Spring is here!!! at least on the wall

...so it must be true!  This weeks artists at Fokusskolan, Nyköping, Sweden are August and Aron.
Thank you for being so creative!

This is a very exciting family fun activity.  On Mondays we can almost not wait until the school day has ended to get to go to the 'wall-that-says-it-all'. 

Xavier told me spring is here.  I asked him what in the picture was his favorite, and he replied:

-I like the rainbow the most...

-and the flower...

-and I like the rain with the cloud the most...

-and I like the sun...

-and the tree...

So in short, I think he really thought that the favorite part was the whole picture as it was together.  Life is that way, a blend of people and experiences makes a rich life, depending on how you look at it.  I like to use my rose-colored glasses.

Go get them tiger! rawr!

Today!  is a big day!  My eldest son Duncan is going for his first job interview.  I am actually nervous over here.  It is an odd experience having a child that not only has a drivers licence but is also looking for a job.

Liam and Duncan ordering nummies at an American resturant (2011).

We decided we wanted to do something to help him out, so we are sending him a cheer!  Anïas, Illïus and Xavier and I give you Duncan all thumbs up.  Sometimes the distance between our two countries feel like lightyears apart.

WE LOVE YOU!

WE ARE PROUD OF YOU!

WE MISS YOU!

How to play with a train track

Anïas, Illïus and Xavier have been raised with many toys that are 'unfinished', created or made up. As they grow older it is apparent to teachers and children around them that their minds work in a different way. Fantasy, imagination and inventions happen daily. Anïas has a very mathematical mind, Illïus a creative and boundless mind, and Xavier and adventurous, task driven mind.
I have heard from school teachers and grownups alike that 'he' is amazing in coming up with ideas; 'he' always stretches the limit; 'he' gets everyone involved and going.

Children tend to get frustrated and bored with Anïas, Illïus and Xavier before they get to know them.  This is because my children play with rules for the day.  A perfect example is playing with trains...  This example will give you a hum of what I am explaining.

 Illïus spent about 30 minutes making happy, sad and angry faces with his train rails.  This is a portrait of his older brother Anïas.

Joy to the creative and outside-of-the-box thinkers.  I pray they will be able to cling to this quality they all possess.  As long as I am around I will remind them and encourage them to think differently than what is in a textbook, or play according to given directions on a package.

The sandy beaches in my bath tub

Illïus and Xavier had emptied their shoes out in the bath tub today! I could hear their bigger brother Anïas scorn his younger brethren. The bathroom door shut and lots of mumbling could be heard. As I was invited into the bathroom a few minutes later, this is what I found... a present they said.

How can one get upset at that?

Don't become a daily hostage

I meet people in all ages that are looking for that ‘happy’ formula of successful living.

We all know it, but very few of us live by it.  Why?  Because it takes an awful amount of work and is often VERY unpleasant.  This is why people make money on herbal teas, self-help books, positive thinking seminars and such.  People do everything they can to try to avoid unpleasant experiences because that is what they are.  Most responsibilities that have been procrastinated upon and mishandled result in VERY unpleasant heaps of work.

So what do we do?  Get another self-help book?  Eat?  Sleep?  Shut off the telephone?  Hibernate?

Nah that is small stuff in comparison to what really happens.  WE ROB OURSELVES of control of our day, of our freedom of thinking, of what we want to feel, of our time and energy… we can loose all, even our own health.

Don’t convince yourself you cannot deal. 
GET UP, GET DRESSED.  MAKE YOUR BED; FACE THAT DAY – WHATEVER COMES YOUR WAY.  (Paraphrased, Sister Beck -2012)

Act against those ‘terrible feelings and forces’ that hang over you by NEVER PROCRASTINATE when it comes to unpleasant chores and things to do. 

When we get too cozy with our time, stuff piles up.  People are kept waiting, banks get impatient and things will turn ugly.

Claim your day as your own.  Force yourself to step up and tackle a tough task today.  You don’t have to conquer your anguish or fear; it will dissipate when you just ACT with NO ALLOWANCE for procrastination of any kind.

This is your magic.  It is all in you.  You just need to ride the wave of your fears as you act and do what you must.  The waves will subdue as you take charge of those areas in your life that are spinning.  With each task you just do them - not analyzing - just do them with fear and anxt in your throat.  You will feel proud, relieved and liberated from much agony by acting.  Free your heart and thoughts from tough living.  Be kind to yourself, don’t let the world steer your life and run amok with your feelings.

I pray for all of us to be our own in life.  With love. Ta ta for now.