So Big

I know this is the worst quality photo, but what it captures is priceless.  As I was dropping Chloe off at school today it struck me how grown up she is becoming.  She's started bringing a thermos of hot tea with her every morning to drink on the bus (if we had coffee in this house, I'm sure she would prefer that).  She carries a messenger bag now instead of a back-pack.  Cool matters.  And because this is Minnesota, you always have to carry your winter gear with you back and forth to school, thus the green Half-Price bag that holds her boots and snow pants. 

Since it felt like zero degrees this morning and I had the day off, I offered to take the kids to school.  I just love where Chloe goes to school.  It is a new school housed in a very old building (circa 1961). Both Chloe and I love this.  We both adore the 'old smell', the creaky wood floors, all the history surrounding you as you walk the halls.  She comes home every day saying how much she loves school.  And it's not just that she gets to see her friends.  She loves the freedom to learn at her own pace at this school; to pursue projects and experiments of her own choosing.  She loves how most of the other kids who attend also are self-driven to learn.  She loves the respect the teachers show the kids and in turn, the kids adore and respect the teachers.

This grainy, phone snap-shot captures more than Chloe walking into school...it captures all the things she loves at 10 years old.  Okay...it doesn't capture her horse Beauty... I have another picture for that, but pretty much everything else. 

The other love of Chloe's life...Beauty - and yes, she is black.   And yet another blurry photo.

Selfies

One day her and her friend were at the park playing and took a selfie together and texted it to me cuz apparently you can play and take pix of yourself at the same time now - awesome.  This was not an option when I was 10.  Anyways, I digress...her friend and her were enjoying a crisp afternoon at the park and wanted to show me how much fun they were having without having to actually tell me. Modern technology has allowed them to show me.  They sent this adorable picture:

I immediately texted them back and said, "Love the sun rays!"  And for whatever reason, that just cracked up two 10 year old girls.  Now, every time they send me a selfie, they make sure to add sun rays and/or comment about 'loving the sun rays'.  I don't even now how to text cool.

I am new to this phenomenon.  Chloe is not.  She takes approximately 53 selfies a day.  And shares them with anyone who is on her contact list.  Me, not so much.  She's always telling me, "Mom, you should totally take a selfie right now."  And I'm like, "Um.  No."  And she's like, "Awww, Mom.  It would be fun."  And I'm like, "Um. No."

But all is not lost, Chloe is teaching me how to take selfies.  I acquiesce and allow her to take a selfie with me in it, but I will not just take one of me, myself and I only.  I'm not that interesting, trust me. So, every time she does my hair she insists on taking pictures of it.  Somehow that morphed into teaching me how to take a selfie tonight.  Here is my foray into selfie-dom:

It would be perfect if only there were some sun rays.

A Time for Quiet

A few circumstances in our life currently have given me reason to contemplate the beauty of quiet in our lives.  The quiet seasons in life bear much fruit.  It would be wise of us to embrace them.  I've noticed how most of us are often a little apprehensive of too much quiet.  We often feel the need to fill up all our quiet spaces with busyness and activity.  Sometimes we may be scared of what we might learn about ourselves during this time of reflection and meditation.  But it is so good for our soul. The quiet enables us to listen to our heart and to God, to process what we're learning,  and it helps us shut out the noise of distraction constantly humming all around us.  I've noticed how it is not a popular thing to do in our day and age.  If we're not active, then something must be wrong. However, consider how the quiet times of life (or our day, week, season) allow us time to think, heal, listen, grow, learn and gain deeper understanding.  As with all things percolating in my mind, I must write about it to voice what I am learning.  One day I'm sure I'll look back and see where I've grown from this current train of thought.  One building block at a time.  

Simple

Silent

Serene

Beauty I feel and see

Filling up inside of me

Courageous

Compassionate

Content

The heart within is calm

The solitude a healing balm

Listen

Learn

Love

My soul fills with peace

All strivings cease

Stillness 

Solitude

Steadfast

Not in a hurry

No need to worry

Hopeful

Helpful

Healed

Fear set aside

In grace I abide

Ponder

Prepare

Peaceful

Burdens released

Love increased

Gracious

Giving

Grateful

The gift of quiet is sure to be found

When thankfulness in my heart abounds.

The Heavens Declare

Next time a sunrise steals your breath or a meadow of flowers leaves you speechless, remain that way. Say nothing, and listen as heaven whispers, 

“Do you like it? I did it just for you.”
Max Lucado

A Fall Surprise

Although it's still fall, winter has decided to make a surprise visit.  But she is still so beautiful and radiant in her colors.  She still takes your breath away with her exquisiteness and the sharpness of her touch. She is an oxymoron, wanting to be loved and enjoyed, yet keeping you at arms reach because of her frigidness.  She teaches me there is beauty in the hard places of life, you just have to keep your eyes open to see them.  Winter keeps me thankful.

Halloween Enchantment

Another Halloween, another day to dress up.  Can you really ever get enough opportunities for this kind of pleasure?  And oh, what fun we had.

Chloe was Little Red Riding Hood.  Very ingenious.

I was your run of the mill boring cheetah.  But I was just 

the one who stayed home and passed out candy, so it's not like

I needed a super exciting, awe-inspiring costume or anything. 

It was either between cheetah or gangsta.  There's always next year.

Chuck - there's always Chuck.  He decided to mock the modern style of our day.

He even went to H&M to procure the exact assortment of proper Hipster clothing.

The scarf is the clincher.  Also the way-too-tight light grey jeans, rolled up a little

too high. The sad thing was, nobody at work thought he was 'dressed up'.  

We called him: Scarf Guy

Bennett the Mountain Man.  Nobody recognized him.

Gavin the secret service agent.  

Any opportunity he gets to wear a suit, he takes it.  Halloween included.