thankful tuesday, 1/24

a few quiet minutes,

after a few weeks of feeling like my brain was a bouncing basketball.

just enough to jot down some joy moments.  

• ibuprofen for little fevers
• clarity after the blurr
• adrenaline 
• davos learnings and inspiration
• mr. defoyd's daily devotion
• gorgeous girlfriends who blessed by birthday butt off
• visor streamers
• weekend in the woo
• hometown farmers
• swimming for my little fish
• aquarium outing with my little fish
• hide and seek sillies with jane
• diane drive shenanigans
• between mom courage
• faith and feminism...hope and healing
• pals and playdates
• sunroof open in january
• awesome experiences for the girl scouts
• dribbling basketballs and squeaky sneakers
• the winter coat nomar garciaparra car key search 
• demo day and shiplap planning
• solar system learning with b
• trying new things
• essential oil experimenting

here's to gratitude,

 and how it turns everything into enough.

let's paint

"almost always the creative dedicated minority

has made the world better."

dr. martin luther king jr.

my family gifted me a beautiful set of water colors for christmas.

i'm definitely not a painter, but 

this gift of 36 colors, received when i was still 36 years old got me all tangled up.

it's been open on display on my desk since christmas.

i've yet to wet the brush.

it's just so beautiful.

because i'm not an artist, i'm afraid to dirty it up.

tomorrow, when women thrive will be at the world economic forum 

for the 3rd year (36 months...hmmm)

paint is the core of our branding.

we picked it because it so vividly depicts the unique components, or color pallet of women's lives. 

that when blended or combined creates something beautiful, special, memorable...

something that thrives.

and while not technically part of our branding or messaging, 

we know that when we combine too many colors the result is muck.

i see this often in the "masterpieces" little jane creates.

and i see this often in the life mixing of family, faith, work, love, gifts, dreams.

that when i carelessly blend, or forget to clean the brush the result is muck.

and that right there is it. 

why i can't bring myself to use the gifted pallet set.

i'm afraid to mix the colors.

i'm afraid i'll muck it up.

i'm afraid to ruin the perfect border between each color.

like i said a year ago in my new year's resolutions - i'm afraid i'll burn the bacon.

but today,

in honor of dr. king and his words,

i'll paint.

 on the eve of when women thrive's anniversary at the forum, 

i will paint.

as i begin my 37th year, 

i will paint.

as we start the new year of 2017,

i'll paint.

i will remember to not use all the colors.

i'll choose the ones i like the most.

i'll be thoughtful to select just the ones i need for the thing i'm going to create.

and i know this means i'll certainly have to mix the paint.

mixing - colors - life - love - faith - work - family - gifts - dreams.

let's paint.

lingering in christmas

oh what a joyous 

christmas season it has been for this little family.

and in many ways, we are still in it.

all the new year feels haven't quite hit me yet.

i feel them stirring

i know they are in there.

i just can't get my head, energy or heart into them quite yet.

so until then,

maybe one more christmas cocktail

while i sit by our pretty tree and look through our christmas bits.

merry christmas friends!

up first some christmas decorating.

we so loved our trees this year.

i don't want to take them down!

tree hunting

ornament unpacking

two tree trimming

a tree for farm friends

actually for hosting friends in the barn

my light detangler and stringing partner

our house tree trimmers

gus enjoying his spot under the tree

but also wishing bennett would  play with him

morning snuggles by the tree

and little sister make-over for brother too

candle light devotions by the tree too

preparing our hearts
to love, serve, rejoice and embrace the season
through our daily advent activity is very special to us.

advent calendar count down

with outings to the nutcracker

little ballerina twirler

christmas jammies and a polar express ride on the couch in our den

donut dates before school

gingerbread house making

gingerbread cookie decorating too

cookie baking

cookie tasting

cookie baking in the barn with friends

little bakers

sophisticated bakers

dudes who attack bakers from the barn loft

or play football instead of cookie baking and caroling

caroling around the neighborhood

the kids weren't the only ones having fun with 

friends this season.

we got to see and visit with so many friends and family

this christmas...hearts full!

east coast - west coast / medway - new braintree friends that are family

ctk lovelies

family love on christmas day

small group lovelies

mcc lovelies

book club lovelies

mama lovelies

family love on christmas eve

bff lovely

dinner party & game night lovelies

cocoa and caroling lovelies

some of time with friends

even got to visit with mr. clause himself.

or my dad, who was happy to play grandpa clause

mr. c's sleigh made landing on a perfect snowy night

happy little elves

happy barn

grandkids with grandpa clause

grateful for christmas blessings in this special spot

also grateful for

christmas blessings at mcc

candle light service

community concert

pre-school christmas sing

and trips to bethlehem for our little mary

and the christmas story told with such joy!

this season brought us a few

days that fulfilled the wishes for a white christmas.

snow at the farm

gus bundled up to play in the snow

perfect snow for snowball fights

and cotton balls for indoor snowball fights

ready to sneak attack dad with snowballs

a few more pics of our preparations,

and treat making.

cookie dough rolling

addictive treat making

kids who did their own present wrapping

or should i say present taping...so.much.tape.

the chicks were also quite giving this season,

bringing an egg bounty.

love these chicks...

i think these next few pics prove it!

gifts from the flock

chick apparel for christmas at home

red & green for the girls

chick christmas hugs

and a new vintage sign that looks oh so good here at the farm.

speaking of looking good here at the farm,

check out these new wheels!

watch out speed racer coming through!

when bennett lets me borrow his new dirt bike

and a fly moped for ella

and pink bike with training wheels for janie

so much fun,

and lots of new games to play!

board games for days

friendly competition

and the fun of a simple top

and outfitted head to toe in medway gear

we celebrated a little boy's birthday too!

best christmas present ever,

turned 8 on the 26th.

birthday wishes

sportin' his new bennett jersey (thanks pats for signing martelus bennett)

outing to star wars with the uncles

cheers to uncle matt!

fun with uncle tim and auntie leigh too

and then this weekend,

we had christmas with wes' side.

so much love with this crew of kids (big & little).

cousin sillies

games by the fire

snowball fights with the little ones

rascals who discovered the mistletoe

present (under the watchful eye of creepy uncle justin)

uncle justin not so creepy serenading

sweet girls

kiddo tables

big kid table

missing tooth partners

brother bonding

and that's a christmas bits & bobs' wrap!

so much love, fun and wonderful memories with 

friends and family.

and while i do wish you dear readers a very happy new year,

you'll find me lingering a little longer here in christmas!