I want to be humble around my children.
I want their light to shine.

I've been busy visioning, studying, painting.
I'm bummed out this place has been so quiet, yet I still need inspiration to blog. Not one of those daily bloggers just yet.

Thanks for peeking in.

Authentic parents

I am very aware of my short comings as a parent.  
Sometimes too much so, and when it comes to parenting, the harder I try, the more "mistakes" I seem to make.
I don't have a parenting blue print.  
My BIGGEST goal with my children is that they know they are loved. 
Meeting their basic needs, entertainment, education, it's all at the top too.

"But on the other hand, being an authentic parent is an attainable goal.  Authentic parents are aware of their own emotional wounds, and are on the journey of emotional and spiritual healing.  They aren’t constantly looking over their shoulder to see how they or their children stack up, but they live in a constant state of awareness of the individual needs of their kids."
www.DrBarbaraSorrels.com

I want to be an authentic parent, and after reading this paragraph,  especially the underlined part, I can say with confidence that I am, and that makes my heart feel good.  I want so much for my children, and at their young ages of 4 and 2, I know that it's what I do that stays with them.

You can find the rest of this interview on one of my favorite blogs:
www.ashleyannphotography.com

I don't know what it is lately, but I've been thinking about parenting, and love, and attention so much lately.  This isn't unusual for me, or any parent, but I feel some sort of shift happening.  I do know it's for the better.  

The first week of January

The first week of January has been good, and then the flu happened!!
Not great! I'm sure I'm at zero sick time at work now :( 
I have to figure out how to get my immune system up.
Any and every cold the kids bring home, I get...yuck!

Anyways, I've been keeping a little busy with visioning, and art.
Here are a few pages I've created/painted

Hello new friend

                              2014

You are here.
I tried hard not to get my hopes up, cause really, nothing is different today, however there is an energy in the air, there is an energy inside of me, there is a hope inside of me, there is faith inside of me...things that were not there yesterday. Mere 24 hours ago, I did not feel so hopeful and excited about my possibilities.  

And today, today I didn't even do all that good.
I had about five pieces of fudge, one giant cookie, McDonald's for dinner, and no exercise.  Yet I'm not calling myself a loser, I don't think I'll wake up ten pounds heavier, and I know I can start over tomorrow.  I can actually start over right now, which I'm doing with a tall glass of water.  

I have hope.
All the reading, and learning, and journaling I did in 2013 is finally showing it's effects on me.  I think my brain has actually been rewiring this whole time, and it's today I realized that new knowledge and information is sticking to my soul.

I don't know what you'll bring.
Here is what I'm hoping for, and here is what I will work on:
- traveling: out of state, and out of the country 
- getting healthy: I will finally take that aerobics class (I rocked in high school), I will finally check out that yoga class I've been admiring from afar, I will have a couple great friends joining me on my new eating adventures - built in support
- getting the cottage set up as my studio - it's happening, my mind and heart are ready
- I want to listen to more hip-hop, I know, random, but my soul has a beat inside, and that's how I roll

2014, I think we'll be friends.