It's monday.

Some things came up yesterday in a discussion, with an acquaintance that are bothering me. I don't know if that is why I am feeling so tired today, but I do know that the more I think about it, the more upset I feel.

I feel bad that people can so easily make big accusations without knowing the truth. The person saying these things has never even met the one they are telling these lies about.

I'm not one to come down on anyone. Yes, I would speak the truth, but it wasn't something for me to really hit this one head on...

My defense was weak as I tried to keep from creating any negative waves.

Even writing this, I can feel my blood pressure going up. It makes me want to cry.

I wish I could give straight details on this, but it's not about me.

I'm praying for baby Bronson.

His latest pictures are sooo cute. Go to the link on the side to see him.

Over the past 5 months, it feels as though this world just got a lot harsher. I've never been in a place to see so many people get hurt or die like I have lately... and that's people I do know and the ones I don't know, but have heard about. Haiti's situation came into the middle of it all and all I could think about is the mothers, fathers, brothers, sisters etc. who have lost loved ones and the pain they are suffering. I've heard about the hundreds of babies left without parents... heartbreaking. Then yesterday, I was thinking about the children who are my own children's ages that lost their parents. Who is taking care of them all? How scared they must be. Why this has happened to them. How will it ever be all fixed?

We lost a friend to cancer only months before my brother's accident. After those days with Dave in ICU, I became sensitive to this subject. Then Haiti... then baby Bronson.

Today I'm tired... even after two cups of coffee. My mind is a blur. My focus is off. Seeing my kiddos after school will help. I will hold them... maybe watch a fun movie with them... play with them... and remind them, once again, how much I love them.

Courtney

Picture Jamboree

Over the past few days... I learned something new.

Webcam pics.

Never tried it before because I have a decent camera that does all the picture taking.

It turned out to be more fun for the kids than anything and because they get tired of me taking pictures, I decided to take all the webpics they wanted. Here's a few.

The first day, I was trying to see how this worked. My little guy made more faces then I thought he would. This one is my favorite.

I decided to show big sis to see what she would do, and of course out came some funny ones.

Then today happened. The beauty of it was... they all had props. I just told them to come look at the computer with me and this is how they came.

We were trying to get little brother to open his mouth, cause when he does, it's monumental. Of course, I end up the only one with an open mouth and we never do get the good shot of his "almost flip top lid".

For some reason big brother always ends up unable to be seen in the pics. Maybe I should keep him a mystery for fun. His new Darth Vader outfit was hilarious, but even more funny, his choice of weapon is a red foam bat instead of one of the multiple Light Sabers he usually carries around.

I was able to get my beautiful hubby in one shot. He is rarely in family photos. He says he doesn't know how to smile for pictures.... I guess we will just have to practice.

This is our little buddy. He requested to take some pictures with me and once he got going, he didn't want to stop. I tried to get Vader in there instead of me after the first couple, but he refused, however you will see his scary black glove in all the shots of our little friend.

One of these days, his mouth will be bigger than mine.

He said he wanted a nose picking shot. That's funny... he requests these almost every time we have taken goofy pictures with him. There's that dark lord hand.

By the time we were done, I felt frazzled and oh so done with taking pics.

They Named Him "Miner"

Today Ashley and I went shopping... with "The Boys".

Cousins and best buddies.

I enjoyed listening to their quiet conversation in the back seat as we traveled 15 minutes to get some decorations for my lil' studio.

It sounded something like this...

Luke: "I've got a little car seat, and you have a big car seat!"

Ben: "Yeah! I have big car seat!"

Luke: "Look! We're stopping now!"

Ben: "Yeah, stopping!"

Luke: "Yay! We are going forward now!!!"

Ben: "Yeah, goin foward!"

Giggles and discussion kept them busy till we got there.

At the store, they found a new friend... The owner.

Ben decided to call him "Miner".

Here they are showing off their cool toys they brought from home. A good 45 minute discussion.

Both tuckered by the time we were done... and I can't figure out how only one of them fell asleep on the drive home.

Stuff Yourself!

Don't know what it is about these past couple of days.... but, all I want to do is eat! What's worse, is I'm only craving CARBS! UGH!!! Last month I did an organic cleanse and polished my eating and I couldn't believe how different I felt. Physically energetic with a great vibe in my veins, mentally I gained a greater understanding of nutrition and knew that it finally stuck. High nutrition is very important to me, but...

... this craving is unmanageable today!

I do have a tendency to cut out even the whole grains when I step up my meal plans, so it could be possible that my body is craving what it's not getting enough of... or I might be feeling a little extra stress, frustration and worry that could be causing the rebellion. Maybe it's just the lack of veggies and fruit in my fridge right now because I haven't made this week's shopping trip yet... except... there is enough to work with. Hopefully soon, this craving will subside and I can go back to feeling satisfied with my upgraded meal plan. Eating healthy is a learning experience and I feel an important investment in my future.

Come back tomorrow because it's going to be an important day with lots of love put into my post!

Courtney

Power of Positive

Class today was a lot of fun. We decided to free- style it and go with the flow. That's the bonus of working with women who know their yoga. As I did mine... it gave them an opportunity to follow or to be independent. We had a good conversation about energy and how thoughts are matter, and create an energy good or bad. Ever notice when you are around someone you can feel a positive or a negative energy? I love being around positive people! I also love being a positive energy for others. It makes me happy.

What are the chances?

The colorful sign at the espresso stand.

After I posted this morning's post I couldn't believe what happened next. Remember my beloved relative that has a grandbaby in the hospital? Well, that baby almost drowned in the bathtub yesterday... He is only 1 year old and they were able to find a little life in him. I don't know how bad it is, or if he will make it, but it is beyond comprehension... as a mother. So there I was... wishing I could do something... but there was nothing except go on with that busy mundane day I wrote about. I decided to click "next blog" to see what might pop up and couldn't believe what I was reading... a beautiful, heart wrenching story of a young mother who lost her little one year old boy in a drowning 2 years ago. Seriously! What are the chances?

After reading about it, I had to consider what to do with it all. This just doesn't happen... and what opportunities could come from it? I didn't feel it would be best to just leave it... so I went to a link that the mother had mentioned in her blog and left a message connecting the two mothers together. Oh how I pray it will work out and that maybe there could be comfort for both of them. They are the same religion, so that was an added reason to connect them. So how is this all to be taken? A chance thing? Godly orchestration? All I know is that as I was typing the message, I had to hold back the tears at what was taking place. There are all kinds of possible outcomes, and what happens in the end, most likely... I will never know.

My big boy running through the school yard today.

It's a monday alright...

It's definitely monday. I woke up today thinking that maybe it was going to be a relaxing day. Not even close. After getting the big kids off to school I realize... I'm out of coffee. Bah! That's only for starters. I open the fridge to find that someone didn't get the caramel bottle closed and it tipped... sigh, sticky caramel all over the top shelf of the fridge. The pantry is in need of a "dejunking" and the laundry is waiting with my name on it. It's my workout day and I'm hoping to get a run in. When I sit down to check emails, I have a message that one of my beloved relatives has a grandbaby in the hospital... and it doesn't look good. Life is precious. Then my three year old comes to me with puppy eyes asking for a game on the train tracks. Grocery shopping, water the plants, plan tomorrows class, return the videos, take out the garbage... then there will be homework and dinner to make not to mention planning my son's birthday and getting gifts for the four birthdays (all relatives) this week. I seriously wish there was something more in depth and uplifting to write about, but such is life.

#1 Goal today: Invite one person to tomorrow's class.

Today's song: The Downeaster "Alexa" -Billy Joel-

Have a good one!