Live Smart

Got Milk?

2008-05-21T21:57:00.000-07:00

I read the book Diet for a New America when I was a teenager which was a lifetime ago. One statement in it stands out in my mind lately. Regarding humans drinking milk from animals. (Have you ever seen a grown man kneeling down in a pasture drinking milk from a cows utter? Well it is basically the same thing when you see a grown man drinking a glass of milk from a clean glass. )

I have never been able to drink a glass of cow milk but I sure can eat ice cream, cheese, yogurt, and my favorite butter without any philological trouble. However, the question continues to service about why we continue to use and drink so much milk, we call dairy? Do we actually need it or are we just programed to think so with our upbringing from Grandma and Grandpa farmers teaching us and the food pyramid drilling it in. I know, I know, calcium, calcium, calcium.

I am actually leaning toward the belief that we don't need it. I have read that leafy green veggies have more calcium than milk. I drink rice milk and actually love it!

So, I have decided to go non-dairy in my household. I have heard so many people tell me that when they went non-dairy their coughs went away and their skin rashes cleared up. I am very interested in that because my kids have both and I am so sick of it!

This will cause me to expand my knowledge about daily meals, snacks, treats and responses to my friends that want to know why.

When does the village step in?

2008-05-19T21:37:00.000-07:00

I do some volunteer work with young women on a regular basis and I have this one 13 year old that stands out from the rest. She is adorable in the way that she looks like Shirley Temple with rosy round cheeks and bouncy hair, although hers is brown. But, she lacks the self confidence of that star, I suppose she has a rougher start. Her mother abandoned her and her two sisters and father a few years ago to an exotic country to start her life over with a new baby and all. She says she keeps in occasional contact with her mom via email. Yes, email is a wonderful thing that connects us over the miles but lady come on this is your first born.

I can only imagine what she feels inside and multiply it times 100. I have befriended her regardless of the emotional kicking and screaming going on inside her. She has managed to push all the other girls and leaders away but I see through her tough, I'm a freak stay away act! She is an adorable girl with the weight of an unpleasant unpredictable world on her back!

I have been noticing that her hair is in a pony tail each time I see her and it is getting further and further of her head, or her head is getting bigger and bigger. No, Ive seen it before, her hair is turning into one big dread lock! She has made comments to me that she does not want to be a girl, no wonder through her eyes.
Her father has been a foster child his whole life, recently abandoned with three girls to raise on his own. I am not sure he sees his oldest daughters hair and realized what she might be experiencing these days especially with glossy red eyes he always has.

Wow, the things some people experience on a daily basis!

So, I want to take this young girl in and clean her hair and give her love and attention and teach her some basic hygiene skills. Not that I am an expert like many women I know. It is amazing how some women can look so perfect every day! I could use a lesson from them!

However, I see this young girl similar to a neglected, malnourished puppy. How can I just sit back and let it happen. When is a good time to step in a be the village that helps raise the child? I only hope she will not resist what i have to share although, offence I will not take because she has reason to push me away and not trust me, I am a mother.

It is all you

2008-05-16T06:29:00.000-07:00

I saw an obese person eating an ice cream cone yesterday and my first thoughts were, that is just wrong, that should not be allowed.
I saw a man getting his mail while I rode my bike past his house and I could tell he did not take good care of himself or his family by all the junk that lay around and how unkempt his appearance was. The house was really shabby and beyond repair with trash and beer cans and tobacco chew remnants splattered about. My thoughts went to the dark side assuming that he beats his wife in front of his children and creates a living hell for all in his path. This, I thought should not be allowed.

This disturbed me deep inside as it always does when I visit dark thoughts such as these.

My friend and I have read the book "A New Earth" and it always comes up in our conversation when we get together. If you read and connect with the book you will understand what I am saying, it changes your life.

I was asking the question, "How can we all be connected when there are some people in the world that I despise, and have no desire to understand. (the person that beats hits his wife and beautiful little children). The dark people I have heard about on the news or in books.

She reminded me that we are connected to them even though we may not recognise it. she asked, what part of you is like that man that beats his children? What part of you is the obese person that eats ice cream anyway? The things we cant stand in others are a reflection of what is bugging us about ourselves.

We cannot condemn anyone without going through exactly what they have gone through and then see what we would do in those exact shoes.
I did not get hit across the room for spilling my milk and have cigarettes put out on my arm and get fed a steady diet of soda and frozen pizza as a child. I did not have to watch my mother get beat to the edge of her life and be left alone with a monster of a father strung out on meth. I am not thrown into adulthood with gaping emotional scars that just keep getting infected, and having no clue how to heal them. Or am I?

No, I did not have those things happen to me but I do have some emotional scars. I have had dark thoughts before. We all have, no matter how much of a saint we think we are we all have had a dark thought here or there. This darkness is not our identity nor is it anything we want to identify with. But, on a level of spirit, which is what is our true self, (our true self is not this body we live in, it is what is inside this body) we are connected to the dark thoughts. We are all connected to each other. We all have a great effect on each other. When we forgive that man for beating his child and that obese person for eating an ice cream we are also forgiving ourselves. When we see ourselves in everything and everyone it is easier to forgive and turn to love and light.

