Bless Her Heart

30 Days with a Grateful Heart ~ Day 28 ~

Day 28 ~ Louretta

I love all of the four-legged friends in our (extended) family, but this newest addition, Louretta holds my gratitude today. She is my sister's sweet pooch. After a topsy-turvy year, some of it really hard, some of it really good, all of it involving big changes, Louretta, and her adorable little legs, has been a constant source of entertainment and companionship. She's part housemate, part shop dog, part adopted sister to Tallulah (the wonder-dog), and full-time receiver of my sister's love and affection. 

30 Days with a Grateful Heart ~ Day 27 ~

Day 27 ~ Pablo Neruda

Here I came to the very edge
where nothing at all needs saying,
everything is absorbed through weather and the sea,
and the moon swam back,
its rays all silvered,
and time and again the darkness would be broken
by the crash of a wave,
and every day on the balcony of the sea,
wings open, fire is born,
and everything is blue again like morning.

 

30 Days with a Grateful Heart ~ Day 26 ~

Day 26 ~ These two. One frame.

30 Days with a Grateful Heart ~ Day 25 ~

 

Day 25 ~ The laughter shared in a house full of family...

My siblings, sister-in-law, mama, niece, my kids, my man.

So many of my most favorite people on earth, sharing dinner, telling stories, laughing our asses off. There was talk of movies (mostly Star Wars), books, sculpture, the art of making a good sandwich (order matters, yo), the current healthcare system, puzzles, travel, and on and on. It makes my heart so happy when we're all in one place, even for an evening. I learn so much about so many things, and am reminded of how much I appreciate each and every one us for who we are, and who we are growing to be. <3

30 Days with a Grateful Heart ~ Day 24 ~

Day 24 ~ The jokers...

I love the gag gifts, crossed eyes, goofy hair, deadpan, leg-pulling that happens around these parts. There's not much better for the soul than a hearty belly laugh, and I'm always grateful for the reminder to lighten up a bit. ;-)

30 Days with a Grateful Heart ~ Day 23 ~

Day 23 ~ The helpers, big and small...

Yesterday was one of those days that felt two days long. I was so tired by the time I sat down to type out my gratitude last night that I laid down on my floor between wrapping gifts and closed my eyes to think about the day. I kept drifting back to this tender-hearted girl from a mid-morning family shoot. Throughout the morning she asked to hold her brand new cousin. Needless to say that yesterday was a hustle and bustle kind of day to the max. Add to that that her sweet little cousin that was not having a comfortable morning. She was tired but not really sleeping, and only really settled when she was on someone's body. Thinking back on it, I've been marveling at the older cousin's persistent compassion. Her insistence that she hold the baby. Undeterred by the commotion, the infant tears, overdue nap time, and an impending diaper change, she just knew that she wanted to be part of helping. As I was walking out the door, I pulled the camera back out, because lo and behold that sweet baby was passed out cold on her shoulder. Pure goodness, that.

30 Days with a Grateful Heart ~ Day 22 ~

Day 22 ~ Downtime

The kind where you have to ask yourself what day it is...and still not really care. Thank goodness for this needed break in the action.

30 Days with a Grateful Heart ~ Day 21 ~

Day 21 ~ A tribe of aunties at the ready...

For the welcoming of new souls.

For doting and ooing and cooing at those newest additions.

For joyous exaltations that magnify as good news travels through the auntie brigade.

For lending an anchor when the water is choppy.

For finding tissues when the tears turn snotty. For truly listening, offering support without shame.

For the blessed distraction provided for one another and for our children.

For wide berths given, and tight hugs offered.

For the late night laughter. For cussing like sailors.

For the check-ins. For the food trees. For the candles lit. 

For the hospital visits, for the memorials, for the shared grief. For the shared love.

For the beautiful tapestry of women that I am so grateful to call my tribe....

30 Days with a Grateful Heart ~ Day 20 ~

Day 20 ~ The passing of this long dark night, and the slow return to the light...

"Maybe you have to know the darkness before you can appreciate the light." ~ Madeline L'Engle

I'm not going to lie...I am feeling relieved that we have at last reached the winter Solstice and after this darkest night, will start tiptoeing back towards longer, lighter days. Each year as the days shrink and darkness settles in earlier and earlier, I feel the familiar antsy-ness take hold. While I'd like to think that I am able to embrace the darkness as an opportunity for quiet introspection or something, in reality I think I crave quiet corners in a well lit world. <3

30 Days with a Grateful Heart ~ Day 19 ~

 

Day 19 ~ Learning from the (blasted) interwebs...

For all of the complaining that I do about how plugged in we are as a culture, for as much fantasizing as I do about running away to the hills and hiding away in a cabin away from all of the email and text messages and constant electronic stimulus...I really am so grateful for all of the incredible resources available online. Each day I find inspiration, connection, mentorship and continued learning for my parenting, my work, my home and my photography. My girl teaches herself new chords on the guitar, new techniques on the piano, and is able to find almost any lyrics in the world to practice. My boy, unchallenged by his current high school sculpture class, seeks out new techniques online. He connects with other costume designers and fabricators. He and Matt both use forums, chatrooms, and general online resources for all manner of car restoration and repair. I appreciate that we live in a time where knowledge is given so liberally, and there is so much support for open-source, shared learning.