I found Thursday.

Ok, so I think that I have found a new favorite blogger. Actually a new favorite website. Actually a new favorite artist: Marisa at 'creative thursday'. the name comes from the days she worked a normal day job, and after the stress of the office, she decided that she needed to give herself one day a week to let her creativity flow...and it was on a thursday. now, she is living her dream as an artist, and since last year has been doing a painting a day...they are little, but lovely! She also has a card line, kid's line, furniture, and a book. She inspires me, and someday, I hope to live my dream and create like she does.

Two in Two

You've seen the frog, but here is an idea for B is for Boat.

C is for Car

I did this one last night. That makes three in three nights! This is my fav so far I think.

Nursery Art

I am starting to paint again, and this is something I came up with the other night. It isn't the best photo. I have got to figure out how to best photograph my stuff. That is why I am just blogging these before I put them up somewhere really nice. Anways, it is 16X16 on masonite, and acrylic paint. I had a lot of fun. I love frogs, and this is one that I have been playing around with for a while. I need to come up with how best to display these. But in the mean time, I am working on several other color versions of this, but with other drawings...vintage car, rubber ducky, etc. I need to find the best way to photo these first.

what do you think?

Weekend Gourmet

Ok...so our little family is sick...again!!! It doesn't matter how much hand sanitiser I use, how many vitamin mineral drinks we have, how many power shakes, water, greens, or supplements we take, how often I air out the house, deep clean or keep the kids away from other sick kids! We are just having a really bad winter! I hope that this is the last of it!

In the mean time, however, my husband still manages to cook up a storm on the weekends. We call it "The Weekend Gourmet". Someday he wants to have a show on Food Network called the Weekend Gourmet...or at least open a B&B when we retire so that he can just go to town on serving incredible food to the people he loves and meets.

This weekend, he managed to make "midnight bread" (Ian was up coughing bad in the middle of the night, and Kenneth couldn't go back to sleep, so he whipped something up at 2 am) consisting of corn meal, oats, whole wheat flour with molasses and brown sugar...kind of like a Boston Brown bread if you have ever had that. Oh, what a treat! It was so moist and just bursting with comfort and flavor. He also made a few baguettes, and a chocolate cake for a neighbor. Saturday he made Borche for my grandfather that he still can't stop talking about. And drum roll, on Sunday he made a mushroom/onion/garlic/ginger/Chinese 5 spice stuffed Chicken breast with Asian Rice noodles, stir fry veggies with an incredible peanut sauce. We Skipped Dessert, since we are still not both feeling well.

And this was a more low key weekend. He is always trying to out do his bread recipes that he comes up with, there is always some amazing dish that I keep trying to get him to write down, and he has yet to. THe truth is, this is his therapy. I sure don't mind! Maybe his show should be called "Weekend Therapy". We always feel so much better.

Tuesdays with Janet

You remember the best-seller "tuesdays with morrie". Well, My grandmother, before she died, had a 'club' of her best friends that would get together on Tuesdays (the day my grandfather worked at the temple) where they would talk, do yoga, eat, laugh, cry, but most of all glean wisdom from the oldest one there, my grandmother Janet...thus their Janet dates became" tuesdays with Janet". Now, my grandmother wasn't very old..maybe 60-65 at the time. But the age span was as young as me and as old as Grandma. I was always so impressed that a group of women could get together with such different backgrounds, and different ages, and yet still have so much to talk about. The past two years, Tuesday's with Janet slowly faded as lives became busy.

Then, my grandma died...on a tuesday. And was it a coincidence? Her funeral was on a Tuesday. So, in honor of her, we decided to try and resume our Tuedays with Janet as often as we could. And Yesterday was our first time. We all met at Grandma's house, just as we always would. What a day!

