shawnie's year

Shawn, we plopped you into a new town, a new school, a new house, new everything. You sailed right in. We will all look back on your seventh grade year as the year you grew up a lot. You started the summer before school attending your first sleepaway camp, which you loved. There you met your first girlfriend. Once school started you quickly made new friends, met another girlfriend, and got your first cell phone. This led to more independence after school, playing basketball, walking to friends' houses and the Sweet Shop. You continued your study of drums and piano, you tried a new sport, you did a theater class, you made lots of awesome omelettes, you played lots of basketball with Zach (bye Felicia) and you took media studies and learned to act and film. We took a couple trips to the MA Center and you met more friends there and learned about gardening, worm composting and played a bunch of basketball. Overall, a good year.

california memories

There were some nice memories when we were living in the countryside on the outskirts of the technology capitol of the world. 

It's always good to have a new perspective. We met so many brilliant scientists, computer whizzes, and doctors, mostly affiliated with Stanford. The people in the neighborhood were friendly and welcoming. The kids jumped into their new lives feet first and did really well in much bigger schools. Shawn went to a school dance and dressed up. Annabel played her music live many times at her school, in the local community center, and for local television. We went to watch her and cheer her on, although she didn't need it. Both kids studied theater and challenged themselves thoroughly in school with some classes not offered in their schools from home. We celebrated Thanksgiving with our dear friend Terri; we have known her for over twenty years.

Sky took her "gap year" and was working on figuring out her next step, and she made a lot of art, and got some much deserved down time after a busy senior year.

I loved the countryside. I loved the trees and the woods and the walks in the neighborhoods that easily led to nature. The nature was the best part for me. Driving home an extra few minutes was worth it to me, just to take in the green around me.

for my children~remember your strength

We never know what life is going to bring. We can hope for the best and to have richness in every sense of the word, in our relationships, in our day-to-day lives, in our hearts and minds.

And often we do. We are so incredibly blessed. We have so much, all of us.

But life has a way of bringing the unexpected sometimes.

When faced with difficulty, remember your strength. Remember everything we have taught you and other wise people have taught you. Remember when you have overcome past difficulties. Have faith in yourself.

Don't be afraid. Be bold and strong and move forward.

Help each other out and remember you know how to stay calm. And most importantly, remember that you are never alone. God is always there, watching out for us, giving us strength.

happy

So happy to have our family together. I've missed these moments. I love them so much.

ma center, san ramon

Sky and I went for a day of service and connection and programs and Indian food. We were preparing for Amma's upcoming visit. The people were friendly, the food was tasty, the hummingbirds were adorable. There were so many of these wondrous creatures, getting their vital nutrition. A perfect metaphor for what the ashram does for people.

my boy

It's been a while since I posted live music from our family. Here's a video of Shawnie drumming to a Paramore song. He loves comments if you have a YouTube channel. :)

tropical holidays past

Seems like forever since we were there. But we were, and we celebrated together, and it was nice.