Outdoor Wednesday: Playing in the Sand

It is so sweet to see a child play so well all by himself. I wish I could read his mind. What is he thinking? Could I let my mind go there and play without thinking about the chores, the school work that awaits me? I can at least try.

Have a wonderful Outdoor Wednesday everyone!

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Today is outdoor Wednesday hosted by Susan from A Southern Day Dreamer. Visit Susan to see what others are sharing.

Blue Monday - my Kids

"... and then thee were three"

I have to admit that while I love, love, love each of them as individuals, I find myself really, really missing my oldest child a lot. I need to get busy so time goes by faster. He's at college and I'm on an island far, far away. We do chat online often and I manage to send him little notes to let him know he's missed, loved, and ... did I mention missed?

Gosh, this is painful. OK it is for his own good. I'm glad he's mature enough to be on his own, doing what he loves to do. I wont say that I'll get over it because quite frankly, I don't want to get over missing my oldest child, I'm OK with that. But I will move on, after all, I do have three others.

The middle child who is so darn artistic even she doesn't realize it some times, the 7 year old that has more energy stored in her little body then she knows what to do with, and my little man who can make anyone smile with his big hazel eyes and long eye lashes and beautiful smile. So Sweet! Do I sound like I'm looney for my kids? I am. They make me smile, they keep me young, and when they're asleep they are the BEST kids under the sun, for sure!!

Kids have a way of really irritating me. They know exactly how to get under my skin. The hardest thing for me is to not laugh when I'm trying to be serious. Sometimes I walk away to laugh at their facial expressions, then hopefully return to continue my scolding. It really does not work but it makes us all laugh--usually!!

I took this pictures at the beach yesterday because it was just perfect! Enjoy it!

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It is Sally's Blue Monday and a great day it is. Stop by Smiling Sally to see what others are sharing.

Saturday mornings -- ahhhhh

Something about waking early on Saturday that just rejuvenates me. I know many people who can't wait for the weekend so they can sleep in. I look forward to the weekend so they can sleep in too. That means quiet time for me. It's early morning peace!

Today I got up, made coffee, sent the hubby on the way to work (not a usual thing for a Saturday morning, he is one of those let me sleep in type of people), the kids were still asleep and the morning was all mine, at least for the next hour.

Out of my kitchen window I was able to capture the photo above. There's a certain haze over the mountains in the distance which a lot like how I feel when I first get up and before I have a chance to focus.

I did a morning prayer. Meditation, if you will, outside in the warm, humid breeze. My time to stare into this horizon was limited so I took full advantage. It was just so rejuvenating to stare into the horizon and know that I did not have to rush to go anywhere and no one was tugging at my skirt. I was able to breath for a few minutes, without concern for anyone but me. This is peace. I think I'll be more energized and relaxed by the time the kids get out of bed.

It's the beginning of a beautiful day! Enjoy it!

Blue Monday - decorating with colors

I love to be surrounded by colors so it goes without saying that my white kitchen just wasn't going to make me happy while living in Guantanamo Bay. We are allowed to paint, however, I'd have to paint it all back to white and I'm not sure I even want to tackle that job. It's military housing - what can I say.

Notice the only color here are my little yellow flowers and better yet the sky and water I could see out of the kitchen window. Makes standing by the sink so pleasant.

So I decided I would add splashes of color here and there and everywhere. I went to celebrate a friend's birthday the other day and the came out with these really cool and colorful plates. It's like a rainbow staring back at me. I love them and want to take them with me but they wont let me..boo hoo!! I will visit the thrift store first but I think I will end up ordering a stack of colorful items to liven up my all too white kitchen.

I think my entire house will need color so I may have to rely on colorful valances and window treatments, maybe even some pillows and throws...hmmm. The wheels are spinning like you wouldn't believe!

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Blue Monday is hosted by Smiling Sally.

Visit Sally today to participate and see the blues others are sharing.

Praying with all my heart for the people of Haiti

I am not one to get stuck on watching the news 24/7 because the repetitiveness can be depressing, so I watch until they start repeating themselves. It only takes a minute to take in and feel the pain for the people of Haiti. It is painful to see and to know that so many perished and so many others are now homeless, broken in so many ways.

I realize that I can't personally do anything except make donations and support those who can. So I pray for them and those who are traveling to Haiti to help rebuild their lives, their spirit, and give them a light of hope. I hope you will do the same.

