SO SUMMER BEGINS

This week begins the first of summer. The rushing of preparing lunches, folding laundry, making breakfast, driving kids to school has come to a screeching halt. My mornings are peaceful. I wander quielty through the house opening windows and pause on the patio to watch the sun rise in the east. Sammie is at my feet waiting for his breakfast. I pick him up. We cuddle and watch the changing colors of the sky.

The house is quiet as I walk to the car and drive off to work. NPR speaks volumes to me as the road brings me closer to my destination. There is so much going on in the world and there is so much to learn.

My thoughts trickle over seas to where Ra is working and preparing the way for his family to join him. It all seems so abstract and yet so welcoming. New adventures, new people, new culture, new lessons.

I feel as if I am being pulled into a new abyss. I can only guess at my future...

CReaTiVeLY CRaZY!

In another life time I used to create things like this. Then I started working. But something within reached back in time mixed the creative juices and inspired these stools. Asa and Hamilton thought it was the greatest thing ever. Most probably because in their lifetime I have only been a working mother. They were quite shocked that their mom could actually make something look this spectacular. FUNNY!

AND THE LYRICS GO SOMETHING LIKE THIS...

Another Saturday night and I aint got nobody.

Okay, so it's Friday and it's strange being alone on Friday night.

School ended today and the kids are out for the summer. It's a slumber party downstairs and I am in my room quietly watching a movie and surfing the internet. Life seems oh so solemn, sometimes peaceful and sometimes lonely.

DINNER WITH MY SOUL MATE

I've been feeling the pains of loneliness so I called my Auntie and took her to dinner. A friend suggested Coyote Gulch and the Xetava Garden Cafe.

We were seated outside on the patio. Music in the background, the chef grilling right next to us. Dinner was wonderful. A fresh answer to the not so appetizing restaurant selection in the greater St. George area. A beautiful sun kissed evening, live entertainment and crisp conversation. We had a fabulous time.

To top off the evening I introduced Auntie to Brooks Pond. My secret escape. We walked off our dinner and quacked at the ducks, glarred longingly at the wild flowers then headed home.

Such a spectacular evening.

It was my belated mother's day gift to Auntie Rubina. We have everything in common, I'm sure she is my soul mate.

DIFFICULT THINGS

::memories::
::waking up::
::growing up::
::paying bills::
::being alone::
::going to work::
::single motherhood::
::putting gas in the car::
::fixing things that are broken::

THE MOTHERHOOD PROJECT

Motherhood – The act of nurturing human beings and building healthy, caring human relationships.

With a definition such as that, I would ask, is there anything more important?

In our view, society’s dismal failure to value mothers and mothers’ work is inextricably linked to the fact that every facet of our lives is dominated by “bottom line” thinking and market values. Quite simply, the United States values market work — the production of goods and services and profit-making — much more that it values care work — the nurture of human beings.

We are working to transform the culture so that the values that are dominating our lives — radical individualism, consumerism, relentless work, the quest for material success — yield ample room for care, connectedness, stewardship, and other values necessary for raising healthy, caring, ethical human beings.

In our search for solutions to value and empower mothers, we favor measures that give mothers choices and flexibility. We oppose “one-size-fits-all” solutions. We favor policies that enable mothers to choose different paths based on what they deem best for themselves and their children and families. We favor policies that enable fathers as well as mothers to spend more time with children.

With regard to activities or technologies that raise threats to the health and well-being of children (activities such as advertising and marketing to children and certain new bio-technologies and cyber-technologies), we seek to preserve the dignity and integrity of children.

REFLECTIONS ON MOTHER'S DAY

I woke to a perfectly peaceful mother's day morning. All was calm as I reflected on the fact that I am the mother of 6 amazing children.

Motherhood compels me to be the best I can be. To live for my children and to be the light that guides their way. Do I mess up? Absolutely! But the sparkle in their eyes and the determination in their souls redirects my efforts and keeps me on track.

Rakai and Karamea arrived safely home from their time away. Rakai more determined than ever to return to New Zealand and Karamea missing the New York lifestyle. With his 18th birthday Isaac became my third adult child while he has been away. I am excited to hear his stories and learn about who he has become.

Ra continues his trek through the Middle East. He is missed.

IT'S A BLUSTERY DAY

I just sat in the wind, rain and dust to watch Asa play soccer. It was not fun! The ball played the game and the players ran after it.

Now we are home. I'm looking out the window watching the wind blow the trees sideways.

All of the sudden...

...the world seems like a very large place...people i love are everywhere but near me...

TODAY WAS DIFFICULT

Somehow I make it through each day. When someone asks, "how was your day" I can't even remember what I did. All I can recall is that I was busy for every second. Today was no different.

I think it went something like this...

5:30 - wake up to the alarm
6:00 - stretch, pray, read
6:30 - make breakfast and lunch
7:00 - wake up kids, get ready for work
7:30 - drive kids to school
8:00 - make breakfast again, finish getting ready
8:30 - drive Hamilton to school, go to work

And that was just my morning.

my work schedule is a-whole-nother-thing...you don't even want to know the play by play

Then after work it was
soccer practice
soccer game
dinner
clean up

And all of this while tornado winds were blowing
I need quiet

So...how was my day? I can't even remember.
But I know I am really tired.
I just want to sleep.