Respite

Our DC trip was engaging, eclectic and fun! A few pictures below of the highlights-my camera battery died during the trip--ugh.

Here is Alex- we got to watch him play basketball in his tournament games (3 games total). I did not realize how vocal I can be when I actually know someone on the team. Go Alex!
Friendship at its finest. Sweetest moment: Kye taking a picture of Caden and Caden exclaiming: "You are my best friend Kye-Kye!".

Me and the big guy. He can be found at the Hirshorn. His face and body are so realistic- I must admit, I experienced empathy for him. I decided to hop in the picture so you could get an idea about size. Alea is the photographer here.

Motley Crew out sight seeing.

Brushtrokes-- look familiar?

Love the Metro!

Homemade potato and leek soup from yours truly-- so simple, so delicious.

Green Ridge Mountain Overlook. Cold but pretty.

I plan to visit again soon when I have money. This was the cheapest vacation ever. Becky housed and fed us (thank you!); we paid for 3 tanks of gas, 4 metro tickets and one meal out. All the attractions were free. Total out: $116--not bad.

What was the best though, is that my dear friend Becky along with the kids and I had some good quality time together. It was a wonderful way to spend Valentine's weekend. Conversations with tea, sharing house tasks, playing outside, walking to the Metro, collecting worms, meeting friends, hootin and hollerin, packing lunches, playing tag, working our muscles on the chin up bar, swimming in the bathtub ........memories in the making.

Erin Needs

A new game is going around Facebook and I thought I would share it with you is called "Your first name" Needs game.

Instructions: Google your "first name" and "needs" and post the first six that come up.
Here are my results:

1. Hope. Who doesn't need hope?
2. Another miracle. This implies that I have had miracles and I have! Another would be welcome-- bring it on!
3. To have that chance. This would be very appropriate for my job search right now.
4. New Music. How true, I need to infuse my world with new sounds and opportunities.
5. Motivation. This one is interesting, I have been exploring my interests and I am floating a bit. What am I motivated for, interested in, wanting to invest in....? I feel things bubbling up.
6. To have a punch biopsy-- definitely don't want that, not even sure what it is; don't want to know.
Thanks Louie for the idea!

Ode to Valentine's Day

Happy Valentine's Day to everyone out there-- friends, family, loves of the past, lovers of the future-- today is a day to celebrate the act of loving one another-- a reminder to honor those in your midst.

As I was pondering relationships and Valentine's Days of the past I realized how truly blessed I have been. I can honestly say that I am grateful for each person who has tarried with me on my journey. I believe through relationship, we grow and develop and have the ability to reach for our true potential. It is not that every relationship is right or the "one" but each relationship has had some purpose on my path.

In my recent travels in the car I had the chance to listen to a lot of Bruce Springsteen and I would like to share two songs with you.

The first is for anyone who has lost a love. It is a hauntingly beautiful song.




The second is a song that is simply special-- a true expression of commitment and intimacy. Can't beat that.

TWO FOR THE ROAD
Bruce Springsteen

It's one for the money and one for the show
I got one kiss for you honey so come on let's go
I didn't see it coming but girl now I know
It takes one for the running but two for the road

One thousand dreams whispered in the dark
But a dream's just a dream in one empty heart
It takes more than one to rev it up and go
So let's get it running, we're two for the road

Two one-way tickets and a diamond ring
Hell it don't matter what the rain might bring
Whoa, when this world treats you hard and cold
I'll stand beside you, we're two for the road

When you're alone my love'll shine the light
Through the dark and starless night
I'll hold you close and never let you go
C'mon now girl 'cause we're two for the road
Well it's two to get ready, babe, c'mon let's go
Me and you, girl, we're two for the road

Hmmm...


I could not find a video for this, it seems like this is a little known song. I have the recording from a concert and have not figured out how to load MP3s.

Kye has Limits

The other day, Kye was on the phone with a friend named Max. In the middle of the conversation he hung up and ran to me saying, "I have to call Max very soon!" I said, "But, weren't you just on the phone with him?" "Yeah but I needed a break-- I get tired!" Two minutes later, "Mom, I need to call Max now."

Today as we were eating ice cream, relishing in the wonderfulness of it, Kye leans over to me and says, "I have tongue freeze!" He set his ice cream down and gave it a break.

There is something to be said for knowing when to take breaks, how to pay attention to our needs and consequently communicate them. I think this kid is onto something.

Random Thoughts

• I wonder how I, alone, can create a sink full of dishes? How many cups must a girl use in one day? From this day forward, I pledge to reuse the dish I start out with. What a concept.
• I am hoping to build a chicken coop, housing 4 hens in the backyard. Soon I will be posting a wish list if anyone has materials that they are willing to donate to the project. Having fresh eggs, unprocessed and free from antibiotics is a cool concept. I am equally excited about my children learning where their food comes from.
• Alea is selling girl scout cookies, if you must have some, let me know and she will hook you up.
• I am trying to learn guitar, if anyone out there has something to teach me, I am open to it. I have appropriately formed calluses and I am willing to use them.
• The wind has been ferocious tonight; lights have flickered and the rain is tapping on the window. I am simultaneously experiencing feelings of awe and fear. Rarely am I spooked, but tonight, adrenaline is present. My mom would make us hide out in the basement when a storm would come. I usually am the person getting a blanket and watching the storm, while others are hiding away. For some weird reason- not tonight.
• We have a guest living in our house-- a mouse. Saw him today. That will need to be dealt with. Also went into the garage loft and found a cat visiting there. What is up with my animal energy?
• Kye asked today if we are sideways. When I inquired further, he said, "You know Mom, on the Earth. You know the Earth is spinning, are we sometimes sideways?" I let him know that yes sometimes we are sideways, and sometimes, we are almost upside down. I then went into an explanation of gravity. The conversation seemed to fizzle from there. But, I am encouraged that this kid really thinks about things. I can only imagine what other thoughts he is having in there. Wouldn't it be neat to climb into some one's brain and really see what is going on? I think Kye's brain would be a fun one. I am beginning to wonder if my brain would be a boring one. Hmmm.......

