Thursday, June 25, 2009

Friendship making it happen!

Photo at M.'s company's NYC debut concert, 2007.

Dinner last night included: three friends, one birthday, two farewells, three unknown futures (aka adventures), one heartache, a good measure of laughter, a few secrets, lots of listening, a variety of perspectives, not enough spring rolls.

Three and a half years ago, the three of us came together as Mormon modern dancers in the Big Apple. Together, we formed an Artists' Circle to make things happen. Now both of these friends are leaving within only a few weeks of one another, perhaps to return next summer, perhaps not. So I look back at what this time has brought....

We made things happen! The short version? We self-produced three shows in three years (with all that entails...publicity, fundraising, rehearsing, etc. etc.), choreographed various independent projects and created teaching opportunities locally, out-of-state and internationally. But between those professional endeavors, we shared things much more valuable...brunch in the park, early morning studio time, hospital visits, dessert, a sounding board for professional problems, baby-sitting, inspiration, a listening ear for personal struggles, picnics, subway rides, ideas and a bit of our hearts.

On the street corner by my apartment, well after midnight, wrapping up our conversation as we have after so many other late night subway rides, M. expressed it best. We are blessed to have found each other and will forever be different people for having known one another. As they are leaving, I think about the gifts they have given me that could have only come from them and I agree. I am a different person from having known them. Our Artists' Circle friendship made something happen, something within.

Blessings to you both! Hope we're dancing and talking and eating together soon!

Thursday, June 18, 2009

On Hiatus

I'm waiting up for hermanacita to arrive from the airport.

She sympathizes with life sucking.

She's also pretty adorable.

Once she gets here, we'll have lots of chatting, picnic-ing, shopping, cupcake-ing and sitting on the couch in our pj's until everything is right in the world again-ing to do. So, I don't think I'll be around these parts much. However, since she is also a big fan of silly, can I leave you one of my all-time favorite silly t.v. clips?



I'll see you in a week...

p.s. Thank you for all your kind thoughts, hugs and well wishes. It's good to be a honest about what's going on in the rest of my life and be supported. Hugs right back to all of you!!!

Monday, June 15, 2009

Getting through

To say the last few weeks have been hard would be an understatement. Another setback on our journey to parenthood leaves my emotions reeling. Yet in the midst of this, the tears and the painful days, I am getting through. How? "How am I ok?" I ask myself.

While Mr. CK, my family and my faith are bedrock during the worst of it, noticing the small and simple things is day to day survival. Perhaps it is the coming together of the Buddist idea mindfulness, the "tender mercies" talked about David Bednar and this blogging community's focus on honoring everyday beauty. (So a Buddist monk, a Mormon apostle and a blogger walk into a bad day....?)

In any event, since this is a place for recognizing the beauty in my life, here a few of "the very personal and individualized blessings, strength, protection, assurances, guidance, loving-kindnesses, consolation, support, and spiritual gifts" I've received this past few weeks:

peonies on my kitchen table (inspired by bloggy friends)...

an invitation for tea...

time to create...

(A mad mess of strippy scraps sewn up into 16 lovely blocks.)

a virtual hug....

a visit to the Botanic garden with a friend....

texts, e-mails, lunch hour visits...

things that make me laugh...

(Is it appropriate to notate seminary honor roll achievements (aka diligent attendance at 6:30 am religion class) with symbols that look like cartoon expletives???)

(R. reigning in her desire to chase the bunny in the garden...)

(...and almost succeeding!)
a few new plants for my window sill...


blogging to reflect on it all...

Thank you for being part of my tender mercies.

Thursday, June 11, 2009

Another doll...

I just finished and mailed this sweet thing as part of Craft Hope's 2nd project. I think I'm figuring out the pattern for these little dolls! Hooray! I mean, her head actually looks round. (First attempt, not so much.)

Off she goes to Eren at VintageChica and then on to Nicaragua. Buen Viaje!

Monday, June 8, 2009

To do today...

1. Buy peonies.
2. Share another funny "in-print" discovery.
3. Reserve some studio space.
4. Work.
5. Have dinner with Mr. Kent.
6. Get hugged. (The market demand for hugs is pretty high these days.)
7. Plan (and shop for) said dinner. (Grocery shopping apparently not high demand these days.)
8. F.H.E.
9. Find a little down time.
10. Snuggle and sleep. Sweet sleep.

What's on your list today?

Thursday, June 4, 2009

How do you spell...?

You've seen these, right? Hand drawn thank you posters to a grocery store or bakery or restaurant from the 2nd grade class that recently came there on a "who are the people in your neighborhood" field trip. Plastered on a wall for all the customers/parents/kids to see, they are kid-cute variations on the same theme...crayoned rendition of the shop, a short thank you message, mention of their favorite part of the trip, a picture of something they remembered, etc., etc.

But every now and then, something slips past the teacher, like this one hanging above my table at a little bakery (eh hem, where they specialize in bread) in Idaho last month....


I didn't realize that was on the menu.