have you ever wished you could just lose five pounds?
have you ever just really wanted a fresh chocolate chip cookie?
i have.
i do.
they don't go hand in hand,
but i'm going to eat the chocolate chip cookie anyway.
moderation.
that's the key.
11.06.2008
10.27.2008
i like jesus and i vote.
what is inspiring, challenging, convicting, motivating, moving in you as you make your voice heard and cast your ballot? is your vote based on party lines? fear? tradition? pressure? ignorance? propaganda? family? peers? snl? church? or the integrity of the values or religion you hold dear?
Jim Wallis' essay, the text of which is contained below, encapsulates concisely and eloquently the mindset I hope to take into this upcoming election of historic importance. thanks ben for sharing this with me.
********************
In 2004, several conservative Catholic bishops and a few megachurch pastors like Rick Warren issued their list of “non-negotiables,” which were intended to be a voter guide for their followers. All of them were relatively the same list of issues: abortion, gay marriage, stem cell research, etc. None of them even included the word “poverty,” only one example of the missing issues which are found quite clearly in the Bible. All of them were also relatively the same as official Republican Party Web sites of “non-negotiables.” The political connections and commitments of the religious non-negotiable writers were quite clear.I want to suggest a different approach this year and share my personal list of “faith priorities” that will guide me in making the imperfect choices that always confront us in any election year — and suggest that each of you come up with your own list of “faith” or “moral” priorities for this election year and take them into the voting booth with you.After the last election, I wrote a book titled God’s Politics. I was criticized by some for presuming to speak for God, but that wasn’t the point. I was trying to explore what issues might be closest to the heart of God and how they may be quite different from what many strident religious voices were then saying. I was also saying that “God’s Politics” will often turn our partisan politics upside down, transcend our ideological categories of Left and Right, and challenge the core values and priorities of our political culture. I was also trying to say that there is certainly no easy jump from God’s politics to either the Republicans or Democrats. God is neither. In any election, we face imperfect choices, but our choices should reflect the things we believe God cares about if we are people of faith, and our own moral sensibilities if we are not people of faith. Therefore, people of faith, and all of us, should be “values voters” but vote all our values, not just a few that can be easily manipulated for the benefit of one party or another.In 2008, the kingdom of God is not on the ballot in any of the 50 states as far as I can see. So we can’t vote for that this year. But there are important choices in this year’s election — very important choices — which will dramatically impact what many in the religious community and outside of it call “the common good,” and the outcome could be very important, perhaps even more so than in many recent electoral contests.I am in no position to tell anyone what is “non-negotiable,” and neither is any bishop or megachurch pastor, but let me tell you the “faith priorities” and values I will be voting on this year:
1. With more than 2,000 verses in the Bible about how we treat the poor and oppressed, I will examine the record, plans, policies, and promises made by the candidates on what they will do to overcome the scandal of extreme global poverty and the shame of such unnecessary domestic poverty in the richest nation in the world. Such a central theme of the Bible simply cannot be ignored at election time, as too many Christians have done for years. And any solution to the economic crisis that simply bails out the rich, and even the middle class, but ignores those at the bottom should simply be unacceptable to people of faith.
2. From the biblical prophets to Jesus, there is, at least, a biblical presumption against war and the hope of beating our swords into instruments of peace. So I will choose the candidates who will be least likely to lead us into more disastrous wars and find better ways to resolve the inevitable conflicts in the world and make us all safer. I will choose the candidates who seem to best understand that our security depends upon other people’s security (everyone having “their own vine and fig tree, so no one can make them afraid,” as the prophets say) more than upon how high we can build walls or a stockpile of weapons. Christians should never expect a pacifist president, but we can insist on one who views military force only as a very last resort, when all other diplomatic and economic measures have failed, and never as a preferred or habitual response to conflict.
3. “Choosing life” is a constant biblical theme, so I will choose candidates who have the most consistent ethic of life, addressing all the threats to human life and dignity that we face — not just one. Thirty-thousand children dying globally each day of preventable hunger and disease is a life issue. The genocide in Darfur is a life issue. Health care is a life issue. War is a life issue. The death penalty is a life issue. And on abortion, I will choose candidates who have the best chance to pursue the practical and proven policies which could dramatically reduce the number of abortions in America and therefore save precious unborn lives, rather than those who simply repeat the polarized legal debates and “pro-choice” and “pro-life” mantras from either side.
