'Keep It Simple' Manifesto

My gals went back to school this week. It's hard to believe the summer passed by so quickly. We spent it just as we wished, with lots of time in the pool, at the beach, playing with friends and even some camp thrown in. We explored the natural world around us with weekly "camp mom" themes ranging from reptiles to wildflowers to the sun & moon. I blogged about very little of it, as we were too busy having fun. Long, lazy days... we will miss your simplicity and sweetness for months to come.

So, now we're working on our back-to-school rhythm. I've posted a sign to help facilitate smooth morning routines... I've posted a chore chart to help facilitate easy dinner times... I've made myself a bazillion lists to try and organize my time among family, household, garden, writing assignments, creative projects, and part-time work at my husband's business... I'm waking early to squeeze in some exercise before my morning "bus route"... And I'm calmly and patiently trying to keep it all straight; to get back in the groove.

Calmly and patiently are relative terms, as I tend to lean more toward high-strung and slightly neurotic. In fact, the last sentence above is really more of an affirmation than a declaration of truth. Nonetheless, it is my intention right now, to be calm and patient. I want, if I can, to hold on to a bit of the simplicity of summer as we dive into the craziness of fall.

And so, here is my Keep it Simple Manifesto (to-date):

• I will say NO to more commitments and YES to less.
• I will expect LESS of myself whenever it is a reasonable option.
• I will ACCEPT less-than-perfect situations for what they are and not make myself crazy trying to fix them.
• I will set clear BOUNDARIES for myself and my family.
• I will BREATHE more and do less.

What about you... how do you keep it simple in this season of change? I'd love to know!

*Note: I can't get images to accompany this post for a host of technical reasons too boring to list... But I am calm & patient about it. I accept my less-than-perfect, pictureless post for what is is. I hope you will too!

Through the Filter, Part I

I have a new thing I'm doing. I call it "putting it through the filter."

It started with this year's treasure map. I just love all the images and words I artfully and thoughtfully placed upon it to guide me in every aspect of my life. Through the process of filling my treasure map, I gained clarity in who I want to be, and what I want to create and manifest. I developed a deeper insight into what I'm most grateful for, where my priorities lie and all the opportunities for gratitude that surround me.

During this process, I also began reading Organized Simplicity. As suggested in the book, Daddy Bird and I created a family purpose statement that details who we are as a family, it reflects how we wish to live. Our statement outlines what we value, our priorities and our guiding principles. I also created a family budget, based on the suggestions in Organized Simplicity. Believe it or not, I have never in my life operated on a budget. It's changing my life, putting me in control and relieving so much unnecessary stress over money. (Thank you Simple Mom!)
So back to the "filter thing"... Before long, I found I was putting everything through the filter of my treasure map ideals, our family purpose statement and the budget. How I spend my personal time reflects what's on my treasure map... I'm reading, journal writing, gardening and exploring new creative outlets. Our family time goes through the filter too... is an activity or commitment in line with our purpose statement? ...is it within our means? ...does it support our authentic selves? How I spend our money, what I bring into my home, what I put into my body... everything is going through the filter.

And it's really working for me! I find I have more time in every day. How is this possible? Because my days are primarily filled with only the things I want to be there. I'm enjoying the moments, experiencing less stress, and feeling like there is, in fact, time to fit it all in. I do have a smidgen of control. I do have the power to create the life I want.

"Putting it through the filter" is an exercise in mindfulness. It is also an exercise in intention and attention. And it's spurred a second part to this process that I'm currently working on. I'll share it here soon!