Now the statement Jesus made makes more since, "I and the Father are one," and, "If I be lifted up, I lift up every man," Which means that If we are all connected the more I wake up and feel joy and happiness the more you will fill it to. When I forgive and accept others where they are right now, you will too. The more anyone feels the darkness the more darkness there will be. The more we feel light the more there will be.
So, the next time I see something I want to fix, change, or control because I can't stand it I will try to see myself in it and just accept it for what it is. And realize that it is a part of me. This is forgiveness.

Reprograming

2008-04-13T21:06:00.000-07:00

I have decided that we are all brain washed or conditioned by our upbringing. We are taught things over and over until we get it weather it is through deliberate teachings or through life experiences. We create these tapes from our conditioning that get played over and over in our mind. These tapes help create our reality and the way we see and create our life. Some times and these tapes are creating a life we do not want over and over.

I am working on reprogramming my conditioned, or brain washed mind to one that is washed with good things that empower me to create the life I want instead of the life I created without awareness, some may call it my lot in life, or the cards I have been dealt. Here is one of the affirmations Ive chosen to help me with this.

I am the rich child of a loving Father. All that the Father has is mine to share and to experience. Divine Intelligence is now showing me how to claim my own God-given wealth, health, and happiness. Divine Intelligence is even now opening the way for my immediate blessings. I have faith that all that is mine by divine right now comes to me in rich abundance. My rich blessings do not interfere with anyone else’s good, since God’s rich substance is unlimited and everywhere for all to use. There is no delay! That which is not for my highest good now fades from me and I no longer desire it. My God-given desires are richly fulfilled now in God’s own wonderful way.

Peaceful Warrior

2008-03-30T22:49:00.000-07:00

I just finished watching the Movie "Peaceful Warrior". I find it very interesting that I read the book this movie was based upon 17 years ago when i was 17 years old. And the funny thing is that I was inspired after reading the book way back then. However, I am just now truly getting the simple yet amazing lessons the book offered me 17 years ago. Wow I feel like I took the long road to get here but none the less it has been a journey worth taking. I am so happy to be on the path I am now. Perfect timing.

Eckhart Tolle

2008-03-21T10:17:00.000-07:00

I just finished watching Eckhart Tolle and Oprah on chapter 2 of A New Earth. I am so overwhelmed with gratitude for this book and especially this class that Oprah is hosting. Oprah is the perfect person to bring this book into light because that is what she is all about, discovery and growth. I know that this information is coming at the perfect time to this earth I just had no idea it would come this way. I believe that this is one of the main purposes for the invention of the TV and all the other amazing technology we enjoy! We are truly connecting around the world to become enlightened to who we really are.
Deep inside myself I identify with every page in this book. It is as if I have been waiting for it! There has been a puzzle missing in me and I have just found it! I took a deep breath while watching and listening to the second show and just wanted to bawl because this info is finally coming to me! Thank you Eckhart for being present enough for this information to come through you! Thank you for listening to your inspiration and moving to the Northwest! I just want to hug you I am so grateful and excited for each moment I have. I am so grateful that this info is coming to me while my kids are still young. I have so many moments to enjoy with them and am so grateful that I am aware of the present moment and can be here with them!
There has been confusion in many areas of my life/mind and all I have to say about that is…Now I know.
Thank you Thank you Thank you!!!

The sweetest thing

2008-02-26T20:55:00.000-08:00

I got the sweetest jewelry yesterday hand made from my son. It was such an authentic act of kindness. A true desire of giving that came from his heart. Moments like these make the challenges of being a mother disappear!

Layers

2008-01-17T09:16:00.000-08:00

As I work through my dysfunctional beliefs (or, things that hold me back from being who i authentically am) I realize that there are many layers involved in this process. These are usually things we decided when we were younger or generated from a traumatic experience. I have discovered one of mine.

I decided that I was a disappointment. I had an experience with my dad as a young girl. My dad was excited to go fishing early one morning while we were on vacation and came to wake up my brother who was sleeping next to me. My brother wanted nothing to do with going with my dad but I was very eager and excited to go and jumped out of my sleeping bag and got ready to go. My dad was disappointed with my brother and maybe himself but I took it that he was disappointed with me. All day he never really cheered up and i knew he really wanted his only son with him instead of me.

It has been interesting to reveal this because I see clearly in my life the many times I have disappointed people I really care about. It is kind of overwhelming to realize how many times I have done this and it actually hurts allot! Part of me wants to go back and fix it so bad. But I realize that all of those experiences have brought me to the point I am at today.

I learned a cool technique that has been helping me get rid of these things. Here are the steps to the process I just learned from my mother/therapist.

Get into a Meditation

Let your thoughts go to the issue you are working on

Go into the feeling of the issue

Name the feeling

Allow yourself to really feel the feeling go deep and let it out. Cleans it from you.

After you do this you must do the process again to replace it with the good that you want instead.

Meditate

Take your thoughts to what you want to replace it with

Go into the feelings if it

Name the feeling

Allow yourself to really feel the replacement deeply as if it was real right now.

