Sunday Gratitude and Intentions PLUS 52photos week #1

Being very conscious of those things for which I am grateful is an important practice for me.  It helps  me stay present and grounded and helps shift my focus from frustration or lack to optimism and contentment.   It's powerful, it's very real, and it's something I try to do daily.

I used to blog about these things on Friday as a way to close out the work week, but lately I've noticed that Sunday seems to be the day that I reflect back on the week behind me, and the time I also set intentions for the week ahead.  I already do this privately, but I think I'll begin bringing it here, as well.
 
Gratitude
*I've been a bit confused lately about where and how to focus my professional efforts.  Given that my career is necessary, both as an important part of my mental and emotional makeup, as well as the means to support myself and my daughter, I get rather unsettled when this area of my life feels out of whack.  In the last few days, however, some glitches worked themselves out and I found some clarity on a few other issues.  I'm feeling much better about where things are now. 

*I've had my dog, Harley, for 11 years.  He is my first baby, my sweet, mellow companion, and a constant source of unconditional love.  He is about 14 years old now, elderly in dog years, and his health is depleting.  His hearing is almost gone, he has a benign heart murmur which will eventually lead to congestive heart failure and recently, he developed an eye lesion.  This week has seen us at the vet several times for treatment of his eye- a minor procedure but still very hard for me to handle (read: i sat in my vet's office and cried for an hour.  twice.)  This experience made the fact that he's not going to be around forever very, very real  but opening up to a few people about how hard this is for me has brought so much love and support.  That love and support and the knowledge that I have people to be there for me when some hard choices need to be made eases the heartache.    (Also, for those who are wondering, his eye is much better than expected.  Yay!)

Harley, at the vet on Tuesday, April 23

*Riley and I spent the weekend in Idaho visiting my family.  We hadn't been there in a while and it's always a good time for both of us.  The added bonus for me, though, is that I sleep better at my Dad's house than I do anywhere else on earth.  I don't know why this is, but after a few rough weeks with lots on my mind and too little sleep, I really needed those hours of deep, restoring sleep.  Although I could use another few days of that level of rest, I got enough to feel rested and ready to start another week.

*Oh, yeah...did I mention... it's Spring!  It's Spring!  IT'S SPRING!  Warmer weather!  Bike season begins!  Flowers!  Evening walks!  I am so ready and grateful for this season!

One of many photos I took wandering around my neighborhood this week.  I love Spring!

Intentions:
Moving into next week, I am setting the intentions to:
*Be mindful of those things I know help me stay balanced:  clean, healthy food, plenty of exercise and a tidy, organized home.  
*Stay focused on the task at hand.  I've picked up a tendency of floating between several projects at once, meaning I get a bunch of things halfway done.  I find this method distracting and unsatisfying, so I'm working hard to break this habit.
*Carry a 'real' camera with me more often.  My iPhone is such a handy way to capture life, but I find that photos I take with my Cannon or even my toy film cameras are more satisfying; they are usually visually superior and it gives me a chance to work on my technical photography skills.  Plus, having my 'real' camera shifts me into a more creative mindset-which is never a bad thing. 

So now I'm wondering -
What are you grateful for this week?
What intentions are you setting for the week ahead?


52 Photos project:
I'm playing along with Bella's 52 Photos Project, and this is week's prompt was "conversation."  Luckily, I took a photo of a my sweet 15 year old niece right before her shift started at work.  Having a chance to catch up with her, even for just a few minutes, was a highlight of my day. 

 

An unlikely dream

I have had the same recurring dream for the past few years.  In this dream, I am walking through these huge, weedy fields.  Usually I'm alone, sometimes I'm with people I love, but I'm always wandering through these vast expanses of land.  It sounds like it could be the setting of a very lonely place, but whenever I have this dream, whenever I see myself in these fields, I'm not at all lonely.  Rather I'm filled with a comfort that, for me, only comes with being outside in nature, and a calm that comes only from solitude.  I wake up yearning to find this type of life for myself.

 

I love these types of places, the open air and the open land.  There is something very soothing about the idea that I could walk for hours and not see another person.  Lately, I have been so drawn to the idea of rural living, of the hard work and the satisfaction that would come from this type of lifestyle. I want to greet the day by baking bread and hang my laundry out to dry. When I say this out loud, even to myself, I recognize that I'm probably only so enamored by this lifestyle because it's so different from how I live now, but still...the desire is very real and very deep.  Perhaps this type of yearning is from my Idaho roots, or perhaps it's just my mind's pushback to a busy, sometimes hectic, always people-filled lifestyle.  I know that the dream is one way my subconscious shows me that I need to find more time for me and more s-p-a-c-e.  Whatever it is about, it doesn't seem to be going anywhere.

