Owner: Journey Mama URL:http://www.journeymama.com Join Date: Tue, 18 Sep 2007 18:23:11 -0500 Rating:0 Site Description: My life cultivating joy and creativity with my husband, kids, and community. And laughing at myself. Like a hyena. Site statistics:Click here
A highly acute sense of hearing* 2008-03-20 22:52:40 Things have been rough around here, lately. Our little Sacramento community cluster has been taking some hits, the latest of which is our friend in the hospital.
So, today, my friend Joy (the wise-cracking one) came over so that we could pray together. I think she also came over so that we could hang [...]
Deeper magic from before the dawn of time 2008-03-23 11:04:04 “Oh, it’s too bad,” sobbed Lucy; “they might have left the body alone.”
“Who’s done it?” cried Susan. “What does it mean? Is it more magic?”
“Yes!” said a great voice behind their backs. “It is more magic.” They looked around. There, shining in the sunrise, larger than they had seen him before, shaking his mane (for [...]
Understatement can speak volumes 2008-03-26 22:02:16 When my Grandma got sick, and I used to call her to talk to her, we had a sort of ritual. She had leukemia, and thankfully had almost no pain, except for the yucky tests they had to put her through.
But she would get really tired if her white blood corpuscle count was particularly [...] Read more:speak
Thank you 2008-03-26 10:25:31 Today we pack up the truck.
Yesterday I finished training a new bookkeeper, got rid of a table and highchair, and drove to San Francisco to pick up our visas. About halfway there I realized I should have taken the train.
I am halfway numb and halfway hurting. We lost another friend on Monday night (the [...] Read more:Thank
Grandma 2008-03-24 23:19:04 Last night my beautiful, beautiful, beautiful grandmother passed away.
I don’t know how to say how much I’ll miss her. She was a force in my life that was grounding and true. She loved me fiercely.
I know my Grandpa will miss her beyond words (they just celebrated their 60th wedding anniversary) and my parents and all [...] Read more:Grandma
Here’s some advice. 2008-03-28 01:05:40 Moving is stupid. Don’t do it. Unless you want to end up lying on your carpet on your back trying to blow up an inflatable mat, because all the beds are moved and you don’t have the right inflator thingy.
You may also find yourself contemplating setting things on the various lawns of your [...]
So many beautiful things 2008-03-31 12:54:45 The last couple of days have been lovely.
In the last moments of packing up our house, we just started tossing things
in bags and throwing them in the van, so yesterday I spent the day unpacking and repacking our dear van, and organization is always therapeutic, isn’t it?
We put our things in storage, managing to [...]
So many kinds of losing 2008-03-30 21:22:41 It seems that grief takes many forms.
There is a wild pain that wakes you up in the night gasping for breath, a panic that makes your heart skip a beat. There are dreams that leave you weeping into your pillow. There can be screaming, anger and striking and tearing. It is the grief for the [...]
So we are almost all better now 2008-03-29 23:42:34 I say almost because there is that great lump of grief waiting to pounce on me when I can finally make myself vulnerable to it.
But, after yesterday, which was one of the most insane days ever, and the two days before, which were also insane, we are done with this part of our move. [...] Read more:better
Heading north 2008-04-02 15:26:40 We’re still on our journey north, taking it very, very slowly. I’m feeling wandery and content to look out of the van window. Chinua and I are having a good time, giving each other loving looks in the car, and the kids are amazing, as usual. I love my kids. Have I mentioned that?
My eyes [...] Read more:Heading
Correction 2008-04-01 11:53:18 Do you ever have that thing happen where you’re just waking up in the morning and your mind is rolling around between odd little dreams and awake thoughts, and something occurs to you that is so, so important? And not only important but it’s something that you missed?
And maybe you sit up and smack yourself [...]
Arrived have we 2008-04-04 20:30:30 Look how good the kids are in the van:
Except that the last picture is a shot of my shoes, not of Kid A, because Kid A was so far in the back of the van, surrounded by so much stuff, that a photo opportunity did not present itself.
We’re here! Whew. I need to chill a [...]
In Portland we drop in 2008-04-03 13:02:08 We call some friends (one good thing about the diaspora of our community is that we have friend in many cities) and drop in. We meet at the park. The kids have glowing halos around their heads as they play on the swings. We ooh and aah over how much their kids have grown. They [...]
Help from the children 2008-04-07 22:48:39 Victoria!
We arrived this very evening, and the first thing I told my Superstar Husband is that if he ever said “Victoria Island” again, Canadians would surely mock him. Victoria is on Vancouver Island, confusing as that may be. Vancouver is on no island at all.
He questioned whether it would be right to mock [...]
Dear YaYa Sister, 2008-04-09 18:02:50 Four years ago you slipped out so quickly that we almost didn’t catch you. In the ensuing pandemonium, I clutched your still-wet body to me, peeked down, and gasped, “It’s a girl.” I was so, so happy. I still am.
I do want to put you in a sound-proof box sometimes, though. [...]