It was a short date...maybe an hour and a half with us all there. Addie came with me, and even had her spot at the table. As I sat down, my eyes scanned the table. What a diverse ages and backgrounds we have! And yet, we all have so much in common through Janet. Addie, age 2 talked about her train book she got from the Library that morning. Myself, 27, talked about life with babies and unknown future. Marie Hafen (70 something? Wife of Bruce C. Hafen area athority over all of eastern Europe) had flown in from Frankfurt the night before and talked about what she does as the Wife of a general authority. Martha (40 something?) talked about her world travels as she is the property manager/landscaper for mission homes and other important properties. Stephanie (30 something? ) talked about life as a busy mom of 4 and Jennifer (50 somethins) talked about the challenges of a wayward son and adopted little girl from asia. Wow. What a group! I think that the common thread is that at one point, she had been everyone's yoga teacher. But the neat thing was that all of us there had learned through Grandma that the ups and downs of life are part of the beauty of the journey. We had all learned from her how to just "be". We had all learned how to let go of pretenses and just let our true selves come through. We learned how to take care of the earth, and eat well. We learned how to love and FOrgive. We have all learned in our own special ways how to just "get real". Even me. Even a toddler. Even a general authorities wife. She has really left her mark.

Lunch was wonderful...fresh homeade salsas and spinach salads, and fresh fruit. But the best part, is yet to come. Continued get togethers where we can do yoga, and talk and learn from eachother as Grandma learned from us, and we learned from her. There were a lot of tears, and a lot of laughs. But yesterday I learned something. It is never to late to learn from someone else. It is never too late to change. It is never too late to love. Grandma Janet brought in all who wanted to understand a better way of living, and now, i want to do the same. No walls, no judgements. Just Be. Thanks Grandma.

stuff.

The weather has been so nice, we have been outside a lot, and frankly, I just haven't blogged for that reason...and that I don't seem to have anything to blog about it seems. Well, maybe I do. Addie and Ian are going through new phases, and that is always a challenge as I try and read them, and be patient. Addie is extra super duper clingy. more than ever. I went to the gym yesterday afternoon, and kenneth was with her and ian, and she cried for me the entire hour and a half. this is not good. Ian, has been up in the night...an hour or two at a time. Kenneth is busy finishing up the school year, finishing up his masters, and finishing up his applications. I am here just picking up the pieces. but it is good. life is good. I am desperately trying to take charge of my body and my health right now, and though I waver (because of the aforementioned distractions) I am still making progress ( i hope!). well, the kids are both down and I am going to shower. WOW! time for just me! be grateful for the little things:)

Things that Help me breathe...

This week Kenneth had been extemely busy. I fear he may be busier that he can handle...which is saying a lot because he can handle A LOT! Busy translates to me having long hours at home by myself with the kids and no car. Kenneth has been working til 1 am most nights this week, and we all miss him! Thank good ness for the weekend coming up! But in the meantime I havebeen home with the kids, and on my own. Thank goodness though for sunny weather, phone calls, email and this site. I discovered this yesterday...and even though I really don't have a lot of time to be on the computer, it is very theraputic! Try it...you will feel like an artist, and you can just let loose!

Thank goodness also for Yoga. Megan and Robyn came over last night (kenneth's sisters) and we did 45 min of yoga. I have a CD by Shiva Rea and we just loved it! It is hopefully going to be an every thurs night thing. It is really great to do yoga with people you love and trust. yoga is such a personal thing, and involves trust and release...and when you can do that with people you love, it becomes a very bonding experience! I love you guys!

In these sometimes 17 hour days all by myself, I have found simplicity to be key. Just being and accepting and not wanting more than I have. I find that when stress comes, my mind wants to solve problems by thinking...if I had this, then Life would be easier. "if I had a car, I could get out more withthe kids, etc" But I read this great article in a back issue of "Yoga Journal" entitled "Less is more..make time for doing the things you love by simplifying your life" From the article:

"Most spiritual traditions encourage simple living, and yoga is no exception. ...One of the yamas is Aparigraha, often translated as "greedlessnes" But it means more than just taking only what you need, explains David Frawley...Aparigraha also means "not having a lot of unnecessary things around yourself, and not hankering after what other people have." In other words, Aparigraha also means keeping only what you need, and wanting only what you need"

