Living What I Dreamed....

This weekend I stumbled upon a song that moved me.... actually I guess you could say I had a weekend that moved me, and refreshed me, and softly reminded me that I am living my dream... and finding this song sealed that beautiful sacred weekend for me with its words... Dream by Priscilla Ahn (now located on my music list below).
Shortly after Toby and I were married we purchased the Thomas Kinkade painting to the left... we were starting our marriage, dreamed of a family...and a home to call our own. I have stared at that painting many times through the years...and loved the homey, coziness is exudes and the love I imagined that welcomes you as you walk through the door. Pregnant with Luke I would look at it and dream of the baby that was to make us a family of 3..and then along came Reid. All part of a plan.... all part of a dream.
I really cannot put into words what this weekend was for me...but it was good, it was full, it was fireplaces and candles and "fall is in the air" ish...it was rich with simple family time and there were times I found myself pulling out my camera to snap pictures of my boys just because somehow I wanted to capture the moments this weekend possessed. As I took those pictures I consciously felt like life had seized into a slow motion time frame...no sound, just slow movements and what I saw was smiles and laughter and Luke being silly and looking oh so grown up and sitting proudly next to his dad that he loves with all his heart and Reid being sweet and silly and quirky in his way that makes us all laugh out loud and then scoop him up just to drink him in.... I drank him in...I drank my family in in a way that my soul needed this weekend.
I dreamed of this.
I am grateful for the home we have built...and the love that envelopes me as I walk in the door...and the reverence to know it was part of a plan for me.

Lyrics from the song:
I was a little girl alone in my little world who dreamed of a little home for me.

I played pretend between the trees, and fed my houseguests bark and leaves, and laughed in my pretty bed of green.

I had a dream

That I could fly from the highest swing.

I had a dream.

Long walks in the dark through woods grown behind the park, I asked God who I'm supposed to be.

The stars smiled down on me, God answered in silent reverie. I said a prayer and fell asleep.

I had a dream

That I could fly from the highest tree.

I had a dream.

Now I'm old and feeling grey. I don't know what's left to say about this life I'm willing to leave.

I lived it full and I lived it well, there's many tales I've lived to tell. I'm ready now, I'm ready now, I'm ready now to fly from the highest wing.

I had a dream

New York.......For Dinner! ;)

I have been slacking lately on the blogging front and the o'l dreaded word busyness has been the culprit. I am feeling my life is so full right now and not one day looks the same as the other, the only familiarity is the flop of exhaustion at the end of the day and the guilt of feeling like there is still so much to be done. There are days I actually wish for boring...and mundane...and even same old-same old...... but if that were the case where in same old-same old is there room for a quick trip to New York..........for dinner?!? ;)
If I were older and felt the need to begin a "Bucket List" somewhere on that list might be a trip to Paris just for dinner...but then I think I would rethink it as it takes too long to get there and I would really be too tired and quite crabby by the time we landed so I am most certain I would rethink that and pencil in New York over the word Paris. And if such a thing were indeed on my bucket list, well, I could quite happily check that baby off! ;)
My busyness turned busy of a different sort lately when Toby and I were extended a very generous invitation to attend a benefit dinner for Rainforest Alliance, held at the American Museum of Natural History in New York. It was a black tie event so a tuxedo had to be ordered, a dress bought, and arrangements made. I love this kind of busyness....the kind that you know you are right in the midst of making fabulous memories. Before we left I had visions of me tootling around Central Park with a good book while Toby attended a conference during the day, but the "day" we were there it literally rained the whole time so my tootling turned into dodging rain pellets with my umbrella and trying to keep my flip flops from flipping me into puddles in the park....but I managed. There is something so magical about New York, I love Manhattan ...even if it means I have less than 24 hours to take it in, at least this time around. It was a beautiful event, a beautiful dinner amongst beautiful company, and many new sweet memories were made!

Because we have an 8 year old who was quick to remind us that the American Museum of Natural History was where the first Night at the Museum was filmed we were sure to bring home a picture of "Dexter" the mischievous Capuchin monkey for him. ;)
We also had the opportunity to see Mary Stuart Masterson who was presenting one of the awards (she is so adorable). And, we were entertained by Bernie Williams, a former outfielder for the Yankees who played a few songs for us from his new CD, Moving Forward....he was great!

10 Years Ago...

This week Toby and I will be celebrating our 10 year wedding anniversary! It is hard to believe in many ways. Such a sweet time in ones life when you embark on marriage and begin a journey...and begin a new family, not knowing what is ahead of you on the road but so glad to be walking it together. I clearly remember an older gentleman whom we met one day on our honeymoon ask us how long we've been married. When I replied with , "2 days", he shouted out to his wife who was a few feet from us..."Sylvia! Sylvia!... they've only been married 2 days!"...and she came over and hugged both of us. I crack up thinking about it...they must have been married at least 40 plus years so to hear 2 days must have made her impulsively reach out and grab us as if to say..."hold on dearies, it's a wild ride!!". It has been a wild ride...sometimes, but so worth it.

Toby and I were married in the church in the pictures, on July 10th, 1999. We took the boys there a few months ago to show them where our story, their story, started. The summer before we were married I had spent some time in England, Paris, and Ireland. The church we were married in reminded me of the many beautiful churches I saw on that trip... so once I saw it I knew that was where I wanted to be married.
So much has happened in the last 10 years and when I look to the next 10, so much life will be experienced for our boys. Luke will be graduating high school and Reid will be starting junior high. I can't imagine that, yet at the same time know that if the next 10 years go as quickly as the first I want to hold on tight and enjoy every season, every peak, every valley, and every moment with my little family that I love so dearly! Happy Anniversary Toby!