4. God’s fragile creation is clearly under assault, and I will choose the candidates who will likely be most faithful in our care of the environment. In particular, I will choose the candidates who will most clearly take on the growing threat of climate change, and who have the strongest commitment to the conversion of our economy and way of life to a cleaner, safer, and more renewable energy future. And that choice could accomplish other key moral priorities like the redemption of a dangerous foreign policy built on Middle East oil dependence, and the great prospects of job creation and economic renewal from a new “green” economy built on more spiritual values of conservation, stewardship, sustainability, respect, responsibility, co-dependence, modesty, and even humility.
5. Every human being is made in the image of God, so I will choose the candidates who are most likely to protect human rights and human dignity. Sexual and economic slavery is on the rise around the world, and an end to human trafficking must become a top priority. As many religious leaders have now said, torture is completely morally unacceptable, under any circumstances, and I will choose the candidates who are most committed to reversing American policy on the treatment of prisoners. And I will choose the candidates who understand that the immigration system is totally broken and needs comprehensive reform, but must be changed in ways that are compassionate, fair, just, and consistent with the biblical command to “welcome the stranger.”
6. Healthy families are the foundation of our community life, and nothing is more important than how we are raising up the next generation. As the father of two young boys, I am deeply concerned about the values our leaders model in the midst of the cultural degeneracy assaulting our children. Which candidates will best exemplify and articulate strong family values, using the White House and other offices as bully pulpits to speak of sexual restraint and integrity, marital fidelity, strong parenting, and putting family values over economic values? And I will choose the candidates who promise to really deal with the enormous economic and cultural pressures that have made parenting such a “countercultural activity” in America today, rather than those who merely scapegoat gay people for the serious problems of heterosexual family breakdown.
That is my list of personal “faith priorities” for the election year of 2008, but they are not “non-negotiables” for anyone else. It’s time for each of us to make up our own list in these next 12 days. Make your list and send this on to your friends and family members, inviting them to do the same thing.
********************
"people shouldn't change because of politics, politics should bring about change because of people." ~e.s-d
Jim Wallis' essay, the text of which is contained below, encapsulates concisely and eloquently the mindset I hope to take into this upcoming election of historic importance. thanks ben for sharing this with me.
********************
In 2004, several conservative Catholic bishops and a few megachurch pastors like Rick Warren issued their list of “non-negotiables,” which were intended to be a voter guide for their followers. All of them were relatively the same list of issues: abortion, gay marriage, stem cell research, etc. None of them even included the word “poverty,” only one example of the missing issues which are found quite clearly in the Bible. All of them were also relatively the same as official Republican Party Web sites of “non-negotiables.” The political connections and commitments of the religious non-negotiable writers were quite clear.I want to suggest a different approach this year and share my personal list of “faith priorities” that will guide me in making the imperfect choices that always confront us in any election year — and suggest that each of you come up with your own list of “faith” or “moral” priorities for this election year and take them into the voting booth with you.After the last election, I wrote a book titled God’s Politics. I was criticized by some for presuming to speak for God, but that wasn’t the point. I was trying to explore what issues might be closest to the heart of God and how they may be quite different from what many strident religious voices were then saying. I was also saying that “God’s Politics” will often turn our partisan politics upside down, transcend our ideological categories of Left and Right, and challenge the core values and priorities of our political culture. I was also trying to say that there is certainly no easy jump from God’s politics to either the Republicans or Democrats. God is neither. In any election, we face imperfect choices, but our choices should reflect the things we believe God cares about if we are people of faith, and our own moral sensibilities if we are not people of faith. Therefore, people of faith, and all of us, should be “values voters” but vote all our values, not just a few that can be easily manipulated for the benefit of one party or another.In 2008, the kingdom of God is not on the ballot in any of the 50 states as far as I can see. So we can’t vote for that this year. But there are important choices in this year’s election — very important choices — which will dramatically impact what many in the religious community and outside of it call “the common good,” and the outcome could be very important, perhaps even more so than in many recent electoral contests.I am in no position to tell anyone what is “non-negotiable,” and neither is any bishop or megachurch pastor, but let me tell you the “faith priorities” and values I will be voting on this year:
1. With more than 2,000 verses in the Bible about how we treat the poor and oppressed, I will examine the record, plans, policies, and promises made by the candidates on what they will do to overcome the scandal of extreme global poverty and the shame of such unnecessary domestic poverty in the richest nation in the world. Such a central theme of the Bible simply cannot be ignored at election time, as too many Christians have done for years. And any solution to the economic crisis that simply bails out the rich, and even the middle class, but ignores those at the bottom should simply be unacceptable to people of faith.
