Dear world, please slow down.

This girl has been doing a whole lot of thinking lately. Good stuff. The one thing I am sure of is that we all need to slow down. On that note, I am going to be clearing a lot these days. Clearing emails 723 of them btw, clearing dishes off the counter that got unpacked, clearing the clutter, clearing boxes, clearing my favorites bar, clearing my head) Maybe clear should be my new one word for this year! Guessing it's going to be hard to have stability (my first one word for this year) before all the clearing. Learning these days that it's all about progression. First things first. I am going to take my time to do what I need to do even though I feel like with life happening so fast all around me; that I might miss out. It will be ok. I just know I need to do this to make room for some really special stuff to come my way. I'll keep you updated on how it's going. Who knows, maybe I will finally be able to post the before and afters on our kitchen remodle soon! What about you. Do you think the world needs to slow down a bit too? XOXO

Ads from my school days...

Curious which one you all like better? Leave me a comment and let me know, k?

And, oh my goodness...how much he has grown! WOW.

"Look Mom! It's wiggly-jiggly!"

Ok, how cute is he!? These new soaps we got the other day at the grocery store. I liked the cheap price. Who would have known he would love the shape! So cool. Oh, and btw...his next sentence was, "Mom. We should buy more of these!" So fun.

Visiting an old friend.

So, this class is so amazing. The women are inspiring and thoughtful and sweet. Kelly is the best. The true sense of her deepest soul open for all of us to see is such a breath of fresh air in what sometimes can be a stagnat world. More people should dare to be so open. We would all be so much better off. I have been soaking it all in and while I am still not ready to produce anything new with so many things in my life right now are already started and not finished, I have enjoyed taking some time to re-visit my work from school and prior play. I think I will share these with you as I can. These two pieces are just me playing in Corel paint. Such an old program, yet very fun. I have so much to learn, but I like the rawness of these two. Hope you enjoy! Loves...

Go! Sign up now. You will be so glad you did.

Join me on my journey with Kelly Rae and others! Click on that cute little button over there (pointing to the right) for more information. XO

Yep, it's official AGAIN!

So, his second tooth came out on Saturday morning. Wow. They sure do grow up too fast! I keep telling him to slow down but he keeps telling me he can't. Time just passes and passes and passes, doesn't it? Peace to you.

We are back!

So, isn't Utah just gorgeous!? WOW. We sure did enjoy our trip. Family, a very beautiful wedding, time off, fun, and lots of relaxing. Just what both of us so needed! Getting back into our routines here at home and trying real hard to not get overwhelmed by so much that needs to be done. Emery did wonderful on the planes back. I am so proud of him. And, wow...I cannot believe how grown up he looks in the plane photo! They sprout WAY too fast!!!!

Catching glimpses...

Of me. Loving that I am actually in this photo too via my shadow. So cool! Emery is enjoying the snow so much. I think it's melted now, but he would love to go again...

My favorite photos so far...

Really, really enjoying this process of a week in the life. I look forward to putting it all together. These are my favorite photos so far. Just Emery rolling on a hill, but I like the simpleness of it. A kid, a simple fun thing to do, and his joy. All good.

My little artist...

Nice, quiet days at home and look what happens. I am learning the art of calm and to appreciate.

Happy Easter to all...

May it be full of hope and joy and peace for all mankind. Amen.

You know you are frazzled when...

Oops! All day my friends...all day! Wow. I wondered why I got some weird looks yesterday! :)

Amen.

"Love never reasons but profusely gives; gives, like a thoughtless prodigal, it's all, and trembles lest it has done too little."

--Hannah More

"Each time a man stands up for an ideal, or acts to improve the lot of others, or strikes out against injustice, he sends forth a tiny ripple of hope...and crossing each other from a million different centers of energy and daring those ripples build a current that can sweep down the mightiest walls of oppression and resistance."

--Robert F. Kennedy

Yep...it's official!

It started loosening on Thursday and fell out on Sunday. Bottom front left tooth. First one ever. He is so excited! Momma can't believe how fast they grow up! Wow.

Sweet boy showing off his tooth fairy money. He told me, "See! I told ya! She waved her magic wand."

I sure do love this boy.

Ya all have a great night! XOXO Shanie :)

Right now...

We have loads and loads of laundry. I cannot seem to keep up with it!

