Worth the effort

It's been a while, friends.  I am still suffering from a bit of jet lag, and feeling more than a little overwhelmed with everything we need to accomplish before our move.  Three weeks is a very short time to pull an international move together.

I may be stating the obvious here, but adventures aren't effortless. 

As I try to keep the lists straight and the details in focus, I am making a small effort to find something sweet to enjoy each day.  A sanity check so to speak.  Today, it was an outdoor run in a warm spring wind.  Just enough to get me through the rest of the day.

Details to follow shortly, until then, have a sneak peek at our new house.  Welcoming, no?  Wait until you see the view!

Kimberly

   

Link Love

I'm just popping in for a few moments to say that I've been buried under a mountain of to-do's.  I am leaving tomorrow to meet Michael in Zurich, and while I should be packing or making yet another list, I am blogging and watching The Bachelor.  Priorities, my friends.

I don't have much to offer in the way of a well crafted post (and let's be honest, those are few and far between), but I can offer some linky love.

I am loving this site.  I think you might too.  It makes me smile every time.

And for sheer talent, I'd have you check out nectar and light.  Really inspiring photography, and this girl's taste is impeccable.

I'm saving the best for last.  Angus, thongs and perfect snogging.  It is quite possibly my new favorite movie of all time.  Hilarious.  Put it in your netflix queue immediately.  The bonus? A top notch sound track.

That's about all I can manage for now.  I'll be house hunting and spending some quality time in the city that we will soon call home for about a week.  I'm sure I'll have a self deprecating tale or two to share with you on my return.

Kimberly

Guilty pleasures and a gift

I have an addiction to Home and Garden magazines.  They are my guilty pleasure, along with the Black Eyed Peas (I know, it's ridiculous), and chocolate chip pancakes.  I have these magazines stashed in every corner of my house.  My favorite pages are dog eared or ripped out and strategically used as coasters.  No one notices them anymore, they are more fixture than fancy.

Yesterday, my daughter happened to notice my latest arrival sitting on the table and said "Mom, that looks just like you.  That pretty chair with the flowers and cup of tea.  I can see you sitting there.  It's not really me, but it's definitely you."  And she was right.  It is me.  She put into words exactly what I love about this photograph.

It was as if she had picked up a flashlight, pointed the soft slanted beam at my heart and said "Hello, there.  I see you".  I felt noticed.  It was a little thing really, an offhanded comment about a magazine cover.  But carefully wrapped beneath her words was the gift.

Kimberly

I'm unwrapping this really sweet gift with Emily and friends at Chatting at the Sky.  Take a hop on over and have a look.

On Writing

I've not always known the reasons that I write, but for the simple pleasure of it.  As I've grown into the words, I've grown a bit more into myself.  

I write because the feelings don't make sense without words attached to them.

I write because, like Adam before me, I must name things.  This is love, this is grief, this is joy...

I write because I am pathologically forgetful.  I think there must be a name for that somewhere too, or maybe I shall make one.

Kimberly

Many thanks to Lisa Jo at The Gypsy Mama for asking why it is we write, and for answering the question too:)

Week's End

By week's end, I am tired and more than a little cranky.  Michael was in Zurich this week viewing homes, touring schools, and completing a highly technical reconnaissance mission at the grocery store.  His report?  They carry paper goods and frozen pizza.  Highly technical indeed.

It seems the housing and school situation might be a bit more challenging.  It's not quite as simple as perusing the aisles and choosing something off the shelf.  Our move to London in 2001 seems infinitely easier by comparison.  We were just a wee family of three at the time.  I suppose when you add two more kids and a dog to the mix, things are bound to become more complicated.

P.S. Complicated is not something I do well.

So, I am left to console myself with thoughts of fondue, chocolate and alpine views.  It helps.  Especially the chocolate.

Kimberly

Knock, Knock, Who's there? Banana....

The single digit years are ones of small triumphs.  Some of our triumphs this week....

Proper usage of knife and fork as utensils, not weapons 

Knock knock jokes told without potty humor and including an actual punchline

Not one, but two wiggly front teeth

Hope your week is filled with triumphs great and small, and possibly a couple of cool knock knock jokes.

Kimberly

I'm linking up with the loveliest ladies over at Emily's Chatting at the Sky.  Hop on over for a look at the daily gifts we're celebrating with Tuesday's Unwrapped.

No limits

Who, being loved, is poor? 

~Oscar Wilde

Love does not limit itself to the "I do's".   It reaches back and envelopes those that came before and expands to include those that come after.  I, being loved, am the richer for it.  

Happy Valentine's Day!

xo Kimberly