baby love letters

Friday Letters...Baby Love Letters 137

 

"It has been said that we need just three things in life:

Something to do,

Something to look forward to,

And someone to love." 

This week is packed with expectancy....

As dawn approached this morning I looked forward to a colorful sky. Today is the annual hot air balloon races, in our neck of the woods, and the trick is being up early enough to see them rise from the valley floor. Right now the weather is a little iffy so I am still waiting.

Lavender fields are just beginning to turn purple and I love making a yearly trip to the country to enjoy the view and the fragrance. It's always fun to share the experience with little ones who are there for the first time.

This week is packed with birthdays in our family. Double digits couldn't come soon enough for one, while to others the expectancy was in the time shared with family... and of course the cakes.

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"expectant

having or showing an excited feeing that something is about to happen, especially something pleasant and interesting"

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Happy Father's Day!

Fathers find me a bit of a pest or maybe even a nag. I have the same request of every father out there...write a letter to each of your children. Something one paragraph long that tells them the difference they have made in your life. It will only take you 15 minutes but will be one of the most cherished possessions of your child. For some reason dads feel this is mom's job...yet no mother can fill these shoes.

Thanks to each dad who takes me up on this challenge.

Happy Father's Day!

Friday Letters...Baby Love Letters 136

 

"We should all know that diversity makes for a rich tapestry, and we must understand that all the threads of the tapestry are equal in value no matter what their color."

Maya Angelou 

 

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                         Prospect, Colorado

For anyone who knows me well, colorful would not be a descriptive term for me, in language or style. Neutrals with a touch of color prevail in my home and clothing choices. Yet an experience I had in the past couple weeks was an eye opener for me. 

During a trip to Colorado I was introduced to Prospect, Colorado...a New Urbanist community. A wonderful blend of modern and traditional and yes color. I instantly drank it in and loved its incredible diversity and harmony. Me, Miss Neutral. Yet, out of nowhere I started noticing the downspouts. I know it sounds ridiculous! Here perched on some incredible architecture were cheap ordinary downspouts...what were the architects thinking??????

My field trip soon turned into a search for the ugly metal monsters. As my critical eye took over, it began wiping out the beauty, harmony and color that was all around me...focusing only on what bothered me. It showed me how a little bit of criticism can soon turn everything ugly.

I look forward to a return trip to this development (seeing with purer eyes)... for I so loved its diversity. Look, even a touch of neutral for me!

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PS A friend just added this to my facebook page and I thought readers of the blog might be interested.

I recently heard this book at school and it could really lead into a discussion about how helping others actually also helps you....
http://search.barnesandnoble.com/How-Full-Is-Your-Bucket-For-Kids/Tom-Rath/e/9781595620279/?itm=2&USRI=t

he+bucket 
 
 

Friday Letters...Baby Love Letters 135

"Don't miss all the beautiful colors of the rainbow looking for that pot of gold." 

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 The evening started as no big thing just a glance out the window to see if there was going to be any type of sunset. After a month of grayish skies, we all longed for the sun and I was out in search of even a glimpse of it. I took my one ceremonial image amongst the raindrops capturing a distant sliver of sunlight on the horizon. Setting down the camera for the evening I was soon beckoned by a feeling to stay a bit longer and watch.

A few moments later a mist rose up from the valley floor...another click of the shutter. At that instant I could see something starting to happen in front of me. That far off sliver of light was now hitting the clouds of mist all around me. It was like being in a rainbow. I turned to the side to see the above rainbow, and yet  the color inside the rainbow extended all around me. In vain I tried to capture what I was seeing ... the camera had no idea how to focus on it and neither did I. I will never be able to put into words or pictures what I saw that night...

But I did grasp a thought in that moment...we often are looking for the rainbow not realizing that we are already standing within it.

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Friday Letters...Baby Love Letters 134

 "We should come home from adventures, and perils, and discoveries every day with new experience and character."

Henry David Thoreau

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When our children were little, going out to eat was a big deal, even if only to McDonalds. It was an extra big treat if they got to go with me without having to share their mom's attention with their siblings. It has become so clear to me as I have watched our family grow, that undivided time with each other is the most precious gift or adventure we can give. Lessons, summer camps, vacations are wonderful opportunities...but moments together where each of us knows we are special to one other person in the world is priceless.

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