In Honor of a Perfect Post

I got the reminder that the Perfect Post Awards were coming up on the same day that Jen Lemen posted this gem at Shutter Sisters. Seriously, how could I not nominate it? Everything about her post is indeed perfect.

The photo alone is brilliantly captured; the image of her father’s hands speaks volumes on its own. But then Jen, in her magical way coupled it with a story that reached down and stole my heart right out from my chest.

As she celebrates her own father, I am reminded of my own. Of what makes him unique. Of what I so deeply love and appreciate about him. I am taken back to my childhood and it seems that the uncertain times, the struggles have become somewhat of a blur however, there is clarity in how he loved me…how he still does love me. That’s all that matters. Everything that came from the past has only helped to build the foundation of mutual admiration and tenderness that we stand on today. I love him so very much.

And then I think of my husband—the father of my children and how steadfast and unwavering he is in his love for them and I melt into a big sopping puddle—part little girl, part mother, part wife and I am so grateful that Jen, through the brilliance of the written word and a single photograph coaxed me into feeling all of this intense, rich gratitude today.

Be sure to visit Suburban Turmoil and Petroville for the rest of the Awardees and lots of linky love.

My Best Shot at Truthiness

Have you happened upon Sweetney's Truthiness gig? It all began with this post where she announced the Flickr group which triggered a whole movement of sorts and I've been intrigued ever since.

So, in the spirit of what another blonde, blue-eyed Tracey started, I offer nothing glamorous today, just me FIRST thing in the morning (pre-coffee no less) at my Truthiest.




If you have played along already I hope you'll leave a link to your Truthiness shot as well as whatever else that's true to you for your Best Shot Monday today. And, if you haven't shot the real you self-portrait yet, consider this a nudge to join in and reveal your Truth.

Good Morning Monday!

Enchanted

Year after year I have watched in reverie as Spring performs her annual show and somehow I am always astounded and delighted as if I had never seen it before.

Stroll & Savor

My girls and I took a long walk on Saturday evening. The three of us began with two magnifying glasses, two treasure collecting baskets and one trusty macro lens, as we ventured to discover the small wonders that Spring is awakening around our neighborhood.

Although there were many great shots of buds, bugs and blossoms, when my oldest snapped a few of me and my youngest, I knew I would be smitten. These kinds of shots remind me of how good life can be when I slow down and enjoy it, just as it is.

So, here's my Best Shot Monday (not really my shot at all but my uber-talented 10-year-olds). It's an ode to a weekend of family time and a celebration of the season. And I'd like to take that a step further and ask that you take all the Easter hope and gladness into your heart and hold it there as you read Jen Lemen's Prayer for Jenni Ballantyne. When a mother is going through what she is going through and is still brimming with love and radiating such beauty, you can't help but be inspired. She is amazing. And right about now, she could use some extra support.

Share your photos of family and love with us today as we celebrate what matters most.

Me Me Me

As I was digging around looking for a photo for Love Thursday, I read Stacy's Theme Thursday for the week and thought, hey, I love self-portraits as much as the next guy...why not head outside and click off a few? The one above is a crop of some I decided to shoot for my Love Thursday pic.

And then I figured I'd include a little list of weird things about me because I was tagged by Brown Eyed Mama for the meme. What fun! I haven't done one in a really long time so I thought I'd give it a go. Come to think of it, I may have done one like it a long time ago. Oh well, I need something to do to keep me busy while I am putting off all the stuff on my to-do list.

1. I have been taking self-portraits since I was in college.
2. I hate when my feet feel dirty.
3. I love The Grateful Dead.
4. I'm totally into self-help books (of the ethereal kind).
5. Hamburgers are my favorite food.
6. I usually learn best (although perhaps not efficiently) by making stuff up as I go along.
7. 75% of the time I shoot with my camera on automatic. And no, I don't consider it cheating.

These might not be too enthralling but 'weird' stuff isn't that easy to see in yourself. Maybe I should have asked my family to make a list for me. Or maybe not.

