In my element...

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I'll share more photos soon from our family vacation to Aspen, but in the meantime I wanted to share this one...


Steven took this photo of me in downtown Aspen and said, "This is totally you in your element - you're a mama now but still taking photos as you love to do..."

It made me so happy to have a husband who understands me so well!  Especially in these days when my identity has changed so much, I love knowing that my creative side is still alive.  I want to keep it alive.

Here's the photo I was taking...

More to come!

Mother.

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"'What did you do today?'  I used to love being asked that question.  I took pride in my busyness and productivity.  What I do now can't be calculated like most people measure tasks.  I'm busy all day, but I don't have much tangible evidence to remind me of what I did, much less to recount to someone else.

I was a mother today.  I loved today, not always perfectly, but I did love.  I didn't earn any money today, but I did contribute to the good of the world.  I was a mother. 

Thank you, God, for giving me so valuable of a job."

~ from Meditations for New Moms by Sandra Drescher-Lehman

I could not have said it better myself...this is by far the most difficult job I've ever had in my life.  I'm not going to deny that I wrote this post today as therapy.  Or that I shed several tears this morning out of utter frustration. 

When my child won't go to sleep, may I be thankful that I have a child that can be active.  When I have no time to myself for days on end, may I be thankful that I have people who need me and that I have gifts to give.  When I forget why I am a mother, let me look at this sweet face and be thankful.  She makes it worth it. A million times over.

Necklace from Robbie Jenkins on Etsy.

Bittersweet giveaway winner!

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Many thanks to everyone who posted comments to the Bittersweet book giveaway!  I loved reading them all and being reminded that there is no such thing as a perfect life.  We are all just trying to figure things out and live gratefully day by day.

So without further ado - the book giveaway winner!  Out of 23 comments, I used random.org to choose comment #19 - Kelly. This was Kelly's comment...

Today Bittersweet is my Husband putting his job on the line to stand up for what he believes in. It may cause us pain and hardship in the short term, but I know the rewards when he finds a job he loves will be worth it.

Thank you for sharing that, Kelly.  I don't have your contact info, so please use the "Contact" link on the left sidebar to send me your full name and address, and the book will be coming your way.

Much love to you all!