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taken by Madeleine in Carter’s new school. that grin should say it all.

I’ve been spending the week decompressing from the pure insanity of the last days of summer. This is tricky since I have one hundred and one things on my to-do list and that many more that should have been finished days ago, but I’m working at my own pace, letting things come together little by little, knowing full well that I’m crazy productive when my tank is full, full, full.

One thing I can’t shake: the pure bliss of seeing Carter completely embrace his new school experience. He has never been one to jump for joy at separation from me, but clearly his time has come because he’s marching through those doors, no questions asked and coming home practically high on his accomplishments. Nothing could make me happier.

Yesterday he declared he’d like to be President of the United States. But that’s Madeleine’s job, Meryl said, since Madeleine fumes almost daily that Hillary might beat her to making history as the first woman president. Clearly, I replied, Carter did not get the memo. I love this outrageous display of personal confidence. Kindergarten today, tomorrow–the nation’s capital!

What over-the-top declaration would you make if you knew it would be received with total acceptance? Pure joy even? Sign me up for best-selling author! Faithful friend and mother! I want the confidence of a child discovering for the first time that letters are a piece of cake, numbers as easy as breathing.

condensation on a Solo cup, Florida Keys, 2006

I love the way the web opens up opportunities for people to be more creative. It might seem insignificant to some, but deciding to do a postcard swap or post for the Self-Portrait Challenge really can be a way to say yes to creativity–sometimes for the very first time. Here are some three online projects that make it easy to participate–no experience required.

Shari at The Glass Doorknob is hosting Elements Week. Post your pictures of water today, earth tomorrow, more prompts to come. The images are captivating, simple and soothing.

Andrea Scher of Superhero fame recently posted a short series of photography prompts to get your creative juices flowing. My favorite? Find and photograph a heart.

Zena is doing her own version of the photography challenge, only her photos will focus on the sacredness of her everyday life. You’re invited to play, too, so go ahead and be brave. More info here.

If a history of creative courage has made you a brand new Etsy artist, here’s a design site you must bookmark. Poppytalk is a Canadian design blog that features an Etsy pick-of-the-day as well as everything you’d ever want to know about new artists on the web. Poppytalk Handmade takes the promotion of emerging artists one step further by hosting an online street fair starting this October where artists can host an “online table”. You can read more about the submission process here. The deadline is September 15th.

No matter where you are in your artistic process, I hope one of these links inspires you to make sure your creative side gets a chance to play today.

cross-posted on Blogher.org. I was feeling shy last week as a new contributing editor for Blogher in the area of Art and Design, but I’m feeling more brave now. You can read my first entry here.

So proud of my kids on the first day of school. This is Carter’s first day of kindergarten. More pictures here.

Feels like Independence Day for all of us! Madeleine was up and dressed by 7:30, one full hour before we had to be anywhere. I think that qualifies for officially excited. Carter decided that as long as he could take a Calvin and Hobbes book to kindergarten, he’d be fine. I was feeling slightly guilty for not feeling weepy about any of it, until Madeleine got on the bus to go to her new school and fanned her face the way grown women do when they are about to cry and don’t want to mess up their makeup. That, I must confess, put a lump in my throat. Dear, dear girl–there’s no doubt in my mind you are SO ready for the adventures that lie ahead!

Big lump aside, I’m excited that my kids are opening new doors and taking on new challenges. This is the work of growing up, and in this way, my children aren’t that different from me. We are each in our own ways finding our paths and learning how to take responsibility for our gifts and our unique expressions of grace. I told Dave this morning that part of not being nervous about them is understanding the difference between their lives and mine. It’s easy to get the two confused–to suppose their challenges are somehow mine which then tempts me to take my role too seriously and start overcompensating. Kids have enough to do without worrying about their worried parents!

But I’m learning–that trust is an amazing gift, that confidence in their capacity to grow and change is key, that granting them their independence little by little is another way to feed the bonds we share. This is new for me, and I’m still learning how to make it my own–like a comfy pair of shoes.

What helped you the most growing up in your quest to be independent (and still somehow connected to the people you love)? If this conversation strikes a chord for you, I’d love to know.

Zinnias on my kitchen table from the lovely Moirita who just started pre-kindergarten

Thank you so much for your fantastic suggestions for our post-it project–Madeleine and I had a really great time! I have to confess I have been a bit of a grouchy mama these last dog days of summer, but there’s nothing like racing bikes around town with a fistful of cheerful post-its and your third grader to put a smile right back on your face. My neighbor Anne actually made a special trip to the public restroom at Baja Fresh in hopes of seeing one of our notes, but alas! we ran out before we even hit downtown. “Next time,” she said, “just walk past Rick and the kids and post one directly on my bathroom mirror. No questions asked.”

The idea really delighted me. What if the next time you were invited over somewhere you made it a habit of leaving a little love note for someone to see? Guerilla artists infiltrating private places with notes of scandalous approval and love! Something along the lines of “You inspire me!” or “The Lemenheads Think Your Family Rocks.” I think it could be really fun.

School starts on Monday and my only regret is that I never got it together to have a Free Ice Cream Day with Mousa our neighborhood ice cream truck guy. But with temperatures still in the high-nineties, maybe it’s not too late? You can donate to our cause below and thrill the cutest neighborhood kids you’ve ever seen. We’ll see how this goes, but Friday after school might be just right. I promise to post pics!