2. From the biblical prophets to Jesus, there is, at least, a biblical presumption against war and the hope of beating our swords into instruments of peace. So I will choose the candidates who will be least likely to lead us into more disastrous wars and find better ways to resolve the inevitable conflicts in the world and make us all safer. I will choose the candidates who seem to best understand that our security depends upon other people’s security (everyone having “their own vine and fig tree, so no one can make them afraid,” as the prophets say) more than upon how high we can build walls or a stockpile of weapons. Christians should never expect a pacifist president, but we can insist on one who views military force only as a very last resort, when all other diplomatic and economic measures have failed, and never as a preferred or habitual response to conflict.
3. “Choosing life” is a constant biblical theme, so I will choose candidates who have the most consistent ethic of life, addressing all the threats to human life and dignity that we face — not just one. Thirty-thousand children dying globally each day of preventable hunger and disease is a life issue. The genocide in Darfur is a life issue. Health care is a life issue. War is a life issue. The death penalty is a life issue. And on abortion, I will choose candidates who have the best chance to pursue the practical and proven policies which could dramatically reduce the number of abortions in America and therefore save precious unborn lives, rather than those who simply repeat the polarized legal debates and “pro-choice” and “pro-life” mantras from either side.
4. God’s fragile creation is clearly under assault, and I will choose the candidates who will likely be most faithful in our care of the environment. In particular, I will choose the candidates who will most clearly take on the growing threat of climate change, and who have the strongest commitment to the conversion of our economy and way of life to a cleaner, safer, and more renewable energy future. And that choice could accomplish other key moral priorities like the redemption of a dangerous foreign policy built on Middle East oil dependence, and the great prospects of job creation and economic renewal from a new “green” economy built on more spiritual values of conservation, stewardship, sustainability, respect, responsibility, co-dependence, modesty, and even humility.
5. Every human being is made in the image of God, so I will choose the candidates who are most likely to protect human rights and human dignity. Sexual and economic slavery is on the rise around the world, and an end to human trafficking must become a top priority. As many religious leaders have now said, torture is completely morally unacceptable, under any circumstances, and I will choose the candidates who are most committed to reversing American policy on the treatment of prisoners. And I will choose the candidates who understand that the immigration system is totally broken and needs comprehensive reform, but must be changed in ways that are compassionate, fair, just, and consistent with the biblical command to “welcome the stranger.”
6. Healthy families are the foundation of our community life, and nothing is more important than how we are raising up the next generation. As the father of two young boys, I am deeply concerned about the values our leaders model in the midst of the cultural degeneracy assaulting our children. Which candidates will best exemplify and articulate strong family values, using the White House and other offices as bully pulpits to speak of sexual restraint and integrity, marital fidelity, strong parenting, and putting family values over economic values? And I will choose the candidates who promise to really deal with the enormous economic and cultural pressures that have made parenting such a “countercultural activity” in America today, rather than those who merely scapegoat gay people for the serious problems of heterosexual family breakdown.
That is my list of personal “faith priorities” for the election year of 2008, but they are not “non-negotiables” for anyone else. It’s time for each of us to make up our own list in these next 12 days. Make your list and send this on to your friends and family members, inviting them to do the same thing.
