eleven.
i remember it as though it were yesterday and yet it seems so long ago
that you blessed our lives. you were such a sweet and happy baby with
a fuzzy head and a super shy disposition.  it has been such a treat to watch
you slowly emerge from your shell and gently step into the girl you've become.
i am constantly amazed by you and hope that as you explore and uncover your dreams
you will continue to grow with such grace.
i love you more than anything my sweet "belle".
xoxo,
mom

treasure from the sea

summer is slowly fading
late evenings are beginning to bring a hint of fall.
depending on the day
i am either eager to welcome it or
i feel nostalgic for summer.
either way,
i am holding on to every second of
the blazing sun and bare feet.

after a long time of quietly sitting,
watching, planning, thinking,
dreaming,
and most of all waiting,
my path is clear
and i feel renewed.
a fresh start.
and i hope to have many days of viewing
the sunset from an open road.

i tend to consider fall as the new year.

school starts and everything seems fresh again.
we sign up for new activities as well as some old favorites
and settle into a routine revolved around school and
dreams of what the year will hold.
this year, I am learning to take small steps,
i have a tendency to leap into things wildly or do nothing at all.
so this will be the year that i make active choices~one step at a time.
a 5 year plan is slowly evolving of places we want to visit, things we want to do
and there is talk of where we want to rest our souls and grow our roots,
a gentle tugging for some and a restless pull for me.

off on a new adventure.
i can not wait to hear all about it.