hot weather hair cut

lily and i are thinking about stephen and his first day at work in New York City today..oh, and Lily is just happy to be cooler with her new slick haircut...she doesn't mind that her head is a different color than the rest of her body..

Blog, Revisited

a beautiful evening for a salad outside at chowders..i LOVE this weather--83 degrees with a light breeze caressing my face..it's been forever since i've posted here..since getting this job where i am at my computer quite a bit, i just haven't felt like sitting down at it again; hope to start up..

memorial day weekend coming up already..

Just in time for company...

the knock out roses in the side yard decided to show themselves just before the new jersey family comes for a visit! it will be nice to enjoy the color and the people together in celebration!!  i am very excited to welcome the Reilly's to Toledo!!

a morning hike

beautiful way to start the day.  oak openings hike, led by Amy-Marie Babcock..pic with Pam Griesinger, Patrice Victor and Cindy Baker....Mallard Lake is behind us..not strenuous at all, but amazingly calming and peaceful

california and sarah!

 i like staying in debbie blum's place in beverly hills, although i think it's time to check out a new neighborhood

 although she kept saying, "it's a worthless degree," she still found some smiles;  ceremony took place in the Shrine Auditorium--a beautiful place on the USC campus

A happy bride

reception at the Jupiter Beach Resort..on the veranda by the pool..fun reception--lots of dancing;  loren and amy are close, and became even closer by going through the dying process of his mother (her grandmother) together..

florida

grainy pic on beach in florida, but it was just about dark--beautiful moon that evening and such wonderful, warm breezes..

bride and groom

rehearsal dinner with amy and chris..good-looking couple and very very happy!

another step closer...

..to a life-changing event;  received their invitation today--custom designed by stephen..i cried when i heard steve met this kathleen, as he was behaving so unlike himself, i cried when i heard he was going to ask her to marry him, i cried when they became engaged, i cried when i got this invitation...
what is the wedding day going to be like?  i will need a truck load of tissues..

tears of pure joy

spring changes

if only we all could be so beautiful as we go through transitions..wait--just got a nudge from my heart--We Are

so much beauty to celebrate this amazing spring morning...

interview

not your ordinary lobby area..in the Cleveland Clinic wellness center--beautiful but a stressful day..

A little preparation..

for my interview in cleveland tomorrow for a wellness coaching position with Enforcer E-coaching...
studied up a bit on Michael Roizen and his YOU books today;

 AND..steve and sarah together in los angeles.  thanks for the pic, kathleen, you know exactly
what is needed for a good night's sleep!!!!  Sarah is getting ready for her final week of USC, while
Kathleen is interviewing for a position in NYC.. 

good day..

for gathering the energy from the earth on our property;  i have always loved trees, starting with the big old oak tree in my neighbor's yard, which i labeled my "thinking tree," when i was about 9 or 10...

my partner, my kids

stopping for an early dinner after Aunt Margaret's funeral..really appreciative of my generous, loyal husband today

job offer for steve came in!!! ecstatic for him and kathleen in their next step forward!!!
new york cares, new york...director of marketing..wow.  a lot can happen in less than two years...

sarah...working through it as she graduates in two weeks from usc film school!!  alright!!

sarah

laugh, dear daughter, laugh

Hanging on

Just Hanging on Right Now...Breathe,  Believe

Sandy's Success!

the sole "sole sister" to set the 5K as her goal, and to follow through with a 36:49!!!  It was a fantastic day for her--in her training, she hadn't ever broken 45!!  Beautiful morning, lots of people..

Pasta Loading

julius in town for the glass city half marathon--spent a nice evening at bruce and regina's getting caught up with his running stories..it is weird to not be running right now when there is so much going on surrounding it..kate was beautiful and serene, as always

Delayed!

..haven't been tending to the blog lately--tending to family members and events..more to come today!

Searching for a Lightness of Being

lots of emotion at EH today..emotional happenings with family...

Boston!!

dinner on Saturday night in Middletown, NY after about 9 hours of pretty easy driving..fun waiter, Matt, brought us gourmet chocolates from his other business for dessert..

arrived in Boston about noon and met Liz Pepper from Women's Quest for lunch..she lives in New Hampshire--about an hour and a half away..she took us on a tour of where she grew up--Wellesley, MA, and also showed us the best viewing places for the marathon..great fun..

marathon morning..looking a little nervous, but as ready as possible to face the 88 degree forecast..we just happened to run into a guy who volunteered to take him to Hopkinton, instead of riding the 6:30 am bus..you could feel steve's relief!  beautiful day for anything accept running a marathon!

 not a great pic, but here he is post race, minutes after seeing kathleen and seconds before the tears began to flow..it was such a grueling experience, one he will never forget, and one i hope he is proud of to his dying day--a feat of strength, perseverance and mental fortitude..

sunburned on the outside, not sure what he is feeling today on the inside, other than happy to have it over, happy to have had some family time, and happy to reflect with his love on the train home..

