In the quiet of the evening time, at the the end of this busy day, I am taking a minute to share an image that reflects a moment in time that I want to pause and remember.
This simple act is a reflection and practice of gratitude that helps me to stay grounded and balanced in the fullness of my days.
I encourage you to play along!
Imitation is the best form of flattery, right? How could I not be flattered when I found these images....and about 50 more... after my daughter had an opportunity to explore the garden with my camera.
My hope is that I am passing on the value of practicing gratitude to these children of mine -and I think this daughter of mine is grasping the idea that:
We can find wonder when pausing to admire the beauty of dew drops on a piece of kale.
With just the right light, a sunflower can seem magical.
By sharing an image that includes our hands or feet, can reflect how grounded, centered and grateful we feel.
Her understanding of this seems to be illustrated with the moments in time she was able to capture while on her own journey cultivating habits of gratitude.
.....and this makes my heart smile.
Oh August, a month of abundance!
This month is delivering an abundance of garden (work and harvest), preserving, gatherings with friends and family -and lots of lake time. We have been so busy, but in a full, rich and wonderful way. August, has its moments, but overall it is a wonderful time to be.
I took the whole family out back to see a couple of the blooming lady slippers that I came across on a recent walk -
and look what we found, dozens of beautiful blooming flowers!
I take this as a reminder to continue to be mindful and pay attention to the subtle changes and gifts that are present each day in my northwoods surroundings.
We have been experiencing some pretty gloomy, snowy and muddy weather this week. It is quite tempting to complain and give into the crabbies.
However, I am working with intention to find pockets of light and love amidst this all - seeking moments of sunshine that can often be overshadowed by the clouds.
Today I am sharing just some simple snapshots that reflect gratitude:
sprouts of green in my kindergarten classroom
gifts of eggs from our flock of chickens
echoes of "mama kiss!" before I head off to work
all six of us eating together around our family table
yes, there is lot's of sunshine in my life these days - clouds, snowflakes, mud and all!
We are experiencing a winter cold snap here in Northern Minnesota. With temps far below zero, it can hurt to breathe when you are outside - but the beauty of the sunshine on these cold winter days is remarkable.
So today, after school when I was tending to the chickens I decided just to linger just a little bit longer (than 5 minutes) to pause and appreciate the beauty and wonder of the outdoors that is so easy to miss on these cold, frigid days. Even if it was just a couple minutes longer - enough time to grab my camera and preserve a couple of moments through snapshots - it was a gentle reminder that I need to take more moments like this - to pause, savor and appreciate - the beauty in each new day. This is a practice I want to make more of a habit to help me stay present and grounded in the fullness of my life.
The November issue of Minnesota Parent is available on stands throughout Minnesota and online.
My school days column for this month focused on ways to inspire gratitude this Thanksgiving.
You can find "Inspiring Gratitude" through this link.
Be sure to check out all of the great content in the full issue as well.
I you are encouraged with these reminders to inspire gratitude and kindness in the life of your family.
Sharing some snapshots of my life as a personal refection, as I work to cultivate habits of gratitude in my daily life.
Let's face it, parenting is tough! Sometimes these highlight reels can keep us going!
I am sharing with you some moments from my week that filled my heart with joy and gratitude.
::above zero temps, lot's of time outdoors, time spent with grandma and grandma, a spa treat, marshmallows and campfires.::
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I encourage you to do the same! If you are so inspired, leave a comment or a link to your own post sharing something from your own life that you experienced this week(some simple or even extra-ordinary blessings) that you are grateful for.
I am going to start something new.
Every week I am going to try to share some snapshots of my life as a personal refection, as I work to cultivate habits of gratitude in my daily life.
Let's face it, parenting is tough! Sometimes these highlight reels can keep us going!
I am sharing with you some moments from my week that filled my heart with joy and gratitude.
::a tea party with my favorite five year old, a Valentine birthday girl, quiet moments at home, a very cold - but beautiful hike alone in our backwoods, time at home with the ones I love::
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I encourage you to do the same! If you are so inspired, leave a comment or a link to your own post sharing something from your own life that you experienced this week(some simple or even extra-ordinary blessings) that you are grateful for.