The cabinets, countertops, and floor are all done in the kitchen and the electric just got finished the other day too. Next is the plumber and I will finally have a sink and dishwasher and can finally cook! Living without a working kitchen for 5 months is not fun. Eating out gets old. Just living in chaos gets really old!

Steve (one of our black labs) is having some bladder issues we still have not figured out and are now on the third test. So far, his tests have all come back good even though he is getting so old so that is good! We actually have two 12 year olds, a 10 year old, a 3 year old (all dogs) and a 19 year old cat. I am just hoping the old ones hold out at least until Joe gets home.

Emery is having trouble in his school and overall adjusting to the move and having Daddy gone again. We are still in the process of figuring out what he needs. I am still not sure about this school, but am really looking forward to his Kindergarten for him in the Fall. That school seems that it will be great! We are about to enroll him in swim lessons and baseball lessons. And, he has decided to not play soccer. He also is losing his first tooth! Cool.

I have piles and piles of paper to do's still. Finances, things that go with the finances, Emery's medical/school stuff, daily planner stuff, computer to do's and my largest one...all of our files for the past 10+ years to go thru, sort, organize, throw out and shred. Whew!

We are missing Joe like crazy.

We are enjoying two parks in our area. Emery especially loves the one with the old school swings. For those of you who grew up before the 90's, remember how tall they were? We could swing so much higher because the chains were so long!

My creative piles and stuff are still not really accessible. This makes my heart sad and I sure hope soon that I am able to get past all this other stuff and start creating again already. I so need it!

My mind is swirling with ideas and thoughts for this house and also going back and forth as to what to do and what not to do because we are still not sure this is it.

Our silly remote fan/light is having to stay on all night tonight because the battery is dead and we don't have any so I cannot turn it off. I am thinking seriously of just unscrewing the bulb so we can rest without a ton of light shining on us! What is up with the new fancy dancy stuff out there? And, in a 1949 home! What were they thinking? Whatever happened to plain old switches?!

My car has died because I did not drive it. It's hard to balance two when I am the only one driving them. Arg!

I just started a new bible study and am loving it. How to discern the voice of God. Love it. Need it. So want it.

And, when I'm not doing all of that I am taking a few minutes here and there to pour over design books and magazines. My spirit has found a new sense of excitement in design.

Thanks so much for letting me vent! I love you all. XOXO

Monday

Ok, mommies...do you ever feel like you cannot do ANYTHING right?! Whew...taking one FIT at a time. Thanks be to God it's almost bedtime! Maybe a bit of rest will do us both good!? Thinking that my word of the year STABILITY is really being challenged! I will make it thru it, I will make it thru it, I will, I WILL! :)

Breathe

"Breathe. Let go. And remind yourself that this very moment is the only one you know you have for sure."--Oprah Winfrey

So...I FINALLY moved food into the kitchen!

For those of you who do not know, I could not put food into our kitchen and feel good about it. This move has been so difficult in more ways than one. Little did we know, this house we chose had some not so nice stuff in the kitchen. We pretty much had to tear it all out and start over. Moving forward and new cabinets, flooring, and soon the rest of it I have finally put food in there. Still not moved in all the way yet, but will be able to when the electric, sink, dishwasher, and painting are done. Little steps my friends, little steps.

Heavy on my heart

Haiti. Wow. I ordinarily stay away from the news which is why I did not know about this until day 2 due to checking one of my favorite blogs. This time I cannot stay away from the news. Normally, I cannot handle all of the bad news out there. It hurts my heart. This does too, but it so needs to be out there as much as possible because even before a major earthquake hit Haiti, they needed our help. I am sorry that I did not know about Haiti prior to the earthquakes. Yep. I said earthquakeS. They continue to happen. The one good thing that has come out of these earthquakes is that now we are all aware. Aware of their suffering and their deep need. It's only been 8 days and already the news on the major networks is starting to dwindle. 8 days my friends. We need to keep this help and information going way longer than 8 days. So, if you want to help in any way, go here for legitimate agencies. Also, the lovely Miss Rebecca Sower has a beautiful thing going right now. Go here for her blog. Go here to help directly. I am forever grateful to her for opening my eyes. Thank you Rebecca. You have blessed me and continue to impact our world everyday with your kind heart.