new belts

Our kids are getting mentally tougher, physically stronger, more coordinated, more respectful, and more self confident with each passing week spent in Taekwondo training.  They all tested for the next level belts last weekend.  Annabel and Shawn are now high orange belts and Sky is now a high purple belt.  Every time they test they have to memorize forms (series of movements), kicks, punches, blocks, break aways and facts about Taekwondo.  And the most fun is breaking boards.  It's amazing when they do this, all the kids cheer each other on, and each time it's more challenging -- the kicks get tougher, or the boards get thicker.  Look at the face on our fierce Annabel.

    

corner view~love

To me love is many things, but what touches me most at this point in my life is selfless love.

 

The greatest example I have seen of selfless love is Amma, a world reknown living saint.  Some people come into this world to show us pure, unconditional love.  Amma sits and hugs people for most of her waking hours, patiently listening to their problems and consoling them, her right cheek bruised permanently from all of the human contact.  At the same time she is acting as CEO and answering myriad questions about the vast charitable organizations that she oversees, that cater to the needs of the poor and unfortunate all over the world.  I have witnessed Amma's selfless giving for more than ten hour stretches, although she has sat for much longer.  Amma has been doing this for 37 years, sleeping only a couple of hours daily.  She visits cities all over the world, keeping a grueling schedule, with never a day of rest.  And she never charges money for giving of her time.  Imagine the strain on your body.  Imagine a person being able to do this and maintain optimism and joy.  Imagine the perfect mother.

When asked once to consider taking a rest and vacationing in Hawaii, Amma responded, with a smile, "If your son were sick, or sad, or needed you, would you leave and go to the beach?  Of course not.  You would stay with him, console him and help him feel better.  This is how it is with Amma.  All are my children, and I cannot leave them to take some vacation."

Whenever I personally see Amma, although she has hugged over 29 million people to date, she always remembers me and my family.  She asks detailed questions about our life, and brings up issues we have discussed with her, reflecting an incomprehensible memory.  She always gives great advice.  If I am sad, she comforts me, if I am happy, she laughs with me.  She asks nothing personally of me, only that I strive to love the best I can. 

Today Amma is actually in Holland, and will spend the next month offering free programs in many European cities - Mannheim, London, Paris, Munich, Toulon, Milan, and Barcelona.    http://www.ammachi.org/tours/amma-tours/europe.html

Perhaps some of you who live in Europe are meant to meet her. 

Believe me, it's worth the effort.

You can read more about Amma here: http://embracingtheworld.org/  and see a video about her work here: Amma

Click on here for more "Corner Views" on love from bloggers around the world.  This project was created by the lovely Jane from Spain. http://www.spaindaily.blogspot.com/  I see that Sophie, from France also loves Amma...

spontaneity

I took my son to the seaside during his October break from school. I sat with camera, watching him gather coral in a basket, marvel at crabs scurrying sideways over rocks, and eventually throw rocks into the water, each time seeing if he could throw a little further. After snapping some photos, with no cell phone to distract me, I started looking closely at the rocks, aware that a certain size rock was ideal for throwing. If it was too big or too small, it was more difficult to throw.

I began throwing the right size rocks for me into the water too, remembering the thrill of childhood play, when I would lose myself in games like this, completely unaware of time, or schedules, or bills to pay. Then I got the idea to throw rocks into the sea as an offering of things I wanted to let go of. I sat so far that it took effort for my rocks to reach the sea. I spontaneously began to ask for a release of things -- worries, grudges, sadness, disappointment...we all have these things that we carry. It felt great. I imagined that every time a rock reached the water, that I would be released from whatever I was wanting to let go of. Once I felt complete doing that I began to throw rocks into the water as wishes, things I wanted to bring into my life - joy, health, strength, new experiences, blessings, acceptance, and mostly, inner peace.

All the while Shawn was in front me me throwing rocks himself, unaware of what I was doing, and thinking. When I finished I suggested he do this, not sure this would interest him. But he took a few rocks and uttered a prayer with the such sweetness and earnestness, "Dear God, help me to let go of being mean and not listening." Then he threw his rock, and it landed with a splash. He took another rock. "Please God help me to be really smart and to be good to my sisters." And he threw this rock further than the first one.

corner view~souvenir

Tropical souvenirs. Sand. Starfish. Beach glass. Coral. Driftwood. These are the kind of souvenirs I prefer, the ones that don't come from a store.

