summer memories ~ my hometown

In some ways the most simple part of our summer, staying in one place! Sky flew into town to be with us. We settled into our house trade home. We spent lots of time with my parents, hosting them for dinners, visiting them in their home, and we showed them a hilarious Jerry Seinfeld special. Gary and I went clothes shopping, Sky and I went to garage sales, I visited my grandparent's old house in the city, we rented movies from the library and watched them with my parents, and we all went out to dinner at an Italian restaurant for my birthday. I spent a special afternoon with my mom, we went out for lunch and then walked around her charming downtown.

I love my parents so much. They are the sweetest people ever. How blessed are we to have spent time with them!

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Sky, every year your birthday comes around I feel so lucky to have had you in my life. Every year I just love you more.

You are such a strong, beautiful, special young woman. I am so honored to be your mother.

Thank you for all the love, kindness, humor, sweetness, joy, patience, perseverance, creativity, and outright magic you bring to our family.

You are my sweet angel, Skypie.

I so enjoy our photo shoots too!

Love, Mama

swami's winter visit

When Swami came to the islands this year I got a respite for a week. At the last minute I decided to travel with a small group to two neighboring islands for his public programs. I helped with the bookstore, enjoyed good food and inspiring talks, took a nice walk, spent time with great friends and got to see my Sky. It was a really nice few days.

christmas 2018

I sure do love these monkeys.

for my children~stepping in

Hi kiddos.

Two of you are now living out of the house part of the time. Hard to believe this time has come. But it has.

You are all growing up. You are all learning so much about life and yourselves. You are meeting lots of new people, and having new experiences.

As you go through life, remember, everything happens at the right time. It's not always exactly as we wish or think it should happen. But life is unfolding. The seed has to be under the ground for some time before it becomes a flower.

Try not to worry too much about figuring it all out, in terms of education and career path. Just follow your passions and interests and trust they will take you to the right places.  Seek positive mentors.

You are all strong, capable, intelligent young people. You all have unique strengths and huge hearts. I am most proud of the kindness you have all shown over the years. It is a strength like no other.

Strong.
Smart.
Kind.

Those three words you all grew up hearing from Dad. It's important to have a balance of them all. You have all developed these qualities in spades!

And remember, step into your unique brilliance. No one else can do it for you. Shine on my sweet children. I love you all!

summer 2018 part two

After our Europe trip we met up with Annabel in Toronto where she had been on tour with Amma. We took the girls to stay in my home town and got to spend some quality time with my parents, including my birthday. Gary went to pick up Shawn from five weeks of summer camp where he had a blast. On the way home we stopped off in California and got to see old friends.