monday, monday

just trying to catch up on life.
a week of vacation followed by nearly a week sick in bed has left me with a big to-do list.
ideas are a brewing, the sewing machine is out and goodies are forth coming.
toodles.
happy monday.

what a 9 year old wants a 9 year old gets

for his birthday that is!
tempura shrimp, chicken curry, soda, orange milkshake dessert, 2 friends and hours of video games.

hours of mario.

but this mama hung up birthday bunting and bought a mini cake at the bakery.

jude claimed it was the best birthday ever, even better than last year.
...
i think i prefer big birthday party events because i feel validated as a super duper creative mom or something but this was a great low key laid back affair and i still feel validated!
plus tomorrow is a grandparent family lunch on the town after church...let the multi-day birthday events continue!

nine!

Happy Birthday Jude!

Dearest Jude,
Nine years ago today you entered into this world, our life and our hearts.
We have never been the same.
In the moment I met you, I fell deeper in love with your dad and my heart was full of love and promise for you.
I knew God's grace shone on me.

You are an amazing person, your memory and fact-recall ability blows my mind daily.
Your gift of music brings joy to my heart.
You have an incredible sense of humor; a bit of irony, a bit of sarcasm and a bit silliness.
You are intelligent and have a great love of learning...this gift will take you far in life and will open many doors for you.

I love the way you see and process the world.
The way you take on being the eldest child and the responsibility that comes with that.
You have a great love of Star Wars, Lego and Aikido!
You shine the light of Jesus and for that I am pleased.

Jude, you are nine today and daily my love for you grows and grows.
May the force be with you!
But more importantly may you know you are loved by many and may God go before you.
Love always,
xo
Your mama

If you are happy and you know it.

I decided to repost this here on my blog just in case you did not link over to CraftyFanny.
I have spent most of the week in bed and this gives me another day...I am lazy like that.
Enjoy!

When Tiffany, the happiest person I know, first asked me to do a guest post about happy joyful things I got to thinking about happiness and what it looks like in my life.

Happy highlights of my life would include good childhood memories of family get togethers, youth group functions, serving refugees overseas, marrying John, going to Bar J, witnessing the physical touch of God's presence in my life, welcoming 2 beautiful babies into this world, the moment my daughter heard for the first time, meeting my sister on the Spanish steps in Rome, camping in the high country, standing in the kitchen of Chez Panisse and innumerable other moments tossed in here and there.

my son as a baby(above) and my daughter (below)

There are many many things that make me happy too...like lattes from Cafe Trieste, hiking with my dog on the ridge, eating a carrot fresh from the garden with a bit of dirt still attached, finding a heart shape rock, hearing from an old friend, witnessing my kids win a spelling bee, watching a terrific movie and so on...you get the idea.
Momentary happiness.

I had to stop a moment and ask myself, am I happy?
Is my life marked with happiness?
Do I pursue happy things?
Honestly I can not always answer in the affirmative.
I think however, I would prefer to have a life marked by peace and contentment rather than fleeting happiness....a life marked by a deep faith, a willingness to embrace all bright mornings and dark storms that roll my way and the ability to find joy in the journey.
Like a tree, rooted deep in joy and peace with branches waving in the winds of happiness, changing season to season.

I heard it once said that happiness is place between too little and too much...I like that.

Tiffany thanks for having me over here at craftyfanny...I am so grateful to know you for "reals"...enjoy your sunny happy vacation.

letter #9

Dearest Beloved, Thank you for making the bed and for wrangling the duvet cover. I am grateful for your willingness to remake the bed after I wash the bedding...that's team work baby.
Dear Yuca's, Your street tacos are so yummy, next time I am in LA you can be sure we will stop by for a bite. Bravo on the James Beard award.
Dear Miller's, Thank you for a fantastic weekend of fun and friendship.
Dear Date shakes, you are a bit too sweet but you have been on my mind. I should have picked up date crystals when I had the chance so I could make my own date shake.
Dearest Beloved, I love dreaming about what-ifs with you. I love praying about what our future might hold but mostly I am grateful for this good life God has given us.
As you wish.
xo
yours

weekly letters are inspired by today's letters.

ugh.

there is light at the end of the tunnel but sickness still abounds.

excuse us while we hibernate the cooties away.