the light within

The past 9 months have been big for us. Welcoming our 3rd child, Brett graduating MBA school, yoga certification, moving across the country, Maya starting 1st grade, Brett starting a new career, and living in a completely new place have been trying, tiring, exhilarating and exhausting. We have been in Jacksonville, Florida for almost 3 months and it has felt like so much longer. Sending Maya to school has been more difficult than I had ever anticipated and we are all celebrating the tiny victories that come our way and doing our best to focus on the positive. One of the positive things that we find easy to focus on is our adorable, sweet baby girl, Penelope Jane. She has brought so much light, laughter, and happiness with her and we are all better because of her. She is almost 9 months old now and loves all food, pulling hair, clapping with her feet, army crawling under small spaces, books, baths with her siblings, growling after every bite she eats, splashing in the tub and pool and destroying lego creations. Another positive we focus on is our family movie night on Sunday nights. We make popcorn, orange julius, among other treats, argue about what movie to watch and snuggle on our large, new couch together. One other positive has been the Spartan Aquatics swim team. This is my turn to boast...Maya swims with them 3 times a week. I didn't know if it was possible for us to drive up there that often after school and feared that a busy schedule like that would overwhelm and provide more stress than a 6 year old girl could handle. However, the way it makes her feel is tangible. I can feel her happiness and excitement exuding from her each time we go. She is the best one in her age group and will be advancing soon. Her coach has spoken with me face to face and told me to "never let her stop swimming. She has a bright swimming career."

Although I am down about missing out on a beautiful Utah autumn and the constant battle I face with Maya in first grade, among other countless negativities taking over my days, we are always striving to create more positives to focus on: family trips to Disney World, the beach, Griffin playing t-ball and being the smallest, fiercest player, Penny saying da-da and ma-ma, and family night spent at our club pool. There are always reasons to be down, to dwell on the pain, negativity and defeat we face in life. As Maya Angelou said, "Nothing can dim the light which shines from within." No matter our circumstances that weigh us down, we have a light within us, we only need to flip the switch.

 Photo taken by brittanyallredphoto.com

  Photo taken by brittanyallredphoto.com

  Photo taken by brittanyallredphoto.com