Animal Spirit Energies

Ancient Native Americans believed all animals had healing or inspirational power. I was thinking of this last week while walking over The Ringling Causeway Bridge with a couple of friends. After chatting it up on the way over the bridge, we decided our walk back would be silent.
(*I did not take this image.)
As we began our ascent, I spotted two dolphins out in the distance in the water. Their fins bobbed up and down in the bay, which was sparkling gloriously in the sunlight. I continued to watch them as they came closer to the bridge; and when I reached the highest point they were right below me, swimming under the bridge in a fluid, graceful up and down movement. I was charmed by their majesty and beauty. Later, I looked up the spirit energy of dolphins: joyful harmony, use of breath, and the power of rhythm. Yes!
A few days later, a black cat entered my life. She lives across the street, but has taken a liking to my back yard. We have a small decorative pond that she likes to sit next to. She rolls in the dirt in the garden. And yesterday, she found her way onto our back deck where she crouched by the pool and playfully dipped her paws into the water. She is back this morning, keeping me company as I write. I looked up cat spirit powers: curiosity, independence and healing. Apparently, a cat's energy field rotates in a counterclockwise direction, opposite of the human energy field. This allows it to absorb and neutralize negative energies for humans. Yes again!
One day, I noticed a turtle basking in the sun in my backyard: love & protection, healing and knowledge. We've been hatching and releasing monarch butterflies that now live in our butterfly garden: transformation, balance, grace.

I'm so comforted in all the powerful healing and inspirational energy that surrounds me in nature. Noticing, and honoring, animals as they appear in my world has become a wonderful practice of mindfulness. So I ask you, what animals have visited you lately?

The First Harvest Meal

Our little backyard garden is starting to produce. We ate our first meal from a small harvest this week. We had bowtie pasta tossed with pesto made from our basil, and topped with home-grown tomatoes, yellow peppers and green onions (as well as some leftover peas, kalamata olives and feta cheese). On the side was tender spring lettuce, grown in a pot on my deck, and fresh Florida-grown corn (not by me) with cilantro from our herb garden. It was one of the best meals I ever ate. Really.

An extra bonus, two of the three little mouths I was feeding gobbled up every last bite of that pesto pasta... the other ate tender lettuce leaves by the handful. This is progress for my picky eaters. Big time.

Growing your own food rocks!

A Return to Shell Beach

Earth Day was the perfect day for our clan's seasonal return to our beloved Shell Beach. Mother Nature was out in full force, offering up a perfect selection of sea life for the kids to explore in her honor.

They quickly set up an impromptu "touch tank area" with beach buckets housing a sea urchin, a hermit crab in a whelk shell, a non-stinging jelly fish, some presumed plankton and some snails - all found in and around the crystal-clear Gulf waters.

Mid afternoon, we all took a walk down the beach, collecting odds and ends of trash to help beautify "our place" in nature. Most all of our children began coming to this beach within weeks of their births, so their attachment to it is strong. As it is for us mamas, who have raised our babes together here upon this shore, strengthening the bond of our sisterhood while soaking in the sun. So happy to be back!

Lighten Up

My intention for the month - and the year - is to lighten up. I stated it with confidence at my January new moon circle. I set it with purpose, knowing I've been too tightly wound, handling responsibilities with too much seriousness, operating too short on humor and lacking in the lightness of being that would allow me to move through these often trying times with grace. I boldly put my intention out to the universe and here is what happened...

- I got sick. again. And so did most of the people I care for in my six-person household. again.

- I became even more tightly wound and increasingly irritable.

- I became acutely aware of the weight of life bearing down on me.

- I became reacquainted with my old friends insomnia and anxiety.

You know that feeling you get when you're uptight and someone suggests you relax? It's a mix of defensiveness, stubbornness and helplessness that just makes you even more tense. Well, I've felt as if I received a great universal "relax." In return, I've been pushing back, embracing resistance and remaining solidly on edge.

Last night was the full moon, a time when intentions set for the month should start to materialize. But I felt heavier than ever, run down from consecutive illnesses and a course of antibiotics, drained from excessive care taking for the people I love. Exhausted but unable to sleep, coughing, restless and agitated, I looked out my bedroom window at the full moon, hoping for an answer. Nothing.

But this morning, when I shook off the grogginess of a (finally) drug-induced sleep, it was there, sitting in my mind ready to be discovered. One single word, gently rolling around, whispering its name: surrender. A beam of clarity pushed through the darkness.

