A Gift for Teacher

This was too cute!

Calli's "love language" is giving gifts.

I love her "love language"!

So many Christmas' Calli would stuff TrueLove

and I's stockings for us. We'd dig down and pull out things

that she considered treasures from her room

because she wanted us to receive gifts

so much.

I might find a ceramic dog she painted when she was four,

a few gently used bottles of nail polish,

candy left from the previous Halloween,

a makeup brush from my vanity,

a powerbar from the pantry,

some tchotchkes from the top

drawer of my dresser,

and it was all

so

precious!

So last night at dinner she tells me that she's studing

human anatomy 

in Science class and she had an

idea 

to make her teacher a pair of 

DNA Chain

earrings.

Yep.

When Calli is inspired,

she will produce!

So.

Stinking.

Creative.

!

She went and got her pipe cleaners out,

twisting and finessing.

I could hear her

swishing around the bead bowl

searching for just the right

colors

and 

sparkle.

Then she comes out with these!

Her teacher loves to wear theme style earrings.

She has earrings for every occasion, holiday,

theme that you can imagine.

I'm not sure though that 

she has earrings

for studying

DNA.

Today, that will change!

And even though Calli is 11,

she knows that packaging

is everything!

She found a cookie cutter tin

(Calli has her daddy's knack for finding things)

pink tissue

and

ribbon.

Voila!

A Good Clean Story

Love It!

Good clean fun.

This soap is hand made locally

using 

raw goat's milk.

Everything in it is pure,

natural,

nutritious

and 

lovely for your skin.

I learned about it from my friend Jeff

who travels everywhere becausehe

is out there changing the world

in an

AWESOME

 way!

I met him in Kona several years ago and 

have been introducing him to everyone I love

whenever he lands in San Francisco

for a weekend.

So he met my friend Todd, who owns a swanky,

little, fashion boutique "denim bar" called

EDGE,

and Jeff jumps in there whenever he's around.

Todd gave him a  soap bar from the denim bar (ok, not funny) to try

and apparently it was the magic thing that worked on his

troubled skin.

No more bumpy skin!
Heard the song "Baby Got Backne?" 
Sorry, just trying to lighten things up? Jeff does not have 
"backne" but there are a lot of people out there that do
and are washing it away with this
miraculous little sudsy stuff
from raw goat's milk.

It sounded like Jeff had tried everything for his bumpy bumps
 and this soap is the THING that worked!

So I started buying it for him and shipping it to wherever he was

and using it myself

and making my

14 year old 

wash his bumpy skin with it too.

It's amazing!

It's all I'll/we'll use now.
Here's another awesome reason I love Tierra Mia Organics.
I relayed this story about the soap to a friend of Sylvia, the beautiful lady
who makes the fabulous soaps, 
and after hearing about my friend 
changing the world, 
posted on her website that it was their desire as management to GIVE Jeff his soaps
because they appreciate what he's doing out there.
So Amazing!
I stumbled upon this inadvertently and called them personally to say that I'm the one
who told the story and I could hook them up if they meant what they had 
claimed about giving him soap.
They meant it!
I love the soap so much more 
knowing that they are made
by 
integral, generous, and devoted
people with a precious spirit
who care about the things I care about.
I really get the sense that they are 
in the soap making business
to help people. 
Now, back to the bar!

I love the velvety lather it makes.

I love the way my face and skin 

stay soft

after

washing.

I love the scent, especially the Almond Coffee and 

my second favorite 

is Clove Black Pepper.

They smell "good enough to eat", as my dad used to say-

which I actually did once as a kid.

It was strawberry soap, so I avoid fruity scents all together

since that episode of running screaming naked through the house,
slipping on the trail of bubble bath water I was
leaving everywhere left a permanent 
disflavor 
for 

fruity bar soaps.

(Sorry to get off track there. True story though.)

All of their soaps are

Gluten Free.

They use 
No surfectants.

No Sulfates.

No Parabens.
It is recommended for 
oily skin
acne
exzema
babies
sensitive skin
shaving bumps
dry skin
and
pure enjoyment.

And if you go to their website

Tierra Mia Organics

then you can read about why raw goat's milk soap

is better than commercial

varieties

and you will probably want to run out and get 

a few bars

yourself.

I buy them at EDGE in Danville

because I love Todd too

and the soap was the only thing I could 

personally use

(until recently when they began offering

chic little threads for women too.)

You can also find these soaps at any of the

Whole Foods 

locations

or on the Tierra Mia Organics website.

