do the thing

{Source}

insta-weekend {yard workin'}

{ gents working in the yard }

{ sis working at camp }

{ on the dock } 

{ orange and "lellow" flowers the little dude helped me pick out } 

{ this is blooming in front of my house - it's pretty and I don't know what it is }

{ little dude with little dog }

This weekend, I really, really, really wanted one thing: sleep. Since returning from Tennessee, I've felt extremely tired - physically and mentally - and I know it's largely because I started the week by getting 3 hours of sleep on Monday night/Tuesday morning, and my body doesn't do well on so little sleep!

But there was a lot to do this weekend, so I couldn't go into power-hibernation mode, as much as my body craved it. On Saturday, the dudes and I went to Lowe's to pick up mulch and other yard supplies. We got a lot done, including re-seeding parts of the lawn which are currently suffering from too much sand in the soil, but the big project - repairing and painting the deck - is still not completed. Painting conditions haven't been great lately, with all the rain we have been getting.

So this week I'll be doing what I can, when I can, to get that deck ready by the weekend!

I've discovered that I really enjoy working in the yard. Even something as mundane as weeding a garden feels productive and physically rewarding. It's important stuff that needs to be done, but it's not mentally taxing, which is great on a weekend, or to unwind in the evening.

Another thing I love about yard work? It reminds me of being a child and "helping" my parents working in the yard. Some of my favorite and most vivid childhood memories are drinking straight out of the garden hose, watching my dad dig a hole to plant a tree, running around the yard barefoot with my feet covered in soil and grass, helping to pick pumpkins and squash from the garden, and filling giant stainless steel bowls with fresh strawberries from our strawberry patch on a hot summer day. Those are the kind of memories I want my own family to have, too. Already, the little dude is a great little helper. He may have over-watered some sections of the lawn, but he was excited to help and had fun watering the gardens and rinsing off the walkway.

Oh, and throwing lilac blossoms at his dad.  

And although I knew it wasn't the conventional purpose of lilac blossoms - and would probably set a bad precedent and would surely be frowned upon by some - when I picked a lilac to show him, and he asked if he could throw the blossoms into the yard, (even offering to share them with me), his excitement was so sweet and innocent, I couldn't help but agree.

And throw the petals he shared with me.
  

{weekend glow} mother's day

Happy Mother's Day! Cheers to all the Moms, Mommies, Mamas, Mothers, Mums, Grammies, Grandmothers, Grandmas, Mom-Moms, Abuelas ... and one very special Grandmere (mine!). Cheers to those expecting and those who have adopted and those who are fostering and those who are still trying. Cheers to those who are helping to raise a child who didn't come from their genetics but has grown into their heart. A special hug to those - and especially my beautiful friend Jill - who have lost a child. You are so dearly loved, and you will always be a mother.

I am so blessed to have my own wonderful Mom. I love you!

{She's the pretty little lady next to my handsome dad ... isn't she gorgeous?}

No matter how you came to have a child calling you Mama or Mom or Grammie {or even Gocky}, I celebrate you, and I hope your family does too!

{Images 1, 2, 3 via weheartit; Image 4 personal family photo}

en route

Flying is always an adventure isn't it? After a busy weekend, I'm sitting in the Atlanta airport with my dad on our layover ... which may be an hour longer than we expected! Right now, I'm just glad we didn't miss our connection. Tomorrow it's back to work, which I'm not quite ready for (so tired!), but I AM looking forward to seeing Matt, the little dude, my critters, and getting back to yoga. Oh, and sharing some of the trip (and pictures) with you! For now, here's my last hurrah in Chattanooga, a mini climbing wall.

detour

Today I'm packing to go out of town for a few days - my father and I are flying to Tennessee tonight to meet the rest of the family to celebrate my youngest sister's college graduation. When I opened up my suitcase I found an old notebook, and in the notebook was this picture:

That's me, 6 years ago this weekend, at my own college graduation.

I remember thinking it was funny to pose with the "detour" sign. Joke's on you, 22-year-old Jacki. That sign was prophetic.

My life quickly veered off the path I thought I had perfectly mapped out, and I have spent the last 6 years on an extended detour, one that's actually turned out to be the right road for me to travel.

Shortly after this picture was taken I cut off my hair and started gaining weight and my life started to crumble. For a long time I didn't look like myself, but today, ignore the fine lines I just discovered on my forehead, and I resemble that girl in the photo more than I ever expected to again. But now, I not only look like myself again, I finally know myself. And to me, that's a good feeling.

Sometimes when I see old friends from high school or college, someone will comment that it feels like no time has passed. And sometimes I get that, because it is a little bit hard to believe that I graduated from high school 10 years ago or from college 6 years ago. I still feel, a lot of the time, like a kid. A kid who has fine lines on her forehead. And paid property taxes this morning.

But at the same time, it feels like so much has happened in the last 10 (and 6) years, that I really can't wholeheartedly say, "It feels like just yesterday." And I think that's a good thing, because it means life has progressed, and I've grown since then. And that's a really good feeling.

See you next week!