even the birds

a girl . a life . a blog

[hopeglenn]

There is more beauty in truth, even if it is a dreadful beauty. The storytellers at the city gate twist life so that it looks sweet to the lazy and the stupid and the weak, and this only strengthens their infirmities and teaches nothing, cures nothing, nor does it let the heart soar.

John Steinbeck, East of Eden

[hopeglenn]

Most Casual Dresser

I was voted “Most Casual Dresser” by the members of my senior class. I remember being mildly happy to have been somewhat memorable and simultaneously concerned that it was some sort of backhanded compliment. I still don’t know what to think about this distinction. I’m currently making my way through Amy Poehler’s Yes, Please, and was overjoyed to learn that she was (almost) voted “Most Casual” by her class. While she doesn’t shed any light on the meaning or intent of the title, at least I know my classmates didn’t just invent a category to describe my puzzling character. Has anyone else heard of this specific badge of honor?

[hopeglenn]

August 28, 2014

Liv has started adding “ey” to the monickers of everything she holds dear.

Horsey. Toysies. Grapey.

I, on the other hand, am still “Mom.”

[hopeglenn]

July 28 - August 10

These past couple of weeks have done a world of good for my heart, my sanity, and my tan line. I unplugged, buckled in, and found some little bits of myself that seem to have been lost in the shuffle of life over the past couple of years.

I was able to get away with some girlfriends for a week in Mexico. A week! A week of beaches and pools and margaritas and nachos and sushi and pools and reading and naps and margaritas. My hero of a guy worked from home for the week and took care of the little lady while I laughed, lazed, and recharged.

This past week, Tim was working at the Outdoor Retailers' convention in Salt Lake, so we were able to spend some good time catching up and hanging out with our favorites, without the whiplash of an overnight trip. We celebrated new babies and birthdays. We had rootbeer floats and real beer-just, and we got to visit our church fam, who we're constantly missing.

After all of that goodness, coming home to Green River last night felt like coming home, and that's a pretty big gift in itself.

[hopeglenn]

New music Monday: Sam Smith - "How Will I Know"

I'm so out of the loop, y'all. My teenaged self is crying in a time warp somewhere. I've been hearing Sam Smith's name for months now, but who has the energy to keep up with what the kids are listening to these days? Tim and I turned on the Today show this morning and watched as thousands of girls blocked the NYC streets to scream at some band we'd never even heard of, but I digress.

I need this voice in my life...and I miss Whitney.

[hopeglenn]

7.9.14 - Goblin Valley / Arches National Park

We had such a great week with these monkeys and their sweet mama (who took all of these fantastic images). Liv LOVED having her cousins around. She thrived, and it was so fun to see a side of her we don’t get to glimpse that often, considering we haven’t had many play dates out here. I am so thankful that our family is full of some of the most smart, fun and inspiring people in our lives.

I’m thankful for this town. I’m thankful for the beauty that surrounds it.

I’m thankful that the day after this, I took my monkey on a road trip to SLC to see Lauryn Hill live - finally. Nothing like a little “come to Jesus” moment in the park.

I’m thankful for contact highs of all kinds.

[hopeglenn]

just a typical day on the job.

[hopeglenn]

5.24.14

Green River has been home for just a bit over two months. Now that spring has sprung and summer is beginning to stretch it's legs, we're enjoying all that this area has to offer. The beach is, by far, my favorite spot, and I'm finding myself uber jealous of its secrecy, like any good newbie local. There are also ghost towns, ancient native art, national parks, and god willing, a new national monument in our backyard.

Please?! Here's hoping B-Rock reads obscure, low-traffic blogs.

We have some new friends in the area, and we're enjoying getting to know them better and partnering to help bring new life to the town. Tim has also started up a monthly Open Mic Night at the museum and is working with the event coordinator who puts on the River Rampage Triathlon to pull together a Green River Marathon this fall. 

I am a little worried about our recreational options (re: sanity) come wintertime, but here's to living for today, eh?

