Leaving Lake Tahoe 3:03 PM

Winter is over, spring is in full swing, and summer is already right around the corner. The snows are melting on the high peaks, the sun is shining, and flowers blooming. As we move on to new adventures, it's time to say farewell to Truckee and Lake Tahoe, for now. The rumor has it that people come to Lake Tahoe for the winters and end up staying for the summer. As we dipped our bodies in the cold, cold water of Lake Tahoe just a few days before saying goodbye, we could understand why. The beautiful sandy beaches, empty this time of year, the clear cool waters, views of mountain peaks, all combine to promise that the rest of the year has as much, or more, to offer as the winter. Yet, for us our time is up and there are other places that beckon and new adventures that await. Despite being an unsettled winter, we had our fill of great days on the ski slopes, in deep powder and spring corn. However, it wasn't just the outdoor experiences that we'll remember and that will bring us back.

Closeness and courage 8:37 PM

We have now been able to spend almost two months together, close, together as brothers, mamma and sons, daddy and sons and husband and wife. And also as being part of other family here in California. Being a family spending so much time together, made me think of thousands yeas ago, a hundreds years ago and today, that it is in our families that we learn to take the freedom and opportunities presented to us and make something of them. It is in our families that we learn courage. We learn how to become self reliant and to focus on our personal potential of service to others. We all have to practise self-discipline and moderation. We have to foster respect for our family members, which extends to the outside world, as well as the love we have for our mothers, fathers, brothers and sisters. With our mistakes and learning in this little society, we experience justice and mercy for our mistakes and trespasses against others. It is in our families that life is lived. Families are never perfect, but families are the best way we know to develop as people. I am grateful for being able to spend so much time together.

A California Christmas 10:24 PM

Surrounded by national forest and with Yosemite just a short drive away, the beautiful Christmas weather has given us all a chance to get out and play and spend time with family. We are grateful for the chance to wind down from a hectic autumn and look ahead to the adventures planned for 2010, but more than anything we are enjoying the moment and being together with our children and their aunts, uncles, cousins, and grandparents.

A few days before Christmas, we took a drive up into the mountains on a small dirt road as far as the snow would allow. Here we stopped the car and got out to breathe in the scent of pine trees and allow the boys to get out and get dirty. As I watched them climb and crawl over boulders and search for sugar pine cones, the theme for our year together suddenly came to me. The year of getting dirty. The coming year is all about getting outside together and getting dirty, trying new things and doing more of the things we already enjoy doing outdoors.

Christmas preparations 2:07 AM

After a few days of rain, the sun finally returned and we started adapting to the California climate. With the holiday season in full swing, we are settling in for Christmas in the foothills of the Sierra Nevada.

Despite being removed from the bright lights of the city, the neon Christmas is still hard to avoid. It's not necessarily the bright lights that detract our attention, but rather the focus that has changed from the traditional celebration of Christmas to something quicker, easier, and watered down.  Despite one's beliefs, our celebration of this holiday season does have it's roots in the story of Christmas, a story of giving selflessly what we each have to offer. As we settle in and absorb the sights and sounds around us we have time to observe and contemplate our own beliefs and intentions. What kind of gifts do we want to give this Christmas season, what kind of memories to we want to create, particularly for our children?

Inspiration 12:12 AM

Inspiration. Sometimes everyday things get a bit overwhelming and time for ourselves seems rare or non-existent. Even with two fantastic kids, sometimes a few minutes alone to collect (or rather empty) our thoughts goes a long way. Whether it be a run through the forest, or just a few moments in solitary meditation. We all need these moments, yet we have to balance these with our routines of everyday life, children, work, making dinner, grocery shopping... At the end of the day though it all comes down to priorities and weighing up what really needs to be done today, and what in fact can wait. Sometimes our inner being needs to be fed more than our physical being.

In planning our adventures for the coming year, these times for spiritual nourishment are equally essential to pursuing our dreams as all the other activities on our to do list. We need to remember to plan for time for morning walks or yoga on empty sandy beaches, and time for afternoon reading in mountain meadows while the kids are off running picking flowers and collecting pine cones. Until our adventure begins, it's important not to let the chores of our daily lives cloud the beauty we already have around us.