Science and Food

I often pick up silly little books like this at

used book stores,

garage sales,

and such,

with all of the greatest

intentions

of incorporating them into our

hectic lives and

planned 

curriculums.

I haven't yet confided on this blog

that I 

homeschool

my

kids.

When you school at home

this is one of the things you do.

You look for things that

will make

life and learning

fun.

So now that I've used the phrase

"all of the greatest intentions"

it will not 

surprise anybody that

this dusty,

little beauty has 

barely been 

cracked open.

(I said we

"look for",

we hardly ever 

use

all the materials we gather.-

It's similar to a seamstress going to a

fabric sale

or a scrapbooker looking for paper,

we just can't get to

everything!)

During the summer you will remember

that we surprised our son

by making over 

his room

while

at

camp,

and in the process of doing so

I rediscovered several

"great intentions"

at the bottom

of drawers

and 

cubbies.

Well, 

I decided to crack open this silly little book

to investigate if it was age appropriate

still to use on my students-

hahahaha!

And I'm laughing because I said

"cracked!"

(It'll make sense-stay with me).

After I sat on the sofa looking all

homeschooly and academic

and responsible

and serious

and school administratory

and in control of our schedule

late summer,

I discovered something wonderful!!!

on page 20!

"Poached Egg Physics"

Now a quick side note:

I had an egg allergy that I discovered around 

17 and I spent the next 20 years of my life

avoiding eggs like the plague.

So all that time that I was cultivating my love of cooking,

perfecting recipes,

and 

collecting my repertoire of tried and true delicacies-

I had avoided eggs.

In my late 30's I had that allergy "fixed" 

by a kinesthesiologist

and 

happily began making up for lost time!

I started making and eating all

the good eggy dishes:

frittatas, creme caramels, omelettes,

crepes, and souffles,

all the decadent things 

I had missed.

But the poached egg 

brought

insecurity.

I couldn't seem to get it just right.

Now,

back to page 20.

"Poached Egg Physics"

The book lays out an experiment.

Here's what you need:

a tall, narrow pot

4 cups of water

a slotted spoon

a short, wide pot

2 raw eggs

a timer (optional)

Wait a minute.

I'm not doing an experiment.

Experiments are for the kids.

The students.

They need to learn by touching, feeling, and experimenting.

I need to know how to poach an egg.

I skipped past-

What To Do

What Happens

and down to the all important

Why?

which I believe will tell me

something important.

Basically,

I learned that I need to poach my egg

in a short,

wide,

pot

because it boils at a lower temp,

which means that it takes

less time

and 

my yolk is

PERFECT!

Reading on,

this little "science book"

is full of 

crazy helpful information.

In fact,

I am skipping now to 

page 57

which has the tricks and tips

to make beans

less

farty.

"Making Beans User-Friendly"

Despite their importance in our diet, beans often make us feel bloated and give us gas.....

Simple Kitchen Experiments: Learning Science

With Foods by Muriel Mandel

Blowing Bubbles

Remember the Bubble?

I promised that whenever I was feeling a little

too "me" centered 

that I'd introduce you to 

heroes and friends

that inspires

me 

deeply.

Friends out there,

meet

Bill and Donna Cody!!!!!!!

I met Bill several years ago when my friend Matt

was planning a major life change

by moving to 

East Africa.

I'll introduce you to Matt later,

(he gets his own posting later.)

Matt brought Bill in to communicate

to a group of us

what Matt was getting involved in.

I was immediately impressed by

his gift of communication

but also his

insanely natural commitment to

compassion.

He is so compassionate for people

to experience real

Love

that he will go to the "hard places."

When I say

"hard places"

I mean the places that people do NOT go!

Dangerous places. 

Unfriendly places. 

Uncomfortable places.

So by the end of that night, of him communicating

Matt's mission,

I left with a deep overwhelming respect for him.

So as time goes on,

Bill and his deliciously, spunky, vibrant, and gorgeous wife Donna,

soon moved into our community 

and we received the special gift

of knowing them

as 

FRIENDS!

I value this couple so much

that I strive for the 

words to honor them

accurately.

Humble.

Compassionate.

Sincere.

There is a Light in their Eyes.

Disarming

in that insecurities melt in their company.

Unpretentious

in that they are the kind of people who might

just show up on your step because they just 

baked chocolate chip cookies and they

wanted to share.

Funny.

Accepting.

Inclusive

in that they are easy to get to know.

There are no hoops to jump through 

or feelings of needing to be 

"on good behavior" 

to be their friends.

