New Blog

I have decided to start another blog in addition to this one. While this one is more of a journal of our family and adventures in Costa Rica, it is very general. I am not one to share personal feelings, especially in a blog, but this blog is as close as it will get. My other blog is more of our story of home schooling abroad.

I get lots of emails asking me about moving abroad with the kids as well as homeschooling, so decided that it would be better to divide up my mind. Like divide and conquer. I do better if I only have to focus on one thing at a time, so on this blog it will be all about me :) The other blog will be about the kids and the great adventure they are having in growing up as expats.

Speaking of me, let's talk about me some more. Again another day in paradise. We are wrapping up sports massage in the school and I am enjoying the heck out of it, as always. We have a student that is bright and quick to catch on to hands on work. That is always fun and great energy in the classroom.

I did a one hour run this morning and the weather was just perfect. I am missing Bekah and family, but at least there is internet, it does help a bit. I told her I don't know what I miss more the running partner or the cookie fiend partner! I just made some banana muffins so that should help curb the cookie cravings. Gotta get ready to head to Manual Antonio beach tomorrow. A couple of days at the beach to work on our sports massage. Actually just a great excuse to go hang out at the beach for a couple of days :)

Having spent the last few months thoroughly absorbed, o.k. obsessed with politics, I feel as if I am waking from a bit of a nap. I have finally faced the fact there is nothing I can do that will make a difference if I am filled with fear and loathing. I read an article today about how we hate the negative traits we see in others that remind us we are also capable of these traits.

If I want to see peace I must be peace. "Be the peace you desire to see in the world." Ghandi said it best.

Give Peace a Chance

The votes are in on sanctions against Iran. There were only 12 votes against sanctions:
Here is the honor roll who voted against:
Tammy Baldwin (D-WI)
Earl Blumenauer (D-OR)
John Conyers (D-MI)
John Duncan (R-TN)
Jeff Flake (R-AZ)
Maurice Hinchey (D-NY)
Dennis Kucinich (D-OH)
Stephen Lynch (D-MA)
Jim McDermott (D-WA)
Gwen Moore (D-WI)
Ron Paul (R-TX)
Pete Stark (D-CA)

Yeah for Jeff Flake from Arizona! They have proven over and over again that sanctions only effect the poor and needy people in a country. The thinking is that these people will put pressure on their government to do whatever is being required. Unfortunately as has been proven again and again, the governments don't really give a flip about the poor and needy therefore they are the only ones who suffer from these sanctions. What a shame.

HAPPY DAY OF PEACE

Happy Day of Peace to one and all! I like to think that maybe just one day of awareness will spread to two or three or more. Wouldn't it be great if we could actually tip the scales to more peace than war and killing? I believe in the hundreth monkey concept, that one person can make a difference. I hope everyone enjoyed a beautiful peaceful day today.

PEACE

Believe it or not sometimes I get called a "hippie". Actually now I get called an "old hippie". Maybe that is the only kind of hippie there is. I do believe that more people are going to have to decide if they are on the side of peace or not.

My son who is 23 has already made it very clear that he is a pacifist. He is probably the new hippie breed. He works as a coffee man at the local coffee shop in Flagstaff Az. He has a dog he takes trail hiking and he is an artist. Yup fits the mold.

He and I had a good talk when I visited him in Flagstaff we discussed the war and what his opinions were. I was surprised to find we actually agreed on something! Now that is exciting that I can agree with my kids about something.

It is hard to say you will fight for peace, a little of an oxymoron, but there are things we can do to increase peace on earth. We can check out ourselves and see where we are at as far as peace goes. Do we feel peace and love for others? Or do we pass onto our families that we are not feeling peaceful or loving?

In our own homes is where peace on earth will start and grow to encompass the whole world. Lets all work on it and see if we can't spread something besides swine flu to a pandemic level .