In my case I replaced it with feeling that I am worth while, and reliable, and valuable. I went through this process and after talking to my mom I learned that if i don't feel elated then there is more to process. So I had a dream last night that helped me bring up more stuff on this subject and so the process goes on.

I look forward to the time when I truly replace this one with the way I really feel inside and then start creating those experiences in my life automatically because of my new core belief! There is an amazing person inside us all and it is exciting to begin to get to know that person!

I want to add that i realize that my Father was doing the best he knew how at that time of his life. I know he loved me and would never want me to feel the way I did.

New Years Day

2008-01-04T16:09:00.000-08:00

I was blessed to be able to attend a wonderful yoga workshop today at the North Bend Yoga Shala. We, about 13 women and one man warmed up with many sun salutations and postures for two hours. Then we embarked on a meditation instruction from our instructor Cherenes mother.
Before I went into this workshop I had the intention of letting go of my fears and becoming more grounded and confident in myself. I want to be confident in the inspiration that I receive instead of uncertain as to weather it is inspiration or not.
As I was doing my sun salutations Cherene the instructor asked us to breathe out the old and breathe in the new. I began to tear up and feel a well up of emotions. I continued my salutations and asked myself what it was I was feeling. The only thing I came up with was that my fears were about someone like my mother. A woman figure that I loved very much. I was not clear weather is was my mother or who but that is all I got from that moment.
Later after two hours of working hard on postures we relaxed and began to meditate. The first meditation was without instruction. We just went for it for a few minutes and I felt an inner battle inside my thoughts crying out for peace and tranquility. It was a familiar feeling of wanting to crawl away into a dark place where I could be all alone and just breath without any expectations, or demands on me. A longing for that has been with me for some time! [As I write this I recognize what that emotion has been for all this time, it has been me telling myself that I want to meditate and go within! I guess it could be that I need more sleep.] During the second meditation we had some posture directions to focus on keeping our bodies upright and relaxed but engaged. As I was meditating I felt a little stress because I was trying to keep my body engaged and it kept wanting to relax more. I felt my body nod of about three times during the session. I had a few seconds of interesting light filling my mind. After we had some questions and answer time and I learned that everything that does not bring you closer to yourself is just a distraction. The nodding off was a distraction and she asked us to take a look at our lives and how are we checking out or how does it fit in the way we are in our lives?
I completely relate to that, I do check out when the going gets annoying or ridiculous to me. Especially in conversations that are pointless.
After we were finished I went up to ask the instructor Michelle a few more questions and during, I got emotional about the fact that she brought up the fear and love and that there are only those two things and we have to chose which we want to be in. It was exactly what I asked for because I am working to overcome my fears. While talking to her I felt another familiar feeling that I sometimes feel with my mother. I felt that I loved this woman and that I wanted to get all the information I could form her for my life. I wanted to take her home and ask her questions all throughout my daily life. It was similar to the feeling of missing someone that you love so much.
On my way home I realized that the person I missed was the true me inside of me and that to get more in touch with her and let her out is to meditate and go inside of myself. I have what those awesome women like Michelle, my mother and Cherene have inside of me and that is why I recognize it in them and love and miss it.

living deliberately

2008-01-03T22:35:00.000-08:00

This morning was the morning of the month that I get to replenish the grocery supply in the house. I had a play date set up for Tychon but it fell through at the last minute so I had both kids on my journey today. I geared us all up to have a great day by planning it out so that there would be fun and rewards interspersed throughout the day. We had a total of three stops and it took us the entire day!
The day went surprisingly well and it started off with a prayer and a pick from my new angle cards my mother got me for Christmas. The card I chose was Ask. It told me that my angels were there waiting for me to ask them for something and that they could not help without me asking first. So I asked my angles to help me create a peaceful successful shopping day with clear roads, great ideas to keep my kids happy, lots of patience, and plenty of money to get all we needed and wanted.
Our first stop was Winco food which is about a 30 minute drive from our house but so far seems worth the distance. I went in with the mindset that this was going to take time and it was not about how quickly we could get done but how well my children were doing through all of it! We stopped for questions, potty breaks, and to explain that we do not need this or that and to put it back please. Tychon is very social and loves to talk to anyone that will listen. We were crusing the isles at a very slow speed singing Dina blow your horn. And Tychon also sang do you want to live forever a few times!
Estee got down out of the cart about half way through and I figured it had to be ok because she could not be expected to sit there the whole time! She did so well following us around the isles! Her Winco Highlight was when she spotted the wall full of piñatas. She got so excited and just squawked and squawked at me to get her one immediately as she stood with her hands reaching up for them about 7’ above us. I picked her up to get somewhat of a closer look and to tell her that it was time to say good bye. She did really well!
Estee got pretty good at figuring that we put everything in the cart and she started to follow behind me and put one of everything I put in the cart in as well. She was so adorable to watch! She is such a little doer! It was fun to watch her engage other shoppers in her adorable little humor of jumping around and twirling in circles as if Winco is her own personal stage and today is the grand opening!
Later it was time to check out and the cart weighed more than all of us put together! We were dangerous if anyone got in our way! As I loaded up the conveyer belt, Tychon was opening paper bags for me and putting one inside another to add support because a heavy load was coming through! I am no light bagger. I use every square inch of the bag and yes, at Winco I shop for my own stuff and bag my own stuff and take it all out to the car by myself. Wow it is an interesting task to try and be patient and joyful with! Especially when your kids are playing in and around the dog food shelves and the checker asks you to get them out of there and bag my groceries at the same time. I defiantly got a grumpy one today! I took the time I needed and helped my kids stay near me at the same time. It was actually the first winco run that actually felt successful as far as my attitude on the way out. By the way we had to turn right back around after loading the car because Estees diaper was leaking through to her pants. And Tychon had a little accident in his underwear. Wow life is good isn’t it! The funny thing is I still totally loved my kids after all that!
Never fear the day was not over yet! We then went to Ikea because I needed a few items and they have a fun place for tychon to play for awhile. It went pretty well! Estee loved the furniture! She was so happy to play on the couches and beds! The best part of that trip was Tychon in the bathroom! He told me that he decided that he was not going to tease his Estee anymore and that he figured out how he was going to do it. He described it to me this way. Whenever the idea to tease estee comes up I will shoot it with the idea of not teasing her and it will die and then I will not tease her again. There was some firing and other things in there but this is the basic idea of what he said and he said it as if it is an amazing new discovery that only he knows about! It was so adorable! I really want to savor that moment!
We finally got in the car and after buckling both kids in and myself I heard Estee snoring. Poor little thing she was all shopped out and we had one stop left. I really wanted to forget it but there are some things we just have to get from Trader Joes. So we made a quick stop and finally got home unloaded and bathed my kids and took a bath myself feeling extremely grateful for the way the day unfolded! I know my angels helped me so much! It felt so good to have the support! Wow life is so amazing especially when we do it deliberately!

