Tag: summer

Life in Photos, Poetry & Words

God led us to this oasis (August Photo Challenge: Day 1)

Gina @ Oaxacaborn

It’s AUGUST. I don’t know how something like that could have happened. Funny, the chatter today about Fall being just around the corner. It sure doesn’t feel that way here. The crickets’ dusk song hasn’t slowed; one chirp blends into the next with scarcely any time at all elapsed in between. The humid air is thick and unforgiving, holding up so much water it’s a wonder the clouds don’t come crashing down around our feet. My toenails are brightly painted orange – neon, not autumnal; more like sherbet than like maple leaves. The inside of the car is scorching, and the seats burn our summer legs as we climb in.

This is not the crunchy and dry California summer. This is not the verdant green, sweatshirt-clad Midwest summer. But this is our summer. Our summer, and we are peaceful. God led us to this oasis, this palm-tree laden land where our table is filled with food, where the pool is clean and refreshing and ours to enjoy, where the row of windows in the living room look out over roads and into the sky, and not into other windows.

Sometimes, it’s hard to see that this is an oasis. Our families are thousands of miles away. I do not have friends here to laugh with, friends to share a summer afternoon with. I get lost trying to find simple places like the post office. The street signs are all unfamiliar. It is hard, sometimes. Hard to be so far away from what used to be home.

But mostly, somehow, I am peaceful.

God saw what was going on with Israel. God understood. (Exodus 2:25 MSG)

Self portrait - leather couch, sheepskin, sitting on floor - Photo a Day - August Photo Challenge

Image: Day One (Self Portrait) of the August Photo Challenge.

Life in Photos

A Photo a Day in August – Monthly Photo Challenge

Gina @ Oaxacaborn

[UPDATE: Many of you have found this page through Googling “photo a day August” — my guess is you’re likely either looking for Fat Mum Slim’s Photo a Day August 2013 or Susannah Conway’s August Break 2013. :)]

So, who’s going to join me in taking a photograph each day during the month of August? I had so much fun earlier this summer during the June Photo Challenge — although I disappeared to visit my family part-way through the month and didn’t complete the list. This time, I want to stick to it, rain or shine. (We get a lot of both here in Florida).

The Monthly Photo Challenge’s facebook page will be the central hub for August’s event, so be sure to hop on over to get in on the action, or check out the list of topics here. And, if you’ll be sharing your photos on Twitter, use the hashtag #augustphoto.

Close up photo of baby girl sleeping on blue and white stars crib sheet - cute chubby baby cheeks and cherub lips

Poetry & Words

Together in the Morning Light: My Waking Thoughts on Life with my Two Loves

Gina @ Oaxacaborn

blue Moroccan lantern with green and black canvas in background

purple yarn with wood grain table in background

vintage corticelli silk thread / belding richardson button hole twist

wooden kitchen chair with white IKEA RITVA cushion and IKEA RENS sheepskin

We wake up too early, to the uneven rhythm of traffic slowing and starting again as a multicolored ribbon of cars passes in waves through the toll booth. Aveline stirs and fusses, increasing in volume until the sputtering grunts grow into a jarring cry. She presses her teary face against the slats of the crib, gripping tightly with dimpled hands as she wobbles her way into a kneeling position.

I sit up, glancing upward at the cacophonous din of pigeons who’ve taken up unwanted residence in an opening in the eaves. The water pipes groan and heave, and I hear the splash of hot water making its way through the shower head in the adjoining room as Josiah prepares for the day. I rub my eyes, reach out my arms and smile through a tired fog as Aveline’s fingers quickly grab onto me. I pick her up and pull her close. She buries her warm face in my shoulder and breathes a sigh, kicking her legs in happiness.

I carry her into the living room, letting my eyes truly see all the colors and light and beauty the new day holds. The white light enveloping the chair in the corner. The bright hues of the yarn and thread on the table. The hint of red in Aveline’s hair. Give me strength for the day, Lord, I quietly pray. Thank you for life. I change Aveline’s diaper, tossing her green pajamas into the laundry basket, smiling to myself at the sight of the heap of tiny, rumpled clothes. I pull a bright yellow mod dress off a hanger, and slip it over her strawberry blond head. The sixties-esque daisies on the dress make me smile.

