wed and today

wed:

1. having the energy and inspiration to unpack a huge amount of boxes that i've been avoiding and seeing the space and beauty it created
2. seeing my cousin for the first time in three years since his (long-term) visit to china
3. trader joes ready-made pizza crust - my calzones were a hit!
4. jeff's face when he got back from his motorcycle ride
5. lea and i having a great afternoon strolling around half moon bay without any tantrums

nugget: life goes in stages so don't get too upset when things get rough; things will inevitably shift just when you wanted to give up

today:

1. lea only woke 2 times last night....it's been 4+ since we moved
2. time today to draft my plan for 2009 to ensure i meet my goals - never too late!
3. the amazing view of the ocean from all angels of our home
4. my 2 new books that i picked up yesterday at the new bookstore/gallery, both of which has inspired me more than i can know (kristen, i asked about showing my work too! i told her you sent me :)
5. feeling hopefully even though the morning was turbulent

nugget: "happiness is not simply the absence of despair. it is an affirmative state in which our lives have both meaning and pleasure" gordon livingston

tuesday

1. having a little time for myself today and using part of it to start a new drawing series
2. great conversation tonight enabling plans for the future
3. fresh perspective allowing me to see options in how to carve out time for myself consistently so that i can paint
4. dick blick art supplies - specially their illustration markers
5. starting to truly accept that being a good mom is a journey and not a destination
6. this group for continuing on with new perspectives, voices, and enthusiasm
   

nugget: there is ALWAYS someone who will understand whatever you're going through so speak up!

monday

1. trader joes
2. drive thru lattes
   
3. time to reflect and write
4. new recipes for healthy cookies
5. jeff for going shopping tonight

home sweet sweet

1. home motherfucking sweet home! (sorry for the swearing but it's gotta be there)
2. surviving our first plane trip with lea
3. jeff's patience, tolerance, strength, and unconditional love
4. my new silver ugg slippers from jeff and lea
5. watching lea getting bathed in bubbles
6. seeing how happy lea made my family and friends this weekend
7. the chance to see so many people i love from my past and have them meet my immediate family

nugget: decide to go easy, make it work, and stay calm. it works in short spurts.

from yesterday

last day of 32

1. having coffee with a friend and reaffirming that the more i open up the more i find others can relate
2. talking things through at the right moment
3. alden's mint chocolate chip ice cream
4. feeling at peace with not knowing what to do next and understanding i just need to trust right now
   
5. seeing an ugg box in jeff's room filled with my new slippers - yippee!

nugget: maybe things aren't as complicated as i think sometimes. maybe they are really, really simple.

33 and counting

1. kristen's new idig format of defining the day in the subject line
   
2. all the birthday messages, visits, gifts, and conversations proving how lucky i am to be surrounded by so much love and support
3. the chocolate cupcakes from kristen - the gift that keeps giving throughout the day
4. believing that even though i still have a ways to go, i have traveled so far already...which inspires me to keep going
5. the feeling of my bed when i get to crawl back into it and fall asleep

nugget: i decided today the theme for my 33rd year is going to be SHINE. i think it's perfect as it allows me to focus on the good, encourages me to trust myself and take risks, but most of all forces me to use the power i already have.

tues

1. making some strides in the long journey to conquering my fears and living my dream
2. being a stay at home mom - getting to be a little more graceful with the role
   
3. my own studio space in our new home
4. finding a note i wrote in nov of '07 that helped remind me that i'm on track
5. having the new perspective of being a painter in life - not just the studio - and seeing how much it works, even though i didn't really understand how to go about it at first

nugget: i'm better at jumping into my power than staying in it. i need to learn to stay, sustain, and accept my power.

monday

1. spending the morning with some good friends and great conversation
2. witnessing lea's first jump and the excitement and surprise on her face
3. taking a nap today! i can't believe i did it and how amazing it made me feel
4. the hike jeff, lea, and i took tonight to watch the sunset together from the top of the hill in the back of our home. so amazing.
   
