Growing inside

I have done a lot of growing and evolving since I took on the unknown task of being totally and utterly outside of my comfort zone, in my professional life.
During two years I had a tough job steering through a whole lot of hard and new situations and I've cried quite some tears and despaired, even.
This, you know, you who steadily read this blog.

What you don't know (maybe) and what I really didn't know either is that this process has made me grow and change. In some kind of parallel world I evolved and grew calm and secure, while havoc was rioting around me.
Nowadays I find myself feeling more like me - a new or more visible me - and I've even found a look and a style that is me and that I'm comfortable in.
So, this inner journey has/is not only made/making me stronger and more secure, it also makes me know how I want to wear my hair and what kind of clothes and colors I feel the best in.

That's quite something - feeling that good about yourself, in the midst of all of this!

I got up at 04:40 AM twice this week, which meant having the opportunity to see sunrises again!

Home, sweet home.

Capturing photos with my beloved camera, is capturing my world in all its color and light. Writing in this blog is reliving, analyzing and making my inner world and these two ways of caring for me and my life really means the world.
Sharing it with you who read it, who I know are all good people, is an extra perk and lifts my spirits another notch. Knowing the other half of my heart (my firstborn son) reads it, connects me a little more to him.
Blogging here is so enjoyable, even if I sometimes can't keep up with the level I actually want.
Thank you so much for taking time to read, taking time to comment and cheer me on. I really love it!

The stinking old toilet finally was replaced. A project taking its toll...

Hubs kept busy, one might say.

And The Boy did too!

Funkie had hectic ties, this weekend, keeping an eye on every single project - inside and out.

My weekend was very good indeed. I enjoyed fully and very thankfully, the fact that I was all smiles, all the time! I felt loved, in love, happy and excited. I'm pleased with the days off and I feel invigorated and ready for the upcoming week.

That's right: I promised to keep you posted on the making-friends-project! We had The Boy's best friend's parents over Sunday and they stayed for three hours. Time well spent and we had a good time. If there will be other times, I don't know, but I enjoyed this.

Monday already. Easter is coming right up. Have a blast!

Our best time is now

Today is a magnificent and very special day
Today, as early as 06:11, I have been a mother for 21 years. The best 21 years of my life, without a doubt!
The little boy with brown eyes, curly brown hair and the sweetest smile, I have loved since the first second and the love is ever growing and mind blowing, hurricane like and eternity. All at once.
There's no such love and the firstborn is.... firstborn.
Alexander, I love you so much - there's no way you'll ever know how much.
And I know you love me endlessly, last time you told me so was in a text message just a few days ago.
You know you make my day, week, year, life when you do that, right?!

Here's to Alexander the great: happy birthday, sweet baby boy <3

Here he celebrates aging 1 year, today he celebrates being 21. 

How the years pass!

Apart from the obvious: my thankfulness for the sons I have, I also think there are so many things to notice in a regular day.
We need to do that more, we need to get better at doing it.

Like finally being able to plant pansies, I truly appreciate it.

Perky yellow!

Appreciating, for damn sure, the hubs lending a helping hand outside...

Ooops there!

My second born captured a happy-go-lucky mama walzing about!

A simple little thing, like coffee in the garden.

Take a moment, look to your left and then to your right!
I'll bet you can find a lot of things to be thankful for, just by doing that.

I really thought about that walking with co-workers (passing out our spring program folder), looking at all those spectacular big beautiful houses in my work area. I envied their houses, their gardens and even their grand cars. Those wooden decks were to die for and a lot of things were...

I paused for a second and thought to myself: "we have a very cute red front door" - and we do!
Our tiny little attached house, with a tiny stamp-size garden has a cute red front door. It also has lanterns hanging in our only tree! That's something.

It comes with a grill also...

And tiny flowers.

Compliments of good forces: The Dog!

BBQ - ain't nothing like it.

And that ever so sweet boy - in indian attire.

After the grilled meat, this awaited. Another first for the season. Another rite of passage for me.

