happy halloween

This year the kids made their costumes. (left to right - Annabeth, Percy Jackson, Grover the satyr).  These are characters from the Rick Riordan children's book series that begins with The Lightning Thief -- a fantastic story of adventure and magic.  See more details about the books here.  Our kids are dressed up as "half-bloods," (in case you haven't heard this term half-bloods are children who have one mortal parent, and one who is a Green god or goddess).  They get special powers from their immortal parent.

This weekend we also attended a school celebration where earlier in the day I got to carve a pumpkin with four first graders.  I let each child pick one image to carve.  There was my son and three girls, hence the heart and two butterflies joined by a scary mouth.  Shawn didn't like the pumpkin.  "Mom, it's too girly!"

He is learning to do computer graphics.  The ghost image was something he did at school.

corner view~water

We were on a plane about a year ago and our son, age five, posed the following question.

“Mom, what if a wave went really high and the winds started blowing and it became a salami and the waves got really high and knocked the plane down?”  

I reassured him that it couldn't happen.  Where we live there are tsunami ("salami") drills at the schools. And we know all too well the power of a tsunami.   

Meanwhile back at home a few weeks ago I snapped these shots.

taken by Shawn at age 6

I see this vast expanse of brilliant blue ocean in the distance every day.  There is so much beauty and mystery and power and life in our ocean.  

Most of us know that about 75% of our earth is covered by this beautiful mass of salt water.  Did you know that more than half of the ocean is almost 10,000 ft deep?  And that hundreds of thousands of life forms exist in the ocean?  We get rain primarily because of the ocean evaporating.  The ocean temperatures effect our climate and the wind that in turn affects our life on land.   Life within the ocean evolved 3 billion years prior to life on land.

Yet we humans feel we are so superior, that we alone rule our planet. 

It's all one interconnected ocean that covers the earth.  We keep hearing that we are all connected, that we are all energy.  I step into the Pacific Ocean, and that water is constantly moving, in rhythmic peaceful waves that I can hear every night as I drift off to sleep.  I imagine that this water might eventually touch the foot of a mother in Australia while she peers over the horizon of the Coral Sea, her baby strapped to her front.  Then the water might move onto a child in Fiji looking for fish in the shallow South Pacific waters.  Perhaps it waves hello to a grandfather in Somalia peering out over the Arabian Sea, and finally it cools my friend in DelRay Beach, Florida, while her boys make sand castles on the shore.  And then maybe it makes its way back to me. 

Like that, maybe we are all more connected than we realize. 

Sailors say that the ocean often emits a visible glow which extends for miles at night. In 2005, scientists actually finally found photographic evidence of this glow. They now think it may be caused by "bioluminescence," which is the phenomenon seen in fireflies.  How amazing are fireflies!   

So these are my thoughts as I blog from my corner of the world, and think of you all, all over the earth, how connected we all are by this one incredible body of water with a mysterious glow.  How beautiful and powerful the ocean is, how it takes such good care of us like a good mother, and how important it is to take care of it...

Click on here for more corner views from people around the world.  Click on here to see my thirteen-year-old daughter's corner view.

art and mini apple pies

When left to their own devices, with a little encouragement (putting out art supplies) and permission to bake, this is what our kids do on a Saturday at home.  Mind you I wasn't even overseeing these activities.  It's kinda cute that they love to do what I loved to do as a child.  I especially see this with our oldest.  I remember really enjoying cooking and baking for my family.  This started when I was about twelve.

theatrical girls

Our girls are learning how to create and act in videos with their teacher, Lisa.  It's super fun for them.  I got to be in one too!

Here are the first two videos they did.  These are for an online "how to" service called Howcast.  Click on either of these to see: 

Home school video
Shy teen video

It's official.  They have a job.

Sky pretends to be shy

Annabel being Annabel

a younger Sky is surprised

a younger Annabel as a poor waif

corner view~my dream

My "big picture" dream is to make a difference in the world. 

We all need to dream.  Everything that manifests starts out as an idea.  Someone's idea. 

My worldy dreams are to live in the country on several acres of land, to help start a school, to grow my own food, and to teach children gardening.  I also want to publish my writing.

My spiritual dream is to know God within me.

And my dream for mankind is taken from a great humanitarian named Amma.

"Everyone in the world should be able to sleep without fear, at least for one night. Everyone should be able to eat to his fill, at least for one day. There should be at least one day when hospitals see no one admitted due to violence. By doing selfless service for at least one day, everyone should help the poor and needy. It is Amma's prayer that at least this small dream be realized." —Mata Amritanandamayi Devi

http://embracingtheworld.org/

Click on here for more corner views, from people around the world.  "Corner view" is a project started by Jane.

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.