Play-doh a.k.a. My Back

Last Wednesday, I was at a massage appointment with a masseuse who had the strongest hands I have ever met. You may be asking yourself, how can a temporarily unemployed woman afford such fancies? Well, when I was employed, I joined Massage Envy to get cheaper massages- one per month. This was a commitment to myself after my doctor suggested that I have tendinitis in my back that could be resolved through a weekly massage. That was not doable financially so I compromised by purchasing one massage a month. But the kicker was that I banked up 4 massages that I did not use before I heard I was going to be laid off. Given that, I have been enjoying the opportunity while I have been off (luckiest- unlucky person I know).

Anyway, this woman, Jessica is petite and athletic-- she is shorter than me and surprisingly strong. As I was laying on the table concentrating on relaxing, she dug deep into my flesh, moved my muscles --stretching, pushing on trigger points. I consciously reminded myself to breathe and envisioned the muscles releasing.

I was curious about her style so I asked a few questions: "When you get a massage do you like deep tissue work? She said yes and that if a person is too gentle it does not feel like anything is happening. I agreed. There have been times when I have gotten the most gentle massage but my back did not feel any better. I then asked, "You have the strongest touch I have experienced in professional or personal massage. Do you ever have someone that resists your touch or has expressed fear about you moving them?" She said that she had and indicated that as long as the person seeks to maintain control, they will never feel release.

I laid there thinking about that. How many times do we work to control situations instead of relaxing into them, seeing where they lead or letting others lead?

Letting go of control would require us to have faith. We would need to let go of our worries and let her do the work. We may have to experience some pain to get to a healthier place-- all the while visualizing the healing that is possible.

Control is often a product of fear. We try to make our worlds make sense, keep things safe, hold onto our worry because it is more comfortable than really trying something new or different or trusting someone else. Although, at times control can make things more unsafe; may increase the possibility of injury. Control in a mental sense can often keep the pot stirred triggering others, compelling them to vie for control-- creating a lose/lose situation.

I can see this as a metaphor within the relationship with God. Do we allow him to heal us? Do we acknowledge and allow him to do his work within us or do we resist or fear too much to reap the benefits of that relationship? Do we hold onto our worries, let our fear rule us, so much that we cannot focus, cannot choose health, ultimately experiencing release?

More and more I am realizing life is about how we do things. Happiness, healing, connection with our Source, etc is in the little things. I have come a long way, but I have so much further to go. Can I have faith and trust? Still more to ponder.

I will get that chance tomorrow as I lay on the massage table with my last massage (use it or lose it!) I choose to use it!

Messy Art Day

As I was picking up Kye from school today he shared:
Kye: "Today was a messy art day."
Mom: "Have fun?"
Kye: "Not so much."
Mom: "Not an art guy?"
Kye: "No, I am way interested in scuba diving."
Mom: "What do you find interesting about scuba diving?"
Kye: "Swimming and figuring out stuff."
Mom: "What kind of stuff would you figure out?"
Kye: "You know, like how fish sleep with their eyes open. Stuff like that."
Mom: "That is interesting stuff."

Later in the bathtub:
Mom: "You want to meet someone who scuba dives?"
Kye: "I'm still a kid Mom."
Mom: "Yeah but you could still explore the idea."
Kye: "Do you know anyone who scuba dives?"
Mom: "Not that I know of, but I could ask."
Kye: "I am learning about penquins now."
Mom: "Interesting."
Kye: "I want to go to Antartic."
Mom: "What would you do there?"
Kye: "See how penquins slide on thier bellies."

Kye: "I think I would like to be a scientist after I become a scuba diver."
Mom: "There are scientists that are scuba divers."
Kye: "What do they do?"
Mom: "Study the ocean and all the living things there."
Kye: "Hmm..."

Phil in the Circle

Check out this neat artist that puts as much energy into how he makes his masterpieces as creating the actual pieces. Phil in the Circle

Thank you to Tiffany who introduced me to her brother's blog, who then in turn introduced me to Phil.

Tell me what you think.....

Farewell Friends and Co-Workers!

You can click to enlarge.

The Literals Strike Again!

At Aunt Ginger's house we had the most wonderful meal, engaging conversation and the ability to run from the kitchen to the dining room, the living room, the foyer and the family room- completing a loop. What else could one ask for in an evening? Good time was had by all. While getting ready to leave, I asked Kye to get on his shoes.

He said, "They are not shoes mom, they're boots!"
I said, "Don't be such a smart alack!"

He said, "My name is not Alec mom!"

I promptly rolled my eyes and gave him the look. He got his shoes, I mean boots on.

While saying our goodbyes the kids made snow angels, skated on the ice in the drive way and giggled so loud that I thought we would wake the neighbors. They slept good that night. Thank you Aunt Ginger for a wonderful evening.