this week has been good.  just down right GOOD.

jolie came into town from portland to play with us in prep for her Jeopardy! audition, which she totally aced.  she knitted while kids climbed all over her, G instantly adopted her as her new best friend forever.  having her here was a total gift for me, so grateful for amazing women in my life.  if you get the opportunity, ask jolie to tell you a few stories of her life. she is funny, intuitive, kind, wicked smart and completely truthful. she should be a professional story teller, to go along with being a professional artist.

this week was also full of warmth, both outside as spring began to peek out and our trampoline got some much needed lovings. as well as inside, in my now working oven.

• we are in the middle of "hello, kitty" madness.  last week she neeeeeeeded to have her face painted like hello kitty.  for all the prep work on my part, i was afraid she'd have it off in seconds.  but it lasted through 2 stores and an afternoon of play.  although by the end she looked more like an emo panda than a kitty.
• my FIL gave me a plant that i have yet to kill.  this little amarillys didn't bloom, but it's not dead! win!
• it's finally sunny and warmish today, my heart is so ready for spring.  H just giggled with joy when she realized we could play outside today.  my heart's not the only one ready for spring.
• i've had two really awesome experiences with each of my parents this weekend.  feeling forgiveness and love on both sides.
• conversation with G: "i'm going to have nineteen kids! but not all at once, one at a time."  "oh wow G, that's a LOT of kids!  do you want to be something as well as a mama? like, i'm an artist and a mama..."  "yeah! i'll be a ninja!"
• i've forgotten what preschoolers are like,  we are having so much fun now.
• we had a tree frog. for a day.  hoping the next one will be heartier, he seriously was the CUTEST THING i have EVER seen, and with kids like these i'm kinda an expert on cute.  my daughter was more put out by the fact that her frog died than saddened by it. i was sad. and cried.
• my FIL is here for E's birthday celebrations (HAPPY BIRTHDAY E!)  and of course he has his dog here.  the kids have spent the past few days dressing up a farm dog. what a patient dog to wear scarfs and bunny ears.
• i have a working oven!  praises be!  i'm now crippled with indecision as to what to bake first.  it's been two years of wonky heating issues and complete laziness in finding a replacement.  turns out it just needed a tiny part to be back on the road.  i'm choosing elation over bitterness. haha.
• spent saturday at the park in inches of snow, it was like a calvin and hobbs snowday.
• i've struggled so much with feelings of shame from my decision to leave the church.  fear that those i love within the church will reject me if our theology no longer matches.  my heart has been calmed substantionally in this regard and a complete peace and forgiveness for everything has flowed in my life. 
• in yoga we focus on stamina, holding each pose until you feel your muscles begin to give out. it's in that moment that my teacher reminds us, "when you feel you can go NO longer, come back to your breath, take another and realize you can continue on." aint that the truth?
• loosing my focus today, keep getting caught up in awesome conversations and truth telling, but it's doing nothing for my dishes.
• my laundry is clean, the kids baskets overflowin...g with stink-free clothes. i wasn't supposed to actually put their clothes IN their drawers, right?
• awrooooo!
  

i'm feeling such love in and for my life.  i am a blessed woman.  i have a choice over what i'll be eating tonight.  i have a home that is big enough for my family.  i have a backyard that's perfect for childhood explorations, for garden plans, for a rope swing and hammock.  i have these contraptions that wash my clothes for me.  i have these little faces with giant brown eyes that love me and love each other.  i have a husband who sees and has experienced all of my ugliness... but still manages to choose to see beauty and love.  i have friends who understand the softness of my heart and who encourage me in my life.  i have the ability to express myself through paint, photography, words and song.  i am blessed.

on the days that prove to be exhausting, my patience worn thin

it really does help to pull out a 50mm

and marvel at their beauty

take a peek at what their future's hold

as they grow from children into women

the softness, kindness, warmth that flows from them to whomever they meet

they are the marvel