Evidence at the dentist?

We have been hosting an international student from China the past two years. When she first came to us, she was just 15, brave and bold. Can you imagine leaving your home country, culture and language at the tender age of 15? Me, neither.
Elena does not complain about anything (except boys and crushes), and tries to power through colds, short nights, and allergies. She has an adventurous spirit and LOVES to try new foods. A true foodie, this one. When she tries a new flavor, texture or new take on an old favorite, she looks like she is in heaven ... angels dancing on her tongue. Over the last few days, however, she has not been her usual exuberant self. She eats slowly, saying that her back teeth hurt, and smiling. "I'm ok! Don't worry about me!"
When our food warrior would barely eat mashed potatoes and turned down a chocolate chip cookie, we knew it was time.

Drops of perfection

I love to walk my third grade daughter to school every day. Even though we pass by the same flowers on our 3 blocks to the front door, we take a moment to notice how things have changed, what is new, what is letting go. 

She is getting a bit too cool for mom, but she still holds my hand half way there. We noticed the way the morning dew twinkles on this rose, the way it contrasts with the blue of the sky. We took this photo together, and she was lost in the moment, noticing the drops of perfection. 

Goodwill mojo

This next story is just really fun. Not all evidence of flow has to come with deep spiritual insights or intense emotions.
The essence of flow includes play - dancing around in the energy around us.

Remembering Joy on the battlefield

This morning was tough.
My 8 year old daughter A is so smart and thoughtful. She thinks about people far and wide, discussing the merits of laws and noting cultural differences between nations.
She is also very sensitive, just like I was at her age. I see how deeply she struggles just to navigate her own internal chaos.

My ten-year-old daughter M is on the edge of puberty, her hormones rising and falling.
She is so conscious of herself, her friendships, and how she is perceived. She is learning how to make change in her world, and we are trying to teach her the art of negotiation. Right now her tactics tend to be on the whiny, teary, demanding side.

It's all about flow...

This blog is about sharing the many little beautiful ways that the universe shows its glorious flow.