{this moment}

{this moment}

A Friday ritual. A single photo - no words - capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember. 

inspired by SouleMama

Oh will you be my Valentine?

Will you? Yes, you.

Hello friends, it has been nearly two years now since I began to show up in this space and write a bit about my life, a bit about Waldorf education, a bit about parenting, striving to find my voice, to figure out what it is I am writing about. Is it our family life? Is it reflections on my children? Is it about Waldorf education? Is it as a teacher or as a mother? or both?

I'm not sure.

I've been trying to find my way through this blog world. I love visiting your blogs and connecting with you. It is fun to see where you live and how your children are growing. I love the recipes and craft ideas too.  I love most knowing that other moms, like me, are striving to hold it all together, to be present with their children and to find themselves and their voice among adults at the same time.

I imagine we are having tea together around the crackling fire of the wood stove in the playroom, each of us seeking a place to rest our cup, out of the grasp of little hands. This is my picture of us. You give me comfort that I am not alone in my challenges, in my strivings. You inspire me to keep on keeping on. You help me see the beauty along the way as well. I am grateful for that.

I'm thrilled to make connections with you in person. It was delightful to meet Mary at the WECAN conference last weekend. I feel like I have known you for years. I look forward to meeting Megan this spring too. Hopefully we won't be buried under snow this time,or if we are, we'll have an alternative plan, like skiing, so we connect no matter what.

I am flattered and honored to hear that early childhood teachers and parents read my blog too and enjoy it but do not comment. I'd love to hear from you. It's a bit like putting oneself in the window of the pet store. "Ah, cute puppy" or "no, not that one." Tap on the window pane with your comment below. I like to know that you have passed by. And it gives me a path to you as well.

We had a sweet Valentine's day this year. It began with a spectacular rose red sunrise that went on and on and on for what seemed like a while but was only a brief few moments, sort of like childhood, I though as I was rousing my sixteen year old that morning...

Valentine's continued with some sweets and a stone in each child's Valentine dish set out by the bed. I received  lovely hand made Valentines too, some hung on doors, one on the ironing board. Now isn't that a good reason to iron?

We had a visit from the secret Valentine too.

Because Valentine's is so much fun we are stretching it out over the week. Here's a sweet little ditty for you.

If apples were pears

And peaches were plums

And the rose had a different name.

If tigers were bears

And fingers were thumbs

I'd love you just the same.

Wishing you and yours all the love in the world and many moments of sweetness this week.

Happy Weekending!

Lisa

PS I'd love to know you were here. Leave a link to your blog and say hello.

The Simple Woman's Daybook

Geez, I guess I am a bit slow to catch on. Around the blog world, I have noticed posts with lists of right now I am ... ba bap ba bap ba bap.. with thoughtful and reflective entries on aspects of the moment, the day, the week. I didn't understand that they came from a particular inspiration. Well now I have learned something new. I've recently come across The Simple Woman's Daybook mentioned in a post by Renee over at Heirloom Seasons and had this aha! moment. Aha!

These past few weeks have been full for me with family life, of course, as it is for all of us with children. I've been working hard over at The Wonder of Childhood, with inspiring and helpful articles in the works for February and March. I've also been working daily on the Celebrate the Rhythm of Life program, which is really exciting and dynamic this month. I am preparing to go to Sunbridge this weekend for the WECAN East Coast Conference, the conference for early childhood educators. I am particularly busy preparing because I am a presenter at a workshop this year. Yikes. Okay I said it. Yikes. I am very excited to do this and reminding myself that I have been doing the work for years and years and years and it's time to share more of me and my discoveries in this wonderful world of Waldorf.

As an exercise in writing and striving to be more present at this blog, I am taking up The Simple Woman's Daybook entry format for today.

FOR TODAY

Outside my window... The light is crisp and clear and blue. I see patches of snow, too little snow for this time of year and a layer of ice beginning to form on the lake.

I am thinking... about a gazillion things I need to do before my little one rises.

I am thankful... for this life, for being a Mom, for the people who inhabit my life, for sunny days.

In the kitchen... thank goodness for big pots of soup, Chicken, barley and vegetable soup, leftover from yesterday, our soup day, that makes me grateful for a meal rhythm as well.

I am wearing...warm layers, of cotton and wool, many layers

I am creating... a blog post, hip, hip hooray, you know what a big deal that is sometimes.

I am going...to make oatmeal cookies with dried cranberries and pecans today, maybe for afternoon tea.

I am wondering...about wonder these days.

I am reading...so many good books, I have a stack a mile high on my nightstand. I am coming close to the end of Emma Blau.

I am hoping...to get lots done today.

I am looking forward to...the WECAN conference, singing, the puppetry, connecting with old friends, hearing the speakers, being enveloped in early childhood.

I am learning... to listen more.

Around the house...the birds are singing, outdoors that is, I hear bird songs right now, in the morning.

I am pondering....balance and focus in daily life.

A favorite quote for today... "So long as the system of competition in the production and exchange of the means of life goes on, the degradation of the arts will go on; and if that system is to last for ever, then art is doomed, and will surely die; that is to say, civilization will die." from William Morris

One of my favorite things...the quickening of life that comes with Spring, especially the sunlight that is growing stronger and longer each day. I relish in these signs of Spring after a cold, snowy winter. Come on snow!

A few plans for the rest of the week...set up new shelves for dishes, re-organize a book case we just moved. Spend lots of time with the children.

A peek into my day...Let the hens out, school, lunch, handwork, shelves and bookcase

Happy Wednesdaying :: Day of transformation and mercurial actions. May it serve you well!