2010 Memories – Foto Friday
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| Our engagement |
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| Highlight of the year |
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| R&R |
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| Love this pic |
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| Memorial Day |
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| USA |
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| Max |
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| Bee designed by our youngest son |
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| Utah tiles by the elementary students |
I wish everyone a wonderful New Year. I feel blessed by my family and friends and had an amazing 2010, looking forward to 2011.
Cheers,
~Alie
it caressed my hair like a whisper, gently, softly.
Calm.
I breathed deeply as a soft sigh slipped from my
lips.
Moving to a melody of ebb and
flow.
A melody known throughout history, reaching, spanning, stretching.
Time.
I lingered a moment longer as the soft caress
faded.
Moving to another dipping down in
reverence.
~Alie
Laugh Your Way to a Better Marriage
This is a great resource for marriage and family. We are currently watching the CDs (a Christmas gift to one another). The first CD covers how the brain works for men and women. It is so incredibly funny and accurate.
Here are the sections:
The Tale of Two Brains
The #1 Key to Incredible Sex
How to Stay Married and Not Kill Anybody
The Flag Page: Discover Why He/She Does That
There is also a Flag Page game for children, where you discover the true heart of your children. It gives you a home country and an adopted country which describe your personality and what truly makes you happy. We are doing this for our entire family and so far the results have really helped with understanding what motivates our children as well as understanding their differences.
I will post an update once we finish watching the CDs and complete the Flag Page with the rest of our family.
Enjoy,
~Alie
We have a Christmas tradition of photo ornaments. I take photos every Christmas of the kids and then create an ornament. Decorating the tree becomes a time to share stories.
If you would like to participate click on the button below.
Happy Holidays!
~Alie
Since I am about to see my fiance and he has finished his deployment in Iraq, I would like to share part of a letter I wrote to him. I had left a comment on another blog that I was surprised by the range of emotions I experienced during the deployment. I went in so strong and a bit stubborn that I would be okay.
The truth is I was okay, but there were days that were much harder than I had anticipated. Thankfully, we both have family and friends that really helped with the time apart. We also have Faith and that is the glue that will keep us together.
I am not sure what it is like for you, but there are times where I really miss you. It is not that I don’t miss you every single day, because I do. It just seems deeper on certain days. The last couple of days I have really missed you!
I am trying to follow my advice and take it a day at a time and not look at how many days it is until I actually see you. When I do that the days fly by. A perfect example is this letter, by the time you get this and read it we are even closer to seeing one another.
Thank you for all your love and kindness. You are so attentive to my needs and I really appreciate that. You are so good at it, that I forget you are in Iraq – in a war – it is as if you are just a few states over versus thousands of miles away.
I love you, always! This is our test. God knew our timing was right to meet one another, but now we have to grow our friendship and love long distance, which will help us through the many ups and downs of being together.
This is my song that I want to dedicate to Scott:
Bubbly, Colbie Caillat
I wish all of you a wonderful Christmas.
~Alie
And this is how the blog started: Beginning
Finished Origami Box
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| Beautiful Paper |
I did this one for my mom and she is a minimalist so I used very little ribbon. But, you can add more elaborate embellishments or leave it simple. The best part is no wrapping paper because the paper used for the box is so pretty.
Enjoy,
~Alie
These beautiful lights are right outside our place. We live in the heart of the city and took a stroll through an amazing tree lit garden.
If you would like to participate in Foto Friday, click on the button below.
Cheers,
~Alie
A favorite quote:
“Each friend represents a world in us, a world not born until they arrive, and it is only by this meeting that a new world is born.”
~Anais Nin
As I reflect on the different times in my life I can recall the many people that have come, gone, and stayed. Some of these people I have let go, some have gone on their own, and others we are still very close. Yet, as Nin states, they each have brought about a new world with their friendship.
Before I had children, I would pack up and move easily without too much thought. I liked exploring new places and challenging the familiar. When I first arrived in Seattle, I rode my bike everywhere, rain and all. At times I would take a wrong turn and end up lost, then it would be a game to find my way again. This was also what I did living in Hawaii and Florida. I have found it is a great way to learn a new place. You keep pushing your boundaries and testing the waters and soon the unfamiliar becomes home.
The beauty to my movement was all the different people I met. I would not change anything about the paths I have taken. They are what makes me who I am today. I feel like I have a lot to offer my children from all of the good choices I have made and also from the poor choices. However, I think the poor choices are the ones that try to keep us from letting go. We want our children to succeed and be safe. It is difficult to watch them in pain, fail, and cry. So we try to hold tighter.
Yet, we all know that failure makes us stronger. We learn from our mistakes. This is the beauty of growth and maturity. We can reflect and choose to do better or to try something a different way. I think that friends help us along that course. A good friend will challenge us, also encourage, and truly be happy when we succeed – a lot like a parent.
I am thankful for the people that inspire me to do my best and strive to make the world a better place, one step at a time.
Much love,
~Alie
Stress Relievers
We can all use these, most everyone I know juggles many things at one time.
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| Art my escape |
1. The power of letting go – very difficult to do, but will help immensely in alleviating stress
2. Exercise – at least 20 minutes a day
3. Yoga, meditation, and prayer – one of my favorites for inspiration is the Dalai Lama
4. Keeping a journal
5. Laughter – spend time with kids they laugh a lot and it is contagious
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| Taking time to relax |
6. Music and dance
7. Hobbies – for me it is art and a great way to escape
8. Massage
9. Set clear boundaries with your time – schedule relaxation and exercise so you don’t put it off
10. Date nights with your significant other or night out with friends – be social
Now to follow my own advice and schedule the time and set clear boundaries. I am off to update my calendar on my phone.
If you have tips you would like to add, please do.
~Alie