********************
"people shouldn't change because of politics, politics should bring about change because of people." ~e.s-d
10.07.2008
i am sharing here an expert from my husband private blog. i love how he expresses similar thoughts through different words on a different plain. go ahead and let me know if you are getting sick of my talk about our learning path, but that might not change if i keep talking or not.
on a different note, let me say this... if you ever see something gross and you know that i will think its *really* gross and my imagination will take the sight and run with it, don't tell me about it. and if i ask what you saw and say it won't be too gross for me and pressure you to tell me....don't do it. if i keep pushing you to tell me what you witnessed saying things like, "i know i can handle it! don't worry, my mind won't get carried away. seriously, just tell me."
DON'T DO IT!!! please don't do it. thank you. [i did that to eric the other day and he knew i wouldn't be able to handle it, but i pushed and pushed.....oh boy.....he was right, i was oh oh oh so wrong! i haven't been able to kick the thought out of my mind. so yes. please remember this, don't tell me.] on to eric's post....
***************************************
unschooling- liberal, living, learning, loving it.
"how is it going with home schooling?" was asked by a woman to a group of moms that were standing around waiting. my wife was in the mix and as always listened, observed, and then once it seemed to be the right time, shared her thoughts. just to clarify for all who read this. we do not "home school" we practice "unschooling". the two are very different in philosophy and practice. under the umbrella of home schooling, the parent is the teacher. whereas, with unschooling life is the teacher and the parents are facilitating what life their children are exposed too and observe their discovery of self and learning. when my wife shared with me the social interaction with the other women, she encouraged me to blog my thought about our children's discovery of learning through life. the photo for this blog was taken by my wife and is of our kitchen table. it shows the common sight we see in our day to day from the many projects and interest our daughters are enjoying. if you have ever had the privilege of being around my daughters for a spell you know that each of them is extraordinary in their own beautiful way. my oldest daughter just turned 10. she is our morning girl. every morning she wakes up and finds whatever book she is reading and dives in to a world of new discoveries. some of you may be thinking this seems normal, but just a couple years ago her desire to read was squelched with frustration by the demands of a charter school instructor and the mark the state of california places as a standard where a child of 8 should be. because our daughter was forced to be like other children and fit a general standard, she found her love for books and discovery by this means drained and invested in physical learning through dance and gymnastics instead. it broke my heart to watch a child who has such a brilliance for imagining other worlds be stifled in her process of learning by a bullshit standard that is racial, gender, and socio-economically bias to begin with. so when i see her cozy on our couch in the wee hours of morning, reading beneath the morning light of soft golden hues, i am amazed. she found her way. she learned how to read. not because she must, but because she wants to. i love learning. sometimes i wonder what i would have learned if people stopped telling me what to learn and just let the childlike instinct to discover lead me to find my way. do not get me wrong, my wife and i choose to be there and help with the process, but our girls absorb life richly and we do our best to let life be their teacher. amongst many christian home schooling circles unschooling is considered liberal, left field, and completely outside the realm of "christian" structured upbringing. i do not spin in those circles. i am too busy living in god's incredible creation, and yes it is liberal by definition. i think it would be wise for those who have strong views on unschooling to stop and watch and see what they might discovery from life. who knows, they just might learn a little and be liberated. anyone can think what they want about the educational route we have decided to take for our children, as long as they are thinking and not conforming. all i know is that my 1st daughter is a discovering watercolors, ballet, and reading about nellie bly in the morning. our 2nd daughter is playing the drums, discovering her body motion through tumbling, and exploring the use of pastels as a medium. the 3rd daughter is on the verge of 4 and loves verbal conversations, dialogues about the happenings of her day, loves taking care of her "meow" cat, and is exceptional at drawing people. they are extraordinary. truly they are. i am biased and i should be. i am learning a lot from them. i am learning a lot from life. i guess you could say, i am unschooling.
on a different note, let me say this... if you ever see something gross and you know that i will think its *really* gross and my imagination will take the sight and run with it, don't tell me about it. and if i ask what you saw and say it won't be too gross for me and pressure you to tell me....don't do it. if i keep pushing you to tell me what you witnessed saying things like, "i know i can handle it! don't worry, my mind won't get carried away. seriously, just tell me."
