I met my friend to walk the trail one morning this week hoping for a little exercise and good conversation. We hugged hello and then she handed me a gift. A gift that took my breath away.
She was one of the first people that I told about being pregnant. I cried to her and told her my fears. She told me everything was going to be alright and she was going to knit a blanket for the baby. I remember nodding and believing her. I remember feeling sort of hopeful.
When I had the miscarriage, she asked me if she could finish the blanket. She told me everything was going to be alright. I nodded and almost believed her.
Standing on the trail in the bright, warm October sun, she gave me the blanket and I started to cry. Who is this friend who knows my heart so well? Her gift was thoughtful, meaningful and just so right on.
I got home later that day and another friend stopped by with flowers and a card. Just because.
She stayed and we talked about everything from what kind of tattoo I want (sorry, I'm obsessed) to spiritual hypocrisy and setting boundaries and how I loved her sparkly shirt and more.
Later that night, I got a message from a friend on Facebook about practicing "radical self care." It inspired me to take action. The next day I did just that. While Wade was at speech therapy, instead of frantically running errands and trying to do as many things as possible in one hour, I went for a bike ride. I rode to a restaurant with chairs and tables set up outside. I ordered the cheapest fancy coffee on the menu, a Cafe Americano. I sat outside, I drank coffee and I read a book. I have not done something like that in probably 15 years. It felt so right on.
The universe was sending me friendship and love. It was encouraging me to stop pleasing or attempting to please everyone else and do simple things that make me happy. It was all kinds of right on. But one of the things I love about the universe is she has a sense of humor. And she likes to keep it real.
As I was sitting at the cafe soaking up the sun, feeling young and happy and so alive and saying "right on" in my mind over and over, a large stick fell from a tree. The stick fell right onto my table missing my head and more importantly my coffee by inches. And then two minutes later, my cell phone started ringing and the word "mother" showed up on my screen.
That's what life is--feeling the pain, being open to love and goodness and friendship, radical self care and dodging sticks and ignoring calls from crazy mothers. I know that for sure this week.
She was one of the first people that I told about being pregnant. I cried to her and told her my fears. She told me everything was going to be alright and she was going to knit a blanket for the baby. I remember nodding and believing her. I remember feeling sort of hopeful.
When I had the miscarriage, she asked me if she could finish the blanket. She told me everything was going to be alright. I nodded and almost believed her.
Standing on the trail in the bright, warm October sun, she gave me the blanket and I started to cry. Who is this friend who knows my heart so well? Her gift was thoughtful, meaningful and just so right on.
I got home later that day and another friend stopped by with flowers and a card. Just because.
She stayed and we talked about everything from what kind of tattoo I want (sorry, I'm obsessed) to spiritual hypocrisy and setting boundaries and how I loved her sparkly shirt and more.
Later that night, I got a message from a friend on Facebook about practicing "radical self care." It inspired me to take action. The next day I did just that. While Wade was at speech therapy, instead of frantically running errands and trying to do as many things as possible in one hour, I went for a bike ride. I rode to a restaurant with chairs and tables set up outside. I ordered the cheapest fancy coffee on the menu, a Cafe Americano. I sat outside, I drank coffee and I read a book. I have not done something like that in probably 15 years. It felt so right on.
The universe was sending me friendship and love. It was encouraging me to stop pleasing or attempting to please everyone else and do simple things that make me happy. It was all kinds of right on. But one of the things I love about the universe is she has a sense of humor. And she likes to keep it real.
As I was sitting at the cafe soaking up the sun, feeling young and happy and so alive and saying "right on" in my mind over and over, a large stick fell from a tree. The stick fell right onto my table missing my head and more importantly my coffee by inches. And then two minutes later, my cell phone started ringing and the word "mother" showed up on my screen.
That's what life is--feeling the pain, being open to love and goodness and friendship, radical self care and dodging sticks and ignoring calls from crazy mothers. I know that for sure this week.
Here's what else I know for sure (this week):
- I love that Wade calls Tim's ties his "work scarves."
- Father/Daughter Dance photo booths are the bomb.
- Here are some simple, yet sort of chic, ideas to decorate for Halloween. This is good, short video.
- So much of my life happens on my front porch and I love it.
- I have a strange urge to pull the Stop button when I am in an elevator.
- This video "An Interpretive Dance For My Boss Set To Kanye West's Gone" is brilliant. I know there is a mom version out there and that's good too, but I LOVE this one.
What do you know for sure (this week)? C'mon, we're friends, share what you know. Leave a comment here or on the Facebook page.
Please come play with me on Instagram @jumpingwithmyfingerscrossed.
All the pictures in this post were taken with my phone.
I'm linking up today with my friends Greta from Gfunkified.com and Sarah from SundaySpill.com for the #iPPP link up. They host a link up where they encourage people to share "your funny, your yummy, your heartfelt, your favorite photos of the week" from our phones.
Check them out.
A) That video to her boss is AWESOME.
ReplyDeleteB) I'm really glad you got some good, needed friend and alone time.
C)Those daughter-dad pictures are ridiculously amazing.
D) Your front porch. That is all.
Love your posts and pictures! Your front porch would be so awesome to chill on with you! Glad you had some YOU time too! We all need more of that! Hope your adorable family has a great weekend!!!
ReplyDeleteLove your porch and you are lucky to have some wonderful friends.
ReplyDeleteI really, really love your porch.
ReplyDeleteAnd your friends are really, really amazing.
Also? I try to do the coffee and reading, outside of the house, by myself, at least once a week. It's a sanity saver.