I used to listen to Radiohead...I used to paint...I used to spend hours in antique stores looking for chairs... baskets and that elusive armoir...I used to write poetry and bike to school every day. I used to buy only vintage Levi's and have people over for big fun parties. I used to wear Birkenstocks and wash my face every night before I went to bed. I used to love old houses so much that I would take pictures of their beautiful parts...like doorknobs! whenever I could. I used to hug trees and hike mountains...big ones...just for fun. Lately I've been focusing a lot on the I used to's and frankly it is magnificently depressing. I suppose this is part of getting older and forsaking some of these things for the "Now I have to's..." :) but it is also about remembering what made you feel happy and alive. My life now is just as full as it used to be...more full actually...and in better ways! Yet it is also subdued at times. Today I looked at this blog for the first time in many many months and was reminded that life will keep moving on no matter how YOU feel or what obstacles/challenges have crossed YOUR path. My life has shifted and fluxed and carved it's own silly path this year...and I've been very reluctant to share. But I should...and I should be thankful for the "Now I's" instead of the "I used to's". So here are the "Now I's..."for today:
Now I have the entire summer off to post rambling nonsense on my blog! :)
Now I have a beautiful two year old daughter...two years old! Eek! Where oh where did that year go?
Now I have a flourishing garden and am excited for mixed greens and homemade dressing all summer long!
Now I love watching different species of birds visit our feeder as Nina and I consult the bird chart..."yellow one" and "red head" are my faves ;)
Now I have been married for almost six years!
Now I love watching my mom and dad being grandparents...and my brothers being uncles.
Now I have toddler beds to search for and still...the elusive armoir!
Now I have a bike with a toddler seat on the back.
Now I have a sandbox to sit in and a maple tree to plant...
Now I am lucky and thankful for another day to remember, reflect and re-direct!
Here's to a beautiful summer filled with many "Now I's"!
The birthday girl surrounded by cupcakes-chocolate & from scratch...made by dad. She literally said "Cupcakes? With frosting?" every time someone mentioned her second birthday. Nina's words have been our biggest surprise in the past two or three months! She is quite the social one as we all know but her vocabulary and abilty to speak in full-on sentences never ceases to amaze us! It is so much fun to have these thought provoking conversations with our TWO year old...especially when she asks "Why?" :)