today i am grateful for my son's imagination, independence and heart full of love. as we sat down together to work on his first representational drawing, i gently encouraged him to form a person. a head, some eyes, arms & legs. he lovingly exclaimed "it's you mama!"  to my surprise & delight, he continued his drawing.  on his own initiative, he added some squiggles in the mid section and joyfully proclaimed "and that's your baby and your belly button!"  

today i am grateful for the perfect cupcake.  plain & simple.  sweet bliss.

today i am grateful for the peace that comes from a walk through pure nature. shielded under the canopy of trees & soothed by the calm of water.  alone.  just us.  watching the playful ducks.  amazed by the busy chipmunks.  rustling in the leaves.  picking up & playing with sticks.  observing life. enjoying stillness.  taking time to breathe deep.   

i am grateful for family.  meet us.  isaak received "mama horsey" as a gift when he was 1.  he became immediately attached.  took her out.  slept with her.  needed her when feeling hurt.  she began to get that worn look.  i decided to get another horsey, thinking they could be swapped every so often.  perhaps they would last and not become so ratty!  not the case.  isaak knew right away that they had been switched and then named them "mama & papa horsey!"  bringing "mama" out became a routine, so again... decided to buy a small version thinking that could be the take away from home horsey.  nope!  "mama horsey" is the ONE!  well, until now.  the pregnancy seems to have brought the "family" together.  isaak now keeps us all close.  he holds them together & with satisfaction proclaims "i looooooove my whole family!"  and "look, we are all together!" i see a purchase in the near future... kid 2 horsey!  today i give praise for our family and the gentle reminder to cherish each moment of being together.  

ever the eager chef.  as i prepared our "comfort food" dinner of oatmeal with assorted condiments, isaak volunteered "i want to cut the bananas mama!"  my hurried spirit, ready to eat, wanted to simply cut them myself.  but the early childhood educator in me took over and offered an ordinary moment with an extraordinary possibility.  yes, the eye-hand coordination was great as was the fine motor development and of course the math... but most importantly, the simple JOY that such a mundane task brought!  today i am grateful for the reminder to find simple JOY everyday!

today i am grateful for the discovery of baking our own daily bread.  isaak assisted measuring, mixing, kneading & waiting on the rise & bake.  we broke freshly baked bread with dinner and it was delicious.  accompanying the bread: herbs de provence roasted chicken & potatoes, broccoli & red wine.  bon appetit.  we give praise for our daily bread.

today i am grateful for being in new company.  

beginning this journey in the: documentations of our days.  reflections of our lives.  investigations of our passions.  i give praise for my son being in new company of fall.  adoring pumpkins and discovering the pleasures of cooking with them.  "lets bake pumpkin muffins" he joyfully exclaims.  oh, the delights of the season!