i saw some sweaters in the store windows. but we are dusting sand off our feet & eating popsicles.

in our collaboration, rebekah and i are sharing photographs, taken from a word inspiration.

two friends – one in seattle, one in san diego. and this week – our lives feel so different.

what i take away from this week… find and appreciate the beauty that surrounds you.

don’t compare or feel a need to be like someone, somewhere, something. it is possible to love & appreciate differences in others without the need to be alike.

first set: mine. second set: rebekah’s

set 1:

set 2:

evenings is the theme this week. our last theme was mornings – and i was inspired to not only photograph the beauty of our mornings, but to be present and aware of the beauty of this stage of life in the mornings too.  next – we look at how to find beauty, gratitude, and simplicity in evenings.  and the reality is – evenings are nutty.  many days, we spend them at the pool to squeeze every last ounce of energy out of my busy boys before bed.  but also – i often am out doing photoshoots, so that homey lovely family dinner evening isn’t really a reality here.  i choose to believe i make it up in other ways. evenings for us are always unique. they are far from simple. and through this collaboration – i am choosing to be grateful for that.  the fun of evenings.  sometimes spent at the pool.  sometimes spent at the beach.  sometimes spent eating random foods on the counter and doing homework.  sometimes quiet with a wonderfully fresh & homemade-with-love-prepared-meal and sometimes they quietly dissolve into night with little excitement. and while evenings are unique – bedtime is almost always constantly peaceful and the same. beautiful and wild evenings, somehow lead into the first big deep breath of the day……. when the house becomes quiet & still & dark.

the photo collaboration is a mixture of my photos and rebekah’s (read her thoughts on evenings here).  simply a reflection of the diversity of evenings.

(last week)

this week, we focused on morning.

oh mornings. the most unphoto-worthy time of our day.  but… i felt re-inspired to make some changes in our mornings so we have less frantic feelings, and more time, space, and chances to breathe before embarking on our days.  poor kai – i feel the same way until the coffee is made.
rebekah’s thoughts on her blog here…

all the way up the west coast, lives my dear friend rebekah gough. i wish she & her family would move in next door.

but when friends live miles apart, and share a heart for finding beauty in our days as mothers… we decided to do a weekly project together with our blogs. each week we will focus on a theme related to our lives – but with the heart to find simple themes of gratitude and grace.

this week, we joined our pictures and hearts on learning.  i share my words here, she shares her words in her space.

rebekah’s photos on the left, mine on the right.

this month begins with learning. not learning arithmetic or phonics. but learning what coping skills work. learning what tools help overcoming. learning how to create an environment in which your child can thrive, not because you are in it and making it perfect, but an environment in which they find mastery over their own fears. an environment where imperfections are allowed and growth is required. learning to speak emotions and learning how to advocate.  that has been our learning over the last two weeks.