Authenticity

I saw this video clip of a dad's reaction to his son's passing grade in math class this morning. And I found myself being brought to tears. Perhaps I'm just emotional today. But even more than that, the authenticity of this Dad's love for his boy shines through. What we can't see are the countless hours this dad spent helping this boy succeed. The many conversations about how perseverance and hard work produce "results." The time spent doing everything he could to build confidence and the knowledge that this boy could "succeed." We don't see the agony or the pain it took to make this moment reality.

What we do see shinning through is the real love this dad has for his boy. We see how proud he is of his boy. And for what? A C grade. Perhaps mediocre? But not for this dad and his boy. This is the authentic expression of true achievement. And that's why I found myself being brought to tears.

I hope one day when I have hopes and dreams for my own children, this type of authentic love and appreciation for them will shine through.

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The Greatest Chefs Just Cook

I've never wanted to be a chef. It's just not a skill set I ever thought I'd have or ever be really good at. In fact, my hopes and dreams around cooking have always been found in the simple successes. For example, I'd love to be able to bake a consistent baked potato. It still mystifies me why baking a potato is so frickin' hard. It never takes the same amount of time at the same temperature. I don't know what the deal is! (And yes I do poke holes in my potatoes every time.)

Alas, cooking has never been my strongest suite, especially when cheese and crackers are so dang convenient... and delicious :)

Well (now that I have so much time on my hands) I'm learning. And tasting. And failing. And everyone once in a while... magic happens. The type of magic that has me thinking that

the greatest chefs just cook.

Yep. I've decided that good cooks, just decide to cook... and try... and experience. And maybe that's just when the greatest discoveries happen. 

Introducing beef ragu with basil lemon peel - debatably the best meal I've ever made. All because I decided to try and actually cook something.

So, thank you beautiful, aroma-filling beef ragu. You have inspired me to just keep cooking something... anything... in the hopes of finding more delicious recipes like yourself. And maybe, just maybe I'll be able to nail down that baked potato some day.

Cha-Cha-Cha-Changes

Wow.

It's crazy that it's been almost one full year since I've posted anything on this blog. How time flies by. It's crazy to think back on where life has taken me and my family and what's been experienced in such a short time.

First Wedding Anniversary Celebration
First House Buying
First Mortgage Payment
First Bathroom Renovation
First Ascent of the Inca Trail and First Sighting of Machu Pichu
First Mt Adams Ascent
First Send of 5.11a (booya! thank god for finger cracks)
First Big Fight with the Husband that Took a FEW TOO MANY Days to Resolve (but resolve we did!)
First Success of Cooking Chicken and Dumplings
First Time Painting a Ceiling (its so much harder than you think!)
First Hawaii Trip with the VanVoorhis Clan

The list goes on and on. Leading to...

The First Layoff.

Yep, I was officially laid off after six years of designing, marketing, planning and executing. Talk about changes. BIG changes. Life altering changes. And you know what? Life is good.

Oh don't get me wrong. It's definitely scary. There will always be those "what-if-no-one-wants-me" thoughts or "will-I-ever-get-hired-again?" feelings that I just have to push away and try to ignore.

But even more than that, I'm on a journey... a sabbatical of sorts. It's time to reconnect the pieces and rediscover what lies beneath an exterior that's become hardened by survival mode. It's time to rediscover who I am and who I want to become.

And so, I'm back to writing and learning and contemplating. All I know is that I'm going to keep showing up in the hopes that I will find HIM faithful on the other side. So far, so good.

Here's to changes.