Today was a good day! I did some art last night so I was feeling happy and took it really really easy. I did my exercise, read to david, and then spent the whole day reading my book. David colored for a while, wearing his Irish hat from school.
Then he asked me to take a photo of him with it.
Then he played Wii for a bit as I worked with Jake.
And then it was family photo time. Daddy and Nathaniel played as I set up.
Here we are in the middle of tickle-time.
Me attempting to get a shot while everyone else is completely disinterested.
And finally more tickling.
I read an entire book today and we’re now off to see the same book’s movie. Yey! After that I hope to do a bit more art. No pressure. A Lot of rest. That’s the plan for this weekend. So far, so good.
Three Things I’m Grateful For:
1. I am grateful for a day of quiet, relaxing reading.
2. I am grateful for my kids and how they just quietly played all day, too.
3. I am grateful for date night. Love my hubby. Love the movies. Love date night.
Three Things David’s Grateful For:
1. I am grateful that tomorrow’s family night {* his pick for the journal}
2. I am grateful that I got extra time to stay up tonight
3. I am grateful that I played wii today
jake
I think this was a good week for Jake. Not too stressful and somewhat productive. The best part was that he didn’t go to work early any morning this week which also meant he could take David to the bus every morning. Which made my day go so much more smoothly. I am excited to have Jake’s new schedule and life. He’s so much more relaxed and happy and around which is making all of us so happy.
karen
I can’t really say this was a great week, but mostly due to a lot of pain in my back. I’ve somehow managed to injure it again and I can’t get the pain to go away. Despite the frustration and the low mood, it was a productive week at work. I did two dev channel pushes and I think we’re almost ready for next week. I just need to sit down and figure out what’s bugging me so I can make sure things are more positive for next week.
david
David is doing well. He seems to have made good friends with Julian and plays different games with him each day at school. He comes home happy and then reads his book with me and writes in his journal and does his workbooks. He eats his veggies and does most of this without too much complaining. He then spends a bunch of time on the iPhone playing different games. He’s such a sweet, good kid and I feel so lucky.
nathaniel
Nathaniel is learning more and more each week and this one was no exception. He now says done and me almost all the time. He watches all of us very closely and can understand pretty much anything. He also gets super excited when Daddy comes home and screams “daddy daddy daddy” in rapid fire and runs to give him a hug. It brings tears to my eyes each time. I really really love watching him play, laugh, eat, and live his life. He’s also learned to make kissing noises and makes them to me and to his stuffed animals occasionally. My little boy is soon going to grow up and I am trying hard to enjoy every single moment with him.
Us Right Now is a weekly project for 2011. You can read more about it here.
I won’t lie to you. I seem to be struggling lately. A lot of back pain and sciatica. I am also regularly beating myself up emotionally. A lot of craziness going on. I know it will all calm down soon, it always does. Just wish I could figure out what’s triggering this recent bout. Alas, it shall pass.
I love watching David play. All the faces he makes.
And then this one face, too, of course.
And here’s the little boy so in love with his brother and enamored with his daddy. You should hear the shrieks when Daddy comes home. It warms my heart so much.
Ah, so ready for this weekend. I plan to spend most of it lying down, healing my back. Wish me luck. I hope yours is absolutely wonderful!
Three Things I’m Grateful For:
1. I am grateful for a quick layout i finished this morning that I love
2. I am grateful for my health lately, despite the pain. I am watching all the suffering around the world and I am feeling so so so grateful for everything we have. Our safety and security and my loved ones. So deeply grateful.
3. I am grateful for the weekend. I need to rest this weekend and will make it a priority.
Three Things David’s Grateful For:
1. I am grateful that I get to spend time with daddy tonight {* his pick for the journal}
2. I am grateful that I got extra choice time at school
3. I am grateful that my friend was back in school today
Well I didn’t lose that much weight this week but I was delighted to find that all the weight loss from the last two weeks actually stayed off. That’s quite a miracle if you ask me. I am truly happy about that.
Exercise is going strong. It’s been exceptionally hard in the last few days because I seem to have a lot of pain though I am not sure why. I feel like I am black and blue all over and my back. I must say making it to 2.9 miles doesn’t feel as hard as it used to but I could certainly do without being so achy all over. I am hoping it’s temporary and not a sign of upcoming illness. I really prefer not to get sick, please.
