Good Day. Now, Good Night.

A Sunday that begins with a family snuggle in the bed with time to savor it.  An easy breakfast, no rushing the girls through their morning play.  An almost 4 year old who can dress herself even after proclaiming loudly, "I don't want to go to church!"  (To her credit, she did throw up last night randomly and has had a mild fever.)  A mama who doesn't sweat the dress put on backwards...I mean buttons in the front DO make more sense!  A mama who doesn't sweat the red and white striped long sleeved dress under the Easter looking large green sleeveless puffy dress that gets us questions like, "Were you a flower girl in that?".  Nope, we just like to be all fancy sometimes is my reply with a smile.  The deep inside me smile is that my whole family easily got to church and will enjoy it together.  My 6 year old, almost squatting in her chair will bellow out, "Lord, hear our prayer." with enthusiasm at the reading of the prayer book compared to the quiet restraint of the rest of us.  She'll flip the Hymn book open with her 5 year old friend after they quietly play with a sticker book on the floor.  The bear will say church hurts her ears and the best dada in the world will unquestioningly take her to a safe, quieter place where she'll rest in his lap.

Although, it's my plan to power through a book that is probably too heavy for a 38 weeker to be reading right now, I will try but fall asleep instead.  Twice.  Leaving that best dada to wash dishes, chop wood and love on four sweet cheeks.      

Now, all are asleep.  The dada and I both fell asleep with the cheeks but I awoke, again to lots of movement from within.  The woodstove is ablaze.  We made calzones and pizzas for dinner, freezing about half of the calzones.  The lil bear is clearly not 100% well but working through it all.  And, her doting big sister is somehow up for reading books to her, giving her a bath, making her a pile of blankets in a snuggy corner and putting her PJs on before dinner.  Seriously, where did she learn such care and compassion?  And, dear God would you please teach me how to be more like her?

All in all a great day to say good night to. 

Happy February

We have been so looking forward to this month!  Our lil bear has spent months growing up, preparing to turn 4 years old and all that will come with it this year.  Her big sister is excited to be half way done with Kindy and asks weekly about what is going to happen in 1st grade.  We're so glad to welcome a new babe into our home sometime this month.  Each girls expresses how much she is hoping for lots of baby cuddles and snuggles.  We've spent the last month nesting, resting, reading, and stocking up our freezer. 

Personally, tomorrow is one of my favorite holidays to celebrate.  Both as the day that Simon recognized Jesus in the Temple and for the blessing of the candles reminding us of this Jesus, light of the world shining upon us.  The girls and I made many candles for labor and birth.  We look forward to lighting them soon!

Bird & Reptile Park

More Beauty After Pedicures

Back In Bali

I didn't just pull 24 hour shifts and promote CNN Hero of the Year, Robin Lim.  I didn't just supervise volunteers and interview with UN peeps.  Nope, I got a pedicure once...with my oldest daughter even.

Best Days

Really, they are just normal kind of every day days that we are having.  We snuggle in the morning, make breakfast, clean up, read books & sing songs, make candles or needle felt or color.  Then, the girls play while I sort work on organizing some part of our house that needs it right now.  We make gluten free muffins or bread and play with beeswax.  They play some more while I create lunch or they help me create lunch.  We eat outside on warmer days like today (while Steve cleans out the woodstove for us with his loud machine making our house all stinky) or at the table with our Advent wreathe in the middle. 

After cleaning up from lunch, we spend most afternoons outside from 1-4pm.  We either meet a friend at the park, have a friend over, play with our little neighbor or just ourselves.  We try to balance a friend day with a family day.  The girls ride bikes usually while I sweep or rake.  We walk through our awesome yard.  I push them on the swings.  We've been exploring the park beyond just the playground recently and had the best time finding rock piles and sand piles or running around the baseball diamond and swinging on it's gate.  We met horses on the trail recently when all 5 kids wanted to venture down to it. 