Happiness can't be bought. There is a whole group out there that was started in San Fran last year, and they call themselves the "Compactors" I need to look them up and see more of what they are about. But they are a group of people that have vowed to not buy anything new for a year (with the exception of food, medicine, cleaning products, etc.) Think about that for a minute! What would that do for you to only buy used, make it yourself or go without? Somethings would take more work (shopping might take longer to find just the right thing) but in the end, what a sense of satisfaction that you weren't indulging into the easy trap of materialism. I don't buy lots of stuff, but the little I do buy, it is easy to want more than maybe I really need...especially after a particularly hard day. Anyways, I have been thinking a lot about simplicity and how it has helped me to breathe better on hard days. What would that be like to really live the mantra: "be happier with less"? Food for thought. Simplifying your surroundings, your mind, your home, your needs all bring such spiritual peace and for me, a sense of space where I can move more freely. I have a ways to go...this is something rather new for me, but so far it is really working.

It's a big big world

Well, Kenneth has finally finished all his applications for teaching jobs, and now it's up to the postman to complete the job. So far, we are looking at California, Massachusetts/Boston area, Hawaii and Switzerland. we were thinking about the time difference from Hawaii to Switz and thought, can you get any farther apart? So, it's a big net we are throwing out there, but why not? Our kids are still young, we are in the beginning of what will most likely be a diverse and changing career for Kenneth, and we are starving for change. Kenneth will most likely send some more out, maybe more in the international community. Do any of you know any other fun international schools, english speaking? Kenneth is beginning to get interested in maybe going that route. Well, we will see! If anything, the thought itself is an adventure for me. Just thinking about it makes me feel like I took a little over-seas vacation. Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhh. Sigh. ok, vacation over. time to fold the laundry. ta ta!

Photo Shoot

For those of you who don't know I also have another blog besides this one, I do! 'my family blog' (the link is below on the side bar) is where I post all my pictures and goings-on of the family. Here are some pics I took yesterday, but check out the wright place blog to see some more. I love this warm weather!! spring, come on over and play!!

Spin Spin Spin

So, it's been a week since I have been to the gym since the kids and I have been sick for the past 10 days. Wow! It is hard to get back! Usually, I feel rejuvinated after a Spinning class, but man...this morning I was just exhausted! I guess that is what I get for taking time off! It did feel really good to push myself and imagine that the intense hills I was climbing were really my body that I am trying to master. And at 5:30 am, it just feels good to burn 500 calories, get my heart pumping and sweat dripping for 50 minutes....all before my little babies are up for the day. I feel like I have accomplished something for "ME" before I am catering to my family for the rest of the day, never knowing if I will get a second to breathe. AS my mom taught me..."I CAN DO HARD THINGS." That is my motto for the week!

Fearless.

Ask me if I want to watch an action flick, and I'll say no, unless it means I get to snuggle up with my husband. Being married to a man with a black belt and a love for martial arts means that I have slowly, over the past 6 years of marriage, grown to tolerate fighting on the screen...but only the bloodless, martial arts kind that is artistic and has a deeper purpose than just sport (well, Rocky, I guess, is an exception). But last night, we both watched an incredible movie: Fearless. It is evidently Jet Li's last film. It is a chinese film, with subtitles...a lot like the "crouching tiger, hidden dragon" style of movie. Beautiful cinematography, the setting is just beautiful, and the virtuous message is one that I couldn't stop thinking about. I won't review the movie here....you can go see it. But the tag line of the film is "Mastering others is strength. Mastering yourself makes you fearless". This film is actually based on a true story and portrays a man who is obsessed with glory, and eventually after losing everything, masters himself, his obsessions and his suffering to achieve peace with himself, others, and his nation.

