January 12 - A Moment to Enjoy

another gorgeous day at the beach - had fun in the sand and on the play ground.  Dara loves the beach (and can you blame her?)

running near the water

Dara, shadow and reflection

leg in the water

foot prints

shoes

January 11 - Marina Park (or "barina" park)

It was coolish today and I had been promising to take Dara to a park that we don't usually get to, but it is great fun.  I think this was the first time we even went down to the water, usually we just play in the sand by the park equipment or there is this great Pirate Ship and zip line that Dara likes.  It was kinda cool to walk down to the water here so easy - hard to believe that we waited so long.  - Check out Dara's cool shell here.

running to the park

sunset and jetty

wheeeeeee - on the zip line

reflections in the sand

in the water

bird in flight

you can almost see our smiles!

January 10 - Run Fast Mom

I ran down to the beach today before picking up Dara at pre-school, admittedly I was cutting it close, but did not want another struggle like we had last night.  Also after a number of days taking pics on my own I am getting little more artsy.  However, I am not sure it was worth the 14 minutes I left myself to run up  the hill to the pre-school.  (last pic of the pier from 2 blocks down the hill from the preschool) ugh!

the pier is by the tiny trees in the middle

January 9 - Almost

We almost didn't make it to the ocean today.  Dara was in no mood to get out of the house and actually threw a little tantrum (which is almost unheard of for her).  Finally I got her out of the house and she agreed to just run quick to the water and back to the stroller to get home - surprisingly that is exactly how it went down and I barely even got time to snap a pic.  but did manage to get a few good ones.

running to the water

a quick moment in the water

post sunset

January 8 - Reflections in the Sand

This evening we walked down to the beach before dinner and let Dara play in the sand again.  A little more wind today - but still gorgeous.  Very low tide makes for some great beach walking too.  If you are up for it, low tide is a good time to look for beach glass . . . (maybe when Dara is a little older) - but whether you are looking for something or not - the reflections on the water soaked sand are really cool!

January 7 . . . This morning I had a long workout with yoga and running and walking to and from the Farmer's Market.  I was not too keen on walking down to the beach, but what a beautiful day!  Tim even when out for an afternoon surf which is rare around here since there is almost always wind in the afternoon - but not today- if you can pick out the flag on the pier in these pics you may notice the amount of non-windiness!  Thankfully I had some good company with Tim and Dara, walking down to the beach.

January 6 - Epiphany - waves and rocks

Today we had some big"ish" surf and a high tide in the morning - so I ran down to the boardwalk before Tim went to work to check it out.  Not the biggest I have seen here, but fun to take some pics of the waves on and the rocks.

January 5 - To the Beach on my Own

This was the first day that I made it to the beach by myself.  Dara was at school and we had plans for the rest of the day, so I needed to make a quick stop after running errands.  I parked at a place a little further away from our house that I wouldn't likely walk to just to get a different feel.  I have run on the path by this area a number of times, but I had never walked on the beach here.  It was really quite lovely.

The other interesting part of this trip is that there were police officers blocking one of the lanes on Harbor Drive.  I never did find out what happened or why they were there, but it did make me a little more cautious about where I was walking (both on the beach and crossing the street)

view of the pier

shadow in the water

hand in the water

January 4 - Dancing in the Sand

Believe it or not I was not sure I would get Dara to the beach today - she suggested going to just about every other park in walking distance - of course once we did get to the beach this is what she looked like.








and yes we did get our feet in the water

January 3 - A surprise Picnic with Friends

After school on Tuesday I thought Dara and I would make a quick run to the beach before heading home for lunch and a nap.  As we walked we met up with a friend of hers from school (along with her mom and sister) as they were heading for a picnic at a nearby park.  As the girls began to play I was talking with the mother about what we were going to do and she asked if they could tag along.  She had planned a picnic lunch for her girls and there was plenty to share.  So the 5 of us stopped be her house to grab an extra part to their stroller and off we went to the beach.

The girls had a great time (as did the moms getting to know one another).  What a fun adventure this is turning out to be!

feet in the water??  well at least the wet sand

oh - there's the water

picnic friends, Lucy, Eli, Dara and Sara

January 2 - A family affair

As Tim and I have been talking about me getting down to the ocean every day Dara has decided that she also needs to be a part of this.  I was telling her that I was going to touch the water every day, but I was not sure that she needed to.  she replied "yes I do mom.  I need to touch the ocean every day".  Well who can argue with that?  This is one little girl who really loves the ocean.  And it is good to hear her talk about it now at almost 3 years old.  Still not sure she will touch the ocean every day - but I bet she will get there with me most days this month.

January 2 - at the beach with Dara and Tim . . .

in the water

it is colder that it looks

Dara and Tim swinging at sunset

sunset and the pier from the foot bridge

January 1, 2012 - Back to the Beach

Beginning a new year always brings some sense for new beginnings, for a chance to do things new and different, opportunities to make life better, more meaningful, more exciting.  Sometimes it is the little things that help those changes to happen.

I generally think that one can start these "new beginnings" at anytime.  And most of the time can be making little changes with intention.  This year I am living with the word "intention". 

During the month of January I have committed to touching the ocean every day.  As a Minnesotan living in SoCal it seems like this is a wonderful opportunity.  We live close enough to walk - why not touch the ocean every day?

