February 18th--Day 49--A Little Respite

What can be better than a little Wreck-it Ralph on this early release day? How about a snuggle?!
I will take it.  The joy in everything--even a movie!

February 17th--Day 48--Another Day, Another Party

So since there was no school on Friday, Valentine's Day (as far as the school was concerned) was celebrated today.  Number 2 took great care to include Number 3 in her class' activities.  I was so proud of her!  I am not sure how to teach empathy, I just really hope it sticks with all of my children.  The grace in putting others' comforts and well-being first is crucial.

Number 2 and one of the friends she talks about all the time!

February 16th--Day 47--Celebrating Others

Number 1 and 2 got to go to another birthday party today!

When you are young it is so easy to celebrate others.  You get cake and/or ice cream, some fun games and maybe even a small parting gift.  As we get older, it is perhaps not as clear but even more important that we take the time to celebrate the ones we love, for them, but also for us!

February 15th--Day 46--Birthday Party

First, a family picture to remember the Grace for the month--the fun in each moment, it might not mean much to me--but who knows what they remember!  Make it all count!

Also today was Number 3's birthday party.  He had so much fun with his little friends.  Here's he and his little buddy Andrew!

And here are a few other shots from the birthday!

He had a great time, and that's all that matters!

February 14th--Day 45--Superhero

We are all superheroes, to someone!

February 13th--Day 44--Number 1

She had a tough couple of days at school but she smiled through it. I could learn quite a bit from my eldest if I could just slow down and appreciate things for what they are and not what I wish they were!

February 12th--Day 43--Amaryllis

The bloom against the snow--what could be a bigger example of grace against all odds?

February 11th--Day 42--Happy Birthday

A little break in our regularly scheduled programming to say Happy 3rd Birthday to Number 3!!!

February 10th--Day 41--Me & My Girls

I am trying to be happier, that is the whole point here for so many reasons including leading by example! I am making an effort to insert myself in more pictures, not for me, God knows I struggle to see me, but He also knows I don't want that for them!

February 9th--Day 40--A Family Affair

My husband and I often talk about leading by example.  It is just as important that our children see us enjoying our own reading as it is to read to them.  Still when we can all enjoy a book together--everybody wins!

We have to take the time to find the grace in time with each other.  You can't force a moment to mean something special, but every moment can have special meaning.

February 8th--Day 39--Valentine's

The girls spent the morning talking about the things they like about each person in their class as they made their Valentine's.  I can't imagine what has more grace than identifying a reason to love each person you know.

February 7th--Day 38--Sweetheart Dance

The annual Sweetheart Dance at school, Daddy brought his dates flowers and the whole 9 yards.  I don't feel I need to explain the grace in fatherhood, and no one does it like my husband; he is amazing in every way!

The girls even got to have a little promenade down the stairs.  They were thrilled.

February 6th--Day 37--Silence

There is nothing quite like the silence that early morning snow cover leaves.  It is what I think of when the reference "the silence was deafening" is made.  It is true!

Also, what on earth made this track in my new fallen snow??

February 5th--Day 36--Snow Day Pajama Party

So today is a snow day! I was promptly handed our itinerary by Number 1.  It didn't go exactly as planned but we had a lot of fun! There is grace in childhood, in having fun, in embracing silly and in rolling on the floor...you might have to just take my word on that last one!

We made chocolate chip pancakes, and apple chips and we watched a movie (and made sure our friends did too!)

February 4th--Day 35--Popcorn

Have you ever really watched popcorn popping, it is really cool! It also really warms a camera lens!

February 3rd--Day 34--Gymnastics

Gymnastics is a demanding activity--pulling your body towards a grace with itself.  You've got to work as a unit, graceful in multiple ways to make it work!

February 2nd--Day 33--Petra

My first baby.  She's getting long in the tooth these days, but has always defined canine (I actually just wrote and had to delete feline because she really is quite cat-like too) grace for me. So here she is, Petra, defining grace in stillness, age, dog-dom--take your pick!

February 1st--Day 32--Friends/Grace1

OK, so now it is February and I am taking on something slightly different.  Since this project is to keep me involved with my camera as well as boost a positive life outlook, I have decided to make February's theme: "Grace."  Now this will likely be difficult, Grace is difficult because I am not just talking about a synonym for elegance or poise.  I am taking about finding Grace in our lives, in our friends, in our environment in our relationship with our family with our homes and neighborhoods and world.  Often lately, an acquaintance has used the term in ways I never would have thought about and he's right.  And recently, I was told a story about a situation that lacked Grace is all aspects.  We need to be good to each other, and to our planet and personally I think a step we could all take to get there is to live our lives with more Grace. Grace is lacking everywhere and certainly I am no exception.  So this month I am going to use my camera to try to find Grace in everyday, big or small, it is there, we just have to find it, recognize it and appreciate it.

Today's found Grace? Number 3's simple love of his friend (ok and his toys!)  We were at a birthday party and his interactions were (by in large) full of Grace, full of appreciation, full of wonder at everything he got to experience.  We are talking simple experiences here: cake, different trucks than those at home and jumping on the bed with his buddy. But his full enjoyment and joy in each moment were full of Grace.