Duely appreciated.

Jogging Saturday morning I owned the world!
I was so free and happy and couldn't care less about hubby's employment- and money-worries (or my soft tummy, for that matter), no I was inspired and was running faster than ever.
I felt good. I FEEL good!


So, we need to put in a new kitchen and two new bathrooms. Yes, we do, these are from the eighties and not really any fun. We also want a wooden deck - I'd love that!
But we've done quite a few things already on this house and if we hadn't, everything would be from the eighties. I love the stairs now, I love the wall paper in the kitchen and I love our living room. I will enjoy painting The Boy's walls this spring, 'cuz he really wants it.
I will thoroughly enjoy sipping Mojitos in that Adirondeck chair we bought last year, so yes I sure have a lot to be thankful for and to notice.

And since our best time is now, I'll enjoy the red door, the deckchair, the old kitchen and bathrooms. I'll enjoy our tiny house, because it's ours! Our life is ours and our best time is: now.
Definitely.
Our only time is now.


The weekend was fab!
Have a grand - noticable - Monday!

(me? I'll give that first born of mine a call, to hear his sweet 21 year old voice!)

Home, sweet home!

Friday sweetness
Every darn Friday I feel it in my total system: the heart, the brain, the chest and in those jumping legs: Home, sweet home!
My commute train slowly closes in on my cosy coastal town and all of a sudden the work week is gone and my private life is wide open and there for the taking.
I see the well known houses, the ocean, the beach and the marina. I hear the gulls and I feel the butterflies inside.

If I wasn't such a controlled individual (actually, ermmm I'm not but hey?!) I'd scream and shout and sing and dance on that very Friday afternoon train - 'cuz home is a fantastic place!

And when earth gravity sucks me back into this town, it is The Boy I long hard for.

The Boy - bless his enthusiastic soul - loves starting every day with these creatures!

A whole big bunch of faces that make entering my premises so lovable <3

This Friday I felt blessed, chosen and perfection in a sweet mix within me.
Maybe it was particularly strong since it's the second week in a row I work Sunday and I knew the Friday evening and Saturday were very special indeed?
Dunno - but do know I am loving it.

Loving my coastal little town and the scent of the ocean everywhere. The half timberds, the Shire-feeling, the known faces of the cab drivers, that always wait by the train and the familiar anticipation of knowing I'LL BE HOME SOON!!!!

Home to pick these silly friends up!

And get infected with their love of life.

Seeing him with his friends make me very happy indeed.

So, yes, weekend was short. Short and swell.

I am both knowingly and unknowingly, taking big inhales when off duty, to exhale some in the upcoming week. No exception this week.

Focusing so totally on something, as I do these days, is putting other stuff away - no one can focus on everything at the same time.

I have no idea what it is I un-focus on (guessing Facebook and friends....) but spring seems to close in on me even faster when I'm not here to cheer it on?

I managed to get the hubster outside, early Saturday morning.

Whoops, go figure!

Well, I know he doesn't think so... but it is a BIG deal!!

Good job baby!

Now that the stuff is gone, we need to start getting busy with the next step.

My boy boycotts the paparazzi and hides...

Seems like the dog is in agreement.

In spite of having only the Saturday off, we managed some jogging!

These one-day-weekends do not allow for me to get much photography done. You all know what needs to be done when the weekend finally shows?! Preferably you should have time and energy to socialize with loved ones too...

Hence these are the only pics I have for you and they are barely enough for the Monday post.

I take on the challenge - I will present you with a Wednesday and Friday post also - rest assured. I always deliver.

Some pink bubbles with the husband, while cooking.

Saturday, sweet Saturday, thank heaven for you.

Yes, our Saturday was in prime shape!

Isn't it fab? Spring is on the move!
One day I felt such a tender ray of sunlight on my face, I felt I needed to experience nothing else in life - than that very ray.

I'm hoping for moments of sunlight, like that one. I am wishing some of those for you.
Have a fantastic Monday dearies!