 

Maybe it's time to explore this type of life a little bit more, to try to understand what it is that is pulling me towards it.  Maybe I need more air and more space and more wandering.  Maybe I need to be surrounded by those things that comfort me: nature, land, water, and my family.  Maybe it's time to go home for the weekend and sink into it, to get my fill of the county, see if that will last me for a while while I figure it out.  Who knows what the future holds. Unlikely dreams come true, too.

 

Beating the Heat

Riley and I spent the past weekend in Idaho, enjoying time with family over the long holiday weekend.

It was hot, but we found some fun ways to beat the heat...

Keith and Karlee

Becky

Riley

Riley again (I know, I know, but I think this one is hilarious!)

Joey

Me!
Shawnee went for it, broken arm and all!

Ambrie
Even Sara got in on the slip-n-slide action (today is her due date - this woman ROCKS!)

Nic - just chillin'

Me and Keith (who says kiddie pools are just for kiddies?)

(she'll kill me for this photo one day)

We had such a great time playing in the water all afternoon, and it really did help make a very hot day tolerable. It's rare for Idaho days to get that warm, but I'm glad we made the best of it - and I have decided I must own my very own slip-n-slide soon.

Christmas Eve Happenings

Riley and I spent Christmas Eve-Eve and Christmas Eve in Idaho. It was a very quick trip, but it gave us the chance to enjoy some time with our family, and still make it back to Utah for Santa to find Riley in our own home.

Ambrie

Hallee

Riley

Lexi

Baby Karlee

Riley and I decided to take Hallee and Lexi out for breakfast on Christmas Eve. It was so much fun, and so entertaining! We will definitely be repeating that experience! Best breakfast dates ever!

After breakfast, Hallee and I headed out on a little aunt/niece outing. She and I like to drive around, doing whatever random thing we come up with (I love this girl!). This time, she manned the Ipod (Taylor Swift, anyone?) and I shot a few photos.

I'm digging how the white on white on white of the structures, the snow and the sky. This is how I imagine Idaho in the winter.

Then it was time to head back to Utah to await Santa's arrival. Of course, Riley opened the traditional Christmas pj's before bed.
Stockings were hung (sorta) and Riley's haul was set out for her to discover on Christmas morning.
Merry, merry!

Weekend at home

As I was driving back to Salt Lake City today after a relaxing weekend with family, I spent some time reflecting on why it is that I always feel incredibly centered and very peaceful after time in Idaho.

It might be the traffic we encounter: Or maybe the people we spend our time with:

Or the scenery we pass by, evidence of hard work and simple existence:
It could be the way I spent my Saturday morning:
Or the way we celebrated Saturday night:


Whatever it is, I've learned not to question it. When my whole heart and soul is longing for somewhere that is comfortable, that is easy, that is gentle and that is healing...this is where I go.

This is home.

The craziness that is my family

If you know me, you know I come from a huge, large, unwieldy family. I have five brothers and one sister of my own, and then my step-parents provided me with many, many more siblings. Last Saturday, I was lucky enough to get to spend some time with my brothers and a whole bunch of my step-siblings. The paper plate is representing Daniel. (We missed you, Dan.)
This was several (not all, by any means) of my sibs and their spouses. I have no idea why Marcus decided to show off his impressive ribcage - it's hard getting a group shot where everyone looks normal. Isn't Andrea gorgeous? And she's a kick-ass mother of three wild ones.
Adam, Nate and Ken (Nate looks sorta surprised). I can't believe I got Nic to even consider getting his picture taken voluntarily. I usually have to sneak it.
Dani, Kale and Michael. Kale is already sporting his camo- prepping for hunting season, I guess. Oh, my sister in law, Dani. I Love her. She's one of the kindest, most authentic women I know.

A couple of my "little" brothers- Adam and Marcus. So cute!

Spending time with these guys is so much fun, and doesn't happen nearly enough. We are flung all about the nation, but when we can get together, I can always count on good times, a million laughs and the knowledge that I am blessed with an amazing, awesome, understanding, supportive and wonderful family.