Just like a photo album holds snapshots representing cherished, happy moments, smiling faces, love and laughter, I started this blog so that my family, especially my girls, can someday look back at the way we spent our days. I wanted it to be a true representation, and honest depiction of our lives, and at the same time I wanted it to be filled with the positive, the beauty, the sweet delicate moments that sum together to equal an amazing life. So it gave me incentive to seek out the beauty hidden in the mundane, and be present for the tender moments tucked amidst the routine. It encouraged me to look for the silver lining so that I can write about it, and share it. It fueled me to find ways to transform ordinary afternoons into extraordinary ones for my girls. None of these things comes naturally to me, so this all required a real, focused, conscious effort. A resolution to stay true to the cause, because it is a worthy one, filling the blank pages of my girls' stories with wonder and memories and an optimistic outlook.
This season, where the grey and cold stretch on indefinitely between the holidays and the first tender buddings of spring, is usually difficult for me. I almost always find myself sinking into a weepy depression, where cabin fever sets in stirring up anxiety. So I've been waiting, watching closely for those first inklings of sadness to filter in. Bracing myself for the storm that inevitably comes, and subsequently passes with the first warm days of spring.
But it's not coming. Instead, I'm genuinely happy. I'm noticing that all of those things that felt somewhat forced and unnatural at the beginning of this blog journey seem to be slowly rewiring my neuro-pathways. The beauty is starting to find me, tender moments seem more frequent and abundant, and silver linings are becoming more obvious. Sure, it still requires a positive outlook, and a desire to build and cultivate a positive existence, but the effort feels lighter. I feel like I'm in a place of comfortable contentment, and where reasons to celebrate, both big and small, just keep coming along one after another.
We've celebrated...
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...my Nonno's ninetieth birthday. We gathered with family to commemorate nine decades and a legacy; three children, fifteen grandchildren, five great grandchildren.
This season, where the grey and cold stretch on indefinitely between the holidays and the first tender buddings of spring, is usually difficult for me. I almost always find myself sinking into a weepy depression, where cabin fever sets in stirring up anxiety. So I've been waiting, watching closely for those first inklings of sadness to filter in. Bracing myself for the storm that inevitably comes, and subsequently passes with the first warm days of spring.
But it's not coming. Instead, I'm genuinely happy. I'm noticing that all of those things that felt somewhat forced and unnatural at the beginning of this blog journey seem to be slowly rewiring my neuro-pathways. The beauty is starting to find me, tender moments seem more frequent and abundant, and silver linings are becoming more obvious. Sure, it still requires a positive outlook, and a desire to build and cultivate a positive existence, but the effort feels lighter. I feel like I'm in a place of comfortable contentment, and where reasons to celebrate, both big and small, just keep coming along one after another.
We've celebrated...
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...my Nonno's ninetieth birthday. We gathered with family to commemorate nine decades and a legacy; three children, fifteen grandchildren, five great grandchildren.
He still asks Jon when they're going to hit the course for eighteen holes. He still wants to sit in the bleachers of Beaver stadium to watch the Nittney Lions cross the goal line for six.
He may already have ninety years tucked under his belt, but it's not about the years in one's life, it's about the life in one's years and he's still got it!
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...the first of what are now frequent and contagious toothless grins. It's impossible for me to witness one of these smiles without a grin on my own face that makes my cheeks ache.
She smiles with her whole face, and her cheeks squish her deep clear blue eyes into sweet shining half moons.
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...Jon's thirtieth birthday. His family threw a surprise party. We had to tell him about the surprise party to get him to it, which didn't in fact surprise me because it's nearly impossible to surprise Jon.
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...Berkley's two month milestone
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...our first playground outing this year.
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I'm craving that first really warm spring afternoon when I can fling open every window and let that delicious spring freshness, that scent of warm wet soil mingling with unfurling buds and new grass, permeate every nook and cranny of my home. I have an inkling it's right around the corner.