I Love My Life

There are some mornings that Malcolm wakes singing. Singing! Lately it has been "Day-O". In the 1st private moments of his day he wastes no time. He wakes, he feels joy, and he sings. Mornings can be gifts that way, a fresh start, new air, another day for feeling, thinking, doing, singing. I think Raffi sings to adults as much as to children: "All I really need is a song in my heart, food in my belly, and love in my family."

Everyday I am stretched. There are days when I resist. Those are painful times.
There are days when I stretch, release, open, breathe, listen, & share. On those days I can feel love, on those days I can give love.

We all get to taste different fruit. I still have a bitter-sweet taste lingering in my mouth from a summer that began with a pregnancy and wound down with a miscarriage. Summer? Where did summer go? It feels like it was a blur of expectations and excitement, and then grounding reality.

This is what I've been telling myself, this is what I've been doing: Take a breath, stretch, clean out the refrigerator. Cook some good food, turn on some good music, take good naps. Rub your husband's shoulders, paint rooms, watch some Olympics, read a good book together. Set up your space, organize your energies, make your work and your play welcoming. Call your mom, change the laundry, pot some plants. Change the laundry again, clean up breakfast, fold the laundry, try to put it all away before it's time to wash again. Write letters, be with friends, go on a date and hold hands. And what about that sweet boy! Smell his forehead, read a story, sing a song, build with the blocks, watch for garbage trucks, take a walk, pick up sticks, listen for birds, get out the drums, make a little music. Oh, and pray, don't forget to pray. Sleep at night, rest, reset, and wake - singing - in the morning.

Sometimes I jump rope in my kitchen. My neighbors probably can see me through the window, probably think I'm a little strange. I'm just trying to keep a song in my heart.

I love my life.

"let's play!"

When Boy is ready to make some music he energetically proclaims "let's play!" And, did you know that Ovaltine canisters make excellent drums?
We'll be out for more summer music tonight. Happy weekend everyone!

live music, outside

{bagpipers. 4th of July flag ceremony. South Jordan, UT.}

{some jazzy band. the lady was a little much for me. Legacy Live, OH.}

For me, summer and outdoor music are perfectly paired, weather permitting of course. In our area we've been lucky to enjoy free, fresh air, musical entertainment at least once a week - sometimes two. Wade Oval Wednesday's and Legacy Live (weekends) have been regulars for us this summer. They other night as I listened to the live band and this woman singing "so glad we've made it!" and "I feel good! So good! I've got you!". I was somewhere between the need to dance or cry. Since only little kids were dancing at that point and I didn't want to make a scene, I found I could balance my composure with a little toe tapping and eye watering. Is that hormones or the profound effect of live music? (Probably a little of both for me on that particular night.) I love the way kids just move up close and dance to the music - it is so natural, not much thought goes into it, they just feel the beat. In this setting it is clear to see how much we "adults" tend to hold back. Only some of us start to dance after much encouragement from the band. But once we are up and moving aren't we so glad? We realize (or maybe it's just me) "I've been holding back, I want to really live." There is one senior couple, with clear ballroom background, who frequent L.L. just for the chance to dance. I love watching them. They seem so serious as they dance, but then I realize that they are just as uninhibited as the kids, they just mask it behind "technique". Malcolm who has been into all things "making music", namely drums, soaks it all in. He knows a saxophone from trombone and a base violin from a guitar, and he always has his eye on the drummer. I keep meaning to bring his shakers or rhythm sticks for him when we go out for the music. I'm sure he would like to play along. So, here's to summer, fresh air, music, and dancing. Go find some for yourself before summer's end.

June 14th

here's to planning...

_ parade ...check

_ wwkip ...check

malcolm's helping. here's his message to you

mbx+-1m

m,mmmnnnnnnnv vvv ,/
vvvvbvvvvwvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvbbbbbbvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvbbbn000

How to wear a wool sweater vest, in June...

1. Live in Cleveland
2. Wait for a cold snap
3. Have sweater on hand, especially mornings and evenings when you have a chance that it might be cool

We got our cold snap, lucky for me, and the boy got to wear his sweater vest a few times last week. I did not knit it vain. I'm not sure that it will fit come fall weather, we'll see. It is especially adorable with his white collar shirt. He likes it. He proclaims "handsome" every time I pull it over his head. It would have been nice to have finished it back in April, but sometimes life isn't like that. I finished, hurray. He wore it more than once, hurray. Life is like that and I am happy.

I used the cable vest pattern you can download from lionbrand.

I'm back, well, sort of, soon...
Just trying to create some order out of disorder. I need some good tunes wouldn't you say?

BUT

GOOD NEWS...
it nearly did me in, BUT,
the floors are finished!
good job Dave & friends, what were we thinking???, it's been nearly a year long process, they look amazing though, AND no more walking on plastic!!!

We will be moving the furniture back in soon. I'm excited, and a little overwhelmed at putting our home*sweet*home back together again - could someone please send over all the king's horses and all the king's men?

Things are looking up...
- our car is back and fixed
- I am sleeping in my own bed again (We've been all around while the floors got their finishing treatments - a Bed and Breakfast, the neighbor on the corner's guest room, and the Holiday Inn Express. We are still eating takeout in the attic.)
- my sister Hillary is here