You just are.

Passionate.

I feel like they are passionate in a 
"quiet storm" 
kind of way.

In a "not-talking-about" 

but 

DOING kind of way.

I'm sure if they were reading this now 
(I hope that they are)

they'd be rolling their eyes 

or laughing

and 

probably thinking that they 

aren't unique in any way,

they're just living the way they 

know how

or are "called" to live

but 

I am saying 

YES YOU ARE!

You are unique
in every kind of way

and worthy of honor.

I want to tell you a little story

about what I mean

about

"not-talking.." 
but DOING!

Last December we had dinner with Bill and Donna.

Bill told a story about how had just read a Call + Response article

and then moments later

read a newspaper article about how children

in Haiti

were being trafficked into the

Dominican Republic, 

in grossly increasing numbers after the quake.

In his humble and quiet way,

with glossy eyes said to us,

"I can't NOT go."

And we proceeded to watch a man who is 

QUICK TO OBEY

work with single minded focus

to 

go 

and 

diligently

pursue

how he could help.

That was last December.

Friends,

meet

OKIPE.

In very little time,

two trips under his belt,

met an amazing Haitian woman

who cared for orphans

on the little island of La Gonave.

Bill was able to facilitate 

a cooperative 

of communities from all over the world

to care for the needs 

of this woman who cares for orphans.
She just keeps taking them in!

In an amount of time

too short to comprehend,

(remember "I can't NOT go"

was only 10 months ago)

he has lead the effort to buy land for these orphans,

plant a permanent person on the ground,

photo by Addison Searles

to communicate needs and supervise improvements,

build a secure fence around the new property,

and 

communicate to all of us the joys of participating with

this incredible gift of change

and life

to these people.

He would say that it's because of the amazing people 

around him responding

and being enthusiastic and quick to help.

He'd say that it's God

and he's just responding in real time

as God lines things up.

Probably true.

But what I respect about Bill and Donna

is that they are walking out

what is available for

anybody

that has passion, humility, and a fierceness

to be

QUICK TO OBEY.

photos by Matt Smith

My Bubble 

is very resistant to this kind of life.

That's why I am so thankful

when I get to walk 

alongside

friends

who when you look in their eyes, 

 the bubble just

!pops!

photos by Matt Smith

So that was a neat story,

don't you agree?

I've got the joy of seeing it from 

vision to REAL LIFE!

I can't wait to go

and be there

myself.
I want to 
OKIPE!

I want to meet all these beautiful people in person.

I just want to honor Bill a little bit more 

because while all of this

transformation

has been happening in 

Haiti,

he has still been

committed

and fearlessly going

to those

"hard places"

 I mentioned earlier.

And living as humbly as if it's all

"no big deal."

So, 

now that you know Bill and Donna,

you are also their 

friends.

AND TODAY IS 

BILL'S BIRTHDAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Here's what he wants for his birthday.

(here's my attempt to post his email)

It worked! Here's the script directly from his lips.

Hello Friends : )

I am turning 46 years old this Wednesday and I know what I want for my birthday!  lol

I’d like to invite everyone to join me in helping orphans in Haiti.  

I’ve recently noticed how some people dedicate their birthday to a small, grassroots fundraising event for a good cause.  Although this may annoy some, I certainly don’t mean to irritate : )  I just thought this was a good idea and I would love to introduce you all to my favorite, recent humanitarian project : )  I am personally involved in this project and have been to Haiti three times this year to help.

Check out www.okipe.org for some great pics and story!

I recently took an $800 grassroots fundraising challenge for orphan children of Okipe.  I am turning over every dollar I receive from family and friends for my birthday to them and the project which will build them safe shelter.  If 80 peeps gave me $10, we'd hit the target!

Will you join me?  How does it work, you ask?  Well, we’re going to do this one the ‘ol fashion way for now... Please mail your check to me at my house (before the Post Office goes bankrupt!) 

891 S. J St. Livermore, Ca 94550... Don’t bother with money spent on a card... but if you want to send a smiley face on a lil scrap piece of paper, I’ll smile too : )  

Thanks for considering this request!

Peace,

Bill

THAT'S BILL! 

Now wouldn't it be fun,

since you're all friends now,

to blow his birthday goal 

out of the water?

Really,

it's not even for him.

That's the cool thing.

It's for the beautiful faces you

see sprinkled throughout this post.

And thanks for letting me introduce you

to someone who

I consider

a hero and friend,

who inspires me deeply.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY BILL!