thankful tuesday, 3/19

writing thank you notes

while fueling up with a pretty lunch
seemed like a perfect time for a

thankful tuesday too!

here's to gratitude and
how it turns everything into enough...

patience, understanding and

quiet voices.

car pools, playdates

and helpful recommendations.

dark rooms, ear plugs

and sunglasses.

rest, snuggles, prayers
and podcasts that inspire.

baked treats, casseroles

and hearty soups made with love.

flowers, happy mail, texts 

and phone calls.

my mr., kids, friends
and family.

"i'll be brief...thank you."

another b word

a few weeks ago,

i popped into this space

on a monday morning to share some

"big, beautiful, busted up normal"

reflection bits.

i re-read that post earlier today,

 and had a giggle as 

i thought about today's 

"big, beautiful, busted up normal" 

monday morning bits. 

while each included a to do list,

and laundry, 

and emails,

and phone calls,

and crockpots,

and groceries,

and animals,

and parenting...

today was different.

so different than just 

a couple weeks ago.

in what's top of mind,

and what needs to be done...

in what's in my head 

and what's on my heart...

in the logistics 

and in the love...

and in the big, beautiful 

and busted up of this week.

***

a few weeks ago

it was a monday post a school vacation that

 was filled to the brim with activities, 

adventures and lots of life doing.

and today a monday post weeks 

of being completely  

sidelined with a concussion
and lots of life watching.

yet both...

big,

beautiful,

and 

busted up!

oh yes.

***

and it's why,

i'm fired up to be gathering with my sisters

later this week for some m&e wellness workshops 

on the topic of another amazing "b" word...

BALANCE!

because as
women,

sisters,

daughters,

wives,
moms,

friends,

and 

bad ass beauties

we long for balance.

we thrive in it

and strive for it...

we teach it

and seek it...

and we 

know better than anyone,

when it's busted up,

and
when it's beautiful.

gah,

i can't wait!

***

and hey,

there is still time to register!

 {link}

my mom boots & my mom concussion

let me introduce you 

to my "mom boots."

they aren't quite 

in the same category 

as "mom jeans",

but bear with me.

***

i got them thirteen (13) years ago,

while in ireland, 

on vacation with wes.

we were just a little over a year into our marriage,

visiting friends,

and adventuring through 

england, scotland and ireland.

it was on this trip,

where we found out we were 

going to be parents. 

***

we thought my nausea

was because of jet lag and navigating windy roads,

but nope!

we are also so glad that all our time in the pubs 

and lots of pints of guinness 

didn't have an impact on our baby girl!

it was a memorable trip!

***

i bought these boots in dublin,

 on the last leg of our trip,

and when the baby news made every thing so special.

i loved them so much,

and remember thinking

how they would bring some

flare to my new mom style.

they could be my

"mom boots."

***

 it wasn't too long after that though,

and for many years following,

that i could't wear them.

my swollen,

preggo,

post preggo,

changed feet barely fit into my mom boots!

***

i held onto them though.

the've broken in beautifully,

and 

i love how they give 

this vertically challenged girl,

who can't do heels,

a few extra inches.

***

lately i've been wearing my "mom boots" more and more,

simply because they keep me eye to eye with ella,

the child who now towers over me, 

thirteen years after the day i bought my "mom boots".

they make me feel less like 

the "little mummy,"

she so lovingly calls me.

***

let's flash forward to a couple weeks ago.

to a completely ordinary, 

every day parenting moment...

***

i was loading up the car, 

and needed to help my youngest daughter 

get into her booster seat.

it was snowing,

so my head was down.

i was hustling,

because that's what moms do.

i went around the back corner of the car,

and slammed my head into the raised hatch of my volvo.

can you almost see it?

resulting in a serious 

"mom concussion."

head hurt,

ouch.

***

can you guess what 

i was wearing?

yup,

my "mom boots."

it was those extra inches,

 that often make me feel like i'm on the top of my game,

that caused me to whack my head so severely,

taking me out of the game.

heart hurt,

ouch.

***

#momboots

#momconcussion

#ouch.