The Beauty Of A Cloudy Day

A cloudy day asks nothing from you. It does not beg you to come outside and enjoy it's presence, nor does it send you inside to recover from exposure.

A cloudy day brings refreshment, a respite from the harshness of the sun's rays. It invites you to do what you came to do, to feel what you mean to feel. It supports happiness, excitement, contentedness, sadness and grief. It lets you be who you are.

A cloudy day doesn't mock you from the office window, or from your living room window as you sit on the couch nursing a fussy baby. It doesn't force you to close the curtains on your child's window during nap time, but instead it lets them enjoy the view as they drift off to sleep.

A cloudy day doesn't encourage a whirring of high activity such as errands, play dates, parks and beaches. Instead it encourages snuggles, movies, popcorn, mugs of hot chocolate, comfort and connectedness. It encourages you to slow down and be present.

A cloudy day has a romance all it's own, in it's softness and mystery. It provides an inconspicuous backdrop in which one can focus on another without distraction, and makes the presence of all that shines even more beautiful. It can evoke emotion, captivate you in it's details, and at the same time, lull you into a peaceful slumber.

A cloudy day doesn't make you feel like it's waiting on you, but rather it's there when you want it. It's a reminder that you don't need the sun to be happy; that you're strong enough to carry your own weather.

I Want To Remember Tonight

*Written a few days ago*

There was nothing out of the ordinary about today, but I love the way it made me feel. Since moving into our house last March, my love of this new space of ours has grown so much and continues to grow daily. It's not perfect, it's a little dated in some areas and needs some serious decor, but I love the flow of it and the ease of daily life with chores and kids compared to our last home.

So tonight, I had a photo shoot in Lowell just a few blocks from my house. Dave took the boys for a walk while I went. It was golden hour and the light was divine and there was a nice cool breeze. We met at the showboat and I took a few shots, and we walked around until we found the perfect spot. She helped me move some chairs out of the way, and I took some more shots, loving the location and creativity I was pouring out. Nearby was a beautiful planter with gorgeous pink flowers and our background was a crystal clear coffee shop window with decorative curtains hanging behind. Just beautiful.

On my way home I noticed a tree in our neighborhood starting to turn orange along with some golden-brown leaves on the ground. Signs of autumn, my favorite season! Giddy, I returned home to my two boys in the front living room while Dave was putting Gabey down. I grabbed the older two and we headed to McDonald's for flurries, and ate them on the front steps of our porch. I put some music on my phone and the boys danced and we laughed... especially when Zach was doing the Irish jig to Bootylicious. That boy! :D

As the golden sun dipped below the horizon we headed in, feeling happy and content. I love nights like this- filled with simple joy, the best kind there is.

Summer Garden

Today the boys and I picked beans from the garden. My parents always remembered their childhood gardens fondly, how the radishes were always redder and more flavorful, and how everything just tasted earthier and better. I watched my boys as they picked beans, snapping them off the leaves and crunching them in their teeth before they ever made it to the bowl. It's funny how planting something from a seed, tending to it, watering and weeding it then finally seeing it sprout will make a child eat pretty much any vegetable. They love being part of the process.

If my life were a garden, this season feels like the watering and weeding phase. The seeds are planted and beginning to sprout, and while I certainly get small fruits here and there life is largely caring for things (home, children) and weeding out the things that don't serve us or could potentially disrupt our homeostasis. While there are moments I crave the harvest, there is a true joy to be found in the midst of the pre-harvest tending. Work feels good, and seeing my work affect and grow things feels good. There is something satisfying about watching the life I've created unfold and bloom before my very eyes... to watch my children's personalities and interests emerge and to see my home become cozier by the day as I slowly and thoughtfully decorate it. To create a safe and healthy space for the people I love to flourish and grow to maturity- I think this is sweeter than any other season. My job is not done, my purpose is still strong and I still have time.

This is the summer season of my life, and I am truly enjoying it.