And to keep the meme rolling....I tag

Melody (Slurping Life)
Melody A. (the Hip Momma's Journal)
Jessica (Moving Pictures)
Sarah-Ji (shutterbug mama)
SusieJ


and I think you should have to add a self-portrait, just for fun! Melody already did one today which I might add looks a lot like mine. Too cool. Great minds Melody.

OK, I think I'm supposed to add myself to the list and have you do the same. So here it is-

The Strategist Notebook ~ Link Addiction ~ Ardour of the Heart ~ When Life Becomes a Book ~ The Malaysian Life ~ Yogatta.com ~ What goes under the sun ~ Roshidan’s Cyber Station ~ Sasha says ~ Arts of Physics ~ And the legend lives ~ My View, My Life ~ A Simple Life ~ Juliana RW ~ Mom Knows Everything ~ Beth & Cory’s Mom ~ A Mind Forever Voyaging~ enjoying the ride ~ Jennifer’s thoughts ~ Mom of 3 Girls ~ Amanda ~ Don’t Make Me Get The Flying Monkeys ~ ExPat Mom ~ Just Jessie ~ Wilson Six ~Krisitn ~ Nuttier Than You ~ Shonnte ~ Summer’s Nook ~ Laura Williams Musings ~ Sher ~ Shanda ~ Seven QTPies ~ Mel ~ Skittles ~ Lady Banana ~ Momhood Moments ~ Business Mars ~ A Simple life ~ moms….. check nyo ~ Mommy’s Little Corner ~ Pampered ~ HappyHeart ~ Make Every Day Your Lucky Day ~ Thumbelina Creations ~ Ivonnardona's Creations ~ Jewellery Craft ~ A Bead a Day~ Useless Ramblings ~Candid Yammering ~ Green Eyed Mama ~ Mother May I ~


And hey, anyone else who wants to play along, I tag you too!

Sisters (of the soul kind)

I feel grateful that I got to spend much of my Saturday with these ladies. It's amazing what a little girl time can do. Photo courtesy of my self-timer.

This is exactly what I needed to nourish my soul this weekend.

Here's to hoping you've gotten some soul food recently too...perhaps your Best Shot will tell?

A Mother's Metamorphosis

It’s no mystery that in the past few weeks there has been some touch and go moments on the motherhood home front around here. Although I haven't exactly explained it, I think my images have done the talking for me. It's been difficult to put my finger on but I can say that it hasn't been comfortable. Just when you think you’ve hit your stride, one or both of your kids will slide into some new phase and you’re caught not looking and loose your balance. Sometimes you’re left reeling only to struggle to regain composure while other times you find yourself flat on your face. You’re nodding your heads aren’t you?

In my case, for this go round at least, I think it’s time to shed some old skin I haven’t been ready to let go of yet. It makes me emotional just thinking about it. I’m not being the best mom I can be and I know better than anyone that it’s time I take some strides forward. Big ones. And as I do, I must leave what’s not working behind me. That should feel good. And I’m sure it will. But it also means forging into new, unfamiliar territory and that can be terrifying.

So, as I gather my courage to press on, I am slowly seeing my girls, my incredible daughters, for who they are, not for who I think they should be. Wow. That’s a doosie. Even in our toughest moments when we lock horns, face off, stare each other down, I know I am looking square into their strengths, and even more intimidating their individuality. They are who they are and they are not me. And thankfully, they will never be me. They will never be anyone but themselves. It may sound simple and obvious but the truth is that it feels huge to see it now with my own eyes and feel it with my own heart, that everything they are becoming is unto themselves and not unto me. That I am feeling so melancholy and even conflicted through it all must mean that I am experiencing a pretty significant motherhood rite of passage.

I am reading a book called Your Child's Strengths: Discover Them, Develop Them, Use Them by Jenifer Fox (provided by the Parent Bloggers Network) which has pretty much sparked an inferno of epiphanies for me. Although I tend to poke around books and take from them what I feel I need to learn-that’s one of my strengths I guess-by reading through the pages of the book, I have been inspired to better appreciate my girls for who they are. I want to learn how to focus on their strengths and discover the innate, unique gifts they carry, savoring both the sweet and salty of what they bring to the banquet table of life. It just might be the biggest challenge to date but I know it’s worth any discomfort I feel as I stretch from this tight motherhood cocoon into a lovely winged creature with the grace and courage enough to share the endless sky with my butterfly girls.