Google has set up some ways to help and information page, but I'm sure there are many other ways out there, starting with the Red Cross. Just be careful where you make donations, make sure it's not a scam site.

Google Crisis Response

Blue Monday - Meditate on a Stormy Day

I recently joined a 28 day meditation challenge hosted by Janice Lundy (author of Your Truest Self). In the last three days, since I joined I can honestly say that I do feel a sense of calm and sort of freedom in my heart that I did not feel before. I know, it sounds crazy to think that three days could change me so much but admittedly, I started long ago before ever coming across Jan. I just wasn't meditating on a regular basis always finding an excuse to stay busy and keep my mind occupied with idle thoughts of nothing really important like whether I made my bed or did forget to switch the laundry.

Funny thing is that in the last few days the things I know need to get done always get done. My diet and nutrition habits are back on track, I pay more attention to being in the moment and enjoying the quietness and stillness of the day because for me, those are few and far between.

I leave you now with my beautiful stormy day blue picture of the day and a beautiful inspirational quote from Jan's site.

Inspiration:

"Living in the present moment is the full awareness and appreciation of the life we have, right here, right now. Present moment awareness is being aware of what is happening in ourselves and our world instead of being lost in random fears from the past and uncertainties, hopes, and expectations for the future. In the absence of those fantasies we have the opportunity to enjoy our day-to-day living."

~Shannon Duncan, Present Moment Awareness: A Simple Step-by-Step Guide to Living in the Now (New World Library, 2004)

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Visit Smiling Sally, our host for Blue Monday to see so many beautiful blues everyone else is sharing!! Thank You Sally, this is so much fun and helps me to really pay attention to all the blue around me - it's never sad!!

Lisa Lectura's Give Away- join the fun!

So I visited my friend Beedeebabee where I found out that Lisa Lectura is having a giveaway which ends tonight. They are both amazing and creative. Join in the fun. Click here for a chance at winning one of Lisa's creations!!

I Spy Little Treasures

It is so easy to miss the little treasures we are given each and every day. I have always had my camera handy to help me keep track of the little things I see and the ones I don't see. Well, my camera broke. It no longer works and now I have to wait to get a new one. Yes, I'm very sad. However, I do have a little Kodak I bought my husband and it's not so bad at catching little moving animals in the sand.

These are not the best but I wanted to show off some of the littlest treasures we come across everyday. Enjoy!

If only I was feeling more creative with words I could make up a rhyme like the ones in the children's books "I Spy."

In this bottle of sea glass I spy with my little eye a tiny blue sea glass. Apparently difficult to find and treasured by many.

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I spy with my little eye a shell with a friend, a hermit crab is hiding under these conch shells in the garden. I only know this because he moved and I saw him.

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I spy with my little eye a teeny-tiny crab. About the size of a dime. I can't believe I was able to capture this little guy, he was fast.

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I spy with my little eye another teeny-tiny hermit crab, smaller than a dime. I think he was posing for this one.

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I hope you have a fantastic Saturday. Have you been able to capture any teeny-tiny treasures lately?

Terie

"Invictus" : unconquered

Photo by Tere Cornelio "Girl Scout Beach, Guantanamo bay" (2009)

Last night I went to the movies with a group of fantastic moms. We went to see Invictus, a movie I knew would be great simply because of who was involved in writing, directing and acting in it.

I went to see it without first trying to figure out what Invictus meant because I wanted to just get it all from the movie. I felt passion, determination, wisdom and strength to push through to reach my own goals. It really was an inspiring movie. You have to go see it.

So today I got up thinking about this quote from the movie:

"I am master of my fate, I am captain of my soul."

I could not get it out of my head because it really reminded me that only I can control what happens next and how I feel in any situation. Then I thought I'd look up the word Invictus and found out it means unconquered. Then I came across a poem written by William Ernest Henley (1875), I remembered reading this poem during my English Literature class a few years ago and here it is.

Out of the night that covers me,

Black as the pit from pole to pole,

I thank whatever gods may be

For my unconquerable soul.

In the fell clutch of circumstance

I have not winced nor cried aloud.

Under the bludgeonings of chance

My head is bloody, but unbowed.

Beyond this place of wrath and tears

Looms but the Horror of the shade,

And yet the menace of the years

Finds and shall find me unafraid.

It matters not how strait the gate,

How charged with punishments the scroll,

I am the master of my fate:

I am the captain of my soul.

It still gives me goosebumps to read this. Go see the movie, read the poem, share your thoughts.