With a bit of relief I realize I already know this path... the one of least resistance. The one where I practice letting go. Accepting. Being in the moment. I've walked this way before, many times. And I'm pretty sure, with some concentrated attention and a lot of patience, I can find my way back.

Honoring the 12 Days of Christmas

As we readied for bed on Christmas Day, Sage whispered to me "I wish it was still Christmas." I assured her it still was, but she replied, "No, it's dark now." I knew there would be some letdown after the big day, no matter how gently I tried to ease my girls in and out of it this year. So I shared with them that Christmas was, in fact, not over. I told them how it extended for 12 days and assured them we would continue to enjoy all we had created this holiday season for many days to come. I let them know the tree and decorations would stay up a while longer. And that we would keep trying to eat through the gingerbread house and the wealth of cookies we baked on Christmas Eve. We would spend lots of time together huddled in front of the fire, playing with our new toys, reading our new books, and enjoying each other's company. And we would be visiting with more friends and more family. They went to sleep content in these thoughts.

And so yesterday, the day after Christmas, we all stayed in pajamas all day, snuggled by a fire that roared from dawn to bedtime. We ate cookies and leftovers from our Christmas feast. The grownups enjoyed eggnog we forgot on Christmas Day. I read and knitted and the girls played with a new fairy house and created with new art supplies. We went for a short winter walk to gather a few items for the nature table and to feel the nip of the cold wind. And sometime toward the end of the day, Selby said to me, "It still feels like Christmas... like it has been one long day." I felt it too. For the 12 Days of Christmas, we won't be exchanging any gifts, or celebrating any specific days. We are simply and gently honoring this special time with a lot of togetherness, reflection and appreciation for all the wonder the holiday season has held. Merry Christmas!

On Peace & Relaxation

The focus of our family Advent devotion for the week is peace. When we gathered around the table to light our Advent wreath candles on Sunday, I asked for thoughts on what peace is. My oldest gal shared: "peace is calmness, like a nice wind." Yes! We talked about being calm in our hearts and working to find individual moments of peace throughout the week. We also set a group intention to peaceful and cooperative with one another.

Personally, I've focused my attention on trying (and I stress trying) to relax. It seems I don't ever hold still anymore; I go and go all day until I collapse at night. And when there has been no moments of quiet, no relaxation all day, when my head finally hits the pillow, my mind keeps on turning. This is not good. I read something recently where a mother shared that while she was an excellent model of efficiency and productivity for her children, she was a poor model of relaxation. This struck a chord in me. So, for my December peace intention, as part of the Piece Together Peace project , I'm reclaiming relaxation. I can't think of a better time than right now to cozy up and slow down. I'm gathering some books for pure pleasure, pulling out my knitting, stocking up on firewood and bringing out the tea kettle! What are your favorite ways to relax? (I'm open to ideas!)

**I missed posting & reporting on my November peace intention, which was to practice acceptance (mainly to counteract a resistance that was growing within me, creating chaos and robbing me of vital energy). I did a lot of work on this, releasing judgement and resistance in many stuck areas of my life. It was a great practice in mindfulness, and has definitely brought more peace to my world. **

Welcoming Advent :: Hope

God grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, the courage to change the things I can, and the wisdom to know the difference.

This is the first year we are honoring the Christmas season with a family Advent devotion. We began our preparation yesterday by making an Advent wreath. For the greenery, I chose to use Magnolia leaves from a tree in our yard; they offer the traditional representation of continuous life, as well as reflect our personal environment.

Tonight we will light the first purple candle on the wreath, which represents HOPE. I've thought a lot about how to share the concept of hope with the girls. I want them to learn that it can mean something more than "I hope I get a Pillow Pet for Christmas." I wish to share with them that hope allows one to dwell on the best possibilities. That it is an aspect of living positively. Hope allows one to let go and let things unfold in their own time. It offers courage when facing the unknown and determination to keep going in the face of challenges. I don't know how much of this the girls will or can understand at ages 6 and 3. If nothing more, I believe it will begin to lay a foundation for this basic tenet of spirituality.

