A year in photos (Washington DC with ONE #AYASummit)

Stunning colours in DC

My life has been a whirlwind the last couple of weeks but in the best way. The first week I was away in the USA at the #AYASumit with ONE Girls and Women and I heard and learnt so much that I want to share it all with you but I need some quite time to process. The kids go back to school on Tuesday and from then I can imagine is when I will be able to start writing some posts about all the different panels that we listened to and engaged with.

For now I’ll share some photos from my time in America.

 I arrived into DC early evening and was collected by my friend and ONE Strategic Relationships Manager Jeannine. We had travelled together to Ethiopia in 2012 and she had kindly agreed to put me up for a couple of nights before we checked into the hotel for the formal start of the conference. I was blown away by her hospitality, she was so busy preparing for what would be an amazing conference but still she found time to make a divine veggie lasagne, enjoy a glass of wine with me and we got to spend some time catching up and enjoying each other’s company.

As Jeannine headed off to work the next day I went into central DC for to explore and found it a really nice city. The streets are wide and clean and the buildings reminded me of being in Europe, as they were very elegant, square and symmetrical. I particularly enjoyed the Museum of American History and of course got the obligatory White House selfie. I didn’t actually see quite as much as I hoped as it started to pour with rain in the afternoon but I figured my hubby and I would come back here someday.

Wednesday was a chilled morning catching up with work and then the afternoon was a decadent one as I checked into the hotel and had a luxurious bath, read a good book and explored the local area enjoying a traditional Afghan kabob for lunch.

The evening was the start of our conference and all the delegates met at the Mansion on O Street, the agenda was jam packed drinks and nibbles. This is the most unusual and interesting venue, it is open for private events but is also a hotel and literally everything in the place is for sale (at a price). You are encouraged to walk around and explore the four floors and look for the secret doors. It was fascinating to see what treasures there were across the property. You can stay in the bedrooms and the bathrooms are boast things like a telephone box shower, a glass chess set in the middle of the room and a wooden bath. You can buy a second hand novel for about a dollar right through to guitars played by and signed by music stars that cost thousands of dollars.

One of the hats you could buy at the O Street Mansion

I didn’t know many people at this reception and felt a little like an outsider but it only takes a few really friendly people to pull you in and make you welcome.  On this occasion those people were Jen Burden of World Moms Blog, Cindy Levin from Results and Aliza Sherman, entrepreneur and freelance writer/ speaker. We enjoyed a few drinks and a great chat all around the topic of international development and what we could do to make a difference.

The conference really got into full swing on Thursday and the agenda was jam packed, on the one hand I would say too much so but on the other it was all so brilliant I just can’t fault it.

Chelsea of Do a Little Good. I certainly want to get to know this passionate lady better

Amazing women doing amazing things - more to be shared....

The awesome Ginny Wolfe, Director at ONE, who invited me to America and to an amazing steak dinner!

After Friday lunch the summit finished and I had a wonderful time in Georgetown with Kristie which I have shared already.

Goodbye America, the view as I flew off

I’m liking this post up with The Boy and Me for the 365 project. Why don’t you go and visit some of the other linkers and see what they have been up to?

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A year in photos (weeks 40-41)

Oh I have got all behind again with my year in photos posts, so here is another catch up.  I hope you find something you feel is a visual delight!

OK, so this one is not really a visual delight but it makes me smile and that's important, so here is JJ enjoying his extra long McCain chip!

My little man turned 11 at the beginning of October and he still loves his cuddlies. These were probably his favourite presents!

We went away for JJ's birthday to the beautiful Camber Sands

I had a wonderful walk along this amazing beach with Miss M and as we strolled with our arms around each other we chatted and joked. This little one knows how to make me feel loved.

I've been playing with my close ups again!

My little forager is growing out her fringe at the moment and we have hit that messy stage!

I've been out enjoying where I live again

Not a great photo as this was taken on my iPhone in very dim light but I want to remember the wonderful fun we had bowling with our pastoral group.

I joined some friends in Bexhill for a coffee and chat about what Domesticity means to us . It was a great time and as result I'll be embroidering a duster, yes really!  The sea was pretty scary that day as my friend lives right on the beach front.

