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Archive for August 2011

Unleash your happy

Wednesday, August 31st, 2011
By Beth

My bright, intelligent and talented soul sister, Jennifer Helen came up with the concept of Triple W a few years ago. Triple W is a workshop for the working woman, a place to learn how to integrate work and life. She did what so many of only wish we could do. She built on that concept, her dream and now that dream is a reality. I attended last year’s workshop and within hour one, I sat in the chair, my body numb from what I was listening to, my life feeling changed for the better. As each hour passed, the feeling expanded, my head wanted to explode from what I was hearing. From the very basic ideas of what makes woman tick, how men and women are different, how to seek peace from the moment you wake in the morning until the moment you lay your head on your pillow at night, to listening to your creative side and how to transform your life into something less stressful, more beautiful, MORE YOU. (and once the workshop is over, it doesn’t leave you, you have take-aways and partners you work with once you’re back at home in the midst of appointments and diapers and getting ready for work.) The idea is brilliant. The workshop is absolutely life changing.

This year the workshop is taking place at Google in Chicago on September 16th and 17th. Right now, TWF is offering a discount of $100 that ends THIS FRIDAY, September 2nd. I promise you, you will only regret NOT attending. You (and your family, your spouse, your friends, your employers) will gain so much by attending this. I could not love this workshop more. You can find more information about the workshop here:

And if you’re going this year, tell me in the comments. I’d love to be one of your accountability partners for the following year. I will not be attending TWF this year because of my pregnancy status but I will be making my Life Transformation Plan, as I did last year. Last year at TWF, I announced to my accountability partner that “I am a photographer.” Which was a very difficult thing to say. I said these words and I followed them around and I felt them in my hands and I sat with them for hours and soon, I truly believed and now, one year later, I have a successful, money-making photography business. TWF taught me to REACH for the stars, gave me the courage to put myself out there and also taught me how to do just that.

If you have any questions, feel free to email me or I can put you in direct contact with Jennifer Helen. (and then you’ll meet her and probably die because she’s one of the most beautiful, genuine, soulful people YOU WILL EVER MEET. And this is truth and can be backed up by hundreds of people.)

Anyway. JUST GO.

whew.

You can “like” Triple W on Facebook and find out a ton of information about it here. Also, check out the photos from last year’s event.

One more thing about Jennifer Helen. She and I have known each other for a very, very long time. Something like, seventeen years. She is married, has three bright and hilarious children, she’s a yoga instructor, she has her own business. She doesn’t just put these workshops together, she IS this workshop. She lives it and breathes it and is a true testimony that integration of work and life (and spirit and soul) is completely possible. (literally every.single. detail of this workshop is considered.)

my soul sister

She and I have spent countless, COUNTLESS hours sitting at restaurants, eating six different appetizers, drinking coffee or beer, and we talk. And talk. And talk. And every time I leave that table and hug her goodbye (her hugs are by far the greatest things in the universe), I leave feeling fulfilled and light. Like I just had the best and most effective and life changing therapy session. So, when she first told me about this “workshop” and this idea that she’s working on. All I could think was, “of course it will come together and be a success because if I can sit across from her a table in a diner for three hours and we are talking about work and family and life and I feel like I’m in the presence of pure greatness, then how would it feel to spend a WEEKEND listening to the very people who shape HER.” And? She speaks, too. And you fall in love with her and the butterflies and her soul and TWF. And everything comes together and for the first time in a long time you remember how beautiful life is SUPPOSED to be but you lost sight of that because life is chaotic and hard and demanding.

But she reminds you.

And then every time you’re driving and the sun filters through your windows, and you’re sitting at a stop light (which you won’t mind doing after TWF), you’ll see a beautiful and unique butterfly fluttering across your windshield, you’ll be reminded of the greatness of this life. YOUR LIFE.

And you’ll think of Jennifer Helen and you’ll close your eyes briefly and breathe a soft breath and you’ll remember that life is that moment. So, what will you make of it?

This post? Is NOT sponsored. It comes from MY heart, MY mind and MY soul. I’m sharing this with you because it’s beautiful and life changing and it’s something I love and want to share with all of you.

