Catching the morning sun with a special fella,
Oh how my heart swells.
Oh how my spirit soars,
catching the Momentness with a special fella.

Happy weekend, loves!

float

Cloud 9 came to my bedside at 5 am on Saturday . That rarely happens, so I totally skipped the slippers and hopped on. All morning I rode that cloud. Knowing that clouds thrive in the out of doors, I rode my cloud right out the backdoor and joined the chickens and other critters (some human some not) enjoying their Saturday.

The weather was surreal, 57 sunny and soft breeze. 

They walked and rode scooters over to cousins' for a cardboard zombie fight. I floated on my cloud watching in awe as my gifts led the way. I floated on my cloud as the sun warmed me to my core and allowed the breeze to carry my love and gratitude through the air to those in need.
Saturday I truly lived.

fly by

My weekend flew by. I knew it would, it was one of those packed full of doing from Friday through Sunday. There were snow flurries, visits with old high school basketball friends, fevers, thrift store scores, crayon making, heart knot tying and dances of course. It was fun, exhausting and productive. Ahhhhh....

well

artwork by the Wolf

            I am well. I am dancing, we all are. This is our family jam, stuck on repeat...                                            

                                                 

               Won't you dance with us? 

callin in the light

enjoying their new yoga dvd

There are clouds and ice outside my window today, and I have been in the bed for day 2, probably a cold or perhaps a Chronic Fatigue flare up. Either way, I am visited sporadically by my light walkers. Hugs, waves, blown kisses are the best meds and I am soakin it up.

They have been enthralled in their new yoga dvd, asking to do it daily, sometimes more than once. It makes me happy, it brings me peace to hear them shout their affirmations.

Getting well, being strong, basking in the light that surrounds me. Those are my plans for the weekend.

 have a lovely weekend friends

drummin

She ended her Thanksgiving celebration with a drum and a song, off by herself. 

She was in bliss, as was I 

watching from a distance, ever so 

grateful

                              

Earth walking

Papa always told me "You are a spirit being having a human experience, Sweet P" This is my thread; it runs through every cell in my body. All my thoughts and beliefs have stemmed from this one statement; it colors all my choices. How do I exist here in this form and honor my spirit and The Spirit at the same time?


Work. Work? Shit! No, I know its work, but geeze it's like all the freakin' time! 

You got to train, Jess. Seriously. If you were going to  had to run a marathon you would train. You would do what it took and make yourself do it. Every day, every time choose to be happy. Choose to be ok. Choose to remember you are spirit and this time you are here as Jess with all her ego driven outlooks and bleeding heart. Daughter, Sister, Mate, Mother, Earth Walker.

sending love and prayers to those affected by Storm Sandy xo

p.s. those in the U.S. please don't let your voice be silenced. VOTE even if you vote no confidence. xo

deer one

Our little deer turned one. We had such an amazing time complete with face painting, cornhole, rock candy and an absolutely gorgeous cake (pic to come).  

firestarter

Do you remember seven? It was one of my favorite ages. Encompassing the magic and wonder and the confidence and knowledge to conquer all.

Seven is also on the brink, not a little kid, but not a teenager. This is where seven can be hard, where the light of who you are may see its first dwindle. Figuring out how to deal with this new seven year old mind, body and emotions can be very trying.

The Badger turned seven a couple of weeks ago (he has informed me he now sees himself as wolf) and in honor of this special year, the Wolf was given his own flint. He started our campfire, never giving up, striking his flint with calm, purpose for almost five minutes. When his sparks lit a flame, his face was that fire's biggest rival. The fire lasted for two whole days.

I hope that moment is etched in his memory, and when the trials of seven bring him down, all he has to do is remember he has the power to create light and warmth.

days in the haze

       these days 
                float along as if a feather on a breeze.
                                 Gently, gracefully, turbulent, spiraling...

    Beautifully resilient. 

Cave in

So I finally caved in. I gave up  let go of self-imposed goals expectations (there is a huge difference you know). I went inside my den, hulled up with my cubs and mate and recharged. The deep recharge only a hibernation can facilitate.

I feel tremendous changes stirring. I hope to share them, but I can't promise when or even if. Well damn! What kind of blog is this?! - A real one.

Happy Friday and much love to you guys! xo

In tending 3

I had to pull away from things this week, that was my tending, going inside and reflecting without distractions 

As I have grown this past year, stretched, writhed out of my old skin

it has exposed rawness

a rawness apparently it was time for me to deal with.

A midst celebrations, thunderstorms and milestones there has been an underlying pain, a common thread of disappointments. 

Then I am reminded what This is really about. How grateful I am to be able to see It, to hold It, to know It. 

7-11

Yesterday was my parents' anniversary, they always said they chose 7-11 because they needed all the luck they could get. They knew their love would not be easy, and 37 years later full of highs and lows, love and frustration, births and deaths, they get to sit on their deck, hold hands and look at each other with true, unquestionable love. Their commitment to walking their paths together is inspiring to me. In honor of this special anniversary, since we almost lost my papa, the kids and I made a special "path" marker. To remind them of their journey. 

their wedding picture

We found a large rock in our yard, cleaned it and then painted it with acrylic paints. When it was dry I coated it with clear varnish. We blessed it with love and placed it in my parents' flower garden.

weekending

Father's Day Backyard Campout

This weekend was full of those "Holy Crap, this is my my life!" kinda moments.
Like backyard camping, with s'mores and faery lights.
Oh and sticks in fire, littles love some sticks in fire.
Its about stringing these pearls together, one by one, one.
This is my life, and I am over the moon that I am soaking in it in.

