Green Tomatoes, originally uploaded by erensanpedro.
Im not sure where to start with this post...I have so many things going through my head right now. So, this may be a lot of babbling and misalignment of thoughts, but here goes. Ive read several posts from fellow bloggers lately that accurately articulate a growing feeling Ive been experiencing. * The feeling that there is too much waste these days. * The feeling that there HAS to be a better way to raise our children. * The feeling that I dont want my children to grow up with the TV as their best friend. * The feeling that simpler is better. (is that even gramatical?) * The feeling that we all need to be more connected to our creator. * The feeling that I want to be safe in my own home. * The feeling that I want to know where my food comes from. * The feeling that I want our family to be active and healthy. * The feeling that I want to move more physically. * The feeling that I want to be more intentional in my purchases. * The feeling that I want to change my neighborhood. * The feeling that I want to do more good in the world. * The feeling that there are others who feel the same way I do. I mean, the things that our family has experienced lately is enough to make you want to join a commune with walls as high as Jericho and sing "kumbaya". Seriously. In one of the many amazing conversations Ive had with my Papaw, he asked me what a BLOG was and why was I writing one. It caught me off guard to be quite honest. Im not even sure what I told him at the time, but after thinking about it here is my answer Papaw. I have several (read that many) beautiful journals sitting empty on my bookshelves waiting to be written in. And nothing. But for some reason, sitting at the keyboard, the words just seem to flow. Especially after a glass of wine or two. (you didnt just read that Mom) With the gift of S (husband) being home more with his current work position, I have been able to find the real me again. I have been able to listen to the news again. I have been able to research issues online again. I have been able to have somewhat intelligent conversations again. I have been able to reconnect with those of the present and the past. I have been able to feel creative again. For all of that, I am greatful. I feel much more connected to the real ME. Reading African Kelli's blog has reconnected me with my trip to Nicaragua and what I felt while being there and how vowed that things would be different when I returned. That trip changed me, it changed the mother I am and would continue to be. It changed my marriage and how S and I connect. It dramatically changed our whole family forever and I cant wait to take them all back there. With all of the above in mind, I pledge this. 1. To eat only when I am truly hungry. 2. To continue to have a garden and to expand it as much as I can. 3. To share as much of the natural world with my children as I possibly can. 4. To move everyday and to not resist the movement that the boys seem to need. 5. To buy locally and organically when possible and to teach my children where their food comes from. 6. To expand our current recylcing efforts. 7. To walk when it would be easier to ride or drive. 8. To repurpose when I see an opportunity. 9. To not shelter my children and to expose them to the world however hard it might seem (within safe guidelines of course). 10. To make our own cleaning products and to reduce our use of harmful chemicals. 11. To use what crafty supplies I have and to use them for a better good. 12. To cook more and more and more for my family so that I know what they are eating. 13. To eat only dark chocolate and not milk chocolate...I had to throw that in just for fun.
14. To realize that I might screw up ... alot ... but at least its a start. Now, some of this might come as a surprise to many of my friends who read this and never post a comment. It might not seem propper for a wife of a military man. But this is who I am... who I was, before I lost myself. So there, I said it. I feel better. If you made it this far, thank you for reading. And all the people said ... Amen!