Enchanted Mama

Quiet::

My hands wrap around my favorite mug as i slowly sip in the morning. i breathe. i pause and look into the fire dancing near my toes. the house has quieted. the children tucked into school after a raucous, lively weekend home. the littlest playing nearby. happy with a pile of books. or a doll. or a fur laid on the floor. rolling on and off. on and off. i find solace in the quiet. the time when even my own thoughts slow. these times don't present often when in a house of six.  instead there are levels of quiet. the quiet where everyone plays something, happy, getting along. the quiet of a beach walk. the waves crashing and retreating. the quiet of a late night swim with the family. the quiet of an inspiring conversation with a friend. the quiet once the children are in bed and just the dishwasher hums. the quiet as my guy reads nearby. each of us flipping pages. the quiet that happens, occasionally, in the morning. it's hard to say which is my favorite. more and more i seek solace in these times.

i breathe. i notice. i find the grateful that weaves through the day. i start again. 

 

*linking up with Amanda here. 

 

Choices::

My life has been full of decisions.

big. small. important. seemingly unimportant. each of those decisions helped form and create the life that I  live each day.  though the tendency to ponder how life would be different if I'd made another choice. taken another path. reacted a different way. i want to believe that this is the human condition. 

movies like the family man show this universal truth. acknowledged. understood. when I look back there are times when i wish i had said more. had more courage. listened without thinking. been kinder to myself. held more understanding.   yet, given a chance, I wouldn't do things differently.  

every decision in the exact way i chose provided the growth and wisdom i have today. though at times those moments seemed painful I wouldn't trade that.  

I have a list of "things" life has brought my way. a list that says "see" you can hold onto this. it was hard and painful. the me today asks why. why carry it any longer. 

There is a breathtaking movie playing in the theatres named about time.  I've been to see it three times. the depth of which i have cried and laughed in this movie have carried over into my daily living. Please, please go see this. and then tell me what you think.  there really are no words other than to experience it yourself. 

It comes down to what I chose in life, now, everyday.  am i choosing pessimism or joy. am i choosing old habits or gratefulness.  am i choosing a grudge or freedom. 

i'm a work in progress. though i know each day i can chose one of those things. each day i can look back and say i chose to see the beauty in the moment.  isn't that what life is really about? the people. the love. the joy. the choice. 

 

***all this to say...i was inspired by this lovely lady and this amazing movie. 

 

November 6, 2013::

this morning the washer hums in the backround. the guest bed is now empty. two sets of lovely visitors have all headed home leaving only the lingering wafts of memories. the smiles that greeted me as I walked downstairs. the two friends knitting by the fire.  a brother who brought music into our lives. all good. full.  now the house settles into quiet. 

i've been reading. most recently, i'm late to the party on this one, is the history of love by nicole krauss. such amazing writing. the dialoge in this book just slays me. it's all the words that run through your head, in and out of conversations, written down.  i laughed. i cried. i can't say enough. 

sense and sensibility by the lovely jane austen.  i'm reading this along with my girl. 

the deep end of the ocean by neil gaiman. his way of bringing together fantasy and reality really shouldn't be missed.

finally the woodcutter by kate danley, sent to me by a friend who knew i'd love it, was such a joy to read for someone who loves a good grimm's fairytale.

the sun filters through the trees out front. the whole day in front of me. two little ones build a fort with chairs, pillows, silks, and kitchen items.  laughing and pretending together. i believe i will tackle those piles of unclaimed things that happen when one has moved. displaced items that have no official home. a latte in hand gives courage to greet what this day brings. may it be a lovely one.