A Time For Change...

I think, in everyone's life, they come across moments when they are more open to change... when "the universe" brings them the opportunity to evolve into a better version of themselves. Those are the times when your spirit is most open, most willing to see, accept, and try to better the faults or less fortunate aspects of ourselves. I think I am finding myself in one of those moments.

It is a time when life brings you challenges, tries to help you stretch who you are, and allow that image to become something a bit different. For me, this is a time of universal change. I am finding myself challenged to evolve in most aspects, and trying to grow in many areas: friendship, health, family, career, and self image. It is an exciting thing when you can feel yourself growing and becoming better, and at the same time a humbling thing, when you find yourself realizing a part of you that is a bit ugly, and trying to better yourself from that. It is also a peaceful thing, to realize when you are in the thick of change, and to let go, be open, and allow that change to happen.

For now, I am trying to remain positively open to things that come, and to be accepting of change....

Painting With Friends, and an Encore

This Saturday, I got together with my Girls for lunch and painting! We had a wonderful time, great conversation, and super lots of fun exploring our creative side!

A pic of everyone's painting together, except 1 because she left before I took it!Lauren's beautiful painting.

Elizabeth's painting, a gift for a friend's new baby.

Trina's beautiful flowers.

(A) Sandi's sweet pink flowers.

Doella's sophisticated abstract.My flowers, a sort-of replica of our wedding centerpieces.

Because I had such fun painting with the girls, I decided to do some more painting today. I thought the Gerber daisies came out the best on my first painting, so I stuck with those on the two paintings I did today.
This was my first painting. I did it as a sort-of counter balance to my first one. Using my wedding colors, and a band of blue to represent the ocean, I did it as an opposite with the orange background with green daisies.My third painting was another attempt at some more daisies, but was done with some inspiration for a friend. Not sure if it will be given away or night, but was inspired by a friend just the same. =)

I think I got all the painting out of my system for now. First of all, I'm out of canvasses, and second I'm out of white paint-- a crucial element. But who knows. Though I'll never get close to the same world as my most talented painting friend Elizabeth, maybe I'll take painting back up as a weekend hobby. =)

My Latest Crafty Streak...

So, I wanted a new bag but couldn't find one, and couldn't really afford one. So I got some material pieces from Craft Warehouse. I sat down this weekend, made it up, and made myself a bag!

The outside front has one big pocket.The inside has an ornate flower pattern of brown and gold for two sets of pockets.

There are three pocket sections inside, and I plan on adding a zipper to the middle section one of these days.

The back side, with a larger pocket.

It was a pretty fun project. I did most of the sewing by hand, as I have a very low level of patience for the sewing machine. But I did use it for the thicker pieces. Just don't look too close! It is SO not perfect in any way, and the thread is green! Lots of crooked lines. But hey, we're all a bit imperfect, and so is my bag. =)

Obama's Inauguration

I was lucky enough to watch the inauguration of Barack Obama as our 44th President with my preschoolers. Granted, their attention spans didn't allow them to focus for too long, it was still great to experience it with them, and to know that the things our country does now paves the way for their future.

After we watched the inauguration and had snack, we sat down with the kids and talked about what we watched. Here's a summary of our conversation (non-quoted parts are me speaking).

Who was that man we were watching on TV?

"Barack Obama!" --Hope

What was he doing on TV? Why were we watching him?

"He's a singer!"-- Melody
"I think he fell down and bonked his head."-- Olivia
"He was trying to talk. Talk with the people." -- Melody (LOVE this one!)
"He was talking to the people at the stage."-- Julius

You know who he is? He's our new President! What do you do when you're the President?

"Our President says you invite someone over to play with." -- Ryan (LOVE this one, too!)
"You talk to the people." --Finn
"A President stands on a stage." -- Hope
"You stand on a stage and talk." --Elijah
"A President does hello in Spanish." --Olivia

Seriously, how can you not love the things kids say? They are fantastic. I LOVE my kids! =)

New Year, New Approach

So, while my year doesn't have quite as many landmark moments as a good friend of mine and her blog, I like the idea and so I'm gonna copy and list the things I look forward to in 2009!

January: Well, this month is almost over, but it carried one of the biggest events of my lifetime. The swearing in of President Barack Obama. I watched his inauguration (blog on this to follow) with my preschoolers, and I am so optimistic about his term of service and about what it will bring for our country in the way of change, peace, economic upturn, and an overall sense of renewed faith in what it means to be an American in our world today.

February: February brings Valentine's day to many, but to Paul and I it will also bring our 12th Anniversary of being together. I will continue to always celebrate this date, because we spent 11 years together before our wedding, and it is time that represents us growing up forming the wonderful marriage we have now. February also brings one of my beautiful friends' birthdays!

March: Speaking of marriage... On March 15th Paul and I will celebrate our 1st Wedding Anniversary! I am so happy to be married to him, and can't wait to watch and see how things just keep getting better and better. And for us, that's awesome because they are already great as it is. He's a wonderful husband, a fantastic papa to our boys, and one sexy firefighter to-be!
My little Hoban will celebrate his 2nd Birthday on March 27th!!

May: Miss Trina's birthday, which is like a national holiday, or should be! It may very well also be the date of some other great news for a good friend of mine, but I'll not mention that quite yet....

June: A landmark birthday for another of my "girls!" I'll not elaborate to protect her youth....
(Also my fantastic apple-fied Uncle's birthday this month.) My Beautifully Brilliantly Fantastic cousin will graduate from High school this month, propelling her college-bound into the real world where she will surely make it a much more wonderful, and more humorous place to live. She already makes it more beautiful.

July: My birthday. No landmark occasion, a simple 32. But I think Trina would strangle me if I didn't at least mention it. 2 days later, though, woohoo! July 17th brings the 6th Harry Potter movie!!

August: This is my projected date of when we will hear that Paul got the job with Tualatin Valley Fire and Rescue. It's a 6-month application/interview process, so I expect the results to be ready to go by the beginning of August. =) Celebration parties to follow!!

September: I will officially become a Firefighter's Wife. My mama's birthday is this month, as is the 19th birthday of my AMAZING cousin.

October: Another of my beautiful friends will have her birthday. If my family is still living in the Portland area, it will be I believe our 6th annual trip to the pumpkin patch.

November: This will be Paul's 30th Birthday!! Woohoo! It will also be Gaius's 4th Birthday! It also brings the birthday of the 6th member of my "girls"! Also, November 20th brings the sequel to my OTHER favorite movie, NEW MOON premieres November 20th!

December: I have a plan for this month, but I'm not gonna share. It will be the first time in 4 years that I WILL have a Christmas tree. And maybe the 2nd annual family trip to the beach in lieu of gifts?

So It think that's it, so far.... Lots of little positive things that remind you what life is really all about. Happy 2009!!