A thankful heart

If the only prayer you ever say in your entire life is thank you, it will be enough. -Meister Eckhart

As we walked along the beach this afternoon, celebrating our first Thanksgiving Day in Florida, I decided it was the appropriate time to reflect on all the blessings in our lives.  It has been a wild year so far and yet our eyes have been completely open to all of it.  There have been many challenges for each member of this family and yet that is the one thing that keeps us going - each other.

Fiona and Chloe at the beach on Thanksgiving Day

I am amazed at how well our daughters have adjusted to their new lives in a new state. I am grateful that they are willing to try new things and trust that their parents will always do the best they can for their well-being.

Did I ever mention that I have the most brilliant husband?  Well, he truly is.  If I am worried about something, no matter what, he knows how to calm my mind.  He is my rock and I am so thankful that we both decided to work at the Edina Liquor Store about 13 years ago! 

We are lucky to be a part of two really fun families back in Minnesota.  It was hard to not be up there this Thanksgiving but we also know that memories are simply good times remembered and never forgotten. 

The technological age is a gift that allows us to stay more connected to friends and family than ever.  It is fun to think that no matter what time of day, I can see what people are doing thousand of miles away from us.  So, keep posting those fun things my dear friends on Facebook - I love it! 

As I was thinking about the idea of gratitude it brought me once again back to yoga practice.  Many times we attend a yoga class seeking to get something out of it.  What if we attended class with the intention that our practice were for someone or something else?  Taking the time during our practice to focus on someone or something else is a wonderful way to connect with what we are thankful for.  I love the idea of leaving judgment and expectation outside the door and focusing on the blessings in our lives.  Instead of making this a yearly process, possibly we can make it a daily process. 

On this Thanksgiving Day I am thankful for the gifts of health, love, family, friends, nature, and of course the fact that I got to share in another beautiful day in this life.

Words cannot express how much I am thankful for my loving husband and two beautiful and intelligent daughters. Whenever I get a bit down all I need to do is look at them, hug them and know I am not alone. As Mike and I were walking behind the girls this afternoon on the beach he said to me, "We are blessed." Yes my love, we are.

May the grateful light in my heart honor the grateful light in yours,

Namaste

Our First Florida Halloween

The bamboo that bends is stronger than the oak that resists.  - Japanese Proverb

Our witch and rock star
 

As Mike and I sat down once the girls finally went to sleep after trick or treating the other night we both looked at each other and said,  "That was a great Halloween." I think we were anxious about how this first Halloween would turn out here in Florida.  As parents we were hopeful that our kids would be happy. 

The past few years we had it made in our little Richfield neighborhood back in Minnesota.  The girls had plenty of friends and we knew many of our neighbors.  We were comfortable and had our annual plans for every holiday. 

Halloween is kind of the kick off for all the fun holidays to come over the next few weeks. Our kids had been anticipating their first Halloween in Florida.  We knew the weather was going to be top notch so we did not have to worry about a costume being "winter proof."  We knew we had a lot of parties to attend and that people DO trick or treat down here.  Even though we all knew that many things would be quite similar, it was all going to be quite different as well.

It is hard to teach kids to let go of expectations, especially when they are missing things about their "old home."  It is also very difficult to establish this idea when you have one child that is very set in her ways.  Our oldest, Fiona, is the type of personality that once she has something set in her mind it will turn into World War III if you dare stray the course.  Chloe is much more laid back and tends to go with the flow.  She does get disappointed but seems to be soothed easier than Fiona.  Teaching anyone to let go of expectations is hard.  I think that with kids you need to offer alternative ideas. 

There are things we definitely miss about Minnesota such as our annual trips to the pumpkin patch/apple orchard.  That was always an October tradition.  Obviously pumpkins and apples cannot grow in Florida - it is just too hot so they are shipped down here.  They put together make shift pumpkin patches and if I were from here I would think they were just fine but knowing what the real thing is like, it is hard not to be slightly disappointed.    But like the saying goes, when God gives you lemons, make lemonade or in this case, just do something with a twist.

So, we attended a few Fall Festivals last weekend.  The first event was a fall fund raiser for the girl's school.  It was a must go to for the girls are still in the delicate, meeting new friends stage.  Chloe is much more relaxed when it comes to friends but then again, in Kindergarten, everyone is your friend.  Fiona was very set on attending this party and having the perfect costume.  The school party was a hit.  It was so nice to watch our kids running around with their new friends, smiling, laughing, and simply enjoying the moment like kids do so well.

We also decided to check out a local city Halloween party the following night.  It was a great set up and we even ran into some school friends again. It was wonderful to see a community come together and supply such a safe and fun party for so many people.

Finally, we ended the Halloween festivities with good old fashioned trick or treating.  We ventured into the neighborhood close by and were able to score the usual massive quantities of sugary treats.  The girls met up with a sweet little boy and ran from house to house with the usual bounce and excitement in their steps.

Again, the anxiety that we place upon ourselves is simply what we place on ourselves.  As much as I wanted to think the girls were really worried about Halloween, it was me that was worried about it.  Things are going to be both similar and different, no matter where we might be living.  Life is constantly changing and I need to show my daughter's that I can easily deal with this so in return they can handle it as well.  It truly is "monkey see, monkey do."

So as we move into even bigger days of anticipation, Fiona's birthday, Thanksgiving and Christmas, we hope for the best and realize that we can just take it one holiday at a time.

May the light in me honor the light in you.

Namaste.