Letter from Ali

2007-12-17T11:08:00.000-08:00

I do not support Facism. I understand what these men are going through. It is very difficult to be in a situation of war. I do not nor will I ever support war. I am pro peace. These men chose this for some reason. It is not their war to be fighting and they all just need to say "No more" and come home. We have a big enough war going on here. We need all the support we can get in our own country. These men at least had a choice, what about the women and children whom didn't have a choice and are shot and killed daily. One death is to much.
Are we living in the dark ages? No, We need to wake up and live in peace and harmony w/ eachother.
This war has never been about out freedom. It needs to be ended and these men and women be brought home and told the truth.
We live in a time of uncertainty, except one thing is very certain. War is never the answer.
Fighting for freedom does not look like this. It looks like people in the streets saying no more to the lack of freedom slowly being taken away from us in our own homes. People standing up everyday in this country saying no more to the lack of natural resources, to pollution, to terrible schools and children dying on the streets by handguns. It maens saying no to the reversal of Habeous corpus. The Natiz used this tactic too.
The only war I would ever fight is the one to protect my children from war in our country, fighting for freedom from the very people who say they are for me and my children when they are going to start drafting our sons, they do not give enough money for good education, they do not support alternative energy resources and they are spending money on a war that is illegal based on the Geneva Convention.

There's my rant for the day. Sundy get educated. Your children's lives may depend on it. I know this sounds radical but, hey the Germans were duped once too.
Read: The End of America, Letters of Warning to a Young Patriot by: Naomi Wolf

Nothing personal

Love you
Ali

Ali,
NO offence taken! I totally agree with what you said to the highest! I am totally against war in every arena. I feel the same that I would fight for my children in a second, and my freedom as well. I just have confusion about my feelings of compassion towards all, especially those soldiers. I believe they are truly doing the best they know how at this point.

I know we all are creating our lives and that there is defiantly a collective consciousness creating all this violence. I will read that book and please share more with me! I do not listen to the news nor pay any attention to politicians. I feel lied to and that they are telling me what they think I want to hear. I want to stand for what I believe, but I am not sure how to proceed with a system full of holes. You are right I need to read but I am so uncertain of what I need to read! Please share more!!
Much Love,
Sundy

American Troops

2007-12-13T21:38:00.000-08:00

I received an email today regarding our troops that are still fighting the war in Iraq. I feel so separate from what is going on over there and like I am not getting the whole story when I listen to the news. I hope that those valiant soles over there, sacrificing their lives for the betterment of mankind will be able to come home soon and live in peace! God only knows what they are going through on a daily basis!

Actually come to think of it we are probably pretty aware of what is going on over there thanks to Hollywood and TV. We know what war is and what it does to people. Look at our Vietnam Vets. The poor things came home so discombobulated and not to mention unwelcome by the citizens of this country. The vets are still trying to overcome all the trauma they experienced in that war. We must have allot of love and Patience to show these soldiers when they get home!

Isn't it time for everyone to lay down their weapons of war and have peace?

I am going to focus on peace blanketing the war in Iraq and healing taking place everywhere! I am also going to avoid violence in entertainment and all areas of my life! I think this aids in the creation of more and more violence! I do not watch the news anymore because of the extreme violence I hear and see! Most of the TV shows are all about violence. What is it with us as a whole? Can we just let it go and create harmony? That is what I am going to focus on is harmony in my life. Letting go of the negative emotions I hold. Every little bit counts. We are all connected and effected by each other! If I want peace for my children I must start with me. That is one very important thing we can do is start with our selves! Make a difference today by thinking joyful thoughts instead of mean, angry, hurtful ones! And when we want to wine about our lives think of our soldiers.