DON'T DO IT!!! please don't do it. thank you. [i did that to eric the other day and he knew i wouldn't be able to handle it, but i pushed and pushed.....oh boy.....he was right, i was oh oh oh so wrong! i haven't been able to kick the thought out of my mind. so yes. please remember this, don't tell me.] on to eric's post....
***************************************
unschooling- liberal, living, learning, loving it.
"how is it going with home schooling?" was asked by a woman to a group of moms that were standing around waiting. my wife was in the mix and as always listened, observed, and then once it seemed to be the right time, shared her thoughts. just to clarify for all who read this. we do not "home school" we practice "unschooling". the two are very different in philosophy and practice. under the umbrella of home schooling, the parent is the teacher. whereas, with unschooling life is the teacher and the parents are facilitating what life their children are exposed too and observe their discovery of self and learning. when my wife shared with me the social interaction with the other women, she encouraged me to blog my thought about our children's discovery of learning through life. the photo for this blog was taken by my wife and is of our kitchen table. it shows the common sight we see in our day to day from the many projects and interest our daughters are enjoying. if you have ever had the privilege of being around my daughters for a spell you know that each of them is extraordinary in their own beautiful way. my oldest daughter just turned 10. she is our morning girl. every morning she wakes up and finds whatever book she is reading and dives in to a world of new discoveries. some of you may be thinking this seems normal, but just a couple years ago her desire to read was squelched with frustration by the demands of a charter school instructor and the mark the state of california places as a standard where a child of 8 should be. because our daughter was forced to be like other children and fit a general standard, she found her love for books and discovery by this means drained and invested in physical learning through dance and gymnastics instead. it broke my heart to watch a child who has such a brilliance for imagining other worlds be stifled in her process of learning by a bullshit standard that is racial, gender, and socio-economically bias to begin with. so when i see her cozy on our couch in the wee hours of morning, reading beneath the morning light of soft golden hues, i am amazed. she found her way. she learned how to read. not because she must, but because she wants to. i love learning. sometimes i wonder what i would have learned if people stopped telling me what to learn and just let the childlike instinct to discover lead me to find my way. do not get me wrong, my wife and i choose to be there and help with the process, but our girls absorb life richly and we do our best to let life be their teacher. amongst many christian home schooling circles unschooling is considered liberal, left field, and completely outside the realm of "christian" structured upbringing. i do not spin in those circles. i am too busy living in god's incredible creation, and yes it is liberal by definition. i think it would be wise for those who have strong views on unschooling to stop and watch and see what they might discovery from life. who knows, they just might learn a little and be liberated. anyone can think what they want about the educational route we have decided to take for our children, as long as they are thinking and not conforming. all i know is that my 1st daughter is a discovering watercolors, ballet, and reading about nellie bly in the morning. our 2nd daughter is playing the drums, discovering her body motion through tumbling, and exploring the use of pastels as a medium. the 3rd daughter is on the verge of 4 and loves verbal conversations, dialogues about the happenings of her day, loves taking care of her "meow" cat, and is exceptional at drawing people. they are extraordinary. truly they are. i am biased and i should be. i am learning a lot from them. i am learning a lot from life. i guess you could say, i am unschooling.
10.03.2008
everything is educational
do what you love.ask questions.
pursue your dreams.
act on your ideas.
take chances.
grow from your mistakes.
i think the rest will naturally fall into place.
a little something by sir ken robinson.
i always keep it on my ipod.
if you have about 15 minutes, check it out.
