To My Friends...

On Friendship

Kahlil Gibran

Your friend is your needs answered.
He is your field which you sow with love and reap with thanksgiving.
And he is your board and your fireside.
For you come to him with your hunger, and you seek him for peace.

When your friend speaks his mind you fear not the "nay" in your own mind,nor do you withhold the "ay."
And when he is silent your heart ceases not to listen to his heart;
For without words, in friendship, all thoughts, all desires,
all expectations are born and shared,
with joy that is unacclaimed.
When you part from your friend, you grieve not;
For that which you love most in him may be clearer in his absence,
as the mountain to the climber is clearer from the plain.
And let there be no purpose in friendship
save the deepening of the spirit.
For love that seeks aught but the disclosure of its own mystery is not love but a net cast forth: and only the unprofitable is caught.

And let your best be for your friend.
If he must know the ebb of your tide, let him know its flood also.
For what is your friend that you should seek him with hours to kill?
Seek him always with hours to live.
For it is his to fill your need, but not your emptiness.
And in the sweetness of friendship let there be laughter,
and sharing of pleasures.
For in the dew of little things the heart finds its morning
and is refreshed.

You honor me with the gift of your friendship,
Namaste

**yet another reason I love myspace! I carried this over with the utmost love and honor in my heart...
so thank you to whomever shared this there, so I could share it here!**

I'm Cleanin'

Oh yeah, I'm dancin' cause I can... I've got floor space... Oh yeah! Life is Good! More out tomorrow, Eli's comin' over to help... (only until his dad gets off work, then he's gotta go warm up the garage so they can focus on Howard) Happy, Happy, Joy, Joy!!

For them ding dang difonzo kids... and all they taught me through ren & stimpy on saturday nights in the valley...

My 80s Theme Song...

happens to be the same song I laughingly learned a routine to... in order to try out for cheerleading... That's right, get back on your chair and clean up the spit from your computer screen! 17-year-old, gawky, uncoordinated Diana Lambert actually tried out for the cheerleading squad in 1985... it was a mockery, but I didn't fall down, I didn't cry and I didn't kick myself in the head (the three big fears!)

Your 80s Theme Song Is:

Material Girl by Madonna

What's Your 80s Theme Song?

Crown Chakra Color!

Your Blog Should Be Purple

You're an expressive, offbeat blogger who tends to write about anything and everything. You tend to set blogging trends, and you're the most likely to write your own meme or survey. You are a bit distant though. Your blog is all about you - not what anyone else has to say.

What Color Should Your Blog or Journal Be?

Thanks Mary!

Dashboard Confessional

Today's Stars: Although others may truly believe that all is well, they cannot see what's happening behind your clever tongue and your sparkling eyes. It's not that things are going badly; they just may not be as good as you make them appear. Don't hold back too much or you might inadvertently set the stage for a minor emotional meltdown.

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Okay, I guess that means I gotta admit I'm feeling pretty sad... I'm sad that Tony seems so ding dang afraid of me (for pretty good reasons, I even have to admit) and that a resolution is not on the horizon for us. I'm sad that I've got so much to give and no where to put it. I'm sad that I look outside of myself for validation. I'm sad that I truly believe the Universe abhors a vacuum and yet I don't see the weighty gain from my weighty losses. I'm sad that some small part of me thinks I'm running away; alternately, I'm glad a large part of me doesn't believe that is True. I'm sad to leave the good parts of the Life we've created here. I'm sad to leave the happy Hannah memories of this space; I'm sad that unhappy Hannah memories even exist in my heart. I'm still so freaking sad that she's not here. I'm sad for the life her death has forced me to forfeit.
And yet, my clever tongue and sparkling eyes do tell the story of what's in me (what is me)... that sparkly, happy Self that can't be bothered to be bogged down by unhappiness. I do know the Secret, I know I shall receive exactly what I'm asking for, just as soon as I clarify in my OWN Self what that is, exactly. I'm so glad I'm willing to be led by my Spirit, I'm willing to do the Creator's bidding as my Life as diana. This too shall pass... all too soon!

