ten things

1. I like playing Bingo with my kids (actually Zingo - that's Bingo with a twist).
2. I love running with my Ipod.
3. There is no limit to the human imagination: J.K Rowling, Kate Dicamillo, and C.S Lewis inspire me to no end.
   
4. Happiness is a decision.
   
5. You can make artisan bread in five minutes a day.
6. Good pillows are worth the investment.
7. Pilates.
   
8. David can find even the most microscopic piece of something on the floor and then put it in his mouth.
   
9. I love the summer but I'm looking forward to fall.
   
10. The Joy of Cooking is the best cookbook. Next recipe: Deluxe Raspberry Almond Coffeecake.
    

the slowness of summer

I love the slowness of summer. There are very few places to be and even those places beat to the slower rhythm of summer. On Sundays we go to the early morning garden service, which is short and sweet. It's thirty minutes to be among friends in the cooler air and share the experience of God where it feels a bit more free-spirited and "in the moment" than our regular service.

On Tuesdays and Thursdays we go to swimming lessons where we sometimes swim and sometimes we stand on the shore and encourage the girls to brave the waves and wind. Either way we are at the beach so it's all fine (even when David eats sand and shells).

In the evening we let the kids take outdoor showers. This means no messes to clean in the bathroom and no fighting over the toys. The kids are happy. I am happy.

There's much less TV (except a good movie now and then) and at night I sit in bed and read a novel while the curtains billow in the breeze. Most of the stresses of life are the same: the girls fight, the baby is teething, the laundry is still epic (oh the towels, the towels) and I still struggle to be a patient mom all day long each and every day.

But the summer is a time of goodness. We have three birthdays and Nelson and I just celebrated our wedding anniversary. We went to Boston and sat in the spot where we first kissed watching the boats in Boston harbor and talking about our amazing children and our hopes and dreams for the future. We ate at our favorite restaurant in the North End. It was perfect. Then we drove home tired but back to the beach and the ocean that anchors us in the moment. I hope this summer of ours lasts for as long as possible.

new blog

My blog is now parked with blogger. Please excuse the redecorating!