Dumbing Us Down

2007-12-04T22:21:00.000-08:00

I just finished a powerful book by John Taylor Gatto. This book is against public schooling and for the old way of schooling before government intervention. When families taught their children and the communities were tight and supportive. Back when neighbors knew each other and had a true concern for their surroundings.

I related to much that Teacher for 30 years, Gatto said. I related to all he said was happening to the children in our public schools. I am a product of public schooling and my experience was less than desirable the whole way through!

There were many interesting points he made that help me to see why I am the way I am now as a result of my many schooling years. For instance the detachment effects of having the school bells ring all the time conditioning us to drop what we are doing because it is not as important as what we need to do now. No matter what we were engaged in we have to put it away even if it was a deep thought, poem, or song we were creating. We had to drop it and move on when the bell rang. I now recognise that same defect in myself with many things such as different responsibilities and time for myself. These things can easily be dropped without much thought. I have done this over the years and wondered why I was like that and now I believe that it is because i was conditioned to drop things that were important to me and move on.

This is just one of the many things I related to in the book. I am against public schooling. I know that many of my friends have had great experiences in their public schooling and many of them are great people to be around!

I wonder what I would be like If I was home schooled and given the time to really delve into what I am interested in. Have plenty of attention on my weaknesses to strengthen them and lots of time to play without persecution, or competition on the playground.

I am loving homeschooling my children and so excited to explore this life with them! It will be like I am home schooling myself too! In fact I am right now. I am taking Barbra Shelton's home study course for parents that want to home school. This is one of the books on the list.

Winter Wonderland

2007-12-02T12:19:00.000-08:00

This angel is made in the exciting snow we got yesterday. We thought that was it until we woke up this morning and found 8 inches of new beautiful snow! There is nothing like waking up to a fresh snow fall! It brings me such peace and excitement at the same time! Peace because everything comes to a halt and I can't help but have some Ahhhh time! Excitement because it means lots of fun ahead! There are countless fun things to do in the snow! We ditched breakfast and went out to play after we found out that Church was canceled today.
Here is our first snow man of the season and it may be our last. The rain has stared and he is melting:(
If the weather were up to me we would keep this snow and get a fresh few inches every morning! Everyone would have to get out their snow shoes and cross country skis to get where they are going. Or there are those polluters that have snow mobiles or 4 wheelers but it is only a matter of time until they are stranded without fuel then they will have to surrender to the o manual.
j/k I would defiantly jump on for a ride in a split second if given the chance!
Sipping hot coco and being cozy indoors is what were in for for the rest of the day!

Christmas is Here

2007-11-27T21:28:00.000-08:00

Picking out a tree to cut down to put in my living room for a month is kind of a weird tradition I will admit but at the same time I love having a pine tree in my house! It smells so good and brings back so many great memories!
Tychon picked a beautiful Grand Fir that fits perfectly in the only open corner we have for it. We decorate it like a giant candy cane with red and white. When I was little I remember my Grandma had a special room in her house that she would put her Christmas tree. It was decorated completely in pink. To each their own and we choose red and white.
The tree farm we go to is not far from our house and Santa is there in the little wooden for the kids to visit after they are finished cutting down their tree. We came to the same place last year and it was so funny to hear what Tychon had to say to Santa! Tychon had never met Santa before last year and he was not debriefed about what to talk to him about. I have not idea what was going through his head about why we were visiting him and what to say to him. Santa started to ask him if he would like him to bring some toys this year like a truck or something and Tychon said "no thanks I already have one of those" Santa kept giving suggestions only to be rejected by Tychon perfectly content knowing he already has those toys.
This year was a little different because he now knows what Santa does and he had a few suggestions for him this year. A spider web shooter I believe. They were having a dandy conversation together when out of the blue Tychon says, "Hay did you come in my house when I was sleeping?" I got a real kick out of it!
Estee did not want anything to do with Santa!
Later Tychon had many questions about Santa like how he fits down the chimney and how his reindeer fly. I am flying by the seat of my pants because originally we decided that we would not do Santa or hype up Christmas because we wanted it to be centered around the true meaning of Christmas. But I will admit it is fun to have him so excited about it! I will let it go and clue him in when he is really asking.
I love Christmas time! It is filled with so much excitement, hope and spirit! I love developing our own family traditions that bring us close together!

Thanksgiving

2007-11-25T14:21:00.000-08:00

My favorite part of Thanksgiving this year was what my husband said before we began our traditional feast. He looked me in the eye and said I am thankful for you. I felt it to my core that he really was thankful for me and it made me feel so loved and appreciated!
We had a cozy small gathering at our house with our family of four and our good friends The Peterson's that are our family we have adopted! They are such gracious pleasant guests! We love talking with them and sharing time with them! We love their adorable kids too! We ate lots of delicious food and enjoyed the warmth of the wood burning stove. It was nice not to have anywhere to go or any agenda to follow. The kids dressed up as native Americans and went gumdrop turkey hunting around the house, a new tradition that Paul introduced to us this year.

