I'm so excited to visit family and explore Oregon and Canada soon. This is our last week in Hawaii for awhile. Which is sad. We will really miss our friends, our plants, our lives here. But two months isn't TOO long, and we're sure to come back with a great load of adventures trailing behind.

Oregon Coast here we come!

he's 3964 miles away. me no likey.

thank gooodddnesss he comes home tomorrow.

a lovely little essay recommended by a friend: The Bird and the Machine by Loren Eiseley

Happy Mother's Day to all the women out there. I have had a really blessed life, full of loving women and mother figures. I wouldn't trade my childhood and those involved for anything. I have learned so much from these women and am indebted to them forever for what they've taught me, the beauty they radiate, and the love they share.

Grandma Cleone Linford is one of the strongest women I know. She has always been so vivacious and healthy. I remember growing up how she'd love to paint my nails, she would spend so much time and care on each little nail. She is incredibly driven and independent and emanates power and love.

Grandma Searle is a star. She is the ultimate home-maker. There's nothing like waking up from a nap at her farm and smelling fresh bread and new potato soup. She has mastered being a mother and continues to teach her granddaughters and great-granddaughters her amazing talents.

Grandma Grace has not been in my life for very long, but has had a great impact on me. She is the nicest woman ever. She always has a smile and is incredibly genuine. She loves people and makes sure EVERYONE in the room has a friend.

Mother. Takes after her mother-STRONG. She is woman hear her ROAARRR!! I love my mom so much. She is my best friend, my confidant, my exemplar. She has shown me how to be truly compassionate and charitable. I admire her in so many ways and owe my life to her.

Shelley is the epitome of happiness. Her laugh and smile are contagious and rub off on everyone around. She literally GLOWS. I have always been impressed by the sincere spiritual nature that Shelley embodies. She is talented in every aspect of her life.

Suzie Q. A wonderful gal. She has an amazing sense of humor and outlook on life that has carried her through many hard times. She is so optimistic and cheerful. She brings so much life into a room- everybody loves her. She is wise beyond her years. She is my champion of the world.

Vera is a mother through and through. I have admired the way that she has brought up her children and how she immediately took me under her wing when I came into her life. She is beautiful in every way. She cares so much for her family and would do anything for them. She has sacrificed so much for their well-being and has inspired me to do so as well.

Fairy Godmothers- Melissa, Lucia, Jamie. What a great group of ladies. Seriously. I am honored to have them as my guardian angels. They are a luminous lifeforce- together or separately. They are so beautiful and bring so much laughter and happiness into my life.

Sometimes I feel like this little gal...

a little lost, a little confused, a little out of place.

But like Thunderella and "the Little Train that Could"... I CAN.

Thunderella's Song

There is something wrong
Thunder scares me
Even though I know
I'm in good company

You are not afraid
But I'm not that strong
You are all so brave
How can I still belong?

What makes you you?
And who am I?
What can I do
Without blue skies?

If the sun can keep shining bright
Then why can't I shine too?
If the moon can light up the night like moons are meant to do
And the ocean stays deep
(Whoops, ah!)
And the earth always turns
(Ooh, ooh)
If the sun can keep shining bright
Then why can't I shine too?

If I can learn from someone who's smart
Or pretty
Or cheerful
Or bright
Then I can be the best that I can
I can, I can
Get it right!

If the sun can keep shining bright
Then that's what I must do
And if the moon can light up the night
Well I can do that too!

If the sun can keep shining bright
Then I can
I can
I can (Whoo!)
I can get it right!

Caux, Switzerland

I haven't blogged in a while.

Spring classes have started. I'm only taking two and they're pretty good. One's right up my alley: Issues in Current Anthropology: Material Culture, and the other a Leadership and Management class that's an elective option for the Peace Building Certificate. More of a business class, it's stretching me out of my comfort zone and helping me grow. Which, is good.

When I'm not in class I study, work on etsy projects, do projects for work, explore, do yoga (downloaded some great yoga podcasts that keep me goin), plan for our summer adventure. We will be interning at the Initiatives of Change Conference in Switzerland! I can't wait to be in Europe.

Some interesting interests as of late:

an adorable paper company

a catchy little tune that makes me smile

a good friend's innovations

Kelly's adorable homemade movie