Do you have a shot to share today that makes your heart want to take flight?

Say Cheese

Happy Love Thursday.

My Best Shot of Me (behind the camera, of course)

Recently, I was asked to shoot a self-portrait for a project that a good friend is working on. Although this shot isn't the one I gave her, it is one of my favorites from my little self-portrait session. I love off beat the texture in the shot (see noise all on the right side of the image). The trick? I shot it into a beloved antique mirror. The age of the glass can be seen in the photo and was nicely highlighted by the sunlight beaming in. It gives it kind of a funky nostalgic feel.



I think I like it mostly because I've been feeling a little funky lately...like maybe I'm going through my own little personal growth spurt. Those can be kinda weird. Good, but weird. This shot conveys the strangeness I have been feeling; a little melancholy, a little blue and a lot moody. I'll get through it, I always do. But for now. I have to just sit with the funkiness, reflect on it and then bid it 'good day'.

All that just to ask you, what kind of reflection does your best shot offer today?

Not Just Another Pretty Sunset

Today is Love Thursday at Shutter Sisters and I have had my photo ready since last week! But before I posted it here, I read Karen's post and it stirred up a recent memory worth sharing. Again, tying in The Land of Ka's Theme, Memory- talk about synchronicity.

A few weeks ago on my way to scoop up my daughters from Grandma's house, the sunset beckoned me to to pull my car over to admire it's blaze (yes, this luxury is exactly why I choose to live on the Pacific Ocean). I had my camera with me too--imagine that!

As I sat there enjoying the last sweet moments of the day, two young boys raced up to the fence down the way from me. Their Dad soon followed. As the sun was sharing it's tiniest last light, the boys were listening to their big teddy bear of a Dad call out to the sun, "Good-bye Mr. Sun!"
The boys echoed his words. And then he said something that will always stay with me...

"Thank you for the day Mr. Sun!"

And the boys, learning an invaluable lesson of love and gratitude sang back together, "Thank you for the day!"

The sun bowed in appreciation and then quickly melted as did my heart.

Rainy Days and Mondays

Let's just say some days are better than others. Such is life as a parent. With all the wonder and magic that a 4-year-old can bring, the flip side can be brutal. I feel tested beyond my limits as a mother. It's emotional and exhausting.

Something about this photo says it all. And then some. I take a little comfort knowing that one day I will look back at all of this and laugh. Or cry.

What sentiment does your best shot stir up?

One Tween for Two Themes

Since I'm totally obsessed with textures, I was thrilled that Theme Thursday at The Land of Ka was, what else, textures. Yay! And let me tell you, she's posted a great tutorial on the subject over there too.

And then of course I read Karen's Love Thursday post at Shutter Sisters and it stirred up so much motherly love within me that I couldn't resist sharing a recent shot of my oldest daughter for Love Thursday. And I thought I'd give it a little extra love and attention with one of NinianLifs textures. NinianLifs got some incredible stuff to play with.

So, as Karen's story runs through my head, I offer this image of my blossoming tween and I am recalling a day back when she was 18 months old when for a split second I thought I might lose her (long, exhausting story). That memory alone is all it takes to flood me with gratitude, appreciation, joy, and love love love for her and everything her independent adolescent attitude can dish up.



Just a little dose of motherhood perspective and it's all good. It's all good.

Bloomin' Best Shot Monday

Lately, I have been longing for color. I don't know how else to say it. It's just that simple.

I do appreciate this time of year when living things go dormant, hiding themselves as they prepare for their grand re-entry into the warmth but I am finding myself in need of a bright vibrant splash of life-of true color in all it's glory.

I was going to buy myself some flowers but I waited until Valentine's Day in hopes that I would get something colorful. I was lucky enough to receive beautiful, deep red roses but still...the ache. What I need is the outdoors to begin the slow and steady revealing of spring's bounty.

And just in time, the little signs have started. And I have had to do nothing to bring it about but sit and wait. I'm giddy. Spring will be here before we know it.



Can you feel it?

Have any of the shots you captured lately left you giddy, feeling like hope is restored and that everything is as it should be?

