A Favorite Blog

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Do you read the Nie Nie Dialogues—a blog by Stephanie Nielson? I’m a fan. In case you don’t follow Stephanie, she is a mom, a blogger and a burn survivor. I find her totally inspiring. It could be because my nephew is a burn survivor. I witnessed with lots of love and tears the ups and downs that take place in the burn unit. When I first started reading Nie Nie, all I could think about was my own family’s reaction to those first tragic days and months after my nephew’s accident. Nothing can prepare you for such a life-changing event.

I think the thing I like most about Nie Nie’s blog is that she reminds me of the simple joys we should savor in life. She literally fought for her life so she could hug her little ones and be there to make them lunch in the morning. It puts things in perspective for me. I take for granted how easy it is to give my kiddos a bath or cart them around for a piggyback ride. Check out Stephanie talking about caring for her kids on Oprah. 

Tomorrow night 20/20 is doing a story on Stephanie. Are you planning to watch? I will be. I’ll be thinking of my nephew and what it was like to sleep on a cot in the burn unit by his side. I’ll be thinking of my kids and how happy I am I get to mother them every day, and I’m sure I’ll be crying. 

 

Booking Up Summer

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I am in the process of filling up the days of our summer calendar—camps, vacation to visit the grandparents, swimming lessons, and on and on. But it occurred to me that I am forgetting to schedule some of the most important things on my summer’s to-do list. Before I forget, here they are:

–Catch fireflies

–Sleep outside

–Stargaze

–Roast marshmallows

–Plant flowers with Evan

–Make fresh lemonade

–Pick strawberries

–Have a water balloon fight

–Eat popcicles on the front porch

–Make homemade ice cream

–Find a drive-in movie theater (sans kids)

–Go for a hike

–Bird watch

–People watch

–Relax

How about you? What is on your to-do list? 

 

The Magic of Disney

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“All your dreams can come true if you have the courage to pursue them.” – Walt Disney

I am still reeling from the excitement of our Disney trip earlier this month. I love Disney and find the entire experience of stepping into a Disney theme park completely inspiring. It is a hustling and bustling testament to what one can achieve by chasing his or her dreams. Walt Disney trusted his instinct and invested himself in the projects he believed in. An impressive empire has grown out of Mr. Disney’s imagination.
 
I love his quote,  “If you can dream it, you can do it.” I left Magic Kingdom thinking about my own dreams and the steps I need to take to achieve them. I also love being inspired, and Disney served that purpose for me this month. How about you? Where do you find your inspiration? 

A Fresh Start

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Happy Monday! I am excited to start a new week. Even though I’m sleep deprived and still sorting through how I am going to conquer my to-do list this week, I am looking forward to what Spring has to offer. Easter always marks a time of new beginnings and I am feeling completely inspired in my writing life as of late. I have several exciting work projects on the horizon and three features just waiting in the queue to be published. Hooray!

During my inadvertent blog-cation, I crafted up several post ideas in my head, survived (and enjoyed) a family trip to Disney World (pictured above), and I put the finishing touches on those features that are going to be published in the coming weeks.

I hope your Easter was as fun-filled as ours was and that you’re settling back into a routine. It’s always nice, isn’t it?

She’s Speaking in Signs

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My baby is communicating with me! I know that technically she has been communicating since the day she was born, but my little lady has been signing for a few weeks now and I marvel at the deliberate communication that is going on in our house. It is limited to “all done” and “more,” but it is just so amazing that my now 10-month-old girl who hasn’t said “mama” or “dada” yet can let me know what she wants.
 
Miss Madelyn cracks me up because she’ll begin signing "all done" the minute she tastes something she doesn’t like. Peas? All done. Green beans? All done. Yet in the same sitting she’ll polish off peaches, Cheerios and a slice of bread (one of her favorites). “All done” was limited to mealtime, but just this week she broke it out when I was wiping her nose.
 
As a writer and an avid reader, words are one of my top priorities. It is so exciting to watch Madelyn’s first “words” emerge. Do you sign with your kids? How old were they when they made their first signs? I wish I would’ve kept better notes on Evan’s signing. His baby book is empty, which I chalk up to the fact that I was too busy living to write down the details. I do know that I was blown away the first day he started signing in sentences, which came long before he could speak in them. (His first sentence in sign was “More fish crackers.”)
 
Our favorite signing tools are the Signing Time DVDs. Madelyn isn’t watching them yet, but they are where our family learned to sign, and Evan and I still watch them even though he is four. Plus, I’ve spent so much time via DVD with Rachel Coleman, I feel like she is my friend. Seriously—I start to miss her if we spend too much time apart (you can blog stalk her here).
 
