Around Here
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Reading M. Scott Peck's The Road Less Traveled.
Hearing Simon and Anna race back and forth upstairs from my office, down the hallway and into my bedroom (while I'm downstairs cleaning up the kitchen). Back and forth and back and forth. There's laughter and then there's yelling and then more giggles and it most often ends with one of them yelling for me.
Navigating our new normal and finding places of peace and connection and joy.
Riding waves of emotion and working on allowing myself to be present in all aspects.
Negotiating money and time.
Adoring the addition of our new cat George. He is awesome.
Refereeing a myriad of arguments between an almost 10-yr old and an almost 3-yr old - most having to do with one of them touching the other or getting too close.
Savoring Natalie Goldberg's Writing Down The Bones one chapter (or two) at a time.
Organizing legos.
Enjoying the process of working on my 52 Creative Lifts newsletter the last few weeks.
Listening to Simon read Kung Fu Panda 2 out loud in the evening before bed.
Listening to Anna sing so many songs. Songs she knows and songs she makes up.
Cleaning up my office after painting this past week. It was a major project and now I'm into a major supply reorganization. I've got a bunch of layouts I want to do but before I start I really want to get this place in order.
Preparing to celebrate Simon's 10th birthday tomorrow and taking cupcakes to his class today.
Planning, dreaming, taking steps forward for this next chapter.
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112 comments
There is so much going on with your life and I like the way you just listed the description of everything around you. Your are still in my prayers with this journey you are taking. May you have a wonderful birthday with your son.
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Yay! For small joys. I remember my own transition time. It was turbulent but I was ever present in it!
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Legos! HeeHee. I only had one child and tubs and tubs of Playmobil figures and accessories. We painstakingly separated and categorized them, but withing days, they were messed up again. The sheer volume of pieces is astounding! Each little hat, glove, or shoe....whew. Have fun. Hee Hee
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I have to say The Road Less Travelled was one of my favourite all time reads - read it a couple of times. The amazing thing about life is how it is joyful, busy, painful, raw, funny, moving, profound, challenging and ever changing all at once. You seem to be navigating it well and staying present through it all, no matter what it is, is just so great for you.
Happy birthday to Simon and I am sure his party will be lots of fun! I cannot wait to see your re-done room! Have a fantastic weekend Ali!
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Happy Birthday to sweet Simon! I hope his day is as awesome as he is. :) Ali, I love the book of poems you mentioned. One book that I wanted to share with you, and has been with me forever, that speaks to my soul is Cries of the Spirit. It is an amazing compilation of poems by women for women. It both soothes and uplifts me. Big hugs Ali...BTW, I LOVE YOUR NEWSLETTER! I opened a file to save all of them. Thank you for this latest addition to help us all along a creative life. :)
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HAPPY BIRTHDAY SIMON!
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I love posts like this; they give such a great overall glimpse of life. I'll be sending prayers your way...transition is never easy.
Sounds like your office project is a big one but I bet it feels good to be getting organized! Good luck with everything and thanks once again for sharing your life and talent with us.
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Thank you for being honest and authentic in your posts. Happy Birthday to Simon-I hope your family has a brilliant weekend!
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HAPPY BIRTHDAY SIMON!! Wishing you the best on your special day!!
Everything will eventually fall into place. Best of luck to you all.
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aaahhh! Is there really a normal? Or are we just eluding oneself to believe that fact. Personally, I dont want to be normal I want to be out of the box ...Ali, I know your are strong and going UP forward is the process to be taken....at one time or another all humanity is faced with the similiar situations, we are created to be a surviver we this happens....I just love how we are all alike yet all so different....such is life.....Happy Birthday to Simon! I cant believe he is going to be 10 years old....I can remember when you began your newsletter and had your layouts in the CK mag and he was a small...time is a priceless gift....
hugs and blessings
Sharon Dryjanski Phoenix Az Creative Escape
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Happiest of Happy Birthdays to Simon! And I too have been a whole day off this week. I am having my new Silhouette shipped to my office and spent all day yesterday stalking the warehouse waiting for it to arrive. I was, to say the least, quite disappointed that it never showed up. Then, realized as I was getting ready to go home that it will be delivered TODAY!!! @@
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organising legos! that's a constant battle around here too :) I notice from your picture that heads and bodies are separate.... my Mr7 does this all the time - mixes and muddles... and it drives me bonkers!! LOL Maybe I should just get him a split bins and let hime go for it ;)
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Hi Ali,
just wondered, are those dividers in your lego box? we have alot of things like that and wondered how you divided the box..thanks and have a great weekend..
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Hi - that photo is actually a couple boxes laying next to each other on the floor :).
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Loved reading this. happy birthday tomorrow to a sweet boy who has contagious joy!
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A New Normal.....I hadn't thought of it that way, but it's what I'm working towards, too. Just this week my husband & I moved in with my elderly father, so we're working our way to a routine of sorts to make a new normal for all of us.
Best wishes to Simon on his big day, you're doing a great job, Ali.
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Cant wait to see photos of your office!
Change can be so difficult.
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My son has Aspergers and as a result we don't "do" birthday parties so every year I take cupcakes to school for a class "party". It's great! No mess to clean up, no kids to entertain or run home afterwards. LOL. Highly recommend it! Well done Ali. xoxo from NZ
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We do that too Esther - we started it back in kindergarten and it's been a great tradition. Last year was the first bigger friends party and it went fine - trying it again this year.
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"Planning, dreaming, taking steps forward for this next chapter."
This made me smile. I hope your dreams for the next chapter come true.
Happy Birthday, Simon!
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You have so got this!! You are amazing! Love you!!
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Happy birthday to Simon. My son turns 10 exactly one week after him. How did time go by so quickly?
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