Categories: Being a Mama, Friendly, OMG

On the floor

Sunday, August 28th, 2011
By Beth

I’ve started physical therapy. I think it’s funny that I actually tried to avoid it when it’s already helping me. Since my “relapse” last Wednesday, I haven’t really improved very much, which concerns me for the rest of my pregnancy but I’m doing my best to focus on the moment.

(which is a total lie.)

So, I began physical therapy and actually found out what the problem is and why I’m experiencing so much pain.

I damaged by pelvic floor.

Right now, we are working on taking the remnants and putting them back together and building a nice strong floor again. It’s going to take therapy twice a week and the rest of my pregnancy to (hopefully) repair it, so for now, I’m taking it easy, I can not lift Eli (which hurts my heart so much) and saving any activity to complete the sessions I have scheduled prior to baby girl’s delivery. (the doctor has okay’d this, as long as I have an assistant with me.)

I’m never left alone. Someone always has to be here with me to help with Eli, I’m lucky to have a Mom and a Mother-in-law who are not only retired but also able and wanting to help, I can’t get over our fortune that Brian’s job is flexible and understanding and then my friend, Lynette, who I’ve hired to help me at home with Eli and with BFP is around, too.

I am completely missing my independence but fully understand how temporary this is. I’m trying to accept the help that is given to me with grace because once this trial is over, real life begins again and I’ll be wishing for a few minutes to just sit on my couch in peace.

Last night, I had a session. I came home and Brian was outside with all three kids and it was getting dark. We came in and I ate dinner. Anna wasn’t feeling well, so she went upstairs to watch TV in my room. That left me with my three boys. I sat on the couch, eating cold pizza and we taught Eli new tricks and he entertained us and we laughed so hard and it literally hurt so much but my heart needed this laughter so badly.

I laid in bed realizing that had I NOT been resting and in pain that that moment probably would not have occurred, I would have been busy putting away toys, or cleaning up dishes or watering plants but instead, I sat and watched and interacted and loved and laughed and felt pretty grateful for all of this. Even the pain.

Categories: Baby Fletcher 2011, Being a Mama, stupid crap

You Capture | Ordinary Moments

Thursday, August 25th, 2011
By Beth

Hi friends.

Finally, You Capture at last. I’m pretty much where I was last week when I postponed You Capture to this week. My pain has returned and I’m back in bed. (technically, I’m on the couch right now, but the point is, I’m resting.) I haven’t gotten my camera out much because of this.

But, it did show up in my hands a few times.

I love this image. I love that these flowers just show up at this abandoned house along this barbed wire fence every single year. I love that it’s just what they do. No one has to ask them to, they just show up all beautiful and strong, doing what they can do enhance the earth’s beauty.

But then, their time comes and they begin to wilt but they’re still a pillar of strength and beauty. I love that this type of ordinary thing happens all the time. Everywhere.

fenced

A few nights ago, we took the kids out of ice cream. We also wanted to let Eli play outside, so we headed outside for some family time before the sun fell. I watched these two brothers, how they communicate and interact and how they just make each other happy. How brotherhood is so common, so ordinary and how often we forget that each relationship is different and beautiful and sometimes painful but it’s always there.

teacher

hula-hoop

Now, it’s your turn to share!

But first!

PLEASE READ THIS GUIDELINES, especially, yes, especially if you have never linked up!
1. Anyone can join in on the challenge at anytime.
2. Please make sure the photos you use were taken for the challenge, meaning do not search your archives for an appropriate photo. The goal of You Capture is to get you out taking photos each week!
3. Use YOUR photos.
4. When linking up, only link to your You Capture blog post, not your main blog URL. (incorrect links will be deleted.)
5. You MUST link back to You Capture in your post.
6. I encourage you to visit other participants and leave comments. This is a great way to meet new friends!
{more You Capture info can be found here.}

Peace

Happy Capturing!

Categories: you capture.

33 and first

Wednesday, August 24th, 2011
By Beth

I like the sound of the title of this post because it sounds all “football-like,” which probably makes it pretty clear to you that I do not understand football, at all.