That’s all I got, kitty-kats. Hope things are nice and cool where you are this sunny Saturday. We’re sweltering!

From my painting journals two years ago. Don’t I look like Velma?

Maybe it’s the cooler weather, maybe it’s feeling like a sherpa as my kids follow me around from one room or another, but I am SO ready for school to start. Ordinary things that usually don’t phase me are getting me down. Last night I ran away for fifteen minutes to Mark and Meryl’s, so I could have a good cry before tackling bedtime. So sorry for the melodrama, but that’s where I’m at this very moment!

Today I’m shipping Carter off on a playdate, so Madeleine and I can go try our hand at some guerilla art a la Keri Smith style. At first, Madeleine was horrified at the thought–”Mom, really! That sounds ILLEGAL!” But after I assured her that you cannot land in the slammer for leaving post-it notes in public restrooms saying “Don’t give up!” or “Love is all around!” she was totally on board.

What message found in an unexpected place could turn things around for you today? Comment now and we’ll add your thought to our list of post-its making the rounds in Silver Spring today.

Madeleine at Cape Point, South Africa

Every year my life gets a little bit bigger as my heart deepens and grows to receive for her expansive, wild and beautiful spirit. I can say with all my heart that each day I love her more.

Happy Birthday, Mad. I think Dad said it best here.

me and my cute husband on his 40th birthday in June

It’s the big countdown until school starts over here in the Lemen household. A very big deal since this year Carter starts kindergarten and Madeleine will take the bus to a school for third, fourth and fifth graders. This fall also marks ten years Dave and I have been married and thirteen years that we’ve been together. If you know me in real life, you know what a big deal this is. I don’t come close to being good marriage material and live in daily fear of Child Protective Services uncovering squished bananas under the beds of my feral children. But still. I’m here! Married, happy and with nothing criminal on my record. This is something to celebrate!

So here’s my question for whoever is avoiding their other work and surfing the internet this Friday afternoon. Aside from the obvious (a decadent dinner followed by sex worthy of a Susie Bright anthology)–what would you do to celebrate if you were a) short on cash, b) well-stocked in babysitters and c) had two or three days and a reliable car with decent gas mileage? and a tent that you got for your wedding that is practically new?

We live in DC and are not afraid of nature or adventure–though at the moment a day long nap might be in order. We’re both a little worn out.

My mother is on her way to the southern part of Sudan tonight to work for a week with a team designed to empower community leaders. I am so proud of her I can hardly stand it. I hope when I’m in my sixties I’ll be off on similar adventures.

Thinking about my mom going to Africa, I’ve been enjoying the TED talks the last few days especially now that the videos are up from the TED Global conference in Tanzania this spring. Thanks, Juilana Rotich, for giving me the heads up! This one in particular from Nigerian writer and poet Chris Abani moved me so much.

Abani’s premise is that stories are the way we discover who we are. I can’t wait to hear your stories, Mom, when you return, and to take them into my heart as a path for who I can become.

More moving talks from TEDGlobal 2007:
Patient Capital: Listening is Key
The Other Africa–place of hope and opportunity

Carter and Madeleine play the squishing game with Krystyn Heide’s kids in the backseat. Proof that the best things in life are often the most uncomplicated.

Demystify. This is the word in my head these days, and it’s sticking with me.

Most of the time the assignment from the Universe is to sink into the Great Mystery of things. But not always. Sometimes the task at hand is to let go of struggle, to embrace the idea that this troublesome part of your life might not be nearly as impossible, scary or incomprehensible as you might have thought. While no one take on things is ever complete–sometimes a quick glance at the landscape from a different point of view is all it takes to get unstuck and get the insight flowing.

I love the way this demystifying business works best in a crowd–while I might (given an hour alone in a coffee shop) be able to demystify something like creating community for you, you might be able to demystify something that feels equally magical and without explanation for me–like finishing. These are the gifts we have to offer one another. The fact that we continue to do this again and again makes for a kind of mystery that no one can completely unravel. The demystified come full circle.

I’m aware that these ideas are still not completely formed, but still. I have areas of my life–like money, publishing and family life–that are begging to be uncomplicated. Demystified. Set free from the assumption that it has to be hard, has to be a big drama to get to the other side. If this makes any sense to you at all, I’d love to know what’s dying to be demystified in your life today.

In the meantime, here are three favorite links, loosely related from three people who demystify important things for me all the time.

Complicated from Ze Frank (PG-13 junior high humor makes the point–you’ve been warned
How to Be Miserable as an Artist from the lovely Keri Smith
The Sex and Cash Theory from Hugh McLeod, my favorite curmudgeon

Here’s wishing you a demystifying day!

painting journal pages, early 2006

Are you noticing a theme yet? More journal pages and more reminders to slow down and immerse myself in simple things in order to totally recharge after such a crazy summer. You’ll notice there is NOTHING about being on the computer on this list? I henceforth banish myself from these tiny boxes for the next 48 hours. Think I can do it?

If you came here, so hopeful for something inspiring to read, I offer these lovelies from my blog past. I hope they delight you.

No Love Left in this World
Wouldn’t it Be Awesome If…
A Girl Can Dream
The Raccoon Story or How the Wild Things Said Goodbye
Omi’s Candle or Learning how to Hold on to Hope

What’s on your self-care TO DO list today?