Thoughful Thursday

A tornado in Cartago, Costa Rica (all family is OK), Birthdays for Tio Steve (Tuesday) and Tia Lisa (Friday) , travel to New Jersey (including crazy traffic from a fatal accident overnight),  a day of Communications training and an evening to catch up.

Buenas noches!

The right to read: My dyslexic daughter got the help she needed. All kids should.

LA SELE The 5 greatest moments in Costa Rican soccer history

Hump Day

A quick pierogi dinner, Tae Kwon Do for Kendall and walking for Clark and myself. A little late homework but a great busy night.

Buenas noches!

GratiTuesday - Happy Birthday Tio Steve!

Happy Birthday Tio Steve!

Always - every Tuesday.  "My heart is at ease knowing what was meant for me will never miss me, and what misses me was never meant for me.”

SYNERGY

Hypothesis: There's no contradiction between being:  a highly individuated, creative person devoted to developing your own maximum potential and enjoying life to the fullest

AND

a spiritual freedom fighter dedicated to the liberation of other humans and to the transformation of civilization into a paradise that serves and exalts all creatures.

In fact, the two tasks can blend together quite well.

TAKE TIME TO STOP AND BE THE FLOWERS

"Take time to stop and smell the flowers," says an old homily. Albert Hoffman, the Swiss scientist who discovered LSD and lived to age 102, had a different approach. "Take the time to stop and be the flowers," he said.

That's a sweet invitation: Don't just set aside a few stolen moments to sniff the snapdragons, taste the rain, chase the wind, watch the hummingbirds, and listen to a friend.

Use your imagination to actually be the snapdragons and rain and wind and hummingbirds and friend. Don't just behold the Other; become the Other.

Jeff Brown says: Most of the greatest achievements on the planet are unknown to others — private overcomings, silent attempts at belief, re-opening a shattered heart. 

The real path of champions truly lies within — the transforming of suffering into expansion, the clearing of horrifying debris, the building of a healthy self-concept without tools. 

The greatest achievers have found a way to believe in something good despite being traumatized and fractured on life's battlefields. No matter what else they accomplish in their lives, they are already champions. 

One day the world will realize that it is much harder to heal a shattered heart than excel at athletics. Go(l)d medals all around. - Jeff Brown, excerpted from his book from "Love It Forward"

Buenas noches!

How MSR Made the Best Camping Skillet, Ever

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Confirmation Monday

Communication error between Mom and Son. Mom goes to Kennett Square to pick up Son. Son is in West Grove. Mom gets called back to Kennett Square since Son left his backpack. Mom drives to West Grove to get Son. Mom and Son arrive at home at 6:20pm, need to walk Clark, feed Clark, Cordelia, Liam and ourselves, clean lunch boxes, water bottles and coffee cups for tomorrow before heading to Confirmation (first class) at 6:45pm and a 7pm start of class.

Many thanks to a seasoned mom, Sharon, for her guidance tonight and great conversation.  We came home to a shower and homework.

Buenas noches!

How to Find (and Make) the World's Best Barbecue

Soulful Sunday

Church, Sunday School and Altar Guild - check.  We are done with Altar Guild for the year :-)

We have ordered all the seasons of The Dukes of Hazzard today since Kendall loves it so much. So while we wait we returned to Angel.

Buenas noches!

Social Saturday

Tae Kwon Do followed by an Hispanic Festival at Collegium. Kendall and I enjoyed a wonderful lunch at Olive Garden (believe it or not, our first visit) and then we headed home. We enjoyed the weather and a few episodes of The Dukes of Hazzard.  Seeing the Abuelos for the first time since they arrived home (well, at least via FaceTime) was a highlight today as well.

Buenas noches!

Freedom Friday

The week is over and it is movie night. Kendall has been fascinated with the Maze Runner series and has requested the second movie tonight.  Much darker than the first movie - transported to a remote fortified outpost, Thomas and his fellow teenage Gladers find themselves in trouble after uncovering a diabolical plot from the mysterious and powerful organization WCKD. With help from a new ally, the Gladers stage a daring escape into the Scorch, a desolate landscape filled with dangerous obstacles and crawling with the virus-infected Cranks. The Gladers only hope may be to find the Right Hand, a group of resistance fighters who can help them battle WCKD.

Buenas noches!

