I saw this quote today on the Brave Girls Club forum   www.bravegirlsclub.com

“The very least you can do in your life is figure out what you hope for. And the most you can do is live inside that hope. Not admire it from a distance, but live right in it, under its roof.”
— Barbara Kingsolver

With my word as OPEN in the year-long “One Little Word” project plus going through this Brave Girls Class, “Soul Restoration,” I’ve found that I am REALLY centered and in the moment these days.  Even if I’m super busy during the day I find that I can turn off the “NOISE” of the day and be present at home, getting stuff done and paying attention to my children.  I’ve gotten a lot more hugs and snuggles from each of them so they must notice that I’ve been more OPEN to them.  I try not to beat myself up over not being OPEN always and am just glad I am.  Sometimes I cook too much or read blogs too long but I feel like I’ve been able to have a true connection with each child and my husband at least once a day.  That’s not easy to do when I’m being pulled in so many directions.

This quote has inspired me to get it together and work on my One Little Word project.  It has been a bit neglected although I’ve been thinking about it.  That’s what I do, create it in my head then go for it.  I am thinking that my necklace from Lisa Leonard http://www.lisaleonardonline.com/word-of-the-year-necklace-P213C8.aspx is helping me stay centered.

Mine looks like this but says open.  I need to get a better pic of it but it is always on me so that is a bit hard.

This is my OPEN Scrapbook showcased in my kitchen. With all of this around I think my little family is catching on and being more OPEN too.  Isn’t this such a cool experiment in attracting what you really want by being an example?  **See honey, these classes are really inexpensive since we are all benefiting…right?!**

*wink* to my husband, Brad

And finally, a picture of my sweet Carter snuggling with his mama.  We are the two least photographed people in our family.  Whitney, Russell and Shadow tend to be the most captured and Brad kind of runs from the camera.  I’m so glad to have these two memories documented.  The last one of the three kids snuggling is not all that rare since my bed is like the one on Willy Wonka with the entire family in it.  I usually have to remove one of the “bigs” if I plan to sleep in my king-size bed.  Not that we won’t all fit (Brad has given up, he finds solace elsewhere usually) but if me and the three kids are in there at the same time there are lots of bony little appendages flailing about and usually end up stabbing my head, stomach or wherever.  I endure sometimes, just to treasure them wanting to be close to me.

I always know I can count on my sweet Carter to give me some love.  He totally gets me ❤

And thank goodness for these three, they are never in need for company because they have each other.

I am so blessed.  I hope you feel blessed today!