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This week in parenting: balance. Wait, isn't that every week? :) I am learning & growing to look towards my daughers needs first & foremost. She needs activity, structure, balance. And so do I! 

Anyways- on to the real point of my post... as I live life my passion for creativity & community grows (and creatvity IN community). I don't know about you, but I really feel like we were meant to live life together. In this age & time with convenience and technology, this has grown increasingly difficult. With my growth of passion for creativity and community comes my love for coffee. And out of the combination of these things came for Mile 124 "a catalyst for expression & reflection pointing to God." We have another event coming up on Friday. I am growing increasingly excited about it! The theme for the event is photography. The activities are photography-themed and we have featured photographers. Check it out HERE. This is going to be a great night; everyone is welcome!! 

Now time to give my daughter some love!! Hope to see you Friday! :) 

HEY MOMS--

There is a book study starting tonight & I wanted to invite you all. Here's the link: http://bakomomsbookst... We are going to set the foundation tonight & really just enjoy each other's company. I'll have a sign that reads-- MOMS BOOK STUDY-- so we know who each other is! See you there (or hope to anyways)!

Hope you are all enjoying this weather change-- glorious!!

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I just have to brag about the upcoming Mile 124. I am SO excited!! http://www.raisingbakersfie... 

I wanted to extend a personal invitation to all of you to come by & check it out. If you want to see what kind of creativity lies inside of you-- outside of the day to day parenting craziness, come paint on a canvas or write poetry or think deep. It's seriously going to rock & I am especially excited about our musicians this time around!! Check out the event link to see why! 

On a different note, I have to say that coffee is one of my best friends. Sounds silly, but it seriously is one of my loves. Thank you coffee for many empowered days. That & public television... It allows me to utililyze it-- within reason-- to be able to work & keep my sanity as I am working from home.

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Let me just throw this out there-- why is our 3 1/2 year old having so many accidents after being potty-trained for almost a year?! Today was a bad day for "accidents." During resttime she went #2 in her panties-- actually a common theme. That's why I put accidents in quotes. Because it's so common (I mean it happens almost every day!), she must kind of know what's going on?! After an accident of this sort, should there be punishment... especially since it seems she knows better!? Anyways, that wasn't the only "accident" today. She also peed her pants-- and made a trail all the way to the potty. I assume that time she just waited too long. Anyways, just frustrating and another one of those parenting items where instict doesn't kick in with the ultimate solution. :)

In other news, we found out nearly a month or so ago, that we are expecting babe #2. We're due March 30th. I am learning how to manage personal wellbeing (with morning sickness & tiredness) & parenting a toddler (with accidents, meldowns & messes on her part and less patience on my part).  It's growing me. If anyone has any book suggestions on teaching a pre-schooler about becoming a big sister, I'm game.

Also, our normally sweet Zoe (the 3 1/2 year old) has been kicking and hitting us quite a bit. Also normally will do everything BUT what we want her to do. Like if we say "come here," she'll try to do a somersault or jump around ... then when she finally comes, she will have taken the longest possible route. Any thoughts on this?

All for now! Oooh, in coming weeks, there's going to be a book group starting for mom's on Monday nights. I'll keep you posted!! 

Take for example, Brazilian Jiu Jitzu. Enough Said.

My husband is in Brazil this week with Compassion International in a partnership with the radio station he works for. While he's gone, I thought I should do something unique-- that i wouldn't normally do. Like no tv for a week ... or dare i say, no internet? Or eat completely healthy or work out every day. That said & considering I already miss him greatly & I still have to remain sane enough to care for Zoe, I am not feeling motivated. But, that's where I can get your help! Do you have any challenges for me? Any eat-fiber-daily or write-poetry challege? Come on now, I'm depending on you!!

So I was having a very peaceful little time this afternoon while Zoe was "resting." And I should know better. Usually there's an eerie silence ... where it's TOO quiet & usually that's when is something is up. Well today I was just hoping she was asleep & I thought how great since I was getting a lot done. Almost the full hour had passed & I stopped to go get something in my room. There she was, playing in the dirty mop water with an easter egg & squirt gun. So I have to stop & think how I will react in this situation. I know really her wanting to play is sweet, but it's not what she was supposed to be doing. She knew that wasn't the right thing to do & that was enough- she started crying. After some time in her room, she came out to say sorry. It's times like these where I think God gave us Zoe to help us grow. Sure we are gifted with her to help her grow, but sometimes I feel I have grown more than her these 3 1/2 years! Being mom has simplified & deepened me. You know what I'm saying?

Hey- some mom's in town are going to do a book study together. We set up a network on ning. This way those who couldn't meet weekly could still discuss the book! We are now in the process of chosing a book and meeting time. Be part of the action!

So... all my life, finding friends have been so easy. When you're a kid, your best friend is the one who lives closest to your house. In school, your friends are the ones you meet at class or in activities. In college, you get to meet people who are more like you as they chose that same degree path. All of those people you automatically spend a lot of time with on a weekly or daily basis. Now I'm in this totally new stage of life (3 1/2 years already in the making!) where friends aren't so built-in. I actually have to be super intentional about making friends-- which is so weird to me! I am just wondering if other people feel this way or have had similar experiences. How do you find ways to establish friendships, true blue 'doing life together' friendships -- while families and lives provide demands in most corners.  I am sure part of it for us is being introverts (INFPs) in a totally new side of the country in addition to this new stage of life. However, it is still a different way! I'd love to hear your thoughts. Throw them out here.

I like the name of Heather's blog: "I Have to Laugh or I'll Cry." I know we totally all feel like that sometimes. I am wondering how parenthood has changed your life and if you have a slogan to back it up.

Mine would be "I fight for life throughout the highs and lows" stolen from one of my favorite songs.

Come on now, don't be shy.

I'm getting totally stoked as one week from today is Mile 124- a superchill night of expression & reflection I am coordinating!

This is seriously the perfect night for parents because they can enjoy coffee, do art, get lost in the music and their kids are being cared for just feet away! I think this would be a great way for people from raisingbakersfield to meet. :) I'm just saying... :)

For me personally, it seems like life has been busy lately & am missing people I normally see a lot. I am excited to meet up with some of my friends over coffee, do some art and just enjoy seeing the people together in community!

We're doing something different for this event which I am excited about. We are doing creative community art corners (which people will sign up for that night). Basically we're gathering a few teams of people to work collectively on an art project together. They can either free flow with their art or plan it out ahead of time. I'm excited to see how it will play out.

Anyways, that's all! I am getting pumped. This has been a crazy week. My mom has been in town. I think I'll be calling her for a few weeks after she goes back home to find out where she put all my stuff. She has reorganized and rearranged things galore... on her own terms, of course. When I gave her some ideas on how she could help out, she wasn't interested. Goofy lady! But we've been having fun & I'm thankful for her role in our life... and for helping our dining room look more like a cafe. It rocks. And found out also this week my in-laws are in the top few for Extreme Makeover: Home Edition. They are amazing. Perhaps I will post about how amazing they are.

Have a happy Friday & perhaps I'll see you next week!!