Because I don't want to forget:

This one is awesome: Yesterday we overheard Nate telling Juliana that when you get to Heaven there is a portal back to Earth where you get to come back here and be a new, different baby again, which he said, means you get to live LOTS and lots of lives! Woah! I asked him where he heard that and he said, no where. I came up with it on my own. I wasn't really sure what to say or think, but I thought that was pretty awesome that he came up with it on his own.

Tonight, Jules and I had some one on one time when Nate and his dad were at Cub Scouts. While we ate dinner together she started to get really upset, and when I asked her why she was so sad, she answered, because I don't want you to die! Oh no. I've been dreading this talk.

I explained that hopefully, I still have many, many (many!) years to live, and that we should focus on spending lots of time together making happy memories.

Then I made the mistake of telling her that when she's a teenager, she'll probably want nothing to do with me! She promised to always want to spend time with me, (and I promised to hold her to it!). Then she she started talking about when she is older and has a job making cups and how she will still want me to make her dinner and do her laundry, etc....

WAIT a minute back up, I said! No, I was not upset about her wanting me to still cook her dinner and do her laundry when she's a grown woman (although I'll probably rethink that later on), but what is this about a job making cups?!!!

Well, mom, she said, you know, I want to be able to make you at least 100 mugs that say 'I love you' on them so you'll always know that I love you.

Well then world, welcome the next future cup maker, Juliana!!

Ahhhh, it feels good to be writing here again!

Life is an Opportunity: Words by Mother Teresa

“Life is an opportunity, benefit from it. Life is beauty, admire it. Life is a dream, realize it. Life is a challenge, meet it. Life is a duty, complete it. Life is a game, play it. Life is a promise, fulfill it. Life is sorrow, overcome it. Life is a song, sing it. Life is a struggle, accept it. Life is a tragedy, confront it. Life is an adventure, dare it. Life is luck, make it. Life is too precious, do not destroy it. Life is life, fight for it.” 


― Mother Teresa 

Return to Kate's Musings!

It's been so long since I lasted posted that I could barely remember what to do here! But it's coming back to me, and I really want to try to revive my blogging efforts. It makes me a little sad that so much of my life from the past year and half is missing from here now, but I suppose it's useless to focus on things I cannot change anyhow.

These days I'm focused on creating a healthier life for myself. I went back to work, well part-time anyhow, and am loving my job as a writer and as the Editor for My Green Birmingham! I couldn't have asked for a better job-I get to spend my hours researching and writing about green living topics, and all things Eco-minded in Birmingham, plus, I work from home, and am still able to be here when the kids get home from school in the afternoons. Hoping to build more hours in the coming months.

Nate and Jules are growing into amazing and wonderful little people. I thank God every day that I get to be the mother of these children, and try my best to stop every now and then and take note of the otherwise unremarkable moments in our lives.

I came back here for many reasons, but mostly because I'm trying very hard to create a good balance of positive and healthy routine in my life, and this has always been a terrific outlet for my writing, and of course, for capturing life as I know it.

It's crazy to think that I've been here in Birmingham for nearly three years now. So much has changed for me since I first came here, some for the worse, some for the better-but either way, I'm grateful for it all. I'm learning to see things clearer. I'm learning to appreciate more, and to live my best life. I've learned a lot of lessons in the past few years...and it all just keeps getting more interesting!

I'm hoping to come back tomorrow. I'm going to try and keep it simple, but also keep it real.

An Early Morning Conversation

This morning's conversation with Jules:

Me: "okay, we really need to try and move quickly today so that we can get out the door on time."
Jules: "are we going to be late? I don't like it when we're late mom!"
Me: "no, we're not going to be late for your school, but I might be late for work if we don't get moving!"
Jules: "oh, so we're focused on YOU today, is that right?"

This, from my still four-year-old...sigh.

365 Days of Life-Agliata Style

You may not know this, but I have another blog....that's right, another blog! And I'm keeping things simple, and more importantly, updated over there! Come and check it out!

365 Days of Life -Agliata Style

A Little Inspiration from Momestery's "Don't Carpe Diem"

Just want to take a moment to share this awesome, inspiring, and completely fabulous post, 2011 Lesson # 2: Don't Capre Diem. Written by Glennon of Momestery, this piece brings to light the is brutally honest concept that life as a parent (or really, even just as a human being) is not always about enjoying every little moment. Rather, it's more about taking the time to enjoy the occasional little moments throughout the day that are worth relishing, and doing it while they're actually happening.

Good enough for me. Thanks Glennon, you've inspired a many mamas to be a lot more honest with themselves, as well as the rest of the world!

The Power of Belief

Nate lost another tooth yesterday (the sixth?) and as he and Juliana were getting ready for bed I heard them discussing the tooth fairy.

Juliana: "I heard the tooth fairy doesn't always come through a window!"
Nate: "Really? How does she come into the house then?"
Juliana: "She has magical powers Nate, she can even come through your wall!"
Nate: "Maybe she makes herself a tiny door in the wall where she can come in and out of your room!"

And that settled it. As Nate slept last night, the tooth fairy (and her helpers) built a tiny door and hung it on Nate's wall. This morning, he awoke to find it, along with some silver dollars and a trail of glitter left by the tooth fairy.

It was perfect.

I'm dreading the day when they'll lose that ability to believe that anything is possible, but for now, I'll just relish in the pure beauty that they still do believe.

New Year, New Potential

I'll be honest, 2011 sucked-big time. I won't get into all of the nitty gritty-I'm working on letting go of things anyhow. But I will say that I have some grand plans for a better year, a much, much better year.

I'm thrilled with the coming of 2012. It's a chance to start fresh, begin a new phase, and a brand spanking new opportunity to aspire toward greater achievements!

Blah, blah, blah...I know, I know, it's not like it's a new concept or anything. But there really is something to be said about the start of a new year and all of the glorious potential that comes along. Instead of trying the same old boring resolutions this year, I'm aiming to accomplish some new goals-yeah, the kind that come with actual plans and have details spread out in front of me like a perfect road map. I don't have all the answers yet about how I'm going to do it, but I do know that this year HAS to be better than last, and that no matter what, I have to get from point A to point B, and then to C, and so on. I owe it to myself to start living life, not just getting through it.

I'm feeling giddy just thinking about it all... but I also know that I have a bad reputation for getting all pumped up about something and then as time goes on, not sticking to it. Then before I know it, I've wasted perfectly great resolutions, not to mention all kinds of effort and time.

So, cheers...here's to potential, and to a new opportunity for change! 







This year,