Journey on...

The PRIDE classes are almost over, paper work is filed, and the path continues on. I am waited for the wonderful couple in the house infront of me to move out, so that I can move in!

A New Journey

Obviously I am a lazy blogger. That being said this blog is turning over a new leaf. A lot of things have evolved recently.

Number 1: I am in the process of adopting a daughter from the TX foster care system.

Number 2: I have to move in the process of making room for said daughter.

Number 3: Thats a drag. But we have to do what we have to do.

I am enrolled in the PRIDE classes (parenting class) here in Houston. It's exciting, and scary.
I feel like CPS has been very clear that these children have a host of trauma and related issues and that we should be prepared for ANY kind of behaviors. So far so good.

And so this blog becomes a family/adoption blog. :) <3

Hope

Today could be the first day of the rest of my life.

These my days are filled with Joyful laughs and longs walks. Tomorrow is the monthly meeting of the children's meditation program that I am running for Houston's Shambhala Meditation Center. And tomorrow afternoon I think I will take in Gab's talk at the Menil. I am learning a few words in Norwegian to help a new friend. :)

Sunday
May 4
3:00 p.m.
THE ARTIST'S EYE
Gabriela Trzebinski
Gallery Talk on African Art
Born in Nairobi, Kenya, to a Polish father and English mother, Gabriela Trzebinski was raised on an island in East Africa (primarily Muslim), and educated in an Indian primary school in Mombasa and a Roman Catholic convent school. Largely self-taught, Trzebinski attended art schools in London, but abandoned them for what she calls the more “challenging and exploratory world of life experience.” Now a Houston resident, Trzebinski has participated in solo and group shows in Australia, Africa, Europe, and the United States.

The BIG edit

There are so many things that I own that I don't need. And so we begin th process of the big edit. The edit will expunge all the things that are not useful, wanted or treasured. The new apartment is much smaller and so I will willing and quickly simplify life by simply releasing objects that are not needed. Is this a new counter culture event away from the societal desire for excess? I hope so.
Freecycle will love this.

Free and Easy

So I may get a new apartment soon That has a little yard! It's so lovely and I adore the whole little place. I am day dreaming about gardening and having a little vegetable and herb patch. The person who lives there now (Shauna) is a landscape design architect and she's done a lovely job with the plants. It also has a perfect inside for my future little kiddo. I can see her crawling around already! Today we celebrated earth day with the children by doing a big planting fest. It was so refreshing to dig in the earth with the children. I also aced my French oral examine by telling my teacher that school was not that important to me, and that I would rather be out in the world doing more meaningful things with my time. The book I am reading is: The Creative Family by Amanda Soule. Amanda is providing her children with a very beautiful life. One I find painfully rare. One day last week an observer came to my school. She watched the children and comment on their intelligence and creativity. Then in talking we mentioned we don't use time out. .......... Well she couldn't believe it. AND she told us of her 1 yr old. whom she spanks. 1. 1. 1. Je ne sais pas. Maybe I am missing a larger piece of the picture. Why is ignorance rampant? I suppose all we can do is to do our best. Hopefully my best will never include physically harming my child. What do we do to help the world become a more peaceful place for the children who are not growing up in peaceful homes?

Contemplations

Will we choose to live in fear of what could happen or boldly go forward with the knowledge that today could be our last? If today were your last day on earth what would you do? Why won't you do it today? Are you afraid to die? Why?

Preparations

Have you looked at the new book Oprah is recommending by Eckhart Tolle (sic)? You should. Full of positive ways to manifest. As I prepare myself for the funeral of a baby, I am founded in peace. I am truly less sad for the death than I am for the sorrow of the living. I believe her spirit shines on, and that she has not relinquished her place among us. And as I sit in parent teacher conferences I can only honor that everyones child is living, breathing and wonderful for who they are. I wish that the people who love them the most would honor these gifts too.

Free Bird

Everyday on this earth is a chance to capture a beautiful moment. Why would we as an intelligent society allow our ways of thinking to be so distorted that we no longer see the beauty in everyday? Why are we consumed with greed, narcissism, an personal advancement? Many of the people caught up in this samsaric process are good, intelligent, kind, well-meaning people. Unfortunately, due to societal pressures and child-hood programming, they are led to believe that financial, or business success is equal to happiness. This pressure is centuries old, and cannot be undone in a day. However, slowly, every where I hear the voices of the people unwilling to be hurried, unwilling to conform, unwilling to believe the status quo is the only path. How can these people redefine the American way? How can they-we- be the change?