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My sweetie is the greatest husband in the world

After dealing with sick kids all week, I’m now feeling a bit under the weather myself. But it’s a good day nonetheless. And that’s because I have the greatest husband in the world.

He knows I have work I want to get finished today. He knows cleaning the bathroom and all those things are difficult and very painful on my back. And he knows the kids need to learn some chores. So, this morning he got up, got the kids up and they have now CLEANED my house!

Aren’t they awesome?

The bathroom is done from top to bottom. They even washed the shower curtain and hung my new towel bar. The dishes are clean, family room is clean and vacuumed. And hey – the sun is out! WOW!

Now they’re talking about walking to the park. That will be nice. I can have some peace and quiet. I don’t get that all week since I’m home with the kids all day, every day. Every mom needs a break now and then. Thankfully, it looks like today is my day.

So – back to work. Just wanted to share that my sweetie is the best!

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Ah! Spring!

The first day of Spring here dawned nice and bright. It was gorgeous being awake with the sunrise this morning! But as the day has worn on, it’s gotten overcast. No rain, though. I am thankful for that! Rain on the first day of Spring would just seem gloomy.

So – here we are! I can feel the magnificent energies of the Earth awakening after the winter slumber. Very empowering energies. Oh and the cleaning bug has bitten. And the chatter bug. I haven’t talked so much in ages! Wow!

And I’ll have to finish this later . . .

Destiny

Those who know me, know that I am a fairly private person. I do not share my inner essence with very many people – sometimes not even with those closest to me. As a result, this post is going to be quite the stretch. Please, just bear with me here.

I had the opportunity recently to receive a numerology reading and personalized energy mandala from Keith Knudson at http://www.energymandala.com . The mandala is stunningly gorgeous. And the numerology report is very detailed and the most accurate reading I’ve ever had done. So accurate, in fact, that it’s almost erie.

For the past few years, I have been going through quite a transformative period in my life. Honestly – I’ve been searching for some direction. Funny thing is – I *knew* the direction. Always have known the direction. The part that escapes me is letting go enough to believe in myself.

It’s a case, really, of knowing ones true power and being afraid it will be misused. Not by the one who holds the power. No, because I am not that kind of a person – but by those who would seek to steal the power away. It scares me not for my own sake, but for that of my family. Until now, it is a risk I was unwilling to take.

But after seeking deep within myself, I have come to understand that the worst risk, the highest risk, is in not sharing and not using that power to begin with. Keith’s report is the sign I asked for.

This period – from today forward – marks the beginning of what I hope will be a long, fruitful and joyous journey for myself and for all who would follow in my footsteps, now and ever more.

Two key points in the reading are my gift of intuition and insight and the ability to see both the details of a plan as well as how it should unfold. I’ve known these for a long time, just have never really been aware of how best to use them to my purpose. A purpose which lies in two other key points of the reading – the gifts of healing and teaching.

A couple of weeks ago, I wrote an entry in my personal journal about being a teacher. Interesting that Keith’s report should mention this so pointedly and accurately – especially without my sharing anything concerning my thoughts on the idea with him. This is another sign I asked for.

And probably the reason I am finally willing to proceed in the direction I have long since known was my “destiny,” my purpose. Not really that I have been UNwilling in the past. More like being too much of a people-pleaser. And that, I suppose, is the peacemaker in me. Always wanting to keep the peace. Never to make any waves.

Well, in order to live my true essence, I will have to make waves.

Be prepared to get wet!

A Quiet Place

Sometimes we just need a quiet place to think, to meditate, to rest. Somewhere that stills the soul and opens the heart. In the harried life of day to day living, that can be a chore, inconvenient and left to its own. Until one gets around to making it a priority. Sometimes finding the time is difficult at best and we cheat ourselves out of a Divine Experience, leaving ourselves to wonder what could have been.

Recently, I got my own office space in our home. It’s been kind-of a novel concept. My office has been in our bedroom for the last several years and now having a space that is distinctly my own is a beautiful thing. I’ve come to see how much I’ve been missing out on in my own personal fulfillment.

For me, having a space to rejuvenate is part of what keeps me authentic and true, not only to myself but to my family. Sure, I’ve had moments. Moments of my own, in the bathtub or in the car driving somewhere. But it just isn’t the same as having my “own” space. I am finding myself more relaxed and more in tune with the world around me.  Especially as working from home can tend to be a stressful, and lonely, thing.

So, it’s the start of a new week and good things are on the table! I’m refreshed and ready!

Would a GPS have saved James Kim’s life?

Here are the questions I’m running into, both in my mind and on other blogs . . .