The food is still going well as well. I am paying more attention to not sneak as much and eating more fruits and veggies. No more spoonfuls of peanut butter for me. So things are looking up in general and I am thankful and still working hard. I must admit that I still never ever feel like doing this. I just do it because I know it’s important to me. The shirt above is a February reward. It’s actually a shirt and jacket but the jacket is not on their site yet. One of these days I will take photos of myself wearing them. I’m just too lazy to do it.
and here’s this week’s card:
Healthy for Life is a weekly project for 2011. You can read more about it here.
Still getting on the path to feeling better here!! I think i am feeling much happier in general but now my body seems to be unhappy. I am achy and sore all over. Sciatica. Sore jaw. You name it. And Nathaniel woke up with a runny nose so I am wondering if we’re both on our way to being sick. Say it isn’t so!
This morning David was coloring so of course Nathaniel wanted to, too.
Then David was off to school and I got to work. Nathaniel ate, played and watched movies. Then David came back and wouldn’t really let me take any photos.
So I took some of Nathaniel.
Boys played, we read, did workbooks, I worked a bunch more and now they are sleeping and likely I will soon, too. I’ve noticed sleep really helps me emotionally and physically and since I am so worn out now, I think I need to focus on sleep more. I swear I haven’t forgotten to do the sketching post today, I’ve only sketched two things this week and so I didn’t even have the energy to post them yet. I promise, soon.
Thank you for bearing with me these last few weeks. It’s been more hectic than usual. But I must say I am still deeply grateful for my life and so very grateful for all of you. Deeply.
Three Things I’m Grateful For:
1. I am grateful for an incredible incredible happy mail day!
2. I am grateful for my students in the Finding Your Way class. They are so kind, loving, supportive. I am a lucky gal.
3. I am grateful for another productive day at work. Things are progressing and that’s all I can ask for at this point.
Three Things David’s Grateful For:
1. I am grateful that I had pistachio pudding at school {* his pick for the journal}
2. I am grateful that I got to sit and play with daddy
3. I am grateful that i didn’t get pinched ( he was supposed to wear green so he didn’t get pinched today. lol)
Several people have asked what I thought about the Soul Restoration class and instead of writing the same stuff again and again, I thought I’d post it here. Remember that these are just my personal thoughts.
I’ll admit that I wasn’t sure I needed to take this class. For the first time in many many years, I feel like my soul is in better shape than it’s ever been, so I wasn’t sure what it would do for me. I mean, I knew I could always use more work but I didn’t feel like I needed it. Not like sketching and painting and drawing, all of which were calling to me with more urgency. But I’ve been reading Melody’s blog for a long time and the way she writes really speaks to me strongly. It moves me and makes me feel empowered and inspired so I knew I was going to miss out if I didn’t try. Since I have little kids, getting away to go to Brave Girl Camp wasn’t an option for me. So when this opportunity presented itself, I had to take the plunge. I was taking 4 other classes at the same time and this was the one I thought I was least likely to learn “new things” in.
I could not have been more wrong.
I would have to say this is easily one of the best classes I have ever taken. Ever. One of the ones I learned the most in and grew the most in. I am the kind of person who pays attention. I would say I am aware. I listen to myself. I watch and observe and try to learn and grow. And, still, I learned so very much about myself in this class, it’s almost impossible to explain how much. I had revelation after revelation.
Here are some basic details about the class: It’s 6 weeks long (though we had a bonus 7th week) and each week is several videos. Each video is 5-15 minutes but there might be 4 to 8 for each lesson. There are downloadables too but you really need to be able to watch the videos, the content is in the videos. So you need reliable and good internet access. Then, each week, there are projects. You can make them as artsy as you want or not at all. There also are journaling prompts each week. Around 15 or so each week. You are strongly encouraged to journal the ones that speak to you. You are also encouraged to make something called truth cards. (I have only made one of these so far but it’s in my list for April or May and I will definitely make them because I know it will be very very powerful.) There are many many many technique videos, too. On art, journaling, etc. There’s also a community where you can share, listen, support, ask questions, etc. That’s the basics.
I will admit that I didn’t participate a lot in the community. I had limited time and decided early on it would be easy to sink it all into the community and not do any of the work but I wanted to do the work, so I chose that. Other than that, though, I did everything. I watched the videos when they went up (I excitedly awaited each one to be honest.) I did a lot of journaling. I did all the art. I used one journal to do everything in and here’s what it looks like now.
I think the single biggest thing that helped me was the journaling. The art was powerful, too but not as much as the journaling. The journaling made me keep it real. Dig deep. Art was also like that. Just not as deep. But maybe that was because I did the journaling first each time.
Here are all my posts about the class so you can see how much I grew and learned each week:
Week 1 – Soul House
Week 1 – TruthTeller (It looks like I never posted this one. The art is below.