Tae Kwon Do Thursday

School for Kendall and a seminar day for me at TA Instruments near where I work.  The Garage was closed and Kendall decided to go to the library rather than the YMCA.

And yep - it's Thursday and we are at Tae Kwon Do.  We are trying different nights since confirmation will be on Mondays and we are hard pressed to make it class on Fridays now.

We are finishing homework then heading to bed 😴

Buenas noches!

P.S. Some photos from the Abuelos 50th Wedding Anniversary European cruise. They are having a fabulous time!

Wellness Wednesday

I met the Director at The Garage and he is originally from Nicaragua.  He has taken a special liking to Kendall and we are grateful for everyone that works there.  We started his homework there and even had an omelet before we headed home. We finished homework then Tae Kwon Do for Kendall and a long walk at United Sports for Clark and myself.

Buenas noches!

Liz "Snorkel" Thomas Wants You to Thru-Hike Your City

The Best Savory Snacks to Boost Your Performance

GratiTuesday

#GratiTuesday Reminder: Appreciate where you are in your journey, even if it's not where you want to be. Every season serves it's purpose...

I picked up Kendall at Highland Orchards where The Garage had gone to pick apples. Kendall and I picked out s pumpkin, homemade apple cider donuts, fresh maple yogurt and cheese bread.  Some piano and homework rounded out the evening.

Buenas noches

Seven Things You Need to Start Car Camping

A newly invented word describes the feeling of traveling to a place for the first time

Mindful Monday - Project Happiness Challenge

#HappinessHabitsChallenge DAY 1: Mindfulness, the ancient practice of focusing non-judgmental awareness on the present moment, is increasingly recognized in today’s scientific community as an effective way to reduce stress, increase self-awareness, enhance emotional intelligence, and effectively manage painful thoughts and feelings.

The mind is highly trainable through various mindfulness practices like meditation, Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) and Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy (MBCT). Evidence for the efficacy of mindfulness practices in improving psychological well-being continues to grow exponentially. Just a quick scan of the National Institute of Health’s PubMed database reveals over 500 scientific studies on mindfulness/meditation and the brain!

Buenas noches!

Sunday School Sunday

Church, first class day of sunday school, altar guild and confirmation information.

Buenas noches!

The 25 Greatest Kitchen Hacks Every Cook Should Know

Errand Saturday and Some Downtime

A little extra time in bed, a nice walk to the park with Clark, Tae Kwon Do for Kendall while I set up the altar for church, bank to deposit into Kendall's birthday money, Exton Square Mall for new shoes (thankfully Kendall is still size 13 - he was measured today at 12 but it depends on the cut of the shoe) and a smoothie, Honda for an oil change and state inspection and a fun outdoor lunch at Green Street Grill while we were waiting for the car.  And finally a quick stop at Giant.

After cleaning up a bit, we started The Battle of the Alamo: An Interactive History Adventure (You Choose: History) by Amie Jane Leavitt. Describes the battle of the Alamo in 1836 as Mexican soldiers overwhelmed the Texan Alamo defenders, and explains what the battle symbolizes today. The readers choices reveal historical details from the perspective of a Mexican soldier and a Texan rebel.

And we watched a movie - Jacob Two-Two Meets the Hooded Fang - what an imagination.

Poor Jacob Two-Two. Not only must he say everything twice just to be heard over his four brothers and sisters, but he finds himself the prisoner of the dreaded Hooded Fang. What had he done to deserve such a punishment? The worst crime of all--insulting a grown-up. Although he's small, Jacob is not helpless, especially when The Infamous Two come to his aid.

One day, a boy named Jacob Two-Two (aptly named because every phrase that he utters is repeated) decides to set out to prove himself to his parents that he can do things, so his father, who is tired of hearing his wife order him to do the shopping, sets Jacob out to buy two tomatoes. As Jacob makes his way to buy them, the greengrocer in the shop keeps telling an officer that Jacob was threatening him, so Jacob escapes, but only just, hitting his head rather hard and awaking in court where he is sentenced to two years, two months, two weeks, two days, two hours, two minutes, and five seconds to a children's prison run by not only a mad wrestler presumed lost, but also two (also aptly named) bird-like and fish-like cohorts as well as slimy humanoids that spray resisters with slime to stop them in their tracks. Helping Jacob in his mission are two young agents that aim to free all of the children kept prisoner in the swampy penitentiary. It is up to Jacob Two-Two to escape this heinous prison and free all of the other imprisoned children.

