On This Miraculous Planet, On Real Food, On Union with all that is
When we were pregnant with the Bean, I devoured Gina Ford’s The Contented Little Baby Book. Her unparalleled surety in her schedule was an anchor of sanity for me as a new parent.
A few months ago, I was recommended the book Contented Dementia by Oliver James. Aside from an apparent British obsession with the word contented,* I wanted to write about both of these tomes as they feel like bookends of my life right now.
Read MoreDearest Beloveds,
I now understand why Tia and I both had the same pogo stick, the same jumping ball, the same wooden flipping ball toy (which I still have for both for you).
Read MoreDearest Beloveds,
Your Momma has always been a bit of a snob about being raised in Washington DC. Not outside the Beltway, not for me. Capitol Hill, thank you very much. (Such a fun ego surge as I write that.)
And now we are raising you two children in the country.
Read MoreDearest Beloveds,
We seem to be hitting a lot of milestones this month. Dragon, you are no longer Dragon of the hair. You are now a lean mean streamlined Dragon with shorn hair - ready for business. About two months ago this conversation happened at breakfast.
“Time to brush hair!”
Read MoreDearest Beloveds,
I have recently been reminded, thank you again Amma’s Circle of Love Letters, about the myriad faces of faith. I feel like I spent many years thinking that faith and surrender were intellectually weak and hokey. Boy was I wrong. They are difficult to intellectually rationalize and not easily grasped by the thinking mind - but that is not a strike against them (as I thought at one point).
Read MoreDearest Beloveds,
The word mate is so funny to me - it rhymes with skate, connotes zoos, and makes me feel as though I need a tail. Partner is a good word too, but it also works for businesses. Though, I guess, a marriage is rather like running a business (servant leadership, open book finance, negotiating, the art of compromise, long term planning, a vision - thank you Zingermans) especially once children get added to the mix. Husband and wife are loverly as well. But I think mate is the best word for what I want to talk about.
Read MoreMy dearest Beloveds,
Dragon, you reminded me this week of a consistent pairing that happens with parenthood. The trace bit of sadness and heartache that accompanies the excitement, thrill and pride when you master a new skill - the both and of life. In this instance you told me that you no longer want me to sit with you when you go potty.
Read MoreDearest Beloveds,
The summer of my 19th year, I lived with Winkie. She was in her 90s. Several memories stick out from that time. After spending the whole night out with friends, swimming in moonlit pools and drinking, “hmmm, I guess I just need to get used to the morals of 19 year olds,” she said to me with a twinkle at the breakfast table, “pass the toast please.”
Read MoreDear Dad,
I miss you. I was looking at the calendar yesterday and realizing why I am such a grumpy grouch (moths are annoying but not that annoying).
This week is when it all started. A year ago this week L and I had just returned from Quansoo and Mom was a mess.
Read MoreDearest Beloveds,
Your Momma has learned a very important lesson this month. Again. I am sure I have learned this lesson before, but this month I seem to be getting a really heavy dose of learning on this. Here is the lesson.
Make room in your life always for unforeseen obligations. Try not to be so busy that you don’t have space for the unexpected.
Read MoreHello my beloveds,
We have settled into our routine of school time from 8-10, then playing and summer doings the rest of the day. We have breakfast, then dishes, then the Dragon plays while the Bean and I focus on learnings. One of the joys of homeschooling is that you can teach in July and take October off and you can also teach cursive.
Read MoreDearest Dragon,
I feel the big questions of where we come from and who we are never stop in life - but the first thread of the tale comes from hearing your conception and birth story. Your arrival to this planet, like your sister, involved a team of people and medical magic. Neither one of you arrived after a heated sweaty snuggle in the back of a truck. Paperwork, lawyers, medical professionals, petri dishes, ultrasounds, and lots of prayer created the circumstances whereby you could chose us and we chose you - and here you are.
Read More
My life vision is to love, be curious, identify my Cranky Monster, and be brave enough to speak from and for The Good.
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