Day 302: Slow Gear

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Don’t forget to slow down some times… It’s a beautiful thing! So much joy was found today in the quiet spaces, and I wish the same for you.

Planning a move takes lots of planning and coordination on several fronts. Jeff and I had some quiet, uninterrupted conversation after the kids went to school today. We had time to ponder and reflect and think out some of the details as we watched the weather patterns change every 10 minutes…rain, clouds, sun, hail, and back again. I was expecting to go for a run, but just wasn’t up for it and enjoyed the change in plans.

The only thing I really planned today was some social medicine – a lunch with my girlfriends because I needed a fix, and they’re the best medicine! I took the tram up to Amsterdam and had an hour to shop on the Leidseplein before meeting up with the ladies. I enjoyed just wandering, shopping and people watching. We met for lunch at Greenwoods on the Keizesgracht for a healthy,cozy lunch. This made my day!

At this moment it was sunny and while we were eating, it was raining… So weird, right?

When I picked the kids up from school, we didn’t have any after school activities and there was no rush to get things done. It felt nice to have an open schedule. My dad called and we were able to FaceTime and Skype with my parents. I loved not being in a rush and was thankful for the gift of time. We miss them so much and it was great to laugh and see each other, making plans for when we’re back home again. My niece and sister also called this afternoon and we all got to chat for awhile too. A 9 hour time difference usually prevents us from long conversations and time to reconnect when we aren’t busy, but today just flowed because there was space and time for it… No stress…see how that works? I’m planning more days like this.

The kids and I were going to bake together today (their choice of something fun to do together) but as I chatted, they got busy and baked by themselves. I’ve baked with them since they were babies. It’s so nice that they are old enough to do it on their own with just me near by… I like how independent they are becoming. But I did and do miss baking with them, even though they were perfectly content.

We had a chaotic family dinner when Jeff came home, for no real reason at all. Some days the conversation just goes awry. We quickly changed gears and cleaned up, declaring quiet time early tonight. The gift that came from the quiet space earlier in the evening was a long snuggle and reading time with Charlie in our bed, time for drawing for Christian and painting nails for Juliana. I want more quiet time like today, with less stress. Downshifting into a slower gear…

I am content, and going to bed early tonight, just like P.

Namaste.

13May2013

Day 292: The Simple Beauty of Swans and Ice Cream

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We were so tired today that I let the kids sleep in and skip school. We needed a day of rest. They woke up at 10:30 am!! We weren’t ready to really move or get out of the house until 3pm. After coming home from a long trip, there’s more work to do like putting away luggage, lots of laundry, grocery shopping and sorting all the stuff.

I’ve adopted the Dutch way of going to the grocery store and buying what we need for dinner that day and buying what looks fresh, available and on sale. For tonight’s dinner, Charlie picked steaks for the grill, baked potatoes, Chinese broccoli and I picked whole carrots to roast with balsamic, Dijon, a bit of olive oil and salt and pepper.

While I was preparing dinner, the little ones were out riding bikes. Juliana came home and told me I had to come with her quickly. My first thought was something happened to Charlie, but she had a smile on her face. I jumped on my bike and headed up the road with her, as she requested and dropped everything. (I’m listening to all the wise women who tell me to enjoy them while they’re young!)

What she shared, made my day!

A little swan family!! How adorable are the babies??

And just yesterday we were at the Swan Castle, Neuschwanstein! King Ludwig’s favorite animal was the swan and the swan motif played throughout his castle.

Swans mate for life and protect one another. Seeing this family swimming and eating together and my family enjoying them made me happy. While we were visiting with the swans, our neighbor Peggy walked by with her dog. I really love the feeling of a small neighborhood, and really love the simplicity of life…Shopping, cooking, playing, experiencing nature, visiting with friends, and being with my family.

Afterwards, we came home and finished preparing dinner together. During dinner, I told the kids we were cutting out junk food from our kitchen! I didn’t buy any today,except for one box of cereal. I want our family to eat more delicious and nutritious foods, not that we don’t already, but we also snack too much. But the irony of the conversation came when the ice cream man came by, playing his music and parking outside our front window. In the spirit of letting the kids be kids, and enjoying the moment, we let them go outside and splurge! I hope they remember their fun parents one day when they think we don’t know anything! And I’m not saying they can’t have junk food, but I don’t have to keep a stash in the house, readily available. Yin and yang, it’s all the same!

Life is good. Hope you had a good day and got outside to play!

Goodnight, from Holland.

25Feb2013

Day 215: Still life

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How often is your home still?

How often is your mind still?

Mine both don’t like to rest.

But here is a still life shot of our living room, quiet, still and somewhat comfortably orderly for my standards – perfectly imperfect with crooked cushions and squished drapes.

I sent the kids upstairs earlier than usual so I could possibly practice resting my mind with a book tonight, before falling asleep and finishing 327 little last minute tasks – you know the ones like empty the dishwasher, fold a basket of laundry, answer an email, kiss one more kid goodnight again…all on your way to go do what you originally set out to do but got distracted along the way??

I can’t wait to go plop down on the couch and be still and hopefully get to bed before 12:45 am. Maybe that’s why I’m tired… Hmmm.

One last thought (before reading)…this image is like a housewife receipt. Kids are fed. Dishes are done. Clutter is picked up. Here’s your receipt. Namaste.