How do you honor the Advent season in your home and with your children?

Give Thanks

"All I Really Need,

is a Song in my Heart,

Food in my Belly,

and Love in my Family."

- Raffi

Give Thanks Banner Tutorial

October Peace Intention

When I read about the Piece Together Peace project on Threading Light, I knew I wanted to be a part of it. But with chaos heavy upon me, like a dense morning fog, I knew not where to begin. I searched for a point of clarity, a beam of light in the dark, and it finally appeared. The message I received was simple: start at the beginning - start within. And so it is, my October peace intention is a straightforward commitment to live with a constant, calm heart. To find peace in the sanctuary within me. To help me along this path, I'm committing to meditate every day. Even if it is just for one minute, I intend to sit quietly, to breathe deeply, to feel peace in my heart, and to fill my body with light. From here, perhaps, I can begin to transform, to create something new... to piece together peace in my world, and the world around me.

Before 9am

Three mornings a week, my littlest chick goes to preschool. With about 45 minutes of idle time between her big sister's drop off and hers, Sage and I have been in search of a way to spend our early-mornings together. Inspired by my dear friend over at Snip and Snail, and enticed by slightly cooler morning weather, we headed for a local park today.

With the playground all to herself, my gal explored happily amongst the "pom pom" (also known as palm) trees while I sipped my coffee and soaked in the morning sun.

We took a short walk over to a dock on the water, greeting morning glories along the path. There, we sat together and watched the sun dance on the water. We listened to the birds singing away. We welcomed a gentle breeze.

And I'm pretty sure we both felt how very blessed we are. Happy Friday to all!

So Long, Sea Treasures

It's about time to clear the summer nature table and make way for Autumn. And as ready as I am to see pumpkins, fall leaves, pinecones and acorns grace our space... it's hard to say goodbye to our summer treasures.

Farewell seashells, driftwood and seagrape leaves. See you next summer sea sponges, coral and oyster shells.

Beautiful feathers, we'll keep you around; I simply can not bear to see you go yet.

What's your nature table full of on these final days of summer?

Adapting to Change

a.dapt (verb) :: to become adjusted to new conditions

While driving the kids to school yesterday, I saw this tree, growing all sideways and crazy-like through a hole cut in a fence. After I dropped the kids off, I actually went back to look at it again. Like a good blogger, I slowed down, rolled down the window and snapped a few pictures with my phone. Please don't think me crazy, but this tree was speaking to me.
It had a message for me about adapting to one's environment. See how the homeowners adapted their fence to accommodate a tree in the way? And notice how the tree adapted to the fence and changed its course of growth. Hmmm... pretty big stuff for a simple suburban tree! There is a lot of change going on in my home right now that requires huge amounts of adaptation. I need to be the fence (to open up and allow something to coexist peacefully in my space) as well as the tree (to recognize a new path opening for me and change my course of growth accordingly).

Also - now stay with me here if you can - this tree presented me with a clear image of an intention I'm trying to hold. It's an intent to break through the obstacles and change I'm facing to see what's on the other side of the fence. I have no idea what it looks like over there, what paths will unfold, what possibilities are waiting...

I know all of this is a little crazy, getting these deep messages from some random stranger's wonky fence and tree (I didn't actually hear the tree speak, in case you're worried). But I love the reminder that the answers we seek are everywhere, offering reminders and providing direction like signposts on our path. We just have to pay attention...

Another Trip Around the Sun

It was blissfully cooler yesterday morning, so I did my yoga on the back porch. It felt so good to stretch and center myself outdoors. I could hear the birds singing; the sun sparkled on the water; an easy breeze gently moved the trees. Peace!

Sage and I spent the early part of the day at Shell Beach with the mamas and just the little ones, since school is back in session. It was so quiet; the water was like a sheet of glass; and the sky stretched blue forever. Bliss!