Buenas noches!

Friday!

An end to a crazy week of our new schedule.  We are ready for some Dukes of Hazzard!  And some new art from Kendall.

Buenas noches!

Thoughtful Thursday

Still trying to adapt to our new schedule.  We took a but of a break and enjoed the movie - Spy. A desk-bound CIA analyst volunteers to go undercover to infiltrate the world of a deadly arms dealer, and prevent diabolical global disaster.

Buenas noches!

Cassini’s last image before burning up in Saturn’s atmosphere

A Panic Room for Corals

How Ryan Sandes Won Western States

I Gave Up Coffee. This Is What I Learned.

Outside magazine - We just unveiled our 40th anniversary issue online

THIS YEAR’S FALL COLORS WILL BE EXTRA BEAUTIFUL. HERE’S WHERE THEY’LL PEAK NEAR YOU.

Tough Mudder's Tragic Hero: Meet Mr. Mouse, Who Inspired a Movement

An Ode to Fall Running

Middle of the Week Wednesday

Whew, what a week!  Kendall is in LOVE with The Garage and Community Youth Center in Kennett Square.  I am working later to pick him up since he is having so much fun :-)  We will figure out our Garage, piano and Taek Kwon Do schedule this weekend.  So much to do and so little time!

Buenas noches!

EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO DO IN PHILADELPHIA THIS FALL

Make Hard Cider & Apple Wine

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GratiTuesday

The Garage, piano and homework!

Psychologist Carl Jung said that all desires have a sacred origin, no matter how odd they seem. Frustration and ignorance may cause them to twist into distorted caricatures, but it is always possible to locate the beautiful source from which they arose.  In describing one of his addictive patients, Jung said: "His craving for alcohol was the equivalent on a low level of the spiritual thirst for wholeness, or as expressed in medieval language: the union with God."mHolding this in mind, ruminate about this question: What are the glorious prototypes behind the longings that confuse you or drain you?

"Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that." - Martin Luther King, Jr.

"Optimism is a strategy for making a better future. Because unless you believe that the future can be better, you are unlikely to step up and take responsibility for making it so. If you assume there is no hope, you guarantee there will be no hope." - Noam Chomsky

Buenas noches!

Seeing the Universe Through Sound

The Sex Life Of Coral: Why Scientists Think It Could Save Us All

A Quest to Find the Formula for Perfect Health

Mindful Monday

Kendall is all signed up at The Garage Community and Youth Center in Kennett Square. He loves it! They did a 9/11 timeline and watched a video of the aftermath. He did not want to leave 😊 We made it home in time for a quick dinner and then Tae Kwon Do. Clark came with us and Clark and I walked the 10 soccer fields while Kendall was in United Sports.

Buenas noches!

The #1 Habit You Should Have to Lose Weight

THE 19 TYPES OF BEER SNOBS, RANKED BY OBNOXIOUSNESS

14 OVERLOOKED COUNTRIES NOT ENOUGH AMERICANS VISIT

The healing power of nature The idea that immersing yourself in forests and nature has a healing effect is far more than just folk wisdom

Richard Branson rides out Hurricane Irma in wine cellar

Hurricane Jose strengthens to 'extremely dangerous' Category 4

The Seven Things You Need to Start Backpacking

The Biomechatronic Man

Three Ways To Do #Vanlife

Can a Tesla Become the Ultimate Adventure Vehicle?

Know, Live and Share Sunday at Church

We are trying something new at chuch and have renamed our first day of Sunday School which we called Rally Day to Know, Live and Share Sunday.  We had a great program of getting to know everyone and a chocolate fountain!  It was lots of fun and Kendall and Marcus were fabulous helpers and participants. The Know, Live, Serve (KLS) Celebration Kick-Off/ Cross+Gen event was an amazing time with music, a chocolate fountain, selfies, the creation story, highs and lows, prayers, and fellowship.  After church, the boys rode bikes and played with friends into the afternoon.

We watched The Maze Runner and Kendall was fascinated by this movie.   Thomas, a teenager, arrives in a glade at the center of a giant labyrinth. Like the other youths dumped there before him, he has no memory of his previous life. Thomas quickly becomes part of the group and soon after demonstrates a unique perspective that scores him a promotion to Runner status -- those who patrol the always-changing maze to find an escape route. Together with Teresa, the only female, Thomas tries to convince his cohorts that he knows a way out.

