Focusing on what's most important❤︎
Inspiration abounds on the Yarmouth Sand Sculpture Trail. Move over brightly colored plastic sand toys and on your next trip to the beach bring metal shovels, rakes, gallon buckets and spray bottles. Creating sand sculptures is definitely a fun family challenge for all ages… stay tuned for pictures of ours!
Summer sweetness
Pure delightfulness
Simply delicious
My dad has Alzheimer’s. For those of you who love someone suffering from this terrible disease, you understand how sad it is. He hasn’t known me or his grandchildren for years yet times I get a glimpse of familiarity; his hug a little tighter, his smile a tad broader. In my last visit to the facility he’s in I brought my dog. My dad loved Marlton and when he saw him, his eyes twinkled and he chuckled. Did he really remember my dog? I’ll never know. But what my heart feels is that Marlton brought my dad a moment of happiness and unconditional love and that’s all I can hope for these days. 💜
There’s something about lighthouses that attracts people…
Bold beacons guiding the way safely home.
Who’s the lighthouse in your life?
My friend, Lori, teasingly points out all the times I feel moments are, “Perfect.” How’s the weather? Perfect. How’s your coffee? Perfect. How’s vacation? Perfect. I didn’t realize how often I said it but then I thought about what it meant. The Oxford dictionary defines perfect as ‘having all the required or desirable elements, qualities, or characteristics; as good as it is possible to be.’ So when I am sitting on a beach, under an umbrella, watching my kids play in the water, the moment to me is perfect. Each of our own criteria for perfection differs so my ideal beach day may be a flop to you.
I realized I’m also quick to capture a perfect moment; not necessarily a whole day but a little snapshot, in the moment kind of way. I’ve come to appreciate those little things that truly are most important…when my husband grabs hold of my hand as we walk the dog through our neighborhood- prefect. When I see my youngest crocheting alongside her nana- prefect.
So, is my life perfect? Absolutely not!! I’m perfectly imperfect right alongside my perfectly imperfect children, husband, and dog. But all our perfectly imperfect moments make me cherish this one and unique life that has been given to me. And that is simply perfect!❤️
For several years now, my children have ventured to a one week, religious sleepaway camp on a serene lake in New Hampshire. Days are filled with traditional camp games, bond fires, chatting between bunkbeds, swimming, and making new friends. But they also spend lots of time in a quaint tiny Church beside the lake attending services, reading the Bible, praying, and journaling their thoughts about life as well as their personal relationship with God. My kids LOVE their week at camp. It invigorates their faith, renews the importance of alone time with God, connects Greek Orthodox youth, and simply delights their souls. Sign me up!
When I realized my hydrangeas would finally bloom this year I was overjoyed. They’ve sat colorless for years and for whatever reason this season is different. I can’t help but smile every time I see them and simply admire their beauty as they are one of my favorite flowers.
I recently was in Martha’s Vineyard visiting a longtime friend and was in awe of her hydrangeas— at least twice the size of mine… stunning! When I came home to cut some of mine for a bouquet, I couldn’t help but notice how they were not as nice as my friend’s. They were still colorful, but stems were growing at odd angles, blooms were much smaller. I started to look at what was wrong with my hydrangeas, the very ones that brought me so much joy. How sad, right? It’s easy to compare what we have to others but it’s possible to just as quickly appreciate the beauty in what is uniquely, imperfectly ours.
Lazy summer days
Slowing down time
Savoring hours without a list
Board games
Iced coffee
Reading my favorite summer author
Simple moments spent with family & friends
Quiet
Peaceful
Time to think
Sort things out
Calming
Restoring
Rejuvenating
Why don’t I do this more often?
Summer nights
S’more’s
Gathering family & friends
Slowing down
Unhurried conversations
Simple pleasures
Each morning, I strive to have quiet time reading my devotional. I created a cozy nook in my bedroom with a chair and side table. The chair was positioned with a view of my side yard where I could see a beautiful hydrangea bloom in warmer months.
However, it is newly spring and foliage is nonexistent so I stare are my neighbor’s garage. This is not the view that complements my morning mediations. I really didn’t want to move my comfy spot to another part of the house so what if I turned the chair to look out the same window but in the opposite direction?
Indeed, it worked! A white picket fence offsets the greenery of pines, while a red cardinal perches on bare branches. I could almost imagine I was in a forest, not a suburban neighborhood. Interesting that simply looking a different way could instantly change my perspective. What a good reminder!❤︎
It’s April in Boston. Flowers are blooming, birds are returning. Weather is warming up…or so we thought! Then, it snowed! Yup, a Nor’Easter that dumped inches of snow. Yet at this point of the year, it’s one last gift from Mother Nature. To see colorful tulips and daffodils drenched in white is a sight to marvel. While another snow delay could easily be a nuisance, I rethink this morning as one to be cherished. I slow down to enjoy the view from my window, bundle up as I go take pictures of images too beautiful to ignore. I am filled with gratitude for this unintentional moment, breathing a little deeper, fully treasuring where I am. ❤︎
I can’t help but appreciate my children getting older and passing on wisdom to me. Recently, I was reminding my son to switch his clothes from the washer to the dryer. More accurately, I reminded him 4 times over an hour. Later that night, I commented that it was frustrating when he didn’t complete laundry in a timely manner. He paused, looked at me and asked, “Is this really complaint worthy?” Hmmmm. Did it annoy me to have wet clothes sitting in the washing machine? Absolutely, I’m a Type-A personality and like to promptly finish tasks. Did my 17 year old son take responsibility for cleaning his own clothes without a reminder? Yes. Did this extended chore negatively affect any other part of our day? No. Hence, he was right! One friendly reminder would have been sufficient if I needed to do laundry. But nagging him didn’t foster positive communication or build up our relationship. I thanked him for phrasing his feelings in a way that made me reflect on my own behavior. Now, I contemplate if something is complaint worthy before I make a parental suggestion, valuing our connection over insignificant criticizing. Thank you, son, for making me a better person.❤︎
*Photo: Zakynthos, Greece
the Essentialist Family 