all share and have in common. What makes us different is how, where, why, we choose to live our individual lives.

Oh, boy.  Where is she going with this?

Life continually surprises me. There are always new challenges, issues, events that come along. They may be great or tragic or in between. They just are and we have to choose how to deal (or not) with each moment. Even if you think you've seen everything (I really didn't think anything could ever surprise me. I've seen it all. That is a whole different post). Life continues to throw you a curve ball.

 I'm getting a bit closer to my point.

Never for a moment think that your life is all that different from someone else' life. We all have our crosses to bear, baggage to carry, etc.  Same crap, different household.  Take, for instance, Heather Armstrong of Dooce. I read her blog off and on.  Sometimes I get annoyed by what appears to be her kvetching about something different every day. To many, she seems like a whiny, entitled person.  But her issues are real and her own.  She has openly talked about depression. If you haven't experienced it yourself, you have no idea how debilitating it is. Her openness is very helpful to many people.  She appears to have it all.

I sometimes feel like her in that I bitch and moan about something all the time.  I feel like it never ends, there is something to complain about always. I certainly don't want to be a Debbie Downer so I joke and laugh and put on appearances to get me through a day.  Some of us do that better than others, just so you know.

Lately, I keep getting hit in the face with life issues.  None of which are new to anyone. None of which I want to share. And none of which we won't get through.  Although these issues are new to us they are not new in general.  I feel like I took a left hook to the chin for the 3rd time in about a month and now I have to shake it off, regroup, and figure out how to proceed.  Adrianne!  It's all good because it gives me an opportunity to learn, evolve, become a better person. 

I feel very fortunate. I have a good life and everything I have always hoped for in it.  Most importantly to me, I have a great husband and wonderful boys.  I didn't get here without a lot of bumps, hills, ravines, potholes, along the way.  Certainly, there will be plenty more road blocks in the future. I just take it one moment at a time.  There are also a lot of, what Ethan refers to as, "cleansing breathes" along the way.

I've always learned to deal with my problems, sometimes with help and other times on my own. Life is precious to me in that way. But I have to remind myself that we have to move through all the obstacles in life to continue living the life we want. We have to work through the storms.  And each person in our family is on his or her own path, a path that we cannot control.  This is life.

My point:  Expect the unexpected in life. It's unpredictable.  We all have issues.  No one's life is perfect no matter how it may appear (The Real Housewives Series confirms that).  If your life is calm right now, enjoy that moment.  When poo hits the fan, brace yourself and know you are not alone. 

Early this week, my OM moment was going to be a few things that made me smile.  Those moments still exist and although I may be feeling less jovial about my week, I appreciate having these moments. I guess that  is what these posts are all about.

 

 This is the drawing E made when I made banana pumpkin bread this week.  I always forget how much the kids love it and enjoy seeing them scarf it down.  E's drawings bring me so much delight.  I told him I'd like to share more of them with you in the future. He may become a regular contributor to the blog in the near future.

The dogs bring me great joy. They make me laugh every day. Last night, while we were watching The Big Bang Theory, Sophie pulled a Sheldon to get Lola's attention.  The look on Lola's face says it all.

Thank you for indulging me today. I hope your life is calm right now and you have a wonderfully easy going, enjoyable weekend.

How was your week? What was your moment?

Parenthood Christmas play revisited || OM [one moment] meet up

If you are a parent and haven't seen the 1989 Ron Howard movie Parenthood, you probably should (also not a bad idea if you are planning to become a parent).  I cannot tell you how many times I've referenced that movie to my own parenting situations. One particular scene is the Christmas play below and the very feeling that I'm on a roller coaster in life speeding out of control.



E embarrasses easily and hates (H A T E S) to be in front of a crowd. Naturally, concerts are not his favorite thing. Even less palatable to him is photo/video taking by his parents. So his reaction to Chris taking a photo with his iPhone last night should not have surprised us.  However, it was. And not in a good way.

Between songs, and after the applause quieted, E shouted "Put down the iPhone" accompanied by a scowl. That was the point at which I was on top of my parenting roller coaster plummeting toward the earth.  Luckily, my ride came to an abrupt halt when another boy in the front row acted out, in full squat and red scrunched face, 6 geese a-laying [eggs].

NOTE: I really like the Parenthood TV show based on the movie.
NOTE 2: The diarrhea song scene is another scene we often relive.

A morning moo ritual - OM [one moment] meet up

We pass a field of cows several times a day (one of many).  This particular field has approximately 25 all white or all black cows.  Except one.  He is all black with a white face.  E has named him Naveau.  Every time we pass the field, we look for Naveau to say hi (moo).  Funny how this one silly ritual each day can bring us together.

Do you have a shared ritual with your family or friends?
What was your OM this week?

