Just an Update

Life is very busy these days. School is keeping me on my toes. The Pine Ridge trip consumes most of my free time. And I am still volunteering 2 days a week at the AIC. I am continuing to meditate, reflect, keep a journal, and hold "life-lesson-sessions" with a Jesuit. I am learning so much about social justice, living simply, awareness of my impact on the world, and ethical/moral judgement.

We celebrated 2 birthdays in our house within the past two weeks. Simon turned 6 and Sarah turned 9. Simon had friends at Chuck E Cheese, and Sarah had a sleep-over with 3 friends. It was fun, but I am glad it only comes once a year!

I have a guilty pleasure to confess: I am addicted to two TV shows. I watch "Big Love" and "Living With Ed" religiously now. I highly recommend "Living With Ed" on Planet Green if you haven't seen it. It is a reality program showcasing Ed Begley and his wife in their attempts to live a completely green lifestyle. It is humerous, but also very inspiring and educational. I have gotten so many ideas about what I want to implement in my own life just from that show.
And "Big Love" is a HBO series about mainstream polygamists in Utah starring Bill Paxton, Chloe Svignie, and Jeanne Triplehorn... It is dramatic, exciting, mysterious, and just plain entertaining. If you have HBO I think you would enjoy it even if you may not understand the Mormon themes of the scripting.

Andrew has a girlfriend now. Her name is Maria. He gave her a box of chocolates for Valentine's Day. Today they are going to a school dance together. Am I really ready for this? He still seems so jouvenile and childish to me. But I guess I am just holding on to the past and need to accept that he is growing up. But wait - he is only 11.75 years old. When did kids start dating so young? My head is going to explode if I think about it too much. Sarah is my spy. And Simon tells me EVERYTHING Andrew says to Maria on the phone. So I think I have my sources covered! :-) I don't want to be that meddelsome mother who can't trust her children... but it is so hard to not want to keep them little.

That's about it for today. Thanks for tuning in.