Josiah walks into the kitchen, his wet hair hanging in curls. He reaches for Aveline, holding her in one arm while he measures out coffee grounds. My heart nearly overflows. My two loves, sleepy-headed and happy, together in the kitchen in the morning light. She’s learning how to make coffee, he says, and she turns around to look at me, grinning from ear to ear.

Later, she sits on his lap while he works on the iPhone game he is creating. I sit across the room, letting the bold flavors of my coffee curl around my tongue. I stare into the steaming liquid. Coffee and chocolate, I think to myself. Exactly the color of his eyes.

I read Genesis, and Jacob’s blessing speaks to me.

The God before whom walked
my fathers Abraham and Isaac,
The God who has been my shepherd
all my life long to this very day,
The Angel who delivered me from every evil,
Bless the boys.
May my name be echoed in their lives,
and the names of Abraham and Isaac, my fathers,
And may they grow…

Life in Photos, Little Style

Your Summer Photo Favorites!

Gina @ Oaxacaborn

When I put out the call for your favorite summer photos, fellow Floridian Drea of Ohdeardrea sent me these absolutely gorgeous shots. (They were actually taken in winter, but shhhh…don’t tell. It’ll be our secret.)

Ohdeardrea - Summer Photo Favorite - Marlowe and Drea at Beach

Ohdeardrea - Summer Photo Favorite - Marlowe on beach

Now how absurdly cute are Emma and Spencer? Their dad, Aaron Klein, is always tweeting the adorable things these two say. I especially love what Aaron writes about orphan care and adoption.

Aaron Klein - Favorite Summer Photo - http://www.aaronklein.com/

And finally, my coffee-drinking pal Dina sent me this shot of her fiancé, saying, “My sweet man can sleep anywhere, as well as multitask; slumber whilst petting the pooch.” She doesn’t have a blog, but she is planning a wedding and curating her (stunning!) wedding inspiration over on Pinterest.
Dina Kader - Favorite Summer Photo

Life in Photos, Little Style

The One Where Aveline Wears a Bandana

Gina @ Oaxacaborn

It’s summer. I can smell it in the fresh air blowing in through the open French doors as I sit drinking my coffee out of a cobalt mug. I can see it in the wind that blows through Sierra’s long silky fur, and I can taste it in the tender lettuce greens heaped high on my plate.

We’re on a mini-vacation, Aveline and I. We’ve survived the “flying with an infant” thing (second time in Aveline’s short five months!) and now we’re resting getting spoiled at my parents’ home.

Josiah is at home, working hard. I miss him. I wish he were here with us, to experience the cool temperatures and the incredible peace that is everywhere in this restful place. Aveline will tell him all about it, I am sure, in her delicate voice and unmistakably Italian hand gestures.

We took a little stroll around the yard the other day, soaking in the quietness and the trees.

Aveline wearing red bandana and gingham/polka dot dress

Aveline in small stroller next to garden bench

View through fencing into hot/house/greenhouse garden

Door to hothouse/greenhouse garden

Aveline wearing red bandana and gingham dress, kicking bare foot into camera

Sierra the Papillon at entrance to hothouse/greenhouse garden

Aveline falling asleep

Very blue sky and green leafy tree

Guest Blog

You’re Going to Love The Summer Vacation Guest Bloggers Coming Up!

Gina @ Oaxacaborn

Summer Vacation - Guest Blog Event on Oaxacaborn

Hello lovelies! I’ll be posting sporadically over the next couple weeks. But don’t worry, I’ve lined up some fabulous Summer Vacation Guest Bloggers for you. I might even pop in myself from time to time to say hello!

Ok, it’s off to bed for this over-tired, sore-throated mama. Aveline and I are leavin’ on a jet plane (ridiculously early) tomorrow. (Sorry California, we’re not headed your direction this time). Now pardon me while I fall asle…..