5. conversations that happened this morning inspiring conversation with jeff tonight. little by little we'll figure things out.
   

nugget: reminding myself that things always get messy before they are improved and not to give up in the messy stages

sunday

1. spending the afternoon with good friends on the beach and a warm sunny day to boot!
2. my first sunburn of the season
3. knowing that jeff and i are getting better at being "married with children"
4. stealing some quiet time in the kitchen baking with a glass of wine and pink floyd
5. lea's face lighting up with happiness at the sight, sound, and touch of the beach

saturday - found lea's new dress

1. have a dedicated studio space in our new home for me to work in and seeing my latest painting mounted on the easel...calling me
   
2. our new coffee maker and the coffee that keeps jeff in the kitchen with lea and i a bit longer. long enough for us to enjoy the morning instead of rushing through it to start the day
3. lea's strong sense of self and knowing i have something to do with it - what a gift!
4. watching jeff with lea and how naturally he has fallen into his role as papa
5. staying present

nugget: each moment presents a chance to start again. breathing and a moment alone can truly act as a reset button.

friday

welcome all the new diggers! most of us submit something daily, but you can just send your list to the group when you feel inspired. no rules, but it helps if you can think of something new each day. hopefully you'll notice yourself noticing more, stressing less, and keeping perspective throughout your day.

friday iDIG:

1. my ability to stay calm when the day ran late - and found everything worked out!
   
2. my first day at painting class; meeting all the artists, my fabulous teacher, and kicking off a new stage in my work
3. the feeling i had after leaving class with the new painting in my trunk
4. jeff for making it possible by getting his aunt to watch lea
5. my decision to quiet the gremlin voice in my head telling me all the reasons why i shouldn't or couldn't go to class

nugget: a little time away for myself surrounded by artists can do a world of difference.

almost friday

1. final goodbye and hand-off of our old home. ciao!
   
2. inspiration to prepare veggies in a new way for lea from the cookbook my mom sent me
3. reconnecting with jeff
4. knowing i get to spend the day painting tomorrow
5. being there to witness every stage in lea's life. being her constant.

nugget: i decided i wasn't going to be upset anymore, just to see if i could do it. it's working so far. pretty incredible how much power our perspective has on our daily reality.

hump day

1. the sweet easter package my mom sent for lea
2. homemade apple spice muffins and coffee
3. feeling, seeing, and knowing the love i get from lea
4. lea taking jeff and i on walks around the house holding one hand
5. jeff for knowing how to make me laugh

nugget: one tweak to your daily routine may now seem like much today, but when repeated each day it can make a world of difference

tuesday

1. our new handyman - thanks kristen - for taking over all the stuff that needs to be done
2. figuring out a way to attend an intensive painting course that starts this friday!
3. knowing how to make lea laugh - lea knowing how to make me laugh
4. spending the morning with jeff talking over coffee about our future plans
5. a cleaner home

nugget: there is love all around me

monday after the rising of jesus

1. forgiveness and understanding
2. my garage sale for being a success but also as a way to meet people in the community, and then running into them around town
3. the adorable couple for buying our couch
4. the new house goodies i was able to buy with the proceeds from my garage sale
5. rolling with it

nugget: no matter what there is always someone in your life who can understand what you're going through

tgif

1. knowing we get to spend two days with jeff
2. getting some time today from the kindness of jeff's aunt to get my kitchen a little more lived in
3. confidence that i know just what my daughter needs, even if she doesn't - not always, but knowing i'll figure it out
4. the couple from out of town who helped me carry all the coffee's while i had lea on moving day - kindness of strangers....
5. living in a beautiful, hilly neighborhood allowing a simple walk to be a huge workout!

nugget: define it

in our new home

1. having a hard time choosing only 5 things to be grateful for
2. lea and i dancing and laughing in our new kitchen listening to boards of canada, even though the house is still packed in boxes and we don't know where our clothes are
3. eucalyptus trees in sight from every window
4. reading "the secret lives of moms" on operah's site and reaffirming that i'm not alone
5. finally making peace with the decision to move after a few days and nights of stress
   

nugget: "You can follow someone else's mood, or you can create a better one. Creating that better mood is work, but we all need to let go of the idea of happiness as a birthright and start seeing it as something we put energy into creating for ourselves and our families every day." excerpt from this

thursday

1. strawberries
2. slightly sweet chai tea in the morning
3. the wisdom to keep moving even when i feel like giving up
4. believing that tomorrow is an opportunity for infinite change
5. relying on others

nugget: Life is never easy for those who dream.
Robert James Waller

wednesday

1. blue sky farms' raspberry lemon scones
2. moments of clarity and using that time to write
3. getting kisses again from lea
4. the time lea and i have every day making music on her keyboard
5. jeff's ability to listen and understand

nugget: Life consists not in holding good cards but in playing those you hold well.
Josh Billings