Click on here for more Corner Views, inspired by Epe in a project created by Jane.

we have an orange belt in the house

The relationship between the instructor and the child is very important in Taekwondo, particularly for this child, who is very relational. Her goal is to get her black belt. She is very focused, and a great inspiration for the other two, who are right behind her.

I love seeing our children grow and reach accomplishments, and how it helps them blossom. I remember that feeling well. My sport was gymnastics. For me the highlight was when I finally learned how to do a back handspring by myself.

sunset from the mountaintop

No words necessary.

corner view~white

In the last few months I have done some globetrotting. Here are some of the gorgeous white flowers I have come across. Click on here for more 'White' Corner Views inspired by, Natsumi, and coordinated by Jane.

change of plans

Home schooling was and is working great for the girls, but our son was a bit lonely and I could tell he wanted to be in a classroom setting with more children nearer to his age. After some deliberation and phone calls, we were able to get him into the local public school with a wonderful, loving, highly experienced first grade teacher.

He has never been happier in school. I wondered how he would do in a large elementary school (700 kids) after being in a small, cozy Montessori preschool. I don't know what I was worried about. Of all of our kids, this one is by far the boldest one.

When I picked him up from his first day of school I walked into a scene where he had his teacher and a bunch of custodians laughing their heads off. Every day I hear about more friends he is making, more "dollars" he is earning for good behavior to spend at the school store, and he is very excited about learning. His reading has really taken off. I am so grateful that we have found a good place for him.

corner view~out the car window

This was taken several miles from my home town, where the air is cooler, fresh and crisp. It was a lovely day. I drove my daughter up the mountain to visit her friend in the countryside, all the while chatting with my six-year-old son, rocking out to Don Henley, and taking in the scenery. My son and I stopped in a small country store with hitching posts in front of it. I got him a snack, and was happy to see improvements of a store that hadn't changed much in probably 50 years. They have some organic food, a new deli and smoothie bar. We visited with the local folks.

Our other daughter stayed behind at sea level to play with her friend til late in the evening, and my husband, who had been rehearsing with his new rock band, eventually met us at another friend's house later for dinner. All in all, there were lots of connections with lots of friends, new experiences, and natural beauty. And for that we are grateful.

For more Corner Views:

jane, ladybug-zen, ian, bonnie, esti, sophie, cele, modsquad,caitlin, joyce, ani, kim, a day that is dessert, natsumi, epe, kaylovesvintage, trinsch, c.t., jeannette, outi, ritva, francesca, state of bliss, jennifer, dana, denise, cabrizette, bohemia girl, dianna, isabelle, amber, a girl in the yellow shoes, mister e, janis, kari, jgy, skymring, elizabeth, audrey, allison, lise, cate, crescent moon, erin, otli, ida, caroline, lisa, dorte, kimmie, la lune dans le ciel, nicola, malo, vanessa, britta, april, b, kyndale samantha, karen, kristina, dorit, goldensunfamily, sophie, janet, mcgillicutty, desiree, travelingmama, aimee, sunnymama, amanda, ali, jenell, britta, juanita, pamela, inna, daan, myrtille, cris, ibb, susi, jodi, lily, gillian, athena, pienduzz, latisha, clairette, kelleyn, iris, demara, mus, ninja, guusje, di, sammi, theresa, cherry b, victoria, kathryn , lisa, liza, juliette, braja, mulot, anne

a friend's garden

I have been thinking a lot about my dearest women friends, how I treasure them, how each are so different. I have a few close friends who are all far away that I share my life with, with infrequent visits and more frequent phone calls. One of these women I met in childhood, one I shared a philosophy class with in college our freshman year, and one I met only a couple of years ago. There are many kinds of friends. The garden pictured belongs to a new friend. She is gentle and often silent, but always listening, and full of creativity and surprises. She is a mother and a wife whose recent visit overseas to her mother inspired her to work in her garden.

Living where we do there is a lot of transience and people coming and going. Some people only want to connect with you if you are there to stay. We have no idea how long we will live in the tropics, so far from our old life and our families. But one thing I know for sure, if I can add to someone's life, even just for a day, or they can add to mine, even just for a day, then my heart is open to new friends.

corner view~september

I have joined Corner View, the project hosted by Jane that brings together bloggers from all over the world. We share our thoughts about a specific weekly theme. Today's theme is September.

