In This Season

I am knee deep in life. 

So much good. So much challenge. Riding the waves of both. 

Friday was the first day in a long time that I felt _____________ in a long time. Calm. Present. Hopeful. There's not a perfect word for it, but it was good. 

Thank you God for good. 

Other things that have been filling me up recently:

I listened to one of my favorite poets Mary Oliver (interviewed on the On Being podcast) and ordered her new book of poetry called Felicity. 

The kids are so great. So great. Learning. Laughing. Listening (most of the time). Connecting. This season with them feels different. They are getting older. The conversations and the pauses are different. There are still challenges to be sure, but they are just really wonderful to be around right now. Anna rocking her spelling words and Simon loving his Doc Brown Halloween costume (and anything Back To The Future). Lots of "I love you's" everyday in this house. 

Katie and Peter welcomed a baby boy into the world last Monday. It is the greatest joy to me to witness the two of them with their own child now. Katie has been with my family though our own thick and thin for the last six years. She has cared for them and for me with a deep, deep love. Our hearts are bursting to help welcome Graham to the world. 

Satuday morning I woke up early, as I've been doing even since coming back from France, and went for a walk before 6am. In the dark. And it was awesome. 

I loved this interview by Jess Lively with Elizabeth Gilbert who says near the end of the interview: "If you're not dead yet you're still a student." 

This past Monday I finally, after saying I was going to do it since January, signed up for and attended a local yoga class. I literally smiled to myself during one of the poses, that I'm-also-probably-going-to-cry-smile, as I experienced that very specific feeling that I was exactly the place I needed to be. My body and mind were filled with the positive messages of surrendering and strength and moving through resistance. I'm going again tomorrow. 

Current words: curious, whole, hope, ignited

Current playlist: Macklemore (Downtown), Bob Dylan (Greatest Hits), Mumford & Sons (Wilder Mind)