So, today... the wall said it all.

I am now going to document the school wall.  I have been following 'the wall' for a while.  This school opened up in December 2011.  It is a recycled school from a big city and came in module pieces.  It took about 20 trucks and a big crane to build this school up in 2 days.  It looked like a major lego construction site.  The electricity, water, carpentry and all that took much much longer.

The artist is pointing with her foot at the hot drink.

This wall has become more and more an outlet of childrens creativity and imagination.  Today the kids were in a hot discussion over igloos, where they are, who lives in them.  The children are looking at the 2 people sitting in fur clothing, drinking something hot and steamy at the enterance of the igloo.

Chalkpaint + one wall + chalk = unlimited possibilities of stories to tell

Many times, the journey before the final destination is more important.

It was -14 ºC = 6.8 ºF this morning.  People around us were hustling as fast as humanly possible to warm up their cars, hasting from one indoor place to another, dragging pets along as fast as their legs would carry while ordering them to pee faster.  How wonderful it is to have children that have learned to dress according to weather and that likes being outside.  It's thanks to them, I am also fully vested in warm and fluffy stuff.

I forgot my iPhone this morning. This is the morning picture we took yesterday. It is glourious to be alive and have another day with people I love and cherish.

So here we were, biking along, happy, smiling... laughing over silly jokes.  And as we stopped to step off our bikes to cross a street ... 

-Wow mama, exclaimed Anïas and Illïus almost at the same time. 
-Look at that sky! said Illïus
-It is so beautiful, added Anïas and asked if all the lines across the heavens were clouds.

I looked up and saw these loooooong white frozen cotton trails crossing eachother high above our heads.  It looked like some divinty had played tick-tack-toe on the amazingly light blue sky.  Colors of peach and pink could still be seen over the tree tops, and the contrast against the blue was breathtaking.  It was so incredibly beautiful.  I explained that the 'cotton trails' were from bypassing planes and jets (we have an airport close by) and Anïas replied with a nod and smile.  Illïus let out a happy 'cool'.

I am so thankful that I have been blessed with children.  They help me keep a proper pace in life and help me become more present in my thoughts and actions.  The miracles they ponder and notice is really worth thinking about.  I have noticed, that time management really is a keystone for a happy and harmoneous life.  The allowance for thoughtful stops, ponderings and family bonding is so underestimated.  It is priceless!  An impromptu experience such as this one cannot be bought or planned, It just happens.  We recall snails, baby frogs and other creatures we have met on our journey through family life.  Rarely if ever does one bring up that last planned vacation trip.  The feeling of joyful surprise seem to catapult memories deep into ones heart and soul.  Makes one think, doesn't it!

The love of a mother

I stumblet across this miniature painting my child  Illïus painted when he was 4 years old.  It was about that time I began to paint with oil and water colors.

This small picture was painted on the backside of my business card.  I fell absolutely in love with it!  It has brought tears into my eyes and joy into my heart.  People have been amazed over how beautiful it truly is.

This painting used to sit in a plastic clear frame but the frame broke so the picture was placed in a safe place.... I must confess, it was totally missplaced and to my tearful joy I found it again today.  I have now documented it and pressed it into my physical journal that my husband Jeffrey so lovingly purchased and gave me.

Without further a-do!

"The love of a mother"

It is such a wonderful picture of a mother's perfect love.  Here she sits, on a hill, with her babe wrapped within her arms.  If one looks right beneath the mountain top, one can distinguish the face of a wolf... wathing over them.

Love this picture.  I hope you find it as inspiring as I do.

Valentine's day, let us remember

Happy Valentines

This is the student wall at Anïas' and Illïus' school.  It is so beautiful to step into this school and know that love, acceptance and friendship is the focus here.  This school struggles with the dilemmas of today for sure.  Things may go wrong, but there is a firm active belief that all people are valuable and that we all belong to the same family.  Life is interesting.  It seems to me, if one does not receive love and learn to love oneself and others at an early age, one might suffer very dark and rough sideffects later on in life.  Love like a child, live like a child (playfulness and humor), and be quick about forgiving people like children are masters in doing.  Starting over with speedy forgiveness is less costly than to allow slow poisoning of ones thoughs and memories. Pride has ruined many nations.  We can learn alot from children around us.

Kindness and patience is an active walking and talking presence at this place among students and faculty.  These living witnesses humble me and make me strive to become a better person.

Below are som pictures from this day:

Xavier is getting ready to go and pick up his older brothers across the street.  Here he is showing off his heart that took so long to glue.  A beautiful heart with lots of shiny beads and papers.  His good friend Jenny is telling him he made a 'very lovely heart'.

Xavier stopped me outside the school gate and quickly rolled up a present he was supposed to give at home.  He got too excited I guess, and popped it on the snow for display.  He had painted this day with his very good friend Alex from school and used snazzy glitterpaint. 

Illïus fell in love with the wrapping paper Jeffrey had wrapped a gift in.  He salvaged it, cut a heart out and glued this prised artwork together.  A real labor of love.  He was soooo proud and deligted over this gift and I can honestly say that both my husband and felt so much joy that we had the opportunity of sharing this moment together as a family.  We are a blessed as a family.  And you are welcome to be part of it.  My thoughts and love go out to all mankind this Valentine's day.

Happy Valentine's day! 

Music, a positive influence in life, a moral responsibilty

We decided short after we moved to Sweden to cut out all radio playing.

The radiostations here play all manners of music.  The problem is that the english speaking music play as rater 'R'.  Imagine the shock and dismay one experience while shopping with ones children at a supermarket or clothing store and one can clearly hear all manners of explisit sexual/cursing/violence agendas blaring from the store speakers.

Lack of respect, awareness and care is clearly displayed across many radiostations.  We absolutely despise shopping and thus we NEVER shop in those stores that display such ignorance.  The good thing is, we save money, we rarely if ever shop stuff we don't need, and it gives us an opportunity with example to teach our children good moral lessons.  When one does not like a product or behavior... don't buy it, don't do it and avoid it altogheter.

Filter what you take in, and take control over what is allowed to affect you!  On the flipside of things, what do we allow ourselves to listen to or watch.  Is it uplifting and meaningful and helpful to our lives, or do we allow it rob us of time, positiv thoughs and moral values?  Are we making choices that desensitize us over time?  dull our senses and compassion towards those around us?  hope not. 

I refuse to not filter my surroundings.  It is a conscious decision and active living awareness, much like a diet.

I wrote earlier a bit about the TV here, but I decided that the radio is enough said.  Very similar things happens in TV land in Sweden.  There really is no such thing as 'Prime Time' and 'most-kids-are-sleeping' time (so we don't have a TV either).

Since I got an iPhone that I inherited from my loving husband Jeffrey, a new world has opened up to me.  I would like to share some uplifting, loving and modern music radio stations that can be found online.

Air1 is a music station with Evanesence, Linkin' Park style stuff.

K-LOVE is relaxing, inspiring and uplifting christian music for all ages and sexes.  It has occasional brief listener messages and such.