A moment of thanks || OM [one moment] meet up

It's been a nutty week and looks as if next week it will get even nuttier.  I do need to get cracking on production as I am scheduled to be a holiday sale December 3.  So, hopefully, I will have some new items to show you very soon.

I do want to take a moment to thank my contributors Lindy and Diana.  Lindy shares handmade Fab Finds on Thursdays and Diana brings us amazing photos via Captured on Mondays.  They both have a great eye for art and bring something new to each post.

As the holidays approach, I encourage you to visit their shops.  You will find something for everyone as well as yourself.  I personally use one of Lindy's calendars and have a photo print by Diana resting on my family room mantel.

Crafted by Lindy - handmade cards and art prints

D.S. Brennan Photography

What was your moment this week?

The tumbleweed that made us laugh || OM [one moment] meet up

I love that we humans are complex enough to find moments of levity even when our hearts of heavy. It's been a long, frustrating week of health management with my father.

I was driving Ethan back from school the other day. We stopped at an intersection (the same intersection I cross 4 times a day, 5 days a week). Out of the corner of our eyes rolled a lone tumbleweed that made us simultaniously burst into laughter. It rolled across the intersecting road narrowly missing the oncoming car. The scene played out much like this video. Just imagine us sitting at a stop light at the road and watching.



Lonely western music came to minds as we had never scene a tumbleweed except in old cowboy movies and cartoons.



Thank you, Universe.  We needed that.

How was your week?

When my kids can talk me down || OM meet up

I"m really not sure when my kids became wiser, quicker, funnier, etc. than me.  All I know is that I find myself laughing and taking their advice more often. Luckily, it's pretty good advice.  They can even talk me down from crazy at times.

Last night as Ethan and I left Max's last home football game of the year (they won), I was anxious about leaving the dogs at home in my studio/office uncrated for 3 1/2 hours. I knew Sophie would be okay, but Lola is trouble.  Since we needed to stop by a store before heading home, I asked Ethan if we should go home first, check on the dogs, and then go back to the store.  His response, "Mom, I really don't think 10 minutes is going to make a difference.  Either the studio is trashed or its not.  What more can they do in 10 minutes?"

I chuckled and said, "You're right.  Quit being so smart."  We had a nice laugh.

When we finally got home, the dogs were fine.  The few hours that followed, however, were spent with Lola getting back at us for leaving her:  2 poos, several pees, a destroyed plant, and a partridge in a pear tree.  At least it happened while I was home and not away.




Hope you had a great week?  What moment are you going to share with us?

My sticky wicket week :: OM [one moment] meet up

Wow! What a week.  I've seen more doctor's offices, labs, and clinics than any one person should ever see in a week. No worries. We are all okay. I won't bore you with the details.  Let me just rundown the procedures we've had this week alone:

• blood work twice on same person
• cat scan (no appendicitis)
• visit with GI specialist
• lumbar steroid epidural

Luckily, my moment this week had nothing to do with any of the above.

I bought myself an orchid after wanting one for a long time. I've always been nervous about caring for these beautiful and delicate flowers. Once home, I proceeded to take the price tag/bar code sticker off the pot.  This is always a tricky procedure.  Sometimes, if you do it just slowly enough, you can get the whole sticker off w/out a mark.  Whoopee!  The sticker came off entirely. Not a smidgen of glue or paper.  At least one sticky situation came out clean this week!

I will be enjoying a nice bubble bath this weekend with my new friend. I think I'll name him Seymour.

How was your week?

Falling behind today

Update: My OM moment for this week actually happened last Sunday when we told the boys that Chris was working all day. He actually went to SF to pick up our new puppy Lola. The boys were surprised beyond belief. They've wanted a puppy for a long time. Since Sophie was closer to 5 months when we got her we missed the small stage of a puppy's life. We also missed the poopin' and chewin' stage. Lola is adorable but I've never seen a puppy chew on a flat wall before. I have to watch her constantly and take her out every 30 minutes...or pay the consequence! It's like having an 18 month old all over again. Yet, with all the crap that life may throw us, there is reward beyond words. Just look at this face!

Sophie has been a good big sister.  She loses patience every once in a while, but is definitely showing Lola the ropes.  Lola, on the other hand, has taken on the role of little annoying sibling quite nicely nipping at Sophie's heels.  Like kids, it's always fun and games until someone yipes gets hurt.

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Hi friends,

My morning is a bit crazy and I haven't had a chance to prepare my OM meet up today.  I'll do it before the end of the weekend.  Feel free to go a head and link yours to this post.

Happy Friday and have a lovely weekend!

Missing my little ducky || OM [one moment] meet up

This week, I had an empty feeling every day, all day.  Something was missing.  My heart ached a little.  My little E was gone from us for his first extended trip ever.