And so it begins - a chronicle of the experiences at the shore.

January 1 began as a snowy winter morning in MN.  After a very brown and warm Christmas we did finally get to see some snow (which Dara helped to shovel) before hopping on a plane back to sunny CA.  That evening we enjoyed some fish tacos on the Pier with our good friends and the feel of water and sand in my toes.  We are indeed fortunate to live in Ventura.

Dara helping Grandpa shovel

feet in the cold water

some interesting snow/dust like substance as the sun set

touching the water with my fingers - brrr.

dinner with the Jones family

learn, know, teach.

We create and re-create ourselves in a constant flow of energy. There are places that we practice this flow in safe waters and there are places that we teach. I read somewhere recently (probably on a Yogi Tea tea bag) "to learn - read, to know - write, to master - teach". That is the flow we live in. So we keep learning, knowing and teaching. Thus is the life of a daughter, sister, mother, pastor, healer, creature of earth.

(this picture is a piece I created for a Profile Book celebrating my work as a Pastor, Healer, mother, athlete . . .)

surfing

It has been about four months since my last surfing adventure. Last November Tim and I went to Costa Rica with Tim's brother and sister-in-law (Jonathan and Gretchen) and our friends Jeff and Kerri. I must say it was much warmer and a lot less crowded, but that's a different story.

Lately I have been coaxed out again into the cold waters of Southern California by Tim and our friends Erin and Bryan. We have had beautiful days, warm and amazing sunshine and with wet suits, booties and gloves I must say one gets toasty.

I recently learned that I really like the sorter boards - smaller, easier to manage. And I have been able to catch a few small waves in the white water. I once even got a nice "cut" in one (mom, please read that as "I was able to turn the board while standing on it").

Although I have learned much of the surf lingo (more than the "how-to") there are still a few things that I think need some language. Like when you get tossed of a wave and get some help with the snot knocked out of you - literally. What is that called? A salt-water nasal enima? Maybe I heard that somewhere. It's like the "farmer's blow" only with some help . . .

Anyway - what I think I like best (to quote my nephew) is the taste of the water. There is just nothing like salt water washing over you . . .

a good point

well - there are many reasons that we make the choices that we make in life. after reading this article I am both convicted and hopeful.

only perfect practice makes perfect

I can't say that I am really trying to be perfect here - this is just the expression that I remember being framed on my piano teacher's wall in her piano room. I remember looking at it often and thinking to myself - "what fun is that". But I do remember it vividly and I often am reminded of that quote - and again, not because I want to be perfect. It is more a reminder for me to PRACTICE. that's where I lose it. I am more of an improvisor really, but that only gets one so far.

I have been reading some posts from my sister-in-law's blog The Late Shift at the SageMart and as always she has inspired me. Generally at Christmas time I wait for her Christmas letter to come and I imagine that it is possible to be as witty as she is and as well equipped to turn phrases, and then I get started and I realize how desperately out of practice I am.

So I pick at it again here, and maybe a class or two will be in my future . . .

remembering hope and creating hope

I am sitting in my office, listening to the gentle hum of the fans we have running in the house (we don't have an air conditioner) and doing some reading on the web.

As I was surfing through a few of the blogs I regularly read I found myself watching some clips from the Daily Show. (We don't get cable and I love this show so when I find myself in a place where I can get little clips I soak it in - like candy and cookies, cable access to shows I love are better kept out of the house and/or I have to have some really strong resolve to only take small doses).

Anyway, I was watching some clips and I came across "Jon Stewart Post 9/11 Speech. It was a poignant reminder for me of that day, but more importantly of the fleeting moments of clarity that we have in life, Celtic traditions refer to these times as the "thin places". Beyond the fear, past the anger, in the middle of the rips and tears in our hearts, I remember the undeniable moments of oneness. And not just oneness with the people of this country - but the world. There was oneness with the world.

I live in a place where the "Christian voice" would have us believe that there is only oneness within the realm of Christianity. All to often when I go to worship with other Christians I leave feeling lost, depressed, misplaced, and I have no trouble identifying with those who reject the church. But I cannot bring myself to walk away from these practices, I cannot leave the conversation, I am continually drawn to the "table" for the hope of this oneness. Not the oneness of assimilation, or that we conform to the same practices and lifestyles and beliefs.

It is the oneness of sharing this same time and space on earth. The oneness that we are of the human race, the oneness that we are a world community, a world of people that may be worlds apart, but world citizens together.

It is that hope in which I live. It is that vision of the Kingdom of God for which I work and live and seek. It is that hope that continues to draw me into these conversations of faith and culture and remembering.

Thanks also to Mary Hess who refered to the unrest of the world through the dailyKos.

I still see hope

driving cars and "being green"

I have been going through a moderately comical and frantic "the world is dying" melodrama over the past few weeks.

thankfully moving past the hopelessness of "what can I do to save to world", to the hopefullness of "what can I do to effectively be a part of saving the world".

so . . . here is one thing I can start . . . interesting information and "little things" we can do together -

here is the first -

check it out

for san diegans and mostly west coast

for minnesotans and mostly east coast

for other tips and information on easy ways to "be green" check out
this for at home

and

this for at work


more to come . . .