Thursday

I am so proud of David.  Last night, I admit to shedding a tear as he graduated from university with a Bachelor of Education.  The past seven years have been a long journey for as all, but he worked so hard and did so well.  It was wonderful to see him graduate.

Friday

We love Autumn...

Saturday

 

A couple of weeks ago I received my final mark for the unit I was studying this past Trimester.  A Distinction!  Nobody more surprised (or happier/relieved) than me!  However I am now two weeks into trimester one for for 2015...  I remind myself, only three units to go...

Meanwhile, life is marching on in all its forms. Work.  I am back to three days per week.  Normally this, for me, is the ideal.  The balance is right. I am continuing to question whether I continue to be in the field I am.  Should I take opportunities to make changes to my work??  Changes that I know will benefit my family.

Family.  David is well into his new position, teaching.  I knew it would be demanding of his time, and he is also studying two nights per week.  

I am learning to s l o w   d o w n. To stop juggling.  Not to multi task, but to be present in this moment.  The now and what I am currently doing, not the many things that are waiting to be done. 

On Being.  My very favourite podcast. I am like a sponge soaking water.  I love it - drinking in the conversations.  One that I listened to was with Yo Yo Ma. Somewhere in his conversation he mentioned Stravinsky, which reminded me of a book my parents bought me when I was first at university.  By Joseph Brodsky. He wrote an essay on Stravinsky.  I think.  That is what came to mind.
Another I listened to this afternoon, with poet Marie Howe.  Later in the podcast she mentioned her lecturer at Columbia University - Joseph Brodsky.

What I find in listening to these conversations is that I am being brought back to the beginning.  The things that I feel I resonate with.  It does feel like home.  I remember back to 1990 when I started at university.  All my friends had left college and moved on to other things.  We had gradually drifted apart... I was on my own and life filled with so many things I came to love.  In another season of life we can forget these first things.  It is refreshing to remember them and bring them into my new life, with family.

Sunday

Nicholas had a cub camp this weekend.  I noticed how much I missed him last night.  David went to the camp as well, so it felt so quiet and lonely late last night when Audrey and Maggie were asleep.  I spent the time folding clothes and watching some television.  Earlier in the day I had looked at fabric to make library bags for the kids.  Maybe tonight I will get to make them.

Audrey and I watched the Tinkerbell movie last night.  She thought it would be nice to take our lunch to the park and take her fairies with her.  So that is what we did today. A honey sandwich, a cheese sandwich, some chocolate biscuits and milk.  And coffee for me.

Fun. And. Games.  and Maggie's strawberry blond hair :)



Maggie's Day

...she played in the cubby house, fed the chooks, smelt the lavender and collected the mail. 

 

 

 

 

It doesn't seem so long ago that it was Nicholas and Audrey.  Where does the time go?

 

 

 

 

Thursday

 

All of us can give a great gift to the world by looking at our life and gradually removing from it the things that are not simple and beautiful.

 

~ Eknath Easwaran

Saturday

 

My last assignment for trimester 3 2014 is finished and the submit button hit. I have a couple of weeks before trimester 1, 2015 kicks off and this week is my first week that I am back to part time hours.  I have been looking forward to this, and almost immediately felt my world right itself. Everything feels more manageable. 

I read a quote last night, which hit the nail on the head for me.

that was the day she made herself the promise to live more from intention and less from habit. ~ Amy Rubin Flett

With every part of my life, beginning with my family, my kids, I want to ensure I am living life intentionally, not simply existing.

I have thought over the last couple of weeks about the things that bring me joy.  An outing with my family.  Seeing my kids excited.

A candle (my favourite scent) burning in the house. A good cup of coffee, or a chai latte (not made with syrup).  A magazine.  A book.  

I guess life has been so busy over the last year or two I feel I got a bit lost and was not being the best I can be to either myself or my family.  I'm looking forward to getting back there.