Ahhh...Summer

So after many weeks of travel, life is settling down and as I sift through the memories I realize that there have been many changes not over the last few weeks but over the last few years that have made it hard for me to sit here and share. With this realization I also am anticipating new changes in my life and am looking forward to all that may be waiting for me just around the bend. It has been almost seven years since I first posted here and life has changed for me in many ways...some good and some not so but what is important is that life in one way or another goes on and we grow through all we experience. I think it is when we are at those spots in life when change is inevitable that we take time to relive the past and hopefully receive guidance for how to move forward. I am happy to say that even with the sorrow an empty nest brought me it has been a growing experience and I have found that my relationship with both my son and daughter has blossomed. It is not the same and really, I wouldn't want it to be and with these new changes and experiences I have found happiness and peace. It has been nice that my son moved back in for a bit and also that by freeing time up I have been able to travel to Davis often to see my daughter. Change...it is not always welcomed but I guess what matters is that we face it and walk with it the best we are able. So...to the future and the changes it is bringing...I approach with caution and excitement!

Boston Trip

Click on the title of this post (Boston Trip) to see a fun slide show of my trip to Boston with 60 History teachers and professors from the Valley.

My path has brought me back...

So...it's been awhile and this will be my rusty attempt at coming back...we shall see just how it goes...
Exploring my thoughts and experiences is something I have spent a lifetime at. I spend much of my day wondering why??? And then the rest of my day is spent jumping in and exploring just why. So, it was when we moved to CA and so emerged this blog. Perhaps by writing it down, I could better understand each step of the way.

So the journey began and life flowed while I sat back and examined it all. Wow! Amazing to see the new people we each became over the months and years...

The children have amazed me with all their new experiences and the way they grasped on to a new life in a new world...remember that just five short years ago they both hated me for not being able to put a stop to this unexpected change in their life. Things had been going so smoothly for them...growing up in a beautiful, small community in the midst of the Midwest, surrounded by family and friends...and then the announcement that we were moving 2000 miles away from all we knew to a place where they knew nobody. They have come a long way...

So, my blogging began that first winter as I began to explore my new world and the changes we were experiencing. Through this, I was able to share with family and friends we had left as well as let new friends and family we were making get a glimpse into our lives and ideas. And so it continued until the changes in my life became too much and I decided it was best to experience them quietly, by myself in a way that I could think them through and wander alone, sorting out how I felt about these new feelings, changes and paths that were ahead of me as well as those I was trying to avoid.

Well, I am happy to say I have found my way on the path and though I do not know yet where it leads me, I do know that I can walk it and am happy to be back to share in a way that gives me time and the energy to analyze the adventure I am on...

So let me update you just a bit on what changes we have experienced since I last wrote:

Bryant is about to enter his Senior year at UC Berkeley...that is once he returns from a summer in Europe. He has had an amazing adventure and I wait anxiously to sit at his table and listen to his tales as we share what I am sure will be a table filled with many of his friends and fabulous foods. Many of his friends in Berkeley have been traveling as well this summer and they are, I am sure excited to reunite and share all their experiences...

Brittany has had huge changes in her life as well! She has graduated from HS and has moved on to UC Davis where she rapidly connected with the school as well as the community. She is planning and organizing her move into her first apartment this Fall with three of her friends. They love their dorm life but are excited to experience life on their own. It has been amazing to see her as she has transitioned into this new chapter of her life...

So, as you see life as a homeschool mom has made a shift and as I walk this new path I am learning new things about myself. Some days seem unbearable and yet others are just so exciting and full that I feel as though I might burst! I have no idea what this new adventure in my life has in store for me but I am thankful for all those old and new friends who have walked with me and have carried me at times during this transition...I love you each more than you will ever know.

Yes We Can

Turning 20...

It seems just yesterday we were bringing this little bundle home...How do the years pass so quickly? Well it is true, Bry is turning 20 today. My boy has grown up and it is time for him to leave those teen years behind. Through the years he has been fortunate to have many wonderful people influence his life, ideas, education, etc. To all of you...I say thanks! Thanks for all the fun, for all the guidance, for all the love, and for all the laughs!

I am happy to say with you all by his side the small bundle that we brought home 20 years ago while living in MD has grown over the years through fun times in IL and then now in CA into an amazing young man. He has filled the years with much laughter, interesting thoughts, fabulous music, and amazing friendships which seem to continually fill the house. Here are just a few pics from over the years...

Mother Nature...In all her Glory

The rainy season is upon us and oh is it ever! Rains, winds, snow...we have been hit. Having a moment of quiet in the house and procrastinating brushing up on my book before heading off to Book Club, I wandered the yard to check for damage. You see, we have a lull in the rain at least for a few hours before we get hit by what is the second of the three systems that are to hit us. We knew it was coming...they had been telling us for days! There were lines and lines waiting to receive our ten alloted sandbags all day Thursday. Everybody was talking about the storm and some were even stocking up on food. It slowly made its way down into the valley, after much damage elsewhere. We watched the news and answered calls of concerned friends and family in IL. The flooding comes so quick...almost out of nowhere! I sat cuddled up, finishing the last of the three books in the series His Dark Materials (The Golden Compass) after returning home from work, deciding I really did not want to be out when it hit. By the time Wayne arrived home through what sounded like a fun drive, the flooding was just two streets away from us...but as fast as the waters rise they subside and Bry went out a few hours later and called to say that we were able to leave our development safely and off he went with friends for the night. Roads have been closed, trees are falling, people are without electricity and snow has covered the mountains...and we all sit awaiting round two. Well, the damage was minimal to our plants I am happy to report and the air feels clean as I walked this morning. The rain will be with us for a few more days and between book clubs, parties and hearing Bry perform Sunday morning...I hope to have time to cuddle up with yet another book and listen to the...at times soft music of the rain hitting our wood shingles, warm within what I hope will continue to be a home with electricity. May you all find the quiet times amidst your storms.

