Being in the moment, totally at one with nature. Free of the monkey mind chatter and internal dialog. No ego to feed; just simple happiness from living in the present and being consciously aware. Every breath drawn from the centre of the Universe. Every cell in the body soaking up the warmth of the sun and feeling the presence of life in every molecule. No heavy weight of past woes and future obstacles. What’s the point? Wasted energy. Live, feel, breath: Be Present.
Children of our future, are our future. They have more to teach us than we are often capable of understanding. Open hearts met by open minds. Sophie is such a soul of wisdom. She often has random strangers on the street captivated by her presence. In Commonsense Organics this week she had all the customers and staff circled around her whilst discussing the merits of various packaging and its effect on the environment; and she’s not even three!
With both my children I am constantly aware of the need to really listen when they talk to me; for they often have so much to teach me. When I open up to them they are so much happier to listen to me and willing to take my advice (though I can foresee them advising me more frequently in the not too distant future… and well into my silver hair days!).
I’ve come across some inspirational blogs recently and they are written by people that really do know their children and give them the greatest gift: the opportunity to become who they really want in close harmony with nature. Stop by and take a moment:
Confessions of a Pioneer Woman
Centre Down Home
Meanwhile, on the home front here we are so happy with where we are. School term finishes in just over two week’s time and we have planned a road trip around the lower North Island, taking in Ohakune (snow!), Taupo (geothermal wonders and natural hot springs) and Napier (art deco, famous for a big earthquake, looking forward to seeing the new Aquarium).
After a bumpy start to Charli’s school-life (which only lasted a few week’s in hind-sight!) we are now all so happy. We really are blessed to have a beautiful, rural type school, with views of the ocean and a beautiful bushland valley for a playground. Combined with this beautiful setting are amazing people who really make this community work. Everyone is so open and friendly. Smiles are easily given to strangers – in fact there isn’t even a feeling of ‘strangers’ as we all feel some how connected.
Sophie is really coming into her own now and loving the freedom to explore. Living in Wellington is so easy. Dan’s office is only a ten minute drive away and he often makes time to meet us for lunch. We did this when Charli was younger, and now we’re able to do it with Sophie… and the smile in the photo says it all (the pair of them were in total, mutual adoration of each other!).
Charli and Sophie together have a wonderful bond, which I really hope continues. Fortunately Charli’s school is really encouraging of family-home interactions; which are helping to maintain the bond. Today Charli invited Sophie to join her on the mat for ‘Days of the Week’ and ‘News’. Sophie absolutely loved it and was even invited by Charli’s teacher to sit up and tell news! Sophie told news about her yellow chopsticks with a rhino at the top and how she was looking forward to a ‘Yum Char’ lunch with her Daddy!
Happy Days xxxx
Even the fish are happy at Chez Lee (took Sophie, Charli and I over an hour to clean it thoroughly on Monday afternoon!). They live in our hall-way, opposite our bathroom. In our home there’s nothing more relaxing than sitting on the toilet and watching the goldfish (not sure what the fish make of this!).
And thankfully, the Universe didn’t implode today 🙂



What a joy to read the blog today Darling…made me feel so calm and happy inside and reflect on the things that give us true happiness and joy. The pictures are just magic…you do indeed live in a beautiful place !! Give our little darlings a big hug from us.
Awww, thanks for the link and the kind words!
How wonderful to take stock of your happiness. That holiday sounds wonderfully exciting. We are hoping to get out to the snow sometime soon.
Gorgeous pic of Dan and Sophie! Sweetness.
Isn’t that experiment, um, interesting. I’m no scientist but it kind of freaks me out, recreating the Big Bang, I hope it’s safe!
Completely, totally, utterly blissful words – how inspiring – please let us in NZ immi.!!! – nail biting just got to the elbows – with joyous anticipation of our friendship – Rx
I’m still laughing about the fish. I love the way you interacct with your girls. It made me think, (guiltily,) about my time with my 3 boys when they were little. But then I realised that we walked the dogs out on the common twice a day, went swimming and to playgroup as well as walking miles around Forest Gate to visit different play areas in the local parks so now I don’t feel so bad.
I’ve been thinking about the “Awareness of the Moment” theme since listening to “Something Understood” on R4 last Sunday,(a philosophy type programme), which was all about resisting the tug of the ‘next thing’ and savouring each moment, not always rushing on. You seemed to have sussed this already.
Thank you for your lovely comments on my blog. Really I’m just a chatterer and it’s such a good way to share my life with my distant family and friends instead of trying to remember what I put in each letter. And I’m meeting so many interesting people as well.
Take care, all of you.
Sorry I’m so late getting here, Sarah! I loved scrolling through your blog and looking at your beautiful family having fun — Sophie and Charlotte are two of my favorite little girl names! 🙂
We would move to NZ in a heartbeat. The company my husband works for was bought by a NZ billionaire a couple of months ago. But instead of NZ, they are sending us to Arkansas!? Go figure.
Pioneer Woman cracks me up.
I could not have that fish tank there. I’d sit on the toilet and feel guilty looking at it, every time it needed cleaning …