Just a couple days ago, in the early morning hours, we were packing up to come home from the lake and there on the screen was a HUGE, shimmering dragonfly.  I whispered G over and we marvelled at its breadth and length as it rested on our home.

The moment sparkled with celebration.  We experienced belonging as we held hands and a gaze together.

Celebrating our simple moments of belonging adds to our sense of fulfillment and joy!  Gratitude is the fuel to face the day.

This summer, we’ve explored how to enjoy our child more!  We’re on a journey to cherish, encourage, and celebrate.  We can do it in the backyard, the basement, or at the beach.

Of course I thought, “I should get a picture, but I don’t have my camera.”  I come by that thought honestly.

If you want a great ‘how-to’ blog on catching these precious moments on film, this isn’t it.  Despite my inadequacies, I want to capture love with my camera or phone.  In some ways, it is my gratitude journal.  As I look back over our summer so far, I can see so much to celebrate, so much gratitude.

Family vacation, Africa, and adventures together.

I set my intention to make memories, save memories, and recount memories over and over.

Of course, even in our times together, there are frustrations, conflicts, and imperfections.  Some of us may be looking back on our summer and feel defeat or discouragement.  I know the darkness well.  The loneliness.  The sorrow.  My heart can still feel the crawl-out-of-bed to face-another-torturous-day of survival mode.  It is part of our lives.

I’ll share more in the Learn Forward book coming out in September, but for now, I can encourage you with…

The story is not over.  We can stay together.  We can keep claiming the greatness.  We can meditate on the kindness.  We can cherish the simple things.

What are your simple celebrations?  Where do you need courage?

As we launch into fall, let’s make courage our meditation.  Teachers, parents, and students, we can be together with courage.  It’s called the Table of Learning.

Learn Forward is about focusing on what matters most and having the courage to both rest in the process and take the next step forward!

For the sake of the children,

Karine