Joining Amanda for weekending...

Sweet Rewards

Confession, my kids have never had chores. Defense: they are only 6,4, 23 months and 8 months and we do ask them to help out. Buuuut, they have never had set jobs and rewards for doing said jobs. Until NOW! Yep, I finally threw my perfectionist caution to the wind (well not completely I researched for a couple of weeks trying to find the "best" fit for us) and just went with something. I went with something, uh-huh I did.  And crossed some fingers hoping it would stick. So far, it be stickin.

The boys got to work creating their charts, They really got into it. 

Finsihed charts, Are they not AWESOME?! I was really proud of how they turned out. They helped come up with their jobs and the numbers represent the points they get for completed jobs.

The Owl says moving the clothespins to the done side is so fun. 

One of the huge issues I had in starting our chores was the chart, don't ask me why I focus on stuff like that. I don't know why, and yes I know it is silly to not do chores because you can't find a chart you are ok with. Its one of my issues and I am dealing with it, I promise. K? But I had a hard time being ok with using lots of posterboard and stickers, so wasteful. I am wasteful in other areas, I don't need to tack this onto my list. So I found the idea on pinterest and fell in love. Yeah I had to buy the door hangers, but that was it and the chores can grow and change with them or even turn into true door hangers. 

 So after a week of jobs, the points were ready to be spent. I gave them a choice of three big prizes and the one they both jumped on was hotel night. The looks one their faces when I explained what was in store was priceless! Seriously, it was one of the best things ever in my whole life.

They checked in Sat. night with their room keys (old credit cards covered with paper, had I been better prepared I woulda printed somethin out)

Upon entering their room, they were greeted with kisses on their pillows, a t.v. and dvd player. They also got to order room service chicken tenders, mac and cheese shirley temples for beverage and dippin' dots for dessert. 

They loved it. I got called the best mom ever like 100 times. Honestly, I think I got the sweeter reward in the deal

For Real Though

Joining Monica for Keeping it Real

Heavy

a few nights of not sleeping well

a whole day of the blahs

seeds not sprouting 

babies with some awful coughs

my house in serious need of a good cleaning

misunderstandings

Light

enjoying a new water hose

getting things done inspite of myself

*creating a mama "throne"

being inspired in the kitchen again

several steps closer to my Etsy dream

my days "off" being a priority 

new books from the library

a visit with friends and discovering their magic hideaway

hawk, bear, and rabbit medicine

Ooooo its a long weekend you guys!!! I hope it fills you full of light and joy and gratitude for those who have risked much. xoxo

*pics to come when it be done :)

'round here

'round here we are

tending flowers

enjoying much needed evening rain and sunny days

eating picnic lunches 

building new Lego sets

trying recipes from this book 

receiving immensely strong animal medicine

getting projects in order

trying to get a jump on no school routine (we will all go crazy without one) 

listening to some Amos Lee, Gregory Alan Isakov and birdies 

planning parties 

still light, I'm going for a record here people

For Real

You guys know how important it is for me to share the real of my life here. To not put on any fronts and speak from my heart. Lately, I feel I have been heavy, trudging through truth, joy and life. Nothing wrong with that, just an observation. Ya know the whole not judging kick I am on.

Anyways,  in keeping with the honest truth of Monica's Keeping it Real, I must say I feel light as air this week. Yep. I ain't gonna lie, I got no yins to my yangs this week. What?! I know! Well, there are always downs to ups, its just that I think I was able to shake all the junk so well, I don't even remember it. And I don't think it would be very productive to sit and force myself to think of some downs, so I won't. 

How did I do it? Honestly I don't really know. The big thing I did was to remove the emotion during a situation. I looked at each difficult moment from an objective point-of-view. How was it physically making me feel, deciding if it was big enough to get "upset" about, was it fear talking. I did not get swept away by how I thought I was feeling. This really helped me to stay present, connected with my heart and not my ego. Will I be able to keep this up? Wait, that's my ego asking that. All I can honestly tell you is that in this moment I am ok, and as for the next moment, I am not there yet *wink*

So after shaking off the hard here's what stuck:

Being the Mama They deserve

The Badger Graduating from Kindergarten

Making/Taking Me Time

Being Present

A late night deer moment reminding me 

Making Plans

Feeling secure in my path

Little Bird's talking 

Loving strokes from little hands

A child's answered prayer

Garden Kale

My mama finally retiring, again 

shakin it 

I really hope you have an amazing weekend. Hope your ups blow your downs out of the friggin water!!

Oh and this for fun :)

Saved

I made it through the jungle, led to a village of children laughing by a loving strong hand belonging to the love of my life. He came home and like the bigger part of me, felt the weakness in my spirit and swooped me up despite his fatigue and saved me.

There was no worry this weekend

There was no fear

There were dinners out and no dishes

There was several hours spent in a salon 

And a new 'do

There were no expectations

There was laughter much laughter

There were handpicked flowers, handmade cards and gifts

There were hugs and kisses

And love, oh there was so much love 

How did I get so lucky? 

I musta been real good in my other lives. 

Joining Amanda for weekending

round here...

We are enjoying the warm weather, even though it is boarderlining on hot. I am not ready for hot. But I am ready for endless hours outdoors, Yipee!

Senses Shared with Bohemian Twilight•

read: DragonFlight (book choice of this month's bookclub)
taste: cool, clean water 
see:bubbles and sunshine
hear:happy squeals
touch:wet clothes being hung out to dry
think:is it already Wednesday and its too hot for March
feel:light