9.26.2008
solidify
it seems when i share to the public something that is deeply woven into me, something precious and beautiful for our family, it always has to be challenged in one way or another. not by anyone who reads or hears it necessarily, but cosmically, the universe turns and i need to speak it again to solidify. it's a good thing. i am always blown away by it and always a bit concerned that conversation won't stay conversation and the very non-traditional way that we go about learning will make someone feel so, i don't know what, that it will become a conversation of judgement, debate, finger pointing, negating parental ability and responsibility. yikes. i have learned the families that we are living our lives surrounded by do not understand or care to believe that unschooling could and is okay for our family. we leave it a conversation unsaid. we don't talk about education. we don't talk about school, but it all comes up because we do talk about life and in turn, i am talking about the things the our family is learning. they start talking about what their children are learning but it becomes a conversation of "how do you get them to....." or "my child just won't [insert: math, writing, reading, ect...] she says, what's the point?" do i stay quiet? should i stay quiet? should i say what i'm thinking, "what is the point at 9? why does she need to write an essay? won't she learn just as easily 'how to write' by emailing her friends or cousins? don't you think she'll learn to write when she see's purpose in it?" listening to the reasons for writing essays in fourth grade i become sad and my mind spins: "at some point they need to know how to write and they also need to know that sometimes they just have to do things they don't want to do." "society isn't going to cater to their personality." "not everything we do in life is fun." GAH! society isn't going to cater to personality, but what personality do we think society caters to? something created? something forced? should we become something we are not? should we force our children to abandon who they are? create robots? sure not everything in life is fun. there is hurt, there are accidents, there is death....it will happen, but why can't we choose to live life to it's fullest and have fun when we do have the choice? as an adult i choose to do things i don't extremely enjoy because i see the after affect will be enjoyable. the dishes. cleaning the floors. scooping the litter box. doing the laundry. driving into town for groceries. working guest relations on the weekend. i choose. as a thirty-three year old woman who enjoys her life, a mom, a wife, a loyal friend, creative, active, working, contributor to society, one who votes, i have needed to write ONE essay in my life thus far. an essay during my certification process with DONA to become a doula. you know what, that essay had instructions on how it wanted the layout to be. i don't think it would have mattered if i learned to write essays in the fourth grade or not. i even asked friends to edit my essay anyway. so i shared that post 'unschooling 101' yesterday and last night i did have a conversation with three other women on essay writing/school work and their fourth grade children, two of which are home educated and one in public school. i didn't stand quietly listening, i took my turn in sharing what we do, what we don't do and why we do what we do. i gave examples of the learning process that takes time and trust and the connection we usually experience as a family. i didn't challenge their choices, i listened and hoped in my heart that what we each choose will be the best for each of our different families. i know we are swimming like little minnows against a school [no pun intended] of sharks in our learning path....but it works for us, i see it every day. the joy, connection, passion, interest, skills acquired, ect...ect...the list could go on and on. i won't tell anyone that they should unschool, i hope no one will tell me that we shouldn't, but i will encourage others to find a way to learn with joy, connection, passion, to keep/foster a love for learning. i will encourage others to see one another as individuals, see their unique qualities and celebrate those rather than try to change them into something they are not. i do believe that qualities of personality that may be extremely challenging in youth can be fostered into something beautiful as adults with guidance, gentleness and love. it's a pot full of patience, that's what we need. patience with ourselves and others. ramble ramble ramble..........
9.25.2008
unschooling 101
unschooling 101, which is basically going to be a list of links that can take you to different web-pages that can describe it just as good, if not usually better than i....grab a cup of tea, open your mind, prepare to sit, read, think, enjoy, imagine, dream.
learning through living. first go follow that link and read it. know that if you only read it in part, you may not get the entire gist. read from top to bottom if you really want to learn about unschooling. if you don't really want to learn about it, by all means, move on to the next blog in your roll. no problem, but in my opinion, wikipedia is always a great place to start.
so. that's our base. it will look different for every family who unschools. it looks different for each of our three children. every day looks different, feels different, happens different.
there is a wealth of information, stories, essays, encouragement, judgement, challenge to unschooling out on the world wide web. here are a few [non judgement]favorites:
:: growing without schooling publications
:: unschooling.com
:: sandra dodd: john holt
:: sandra dodd: radical unschooling
:: home education magazine
there is so much more that could be said and shared, but how about i leave you with one last link as to not overwhelm you. the link is to a book, math curse by jon scieszka + lane smith [thanks again wikipedia]. see if you can check it out from your local library. i think it gives a wonderful visual to an unschooler's life learning process.