Thanksgiving is such a funny holiday! I get so geared up for the big feast and then I sit down to eat it and boom it is over and I am full. Good thing we have refrigerators otherwise we would miss out on the amazing leftovers!

The next morning we went Christmas tree hunting and found a perfect little Grand Fir. Dave and Tychon cut it down this year. I stood with Estee and watched their team work and felt such feelings of gratitude for a husband that is here with me having fun with the kids, creating memories we will have forever! I am so grateful to be thriving instead of surviving! During special moments like these I have this deep urge inside me to squeeze Dave so hard and not let go until I know that he can feel how much love, and deep gratitude I have for him! There are a million choices he has in this life and he chose me. It feels like a beautiful sunny day!

EFT

2007-11-12T21:17:00.000-08:00

Tonight after tucking T in to bed I told him we were having a play date with his friend tomorrow. He said that his friend Brayden does not really like to play with him he always plays with his other friends and it really hurts his feelings. He started to get choked up about it. I suggested that we tap it out. I did the tapping and he repeated after me. We tapped out that Brayden likes his other friends better than him and that he doesn’t like T verry much. T started to get really choked up and started to hold his head and tried to tell me with a big frog in his throat that he was getting a head ach. I just held him in my arms and let him cry it out. He was feeling an overwhelming amount of emotions over this issue. I am not sure why he looks up to his friend Brayden so much but he sure does. He always talks about him and what he has and when he will get to see him again. For some reason he has made a huge impression on T and out of all his friends he wants to impress Brayden. We talked for awhile about a bunch of stuff T wanted to talk about like the definition of telling on someone and how his friend is not nice when he does not want to play with him. He talked about how he could play something else if Brayden did not want to play with him and then maybe Brayden would want to play with him.
He then said that he wanted to tap some more stuff out and so we revisited the same issues about Brayden and the huge wave of emotions was gone he just repeated after me and did not get all choked up. It was really cool. He then said that he has decided that he is going to make Brayden play with him. So funny, kinda missed the point. I said, T you cannot make anyone do something they have their choices what they will do no matter what you do or say. He said, no I think I can make him play with me. I tried to say that even if he doesn’t want to you can find someone else to play with or just have fun by your self. But I could tell his mind was made up of what he wanted to do.
This reminded me of the talks my parents had with me when I was a teenager and did not listen to them I had to experience it for myself. I guess I get to be on the other side of this now.
I love EFT! I use it every day and it really works for me! Today I had some issues with some people I work with that I have never seen eye to eye with. It starts to get under my skin like eczema. I tapped it out and then when my husband got home I started to talk about how I was annoyed and caught myself and realized that I had some more stuff to tap out because I did not want to talk to him about that at that time. After all I was creating more of what I did not want by rehashing. I don’t want that infesting into my life so I must get rid of it when it peaks its ugly head!!!!
More info about eft go to emofree.com

Before 7

2007-11-07T22:07:00.000-08:00

Here is me before as Little House on the Prarie. Read the next blog to know what I am talking about.

7

2007-11-07T21:06:00.000-08:00

Today is the 7th of November 2007 and I got my hair cut at a salon called 7 and got over 7 " cut off my locks. Hummm I will have to ask my sister what 7 means. Its my number today!
Good bye old Hello new ME! I am so ready for change in my life and today's haircut is very welcome! I was kind of ready for something more extreme but I am also glad that David went easy on me because i don't do @#%#% with my hair! I just let it grow and grow and when I want to look good and go on a date. I blow dry it upside down. OOOhh daring and so sophisticated. That is probably why David (the stalest my Aubs revered) called me Little house on the prairie! It was a fun experience going into a salon and changing into a robe, free drinks and live DJ. Consultation for what would look best on my face. It felt like I was getting a hair cut at a club full of hair models. There was some amazing hair walking around! It was fun and made me want to go get an amazing outfit to match my new look. I know that money is just energy and I am so grateful that my husband is in touch with that! He is a good money flower. I am working allowing it to flow like a swift ferocious river through my life.
Thanks to my diamond Dave, for encouraging me to go get my expensive hair due today! And thanks to my Aubs for watching my little ones so I could be free to go. I love you guys!
I like getting to know me and having the resources to experiments like getting a killer hair cut and some freaky glasses. I am alive and full of energy and so ready to sink my teeth into the fleshy fruit of life! MMMM it is so good!

Pears in Winter

2007-10-21T15:11:00.000-07:00

Yummy! We canned pears and pear butter. I am now officially a caner. We got two boxes of pears and took a few days to can them all. It was really fun to do this project with my kids. They seemed to have fun cleaning the pears and discovering if their new little beetle friend could swim in the sink. I was happy he came along and gave them a fun distracting experience while I plowed away at the pears.
It felt good preserving all those beautiful pears and knowing that I can serve them to my family in the cold dark winter when the fruit at the market just isn't the same. It will be like bringing some sunshine to the table! It also felt good that I used organic raw sugar and only half what it called for.
I will defiantly do this again and I feel inspired to have a real garden next summer rather than just an herb/strawberry garden like we did this year. I will be on the lookout for a steam caner like the one my friend lent me for this project. It was so much easier than a huge water bath contraption. I learned that canning pickles a year ago which was my very first canning experience. This is my second experience and I want to do it every fall from now on.