Buenas noches!

Six Flags with Marcus Saturday

An early start to pick up Marcus and a stop at McDonald's for breakfast before heading to Six Flags Great Adventure & Safari in Jackson, NJ.  We arrived at 10:20am and left at 7:30pm.  We had free parking, tickets and lunch courtesy of Croda - thanks!  What fun - the boys enjoyed the roller coaster tour, basketball challenges (Marcus's favorite) and raced my co-worker and his girlfriend in go karts at the Great American Road Race.  It was a spectacularly beautiful day - I ended up with the most sun (no surprise there)!

Buenas noches!

 

Freedom Friday

School finished at 2pm and Kendall patiently waited until I picked him up.  We stopped at the grocery store to shop for the week and for the chocolate fountain at church.  We had fun picking our pretzels, marshmallows, strawberries and angel food cake.  Yum - is it Sunday already?

After a quick dinner, we made it to Tae Kwon Do and then watch some Dukes of Hazzard.

Buenas noches!

Thoughtful Thursday

We have been busy Tueday and Wednesday nights and tonight is no different.  Some homework and Tae Kwon Do - Kendall is doing a great job!

Buenas noches!

Midweek Wednesday

A rainy day and evening!  A rescheduled piano lesson and we organized ourselves for the evening and then joined the Sunday School teachers to clean and organize a few Sunday School rooms.  The pizza and pie made it so much more fun :-)

Bueans noches!

New School and Longwood Gardens Tuesday

Kendall's second first day of 7th grade - he is now a proud student of White Clay School!  We picked up Adrienne for a dinner and a concert to see Julieta Venegas at Longwood Gardens. We had a great dinner there and braved the rail. Although the concert was cut short since lightening started, we loved it! Kendall wants to add her to his Pandora account 😊

And some fun inspiration below - Buenas noches!

"They say to dance like nobody is watching. I think that implies that we are afraid or ashamed to dance in front of the people. I say dance like  everybody is watching. Dance like your children are watching, your  ancestors, your family. Dance for those who are hurting, those who can't  dance, those who lost loved ones and those who suffer injustices  throughout the world. Let every step be a prayer for humanity! Most of all  dance for the Creator, who breathed into your soul so you may celebrate  this gift of life!" -Supamon 

 "When asked if I am pessimistic or optimistic about the future, my  answer is always the same: If you look at the science about what is  happening on earth and aren't pessimistic, you don't understand data.  


"But if you meet the people who are working to restore this earth and the  lives of the poor, and you aren't optimistic, you haven't got a pulse. What  I see everywhere in the world are ordinary people willing to confront  despair, power, and incalculable odds in order to restore some semblance  of grace, justice, and beauty to this world." —Paul Hawken
"Enter each day with the expectation that the happenings of the day may contain a clandestine message addressed to you personally. Expect  omens, epiphanies, casual blessings, and teachers who unknowingly speak  to your condition." - Sam Keen
VW Concept Van: Ultimate Camper Unveiled At German ‘Caravan’ Show



And Bon Voyage to the Abuelos as they embark on the 50th Wedding Anniversary European cruise - have the time of your life!

Buenas noches!

Labor Day Monday

No work, no school, nowhere to go.  Kendall met Marcus in the park and I tried to catch up a bit.

Happy Labor Day all - buenas noches!

How God's Eyes Became A Summer Camp Craft

Rough Translation: the new NPR podcast about how other countries are handling big issues that are also part of the national conversation in the United States

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To My 13-Year-Old, A Cell Phone Contract From Your Mom, With Love

Dear Kendall,

You are now the proud owner of a Samsung Galaxy J7. You are a good and responsible 13-year-old boy and you deserve this gift. But with the acceptance of this present comes rules and regulations. Please read through the following contract. I hope that you understand it is my job to raise you into a well rounded, healthy young man that can function in the world and coexist with technology, not be ruled by it. Failure to comply with the following list will result in termination of your cell phone ownership.

1. It is my phone. I bought it. I pay for it. I am loaning it to you. Aren’t I the greatest?

2. I will always know the password.

3. If it rings, answer it. It is a phone. Say hello, use your manners. Do not ever ignore a phone call if the screen reads “Mom” or “Dad.” Not ever.

