Capturing Life and Chasing Zen

On the way to bring Cy to a sleepover, the sun was setting. And my girls both noticed the beauty. Cy said, "Mom, look. Do you have your camera?" I did. I parked the van and the girls couldn't get out fast enough. They know that every minute counts when you are trying to capture a sunset with your camera.  

This is what I captured. 

It's beautiful. I never tire of sunsets. 

While I was taking shots, my girls were taking their own. 

Seeing them trying to get sunset pictures with their phone cameras was better to me than the actual sunset.

I love that they noticed the sunset in the first place. And I love that they wanted to stop and savor it.

Sigh. :)

missing out

 

If I could say it any better, I would:

http://zenhabits.net/miss/

 

 

the years are short

Go watch this video. I love it. It says it all. 

http://www.theyearsareshort.com/

catching myself again

One day recently, I caught myself. Doing that thing that we all do. I was living in the future instead of the present.

It's very embarrassing, really...what I was doing. But I will share this with you, anyway. It is real, after all.

My grandmother (whom I love dearly & don't see very often) was talking to me. And I was thinking about the future. I was thinking about how I was missing playing board games outside with the rest of the family. I was thinking about where I had laid down my cup. I was thinking about what time it was and wondering what time we should get on the road to head home.  

And then...

I caught myself.

And I focused on her eyes and the way she made her facial expressions. And how she moved her beautiful hands which she doesn't like because they are wrinkled and have "liver spots" on them. And everything else faded away. I was in the present moment, listening to her. And my ego stopped telling me that I had more important or more fun things to do.

I was right where I needed to be.

fifth grade

 

 

 

 

I was so glad that I got to take pictures of her before I had to head to work. She picked out all of her accessories by herself.  :)

The whole way to work, I kept thinking about how it is so very true how quickly time passes.

eighth grade

   

 

 

 

 

I went outside with my scrubs on, wet hair and bare feet to get some shots of her before the bus came. I was a little worried that she would ask me not to. But, she didn't. I asked her if it was ok and she let me do my thing.  For that, I am grateful.

uugh

I edited pics and wrote a post yesterday about school starting and it is gone. The computer locked up while I was finishing up.

I will start again.

And breathe. :) 

bedroom retreat

More images from the bedroom retreat. 

  

 

 

 

 

 

 

home project

So, lately...

I am still hanging on to the end of the kite.

I sometimes feel like our lives are like kites. Steady, sometimes. All over the place, sometimes. And you can try to make the kite go where you want. But there are times that the wind does its own thing and you just have to hold on. Ya know?

This Summer, I took on a home project. I decided to redo the spare bedroom and make it my very own getaway. A place where I can go to journal, blog, read, edit pictures in bed, pray, rest, watch the sunset, etc. It has taken up a good bit of my "extra" time since I work full-time and on the weekends, there is always the usual laundry, cleaning, etc. But I am excited to say that the room is coming along nicely. I needed a retreat. And this room has fit the bill. :)

I painted the room a light turquoise. I love the color!

 

I'll share more pics of the color later. I have some on my phone and need to sync them to the computer.

After the room was dry, the girls and I took a self portrait with the dogs. I loved how the light was coming through the windows and wanted a black & white. The dogs were not very cooperative, but this is what we got. :)

 
 

I'm sure you're wondering about the closet. One of the doors broke when the kids were using this room as a playroom and were rough with the door. Thank God it didn't break while anyone was in the room! Anyway, the door is staying, but will be covered. Going to hang a curtain rod from above the closet and have white panels of fabric hanging down so you can't see the closet door or into the closet. My Mom is making the panels for me. I will show some pics after they are up. The glass panel on the door is being reglued so I don't have to worry about it coming down like the other one did.

I am really excited that the room is finally starting to come together.  It's taking much longer than I'd hoped, but slow & steady wins the race, right? That's how life works. You make plans and life happens. :) 

So, that's where I've been spending most of my "extra" time. 

 

because i love it so

Just wanted to post this shot because I love it so.