the cotton tree: present & balanced

I am definitely guilty of analyzing my past and worrying about the future. In fact, I'm pretty sure I drive my husband nuts some days, especially late at night when I can't stop my brain from thinking, thinking, thinking. But don't get me wrong, I am also someone who likes to have plans and goals for the future, and I like to reflect on the past and learn what I can from it. It can just be difficult to find the right balance, and lately I have really been struggling with this. The worst part of it all is that I often miss out on the PRESENT. I've really been thinking about this lately and trying to be better about balancing my past and future, while living each day with a focus on the present.

Leave it to my Mom to send me a little note... just when I needed it.

If I did not simply live from one moment to the next, it would be impossible for me to be patient, but I look only at the present. I forget the past, and take good care not to forestall the future. When we yield to discouragement or despair, it is usually because we think too much about the past and the future.

- St. Therese of Lisieux

As part of my effort to really focus on the most important things in my life, I've tried to start doing more projects and arts & crafts with Ben. It's so fun that he is getting old enough to do more things like that with me and I love helping him learn. (Not to mention that I find some of the things we do pretty fun myself!) Each day he's even more of his own little person, and I don't want to miss any of it!

Here's what we did today...

The idea is from Marigold Road

A nature bracelet. Well, I made a nature bracelet. My son decided that he wanted nothing to do with sticky tape. All you do is put the tape around your wrist, sticky side out, but he wanted it "OFF!" as soon as I put it on. I went ahead with the project and made a beautiful bracelet from things I found around the yard while Ben put things he found in the gutter. Quite a successful project!