Week 2 – My Timeline
Week 3 – The Two Karens
Week 4 – She Did it Anyway
Week 5 – The Good and the Bad
Week 6 – Where the Peace Is
Week 6 – Promises
Week 6 – No More and Focus On
Week 7 – Daily Soulwork
Here’s the Truthteller page:
I should have written about that one for a long while, too. Apologies.
What made this class great was that if you actually sit and did the work, it was impossible not to learn and grow. It’s genuine, it works. I will admit that I don’t have anything truly horrible that is going on or went on in my life. I cannot speak for how hard it is to handle all this inward looking if you have. If you need real help, you should be seeking it with a professional of course. But if, like me, you like to be inward looking, more aware, and want to free your soul, this is the class for you. You have to commit to doing the work, though. Really really doing it.
I genuinely, deeply, truly recommend it. And I am so thankful that Melody and Kathy decided to finally do it online. I knew it would be truly transformative and, for me, it really was.
If you have any questions, feel free to ask in the comments, I will be detailed and truthful in my responses as long as you promise to remember these are just my personal opinions and your experience, of course, might end up being different.
I woke up today, determined to be less grouchy, again. And I can tell you I am less grouchy but I am in quite a bit of pain for some reason. I feel sore all over and feel like all my muscles are black and blue. Work is also still at a pretty high tempo so I am trying to keep up with it all. Though I did exercise today, I didn’t manage to read to David. I will have to make up for it tomorrow.
I love love love that I caught this shot. Nathaniel does this often where he’ll look through the holes of his chair when he’s calling for me. Just two eyes peering out at me.
I love those eyes.
He’s eating saltine crackers and cream cheese. One of his favorite things ever.
And here’s David trying not to smile. Looks sort of a mix between sad and mad, doesn’t he?
but here he is a moment later. he wasn’t sad or mad.
I’ve already taken 3 advils and the pain is not any better in my jaw or back or head so I am thinking a little art journaling and I will crawl into bed early tonight. I hope you’re all well and march is treating you well so far.
Three Things I’m Grateful For:
1. I am grateful that the bugs and crashes are looking better. Hooray!
2. I am grateful for a nice chat with my mom today. She’s been ill and I am so thankful to skype and getting to see her.
3. I am grateful for my hubby. i love him so. he’s patient, kind, loving and such a true joy to have in my life.
Three Things David’s Grateful For:
1. I am grateful that I built a playground for patty (their leprechaun) {* his pick for the journal}
2. I am grateful that I got a new game on the phone
3. I am grateful that i was allowed to play a bit extra today
Catalyst One Hundred and Twenty-Nine is: Describe a family keepsake you have or hope to have?
Journaling Reads:
I am not one of those people who collects things to leave to my kids. I have the scrap albums which they may or may not want one day. The only thing I hope they will cherish and want to keep are the gratitude journals we’re keeping. I already cherish them deeply. Even keeping the practice of gratitude will be enough for me. I am so thankful we have these to look back upon.
I read and love Karen’s blog so I knew that The Beauty of Different would make it to my Christmas list. It was actually the number one item on my list. And I bought it as a gift for one of my sisters-in-law. I wasn’t sure what to except and I didn’t fully understand what the book was about to be honest. But I knew I liked the way Karen writes and her photos and I was going to like her book.
It was wrong.
I loved it.
I was not prepared for how much I loved this book. How amazing I think it is. It is above and beyond anything I expected. It’s thought provoking, inspring, emotional, and all around wonderful. I am so very glad I asked for it and I am so very glad I actually took the time to sit and read it.
And I will be reading it again and again.
I am a little less grouchy this morning but I will admit that it’s not by much. I am working on it though and getting closer to faking it till I make it. In the meantime I am operating on doing the absolute essentials which includes exercise, a lot of work and that’s about it. I took a photo of Nathaniel lining up his cars.
And a smile from David.
And I love this one cause it shows how Nathaniel always likes to play by David. He often plays in the chair right behind him. He likes the proximity. I am like that, too so I totally get it.
Tonight I am hoping to move forward a bit. I think getting some things done will help my mood. I will put some serious time into my classroom, write some posts, maybe even scrap a page. And there’s TV to watch with my hubby. I will also go to bed early so I can get some rest. I have noticed that it makes a considerable difference when I am well rested vs not.
I’m sorry I haven’t had a lot of pithy things to say lately. I am sure things will snap back to normal soon. They always do. Whatever “normal” means.