So, what about this message inspires me? I am not neccessarily obsessed with power and glory, but I do, at times, find myself wanting to control my environment rather than myself. In the chaos of motherhood, it is easy to fall into the temptation that as soon as I can clean the house, i will feel peace...when I get dinner on the table, and get the kids to bed I will feel successful. All these things are neccessary and do bring a sense of accomplishment. But the truth is, and the movie teaches this, there is never an end to those quests of control and power. The real path is in self mastery and discipline. I will never feel lasting power and control in my outside circumstances because they never end, and pursuing that path only leads to being out of control (in the movie, Jet Li seeks to control the circumstances outside of himself until he loses SO much, that he is forced to realize that his power is nothing compared.) So, he runs away, isolates himself from his old life, and starts over, realizing that peace and harmony is a process, not a product. It will not come to you, you must create it inside of you. It's the WAY you live your life, not what happens to you along the way.

So, I will clean the house, and make dinner, and get the children to bed. But all these things, I will never be a master over. The house will undo itself, dinner will need to be cleaned up and made again, and the children will wake up and I will start all over. If I only seek power over my day, I will not always win. But fighting (or living) is not about 'winning'. It is about mastering self, and becoming better every day. So, instead of fighting against the chaos of my day, I can fight to be a better person because of it. And in this, I am becoming closer to God, and his purpose for me. But, this is the hardest thing to face...ourselves. Can I face my weaknesses and faults and overcome by being humble and seeking my strength from God? That is the challenge. The Key, is that With God, We can never lose. And it is when we find this place in our souls, that we become 'fearless'. I've got a ways to go, but I am inspired.

Be a student so long as you still have something to learn, and this will mean all your life.

Do you ever feel like there is so much out there you would just love to do or learn? I was watching an incredible movie the other night, Step into Liquid and I thought, in my next life, I want to be a surfer! My mom's side of the family were all born and raised in hawaii since the 1920's and wow! What a life! my grandfather was a champion surfer, and has left an awesome legacy. Watching these surfers do what they do, and to see the perspective that they have on life because of what they experience everyday is so inspiring! It made me think of all the things that would be so much fun to do, and to learn! Right now, as a mom who is very much homebound, I rely on books, internet and other people to vicariously live the adventures I seek. The truth is, I am on an incredible adventure right now! I am learning so much, and I LOVE the sense of adventure that motherhood brings...you never know what your children will do, how they will make you laugh, and what the day will bring! But there are still things that I would love to do or learn in my life....

1) learn how to surf

2) get a scuba liscence

3) start my own nursery decor business

4) travel more as a family

5) take an interior design/graphic design course

6) illustrate a children's book

7) take a real sewing class

8) open a bed and breakfast

9) take school groups to Europe

10) take a photography course

It is good to dream, and at the same time keep learning in all that you do. Do any of you have any thing that you would just love to do/learn? money and time aside? It really makes you think! It makes me want to always keep learning and doing things. you never know where those desires will take you! The most important thing though, is to always be a student where ever you are. Just keep learning!

Something old, something new

Ok, so Addie has had this thing with spoons lately. not her plastic spoos, or baby spoons, but silver spoons. Two of them. She has been holding two silver spoons for the past several days! They are her drumsticks, prince and princess, babies, forks, brush and comb, pencils, and what ever else she needs them to be in the moment. She has slept with them, held them both in one hand while she eats with another spoon in the other hand, danced with them, played with them....she will not part! For those of you who know her, that is very fitting for her personality. Well, now she is sick, and today, I haven't been able to get her to bed. Her spoons are a must of course, for her comfort. But I Finally got her to reconsider when I pulled out a yellow aloha pattern blanket she probably hasn't seen before. She has her 'blanket' that I don't think she has ever slept without since she got it at 5 months old. But when i showed her this new yellow blanket, she swiftly threw her old blanket out, and layed down with her new one. Who knows how long this will last, but I thought it was very ironic that she can't part with her spoons, and yet she was willing to try something new for naptime. And i thought, aren't we the same way? In life we have our tried and true routines and comforts that we always want near us, yet we are dazzled and energized by the surprize adventures that life takes us on. We need both! I need my warm drink and frangrant lotions before bedtime, but I also need the element of surprize to keep me going during the day...a sense of adventure! all in the life of a child!

