Craving Community

It's been an emotional week.
My thoughts have been very much on the foundations & patterns of life. On death & birth, beginnings & endings. Sometimes death comes unexpectedly & other times it is a long walk to the end. Birth, in its many forms--babies, lambs, spring flowers--is beautiful & affirming. Both are life altering & are affecting people very close to me.
I think these thoughts have manifested in me a craving for community. It has been comforting & grounding this week to discover it while celebrating my Grandma Linda's 80th birthday, while having a long dinner remembering a loved one with my sister & aunts, while playing with my little niece, while standing on the block I grew up on visiting with my folks & watching neighbors garden & children play, while biking around Lake Sammamish with Levi & two good friends, while going to church & singing with my mom, while walking in the sunshine to the Wallingford market chatting with my co-worker.

Levi & I both leave on Thursday. Him to experience new community in New York City, as he explores with Chris & watches the M's play in Yankee Stadium. Me as I head off to run a Heifer program in Los Gatos, finding community in old friends & the wonderful people that are our volunteers.
I hope each of you find community to rejoice in.

Happy Earth Day!

It was fitting to spend part of Earth Day playing with baby lambs on Gretchen's small farm in Monroe. A Heifer volunteer & dear friend (& organic farmer & sheep cheese maker), Gretchen & I had a wonderful lunch meeting today. Playing with the three week old lambs & being in Gretchen's presence was uplifting & helped to remind me of the important things in life.

My week

Robin outside my office window last week.

Visiting cousins while in Atlanta--it was so good to see Shannon & Heather & spend a little time catching up.

Shannon & Craig all tuckered out.

The SE Heifer Lead Volunteers at the Heifer U program in Atlanta--a great group!

After a busy weekend working it was so nice to take today off. Emily, Tillie & I had a little outing in the morning. Tillie was very happy with her orange at the fruit market & we even found her a new pair of shoes at St. Vincent de Paul!

Me & Tillie in the garden center at the Yakima Market.

I even got to play in my own garden pots today when the sun was out! I re-potted & organized & planted some bulbs.
A couple days at home & then I am off to Portland Wednesday through Friday. I look forward to the Project Leader's Workshop I will be attending, as well as visiting volunteers & friends.
Levi is eagerly awaiting a new fork for his road bike, as he took his apart the other day after hearing a funny sound & found a one-inch crack! Softball season has also started & he's playing on a team again this year.
There's the update!

Back from Moab

I have returned and had a great time

Enjoy more of the pictures.

TGIF

I was sad not to be able to participate in April's 10 on 10, but my hubby is on a boys' mountain bike trip with our only camera. I think we will soon be buying another camera. Fortunately, my wonderful former co-worker at Nordy let me borrow her camera today so I could at least get a photo after setting up the Heifer booth for the Green Festival this weekend at the Seattle Convention & Trade Center.
Come by & see us!
I'm loving the spring weather that seems to have finally arrived & got in a bike ride tonight. Looking forward to a sunny day tomorrow, started off wonderfully by breakfast with my Momma & Boo. Also looking forward to exploring all the booths at Green Fest--some amazing things were being set-up today! I must say I am rather giddy about all the free samples & interesting magazines. Excited to have Levi home tomorrow & have four days together before I fly out to Atlanta to help facilitate a Heifer U for lead volunteers in the SE region. I've never been to Georgia & am looking forward to it, especially since I get to visit two cousins while I am there! Enjoy your weekend & the sunshine!

Lots of New Mexico!