Wake Up Call

Happy Best Shot Monday!

On most mornings when I am shuffling around, trying to get out of the house to start the daily rounds, my girls run ahead to decorate the car windows with messages and pictures.



I wanted to share this with you today because I found it especially charming!

So...what shot brightens your day?

Hey Mom! Happy Birthday. Hope you have a HAPPY day. : )

Froose

My youngest daughter is a juice kid. I know, I know. It's not good to give kids too much juice. Even still, she loooooves her juice. And since she's a bit of a "sugar-hound", I have had my work cut out for me as far as the daily battle of getting her to eat right. ANY new product I come across that might make my plight a little easier is worth a try.

Enter Froose; the innovative new beverage for children that combines the best of organic whole grains and fruit to make a delicious and nutritious alternative to juice that is naturally low in sugar and a good source of fiber. Now, that's what I'm talking about.



If you're like me, you'll be happy to know that Froose is packaged in the ever convenient and oh-so-alluring jucie box-- environmentally friendly aseptic juice boxes to be exact. Coooool. That means, my daughter is getting the goods but she feels like she's getting a special treat too. And she is! Froose is a special treat. It goes way beyond just juice as it's made with whole grains and is sweetened with 100% fruit concentrates and organic brown rice syrup. This is the part about it that I LOVE..."Organic brown rice syrup is a very nutritive sweetener and delivers mainly complex carbohydrates rather than simple sugars. The combination of organic whole grains and brown rice syrup help prevent 'sugar spikes' often associated with fruit juices". Who knew? I sure didn't, but I am sure glad I do now.

Needless to say, Froose is a big hit with me and my four-year-old. I'm relieved that it got her seal of approval. My ten-year-old was excited to check it out too but the texture did not float her boat. You gotta figure that if you've got a beverage that's full of all that good stuff, it's not going to be a thin juice...it's going to be more like a smoothie. So, a word to those with older, more finicky children--when you give it a try, just bill it as a smoothie and you'll be good to go. The beauty of having a drink that packs a nutricious punch like this is that can be a snack in it's own right and I feel good about that.

I'm delighted to know that someone is finally offering a healthy drink alternative for our kids. Three cheers for Froose.

Edited to add--This review was written for MomCentral.

Love and Loss (almost)

We almost lost her today. Almost.

We've spent eighteen years together. That's a long time to have a cat like companion as a part of your everyday life. And a lot of Love. When she does have to leave us, we will miss her terribly. Just like we miss her mother and her sister. I felt that ache of loss today and it hurts.

I will be spending this Love Thursday loving a big black cat like there's no tomorrow.

Got Dirt?

There's a CleanWell photo contest going on at Shutter Sisters!



It's a dirty world. Go out and enjoy it.

Take lots of pictures.

And enter the contest!

Monday's Gifts

The other night while sitting at a bountiful table of full glasses, incredible women and glowing candles I helped celebrate a dear friend’s birthday. While thoroughly enjoying the camaraderie and lively conversation I was reminded that love and kindness come in many shapes and sizes. This particular evening they came in the form of twinkle lights and paper flowers. And birthday cake. But it was the vision of all the delicate flowers that has lingered. Handmade by one of the talented and generous women there, each flower bloomed out of love. I covet the one I brought home as it allows me to relive an evening cloaked in the beauty of caring.



Although perhaps a little less poetic, sometimes kindness can come in the shape of palm sized pink rectangles. I hope that the very deserving children who receive the DS Lites from Nintendo will feel that they are cared for. I know it takes more than a gift but a little extra something special can be a bright spot. Although I had at first planned on sharing details and links about these kids, I thought better of it and felt that discretion felt a little more appropriate The stories that you so bravely shared were intimate enough to just hold close. But, I will tell you though that the gifts went to very good homes. Thank you all so much for participating. I wish I had a truckload of DS Lites to give away as every one of the children you shared with me IS deserving and worthy. That is for sure. So, again, thank you.

And in the spirit of all things bright and beautiful, let me ask you, what shape does your Best Shot take this week?

Monday...

...enough said.

What picture can talk for you today?

It Must Be Love

Oh baby, I have been waiting for this for weeks!