Ebb and Flow

"I've experienced the highest of highs and lowest of lows. I think to really appreciate anything you have to be at both ends of the spectrum. -John Elway

Well thank you, Mr. Elway for that quote.

I completely agree with what he has to say. It is so true. We ALL have experienced highs and lows. It makes us human. They are a part of life. They make life what it is--albeit hard-- they are the threads that comprise the beautifully difficult patchwork of life. They make us all dimensional and unique.  

Life as we currently know it comes with more highs and lows than we know what to do with. I looked up other terminology for highs and lows, and found the following:

Peaks and Valleys (agreed)
Good Times and Bad (Yep.)
Wax and Wane (second place finisher)
Ebb and Flow (personal favorite)

Here is a visual example of what I am talking about here:

This particular sunset sent me into a tailspin. Beautiful, isn't it? You would think that this particular one would make my heart sing. It had the opposite effect.  I just sat and watched it from the back patio and cried.  It felt good to cry after a long, exhausting day.  I do hate the fact that something so perfect sent me straight into the valley.  Maybe the little angel knew I needed a good cry.  Maybe he knew I needed to slow down and rest for a minute. This photo does not give that sunset justice. It was stunning. A real show stopper.

And this sunset?

Not much to it, but this one made me smile and laugh out loud. Why? No clue. It was genuine and uncontrollable.  Happy, and I mean happy, tears rolled down my face. I  turned up the music and sung a little louder in my car. I took an extra loop around our house because I felt like enjoying myself and the moment. I got my rear out of that awful, icky valley and started truckin' towards the glorious peak.  It felt so good. A straight-up, fully loaded sunshine infusion. I need more of this in my life. ASAP. I need those rays of sun to wrap around my heart more often and melt the ice that I have packed around it. I have hope, but I need to feel and experience it more often. Moments like this shake my soul up and remind me that HOPE, FAITH and LOVE always win. They are always there, even if I do not feel it at the time. It is kinda like Jackson just done slapped is his mama with this sunset. He is the only person who is allowed to do that, and he so did. Thanks JND! I am game for another round of dueling sunsets! I love you so much!

One of many lessons I have learned over the past 16 weeks is that the moments that take your breath away are not always positive ones. The stunner sunset took the wind out of my sails and sent me straight to my knees. The casual sunset made me laugh, smile and sing (literally and figuratively). I am learning to let go a little more, and to stop grasping for everything. It is so hard to do this, but I am at least trying.  I am learning to stop forcing or expecting something to make me feel better. When I do that, I just set myself up to feel bad. It never works anyway, so I am done with that method. The "just go with it" method is really the only one that works.

These sunsets represent the current ebb and flow of our life as we know it. One is the peak, and the other is the valley. Our son gives us both. LIFE gives us both. There is always something to learn in these types of moments. 

A funny photo from a friend that made me laugh:

Life is Crap is the valley, and certainly justified from time to time. I think everyone on the planet would agree on that. I have a road map through the Life is Crap valley, if anyone ever needed a copy or a tour guide. I am trying my very best to NOT hang out there, because I do not like it. It does not help at all to linger in this place. A short trip there is necessary, but not a place for a long-term stay.

Just around the corner you find this....

And there you have the peak. Cue the songs, birds, unicorns, choir, confetti, and other things that exude happiness and goodness.

Life is Good. It may not be easy, or how you imagined it....but it is still good.  We choose to believe that there is so much that is good and beautiful ahead of us.

Both have to exist, and both are life. The sweet, wonderful goodness and the pure crap.

John Elway hit the nail on the head with his quote. You really do appreciate everything when you experience both ends of the spectrum. WE have come to appreciate everything that life has to offer because of the ebb and flow of it all. We recognize that ups and downs are a part of the journey, and they should be embraced. Down does not mean defeat. Down just means you have to pick yourself up again. We have learned that the hardest part of it all is just getting up again.

I am not saying we love life everyday or that life is always good, but I can say that we appreciate it. It is humbling. Our son has taught us so many things, and has only been 16 weeks. Can you imagine a lifetime with an angel like that? 

"Don't cry because it's over. Smile because it happened."- Dr. Seuss 

He is good. He happened. 

Life is good. Life happens.

Life moves forward, even if you have to pick yourself up time and time again along the way. 

Insert smile :)

In the interest of keeping a smile....This arrived in the mail this week....

Jackson's sweet feet on a beautiful heart charm! I just love these sweet feet! This is such a special way to remember him. I chose to have them put on a heart because of his impact on my life and I want him to know he always has my heart. Always and forever loved and never, ever forgotten.

Russ' charm came a few weeks ago.....

A perfect "man necklace" as he likes to say! It is hard to find a necklace that works for guys. This one fit the bill! It is a dog tag, and it looks fantastic! As Russ says "Now his footprints can be with us all the time". I completely agree, my love. They were always with us, but now they are beautifully displayed.

The artist who made these necklaces is incredibly talented.  Visit her shop! She is amazing! She does fingerprint, footprint, and other types of keepsake jewelery. She is so personable and easy to work with too!

www.KLMcDesigns.etsy.com 
You can find her on Facebook under KLMcDesigns and on Twitter @bittyclippies 

Oh, how we love these adorable baby feet. They are absolutely perfect.

Footprints and Hope. All day, everyday.


A dear friend gave me a journal last week that is full of fantastic quotes and passages. She took it a step further and added some of her favorites. It has plenty of pages to write and add quotes, and I have already begun to do so. It is the most wonderful, thoughtful gift. You know who you are, and WE are so grateful for you and your beautiful family. Thank for for being in our lives, and thanks to all of you for loving us. Here is a quote that she wrote in the journal that eloquently compliments my thoughts around the ebb and flow of life:

"Life is a series of experiences, each of which makes us bigger, even though it is hard to realize this. For the world was built to develop character and we must learn that the set backs and griefs which we endure help us in our marching onward." -Unkown

There you have it. Love that quote! Love the journal!

Well, it is time to start the weekend. Russ just walked in from football! It is date night in the mountains :) 

Back to rockin' the highs and lows. 

Love,
Emily and Russ


Blurry phone pick from last date night!