Each class in E's new school travels on a week long trip together. This year, his 5th grade class this year went to a beautiful 1500 acre ranch of Yellow Pine Forests where they could hike, explore, and bond together.  I understand that he will come back a changed boy (for the better).  He was so excited to go that he barely said goodbye to me when I dropped him off at school on Monday.

I've missed him since the moment he left.  Each day I've wondered what he's doing, where he is, if he's happy (I know he is/was).  It's hard to not be in communication with your child.  My rational side knows that his trip away was good for all of us.  My mommy side is all too aware that my baby is becoming more independent and a young man.

Shhhhh.  Please don't tell him about this post.  Duckies, baby, mom mush is totally not acceptable by his standards, but I really had to share this with you.

He comes home today and I'm so excited to hear about his adventures. I can't wait to hug him and simply sit and listen as he shares every detail.  It's been a long week for me but a week of extraordinary experiences for him. 

NOTE:  I've added Instagram or Flickr to the mix.  If you just want to share with a photo moment, just use #OMmeetup. 

When life seems ugly :: OM [one moment] meet up

source: Macgidtosh

Since starting our weekly OM meet up back in April of 2010,  I've been surprised at what "moments" jump out at me during any given week.  Part of the excersice, for me, was to simply appreciate any thing (big or small) that made me cut through whatever momentary/daily/weekly fog I was lost in.  For the most part, it's just the daily grind of life:  parenting, work, home, finances, safety, balance, etc.

On the heals of both the anniversary of 9/11 and the horrific Carson City shooting, my mood this week was hugely somber.  Since Tuesday morning, I had that awful pit in my stomach that lingers and generally overshadows every thought or action throughout the day.  My eyes constantly welled up like tears would fall at any time.  This week, I really needed a moment of clarity.  

Last night I took Sophie out to our side paddock (her private bathroom) for her nightly break.  Typically, I stand there while she does her business.  This time, I pulled up a bucket , sat down, looked up to the sky and took a deep cleansing breath.  The moon and stars are spectacular out here.  The sky is big and typically clear.  The moon was glowing so bright it had an amazing aura around it. I felt like the universe told me to simply breath.

In less than 5 minutes the clean air, glowing moon, sparkling stars gave me the moment I needed.  For that moment, I saw the beauty in life.

How was your week?


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Seeing my baby as a young man :: OM [one moment] meet up

My oldest started his freshman year of high school this week. My time with him at home is fleeting.  Without completely gushing about him (which would tick him off), I'll simply say I'm so proud of him and feel so fortunate to be his mother.

My moment this week was sitting in the stands watching him play in his first high school football game (#74). He started (and played the entire game) on offensive and defensive tackle. I never considered myself a soccer mom, but I was definitely a hoot'n and a holler'n football mom. My youngest son had to move away from me because he was so embarrassed. I vacillated between cheering for him and declaring he looked injured.

"Woo hoo!" 

"Is he limping? His ankle looks like it's bothering him."

"Get him!"

"He looks tired."

My husband told me to stop "mothering" him.  Really?!  That's who I am and what I do.  I'll mother him 'til the day I die.

What was your moment this week?

Sunshine on my shoulders - OM [one moment] meet up

Several sunflowers suddenly appeared in our overgrown garden.  What a bright and cheery surprise.  I seized the moment and took a dozen photos.  Joy!

You can see other shots I took in my Flickr set titled Around new home and garden (I'll be keeping a photo journal of all that we're doing).



How was your week?

A positive mommy moment - OM [one moment] meet up

E in his new school uniform, looking sharp.

The other afternoon, E (9yo) sadly came into the house from playing with some neighbor friends outside.  He had experienced something, with one of the adults, that caused him dismay.  It was a situation where he read into the adult's expression and it made him feel badly.

One of the most challenging things in parenting is teaching your child a life lesson that has gray areas.   Relationships are nuanced and sometimes that is easily lost on kids, even adults at times.

We talked about the situation for quite a few minutes.  I felt like I wasn't getting through to him, as I often feel in these types of conversations.  But, we kept talking...and talking.  Suddenly he said, "Thanks, Mom.  You've made me feel much better about it."

Such a great feeling to have made him feel better and to know he was processing what I was saying.  That moment really made my week.

I want to hear about your week.  Did you have a revelation?  Did something funny happen?  Please share!
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Revisiting this week's OM [one moment] meet up

Last weekend, I went to San Francisco for the Conference of Creative Entrepreneurs.  The conference was a great opportunity to hear from other bloggers and small businesses as well as get inspired, and network.  I plan to blog in more detail about some of the great speakers.

I went to the conference with two talented ladies, Angie (Angie Allen Stationary) and Cyn (River Dog Prints), who are on a similar trajectory in life as myself.  It was wonderful to talk and laugh about shop and family, while sharing new ideas and helpful advice.  The weekend was everything a girls weekend should be.

