sparkle

a friend
tells her daughters
to sparkle

not in the Disney princess sort of way
but rather...

a presence
warm eyes
authentic smile
spontaneous laugh
expressing wonder

Glow

comittment

Before swim practice
grumbling, getting organized

During swim practice
focus, fluidity, strength, improvement

After swim practice
warm shower, connection with friends, elevated mood

accomplishment

Stick-with-it-ness

vacation

slow mornings
warm breakfasts

the girls ask...
what do you want to do?

options feel luxurious!

lemonade

It started with a young girl
named Alex

Selling lemonade
to raise money
to fight pediatric cancer

Her passion has been
seeded

Lemonade by donation
We raised $2,600
this weekend

Bringing out the best in people
United for a cause

kindness

generosity
of spirit

contagious
positive energy

shining
the light
on what
is right

wow

Our Family Tradition

Discovering
a "wow" rock or shell
at the beach

Memories are awakened
Conversations emerge
as we sift through
our collection

Gifts from the Sea

remnants

Last day of school

back packs bursting with
remnants of learning

reflection
growth
pride

relief

a lightening
a release

good news
feels great

challenges

When you experience
dissonance,
your mind is ripe for learning.

How did you react during a
challenging moment today?

commit
to trust
to empathize
to persevere

so that

your true self
your essence
your passions
your dreams

emerge and strengthen

worry

anxiety
lurking around the corner

intellectually, I know
that worrying about tomorrow
empties strength from today

shoo that pest away
it's all about perspective

Dad

Your
tender stare
is imprinted
in me

No one
will ever look at me
the same way

conversation

What magnitizes you toward
one conversation and not another?

"Great minds discuss ideas;
average minds discuss events;
small minds discuss people."
- Eleanor Roosevelt

Build on small talk
Expand

deposit

into our relationship
bank account

the girls away
us together

sharing an evening
walking to a savory meal
uninterrupted conversation

enjoying the peaceful break

welcoming the arrival
swapping stories
from our time apart

DNA by design
strays and overlaps

connections

Identify key ideas
Know guiding principles

Bind
Reinforce
Unify

Braid together threads
Synthesize
Morph into something new

compliments

Do you make time to give
compliments?

I received kudos today
and they put a spring in my step
and straightened my posture.

Everyone appreciates kindness.

Spotlight positive traits.

Creating happiness
for the giver and receiver

avoidance

inflates my problems

interactions
built upon

honesty
acceptance
reciprocity

inflate my opportunities
to grow

perfect

Don't be snared
in the perfection trap

living based on others'
expectations
requirements
approval

Imitations

Pursuing perfection
makes you find fault in others

Look at each day
as an opportunity
to make choices
take risks
break the mold

Be inquisitive
and ask yourself
Why do you do what you do?

Are your answers
related to your dreams?
do they reflect your essence?

basil

harvest from the garden

making pesto together

basil leaves
olive oil
good cheese
nuts
lemon
salt
pepper

AROMA

spread on crusty bread
with sliced tomato

burst of flavor

range

Breadth of Feelings

peaceful
walking early this morning

patient
looking for the missing swim cap

angry
sassy talk from my daughter

excited
cheering on the team at the swim meet

proud
watching my daughters be kind at the birthday party

inspired
talking with cancer survivors

creative
cooking and playing my favorite music

content

All in a Day

dreams

What captures your imagination
when no one tells you what to do?

Discover where dreams start!

clarity of direction
is built on

being open
visualizing
taking risks

Highlight your strengths
and persevere through challenges
to manifest your dreams.

authors

third grade publication celebration

present, listening with intent
to my daughter
and the other kids

poetry about
the color yellow
splashing in the waves
lightning

playful
rhythmic
revealing

giddy with pride
excited about language

shaping an identity as a writer

sincerity

Maintain freedom from duplicity and hypocrisy.

Express genuine interest in others.

Let the truth guide your words and actions.

Feel the connectivity when sincerity is present.

Be impeccable.

expand

noticing the hierarchy

status
rank
arrangement
title

blur the lines

learn from
all living things

be open

acknowledgment

The core of the word
acknowledgment is
"know."

know how others contribute
know how to express your gratitude

specific declarations
that recognize
what someone knows
how someone feels

leaving imprints

thrill

roller coaster

clicking up the steep incline
creeping over the top
and blazing down
squeals and screams
ginormous smiles

shared moments of fun
to replay again and again

goosebumps

soaking up
youth symphony practice

crescendos
give me goosebumps

not only from the
emotion evoked
by the music

but also

hope for the future

potential

Possibilities exist!

Sometimes the possibilities for tomorrow
are beyond what we imagine today.

Focusing on capacity
for growth and development
leads to actualization.

Do you look for potential
in yourself, others and situations?

coming into being

bombarded

bellows for "mommy"
bickering sisters
work obligations
feed the guinea pigs
pick up the dog poop
sink full of dishes
burnt popcorn

Sometimes I feel
scattered and overloaded

and so

I seek
quiet
contemplative
space

and I flip it...

honored to be a mother
grateful for fulfilling work
appreciative of my abundant lifestyle

but
the house still smells
like burnt popcorn

connections

energizing conversations
with friends

nested in
empathy
validation
new directions

abundance

splurge

Ghiradelli ice cream sundaes
a spontaneous splurge

dollops of warm fudge
dripping down the
creamy ice cream scoops

our spoons dive in for that
combo of melted ice cream
and smooth, rich chocolate

the only thing that could
have been better?

refills on the hot fudge