Most libraries have Signing Time DVDs, but if you’re like me, you’ll pay so much in late fees you might as well buy them for your home library. (And, I just want to note that I am not getting anything from Signing Time. I am a true fan.)
 
If you don’t sign with your kiddos, I highly suggest you give it a try. It will boost their vocabulary and give them communication tools you won’t believe. 
 
I haven’t captured any pics of Miss Madelyn signing yet, but here is one (circa 2008) of then 15-month-old Evan making his sign for water. (Look at that belly!) I can’t believe that now he is old enough to be teaching his little sister to sign. Who would have thought?  

On Assignment

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Last week I packed up my notebook and pen and flew to West Virginia for a reporting assignment. I was there to cover the chairman of the National Transportation Safety Board, Deborah Hersman. I loved being somewhere new and getting to have lunch with the chairman. I walked away with a story, a few additional story ideas and plenty of photos. Plus, I totally want an official NTSB jacket.

Heading out of my home office is always a fun way to get my creative juices flowing. A few years ago I wrote this blog post for The Editorial Advantage titled Bring Back the Field Trip. I talked about how my stories grow richer when I get out from behind my desk. As a write-at-home freelancer (and mom), most of my research is done via telephone interviews and e-mail correspondence, but there is a lot to be said for going on assignment. 

 

Living in the Moment

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There are a handful of quotes and book passages that I think of often during different life moments. When it comes to mothering, this quote from Anna Quindlen is always in my mind:

"The biggest mistake I made is the one that most of us make while [mothering]. I did not live in the moment enough. This is particularly clear now that the moment is gone, captured only in photographs. There is one picture of the three of them sitting in the grass on a quilt in the shadow of the swing set on a summer day, ages 6, 4 and 1. And I wish I could remember what we ate, and what we talked about, and how they sounded, and how they looked when they slept that night. I wish I had not been in such a hurry to get on to the next thing: dinner, bath, book, bed. I wish I had treasured the doing a little more and the getting it done a little less."

Building a writing career while raising a family often has me running in multiple directions. I’m sure I’m not alone. It is in the harried moments—the times I find myself rushing from one thing to the next or even wishing no one in my family actually required food—that I find a sense of calm by thinking of Quindlen’s quote. It helps me find greater perspective and embrace the moment—even if both kids are going crazy, my e-mail is exploding and an editor’s name is popping up on my caller ID. I just take a deep breath, look at my kiddos and remind myself that one day I will wish I could remember the details of our days.

Then I pull my iPhone out of my pocket and snap a picture. I know the images that burn so bright in my mind today will fade with time and I want to do everything I can to help remember these precious moments—even if it is with an imperfect iPhone photo. 

 

Outdoor Inspiration

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Spring has me longing for the summer fun that is waiting for us. Last year the sprinklers were a bit hit with my little guy. I’m sure they will be again this year, and the warmer weather has thinking of the make over our backyard desperately needs. My hubby has already re-seeded the lawn and I have a new paint shade in mind for our picnic table and chairs. But more than anything, this year I want our backyard to be a land of fun and discovery.

I’m brainstorming ways to transform our space into an outdoor wonderland—on a budget of course. I’ve found some great inspiration via Google.

I think these teepees are super cute. I can also picture a swing hanging from our tree.  I like this how-to on building a tire swing from Popular Mechanics. This is a great Popular Mechanics article on building your own backyard games. And, last but not least, isn’t this PVC pipe “kid wash” a fun idea?

I’d love to have you help me brainstorm my backyard additions. What is your favorite part of your backyard? Do you have any ideas to share? 

Our Current Simple Joys

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Packing peanuts:: Well—at least one of us is enjoying them.

Reading:: I picked up a novel for the first time in a long time and it is making me remember why I love the written word.

Popcorn:: The hubby and I have been devouring a bowl every night—with butter. Now if I could just figure out why my jeans are a little snug…

Thoughts of Spring:: Daffodils, crocuses and tulips are starting to peak through the soil in our yard assuring us Spring is on its way.

A new Sleep Number bed:: When you only get five hours of sleep a night (in 2.5-hour blocks) they better be good! Right now my magic number appears to be 35.

The weekend:: We are in dire need of some weekending around here. This one appears to include a mother-son movie date, cookie baking and (unfortunately) piles of laundry. Oh, and some sweeping (see related entry above on packing peanuts). 

What are your current simple joys? Please share!