BreakThrough

2007-10-13T20:35:00.000-07:00

Making choices have been a difficult saga for me as long as I can remember. I am a firm seeker of a higher and better me all the time so I am looking at my constant battle with decision making and want to change it now! I want decisions to be easy and confident for me to make!
I have been pondering, or should I say stalling, like a deer in the headlights, a new dilemma about my Thanksgiving holiday versus my winter vacation and just stew over it so many hours each day that I start to feel crazy for not making a decision and being done with it.
I was cleaning my face one night deep in thought about why I have a hard time making decisions and it came to me after much thought and prayers. I made a really dumb decision when I was a young teenager that I thought I got over but it turns out I left out a crucial part of getting over it. I did not forgive myself. I have been carrying this regret for making such a bad decision for so long and living so afraid of making another bad decision. I have allowed myself to be paralysed in the sight of decisions. I mean I have gone shopping for hours in a clothing store and tried on so many things and left empty handed so many times and the anxiety I feel when faced with a decision is ridiculous!
Thanks to my angels for showing me this truth in me so i can now forgive me and know that I was doing the best I knew how at the time. Ohhhh it is sure time to get on with life and trust myself and the decisions I make from here on out.

Let the home schooling begin

2007-10-11T20:45:00.000-07:00

Pre-home-school is what were up to whatever that means. What I mean to say is that I am a new home school mom that has just embraced the truth of home schooling my children. I am so excited and nervous too!! I am taking a home school study course to give myself a strong foundation about why I should take this leap of faith. I realize there are some sacrifices but I also know the rewards of having my children in my life far outweigh have time to myself while they are in school. It doesnt even matter because everytime I learn more about homeschooling it rings true in my soul so I know it is one of my purposes here on earth!
So far we are using the online curriculum and great ideas the generous lady allows for free at Brightly Beaming Resources. I am so grateful for her! Tychon was so excited on our first week he woke up on Monday morning and the first words out of his mouth were, "our theme is fish!" He really enjoyed studying fish! I really enjoyed it too! We went fishing and to the fish hatchery and learned a lot of interesting facts about fish! Estee learned how to sign fish too!
One of my favorite things about home schooling is getting the school supplies. I get so excited about it! I remember getting ready for the school year when i was little and getting my box that I would put everything in. I keep looking for those cool plastic boxes or the hard paper ones and can't find them anywhere. What is this world coming to?
All I can say is that I am so excited about my children's education and want to give them the very best that I possibly can! If I don't have the answers I know i can find them!
When I aim to be present in each moment of the the day my kids are so enriching to be around! When I have a perfect box for the day to fit into I usually end up getting really annoyed with my kids! Allow I tell myself Allow

Sea Plane

2007-10-01T21:41:00.000-07:00

September 30, 2007 I finally got to go up in a sea plane after dreaming about it for so many years! I have always been so curious about how if feels to take off and land on water. When I lived in Florida I used to love to watch the sea plans come and go and decided back then that someday I want to go up in one.
It was Dave's date plan for Saturday. We took off from Lake Unionin choppy water with sail boats and tug boats all around. We flew around the city and over Baimbridge Island and around the sound. It was really different than a land flight I got a little nervous coming in for landing so fast on choppy water, dodging all the sail boats that just so happened to be having a race that day. The landing surprised me, it ended up being pretty smooth.
We went to Dukes Chowder House for lunch, and had some delicious chowder that my wonderful friend Aubrey recommended. Great place!
Later we ran some errands and ended the date with an amazing evening together! I would say that this date was a big step forward in the falling in love process!!
Right on Dave that is totally my kind of date! You are such a stud!

Annette Lake

2007-09-17T13:59:00.000-07:00

Tychons first backpacking trip was a success in the end but I sure did not think it would turn out that way when we embarked on the traitorous trail. I talked to a forest ranger and asked if the trail to Annette Lake would be a good one to bring 4&5 year old children on. She said it was moderate and should be fine. I also talked to a friend that had done the hike before and she said we would be fine. So, My two friends their oldest kids Lydia, Emma, Kirsten, Henry and Tychon and I went on an amazing journey together!

We got a late start because of traffic and what not but we were full of energy and excitement as we headed up the 3.9 mile hike to a lake we would camp by that night.

About 15 minutes into the hike I realized this was going to be more difficult than I had expected. All of us moms began to realize that as the switchbacks got steeper and endless. The kids were doing great but began to ask questions about how long this hike was. We decided to create some distractions. There were these bazaar mushrooms all along the way so we had the kids name the mushrooms and if they found a certain color mushroom they got a snack. That game went over quite well! The kids were so into it and it was pretty easy to be because of all the huge variety of mushrooms all over the place.

As we trudged on we realized we were probably not gong to make it to the lake by dark so we sent Kirsten on to scout out a camp spot ahead. She was a good candidate because she was setting the pace from the beginning and I could tell she just wanted to plow through that trail! She amazed me!