Currently in mommyland, Liv and I are beginning the process of weaning. It's a bittersweet prospect. I was hoping she'd lead the charge on her own, but as she hasn't shown signs of slowing down, I'm taking small steps in that direction. It's sad for both of us, but it's time. I have a girls trip (!!) to Mexico at the end of July, so we have a definite deadline and some descent buffer time.

Tim is very busy with the museum, and life is very, very simple otherwise. I'm enjoying this time. I'm enjoying our little family. I'm loving the friends and family who are coming to visit and share in our adventure.

Salt Lake friends, we'll be playing a couple fun shows next month, so some see us!!

[hopeglenn]

4.16.14

i can't watch her every second, but i still feel like a bad parent when she approaches me, mouth covered in coffee grinds, because she's just eaten an apple slice out of the trash.

[hopeglenn]

March 24, 2014

Our home is coming together, and it feels so wonderfully like home. 

We have just a few boxes left to unpack, and we've already started on our list of household projects. Well, Tim has. I'm mostly on midget wrangling duty. I'm excited to share pictures, once we get things more settled - especially of our guest room, because we have a guest room, and we are fully expecting guests. Don't make us beg. This is beautiful country, y'all. Come see it. Come see us.

So far, my favorite perk of homeowning is the ability to sing at the top of my lungs around the house without the fear of a knock from the other side of the wall. Above is today's chosen selection.

Speaking of bellows, duty calls from the crib.

[hopeglenn]

Diary of a Small Town Mama

3.17.14

The world is pretty drastically different since my last post. Tim accepted a great job as the director of a museum in southern Utah, so we BOUGHT A HOUSE, moved away from SLC, and all of the sudden, I’ve found myself as a stay-at-home mama in an unfamiliar land.

We’re without internet for the moment, so I’ll keep this brief, as phone blogging is less than ideal, but get used to hearing a lot more from me.

First few days as homeowners: our water heater currently provides us with temperatures ranging from freezing cold, to slightly less than freezing. I’ve become well acquainted with dry shampoo and wet wipes.

The adventure begins!

Update: Hot water issue resolved. Chalk this one up to ignorance.

[hopeglenn]

1.1.14 Liv isn't the biggest fan of naps, but she sure does love that her bookshelf is within reach of her crib.

[hopeglenn]

Here's to compassion. Here's to taking the time to listen. Here's to taking the time to feel. 

[hopeglenn]

November 8, 2013

An interesting side effect of Tim's never-ending job search these past few years has been our one-night-stand-like relationships with so many little towns and cities as he's submitted applications all over the country. We peek into housing markets, voting histories, recreational activities and anything else that might give us a sense of the atmosphere in our would-be community. 

Tim is a classic dreamer. He gets a kick out of the idea of a place and can go for hours looking through all the fun things we could do with Liv or searching for the perfect home, without getting emotionally invested. But I am much more pragmatic. I start to bank on the dream, and when it doesn't pan out, I feel beat down. It is increasingly clear to me why I never, ever enjoyed dating. Rejection is hard, and I didn't enjoy being the rejecter or the rejectee. 

Life with Liv has been so much fun these days. Her personality is really blossoming, and every morning, we can't wait to see what new thing she's going to have accomplished. She is hilarious. She has her daddy's sense of humor and her mama's love for a good meal. 

Here she is modeling her homeopathic cradle cap remedy (organic coconut oil):

We've tried every trick in the book to get her to sleep through the night, but I'm starting to wonder if she just misses our company, because she sleeps just fine once I cave and pull her into our bed. Does anyone have a suggestion we might have missed?

currently listening to: http://youtu.be/fqU6pK314T0

[hopeglenn]

a blogger who moms

I haven't been posting much the past year because I didn't want to be a mommy blogger, but guys, I've been blogging for over 10 years, and I grew up and had a kid, so without trying, I became one. 

I'm gonna start posting more frequently again, and she's gonna come up. She's gonna come up a lot. But, I promise, you won't ever have to read about her BMs or what color her snot was that morning, unless it's effing hilarious. 

I'm still young and fun, guys! I promise! 

Remember that time I met my childhood crush?

[hopeglenn]

Lake Tahoe - September 2013

Photos By: Cody McCarthy

[hopeglenn]

Life