the last post of 2011

2011 saw haircuts and home cooking lessons for the kids, new red belts and a blue belt, an ER visit, a Swami visit, birthday parties and contests won by the girls, a special audition, an Elton John concert, a song recorded by Sky, photo shoots, the Ask Skylar show, a song recorded by the three kids for Mommy, two sprained ankles, travel to LA, Europe, DC, and Chicago, a family reunion, all three kids starting back in school for the first time in three years, window tinting and new screen doors and windows, me getting back into painting, and doing art with the kids again, a trip to California to see Amma, new brown belts and a red belt, new friendships, lots of rainbows, and Christmas with Annie and Made.

Lots of love, lots of joy, lots of Grace, what a year. 

Can't wait to see what 2012 brings!

our christmas

This year was the Christmas of tuberose and sunny weather and rainbows, of trampolines for two of the three kids because of one sprained ankle, and backyard landscaping all happening a few days before, and Andy Williams carols on the tape player while Mommy wrapped gifts a little at a time instead of all on one night.

It was the Christmas of things all falling together at the last minute.

It was a Christmas of fresh garden papaya and hummus and lots of different breads for lunch, waffles and pancakes and fresh fruit for breakfast.  It was the last time I ever cook a whole chicken that was supposed to take one hour but took almost three and was eaten so late, but still Christmas dinner (mashed potatoes, sweet potatoes, gravy, cranberry relish, green beans) was delicious.

It was the Christmas of our first houseguests -- Annie and Heboh (before the baby) and basketball with the boys and Balinese flutes and the day after Christmas strawberry pie and ice cream every night.  Of laughing and stories, and memories and traditions, of playing Apples to Apples, and teaching Heboh more English.  Of hearing about the reverence of a far away culture, of welcoming their sacred mantras and blessings and realizing that no matter how different we think we are, we are more the same than we are not.

It was, as it should be, a Christmas of love.

corner view~seasonal

Where we are 'tis the season of lots of pretty trees and skies -- Christmas trees and sunsets and cooler air and double rainbows and of course listening to carols and making handmade gifts.  

It is also a time for rest and rejuvenation.  A time of looking back on our Christmases past and seeing just how much the kids have all grown.  For me it is a time for reminiscing and sharing with the family about how Christmas was in the "olden days," the stories my mother has told us, and for our family creating memories of our own.  It is a time of silent reflection and appreciation at the year that is about to close, and anticipation for what is to come.

summer, miller beach

I love my family.

getting a wish

I have been feeling a little left out of the season.  The last week has been a blur of activity, school conferences, final school projects and presentations, Taekwondo testing, and basically, despite our best efforts, burning the candle at both ends.  I wish I could say that I am more ready for Christmas.  I wish I could enjoy a decorated tree.  Shawn is itching to decorate, every night he asks me.  I wish I had my gifts all wrapped and mailed like I did years ago when I started shopping and making gifts in October. 

We're not quite there yet.

We have been sick for the last couple of weeks...this bug has gone from one person to another to another in the family.  Now it has hit me.  With so much to still do, it's kind of a bummer.

Yet yesterday I somehow managed to drive to town and get the perfect gift for the kids, the last one left in the store.  They already know - a trampoline (from us, not Santa).  And then with little effort walking around the store I happened upon a few more great surprises for various people.  All unexpected.  An experience no doubt sent from above. 

Then today when I felt the worst of all physically, my Annabel cooked me lunch, and later she made dinner.  She kept offering to do everything for me and begging me to rest.  "Mommy, I'll wipe the counters.  Mommy I'll organize your desk for you."   Just because.  After dinner all the kids cleaned up the kitchen for me.  Just because.  This afternoon Sky did a huge pile of dishes, and then later put little brother to bed.  Just because.

After a day like this I realize that our children get it.  They get what this season is about.  And I'm not missing out at all.

The tree will get decorated, when we are all feeling better.  We will bake cookies.  We will make gifts.  We will wrap gifts.  We will harvest the herbs.  Everything will get done.  In the meantime, there is love everywhere, even in the chaos of the week.

corner view~lonely - together

No my friend, darkness is not everywhere, for here and there I find faces illuminated from within; paper lanterns among the dark trees.  -Carole Borges

I think these trees are not lonely, because they have each other.

miller beach, last summer

We spent a week in Gary Indiana having a family reunion with my parents, siblings and their families.  Despite a heat wave, we had a lot of fun sharing meals, swimming in the lake, roasting marshmallows, playing with the dogs, and of course, collecting rocks and beach glass.