On This Miraculous Planet, On Real Food, On Union with all that is
Dearest 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 MoreIn early July, I found out about Amma’s Circle of Love Letters. It is a program whereby “volunteers write uplifting letters to people who are in need of reassurance.” I wrote to the Director hoping to both write letters and receive them.
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 MoreHomeschooling was not ever something I seriously considered, until it became the only thing I considered. I am thrilled to report that after doing this for two years I finally was able to use my joke I have been sitting on.
“So is your daughter at Chancellor?” We are meeting new neighbors.
“Bean, what do you do for school?” I look down at her and smile.
“We are homeschooling.” She smiles up and runs off with the other children.
The neighbors look at me. Perhaps I am imaging the thoughts that I might have had before being in this boat, so I pull out my joke. “Well, you see, we don’t believe in evolution. So it works well for us.”
Read MoreDearest Bean,
This is one of my favorite stories to tell. The story of how you came to us. You already know that you were born and carried to term in the womb of our dear friend K – but the why and wherefore, we haven’t yet delved into. Yours my dear, is a story of medical magic and glory. The gift of your birth reset your mother’s justice scale with the medical establishment (and if that is confusing, ask your father).
Read MoreDearest Beloveds,
If you choose to read any of my writing beyond these letters, you will quickly learn that your momma is not a fan of comparing. As we were discussing yesterday at lunch, comparisons come from judgements and lead to unhappiness. There will always be people who are more accomplished and less accomplished than you in any field that you can imagine - and as such, comparing yourself to others will always lead to making yourself feel temporarily better than someone else or temporarily worse about yourself. It is not a fruitful avenue to explore in life and better to avoid entirely. If you can - avoid judgements altogether - and if that is not possible, than please be conscious of what you are doing and whether you feel it is hurtful or helpful in your belly.
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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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