After hiking for close to three hours we sat down to rest and give the kids a snack and decided it was dark enough for lights. We put a headlamp on each kid and said a prayer and headed on our way. Henry was wanting his mom about this time and the kids were starting to say that they were getting scared. Amazingly enough I was not scared a bit when usually I would be a little freaked out. It must have been the prayers because we said a bunch more along the way and sang many primary and superhero songs too. If anyone was around they defiantly got an ear full of scripture power and many more. Lydia shared her skills of distracting Henry by asking him so many questions about his favorite move that he barley knew we had been hiking for an hour. When he saw his mom I thought he was going to fly he was so happy!

The kids did amazing I was so proud of them!

So we came to a dead end in the trail so we thought and it was dark so we set up camp where we were and hoped for the best. We ate roasted dogs over the fire and mellows and the kids were asking if they could go to bed. It was pretty funny. All Tychon wanted for dinner was 3 marsh mellows and some water. I did not argue with him a bit after that amazing hike he just completed! He was a champ the whole time!The next morning we got up at about 10am and found that we were about 50 ft from Annette Lake and right next to the trail. The lake was so beautiful and so worth the challenging hike! I went for a swim and it was exhilarating and filled my body with new life!

We ate lots of wild blueberries which I called huckleberry's. We did some fishing, caught nothing but had fun! The decent was a breeze compared to the accent! My favorite part was near the end of the decent when Tychon was holding my hand and said "That was so fun camping mom when can we do it again?" Mission accomplished!

Tychons First Summit

2007-07-01T14:00:00.000-07:00

Tychon hiked up LittleSi a few weekends ago. It is 2.5 miles one way and that makes 5 miles total. We did not carry him once! He is amazing for doing that and without a lot of training not to mention it was raining. The Trees made a pretty good shelter canopy most of the time. It was a lot of fun to go on a real hike with my son! He is 4 and full of life! He loves to do things that prove he is strong!

Little Si is a small mountain in front of a bigger one near our house. It is a popular place around here because there are always hikers on the mountain rain or shine.

Tychon is determined to hike Big Si this summer but I am not so sure about that. It is 4 miles one way. We will see how he is doing at the end of summer after a few more hiking excursions.

Crazy Day!

2007-01-22T21:41:00.000-08:00

Grocery shopping and doctors appointment were on the docket this morning against my free will. I would rather stay home and not go shopping ever!
So the doctor found out that my daughter Estee has an ear infection and needs to take Antibiotics. Wow I would have never guessed. J/k I am being a jerk because that is the same verdict I get every single time I go to the doctor!!!! Dang, what exactly do those things do anyway. Yea, I know they kill off the bad virus, and the good bacteria in the body. But I would really like to know the scientific details of that cure all syrup that tastes like chalk with lots of Gross die in it.
When it comes to the ears I don't want to mess around so I got them for her along with some acidophiles and natural goat milk yogurt to replenish her with the good guys. I hope she gets better soon! I feel so bad when my baby's are sick or in any kind of pain!
We went to the doc. then we went to Trader Joe's to stock up our empty pantry and fridge. Tychon had a few accidents today, I guess he has a really hard time controlling the #2 gadget when he is constipated or something because it was like the potty training days today. Not my favorite time to be a mom for sure!!! So we went to the bathroom everywhere we went and I will spare you the details. Yikes.
Upon leaving Trader Joe's with my cart full of bags and kids and found my care with a flat tire. FLIP! I took deep breaths and drove really slow to the nearest air compressor.

Have you ever had the dilemma of your sweet kids just falling to sleep in the car after a long day and you have to go into the store? O what I would do for a babysitter at that moment!!!
What I would do for a babysitter in general! Shopping with kids is not cool at all!

Regardless of the trials of the day I always miss them as they sleep at night!

Exceptional Education

2007-01-16T21:48:00.000-08:00

This year is my year to do research about the kind of education I want to give my children. My son is going to be 4 soon and I want to be prepared when the time comes for him to get serious.

I know a few families that have home schooled their children and the kids have turned out great! So far they have all gone to college too. I have been exploring home schooling families blogs and websites on line and have found some interesting situations. I for one would not want to live on the road with my family. But taking road trips and traveling to various places around the world would be great!
I love having my own home and own dirt to play in and grow stuff in. I also love having neighbors! I have been blessed with great ones!

I want the light in my children's eyes to burn forever! If I could get it to even burn brighter as they get older that would be wonderful! The light being, their zest for life, their curiosity. Watching my children discover something for the first time is one of the greatest joys I have experienced.

Today my daughter was fascinated by the bubbles I was washing her with in the bath tub. She wanted to eat them and touch them with her tiny little fingers that she is still learning how to control just how she wants. She also took her first step today and it was actually three steps. I didn't get it on film but I was there to see it and celebrate it with her.
My son wanted to go shoot his bow and arrow this morning after it snowed 3". So the three of us bundled up and went for it. It was a blast to watch him.

These learning experiences will continue every day of their life and I want to be there to be a part of it and celebrate with them and make sure they get to learn what they are interested in at the time. The possibilities of learning resources are endless in this world and I want them to know that they can do anything they put their mind to.
This is how I feel at this point and I will continue to do research before I come up with the best plan for them.
I appreciate shared information that will benefit me in my search for the greatest education for my children.