Is it 33 downs and the first yard? 33 tackles and the first to get hurt? Do they keep track of tackles in football? Because they should since that seems to be the goal of the game, right? I have no idea but I love football lingo and I also love to pretend like I understand it.

Obviously.

But no, actually. The title is that today I am 33 weeks pregnant and today was also the first day of school for Anna and Noah.

Each event is equally exciting to me but I think Anna and Noah would strongly disagree. I base this on the fact that they woke up right on time and had eaten breakfast, brushed their teeth, gotten dressed, brushed their hair and put on their backpacks in just 14 seconds.

Excitement for their first day does not quite properly express how they were feeling about today.

happy-for-school

We were ready for this day. The kids had had enough of summer, it’s become obvious these last 10 days or so. Every night they’d dream of going school shopping and then going to school. “I wish school started today.” I only heard this 423 times. But I loved hearing it because I love that they love school.

Last night, I was able to take two pain killers and actually felt somewhat normal. We got ready for school, did showers, cleaned up the house, read books and tucked the kids in their new shared room. Nothing spectacular happened except the feeling of routine returned and I really liked it.

Anna-first-day

Noah-first-day

I’ve never wished away summer. Never couldn’t wait until they returned to school and I honestly hope I never do. So, back-to-school is always bittersweet for me. (mostly bitter because it hurts my wallet. OMG.) But sweet because I’m able to watch these children grow up and observe, socialize and learn every single day.

It’s certainly my pleasure to be able to watch this.

I’m fully aware that someday, before we know it, we’ll be packing up their car and dropping them off at college and not only will I be longing for these days of school excitement, but I’ll also be longing for the day when going to school only meant dropping a few hundred bucks on school supplies. So, I’ll just stop complaining about that right now.

 

 

Categories: Baby Fletcher 2011, Being a Mama

Friday Morning Coffee

Friday, August 19th, 2011
By Beth

Hi friends. I’m sitting in my bed, drinking coffee. I just had a bowl of Honey Nut Cheerios. My whole family is home right now which will not be the case next week when Brian will be back to work and Anna and Noah will be at school. I like all of us here but I do believe I’m ready for school to begin.

Noah is sitting next to me playing with my new iPad. Anna is playing Barbies, Eli is sleeping, Brian is on a work call.

Last night I slept for over 12 hours. I do believe I am starting to feel much better. Wednesday morning (as in 12:30 in the morning) through Wednesday evening was easily the most pain I have been in in my life. I can’t explain it but nothing, no amount of muscle relaxers or pain killers helped me with the pain. I literally could not move.

Today, I can pee pretty easily and turning on my side isn’t so much a chore. There’s still pain but not as much which makes me hopeful that I’ll be able to NOT go to physical therapy. I’m still working on this whole “sitting in bed” thing, it’s not my thing, I do not like it, I want to be up an doing stuff again. Today I plan to shower and edit a few photos. That’s the extent of my to-do list.

How sad is that?

I feel immense guilt over everything. I waited until three in the morning on Wednesday to call my OB because I felt guilty waking her up. (still do) I had to call my Mom, who lives 20 miles away at three in the morning to come watch the kids, GUILT. Brian having to take time off of work: guilt. Brian not able to travel this weekend for work: tons of guilt. Not being able to be an interactive Mom to the big kids: guilt. Unable to hold Eli: such guilt. Not being able to take Anna and Noah school supply shopping, as I promised: so much guilt.

Last night, I just cried. and cried. and cried. I feel selfish, I hate having to ask someone to help with everything I do. (even turning on my side) It’s temporary, yes. But that doesn’t take away my sadness that I’m feeling at THAT moment.

Also, I feel like my house is falling apart. You know how it is. You step away for a few hours and the mess just continues because you’re not there to pick up after people or tell them when to clean up after themselves. And this isn’t Brian’s fault because he’s working from home, taking care of his gigantic, paralyzed wife, a toddler and two kids.

Fortunately, my Mom has been helping and Stephanie brought us dinner last night (what a beautiful thing from both of them.) So, it’s not like everything is broken, it just feels like it sometimes.

I’m hoping when I come back here on Monday, everything will be better. Yes, that is my hope.

Happy Friday.

Categories: Friday Morning Coffee
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