My moment this past week was appreciating how we all met.  We took a leap of faith to get to know strangers - online via blogging and social networking.  What began as friendly banter, was nurtured into true friendships.  We wouldn't have met otherwise and now we are friends.  It has made me realize that friends can be found via many vehicles. We never know how a connection will be made or relationship transpire.  We just need to be open to the possibilities.

Thanks, Cyn and Angie, for a wonderful weekend.  I feel fortunate to have both of you in my life and I value our friendship.

Please visit last week's OM [one moment] meet up and join us.  I'd love to hear what one moment stood out in your week.

  Breakfast at Farm Table

Blossoming friendships - OM [one moment] meet up

I'm still having a tough time blogging from the West Coast.  The 3 hour time difference from the East Coast is doing me in especially since I had gotten into the habit of posting in the mid afternoon out there.  So, please bear with me.  I'm just happy to have started blogging again.

I've been working on my OM post this week but it isn't quite finished.  It is about friendship and I hope to finish it later today but certainly over the weekend.  In the meantime, I don't want you to have to wait to link to this week's post.  So, have it!  Please tell me about your special moment this week!

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Home is where your plants are - OM [one moment] meet up

It's been a while since I've written an OM post not because there haven't been wonderful moments to share, but because I've been overwhelmed by all of them.  There's been my trip across the US, the closing on our new house, unpacking, exploring, and everything in between.  I've just recently begun wrapping my head around blogging again (not to mention having internet access and a desk top upon which to work).  Perhaps some of these moments will pop up in other posts in the future.  Since I'm trying my darnedest to get back into a writing routine, I'll share a simple but happy moment I had this week.

I've written about my love for adding plants throughout my living space.  While I don't have a green thumb, I've learned what I can grow (or not kill) over the years.  Each time we've moved, I've had to pass my plants along to my friends.  I'm always happy to do this because I know they are in great hands, however, there is a tinge of sadness having to say goodbye.  Plants take lots of care and nurturing after all.

Some of my favorite houseplants are Jasmine:  night blooming, Maid of Orleans, or orange are my favs.  My love for these plants began years ago when we lived in Chicago and my neighbor gave me a clipping.  Since that moment, I've always had at least two large Jasmine plants in my home.  These plants are so fragrant and bloom fairly often.  The fragrance brings me a lot of joy and comfort.

Since moving to Reno, I have purchased several plants which immediately made the house feel homey. It's an odd habit, but I do tend to replace my plants quickly in a new home. Today I was able to find a large Jasmine plant, ripe with blooms, at my local nursery.  This made me extremely happy and gave me a more "settled" feeling.  Funny how something as simple as a plant can make one feel at home.

The moment we've all been waiting for - OM [one moment] meet up #57

photo added 12/30/11:  graduation day, June 2011

Today is Chris' graduation from residency at Brown University.  We made it!  What was once a pinhole at the beginning of a long tunnel, is now a glorious light shining toward our next phase in life.

We made it!  Through ups and downs, thick and thin, hell and high water. 

Chris' white coat ceremony at the beginning of medical school in 2000

I am so proud of my husband.  He left an unsatisfying career in banking to explore a passion to learn medicine.  He has worked hard and made sacrifices.  He has put in long grueling hours.  He is an amazing advocate for his patients.  He loves and respects all those who work around him.  He has shown my boys that anything is possible and it's never too late to do what you love.  He has taught me what it's like to show true compassion for humanity.

Congratulations, Chris!  You did it!

Chris' graduation from medical school in 2004.  E, not pictured, was home with a sitter.

What word would your friends use to describe you? OM [one moment] meet up #56

A friend recently told me a story about a guy she dated, many years ago, who asked her a thought provoking question.

"If you asked a friend to describe you with only one word, what would that word be?"

The guy asking her this question, in her words, was an "egotistical, money hungry person" who said his friends would use the word "humble" to describe him.

Isn't it interesting what people think about themselves or think others think about them.

My friend said that at that time in her life, she thought her friends would have called her "interesting."  After all, she was traveling the world with wanderlust coursing through her veins.

This really got me thinking about what word would most describe me.  I'm sure for different people it would vary.  I also think that it may have changed over the years.  Words I'd love to have describe me would be sincere, honest, genuine, true.  The words I'd choose for myself right now would be sad, overwhelmed, anxious, pained, numb.

I'm finding it helpful to toss some of these words around in my noggin.  I know we are not just a word, but a series of complex emotions and experiences.  We also have the ability to change perceptions - our own or others.  Simply acknowledging this was a comforting moment for me this week.

What word would YOUR FRIENDS use to describe you?
What word would YOU use to describe yourself?

NOTE:  Click on word.  at the top of the page to be taken to a fun side project of mine.