Way to go, dear son.

a helpful nephew

spent some time getting andrew's instructions together on how to care for lily while we're gone..i am so grateful he has the time and motivation to stay here and care for her..boston, here we come

New Skills..

taught at EH today--skills in communication..specifically, non violent communication;  interesting

Meditation Help..

new tibetan bowl for meditation group starting up in a couple of weeks..looking forward to it; rough couple of days--digging deep for trust and inner strength..

Changing old Patterns

"what looks like the end to something may actually be a beginning..."

Just a car

loren and i were rear-ended today on our way back from troy, michigan..brand new car...hasn't even had its first oil change yet;  oh well, it's just a car..everyone okay

joys

a very sweet liam on Easter afternoon and a wonderfully long skype with steve and kath on Easter night..

a spring moment or two

a beautiful spring afternoon at the park..took a short stroll, continuing on my adventure of not running one step; in fact, i haven't run in more than a month.  i am seeing what else can grow in the space that running took up so much of..happy, grateful moments, yet really missing my kids...had dinner with mom and dad at el salto tonight, and they were great--they said they had been working in the yard a good part of the afternoon!  amazing, those two..

a scary time..

thinking about sarah today with this bittersweet time of her life--the end of school but an uncertain next step; how do we learn to embrace uncertainty without those fearful voices of self judgement and hopelessness kicking in...?  i say kick your heels into the air, dear daughter, and open your heart to possibilities.  you are deeply loved. 

Boston Plans

finally made reservations for first night of boston marathon trip..it will be a long first day, but am really looking forward it..Andrew will be taking care of Lily again, so we are set to support Steve!!! 

Creative Juices

Worked fairly hard today at getting a lesson ready for the P-burg family that wants to learn French..the challenge is coming up with activities for 2 four years olds and a six year old...was planning on working with animals, colors, following some simple directions, follow the leader with french commands, and practicing je voudrais with some tiny candies...all planned out and then they cancelled today due to illness...

A happy dog

i thought lily was going to pass out from the excitement of Loren coming home...there she was, going nuts at 2:15 am...they are happy to be back together after the jekyll island golf trip

reflections and possibilities

Worked on this reflection most of Sunday:
http://elizabethshousetoledo.blogspot.com

wouldn't it be great to own a little place on each coast??  

walking lily, writing a blog post and snacking..

felt like most of my day was writing a reflection for Beth about the Creative Incubator and munching on almond butter...i wonder if it is any better for you than peanut butter after all...

40 Years???

received an invitation to my 40th high school class reunion just days after going to sandy's mom's funeral where this pic was taken..Pam, Sandy and I were constantly together in the early 70's..

Quiet Friday

walked with lily, lifted weights, long discussion with kim, the trainer, a brief visit to mom and dad's, and took some time to explore more new-age pics that i love..

Steve

this is a pic from last year, but i had such a nice conversation with him tonight--and there is so much going on in his life--that it had to make the daily entry...can't wait to spend sometime with steve and kathleen in a few weeks!  learning of the day:  i used to be a lot at better at being alone, but i still enjoy the quiet..

Lily..

looking spiffy with her new haircut..this dog is growing closer and closer to my heart with each passing day; loren is leaving for Jekyll Island for five days, so it's girls' time ahead..! Learning of the day:  people are so beautiful when they are vulnerable and unafraid to show who they really are..and i'm experiencing that myself more and more

Amazing Women

12 weeks with this group of women was a great experience, and so interesting to see how it all came together for everyone.  karen was especially creative in using her "inside out" metaphor to bring her thoughts to the surface--and of the course the pieces she was wearing made the shape of a heart when put together.  a lot on my mind these days...

Finished

i got so wrapped up in this project--in fact, i really had a hard time calling it done..i am even noticing a few spaces that need something more as i now write.  the creative incubator has incubated the desire to live a more intention-filled life.  Through most of the twelve weeks of classes and assignments, I was thinking of creating a business--it was only in the past week or two that I stumbled upon wanting to create a life, which may or may not include a business...It is hard to read but the yellow and green hearts near the feet of this person are the steps i now want to take, and that is where i want to focus--taking action...

People..

i'm thinking about most this quiet sunday morning..