Blessings-

Foggy Days...

Coffee in hand...a foggy morning and a quiet house! Winter has come to the valley and with it is my time to go inward. Not only do I love the coziness of being wrapped in quilts by a fire with a book but this is my time to enjoy the coziness of my thoughts. I am a Pisces ya know...and as one, daydreams are a large part of what makes up my life. So with the winter months set in, along with the fog...comes my time to sit and drift...This is also the time these days when the ocean calls. Ocean, rocks and the color green...these are a few of my favorite things! I have rocks everywhere throughout my home and gardens, as many of you know. There is this connection I have with them and water. Add the color green and presto! One of my favorite past times when I am at the ocean is to walk the beach collecting green rocks. Once while walking...trying to hold on to my coffee in one hand and all my green treasures in the other I was stopped by this gentleman who realized we were both collecting green rocks! We spoke for a few minutes and he told me of some of his favorite spots to find them then we both turned and went our seperate ways...both in our own little worlds enjoying the ocean, our coffee and our green rocks. So you see I have this large bowl on my table filled with just those finds! They help take me back to the ocean and the fog and the hours of walking the beach filled with daydreams and rocks. Ahhhh...life is good!

I have had plenty of time to sit and enjoy...with the family being back together all is well. The boy is home and with him has come the giggles of his sister as they try to not get caught while being mischievous. I had called for them several times last night to help with dishes after we had sat around catching up at the table and of course noticed how quickly they disappeared when it was time to clean up. I went to find them and noticed one of our cats sitting outside the laundry closet mewing to nobody...or was she? Getting closer...there were the telltale signs of giggles coming from behind the doors. Upon flinging them open and finding them both perched up on what are a very tall washer and dryer, there was crazy laughter and the begging of not being made to do dishes! Really, how can you argue with that and so I closed the door and walked away with a smile as they laughed and laughed.

We have had fun catching up and sharing time together over the last week. They have had time to see friends and both the children and Wayne all shared in the service at church Christmas Eve. So as I am cuddled in with yet another cup of coffee I will share with you the goings on in our home since last I had the time to chat...

We spent a wonderful weekend in Berkeley in October with Bry. It was Homecoming and the game was so close...but did not end well. We had fun going out with friends for dinner and spent much time walking the city and enjoying being back in the city once again.

Bry has moved into an apartment with a couple of friends and there are always a few extras there as well so we are happy when meal time rolls around to see how many of his friends will join us for dinner out. Always fun to sit and listen to their stories! We also had time to see some of the projects he has spent hours on this semester.

There are times when he lives at the studio for days on end... catching an hour of sleep on the futon or under his desk if he has a chance.

They are all one big family there and make sure you wake up after not too long. A deadline is a deadline after all!

Then there was the upkeep of the gardens...

One of my favorite pastimes. Now that I have lived here a bit I am finally learning the plants that grow here and what they need. It was amazing to find just how different everything here is compared to what we grew before. With time and the killing of many beautiful plants...we have learned enough to make our gardens much more enjoyable. Something that is a must for me as being outside with barefeet (much to the horror of the Kristina, my pedicure technician) walking the gardens is where I have some of my best daydreams!

We had a wonderful visit with my parents in November! They have always come at busy times in the past and we have yet to have a chance to explore with them, showing them some of our favorite spots...This time was different.

Mother laughed when I told her I had the whole visit planned out! What is with that...I don't over organize things that much, right?

Anyway, we hit the road running and off to Berkeley I took them to see Bry and his life...

Once back home, we spent some time around town checking out the Farmers Market and getting a bit of Holiday shopping done.

On Sunday, we packed food and headed to Yosemite.

My parents had never been and I was excited to show them as well as anxious to see it in the Fall since it is one of the times I had yet to explore there...

Once again I was in awe and humbled beyond belief!!! How can there be so much beauty in one space? Oh yeah...maybe it is my love of rocks...no it is more! It is a magical space and a place where no words can do it justice!!!

Bry came home the following week for Thanksgiving and with him came old friends from school. Jacob was also home from college and the house was full of teens and fun...

We went searching for just the perfect Christmas Tree...

Our search became a day long adventure and there was much more than just tree searching going on...

But alas...we found the perfect tree.

Stockings were hung, UC applications completed, Finals taken and cookies baked...

All that was left were our houses to make...

Looking at these creations there is not a huge surprise that Bry is studying achitecture...Jacob is a Red Sox fan and Brit...well she is our girl who loves traditions...

Christmas Eve was filled with dinner with friends then off to the church to enjoy a night filled with music and laughter...

We woke on Christmas later in the morning than years ago when the children were young and up at 5AM...and spent the day with each other, eating and reading and laughing over stories. Chatting with friends and family throughout the day, we nestled in and enjoyed a perfect Holiday...

So, for each of you, down the block or across the many miles, I wish for you this Holiday Season... a quiet time to cuddle in and daydream of oceans and coffee and green rocks...or whatever it is that makes your heart sing...

Blessings-