MelodyFreebird

Ever done this?

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ever been a den mom???
My son is CRAAAAZY about scouting..........any tips?
hope you're having a great week!
melody

"Mom, are you going somewhere?"

I have to stop myself every so often and do a little pep talk....a little reminder....about how far things have come since...last year...2 years ago....3 years ago...4 years ago.....today I was reminded about how long it's been since my kids got that panicked look on their face whenever I put my shoes on.....

It seemed like the shoes were the indicator. On weekends, when I came out of my room, their eyes immediately went down to my feet....to see if I was wearing shoes or not....or what kind of shoes I was wearing....if they were gym shoes...I'd only be gone a few hours....if they were heels....I was headed to work...and who knows when I would be home.....

One of my mentors last year told me that I should make a box and put it by the front door, and that I should put my shoes in it, so the kids could go check.....and that then they would know for sure...then they would feel safe that I was REALLY home..............sheesh....why should a kid have to do that. It was right after that, that I quit my job as Editor in Chief of the state's business magazine....and came home....and took my shoes off....and a whole bunch of those shoes haven't made it out of my closet since then....
Of course....I am still working....still designing..which, every day...I see that I am a creative, the same creative girl that I knew I was when I was 5 at the Kindergarten easel...that is where my heart is....I am an artist and a writer, a barefoot one at that. I am a mother and a wife and a friend...somewhere in all those high-heeled shoes and business awards....I forgot.....

TODAY WAS A GOOD DAY......because we decided to work from home full time, 100%....no more studio in town, no more office.....we are all gonna work from home. It was liberating and wonderful...and magical....because we have all been getting our home studios and offices all spruced up lately...so once we made this decision......we are all ready.....

I am a barefooted artist...I work my best that way..............there's so much magic to come.....and the best part is....I am home with these little people who can make every single thing even more magical...make every stress disappear...make every important little thing matter even more...make every big, dumb problem dissolve into it's own self-importance....and we can just be...be here...making art and writing big....

..........

summer is over and harvest is coming...I can't wait to show you what I have been working on...some of the new projects I am getting my feet wet in...and the adventures that are ahead.....

Let me tell you...why I have not been blogging so much......
we moved across the valley this summer, we are finally settled again...living close to both sets of parents...which is good...so good for our kids, and us.......we downsized bigtime....got rid of most of our belongings and moved into a smaller house with a tiny yard. We did this because we have dreams...and we want to focus all of our energy into them....it takes so much to keep up a house, and property, and bills......so, we completely simplified....and we are feeling so good about it......you know, some of it was by choice...some of it was God's nudging.....some of it was yucky circumstances.....but like every challenge, every transition in life...all of this "stuff" we are dealing with has the incredible potential to transform us each personally, and our life as a whole into one of even more strength, determination, passion, happiness...and definitely service for others........as a family, we have endured so many different experiences...good and bad and painful and incredibly wonderful...that I feel like we can pretty much meet most people where they are....that in itself is such a blessing....

OK...
that's all for now.
I am gonna post some old archive posts this week that I was filing through while I was moving....you will understand why....so many friends and family are going through horrible struggles right now....I just wanted to pull up some old stuff I learned while things were so painful in our life.

I hope everyone is doing great! I am excited to be back to painting, designing products, writing and creating.....and especially connecting....I have some AWESOME STUFF up my sleeve that you are gonna LOVE to be part of!!! I am inspired MORE THAN EVER.....thanks for sticking by me...stopping by...and making this craziness make sense so much of the time!!

HELLO AUTUMN!!! THE SEASON OF HARVEST!
much much much much LOVE
melody
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I might as well be the first one to tell you....

ok......
I THINK I REALLY AM back on the bloggin' wagon...if I told you everything that has happened in our family this summer...good and difficult...you would totally understand...all excuses aside...I am back to it...
BUT!!!!
this is for my family and friends who I see on a regular basis....especially the ones I texted today to tell them that I finally just got the courage and did it....THEN...I can't figure out how to take a photo of myself and text you back when you said you want to see it........for PROOF that I finally did it....

I have been wanting to do this for a long long long long long long time.......big changes in my life are making me want to make a lot of other big changes.....

........I really LIKE IT.....and......
it's ok if you don't.....
....I actually love it....

...and now, I match with my kids.....




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be back soon...
mel

Summer ReCap

I am working on it........come back soon!

OH...P.S.....did you get your presents??

LOTS AND LOTS of packages went out last week for the blog winners.....Artsy.licious lusciousness...did you get it? What did you think?? WHAT ARE YOU GONNA MAKE??? I can't wait to see!!!!!! Artsy.licious madness is taking over...everyone loves it..me included...can't get enough of it....

TELL ME ABOUT YOUR BOX OF GIFTS!!! Courtney packed and shipped em...isn't she wonderful????

Ok....gotta go.
Be back soon
mel

I promise I will blog soon...

we are pretty much having the funnest summer ever.......stay-cation extraordinaire.....tons of swimming, playing, bbq's, friends, parties, making stuff, laughing, planning, catching-up, falling in love again and again....decorating, camping in back yards, exploring everything that's been here all along, dreaming, remembering, photographing...being a family....being friends with old friends and new friends....being ourselves....being so so happy....lots of time to make up for....

soooooooo

I hope you'll forgive me...I have about a zillion fabulous photos of everyday stuff from this summer that I SOOOO want to post......and SO MUCH news to share....like that Marq and I will be going to South Africa again this Fall with Christy and Ben Tomlinson for the ScrapPink Event CAN YOU BELIEVE THAT!!! WE ARE ALL SO EXCITED!!!!! (so much more to tell about that later!) and a beeeaaauuuutiful preview of a HUGE kit that I designed for Sam's club that will be in stores when summer is over......and a few stories about my oldest son's working summer in NYC (I didn't want to tell til he made it home safe and sound...just got home this morning....) and our move...yes, move....we decided to move again....for lots and lots of wonderful reasons...soooooooo....I will tell more soon....

but for now...back to the fam....and the music....and the friends and the mosquito spray....I would only expect THE SAME from you......I think I will finally have a few minutes this weekend to catch up on the blog....and I promise I will.....I am just REALLY REALLY REALLY enjoying being home with my kids and having a REAL summer and being a mom and hanging with my girlfriends.................HOPE YOU ARE TOO!!!

AND HOLLY...I PROMISE I WILL DO YOUR TAG TOO!!! It's too dark right now....I LOVE IT THOUGH....awesome TAG!!!

BE BACK SOON
Hope you are love love LOVING your summer!!!
melody