learning through living. first go follow that link and read it. know that if you only read it in part, you may not get the entire gist. read from top to bottom if you really want to learn about unschooling. if you don't really want to learn about it, by all means, move on to the next blog in your roll. no problem, but in my opinion, wikipedia is always a great place to start.
so. that's our base. it will look different for every family who unschools. it looks different for each of our three children. every day looks different, feels different, happens different.
there is a wealth of information, stories, essays, encouragement, judgement, challenge to unschooling out on the world wide web. here are a few [non judgement]favorites:
:: growing without schooling publications
:: unschooling.com
:: sandra dodd: john holt
:: sandra dodd: radical unschooling
:: home education magazine
there is so much more that could be said and shared, but how about i leave you with one last link as to not overwhelm you. the link is to a book, math curse by jon scieszka + lane smith [thanks again wikipedia]. see if you can check it out from your local library. i think it gives a wonderful visual to an unschooler's life learning process.
9.19.2008
summer was :: day five
finding peace, comfort, connection, rest, solitude, joy, healing,
love, reassurance, acceptance, inspiration, + family;
surrounded by swirling chaos, fun people,
beautiful days all beneath the canopy of giants
we call redwoods...we call home. 
9.18.2008
knitting for peace.
knitting for community
9.17.2008
summer was :: day three
though the california fires raged all around us
[not like there were flames engulfing the camp,
but smoke was heavy in the air], we were safe.
we definitely had an evacuation plan solidified,
but hoped and prayed we would not need to use it.
[not like there were flames engulfing the camp,
but smoke was heavy in the air], we were safe.
we definitely had an evacuation plan solidified,
but hoped and prayed we would not need to use it.
animals found refuge here as well.
i don't have photos of the cyote, mountain lions, coons,
fox or many other critters [mice! blak!!]
that found a safe haven here,
but i can bring you these...
the deer that were plentiful each morning, evening and often afternoon.
the momma duck and her 8 ducklings.
hundreds of tadpoles that became hundreds of teeny tiny black frogs. 
and a special, rare jeweled beetle that came and landed on elli.it stayed with her for about 15 minutes. what a gift wildlife is.
[except the mice]
9.16.2008
summer was :: day two
enjoying the pond again.
after tons of paper shuffle, money,
time and devotion we finally were
able to let the pond filled up again.
it adds so much to camp.
it adds so much to camp. next year we will hope for more rain
so it stays full longer.
9.15.2008
summer was :: day one
summer flew by this year. some years it can feel like it drags on and on, but not this year. time flies when you're having fun, right? our summers look a bit different than most, i assume, as we run a summer camp for children for 12 weeks. twenty four-seven. non-stop. crazy. it is full of hustle and bustle. it if full of working really hard to balance [juggle really] family, campers, staff, friends, marriage, parenting, sleep, solitude, life. period. it's hard. but so so so good, most the time. there is no possible way for me to conjure up the words to speak of this past summer, it was too sweet to the soul. with unschooling, each year, each day looks so different...the girls interest change and so do the classes they choose to take. this will be our first week in our normal groove of autumn classes pursued. monday and fridays free for the choosing. tuesday elli has a drumming class and ocean's in ballet again. wednesday, elli and ocean have art, phoenix and momma will have special time together. thursday elli's in gymnastics and ocean has ballet. thursday is also our set aside day for the library, though we tend to visit other times throughout the week. so, with autumn in in the air, summer behind us, inspired by my sweet friend molly, i bring you a week of 'summer was'.
going to camp with, not only local friends, but dear cousins. one who moved to minnesota a few weeks after and one who lives in colorado. a precious time in their lives for sure. a week not soon forgotten i imagine.
the sheet says it all. camp is a place for children to feel safe. be loved. connect with old friends and make new ones. it is a place to find young adults to look up to, follow the example of, and develop a sweet mentoring relationship with. on the first night as my husband was introducing camp and welcoming the campers he said, "...this camp is a place you don't need to worry about being picked on, we are all unique, special, and we all deserve a great week...." one of ocean's friends, whom she met at camp last summer, raised both her fists high in the air and exclaimed, "YES!!" she needed this safe place to feel like she was one of the gang. and she got that.
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