I'll be joining this post up with the 365 project over at The Boy and Me.

 

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A year in photos - weeks 27-29

I've been sitting on the edge of the blogging scene in recent weeks and this has suited me just fine.  Life is busy and the most important thing I can do is live it and enjoy it, not just write about it. I've been trying hard to stay chilled and to live in the moment instead of projecting and worrying about what might happen.

Here is what we have been up to in the last 3 weeks (and when I looked through my photos there was a serious lack of images in comparison to other times so I'm taking that as a good sign that I've been having some down time and not fretting about taking photos) -

A day with our family and also some of the wider Ashburnham family to Birling Gap and Seven Sisters cliffs. Lots of walking and fun.

Capturing a Mummy and daughters selfie, look at the joy in their faces - priceless.

A day to a local play park and gardens. It was a naff place in all honesty but we still had a nice time playing games together like crazy golf and air hockey.

Fun with our pastoral group, getting to know each other and playing games. It is such a privilege to be part of the lives of so many young people.

This next picture probably sums up best what I have been up to most in the last couple of weeks and that has been volunteering and working where I live. I've really enjoyed working in bookings, doing a couple of hour stints in the tea room and also doing the social media stuff. It is the tea rooms 1st birthday this weekend and I thought this was a good capture of the current staff.

It was the girls birthday this last week and they are looking very grown up and gorgeous. We had a fun party for them and it was super that my parents could be there.

I've also had some good times out with my husband thanks to some wonderful babysitters, we went to a party and for an Indian and then out for lunch and cake another time. It makes such a difference when you can chat without interruption.

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What I'm loving right now - a year in photos (Weeks 23 - 26)

Time to update my year in photos project.  I tried to stay away from blogging for the last few weeks and honestly I've not been that successful, I keep finding myself on here but I have definitely done less and spent a lot more time with my family, been enjoying gardening and generally having fun.

Life is good....  Here are a few things in photos that I am loving right now.

Trips to Bexhill on Sea, both on my own to think, pray and take photos and also with the family to have fun.

Going for nice long walks around the grounds of my home and shooting pictures of all the beauty I see around me. thank you Lord.

Spending time with one of our gardening team Jay, getting to know her better and getting fitter whilst wedding and helping our grounds look more presentable.

Taking the kids down to our lake on the warm days after school and they play with their friends and the volunteers who live here on site.

Using my macro filters that the fab Jenny recommended for me.  I'm loving combining them and practising my photography.

Making good choices and losing a bit of weight, whilst still enjoying myself.

As I said at the start, life is good and I'm going to keep on doing it my way with the help of the big I AM!

Wishing you all a wonderful weekend. Mich x

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A year in photos - Beautiful flowers and Butlins (week 22)

We started off with a quiet weekend knowing that once Monday came and we arrived at Butlins it would be full on. JJ was away at camp and the girls had a late night as there was a nice fireworks display where we live.  I discovered it is pretty hard to catch good firework photos.

Sunday I took a quiet walk by myself to see how things are changing with the season -

I spotted the gorgeous flowers being arranged for a friends wedding in the week.

Then Monday we headed off to Butlins and it was a great week. I have written about our stay a number of times and we met the fab Clare from Seasider in the City there with her family and some friends.

The 2p arcade machines are a big hit with Miss E.

JJ's highlight was meeting Dick and Dom and having his book signed.

I used Pic Monkey to try out a new effect on this photo and I think it works quite well, it has made it fun and you can still see all their expressions. The girls loved spending time with Clare's son.

Big and Little J are the joint winners of the crazy golf.  Looks at their winners stance!

And sharing a few photos from this weeks Instagram feed too -

We have had a super week and now I'm ready for a nice quiet weekend again and getting back to normal life......

Wishing you a blessed week ahead, Mich x

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If you like what you have read and want to stay up-to-date then subscribe by email for free and receive blog posts directly to your in-box - just click the link Subscribe to Mummy From The Heart... by Email or perhaps you like to keep all your blog reading in one place, if that is the case you can follow me on BlogLovin too!