One Balanced Life

I’ll back up a bit…we decided to spend the month of July in Vermont this year, helping family with their toddler and newborn. My sister-in-law and I will be co-parenting by ourselves for two weeks of the month. Four kids under the age of four – sounded like an adventure. Also seemed like the perfect time to be more intentional, to slow-down, to respond to life rather than react. I’ve been wanting to be more consistent with a daily “stillness” practice to focus on gratitude, self-care, etc. I encourage you to join me this month. Grab a notebook, journal, piece of paper and take 5 minutes a day to reflect on what you are grateful for or take a moment of stillness and reflect on what you need to do take care of yourself.

Arriving in Vermont is bittersweet. Six years ago my amazing mother-in-law decided to build a home to retire to, on land she owned for twenty years. It was a big step for her. She spent her life working HARD! She went to college while parenting three boys (including a set of twins) and a daughter with special needs. Dedicating her life to education she was a pioneer and admired by many. So thinking of retirement and slowing WAY down was a huge step for her. Unfortunately, she was diagnosed with cancer right after breaking ground and died within the year. It is hard to find the words to explain what this land and place means to me. I have wonderful memories of camping here, meeting my in-laws for the first time, filling the wheelbarrow with water from the creek and placing black plastic over it to heat the water – and the wonderful shower at the end of the day. There is nothing like a shower outdoors. Coming together as a family here to celebrate her life.

There is an emptiness. Every time I look out one of the windows my breath catches a little – it is so amazingly beautiful.

And I am deeply grateful to be here.

And a few other things I'm grateful for today:
The full moon tonight lighting up the valley
A much-needed shower
Space for the kids to run

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