Follow up 2008-04-12 00:59:37 Well, finding out that they are sick makes the whining just a little more bearable, because I know that they have not suddenly turned crazy on me.
Suddenly my sympathy kicks in, and I can be all, “Awwww, you’re not feeling well, you poor thing,” almost every time.
We left the kids with some new friends (i.e. [...]
Just letting it out. 2008-04-11 00:12:10 Dude, I am so, so blessed. I know it. On the ferry home today I watched my kids watching TV with their arms around each other, and I realized again, I am so, so blessed.
At the same time, I wrote my friend an email tonight, telling her about the boats in the dock at Victoria’s [...]
Catching my breath 2008-04-17 10:08:23 Writing wise, I feel a bit like I’ve been knocked down.
I mean, it’s not like my life is changing drastically, or anything.
It’s not like I’m boarding a plane with my family in less than twenty days, or anything.
Jeez. I don’t know what could possibly be the matter with me.
In any case, I’m blocked and stiffened. [...]
No title 2008-04-21 22:42:38 Well, today I was planning to just go ahead and write a post. I felt inspired! My hands were twitching! That can be a good indication that I’m ready to write again, as is the fact that I fell asleep thinking up this seriously strange post that I do believe I’ll write someday.
Anyways, [...]
Just not a cave 2008-04-24 10:57:05 I have no idea what our next house will look like. Maybe it will be tall and leaning, with curved staircases, like a house from a Dr. Seuss book. Probably not.
Maybe it will be round and chubby, with thick earth walls and a hole in the ceiling. Probably not.
Brick? Cement? Stucco? Wood? Tinfoil?
I’m hoping for [...]
She looks funnier than I do 2008-04-23 23:28:00 (I fixed the problem with uploading photos, so now you will unfortunately be subjected to the following. We’re keeping ourselves real busy over here while we get ready for our trip to India.)
So, I don’t know if you remember this post? It was a little example of what sometimes happens when my [...]
A Walk in the Forest 2008-04-25 17:25:14 My immediate family (a lot of tall people, some short, and most insane) has been having a little reunion this week, and yesterday a bunch of us went for a hike. It was a hike in name only, though, since most of it consisted of standing around taking photographs or waiting for other people to [...] Read more:Forest
Expressions of shock and excitement, as cheerfully modeled by my brother and sisters. 2008-04-26 11:46:03 I sandblasted your tattoos while you were sleeping. (!)
I’m only kidding, you would have felt that. (!)
Imogen Heap is coming to do a concert at your house. (!)
She wants to be your best friend. (!)
They’ve just confirmed that Santa Claus is really and truly real, and he’s coming to your house with bags of loot. [...] Read more:Expressions
New Habits 2008-04-29 21:26:20 1. Reaching into your diaper after you have pooped, and then coming towards me (or Grandpa) with outstretched hands. Totally, completely, and fully a disgusting habit. Please cease and desist forever and ever.
2. Falling to the ground crying. Why? Because Grandma said that she turned the heat up. Because the juice isn’t coming fast enough. [...]
You do things a different way 2008-05-03 05:27:35 You find new things
that comfort you.
A cup of tea in the perfect spot by the window. The notebooks from the stationary store down the street. Breakfast at that one restaurant with the really good lemon pancakes. You find new ways to breathe, different
clothes to wear, new ways to look at people [...]
Quatro 2008-05-02 11:37:57 We have about four more days to get ready to fly away.
FOUR DAYS.
FOUR. DAYS. Until I move with my family to India.
What do you think the chances are that I can have Leafy fully potty-trained by then?
No, I thought so too. Bummer.
We fly to Turkey, and then Israel, and then from Jordan to [...]
Ready to roll 2008-05-06 01:19:26 Today we finished packing up all of our backpacks, taking things to the thrift store, and returning electronics that we needed to return. Then we drove for a few hours to Seattle, leaving Canada and all the new growth on the poplars behind.
Goodbyes are the hardest part. My parents have been so incredible during this [...]
Forgetful 2008-05-08 09:48:58 I am sitting in the traveler section of Istanbul- Sultanahmet- drinking a tiny cup of Turkish tea and trying to put sticky fingers on my feelings, being here. My wonderful and considerate husband suggested that I go out and spend a little time alone- did I mention that he is wonderful and considerate? [...] Read more:Forgetful
Longest Post Ever 2008-05-11 05:04:44 (Wrote this yesterday and then couldn’t post it… so here it is!)
Today I spent my 28th birthday in Antalya, Turkey. It was… a birthday to beat the band.
I don’t know what it is- whether it’s just spending the time making the kids’ birthdays special, or just getting older, but I find lately that I [...] Read more:Longest
Mishaps 2008-05-15 10:05:58 I wish you could have been here today when we reached a little Kebab restaurant and two Turkish men rushed to pull out a pink satin highchair and then fuss over putting Leafy in it, until he was all strapped in (does anyone even bother with the straps with their third kid?) and had a large [...]
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