at 27

27 has been a pretty good age so far.

Its still young, but I'm old enough to know better. Old enough to know when to hold my tongue and when to say no. And when to say yes because as you learn some opportunities won't come around again.

I feel like my word for this year - forward - has kept me propelling in the right direction and has helped to leave old memories in the past where they belong.

I'm really starting to recognize and appreciate my strengths. And my weaknesses, well yes, I'm not afraid to own up to those as well.

The place I'm in right now is nothing like I imagined 10 years earlier and that is just perfect. Because I love exactly where I am right now. I am so grateful where my experiences have taken me and can't wait to find out I'm going next.

Life is good. xx

Family Treasure

Your siblings are the real family treasure right? Parents just don't have big families like they used to. I know I certainly couldn't manage 8-plus kids and have no idea how mothers of generations past maintained their sanity. Different times, different roles. This photo is of my husband's grandmother and her five sisters and two brothers (there were nine siblings total) at a family picnic a few summers back. I love that even though many of them live in different states, they still make it a point to all get together on a regular basis. So often you hear about so and so being upset with so and so and years long grudges held between family members and other silly, petty things that people let keep them apart - it's just nice to know that it is possible to get over it and get along.   

Supplies: My Mind's Eye, Graphic 45, Sassafrass Lass, October Afternoon, Jenny Bowlin, Hambly, Basic Grey, Cosmo Cricket, Dear Lizzy for AC, Girl's Paperie, Fiskars

on learning to fish.

As far as I'm concerned, learning to fish is one of those things all kids should learn to do. I consider it up there with learning to tie a shoe or learning to read. Its a basic survival skill.

I recall arriving at Lake Aquabhi to take a little hike with my daughter and a women pulled up in the parking spot next to us. She was very pregnant and had two older girls with her. And they were all had their fishing poles - just them, no men involved. I thought about them on our hike and when the lady and I arrived back at our vehicles at the same time I told her how cool it was that she was taking her daughters fishing. She seemed surprised by my comment - clearly this wasn't uncommon in her family.

Of course no one ever took me fishing, not until I was an adult and now I just don't have the patience to sit on the bank waiting for the fish to bite. But our kids love it and I am happy they have the opportunity to learn this important skill. Even at two years old, my youngest can reel in a two-pounder on her Barbie fishing pole with no help.

I may not be able to teach my daughters the best bait to use to catch each fish or how to find a catfish hole (I'll leave that to Dad) but cooking, baking, sewing - making things from the most basic of ingredients to create something beautiful or delicious - that information I can impart. And one day when they are grown, they won't have to rely on everyone else for all the things they need. That is my goal as a parent - to teach my children to be self-sufficient - to teach them beyond the textbook. Oh and good manners wouldn't hurt either.