Dinner is usually a big steaming pot of lentil soup or a stir fry (with a salad for the adults and almond milk yogurt for the kids) on those days we get home later.  I try to chop veggies a day ahead or at lunch prep so dinner happens quicker and we can spend more time outside.  Sometimes, when we are at home, we'll all be together with the girls chopping tempe or measuring lentils and spices out into the big blue cast iron pot.  We're making lasagna and baking a lot b/c we were without an oven (and many baked goods!) for over two months. 

I have so much energy throughout the day but am soooooooo tired around dinner time.  This week, I have taken a little rest both afternoons and the girls are so calm with me.  The Bear even snuggles me up.  While the soup simmers, we rest our bodies and our minds until they and the soup are ready to stir. 

They are just simple days really.  They are really wonderful days, too. 

Here.

Yes, it is taking us a while to get settled back into our home...while at the same time we are so comfy and thankful to be here that the transition feels so much easier this time around.  We spent some time sorting through closets and bags of clothes to find warm enough clothes.  All was secured before we left so it would be easier to return.  Yay!  We're still sorting and prepping for the upcoming holidays.  We are thankful to be back at our home church and celebrating Advent.  We are thankful to be seeing special friends, again.  We are soooooooo excited about the Waldorf Holiday Faire this weekend but bummed to hear candle dipping isn't happening.  We enjoy that most each year.  It did snow last year when we were standing in line for lunch so we're hopeful for another treat like that!

Down Home, Again

We've been jet-lagged but happy to be in our home!  We love our friends here who were so deeply missed.  We are thankful for amazing foods, hot showers and comfy beds.  We have been busy chopping wood, raking leaves (and jumping in their piles), unpacking, sorting through warm clothes, finding missed toys, slipping on autumn boots and stirring large pots of soup. 

Waldorf Doll Giveaway

Would you like to win this doll?  It would make a precious gift for any child this year! 

http://www.etsy.com/listing/86175597/waldorf-doll-12-sweet-baby-doll-handknit

If you hop on over to Bending Birches, one of my favorite inspirational blogs, you can enter to win it there. 

family temple

Give a Child a Camera

the ole 'hood

where we lived the first year

we take a lot of little walks around the village

the view

view from the indian restaurant.  the girls were sick the next day/week- from the food here, perhaps? 

view from the office

Beach Getaway

Birthday Planning

It's almost my E bear's birthday! We are planning a trip to the dog shelter here to deliver the leashes and collars she collected from friends.  This was her birthday wish that she created all on her own.  We'll head by the shelter to visit the puppies and dogs that have been rescued soon.


The day after her birthday, we are going to be total tourists in Bali and go to the waterpark with friends!  We went about 4 years ago but did not go on our last trip here.  This year we are excited to bring our Balinese friends with us. 

Martinmas Inspiration

From Waldorf Mama's post about Martinmas last year

Two things about me: 1. I am a planner. 2. I like to 'see' what something looks like before I do it, to get familiar with it and be inspired by it.

Therefore, when it comes to Waldorf celebrations in our home, I really like to see images online and in books and from pictures I have taken in years past. These inspire me to create our own celebration from the culled work of others over the centuries. We're talking about ancient celebrations here! Reading about the Saint or how the event was celebrated in years past also inspires me. In an effort to plan our Martinmas celebration, which will happen right before we leave Bali this year, I am doing some planning now. First, we'll have our costume party next week and then E's birthday. It's all coming up so quickly in our last month here. Then there's Korea to plan! 

'That I May Bear a Light' from Uncommon Grace is an inspiring post!

Recipe for GF Cookies and a Beautiful Lantern from Nourishing Meals

'Martinmas in the Waldorf Home' from The Parenting Passageway with 'The Pumpkin Pie' song linked


Super Cute Lanterns from Rhythm of the Home which could be done in paper, as we don't have access to felt here in Bali. 

