Today's Adventure

Zach happy to be stuck in the back with the little girls, Emma using an umbrella cover for a puppet, and Satvinder licking her finger because she's about to stick it in Zach's ear

At the State Capitol

Gary on the lawn

Trees!

Monkeys!

I was just thinking that!

Conversation between Satvinder, age 4, and Emma, age 7:

Emma: School would be so much better if it was just recess and puppet shows. Life would be so good.
Satvinder: Yeah. I am thinking about puppet shows right now! Clown puppet shows!
Emma: Oh! I am thinking about princess puppet shows!
Satvinder: Oh! Me too! Princess puppet shows!
Emma: Now I am thinking about prom puppet shows!
Satvinder: OH! OH! I am thinking about clown and princess puppet shows!
Emma: YEAH! That's what I'm thinking about! Clown and princess - MIXED!!
Satvinder: YESSSSS!

(followed by lots of delighted laughter)

What time is it?

It is family time. Here are some pictures from today.
Emma, Jayden & Satvinder - with all the swimming, you'd think they'd get worn out. But no. (Don't let the look on Satvinder's face fool you.)

Billy (right) and his friend, Philip, recently got matching hula girl tattoos.

We eat well.

The girls love to climb on Zach...and he tolerates it nicely.

Going to Texas

I woke up with this song in my head today. Because...we're going to Texas.

R.I.P. Fynn

We say goodbye to Fynn, the dear companion of Satvinder's Dadaji and Nonni. Fynn was a really exceptional dog and we loved him. Really, I don't think I've ever known a dog that was as awesome as Fynn. He was part of the family and we'll miss him.

Desk Art

This is a picture that Satvinder drew on my desk, right by my keyboard. We asked why she drew on my desk (after we had just told her NOT to draw on my desk.) This way, she said, it was on my big, heavy desk and I wouldn't lose it. Satvinder told me it is a picture of her.

Satvinder has been getting tired of the amount of time I spend working on my computer. I am trying to get a lot done because we are going to Austin in a few days and I have a whole list of things to finish up before that trip. I suspect this is her way of saying, "Don't forget about ME!"

Eventhough I told her not to draw on my desk, I have to admit that I really like that funny little picture and I'm secretly kind of glad that she did...

Good Reads

Over the past months, several books have played an integral role in opening my heart and my mind. It is a common message in all of them - and each reminder is so welcome and helpful. One of the books I am reading right now, Choosing Love: A Guide to Spiritual Relationship by Gina Lake, sums up the recurring theme:

"It's an illusion that we are separate at all. There is only one Being pretending to be many, all dressed up in infinite guises. This Being is immensely enjoying the costume party, and the more diverse and interesting the characters are, the better. There is obviously no room for sameness in creation because sameness just doesn't exist, not even in leaves or snowflakes. What there is room for is diversity. That is essence's point of view, but it is not the ego's.

The ego's lack of appreciation for diversity puts it at odds with life. At every turn, it opposes life because it opposes diversity and differences. That is what we are here to unlearn. We are here to overcome this aversion to life as it is and to learn, instead, to embrace its unpredictability and diversity. We are not here to shape and mold it to our view but to shape our view to it. Our view of life must change, not life. But that kind of transformation comes only through life itself, which teaches us that we can't have our way; rather, we must let life have its way with us."

Other books that have been vital companions lately:
A Thousand Names for Joy by Byron Katie
A New Earth: Awakening to You Life's Purpose by Eckhart Tolle

Monsoon...for real

We are in the monsoon season here in Phoenix - not that there has been any indication of that until tonight. Now it is finally pouring down the rain. We are ignoring bedtime and letting Satvinder play in it.

In the News

I am very excited about a news piece that aired about Yoga Phoenix last night. It is not all that common for the specific type of yoga that we teach, Kundalini Yoga, to get press so this is really fantastic.

You can watch the news clip on the Yoga Phoenix blog.

I stayed decidedly out of the building while the filming was going on so I had no idea what I would be watching. I found it to be an excellent representation and it is clear this reporter had the pure intention of sharing this amazing practice. I think everyone did a great job and I couldn't be more pleased.

Yay!

And now...

It is always said that when one door closes, another opens. I've been really holding on to that idea recently - but I never expected the door that opened over the last couple days.

It came by surprise as Mangala Sadhu Sangeet Singh and I were having a long talk - something shifted. A critical moment came - I can't even explain how - but the past disappeared, the stories and dramas went away and I knew I had to speak from my heart. In becoming vulnerable when I knew the risk was so big, the impossible somehow became possible. Like the switch of a light, somehow we were able to have a communication that lead us to reconcile. My husband came home that day.

I can't really explain what made our reality change so much in just a moment. But it did. We are not coming back to something. We are starting something new. Something died. And now something else is here as a possibility.

I don't know what it is - only God knows. But in this moment, I am grateful. And I am humbled. This is one crazy ride...and I want to, again, give thanks for all who have offered support and love and kindness on this ever-changing journey.