4th of July weekend

The most interesting game of "Clue" you will ever play. Five year olds play by their rules.

Stealing a kiss... sometimes that's the only way I can get one.

Man and his best friend.

We played hard and celebrated mom's birthday.

Then the 4th of July celebration started with water slides with the Allen family.

I love how big sis watches out for the boys. Once Bear started down that slide there was no breaks for the rest of the day. I'd say he climbed those steps a hundred times. (Exaggerated, but that's what it felt like.)

Following this guy everywhere was a job. He was so tuckered that he fell asleep as we left the parking lot. Too much fun!

Hiking was next. The main hike was too long and steep for Luke so him and I stayed on the main paths. Wish I had pics of the view from the top. Next time.

Celebrated Sis's b-day. It was a perfect day.

This and that

Pinewood Derby.

Bear's car is the red one. It came in about 7th place and got the award for... "The Best Spoiler". His very own design.

Cousin niece. She is beautiful. I'm so proud of her momma.

Baby shower decorations. (Frank's sister adopted a beautiful boy.) I loved these. Frank's mom painted them.

A gift for Frank's sister was some of our home made invitations placed in this frame.

Here's the man of the hour. Simon.

And this is just some weird kids having a party. Strange.

It's you and me kiddo

My quiet blog has turned all but silent due to the stress, that won't allow me to quiet myself enough to write for a moment.

Wrestling practices are over and my little bear boy received his first trophy ever. The excitement of having something to show for all his hard work, made all those grueling practices well worth it for him.

My teenager got "Student of the Month" and is planning her next four years of high school and already thinking on to college. I'm not sure her dad and I will ever get used to her being "grown up".

Preparing the littlest of the gang for kindergarten, once would have been a joy, but watching them grow so fast it has become a bit of a bitter/sweet experience. I want to hold them all close, especially as I watch the world change at what feels like hyper-speed.

I'm teaching more classes and taking continuing ed classes which makes more of a strain on the day to day life. What an oxymoron. Stressed out Yoga Instructor. Frank keeps saying, "Put the heels of your feet in the small of your back... and breathe." A joke we have occasionally repeated since the start of my yoga schooling. I went to a chiropractor today who is going to work with me to de-stress and customize my diet. It was obvious that stress is the major factor to a few health issues I've had over the past 8 years. I'm hoping that over the next 60 days, I will be able to turn around my physical and emotional state. Should be good and I'm excited about it. As for the moment, I'm going to go squeeze my kiddos and enjoy a beautiful evening.

Have a fantastic weekend!

Breath and Space

When I asked my five year old what he wanted for breakfast this morning, he responded confidently, "Cuddle time". So that's what I fed him... lots and lots of cuddles.

In yesterdays class we talked about the concept of, birth in connection to yoga. It was a cool thought that I came across in my studies and wanted to explore it a bit. The first two things every human being experiences at birth is breath and space which are the two things we work with in the practice of yoga asanas (poses). As I moved my body through my breath, I was surprised that my mind didn't stay on our experience in those first moments of life. Instead it brought me to the "here and now", and followed my movement and breath giving me a deeper awareness of the beauty of breath, space, and my ability and freedom, to move through that space. (I hope that makes sense.) When we are weighed down emotionally or physically, our breath and movement in space suffer. We feel no freedom, meaning, or joy, in the true beauty of breathing or moving our limbs freely through space. It's equal to the beauty of a beating heart and should be felt deeply and soulfully. I invite you to take some time to just think about it... and see where it takes you.

Courtney

MomBomb

MomBomb: Noun; The substantial mass of persuasiveness descended on a teenager when a loving mother is exploding with passion about a subject she is, well... passionate about.

Passionate: Noun; ardor, enthusiasm, eagerness, zeal, zealousness, vigor, FIRE, FIERINESS, energy, fervency, animation, SPIRIT, SPIRITEDNESS

I dropped the MomBomb on a teenage client today after her mother asked me to speak with her teen about the subject of underage drinking. This is a teenager that I have been mentoring for the past three years so it was a proper request. It seemed to work and besides all the facts, statistics and stories of experience, the best part was opening up that line of communication. That line where on her end, she will speak into it any time she has the desire to drink or spend time with other underage drinkers, and on my end, I will listen, understand and lovingly ask the questions she needs to consider. I will make sure she knows she can... "Come hang with me." Every teenager is worthy of a MomBomb starting and ending with, "I'm teaching you this because... I love you."

Lights out.

God is good

Brrrrrr! It's a cold gray day and the kids have been given the day off because last night's rain on top of the icy roads, has left the roads slicker then a skating rink. We are locked in for the day and thankfully daddy has stocked us up on movies and snacks to last for the next few days. I'm in the middle of a couple good books and I'm still trying to finish some handmade craft gifts that I started before christmas. Looks like I have plenty to do along with what feels like 50 other things I have started to do or want to do.

This past week has been a trying yet beautiful reconnection with God for me. I have always loved my relationship with my maker and although the past few years have been bleak I have hung on by a thread and nurtured this relationship as much as I emotionally can. The feeling or sense that I can weep, laugh, worry, sing, fear or boldly say my feelings in prayer to this one special relationship... and listen to... and receive response from, gives me exactly what I need to feel strength, love, peace, security and even just that needed boost to pop me over the top of an obstacle. I am reliving the importance of prayer (the discussion, laying it all out on the table) and meditation (the listening... quiet and soulful at the feet of the one who knows all). I am practicing the yoga asanas as what they are meant for, a physical release in order to open the mind and spirit, before prayer and meditation. I have also found that the food taken in highly effects the productivity of prayer and meditation and once again I am bewildered at how our body, mind and spirit were so intricately put together, as though three pieces of cloth sewn together, creating a direct effect on two pieces, as one piece is moved at any given moment. The challenges of building and maintaining a healthy mind, body and spirit takes daily work and focus, which in these busy days, can be almost more than one person can handle. This is exactly the reason I turn to my maker, setting down all the issues, all the aspects of life I desire to build as an overwhelming wave is swept over me and the image comes to mind, of an ant helplessly staring up a mountain that needs to be moved. I am ignorant, helpless and weak. One day at a time... one moment at a time, knowing that the hand I hold, is aware of every day and every moment before and after this one. The words spoken to me are as a stitch securing my mind, body and spirit as one piece... one complete unit, with a purpose. I am thankful, grateful and humbled at the fact that, although hard, I was given my life bootcamp in a religious cult to teach me how to reach out for that spiritual connection to seek (on bad days), to praise (on good days) and to be thankful for all days, good or bad, for I am here. I have life. I have breath. And I have love.

Miracle

"MIRACLE"

Many roads I've travelled

And faces I've seen

Each tells a story

Of what might have been

A missed golden moment

But life still remains

A search for the innocence

Somehow we lost on the way

And we all need a miracle, that I truly believe

Yes we all need a miracle, and I believe my miracle is you

Now the silence that follows

The last curtain call

I don't know anyone

Who has come through it all

You gave me direction

A part in your cast

No longer make believe

Now that I know it will last

We all need a miracle, that I truly believe

We all need a miracle, and I believe my miracle is you

~Rick Astley~