Concise story of why we celebrate Martinmas from Frontier Dreams

A Martinmas story and how to make lanterns out of balloons, crepe paper and paste from GardenMama

Yet another simple Martinmas post from Waldorf Mama.  

The Avett Brothers

I am currently listening to this song daily.  It is just so well-written and sung.  The words capture how I see my life right now.   From within my growing family out into the wider world of attending women in labor land, especially in Bali but certainly wherever I get to do these wonderful things.  

The Avett Brothers sing Salvation Song here.

They lyrics are from here.

If you take my heart
Don't leave the smallest part
I've no need to live if you're to come up gone
An as my life turns to a song
And if and when I treat you wrong
No I never want to hurt our family

And I would give up everything
No this is not just about me
And I don't know a plainer way to say it Babe
And they may pay us off in fame
Though that is not why we came
And I know well and good that won't heal our hearts

We came for salvation
We came for family
We came for all that's good that's how we'll walk away
We came to break the bad
We came to cheer the sad
We came to leave behind the world a better way

Now if I'm walkin' through the rain
And I hear you call my name
I will break into a run without a pause
And if your love laughs at your dreams
Well it's not as bad as it seems
Either way one of them has got to go
And if you take of my soul
You can still leave it whole
With the pieces of you own you leave behind

We came for salvation
We came for family
We came for all that's good that's how we'll walk away
We came to break the bad
We came to cheer the sad
We came to leave behind the world a better way

And I would give up everything
And if you were to come up clean
And see you shine so bright in a world of woe
And they may pay us off in fame
But that is not why we came
And if it compromises truth then we will go

We came for salvation
We came for family
We came for all that's good that's how we'll walk away
We came to break the bad
We came to cheer the sad
We came to leave behind the world a better way

Zula Pie

Remember that apple pie I told you about from my fave vegan place in all of the world?  Here's a picture of it beside the local coconut milk ice cream we devoured.  Yes, it was an incredible treat!  And, guess what?  Zula's is coming to Ubud next month!!!  Wooooo hooo!

Tots and Jerseys

This past weekend, we had been planning a beach trip getaway.  Hubs has to work every night except Saturday and Sunday with secure internet access so we cannot do a weekday getaway.  We planned on being semi-tourists with an air conditioned hotel in mind since everyone was feeling the heat at our house.  We have fans but it never really gets cool; we are always sweating.  We drink gallons of water and Chamomile tea here.  Our freezer doesn't get cold enough for ice anymore somehow.  Plus, the weather is just more intense when one is sick and has to walk outside to use the toilet.  Since E was all well on Saturday morning, we thought a hotel stay would do her (all of us!) ever more good.  So, we stuck with the plan of a beach getaway choosing a location with two of our favorite places to eat!

Zula's is a vegan restaurant with a focus on raw, living foods.  I could eat the menu, as our new friend would say.  We ate yummy nachos, lentil soup, mashed potatoes, GF pancakes and tempe bacon, fresh salads, tempe tuna wraps, chickpea burgers, GF samosas, and platters full of yummy with 5 portions of incredible.  To top it off, I had warm apple pie with fresh, local handmade coconut milk ice cream!  Are you kidding me?!  We found homemade GF  and sugar free vegan cookies in Almond, Peanut Butter, Chocolate Chip and Date.  A sample of each please.  Hubs is a huge fan of smoothies and he probably had two with every meal!  The girls and I split a strawberry soymilk shake with dinner the first night.  I actually have a picture of E and I splitting one from four years ago framed and hanging on the wall at our house! 

The drive down in a hot car with traffic was crazy, of course.  I still cannot believe the amazing amount of patience God graced me with to not have a panic attack.  Sitting in a sweltering hot car after 2 hours of bouncy kids surrounded by motorbikes on both sides and other vehicles (all with no regulations on exhausts!!!) was enough to break a mama.  We went in circles after one wrong turn upon arriving, then B had to poop and of course, there were no toilets to be found by the restaurant owners of vacation central.  Argh!  When we finally found one, I tripped on my skirt carrying B up the concrete stairs and bonked her head on a step.  Yep, incredible.  She was amazingly okay.  We finally found our way and ate the yummiest dinner.

