Best Friday

                                                            It begins with a bridge.

                                   And so it ends with a rock and some deleted scenes.

Colonies

I step out of the stark door under one mid blue night and stand gazing up as they approach. There are two groups of Trumpeteer Swans and a pair nestled in between. The kids and I wear our valentine socks and I see the swans that night. 

Swans fly together in a V formation, working as a team. They take turns leading because it is the most tiring. The flap of the leader's wings generate a vortex, creating a lift for the next bird.  If they traveled in a straight line, each bird would only be able to concentrate on the bird directly in front and if that bird were hurt, the rest would suffer.  The V formation constructs a perfect view of the whole colony so they can persevere.  You know how the lone swan flaps fiercely to catch up and find its place?  Studies have shown that a colony of 25 swans can travel 70 percent farther than a solo bird.

I love the message of the swans. 

The Road from Farm to Market

C's class had a field trip to the Fairhaven Flour Mill and the BreadFarm!

An "antique" machine used to stitch the bags closed. They are trying to find the parts to fix it.

Feeling the wheat grown by organic farms in Washington. Did you know that if wheat isn't ground within 24 hours, it loses most of its nutrients? 

Scott (the founder of the BreadFarm) showing the rising dough to the kids.

            There was a rhythm to cutting and rolling the dough like watching ballet or waves.

               Scott placing the bread on a "couche," a flour covered cloth that forms a wall
                                to keep the bread's shape and make the crust crusty!     

                                                                       The Ovens.

                                                                         YUM!

                                                        We are happy and full of bread.

I am so on board (literally) with this one.

Love is something if you Give it away...

Sunday morning I read an article from the Huffington Post that a friend shared.  It was an excerpt from a book about a family in Atlanta that sold their home and gave half of what they owned to the Hunger Project.  The family's action was inspired by their 14 year old daughter who wanted to close the GAP between the haves and the have-nots when one day at a familiar intersection close to her house, was literally caught between the sparkle of a black mercedes and a homeless man who "lived" there.  This non-fiction tale is firing from my neurons. 

My thoughts then turned to Jesus' life on earth as a human. The day before I was randomly talking to Brett about how if I were half-God, half-human it would be easy to choose to come to earth and live without "material," that I could use my power to overcome the flesh.  My husband pointed out that because He was the son of God, it would be the most difficult knowing He could halt those who sought to hurt Him, and that He could live lavishly.  He chose to breathe humility and I think He knew it was the absolute WAY to be.  During the discussion it quickly became evident that I couldn't choose to give my life up cruelly for everyone who would ever exist in earth's space. What could I do? 

This article is a continuation of yesterday's thoughts.  I was thinking about how Jesus lived as a physical man, yet he didn't have a home, a stationary place of comfort, where he felt safe, like we as humans need.  I thought about "stuff," the stuff we collect and acquire for endless reasons that usually have to do with some malfunction in us, in society.  I pictured Jesus wearing one "outfit."  He probably carried a bed-roll and a thin blanket that He placed on the ground inside or out.  He placed his needs aside permanently.  That is why He went alone into the wilderness and fasted for 40 days and 40 nights, so He could overcome his human needs.  I, again, do not have the mental strength to allow myself to be fully exposed as He did.  What I can do is follow His direction, step onto that path of humility and awareness of Everything Other than me.   

I researched this family's message further and they said that not everyone can downsize and give half of it away but they can give half of their clothes away or ....  I am open to ideas being the minimalist that I am.

Mark and Annie are you O.K? Are you O.K. Annie?

                                     Gabe brought his groove but he was lost without his Gracie.
                                         I wanna hold your haaand, I wanna hold your hand. 

                       Gabe went with Gma to BK earlier and that crown was not coming off.

                                                      The dance stare down.

            Our (well my) version of Mark and Anne. Brett just loves to smile for the camera.

                                                     Their expressions just say it ALL!

A dance isn't complete until ice cream has been eaten!

Mark's thinking face (can't remember what about) but it must have been VERY important or something...

Gastropoda

                                                    C's class studying snails.   Lovely.

shirt model

our version of being a josh ritter shirt model