Saturday, March 31, 2012

Seeing

 
"Seeing is of course very much a matter of verbalization.  Unless I call my attention to what passes before my eyes, I simply won't see it."
Ann Voskamp,  "One Thousand Gifts"

I think this is one of the reasons I love pictures so much...it forces me to pause,  call attention to something, and truly see it.   And this blog, well, it is my verbalization.  The mom of six who said this, Ann Voskamp, is someone whom I have grown to admire and be inspired by;  I believe she has it exactly right.

And so with spring in the air, I am seeing more fully.  God makes this so easy to do.   I invite you to see what my eyes have been graced with lately, and to look and draw attention to those things in your own life that are wanting to be seen... and spoken.

We were both so excited to finally be able to turn her car seat around!

It is so much easier now to SEE.

Frolicking in the backyard with Baby.
Singing...
and taking her for a swing.

I guess this is how only children compensate...



I love this picture: the joy and anticipation in her face...

from a simple "special fizzy drink."

I guess I can understand why, since the last time she was around sand...



 at the beach, in  September, in a bathing suit...
that she would now want to take all her clothes off!  

Getting the garden ready!


More ice cream!



Picking flowers (read: weeds)...
for my lovely bouquet!

Parachute! 
Baking cookies with Abby...
and marching in the park...
during a slight spring rain.  (perfect)
 What have you been seeing lately?


Tuesday, March 20, 2012

Fun with Family


We recently took a trip to Indy to enjoy some of our favorite people and places.   Good times were had and lasting memories were made. 

At the park down the street from my Dad's house:

Cousin Lindsay...

and cousin Josh.

Lindsay and Papa.


I love my cousins!

 The Indianapolis Children's Museum:

So much to experience...
and explore...
and feel!
"What is this?"

Lindsay and I always have so much fun!

I loved the carousel!

Can you tell?

Excavating for fossils.

Aunt Lisa and Lindsay

Papa and Aunt Lisa

The dinosaurs were a bit intimidating!
beep!  beep!  coming through!

Lunch with our friend, Fr. Bob:




And, of course, a visit to Aunt Lisa's 2nd grade classroom:


Thanks to everyone for a great time... and, as always, for loving Lucy so well.



Tuesday, March 6, 2012

Eucharisteo


"The practice of giving thanks...eucharisteo...this is the way we practice the presence of God.  Stay present to His presence, and it is always a practice of the eyes.  We don't have to change what we see.  Only the way we see it."
  Ann Voskamp, "One Thousand Gifts"


Lately, it has been easy to find the thanks in our lives.


Like our traditional February visit from Aunt Bibbett...





And bubbles on the deck in February... 



The laughter shared between father and daughter...


And our own personal story time on the stage at Barnes and Noble:


 
Where have you found gratitude lately?