After securing a reasonably affordable hotel (some are crazy expensive in tourist town), we settled into the cool air.  The next morning, E was surprised to have her wish of eating tots granted at the breakfast buffet!  When she said on the drive down, "I wish I could eat tots." I kinda laughed and said, "No tots here in Bali that I have ever seen."  Leave it up to a hotel that caters to Australians to have baked beans, toast and tots on the breakfast line!  We spent the morning on the beach, splashing in the water and walking.  A friendly pup greeted us, which the girls found delightful.  He jumped up on me and bit a hole in my swim skort!  Argh.  Goodness.  We are on vacation, people.  No biting dogs.  We get enough crazy dogs in our own village.  Anyway, being on said vacation, we took a taxi to lunch to avoid the heat and walking with two beach tired out lil chicks.  We have taken all of three taxis in our four years coming here before this.  One time was an emergency and the others were for similar beach trips.  We like to walk but hubs and I agreed our families health was in recovery so planned to take it easy.  Taking a taxi is really wonderful.  Quick and air conditioned.  Wow.

We spent time plashing in the pool that had a shallow sand side then a deeper space.  It was excellent.  We floated on noodles, ate our desserts and lounged.  E practiced swimming and B tossed the basketball into the hoop with her dada.  His dreams come true, eh?  We did walk to dinner in the cooler air later that afternoon, stopping to buy hats along the way.  After ordering, B and I bought some necklaces and bracelets for friends back home from a roadside stand of smoking guys.

Across from Zula's was a shop full of soccer jerseys.  B is really into playing soccer with her BFF here and watching our friend play soccer.  The soccer field is the center of our small village.  We've already talked about her playing soccer with Eleanor next spring.  With stars in her eyes, she asked, "Do they ever make soccer shirts in my size?" or something like that.  I confirmed and hoped we'd find one on this trip.  What a delight as we walked home to see tiny soccer jerseys all lined up at the market!  B and I were thrilled to pick through stacks of them.  She wanted blue and white so it didn't take long.  She took her shirt off right there and rocked out the blue jersey with white lettering.  I know nothing about teams or players or numbers or names and thankfully, neither does she!  Blue and white were enough to please.  She literally was jumping up and down with joy and my smile hurt my cheeks.  The seller guy was hysterical with us laughing and laughing and trying to hug and high five with B.  He gave us a good deal on the top and shorts which B wore to the hotel and slept in!

Tots and jerseys are not natural.  Nothing about them screams healthy!  They are processed with ingredients we normally avoid.  But, these two items were the longings of my daughters' hearts this weekend.  And, this mama has a heart full of happiness that after vomiting for three days or sitting on a toilet every 3 hours, something would bring that light back to their eyes.

Bali Belly

My poor lil E bear struggled with Bali belly last week on and off for almost 5 days.  She's lost a little bit of weight which as anyone who knows us, can recall the incredible amount of anxiety this causes for me.  We have worked hard to keep her healthy and this is such a blow.  She was feeling well on Saturday morning, finally and stayed well until tonight (Tuesday).  A little bit of an upset stomach, needing rest and no appetite at dinner.  She's so great at knowing which herbal and homeopathic remedies help her.  There is one version of chinese harbs we call 'the yellow pill' which has a nasty biter taste but really helps knock out some Bali belly.  With some protest, she will take it hidden in a scoop of peanut butter or some raw cake.  We added another chinese herb dubbed, 'little brown pills' which don't have a strong flavor but require about 4 at a time.  She says these are the ones that help her so will take them with a glass of something other than water.  She went to bed feeling much better.  We have an afternoon date planned for tomorrow if she's up for it.  We appreciate prayers of wellness for our last few weeks here!