Blogging Weirdness

For some reason, I was having trouble publishing posts and I recently figured out how to get the last 2 to publish. Hopefully, I'll be publishing a few more soon. It's been an interesting summer with lots to report, and photos of the kids are filling the camera.

Love,

Jolene =)

Story Waters quote

Here is a piece from Story Waters that a friend just posted to our Yahoo group. It feels like a celebration of Life, to me!

Freedom is not superior to limitation;
with this realization I am able to choose freedom.

Happiness is not superior to suffering;
with this realization I am able to let go of suffering.

Abundance is not superior to poverty;
with this realization my abundance flows.

Nothing is superior to anything;
with this knowing I step out from
hierarchy, competition, and struggle.

In this state I do not judge life;
therefore I do not feel separate from it.

I am so glad of the diversity in the world;
in its reflection I see my own freedom
to be whatever I wish to be.

We are not here to be one;
we are here to be many.

Through seeing that beyond this illusion we are all one,
we free ourselves to be the many.

I am not tied to any singular path to be a certain way.
I am diverse.
I am ever changing.
I am an explorer of All as truth.

Inner Work

Sorry I haven't been keeping up on this blog.

For me, parenting is nothing short of a complete inner overhaul. I find that my children give me myriad opportunities to look at each one of my emotions, sometimes daily. In my estimation, the only choice is to stuff them or integrate them. Believing that integration will benefit my children and humanity to the greatest degree, I'm doing my best to let those emotions out of prison.

Been feeling like a little bodhisattva. Will there ever be a day of "enlightenment" in which everything is easy? I'll be dead that day, I guess. :-p

Wishing you delight!
Jolene =)

Why Unschool?

This bit from a 17-year-old unschooling blogger is so sweet that I'm crying over here. To me, it just shows how I can best treat my child like a person, and contrasts with how the acceptable way of treating a child in mainstream culture is like treating them as less than a whole person.

Once, when I was just beginning to garden, a lecturer at the Northwest Flower and Garden Show reminded everyone in the audience that seeds and gardeners have the same goals. As a gardener, we don't have to fret and fuss so much, just make sure there is good soil, water and sunlight, and that seed, by it's own will and knowing, will GROOOOW!!!

We are happiest here in our house when I treat the children in my life the same way. I am real with them, I am thoughtful with them, I provide the basics (roof, food, clothes, love, friendship...) and trust them to succeed by following their hearts.

My children are learning all that they need to know to get where they want to go!

Love,
Jolene =)

Only Love

Yummy toes!




Jasmijn makes herself heard...

...and gets results.

We got a trampoline!

Yummy balls!

Jasmijn wears her baby, too.

Saucy face!

Love is life.
All, everything that I understand, I understand only because I love.
Everything is, everything exists, only because I love.

Leo Tolstoy

Can you feel it?

There are SO MANY things that we do not understand! (Are you still trying to?
It's not possible, you might as well give up now.) Or we can trust that THIS IS
A BENEVOLENT UNIVERSE... we are each a seed, and the universe is like the gardener. Both participants in this relationship want the same thing: for the seed to grow.

Just have faith...
Trust...
Believe...
Forgive...
Open...
Yes...
Follow your gut...

All of these statements point to the truth. Can you feel it?

Love,
Jolene =)

Checking in with Myself

You know that way that children have of expressing their needs as if each one is an emergency and must be addressed NOW!? It sends me into a panic. My stress level rises immediately, and I've been known to raise my voice at them or shush them angrily just because I know it's not an emergency and I'm peeved that they stressed me so.

In my better moments, what seems to get me through, without having a tantrum of my own, is to plant my feet firmly on the ground and center myself by focusing on my torso (stomach area... but it moves) and ask, "Is there anything I really need to take care of before responding to my child?" Usually the answer is "no" but just asking helps immensely, because I've given myself the space and opportunity to take care of myself and choose.

Jolene =)

Baby Love

We've been having a few warmer days without rain!

Aurora needs to be in my arms constantly, as if the world is going to end in minutes if I am not there... but we managed to get this sweet picture with John. Quick, before she notices what happened!

Jasmijn enjoys her baby sister, is extra clingy to me since Aurora's birth, and is sometimes jealous, but mostly so sweet, hugging and helping.

Joran is such a serious big brother! He loves Aurora so much and loves to hold her. He was soooo proud of himself one day when he carried her around while I was putting on my shoes.

Some Photos

Aurora

Joran with the box of Legos he picked out from the wall in their store.

Joran admiring his bat Bionicle creation.

Aurora in the sling

Celebrating Candy!

We picked Daddy up from the office and ended up at the mall candy store. Jasmijn let out a gleeful squeal upon arrival, "Caaandy stoooore!" Delightfully unforgettable!

John, Joran and Jasmijn loaded up. I knew I'd get a few tastes here and there, so I didn't choose any. I'm more of a pastry and chocolate person, anyways.

John's candy was gone before we got home, but Jasmijn and Joran ended up spreading theirs out, counting it, sorting it, designing creatures with it.... I'll be reporting this on Joran's homeschool Student Learning Plan. I think it'll qualify for math and art, at least.

Love,

Jolene =)