Life's Five: Entry 17

Live. I lost a good friend late last week to pulmonary fibrosis (pulmonaryfibrosis.org). Too young to go, too sick to stay, I'll miss you, Stu. You were a good man, good doctor, and a good father. I enjoyed knowing you. So glad I got one last chance to talk to you before you left us. You will be missed. (People aren't around forever. If somebody's been on your mind lately, call them, email them, stop by, or send that note.)

Laugh. One sermon I think this Mom will never forget: "Dear Lord," the minister began, with arms extended toward heaven and a rapturous look on his upturned face. "Without you, we are but dust." He would have continued but at that moment my very obedient daughter (who was listening!) leaned over to me and asked quite audibly in her shrill little girl voice, "Mom, what is butt dust?"

Learn. I like to think I'm just a little creative. It's fun to make something out of nothing, isn't it? Whether it's taglines, lyrics, clay, or paint...true creativity occurs when what's inside of you is simply turned inside out. I am amazed at this video. It started with the composer looking at a photograph in a way no one else had before. Do you need to look at things in a fresh, new way? I know I do at times. Super duper really very much extra medium wish I'd thought of this first: Birds on Wires  

Like. Great blog for mommies in NYC. I'm gonna need you, Mommy Poppins! 

Love. Could you live off the grid if you had to? Modern Day Cave Dweller

Life's Five: Entry 16

Live. We found an apartment!

Laugh. A converted industrial loft, it is virtually soundproof so we can laugh as loud as we want to. I'm envisioning lots of belly laughs...the ones you can't control.

Learn. There are awesome people in our building, including little girlfriends for Isabelle. 

Like. It's steps from three of our favorite parks, great restaurants, and Isabelle's new preschool.

Love. We love the space. We love the building. We love the neighborhood. We love that the search is over.  And I love that I can start functioning again. I am in need of a shower. Exercise wouldn't hurt either. But more importantly, my fun Hunter rainboots arrive today. (I admit these boots have nothing to do with this blog post, but fun new boots don't require an introduction.)

Moving + Loft + Preschool sorted + Hunter Rainboots =
Big Happy Butterflies

This is the living room area of our loft. The huge windows make me giddy.

My new rainboots are being delivered today...ahhh. (Ooh. I think FedEx is at the door now!)

Be good. Be blessed. And please...write it down.

Life's Five: Entry 15

Live. "Our life is frittered away by detail...simplicity simplicity, simplicity."

~ Henry Thoreau

Laugh. "Dad always thought laughter was the best medicine, which I guess is why several of us died of tuberculosis. 

~ Jack Handey, "Deep Thoughts" (Saturday Night Live)

Learn. "There is no oil without squeezing the olives; no wine without pressing the grapes; no fragrance without crushing the flower. So when you are pressed, God is just bringing out the best in you." 

~ Author Unknown

Like. "Getting people to like you is merely the other side of liking them.” 

~ Norman Vincent Peale

Love. "It is one of the severest tests of friendship to tell your friend his faults. So to love a man that you cannot bear to see a stain upon him, and to speak painful truth through loving words, that is friendship."

 ~ Henry Ward Beecher