Three Things I’m Grateful For:
1. I am grateful that the release was blessed and already out the door. I am hoping there’s some good news coming with this one.
2. I am grateful for a nice chat with my mom today. She’s been sick and I hope she gets well soon! It was wonderful to get to chat with her and have Nathaniel chat with her today.
3. I am grateful for some extra special Nathaniel time today. He came and sat next to me and we read his Thomas books together. It was such a joy.
Three Things David’s Grateful For:
1. I am grateful that I had computer workstation at school today {* his pick for the journal}
2. I am grateful that I played with Julian during lunch
3. I am grateful that i get to sit with Daddy before bed
Just when I thought Soul Restoration was over, they gave us a bonus lesson. So, of course, I had to sit and do it. As I knew, this is all continual work. I need to make it my focus each and every single day. Like with everything else, what I don’t pay attention wilts. I know this page is not really even worthy to call an art journal page but alas this is what I did so here it is. Sorry that it’s not so great visually or so super artistic. But, alas, here’s what I promised to do each day on this very simple page.
1. I will take quiet time each day: I find this restores my soul like no other. Time to rest my brain, my soul, my body and my heart.
2. I will get things done: I’ve written about this often. Getting things done is magical for me. It’s what makes me, me and I feel most at home with myself when I am getting things done.
3. I will spend time with my boys: All three of the men in my life are magical. They make me feel special. They bring me joy and happiness and fill me with gratitude. I will focus on them. I will not neglect them. They are truly my biggest priority.
4. I will take the time to journal: Journaling helps me stay centered. It helps me not only pinpoint issues but also find solutions. It works. Again and again. I will prioritize it. Every single day.
5. I will practice gratitude: I’ve already written oodles about it. Gratitude works. More than just about anything else. It keeps you aware of the good in your life. It’s a very important perspective.
6. I will take the time to exercise: I will value my health, my body, and show myself that I can do this. I can reach whatever goal I want. Even the ones that seem challenging and unreachable. Like exercise.
7. I will take photos of my family: photos help me be more in the moment. To focus, to pay attention. To look more carefully. To capture. To preserve. To live and re-live and appreciate and I am deeply grateful for them.
8. I will take the time to do art: Art makes me happy. It fulfills me in a way most other things don’t. I feel texture, color, pattern. I get messy. I am out of my element. I am using a different part of my brain than I do in the rest of my life. It feeds my soul. I am aiming to do a bit each day. Even if a tiny bit.
9. I will take the time to read: Reading, too, makes me happy. It takes me to worlds that I don’t otherwise get to inhabit. It helps my imagination. It calms me. It slows me down. It makes me feel at peace. It is probably the most peaceful thing I do. And peace is good.
These are the things that bring me peace. I want to feed the peace. The joy. The gratitude. The awareness. Taking time to do these is not selfish. It makes me a better person for me, for my family, for my friends. It makes me better at my job. It makes me better in life. It is worth taking the time each day to do them. And it’s daily work to keep the soul fed Just like my body. I feed my body with food. I feed my brain with work. I feed my heart with my husband and kids and family and friends. And I feed my soul with these.
They are just as essential as food.
Several people have asked me about Soul Restoration, I have a post coming up to talk about the class and my thoughts.
Weekly Art Journal is a weekly project for 2011. You can read more about it here.
I tried to get some photos of the little boy but he would not accomodate me.
Nor would the big boy.
But then I caught a few good ones of Nathaniel while David played.
I especially like this one.
Nothing amazing going on here. I am exercising, volunteering in David’s class, working, and trying to keep things afloat here. I am not sketching or even doing my art journal really. I am moody. I am grouchy. I have no reason to be. Yet I am. Can’t seem to snap out of it. But you know what? Tomorrow is another day. Things have been quiet here lately too. I hope you’re all ok.
Three Things I’m Grateful For:
1. I am grateful that I got a bunch of happy mail this week.
2. I am grateful for a quick shopping trip to Anthropologie.
3. I am grateful that even though I dropped it on the ground, my phone did not break!
Three Things David’s Grateful For:
1. I am grateful that I made a chart of people who like to play games {* his pick for the journal}
2. I am grateful that I played with Julian during lunch
3. I am grateful that i got play time on the phone
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projects for twenty twenty-six
projects for twenty twenty-five
projects for twenty twenty-four
projects for twenty twenty-three
projects for twenty twenty-two
projects for twenty twenty-one
projects for twenty nineteen
projects for twenty eighteen
projects from twenty seventeen
monthly projects from previous years
some of my previous projects
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