"We are all wanderers on this earth...our hearts are full of wonder, and our souls are deep with dreams." ~ Gypsy proverb

Monday, November 7, 2011

Self soothe...






Images are what have been soothing my soul lately, images and a strong need to write. I sit down with a head full of words--then, as if by telepathic timing, suddenly both kids are up-- ready and wanting to start their day. Sometimes they can go off and do their own thing in the mornings, feed themselves breakfast, giving me reprieve to write more. Other days the boy is magnetically attached to my side asking questions or the girl is crawling into my lap and I can't see through her dark hair and big skull. Oh beautiful peace and elusive quiet--how I miss you most when I can't have you!!!!!

Deep breath...But that's alright. I tell myself to remove the thinking, and stay present. My time with them grows shorter by the day. Be mindful, stay grateful, and capture what you can. My time will come, sooner than I think...and then I will miss them and wonder where our time together has gone. Oh the irony....

Peace friends, I'm off to finish reading Peter Pan...

PS. Thank you to my lovely friend Jacinta from Embracing It All, for a sweet little giveaway I won recently...A pair of adorable handmade hair clips and the little felt mouse....thanks Jacinta--M. loves them :).

25 comments:

  1. The one piece of advice I have passed on to my daughter is to enjoy all the moments with her daughter because one can not imagine just how quickly they grow up. My husband and I both will look at each other and laugh because we can't believe we have a grandchild! Wow! it is fast! Love those babies of yours MJ and soak up all the time you can, it is not something you will ever regret. Have a super Monday.
    xx

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  2. So true - we must soak up all the time we can. It will be gone before we even know it.

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  3. Peter Pan ... I think that is a marvelous idea! :D :D :D :D

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  4. Oh how I feel so similar on many days...let those images sooth, and then enjoy that wonderful present with your beautiful children...I am off to do the same!

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  5. It's cruel, really...they smother us then they abandon us. May seem a bit backwards (and depressing), but I try to keep the abandonment (while sending up a prayer that it won't really happen) in my mind when I'm gasping for air. xoxo

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  6. It's always amazing to me when five minutes of alone time is needed and we don't get it, and then we're alone we can't get five minutes of togetherness. Children grow way too fast.

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  7. I so get that morning thing. I've been trying to get up earlier again so that I can have a bit of quiet before the masses are upon me. Doesn't always work. Glad you won Jacinta's great give away, what fun.

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  8. love the first and last shots - but, they're all great. i share your same sentiments of wanting time to myself but knowing my time will come all too soon one day. it is what's right before us that is meant to be enjoyed! staying present is a great practice.

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  9. i could have written this.

    our attitude is the one thing we have control over - when i let myself get unmindful and caught up in my creative desires, that's when frustration, even anxiety and stress, creeps in.

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  10. Wow. Your images are getting so much better every post, it seems.
    "My time will come, sooner than I think...and then I will miss them and wonder where our time together has gone. "
    I know- it's such a practice. I feel the same and I want to pinch myself hard when someday I know they won't want to be snuggled in my lap because I KNOW that's so much more important to me (their needs) than what I am doing at that moment when it REALLY comes down to it.
    XO
    C

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  11. We all need our soul soothing sometimes.
    Peace to you.

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  12. we finished peter pan 2 nights ago! and the end is bittersweet and more moving to an adult - hard to not cry.

    and i feel you - the images and a few words are all i can do. if i could write all the amazing things in my head - watch out. but there is a season and a time, right? it is hard to stay focused on the present for sure.

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  13. It is so important to soak up the hugs and love in the ebb and flow of children at our sides, but at times the patience is hard to stumble upon. Congrats on the giveaway -- super sweet.

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  14. Luv the pic of the lil' Mrs. laying on the ground.

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  15. I so know what you mean. I had forgotten that you home schooled. I feel like I am constantly at war with myself, over "which parent" I am going to be, almost hour by hour. Part of me is the "involved Mama" who stops whatever she is doing to sit, interact, and answer all their endless questions. Because our children need us. Other times I am the "adult-centered" parent. She is the mama who says, "you know what I really need to..." and tells her disappointed child to go on...because children need to learn the world does not revolve around them or they grow up to be obnoxious adults. Finding the balance between the 2 is the hardest trick their is.
    God bless you on your own balancing act, you seem to be doing well.
    Cheers,
    Leah

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  16. It scares me, sometimes, how fast the time is going by and my babies are no longer "babies". My son fell asleep in the living room chair last night. Instead of putting him in his bed, I set him on my lap so I could just hold him (and rub my cheek on his hair like I did when they really were babies).

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  17. I understand everything you are saying. It is my daily battle too. Finding balance is often unbalancing!

    I am so glad you won the giveaway. It seems it went to the perfect home:)
    I will be having another one shortly to celebrate my first year of blogging. Just need to find the time to get to it! I will keep you posted.
    Jacinta x

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  18. I can relate so very well to this post. So much going on in my head these days yet it is a rare moment that I can jot something down, never mind finding the time to actually write something worth reading. However, I wouldn't trade this precious time with my little ones these days.

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  19. We'll be here, eager to read what you've written when you find that time. You're always reminding me to cherish the precious time I have with my own sweet girl. I'm so grateful for that :)

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  20. you could have taken the words from my own mouth.

    often times i find what fuels my writing is my experiences with them and the words seem to flow more freely when i have the least opportunity to put them on the page.

    i keep reminding myself too to be present in the day to day, that there will be plenty of time to write and to tackle photographic projects when they are grown and need me less. right now i'm hoping to satisfy myself in documenting these amazing times.

    your photos are beautiful. love the puzzle pieces, fantastic perspective. but that first one, that's what it's all about!

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  21. I really do love these photos - I totally relate to images soothing the soul. And I also so relate to wanting peace and quiet and also wanting to be grateful for the now. I'm beginning to understand that balance is a life-long journey!

    xo
    cortnie

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  22. So true. So the reminder I need. Those big skulls are wonderful... ;)

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  23. Love these photos, very peaceful. Love the new look of the blog (I have finally had time to comment). I can't relate to trying to find a balance of appreciating time with children. I do have a dog though. After a long day at work and she is in my face, I have to remember to appreciate her loyalty and our connection. I do call her my dog daughter ;-).

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  24. everyone says that the time with your children goes too fast...so cliche, but true. the wonderful thing is that they'll still need us when they are older, just in a different way.

    + peter pan! how wonderful...i haven't read that in so long, but it's one of those stories that sticks with you... :)

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  25. Being present and mindful has been forefront in mind as of late. What a beautiful reminder.

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“Life isn't about finding yourself. Life is about creating yourself.”
~ George Bernard Shaw