4. Hand the phone to one of your parents promptly at 7:30 p.m. every school night and every weekend night at 9:00 p.m. It will be shut off for the night and turned on again at 7:30 a.m. If you would not make a call to someone’s land line, wherein their parents may answer first, then do not call or text. Listen to those instincts and respect other families like we would like to be respected.

5. It does not go to school with you. Have a conversation with the people you text in person. It’s a life skill. *Half days, field trips and after school activities will require special consideration.

6. If it falls into the toilet, smashes on the ground, or vanishes into thin air, you are responsible for the replacement costs or repairs. Mow a lawn, babysit, stash some birthday money. It will happen, you should be prepared.

7. Do not use this technology to lie, fool, or deceive another human being. Do not involve yourself in conversations that are hurtful to others. Be a good friend first or stay the hell out of the crossfire.

8. Do not text, email, or say anything through this device you would not say in person.

9. Do not text, email, or say anything to someone that you would not say out loud with their parents in the room. Censor yourself.

10. No porn. Search the web for information you would openly share with me. If you have a question about anything, ask a person — preferably me or your father.

11. Turn it off, silence it, put it away in public. Especially in a restaurant, at the movies, or while speaking with another human being. You are not a rude person; do not allow the iPhone to change that.

12. Do not send or receive pictures of your private parts or anyone else’s private parts. Don’t laugh. Someday you will be tempted to do this despite your high intelligence. It is risky and could ruin your teenage/college/adult life. It is always a bad idea. Cyberspace is vast and more powerful than you. And it is hard to make anything of this magnitude disappear — including a bad reputation.

13. Don’t take a zillion pictures and videos. There is no need to document everything. Live your experiences. They will be stored in your memory for eternity.

14. Leave your phone home sometimes and feel safe and secure in that decision. It is not alive or an extension of you. Learn to live without it. Be bigger and more powerful than FOMO (fear of missing out).

15. Download music that is new or classic or different than the millions of your peers that listen to the same exact stuff. Your generation has access to music like never before in history. Take advantage of that gift. Expand your horizons.

16. Play a game with words or puzzles or brain teasers every now and then.

17. Keep your eyes up. See the world happening around you. Stare out a window. Listen to the birds. Take a walk. Talk to a stranger. Wonder without googling.

18. You will mess up. I will take away your phone. We will sit down and talk about it. We will start over again. You and I, we are always learning. I am on your team. We are in this together.

It is my hope that you can agree to these terms. Most of the lessons listed here do not just apply to the cell phone, but to life. You are growing up in a fast and ever changing world. It is exciting and enticing. Keep it simple every chance you get. Trust your powerful mind and giant heart above any machine. I love you. I hope you enjoy your awesome new cell phone.

I love you madly and look forward to sharing several million text messages with you in the days to come.

xoxoxo,

Mom

Monumental Saturday

Happy 50th Wedding Anniversay to the best parents and grandparents in the world.  You both are irreplaceable and we love you to infinity and beyond!

Kendall is decked out in his most favorite birthday gift (which was from the Abuelos) - his pocketwatch. Kendall's fortune cookie was apropos for today and starting White Clay School on Tuesday.

A great catch up therapy appointment in Newark, DE and then we checked out Kennett Square for After School activities in lieu of $50 one way per day transportation costs home and only ~$63 per week mileage reimbursement:

Stop 1: Kennett Square YMCA

Stop 2: Kennett Library

Stop 3: Garage Community & Youth Center

All within walking distance so we have several options. A high school friend is a personal trainer at the Kennett Square YMCA and we are considering a weekly session with him and their Teens in Training program.  The library had some clubs and Kendall really liked our view of the Garage Community & Youth Center.

We finished all our school and home shopping at Big Lots and set up the altar at church since we are on altar guild. We were going to look at cell phones on Sunday but went today since it was raining. Kendall now has a cell phone and quite excited. I am working on a cell phone contract for him.

When we arrived home and was getting everyone walked and ready for dinner, we discovered Rosalind had passed away in her sleep.  We buried her in a blanket in the backyard. It poured afterwards and we are quite sad. Rest In Peace our sweet Rosalind. She was named from Shakespeare's play 'As You Like It.' The character Rosalind is a a heroine and is an example of ingenuity, good humor, loyalty, friendship and patience.

Buenas noches!