Thursday, November 29, 2012

giving thanks

the firsts.

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everyone warns you-
they are not easy

and 

they are right.

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around the dinner table

when blessings were given
for food
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and 
family
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and then paused
to remember

those missing

and henry.

henry...
(yes, of course i had thought about how my boy should be there- sitting on my lap
or sleepy head draped over my shoulder)

and i felt
as hot tears 
welled in my eyes

all eyes
on me
...

yes. 
thanksgiving was hard
.
but mostly
i was filled with the feeling of gratitude

for reid...

because, at the end of the day
we are stronger
we love harder
we hug longer


for my family...

for being here.
together.
sometimes sad.
but happy too.
who allow both to be very okay.


for friends...

the soul mates
those who've become family 
in the wake of this personal tragedy

the new
friends who we might never have met
if it wasn't for our boy
who know us so much more intimately 
than most everyone else
because of it

the lifelines
who show up in pajamas with wine and popcorn and chocolate for late night chats
who send snail-mail cards, just because
who call and keep calling and email and keep emailing even when i am way behind in returning both

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...

last night
after an
"URGENT!!"
email from 
one such friend
telling me to 
"get outside" 
and
"look uuuuuppppppp"

i did. 

nellie and reid and i
our little family 
walked
hand-in-hand
in the crisp cold air
under a perfectly clear 
navy blue sky
with a moon so bright it shined down to the deepest part of your soul

and i knew
that those friends
some right here and some very far away
were looking up at that same moon

and when i came home, chilled to the bone
i sat on the floor of the shower
and let the scalding water
hit me from above like a mid-summer rain storm

and i cried

and yes-
it was sadness

but also

gratitude

and when i was well-raisined
i pulled myself up
and stepped out

warm

and 

loved

...
thanksgiving 2012

Wednesday, November 28, 2012

happy list

a collection
of the little things that have made my week
...

football
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drive-in style. down comforters, wool hats, outdoor fire, red wine.


yardwork
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it's become a thanksgiving weekend tradition.
family dynamics at their best. (note the inappropriate brother-in-law)


the final weekend
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this season, after 14(!), co-workers felt much more like family.
and much harder to say goodbye to for the winter...


puppy visits
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three weeks old.
and a name: NOLA


5k records
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at long last.
i broke 30mins.
a personal victory... and then i was found dry-heaving in the woods.

...

thanksgiving.
it was wonderful.
and hard.
more, coming...

Monday, November 19, 2012

happy list

a collection
of the little things that have made my week
...

1. working wardrobe
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for MADONNA.
#whoslifeisthis !?!?

2. puppy fuzz
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 what. are. we. thinking?!?

3. comfort food
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(chicken pot pie, brussels, sourdough, pinot noir)
made with love and delivered to a friend in need

4. surprise packages
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found first thing in the morning and opened over tea
makes for a day started with squeals of delight
em, i love you.


Sunday, November 11, 2012

happy list

a collection
of the little things that have made my week
...

1. obama.
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 need i say more?!

2. cheers
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to my guy, on his birthday

3. goggles
photo92
 back in the pool. ooooh, baby.

4. vermont sunrises
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on a weekend spent with great girlfriends
...

welcome, november!
lots to be thankful for, indeed...

Wednesday, October 31, 2012

boo!

i went on a massive cooking spree during the storm
and with the cool temps and near-bare trees
i had a craving for gingerbread

so, in the spirit of the season...
gingerdead men
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the arm bone's connected to the...
that song has been playing in my head for hours with i decorated!

no, they're not anatomically correct
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but they're cute, creepy and oh-so yummy!

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happy halloween!

Sunday, October 28, 2012

happy list

a collection
of the little things that have made my week
...

1. this map
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 because it led the way on our impromptu road trip. old-school style. to see the best of friends.

2. birthday cake
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celebrating 13 years...
time. flies.

3. linen sheets
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ah. maz. ing.
 best for: sleeping late, girl talk and a good book... 

4. hand-stitching
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pocahontas. for a special little lady.


Friday, October 19, 2012

the little things

a collection
of the little things that have made my week
...

1. silky knits
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busy fingers, inspiration found...


2. running shoes
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 laced up before dawn. bring on the endorphins.


3. care packages
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hunting, gathering, baking for some favorite littles (or not-so-littles!)


4. stripped walls
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 new beginnings


5. blackberry scones
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the day has to be a good one when it starts like that, no? thank you to the ladies at three sisters!


5. this view
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a quick trip to the big city found me waking up to this

...

it's been a good one.
catching up with old friends
lunching outside (!) with new.

lots to be grateful for... 

Wednesday, October 3, 2012

the little things

this summer
after a day especially filled with pre-teen angst
i laid next to theresa 
 and we talked about how it was so important, especially on days that felt endlessly dark
to take the time to acknowledge the things that we were grateful for
the things that were good

the two of us vowed to start writing three such things down, before bed each night
(i think oprah once talked about doing this...)

i've thought a lot about that conversation over the last month
and as i go through my day
(even the darkest ones)
i try and make a mental note of the things that make me smile
the things that are good
even admist the hard

because
sometimes

 it really is the little things
that makes life living.

lately, these are mine:

1. these flowers
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because sometimes, giving is better than receiving

2. organic raspberries
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on sale, and eaten by the pint

3. leaves changing
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life, keeping on...

4. breaking out the beanies
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+ chambray and wet hair on saturday mornings = early fall perfection

5. new necklace
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sent by a dear friend, arrived on the perfect day and is worn 24/7

6. this chalk board
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reminding us that life is good. even if it's also really, really sad.

...
so this might be my weekly feature-
a little thing or two 
that makes me smile


Wednesday, September 26, 2012

weekend wave report

sunday morning
we were up with the sun

to waves 
that cape surfers dream about:
clean and head-high
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my husband was a happy man

and life felt pretty good

...

i stayed on shore
(and wrangled the dogs)
because honestly
with my luck lately
dressing up like a seal
to splash around in waters shared with great whites
just doesn't seem like such a great idea!

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not much beats the outer cape in the fall!
   

Thursday, September 6, 2012

celebrating love


today
is our fourth anniversary
...
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married during a hurricane
we've weathered life's storms
together
hand in hand
...
and that
is something to
celebrate
...
so today
we'll do just that-
celebrate
love
.
a love so great
that dreamed and dreamed and dreamed
and created a beautiful little boy
who burst our hearts wide open 
and a love that is still here
when everything shattered around us
...
today 
for
tomorrow

we love
.
xoxo

Wednesday, September 5, 2012

change

change is here

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the slight chill in the evening air

a crispness in the sound of the breeze through the leaves

shorter days

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life...

moving forward
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so
very 
differently

than we imagined
...
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we've begun our re-entry into the daily-life routine
that has always felt so comfortable

and now

so lonely
...
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reid starts back at school today

and i've got a dog to walk
and laundry to wash
and emails to send
calls to return

busy busy busy for sure

but all a little empty too
...
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this self-take, shot yesterday
on a birthday beach walk with our 3!! year old blondie-girl
who makes us smile 
everyday


Thursday, August 30, 2012

henry

thank you for all the love, care, prayers and concern over the past few weeks...

we are devastated to share that our sweet boy
henry patrick 
passed away on august 21st

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heroic henry, as we called him
fought a hard fight
but ultimately was unable to breathe on his own
...
we know in our hearts that he is in a much better place
and we are grateful that he is at peace

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goodness, how i miss my little love bug.
xoxo