1. Would a GPS have saved James Kim’s life?
2. Is the map they got from Google to blame?
3. Did the Kim’s do things wrong?
4. Should backroads like this be closed in bad weather?
5. What if this was my family? What would I do?
6. Was it preventable?
7. Can we call James Kim a hero?

It’s a story that has been tracked by millions worldwide. A tragedy. People around the world have been riveted to local and cable newstations, internet news sites and other sites, like CNet where James Kim was a Senior Editor, anxiously awaiting news of his rescue. After his wife, Kati and their two children, 4 year old Penelope and 7 month old Sabine, were found safe Monday afternoon, the hope of the world renewed.

But the world was turned on it’s ear yesterday afternoon, when just after noon Pacific time, Kim’s lifeless body was discovered in the Big Windy Creek drainage. According to police reports, he had travelled about 10 miles from the family’s car where Kati and the children sat waiting, worried and anxious. From what authorities can tell, Kim was likely trying to get to the town of Galice, a few more miles down the Rogue River from where he was found.

Like many others, I’ve been glued to various stations and websites awaiting any new developments since day one. And I’m not really sure what has drawn me into this story so deeply. Perhaps it’s because I’m a parent of 4 children myself. Maybe it’s because I’ve also lost people close to me in horrible situations. Or because I’m just a sap. Whatever the reason, this story has pulled my heartstrings and I can’t get it out of my head.

The only thing left now are the questions. Let’s look at them one by one.

Would a GPS have saved James Kim’s life?

I don’t think so. The problem isn’t that he got lost as a result of a bad map or wrong directions – he missed a turn from one highway to another and made the choice – based on a map – to take a different road. That road was Bear Camp Road, a seldom used backroad that winds through forest service areas. This particular area is very remote and doesn’t get much travel during the bad winter months though it is more passible during summer months. A GPS system may have shown this a viable alternate route – just as the physical map they were using did.

Is the map they got from Google to blame?

Again, I don’t think so. The job of a map is not necessarily to show the reader what roads are viable, but what roads exist. Maps are supposed to give an indicator on how to get from one point to another. Many even have disclaimers about road conditions, construction and other sorts of obstructions that may or may not be occurring at any given time.

Did the Kim’s do things wrong?

Some may argue that James Kim put his family at risk, that the actions he and his wife took when they became lost, were stupid and risky. But I have to argue with that. I think they did everything they could to keep themselves and their children safe. Should they have just turned around when they became lost? I don’t think anyone can answer that. I certainly can’t answer that. Who’s to say if they had turned around that they would have made it back? It’s possible they could have become even more lost than they already were or slid off the road and become not only stuck, but had an accident that hurt – or killed – all of them.

No, I think they did what any survival training would tell you to do – stay put. When you’re lost and in doubt, don’t move. It’s what you tell your children when they get lost in the store. Stay where you are and mommy will come find you.

Should backroads like this be closed in bad weather?

Absolutely! Without a doubt, roads like this should be closed during winter months when they become significantly dangerous and impossible to navigate. There should be barricades closing them to everyone except rangers and other authorities or locals (although, I don’t think anyone lives down these particular roads).

Here in Washington, we have many such roads and a lot of them are closed from late fall to early spring. Some are open to only rangers and authorities, some also allow locals (if there are homes there) although many that do allow some people through, require that those people are in four wheel drive vehicles or have tire chains.

What if this was my family? What would I do?

There is no definitive answer to this. Sure, I can speculate what I might do but you know, you never really know exactly what you would do until you face that particular situation yourself. This could happen to anyone – even the most savvy outdoorsman (or woman!) on the planet.

I know I am prepared as much as I can be. I have flares, extra water, blankets, change of clothing, jumper cables, flash lights, and various other “survival gear” loaded in the back of my car. That stuff stays there 24/7/365.

Was it preventable?

The answer to this question depends on who you ask. But I’m not going to speculate. Maybe they could have done things differently – hindsight is 20/20 – as the saying goes. None of it will bring James back. None of it will change what did happen. None of it will heal the pain the family and friends of these wonderful, courageous people are experiencing now. Living in the past does nobody any good. Least of all, James and Kati Kim and their daughters.

We could wrack our brains for all eternity but there will never be an answer to this question.

Is James Kim a hero?

Yes! Without a doubt! He did everything he could – even giving up his own life – for his family. He kept a level head, he used every tool at his disposal and he saved his wife and children.

But James isn’t the only hero in this story. Kati is as much a hero as James. She breatfed both of her daughters and kept them alive. If that isn’t heroism, I don’t know what is!

And of course, there are all the rescuers and authorties who never tired in their search. All heroes.

Thank you!

I know there are more questions but I hope I’ve touched on those that are foremost on others minds. And I hope I’ve made some sense here. If you’d like to see my additional thoughts on this story, please check out my main blog.

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