Organic Parenting

I've introduced you to my friend Tara before and I'm excited to talk about her again! We have known each other for several years...we've camped together, hooped together, and laughed together. And now we've Skyped together!

I'm thrilled to tell you that I'm a part of her upcoming parenting e-course, Organic Parenting: The unconventional guide to vibrant mamas and thriving kids and we've got a little teaser to share.

http://youtu.be/fFPjjLJJDY4

The Organic Parenting e-course will be a 6 week process of learning radical self-care, overcome our challenges and triggers, and moving beyond conventional parenting tools (like punishments and rewards) to nurture real trust, deeper relationship and actual fun in our lives together.

Tara interviewed me as part of the lineup of contributors. We talked about how my faith impacts my view of parenting, my personal challenges as a mama and the tools I use to overcome them, and how I balance it all.

Other contributors include Naomi Aldort, Peter Gray PhD, Jan Hunt, Lenore Skenazy, Brad Yates, Tiffani Bearup, Pixie Campbell, Denise Andrade, Hannah Marcotti, and many more parents, guides, coaches, and bloggers.

The registration opens on September 3rd and the course begins on Sept 17.

But I wanted to point you to Tara now so you could get to know her and see whether this course is what you've been looking for. I'm an affiliate for Tara because I believe in her message of unconventional living and Organic Wisdom, so I'd love if you click these links. If you're not comfortable with that, you can Google her to find out more.

She has a free mini e-course you can sign up for which will give you a much better idea of who she is, what she talks about, and how she does what she does. Click here to get that for free.

And I hope to see you in the Organic Parenting course!

Santa Cruz Getaway

It's been a week since I jetted away from Colorado on my first "mama trip" in 8 years...all the way to one of my favorite places, Santa Cruz, California!

I flew right into the open arms of dear friends. Monica flew in from Texas, and Sarah joined us from the redwoods.

This was taken just 2 blocks from our perfect ocean cottage.

Staring at the ocean and soaking up the sound of the crashing waves.

31 weeks pregnant...by the sea. Pure happy.

So much time was spent together in the little living room. Listening to music. Soothing our souls. Talking for hours and hours about life, family, passions, and trials.

One of the most very sacred moments we had together was walking through the redwoods at dusk...

...touching the soft, damp moss. Oh how I've missed it!

And finally arriving...in the dark...at the opening of an enormous redwood. Sarah had gone ahead and prepared a space for us INSIDE of the hollow Felton mother tree. Twinkling white lights everywhere. Hot candy cane tea and dark chocolate. Sarah and Monica prayed for me, the baby, the birth, our friendship.  Sarah knit me a beautiful and oh-so-soft "prayer shawl" that will be treasured forever. We laughed and talked and sat for a long while in the silence of the woods. When we finally emerged and stepped out in the expanse of redwoods, a screech owl let out a loud screeeeeeeech above our heads and then continued to fly along with us as we walked out. So symbolic :: wisdom shared among mothers. Mere words could never convey the magic that happened that night at Henry Cowell, but we all felt it, and will remember forever.

We walked down Pacific Ave...stopping in little shops and touching all the pretty things.

We indulged in the magic at Verve Coffee 4 times over the weekend. Mmmmm....

Love.

My dreads have new beads and wraps to remember our sweet time together.

And this...the last moment at the ocean that we spent together. Sitting close. Praying together. What a blessing these women are in my life. The gratitude I have surrounding this weekend is immeasurable. So thankful.

And then I flew home to my babies and my sweetie. Life is good.

Sacred Time

While we were in Bozeman, I had a couple hours of alone time. It's been a LONG time since I've had an extended amount of that...and I desperately need to make more time for it. To refresh my soul...to sit silently...to read, knit, look at the mountains, listen to music...all without littles crawling about.

On this particular day, I had a nice salad, journaled a bit, read some inspiring words, and listened to Addison Road's "What Do I Know of Holy" over and over. The lyrics sank deep within me...so beautiful. Go and listen! (If you don't want to buy, it's on YouTube...but ignore the corny photoshow) :)

I made You promises a thousand times I tried to hear from Heaven But I talked the whole time I think I made You too small I never feared You at all No If You touched my face would I know You? Looked into my eyes could I behold You?

What do I know of You Who spoke me into motion? Where have I even stood But the shore along Your ocean? Are You fire? Are You fury? Are You sacred? Are You beautiful? What do I know? What do I know of Holy?

I guess I thought that I had figured You out I knew all the stories and I learned to talk about How You were mighty to save Those were only empty words on a page Then I caught a glimpse of who You might be The slightest hint of You brought me down to my knees

What do I know of Holy? What do I know of wounds that will heal my shame? And a God who gave life "its" name? What do I know of Holy? Of the One who the angels praise? All creation knows Your name On earth and heaven above What do I know of this love?

Mmmmmm....love it.

We made the 13 hour trek back home from Montana yesterday...and tomorrow morning we fly out to Iowa until Monday. I'm leaving my computer at home so that I can focus more on my family, letter writing, knitting, and reading. I may or may not post some blogs from my phone :) So if I don't see you until 2012, have a wonderful New Year's! It's going to be GREAT.

*Because I know some of you will ask: the stack above is my Bible, my Kindle Fire, and my journal. The cozy was not made by me, but I love it. Cozies are my favorite. I think I shall knit LOTS of them. :)