Did I mention it was my birthday? After school, the kids & DaddyBird threw me a little party complete with streamers, games, and a sparkly Birthday Princess crown. It kind of felt like I was turning 6 instead of 36. Joy!

So it was perfectly fitting that my gift was a shiny, new pink cruiser - a wish that has graced my treasure map for a year and a half. Yippee! I am one lucky mama, for sure.

Late-August Nature Walk

"I believe there is a subtle magnetism in Nature, which, if we unconsciously yield to it, will direct us aright." - Henry David Thoreau

Summer Blooms

As the temperature climbs outside, so it seems does the energy level of my little ones. Our summer break is near the end, with school starting up again a week from Monday. These last days of summer have been busy, packed half full of fun and the other half mere survival. We jump from pool to beach to any place with cool-running air conditioning. The girls cycle randomly from lazy, too-hot-to-move slumps, to crazy, solar-powered outbursts. It's erratic and exhilarating and exhausting. And I've finally hit that point I do every August, the very pit of summer in Florida, where I am done.

Since I have to keep going anyway, I've been putting my attention on all the "seeds" we planted this summer, literally and figuratively, that have started to sprout or bloom.

• The sunflowers we planted in June are blooming.
• My pantry is stocked with fresh preserves, canned tomatoes & sauce; my freezer is full of fresh corn from the cob, sundried tomatoes, blueberries & strawberries.
• I've been inspired to write again and have an article scheduled to be published this Fall.
• The tadpoles in our pond are growing, changing, becoming something new... just like my little girls, with one exercising new reading & swimming skills, and one almost completely potty trained.

As these sun-soaked days of summer start to wind up, I can feel my mind starting to shift toward fall. I'm thinking about baking bread and candlemaking. Bike rides and journaling. Handmade gifts and organizational systems. I can sense the winds of change on the horizon... and right now, any wind would suit me just fine!

{This Moment :: Fancy Dinner Night}

A simple, extraordinary moment to savor. Inspired by SouleMama.

Summer School :: Seashells

As a young girl, one of my family's favorite pastimes was to go shelling on our Florida shores. We combed Jacksonville beach regularly during a time when it was being dredged and the shells were amazingly abundant. We vacationed and camped on the beaches of Fort Meyers, Sanibel & Captiva, Siesta Key, Key Largo and Marco Island, and collected shells from each one.

However, as I got older and shelling was no longer the highlight of family vacations, I forgot about the magic of our collection. My mother did not; she kept them all. A few years back, I discovered the plastic tub full of "old shells" when helping my parents with a move. And I teased my mom over her collection, completely forgetting my part in it. But two weeks ago, as I began a seashell unit as part of my girls' summer school-at-home curriculum, I remembered that old bin of shells. And sheepishly, I asked if we could have a few for art projects.

As I dug through the mass of shells, memories came rushing back to me. Memories of my mother, my sister, family trips. I knew each of these treasures intimately, I remembered the thrill of finding them in the sand and surf. I recalled the fun of learning their delightful names, like sharks eyes, kittens paws and turkey wings. I remembered the way shells like jingles, olives and slippers sparked my childhood imagination. I looked my mother straight in the eye and apologized for ridiculing "her" collection. And then I asked to bring them home.

Over the past two weeks, I've sat with my girls on a sheet spread out on the floor, covered in my family shell collection. I've watched as they discovered and explored each shell for themselves. We've sorted them into piles and relearned their names. We've painted some...

...and made some into shell creatures.

We've glued them on picture frames and made plans for more and more projects.

Our nature table and project spaces are covered in shells.

And for the first time in the years I've been visiting Shell Beach with my gals, I took them on an official shelling walk. The shells we found weren't the beauties that graced the beaches of my childhood. But they held their own charm and delighted my treasure seekers. And that old, familiar magic of the hunt was alive, filling the salty air and feeding the soul of two young girls, and one still young at heart.

Thank you, Mother.... I am eternally grateful for all you have shared and preserved, and all you continue to teach me.