You are my sunshine

Well, the past couple days, my little sunshines have been gloomy and sick. It is so hard to see their little bodies go through this. We have caught a really nasty cough, and cold, fever, and headaches. Poor little things. Life is just survival right now. Addie thankfully will lie down to read stories or watch a movie, and Ian is willing to be held and read to as well. I just wish that I had more arms! Well, in the mean time, I am just loving these hot snuggly bodies. I love that they love to be snuggled! I don't ever want that to go away! so, rain or shine, I will take what I can get!

Taking picture of Addie

Taking pictures of Addie is so muc fun. It is hard to get her to smile though, because she is always "doing" something. But this time, I was able to get quite a few. This is just a fraction of what I got, but thought you might want to see! Check out "my family blog" where I posted some more. Enjoy!

Sick little monkeys

Well, Hopefully this is the last bug of the season, but what ever it is, we sure have it. There was a night there, that we thought Addie had the croup...the horrible barking cough that just sounds so painful. I am sick, and Ian has been abnormally fussy, but no cold or cough...yet. So, we have been watching a lot of disney, lots of liquid, lots of medicine and lots of rest (trying at least). The only way that I can really Get addie to stay still is if she is reading or watching a movie. So, that is what we have been doing. Ian just follows a long. We have been sick a lot this winter, and I am so ready to be done with this! Any ideas on good natural remedies for a bad cough and cold? or any secrets that you guys have on how to get through these slow days? We have been running her cool mist humidifyer, and keeping her fluids up and all the usual stuff. At least our spirits are up, and I spent friday and Saturday Deep cleaning the house. It helps me to breath better when i really am nor up for doing more work than I have to!

So I found a new favorite snack! Whole Wheat Basil Tortilla. I have always loved whole wheat toast, with a slice or two of tomato, topped with cheese, toasted and then sprinkled with fresh ground pepper. This is an alternate for those of you who love basil...like me.

Whole Wheat Tortilla, Cheese (I used Cheddar, but it would be great with any white french or italian cheese), A few slices of fresh Tomato, a few leaves of fresh italian basil, and some fresh ground pepper. You can fold it in half and microwave it, or saute it for a crispier snack. you can add what ever you want to it...chicken, procuito, the possibilities are endless. What really makes this is the warm tomato and basil. Yummy!

where you are today, your mind put you. where you are tomorrow, your mind put you.

Since I missed my cycle class this morning (it was just too dark and too cold...the soar throat didn't help either) I had a chance to do some Tae Bo. Miraculously, the kids took a nap at the same time, which never happens, and so I popped my DVD in , and sweat it out. It is sooo hard! I have a few of his, and this one is an advanced one ( i hope!) and I have never been able to finish them. Well, today, I did all 50 min (yahooo!) with a few breathing breaks in between. I really like his videos. they are challenging, but he also focusses so much on mind over body. I really like that. He also reminds you that your power really comes from God, and I like that too. So, at the end of the video today (which I had never seen) he says...where you are today, your mind put you. where you are tomorrow, your mind put you. That resonates with me so much! There is so much power in positive thinking. In some ways, the past two years have been a blur...a lot of running around blindly just trying to survive and get sleep where ever and when ever I could. but now that I am out of that phase, I am realizing the power that I have over my own thoughts and actions. Having kids takes the control you once had over your day, and throws it out the window! (I realized this once, when Kenneth came home from work and I asked him if I could go to the bathroom. asking permission? ya things were bad!) But now, I am really trying to get a better sense of tuning my mind to always thinking positively. Living in the moment, gaining control over what I can, and what I can't, to just go with the flow. But there is just so much power in the mind to change our views and our attitudes of our day. For me, not ever knowing how the day will fare can bring a sense of adventure. but, thinking that way takes mental energy and focus...and brings a lot of happiness. It is also surprizing how much the lord helps you with this too. So, ask yourself...what am I thinking about? am I building myself up? or am I giving up? food for thought.
draft