sperlygirl

a friday ritual...

"{this moment} - A Friday ritual. A single photo - no words - capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember."

~Amanda Blake Soule

a gift from september...

the sun was shining against a beautiful blue septembr sky. i stopped along the bridge to take it in. overhead, a group of birds swooped and danced against the few clouds that peppered the horizon.

gently, i leaned over the bridge to watch the water swirl past and thought of all the secrets she carried with her.

orbiting around my feet, my two little guys giggled - gelato in hands with voices excitedly pointing out all the details and possibilities they seem to find everywhere we go.

i lingered there, just a little longer, hoping to savor a bit more of the magic this day seemed to be sharing. 

*a happy tune to share *

simple joys ~ gioie semplici...

an afternoon storm

caffe with a friend

my little ryder singing songs or humming to himself all through the house

a thumbs up from kai for his first week of school

can't listen to this version without breaking into a smile - it has been our summer soundtrack

this song, i simply love

this video spoke volumes to me (be sure to watch it to the end)

am soooooo baking this

 

leading...

it used to be that the span of five years felt like an eternity to me - spacious, vast, and seemingly never-ending ...that is until having babes of my own. it's now i realize that five years is a blink of an eye, a wink, a short exhale - and all of a sudden you are sending your oldest off to his first day of school (*sigh*). and in that very moment, culminates what i have come to realize as the truest expression of motherhood. it is a mixture...a deep inhalation of pride, joy and excitement at the experiences your child is about to embark on coupled with a shallow exhale of bittersweetness at the parts you are reminded to gently let go of. outwardly, you are expected to appear strong and encouraging, when the reality is the rawest parts of your heart seem to be floating along the surface and all you wish to do is turn back the clock just a little and marinate once more in his baby days. such is the dance of mothering...yet now, he is leading. 

healing...

today at physical therapy, i ran...longer than i have since i injured my knee in january. it's still not where i was (or would like to be) but it is a sign of healing and that's something to hold onto and work with. yoga is still a couple weeks off yet and i so look forward to it.

the place where i go to rehab is full of stories of healing. i love glancing around the room and watching people in their various stages of recovery, strengthening their bodies, and proving to themselves their own strength. 

*a beautiful tune to heal by*

{this moment}...

"A Friday ritual. A single photo - no words - capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember."

~Amanda Blake Soule

 

possibility...

i read andrea's post the other day and it really resonated with me...ringing still in my ears. i share her experience of tipping the 'i'm not enough' meter when reading though some blogs - even some that i adore. and i too waffle with how much reality i actually share here so as to illuminate that balance.

as in life, most of the 'messy' of my life i tend to hold onto rather than share. but trust me, it is here. baskets of dirty laundry, my love/hate relationship with Lego's, striving to find patience for little boys after a long day with others' children, worrying about if my parenting skills are ultimately going to send my babes into therapy or if we're doing okay, being at work and wishing i was at home with them, balancing that guilt, bridiling a need to create juxtaposed with the lack of hours in the day to do so...and so it goes. 

it is easy to become caught up in those messy swirling thoughts and it's this place where i choose to redirect them, refocus them. it is this place where i gently remind myself of possibility.

and like that, he turned two...

this weekend, we celebrated a birthday - birthday number two for ryder. there was a cake with sprinkles and a candle that played happy birthday, presents wrapped in colorful papers, a dining room that kai stayed up late the night before to decorate with streamers, colorful balloons, and handmade signs. this morning there was one surprised little ryder who walked out and squealed with delight at all the colorful treasures sprinkled around. amid the gifts, there was even a very special original painting made just for ryder by his big brother.  

dear sweet ryder, 

you make us laugh each and every day. you are pure joy! you greet the world (and whatever you eat, i might add) with pure passion and sheer delight. we adore you and all you have brought into our world. happy birthday, little one!

stepping back and observing...

sometimes life has her own way of nourishing a person, offering up her own beautiful alchemy, remedies, and elixirs that tend to soothe a weary body or soul. while spending a few days swimming in the sea the other week, i started thinking of a list...a list of life's most healing remedies (in my humble opinion, of course)...

swimming in the sea ~ especially when the water is cool and crystal clear

a good night's sleep

the first star of the evening

the lingering scent of fresh herbs left on your fingertips

stopping to watch the sunset

tending a garden

the swooping bats across the sky at dusk

the soft sounds of morning as she stretches and wakes

the warmth of a small hand as he reaches for his mother

the rustle of the leaves against a soft breeze

and of course, a classic tune