In the rhythm of our life September is a time to feel reoriented back home after having been away for the entire summer. We have always left our tropical world in early June to travel to the U.S. mainland and see our families. We usually return sometime in August. So by September the kids are back at school and we are settling into a family routine - with regular meals, chores, homework, gardening, songwriting, story writing, new movies to watch, and, of course, down time.

We have been home for twenty four days. Today I finally took some time to take photos to show you our world in the autumn. I went to a sleepy, remote, beachfront town about ten minutes from our more suburban, developed area. The oceanfront stone church (sans cross) was founded in 1832. I appreciated being able to do this, it slowed me down and made me focus on a place special to me, close to where I live. I realized I haven't taken my children here in years. And I should again.

For more Corner Views:

jane, ladybug-zen, ian, bonnie, esti, sophie, cele, modsquad,caitlin, joyce, ani, kim, a day that is dessert, natsumi, epe, kaylovesvintage, trinsch, c.t., jeannette, outi, ritva, francesca, state of bliss, jennifer, dana, denise, cabrizette, bohemia girl, dianna, isabelle, amber, a girl in the yellow shoes, mister e, janis, kari, jgy, skymring, elizabeth, audrey, allison, lise, cate, victoria, crescent moon, erin, otli, ida, caroline, lisa, dorte, kimmie, la lune dans le ciel, nicola, malo, vanessa, britta, april, b, kyndale samantha, karen, kristina, dorit, goldensunfamily, sophie, janet, mcgillicutty, desiree, travelingmama, aimee, sunnymama, amanda, ali, jenell, britta, juanita, pamela, inna, daan, myrtille, cris, ibb, susi, jodi, lily, gillian, athena, pienduzz, latisha, clairette, kelleyn, iris, demara, mus, ninja, guusje, di, sammi, theresa, cherry b

help me be like daddy

Tonight I went out to get the laundry off the line. Shawn came to help me. "Look Mom, it's a wishing star!" he exclaimed, as he noticed the first star in the night sky.

"Make a wish!" I said, and he jumped into my arms, facing the star.

"Please wishing star, help me be a good kid. Help me be a good drummer when I grow up, and be a good drummer as a kid. And, please help me be like Daddy." I asked him how he wanted to be like Daddy.
He replied, "Being kind. Daddy has his own great personality! He's perfect, well not perfect, but..."

Then he walked to the trampoline and got sprayed by the sprinkler, and the moment was over.

back to gardening

I was quite thrilled to return home to a garden where many plants had grown so much! The tulsis have tripled in size, the papayas are enormous trees now and we will be enjoying their fruits in a month or so. I never cease to be amazed by the miracle of life and growth. A garden and children, they are the best reminders, don't you agree?

happy anniversary honey

There's a story behind this photo. It was taken on the night of our fourteen year wedding anniversary. Gary and I were headed out to a French restaurant in San Francisco that night, the babysitter had arrived, the kids were outside with her shooting baskets, we stood on the sidelines watching. All I wanted for our anniversary was a photo of us. But they kept turning out too stiff...and then we were postponing leaving and we had to catch a train, and I kept insisting on a photo. Then we laughed because we looked annoyed and stressed in the previous "happy anniversary" photos, and then we finally relaxed enough to get the perfect photo. Well perfect enough. To quote one of Gary's songs, "That's what they call a life."

You see I wanted to capture a photo that shows our love, our bond, our connection. After so many years there's been incredible joy and agonizing tears, there has been worries, big and small, and times of abundance and times of lack, and learning so many new things, reading Yogi Berra quotes and laughing so hard our stomachs hurt, the births of our children, and moving houses and packing boxes, and kids hating school and kids loving school and trying home school, our first Christmas and so many other holidays, visiting my grandpa in a nursing home with Gary and Grandpa not recognizing me, losing my grandmother who died at age 100, and who knew and loved my husband. We have had many friends, we have perfected a long menu of meals that we eat as a family. Gary has written books and songs, I have tried to write books, and made paintings, and gardens. Then we have admired each other's work. We have hosted concerts and parties, and made up scavenger hunts for our kids, we have had birthday celebrations and loved all of our nieces and nephews. We have enjoyed traveling with the kids but not enjoyed the long airplane rides, we have encouraged each other in all that we do.

After all of these years Gary is still my best friend, we laugh at the same things, we respect the same qualities in people, we have so much fun together, and we so enjoy our three children. It's easy in all consuming family life to take one's spouse for granted. I wanted that photo to remind me not to.

I love you G.

Here's to a great year. Fourteen is my lucky number.