just thinking today—about what’s going on in the world, the country, our community.  I am concerned for my children and grands...everyone else’s children & grands too.  we’re in a place of sadness, mistrust, hurt, fear and hatred...rather than being in a place of love, kindness, joy & applauding our various differences...embracing one another.  how have we come to this, or has it always been there but somehow, someway, now has permission been given by action or inaction to voice this vitriol, make this hurtful choice...choose fear over love?

although I tend towards optimism, through the years, I’ve found my glasses have become clearer about humanity—it saddens me and yet, I do believe we all have more goodness and love  — even more likely than not.  I realize that while I may believe that, want that and all, throughout this there are hurtful happenings every day and moment.  believing also that by silence—by looking the other way, each of us can be a part of the problem, how can I help—how can I make a difference—how can any of us do our small part without discouragement but with hope and love?

I think that’s a key...each of us has to want a change, choose to start, where we are, with our small step of hope and keep on even when it doesn’t show how it’s helpful... it certainly cannot hurt!  by making some small changes, each of us can, whatever our hope, make a difference—i believe this & choose to keep believing this even, and, in spite of it all.  it’s within this mindset, i offer you a glimpse into connection...a family taking time to BE together leaning into life.

our family recently spent almost a week together in a house at the ocean...how refreshing and joyful it was!  we had space together, space for our own needs, spaces to eat, wander, play, walk, talk, read, make campfires to roast marshmallows and make s’mores beside...frisbees to throw, rocks to climb and swings to be swung on by children and adults alike.  most of all, we had Time to Be.  what a delight for this mama to see her three grown sons, playing together, teasing, laughing, playing with their children, their children playing together...our family, as a whole (minus one who was unable to join us), came together to share being family—love, joy, life, hardship and challenge, love, joy & life.
each of us, doing our small part to add to love in the world...in our lives...in those lives we’re closest to, in lives of friends & chosen family...and, to those we don’t know, by loving, sharing joy and life in energy & gratitude.

Yes, this is what it’s all about~.

the beauty & greatness of every day

today, while feeding my kitties, on the front stoop, a neighbor walked by...she’s been a bit less active over the past months as she fell, during our 6 weeks of snow & ice this winter and broke her knee cap.  yikes, for anyone, but for one in her early 80’s it can mean even more challenge...and yet, she is rising to the occasion and, from years of walking daily, has a very good foundation to rebuild upon and is healing very well & quickly, likely a lot to do with her deep foundation of staying fit.      

a good reminder to me—to each of us, perhaps—our foundations do, whether physical or emotional undergird our lives, supporting us in ways we cannot even imagine, helping when we may least expect it.  gratitude for the reminder...gratitude for the opportunity to lean into the foundation established over the years of leaning in, reaching out, creating forth—embracing each & every day.

some moments of reflection on the in between...my grands, as i’ve mentioned before, are such wonders to me!  recently, i’ve had opportunity to be with each of the three of them at different times over a few months.  our third grand, a sweet little girl, joined our family back a ways & what a delightful addition to our family she is!   i was so fortunate to be able to be with her, her big brother & parents for 2 weeks when she was but a wee lass of a couple weeks on our just beginning to get-to-one-another-visit~  on that visit, as well,  I spent time reminding her brother of how wonderful and amazing he is & his big brother-ness too....through playing, reading, running, talking, cooking...and so much more being-ness to reinforce that bond — that it was stronger than ever and never going away even with the addition of someone beautiful, loving and new!  since then, another visit and now another, to continue the play, laughter, joy, challenge, delight and beauty of days shared...keeping us close even when it’s just over FaceTime or calls & letters in between.  in the midst of those visits, we had the opportunity to spend one on one time with our grand on the other coast...time with just him & his Grammie & Grandpa—what a gift—then & staying in touch—however that works best!  how do any of us stay in touch & connection with those we care about?  long times can happen...because life happens in between and around us~  so, the challenge then becomes, how do we choose to take & make the time for connection in the greatness of the beauty of every day?