Snapshots

I have been drifting, a bit.  A bit lost in the midst of good things, hard things, and a lot of change. Finding my way again, with new ways to process and experience our life here. But I missed telling you about the last weeks, so here are some snapshots.

Brendan and Leaf came to visit from the big city, which meant a lot of singing, chatting, tea-drinking, and play. Brendan helped the boys build a bike jump in our yard, with wood and dirt. Now when I sit in my studio, I see them careening down the hill, headed for the jump. They’ve all agreed (Isaac, Solo, and our dear friend Jazzy) that the jump needs to be bigger. Isaac says that the bike ride Brendan took him on was the most fun he’s ever had in his life.

It was my dad’s birthday right at the beginning of January, and what a joy it was to spend it with him and my mom. It was a beautiful evening, with homemade burritos and a cake that Leafy made (I need to teach him a little more about cakes and how they are ready sooner than you think). The air was filled with love, we talked about what we love about my dad, and the evening’s activities moved into back cracking and wrestling. (For some reason. Or, does there have to be a reason?) 

I went to help get Kai settled in another new space after the Christmas break. I think this one (these ones, he’ll be a guest temporarily until the new space is ready for him) will be so good for him—close to the school, so he can ride his bike and loiter with friends or join clubs after school. This has been close to my heart for a while now, and I’m so very thankful for the offering of a place to live. When I drove back to Pai, I had to leave first thing in the morning, since the drive is over three hours and I had to teach at 10:00. I was rewarded with the sunrise, as seen above.

My older brother was evacuated twice with his family in Australia. They are safe now, and their house didn’t burn. My heart hurts when I hear about fire, the way we get through one and enter another, somewhere else in the world. The way we are so fragile.

Our friends Ben and Keren came from California to visit, and this also was a great gift. My parents, my kids, my community, friends, letters, emails from across the world. Little bits of love, floating to land on our faces. The way we all love each other, imperfectly and with great gusto. There is a little girl who has been living here for the last few months. She has a way of coming over with a picture or a flower. “I made this for you,” she says, her vowels all stretchy with her Australian accent. And then she scrunches up her face and runs off to find me a flower.

My hands are open and they are so full. They feel too full at times, and yet I can still feel that they are dripping with blessing.

PS- Searching for Home newsletter #3 will be out tomorrow. If you want to join in now, you can join when you become a patron.