2: Prepare

1. (Verb). To make ready for a specific occasion; for the future.
2. (Verb). To put in a proper state of mind.

Our tiny elves are doing a great job filling the house with cheer and joy. We've made preparations, put up the tree and also been doing a lot of physical clearing of stuff, which seems every bit as important as the mental preparations. It is crazy how easy it is to become encumbered with possessions and  disheartening how many things are used for such a small amount of time before we send them to the landfill. This year, I really need to prepare a path for simplicity and it is amazing how hard that seems to be. I am really weary of objects, toys, and junk.

I'm trying to prepare our hearts to focus on the joys of the present moments and to be able to travel more lightly and quickly whereever we are sent.

1: Deck

Last year my Christmas words series were an important meditation for me and a way to cultivate mindfulness during the holidays and try to capture and share glimpses of the beauty of my life. I decided to continue them this year. I hope they are lovely for you as well.

Christmas in the main square, Mulhouse, France

1. Verb. To adorn festively
2. Verb.  To knock someone very hard to their knees or to the ground.
3. Verb. [Clear the deck] To prepare for action.

This year our holiday started with some unfortunate news about a job. There were so many opportunities, possibilities, dreams from the past bubbling into hopes for our future that seemed packaged just right. We were all completely wrapped up in what might have been, perhaps more than we ever have been before. And now it isn't. 

So now we are here on our knees, on our faces, wondering what comes next. We are assessing, we are searching, we are making preparations; but for what exactly we do not know.  

Happy birthday Connor!

I know I say it every time, but so hard to believe that this week Connor turned four. Here is a photo book I made for him that showcases some of our silliness!

Click here to view this photo book larger

Photo Book Tip: Create an adventurous travel photo album at Shutterfly.com.

A poem from the last day of summer: Ripples of love

Somehow it is the last day of summer

and rain is falling on the roof

sweet slow soft,

as its beginning it also is ending.

This week, for the first time,

two bouncy boys

will head to school together

They promise they will miss me,

but not their teachers.

The little girl

walks on tiptoes

around the table

and crawls on her belly

to catch balloons

those delicious inflated moments 

that disappear

before you know it.

The season was spent

plopping berries

launching arrows

skipping stones

chasing waves,

the sweetness

piercing

the water

and returning.

I visited gardens

taller than my head

where birds, bunnies, and me

find surprise, abundance

and we put it in a jar

of goldenness

to pour out,

lavishly, over cold things.

As this ice cream melts

I hold it, in my fingers,

and I hope- for you-

to lap it from

my hand.

• 

  Explora museum

  Albuquerque
• 

  Butterfly flowers

• 

  Connor at Omniplex

• 

  4th of July: Star struck

• 

  Corona Del Mar beach

• 

  Echinacea

• 

  First trip to the beach

• 

  An expedition

• 

  Sunflowers in the sky

• 

  Moth men

  This guy vibrated so hard he kept me up all night
• 

  Family at music camp

• 

  Cris exploring river at music camp

• 

  Cali petting Angel

• 

  Waves!

• 

  The archer and his page

• 

  Berry picking

Mommy moments

I was going to publish this on mother's day...oops!

"I'll give you a daisy, a daisy..." Self portrait with Cristopher from mother's day tea

Cake batter! January 2012 with Conno

La vie en rose. Calyn and Mom, May 2012