March 13. 2011

coming home

Posted by   Published in beautiful things, out of doors, photography

Are you all tired of mountain pictures yet? Obviously I am not but these will be the last for a little while, I promise.

We made it home without incident (my sister sighed with relief) from our lovely stay in the mountains. We had a wonderful time! It was relaxing, refreshing and peaceful. The three oldest littles loved their time on the ski hill – especially the big sisters and we loved watching their skill, courage and confidence develop. They have been so proud to tell everyone that they went up the chairlift and we’ve been so proud to see how they are growing more each day.

We were a little sad to leave but coming home is always so sweet. Be it from a week away or a trip to the grocery store, I love coming home. That feeling of peace and comfort that home holds is always welcoming even if it doesn’t quite appear welcoming (cranky children, messy floors, worn-out adults).

Goodbye, mountains.

Home, sweet home.

3 comments
March 11. 2011

{this moment}

Posted by   Published in kids, photography, this moment

Joining SouleMama today for this moment.

{this moment} – A Friday ritual. A single photo – no words – capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savour and remember.

14 comments
March 10. 2011

adreneline

Posted by   Published in beautiful things, out of doors, photography, thoughts

I enjoyed a couple of days on the ski hill this week for the first time in eight years. I hadn’t skied since my first child was born and even then it had been minimal.

I started out feeling rather apprehensive about everything from the tow rope to the, er, terrifying height of the bunny hill. It only took a few minutes to remember what I’d learned all those years ago. My sweet husband waited behind me at the peak of every hill making me feel a little safer just by his presence and gave me many a head start. Once I’d descended to a plateau he would ski down behind me – taking five seconds to every minute of mine.

See that sign? I asked myself that same question…

As I was leisurely (and sometimes not so calmly) cutting back and forth across the hills I reflected on how I have changed in those eight years. Motherhood has changed me in ways I never imagined. This is reflected in so many aspects of my life but on the ski hill I discovered I am less fearful.

A deeper faith and a greater trust has moulded me from a once very fearful person in shyness, timidity and insecurity to a person who knows a little better who she is and who she was made to be (and I say a little because I still have a long way to go, fighting those previous tendencies much of the way).

Somehow my time on skis brought to light this change which I am thankful for (and which affects my daily life)  but which I have taken little time to acknowledge in gratitude. I wouldn’t go back for anything.

Having said all that, despite the fact that I’m a less fearful person, I still don’t get a thrill racing downhill or pushing my limits. I am not a relaxed skier and even with greater experience on skis I don’t think that would change. I get my kicks more with crafty endeavours and personal encounters than speed and exhilaration. I’m no adrenaline junkie – the fight-or-flight response – I’d use that to run.

So I enjoyed my quiet time on the hill, slowly carving wide S’s across the snow thinking of how effortless many of my fellow skiers made it all look while I held a firm grip on my poles like they were some sort of safety rope. And I thought how thankful I am to know my speed and enjoy its pace while happily (and rather tremulously) watching my two oldest children fly down those hills fearlessly at their own speed.

I had to add this shot because it actually makes me look like I sort of know what I am doing. I don’t know how my husband managed to capture such a deceptive angle of me but it makes me feel kinda special.
5 comments
March 7. 2011

follow you softly into the cold mountain air

Posted by   Published in beautiful things, out of doors, photography

This weekend we wandered away from our city and into the mountains. The light was getting scarce as we drove deeper in to their fold but they were no less striking in the dwindling light.

The ocean is always calling me home and sometimes with that yearning I forget the daring beauty of the landscape that lies so near to our west. We see the Rockies marking the horizon from our home but driving into them gives us a truer picture of their grandeur.

Everyone was quite peaceful during the drive, enjoying audio stories, music and buns still warm from the oven. I used the time to knit my short rows…and then tear them out again. I just got myself back to where I had made my mistakes when the light was gone. Accustomed to the longer, summertime road trips we take, the kids thought it was time to tuck in and sleep even though it was only 7 o’clock. We encouraged them to stay awake just a little longer so settling in to sleep in our new rooms would be a little easier.

Once we arrived in our home for the week, they were all full of energy again as they tore around exploring every nook and cranny and launching right into a noisy game of hide and seek.

Today has been a quiet day of getting settled in, splashing in the pool and exploring our new surroundings.

And such beautiful surroundings they are.

We are blessed.

*And lest I make our trip sound too idyllic I should say that it was made so much better by the presence of my lovely sister. She sat in our last available seat passing buns, taking music requests and smoothing out squabbles. If that were not enough, she came to our rescue and indebted herself even further into our affections by catching the, um, result of a poor, sweet carsick boy in his sweatshirt. She’s a keeper.

9 comments
March 4. 2011

{this moment}

Posted by   Published in photography, this moment

Joining SouleMama today for this moment.

{this moment} – A Friday ritual. A single photo – no words – capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember.

If you’re inspired to do the same, leave a link to your ‘moment’ in the comments.

Have a lovely weekend!

15 comments
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