the best thing

about turning 40, or being alive for that matter, is my little family. How I adore them. This seaweed sign says it all. How lucky am I?

xo

A-

its 39....

riding into the sunset! Hello to a new decade!

happy birthday to me!

I am turning 40. I suppose it isn't a big deal. It is just a number. However, it is a BIG number. I suspect what gives me pause is that whole "mid life" crisis thing. Yes, mortality looms larger as your age gets higher. There are some concerns...like "i'm too old to join the CIA and have the secret spy double life I've always wanted!" Silly me. I still feel like the world is my oyster and anything is possible. It is, I just run a little slower to the ice cream truck than I used to. Anywho, when I look at all I've done, the places I've been, my wonderful daughters, my fantastic husband, its been a wonderful ride. I would just like to have a whole lot more of it! So, in the end, I embrace the age, and who I am. So cheers to 40!

xo

A-

laundry...

why are you never done? Any why, skinny jeans, do you taunt me so? You need pliers to turn those things right side out. Yesterday it was onesies, today skinny jeans, tomorrow....well, tomorrow they will be gone. So I need to enjoy even this!

laundry...

why are you never done? my heartfelt sympathies to people that have more than 2 daughters...who wear 5 outfits each day. And those skinny jeans? Don't even get me started. Those things need pliers to turn right side out. Is it fair for me to expect the girls to do that themselves? The joys of motherhood. Yesterday it was onesies, today its skinny jeans. Tommorrow, they will be gone. I need to enjoy even this!

intention

is the key. set the intention and then launch yourself off into the world. you might be surprised with what you find. I was!

the sound of silence

this morning, all I hear is the rain on the roof. the kids are off to school, brook is off to work, the dog sleeps at my feet. its a lovely feeling, sitting in silence. i try to breathe deep and not think about the stack of work on my desk, or the impending classes that i need to have assignments ready for. as i look out my window i see birds flitting quickly from branch to branch, the green of pine boughs and the dynamic cloudy sky. on my windowsil, an abalone shell reminds me of the beach. pens are still. i am still.

confluence

what do you think of when you hear the word "confluence"? It's actually the flowing or running together or junction of two rivers. The Latin root means "the act of flowing together". I've been pondering all the confluences in my life lately, and thinking specifically of starting a small business using all my skills. (ninja skills, karate skills, etc.) I might be on to something good! I'm excited about the future and what it might bring.

"we carry what is hidden as a gift to others"

today...

i got paid to take a standardized test. How weird is that?