I Am Project

"Creating social awareness and changing society's distorted vision of women. Focusing on natural real women - true beauty."

I Am Project

Creating a book of real, unaltered women; to show true beauty in captivating photographs.

You know I'm already signed up!

Koren has already e-mailed me back, explaining their funds are not yet ready for her to travel to me, but I'm sure (hee hee, I feel like I've got some kind of inside track to the Creator) it will work out, so that this project will be a success and I will get to be a part of it.
I think I want to do my Tree pose, my favorite from when I modeled for David's artists group... (tangent!)
While thinking of a pose for me, one gentleman began to suggest, then withdrew, saying, "Ah, you wouldn't do it anyway" Well, pique my interest! "I can't deny you if I don't know what you're asking." I respond. "Well," he says, "I'd really like to draw you like this:" and he stands with his feet firmly planted and his arms outstretched over his head. I wholeheartedly agree to do the pose, with the understanding I'll have to drop my arms from time to time, but I could give a 1-2 minute warning before a 2-3 minute break. OMG! It is the most beautiful drawing I have of myself!! My tummy is all whirly swirly and you can see the goddess just bursting out of my being. The Tree of Life, I am!
The funniest part of the story actually took place months later, while having dinner at David's with the drawing group, my Aunt Donna comes over and wouldn't ya know it, her pastor is there having dinner, too! Reverend Harlan! she proclaims, much to my surprise, it's my artist buddy, the author of my favorite drawing -- and worse, she realizes her minister has seen her niece naked!! She was only embarrassed for a year or so, she's over it now ;)

The Mastery of Love

Gemini: Your spirits lift now that the Moon is in fiery Leo. You are still in a rather serious phase, but you can see the benefits of the inner work you are doing. You needed to dig into your own spirituality to find a new direction. The process is ongoing, but your returning optimism is certainly reassuring.
Today's Quote: The beginning of knowledge is the discovery of something we do not understand. - Frank Herbert
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And on that note, Karen happened to be online just a moment ago with enough time to chat a bit! A very rare and much appreciated treat! Through the conversation, she mentions the 4 Agreements, and specifically the principle: Be impeccable with your Word. I mention how Hayden is familiar with that book and it's principles, how much I use them as Mantras: Be Impeccable with Your Word; Never Assume; Don't Take it Personally; and Always Do Your Best. As we chatted about how we use Always Do Your Best in place of the (nonsense) word: "Try" & how I make sure to give myself credit for giving all 35% when that is all I have available. Right then I remembered, I own The Mastery of Love and have not yet read it, I quickly found it and discovered, much to my great joy and gratitude, the book is about LOVE from Self Love to Being Love in our relationships. What jumps out at me: ...how to heal our emotional wounds, recover the freedom and joy that are our birthright, and restore the spirit of playfulness that is vital to loving relationships.
*Why "domestication" and the "image of perfection" lead to Self-rejection
*The war of control that slowly destroys most relationships
*Why we hunt for love in others, how to capture the love inside us
*How to finally accept and forgive ourselves and others
...when every action we take is an expression of Love ... Love in action can only produce happiness.
Whew! Off to read s'more! Thanks Karen for speaking for the Spirit!

On God's Menu

The Stars Today:
It's a good time to express your desires and wishes in direct, precise language. After all, most people aren't mind readers, and it's unfair to expect them to know what you've been needing all this time. Communicate!
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What a great day to begin my order for 2007!
My energy beats back inertia; I love myself enough to remain active
My body reflects my self love; my health is abundant
My home reflects my welcoming, embracing, loving, generous Soul
My home is my own refuge and respite for all who call upon us
My home is surrounded by beauty, both of nature and of Spirit
My cup runneth over...
My patience is boundless
My love is freely given
My heart is unbreakable
My faith is strong
There is always enough
There is always more
There is always... all ways
Plentiful is my life and Bountiful are my blessings
Thank you Gods (all of 'em) for our gifts, revealed to us at the perfect moment, the perfect fit for our needs/wants/desires/requests
I am worthy, he is worthy, we are worthy, YOU are worthy
Thank me for me, for constant re-creation & recreation

I dance and I dance...
for I am the Lord of my Dance says me
to be continually continued...

