many people around the world observed wesak today, a holiday celebrating the birth, enlightenment, and death of buddha. some people or countries observe wesak season which lasts for a week or even one lunar month.
it is one of my favorite holidays. i make a point to mark in my calendar weeks in advance. i am not a practicing buddhist but am definitely a huge fan of its teachings.
during wesak, buddhists all over the world reiterate their determination to lead noble lives, to develop their minds, to practice loving-kindness and to bring peace and harmony to humanity. it is wesak tradition to make extra efforts to bring joy to and show kindness to the unfortunate, the sick, and of course your loved ones.
i love the idea, or the feeling i get from knowing that masses of people gather to be grateful, to collectively pray and pay homage to buddah through spreading kindness, happiness, sheding love and light on others and the earth.
it just so happens that seven years ago today, i moved to germany. in the last few weeks, i have been thinking about what this anniversary means to me. i thought about how much i have discovered about myself…the new people it has brought into my life, and the ones i left behind- the wisdom i continue to reap from rare visits to my other home, i thought about the lessons that come with experiencing a forgein culture and how they have changed me, the good, bad, and ugly. my tragedies and my triumphs. i thought about all of these things and i feel so blessed, it overwhelms me.
next to motherhood and marriage, the experience of moving here has enriched my life beyond measure and i am so, so, grateful.

summer came and went. it was busy and cathartic but a good summer. last month i turned a year older, a year wiser. and now it is the middle of autumn and we are getting ready for halloween, all saints day, all souls day, and then we are off to spend november with my family in the states- yes, i am over the moon!

“i knew when spring was come-
not by the murmurous hum
of bees in willow-trees,
or frills
of daffodils,
or scent of the breeze;
but because there were whips and tops
by the jars of lollipops
in the two little village shops…”

{from the calendar by barbara euphan todd and photos are of our first hike of the season}

happy spring and happy easter!

birthday portrait

annual birthday concert presented by papa

we had more than our share of rainy days last summer- which is when i discovered his single stroke flower…it.made.me.so.happy.
…and then there was the moment that i noticied the manner in which he cherishes his baby brother, how overjoyed he was to hold him in his arms…it melted my heart.

as he filled his big brother shoes proudly and gracefully, we were presented with little proclomations of independence, burst-your-heart-with-joy surprises….
picking out his own clothes and dressing himself- i beamed with pride and told him how great he looked everytime…he likes to wear sweaters as undershirts and his t-shirts on top. now that is original style.

he started to make his lieblings brot, favorite bread all by himself; an open face sandwhich with mayo, turkey, emmantaler, and lettuce…

and when he was cast as the innkeeper in his kindergarten nativity play, we were blown away by his performance! he spoke so clearly and without any fear…the teacher said that he knew all the other parts by heart too- i was in complete and total awe of him and his confidence.

i love his interest in numbers, in letters…he writes his name, my name, his papa’s, and brother’s names- i love it.

this winter, his endurance on long skiing days left us speechless…

the worried look on his face when i fell on our ice-slippery driveway, how he came running to rescue me, his sweet disposition, his big caring heart….a sign for me that we are doing something right…

these are just a few of things that made me smile, made me happy, made me so proud in moments i least expected in this last year….the priceless gifts of this sweet boy.

sukah baby turned one last weekend and i have been in a rather reflective mood this week- i have been thinking about how we smile more, we laugh more, we love more because of this sweet boy- how he is pure joy to behold….how beyond blessed we are to know the sweetest of happiness.

it is the first day back to school and work in germany- the house is unusually quiet and my sukah baby and i are going gently about our day, finding our new rhythm.

our winter break was nothing short of eventful… sukah baby started walking on christmas eve, we enjoyed the company of treasured friends and family over brunches, bonfires,coffees, warm winter soup suppers, and winter walks over the hill and through the forest…the weather has been perfect for skiing and sledding, curling up with a good book, baking chocolate chip cookies, movie nights and of course dreaming of all the things i want to do in this brand new year…

i am excited to have signed up for ali edward’s one little word e-course this year-

“a single word can be a powerful thing. it can be the ripple in the pond that changes everything. it can be sharp and biting or rich and soft and slow. from my own personal experience, it can be a catalyst for enriching your life.”

my word for 2011 is embrace.

to embrace myself, to be true to myself, and to be grateful for what gets done, not what doesn’t get done on my list everyday.

to embrace my beautiful family, to give the gift of time on their terms ( i will no longer insist on reading, painting, crafting, baking…instead i will play battle of the dinosaurs and race cars with my prana boy and give my tall dark and handsome one evening during the week off, free of domestic duties)

to embrace my friends, accept them unconditionally, as they are.

to embrace challenges, cultivate a positive warrior attitude {ROAR!}.

there it is, my word.

a very happy 2011 to you! i wish you the energy and vibrancy to embrace all that comes your way, the power to persevere through challenges big and small- and the gifts of peace and joy everyday!

“…i knew when winter swirled-

not by the whitened world,

or silver skeins in the lanes

or frost

that embossed

its patterns on window panes:

but because there were transfer-sheets

by the bottles of spice and sweets

in the shops in two little streets.”

{from the calendar by barbara euphan todd and the photo taken from the hochsten, the highest point in our area}

happy winter solstice!

christmas cookies, third advent coffee

between lunch and dinner in germany, there is traditionally a short break for a social gathering with cake or a hot steaming cup of coffee or tea. it is a wonderful way to make time to see friends and family. this ritual, referred to as kaffee und kuchen, kaffeetrinken, or kaffeeklatsch, is one of my favorite german traditions- even more so during the holiday season, and one i will be sure to keep anywhere i go in the world.

that is my sweet sukah baby above wearing his blueberry beanie that my dear friend and neighbor beate of fruits and flowers knit for him…blueberry baby is now his other nick name.

st. nicholas on monday did the trick- got us into the holiday spirit…. the boys and i hung ornaments in the windows, strings of lights over doorways, and our stockings on the backs of our dinner table chairs (we decorate the tree german style, on the morning of christmas eve). i even got some holiday baking in….i do hope we get to visit a weihnachtsmarkt nearby this weekend. we will see….the weather remains extreme, we are covered deep in snow.