P.S. I can't wait to see my new home and my new volvo and my new LOVE!! yay me!!

The Gifts of 2006

Tough to make an inclusive list of my gifts this year, so I'll do some highlights:
Hannah - the girl who made me a mommy and the girl who showed me the mommy possible within me; the girl I'll miss every single day the rest of my life.
Hayden - the boy who wanted nothing more than his mommy's full attention now has it and through him, my mothering evolution continues.
The Unschool Community - those who inspire me with their wisdom every day, with their shared stories and inspiration; the gifts of support, love and gratitude that continue to pour into our lives (ah, the computer, the quilt, the flowers, the words, the gifts, the music...)
My Friends who should be Family - the whole lot of you people who come one by one into my universe, showing me not only who I am but better still, whom I can be; for those who have come to me for the first time, those who have always been here and those who have returned: I'm so glad we're here together.
Live and Learn - what would I do without this commune? I don't wanna know, I don't even want to imagine... Kelly Lovejoy, your gift to our world is immeasurable.
Bemidji - the lake forest utopia (complete with amazing unschoolers) comforting, healing and accepting place for my entire family. Not to mention the place I got my latest tattoo :)
ABQ - What a great healing city, filled with my favoritest unschoolers ever, the aaaaaahhhhhh of a wood burning hottub, falling in love, and the desert residing prairie dogs.
Corvallis - Really, what could be better than Fair Trade, Organic coffee with Unschoolers for company? Okay it's coffee, unschoolers, challa and LOVE!
Rapid City - Once thought of as a terrifically conservative place filled with haunting Hannah memories is now a place of comfort and love, filled with new happy memories of me and the Boy.
My crazy family - nothing in the world makes me feel more normal than my functionally disfunctional family members. If they weren't who they are, I certainly wouldn't be who *I* am.
Kar Karma God - From Hermione Honda to the amazing Loaner Windstar to our New Year beginning with Howard Honda.
Art - the inspiration to express myself through the tiny (ha!) world of ATCs and to share said inspiration with others; my beading expertise and my luck and finding just the right design for the moment.
Music - From Amy Steinberg for inspiration, to Danny Schmidt for my theme song, to the peek into others' unschooling lives via Imagination Tribe soundtracks.
Media - From Elizabethtown to The Secret, my world is a'rockin!
....I know there's more, I know there are gifts I've yet to open who's seeds have been planted in 2006 and will bloom in 2007.
So dear reader, thank you for being here, for tolerating my diatribe and for contributing to making my world a much better place.

random thoughts from the forest

*I'm thinking, after finding a 5 year old journal of mine, that I may have some vested interest in my relationship conflicts with Hayden. yeah, yeah, yeah Tigers hate Monkeys which has been my unfortunate mantra with the boy, since conception. What I've come to realize (thanks Marty and Madelyn) that yeah, the chittering, bouncing monkey can be incredibly annoying to the introspective, pondering tiger... doesn't mean either have to be pissed off, doesn't mean there can't be an amicable relationship; just means there is no wrong in this combination, just means we gotta figure out how the monkey and the tiger can make this work. So the monkey inspires the tiger to be more free-spirited and the tiger inspires the monkey to slow down and think. hmmmm
*We're moving, we're awaiting our new home to appear, wherever that may be... we already give our thanks for the next perfect place for us to be.
*I am patient. I am the kind of friend who can await my loved ones emergence from cocoon time. On their own schedules.
*Snow in the forest is beautiful. Thank you Hayden for bringing me here to enjoy it (thanks for conjuring it!!)
*I am the alpha and the omega. Not only as a mommy, but as diana, in my entire existence and experience of this Life.