More than gratitude

25 Things I love about my daughter, Jaleh

2009-04-08T11:03:00.000-07:00

I love her natural abilities with children
I love to watch her interact with her nieces and nephews
I love the way she picks herself up after she’s been knocked down
I love that through all of her tests her love for Baha’u’llah remains strong
I love her unique sense of style
I love her odd assortment of friends
I love that she keeps me up-to-date with music and the arts
I love her creative ideas for saving the “ambiente” - ecological bikes made of bamboo, creative grocery bags, concerts to promote awareness
I love that she can ride her bicycle to the U for Peace and back (lots of hills)
I love her cooking
I love her concern and caring for me
I love her eclectic taste in music
I love her off-the-wall sense of humor
I love her sincere expressions of joy and happiness for her friends who have babies, even though she does not yet have her own and would like to.
I love her neighborliness
I love her identification and concern with all kinds of people
I love her bravery and courage
I love her talent as a writer
I love the care she gives her cats
I love her optimism even in troubled times
I love to watch her swim – she’s like a very fast, smooth bullet going through the water.
I love that she teaches yoga to her friends just for the love of it (and her friends)
I love that she shuns imitation
I love that we share the news, fashion, films, the Oscars and our love for Barack
I love that she’s my daughter!

Happy Birthday, Jaleh

25 Things I love about my son, David

2009-04-02T18:20:00.000-07:00

I love the way he takes charge and gets things done
I love that he is such a great father
I love that he puts his family's needs before his own
I love that he gets up in the morning with Ela so that Gianni can sleep in
I love it when he loses control and laughs out loud
I love that he is steadfast in his Faith and love for Baha'u'llah
I love that he still enjoys Chavo del ocho
I love that he is obedient to Baha’u’llah’s laws
I love that he writes poetry in song
I love that he sings when he’s asked, even though he doesn’t like to.
I love that he is devoted to Gianni and her family
I love the gleam in his eye when Ela does something special
I love the way he dances
I love that he is so loyal to his friends
I love his shyness
I love that he understands my shyness
I love that he speaks out on matters that count
I love that he takes care of his family’s every need the way his father did
I love his visits with Ela in the morning
I love his honesty
I love how he comforted me the night his father passed away
I love that he still plays basketball and surfs
I love that he’s generous with his family and friends
I love that he is such a beautiful enigma to me
I love that he’s my son!

Happy Birthday, David

25 Things I love about Aria

2009-03-02T13:13:00.000-08:00

1. I love that she’s such an outstanding mother

2. I love her creativity

3. I love that she’s so patient with Sasha

4. I love her grace and inner beauty

5. I love her concern and caring for her mother, even though she’s far away

6. I love that she acknowledges her OCD moments

7. I love the way she looks at her husband when he says something funny

8. I love her persistence in achieving goals

9. I love the hospitality she shows to guests

10. I love her concern for others

11. I love her sense of justice

12. I love her undeviating loyalty to Baha’u’llah

13. I love her devotion to family

14. I love that she enjoys & appreciates James’ cooking

15. I love her silent laughter and tearful eyes when something strikes her funny bone

16. I love her artful touches in decorating her home

17. I love that she has fresh flowers in the house even in the winter

18. I love her ability to beat me at word twist every time

19. I love and appreciate her thoughtfulness in keeping the blog updated with Sasha pictures and videos

20. I love the delight in her eyes when Sasha does something special

21. I love her voice when she prays

22. I love her sincerity when she prays

23. I love that she connects so well to other people’s children

24. I love her obedience to the laws of Baha’u’llah

25. I love that she’s my daughter!

Happy Birthday, Aria

25 Things I Love About Colin

2009-03-02T09:15:00.000-08:00

1. I love that he's such a great father.
2. I love that he cares so much about the feelings of others.
3. I love that he looks after his mom, even though she's so far away.
4. I love that he's so enthusiastic about life.
5. I love that he works so hard for unity.

6. I love that he challenges himself (even though I worry a lot about him).

7. I love that he continues to express himself through music and poetry.
8. I love his cut of hair?
9. I love his style in general.
10. I love that he rises to meet the needs of his community
11. I love how he treats kids in general.
12. I love his gift for making everyone around him feel comfortable.
13. I love to watch him at his favorite sports. I love that he still skateboards!
14. I love that he posts "virtues" on Facebook.
15. I love his boundless energy.
16. I love his communication skills.
17. I love to watch people's face light up when he enters the room.
18. I love his devotion to Baha'u'llah.
19. I love to watch his simple delight in a good cup of coffee in the afternoon.
20. I love to talk about deep feelings with him.
21. I love that he understands mine.
22. I love our chats on messenger - we always seem to connect no matter what the conversation or the time of day!
23. I love his unwavering integrity
24. I love his quick response to friends in need.
25. I love that he's my son!

Happy Birthday, Colin!
You are my best Ayyam'i'ha gift ever.

Grateful for my family and for my full and happy life!

2008-09-18T14:42:00.000-07:00

So much to update since the last pictures. Beginning with Ali and Ilka's wedding in Florida and a wonderful family reunion; a great two-week visit with the Pyburns in Houston, including time spent with my dear friend Jane; two more happy weeks with Colin and family in Massachusetts and Maine where we all enjoyed 4 wonderful days at Green Acre Baha'i School and 3 more days camping on the coast of Maine.

In late August I returned home to my Costa Rican family and friends with special visits from the Ighani family, trips to Guanacaste for the promotion of the Institute process in the cluster of Papagayo, local activities and of course special times with my adorable granddaughter, Ela who is growing by leaps and bounds.

I'll let the pictures speak for themselves:

Pictures July & August 08

2008-09-15T18:34:00.000-07:00

Gathering River Rocks for cemetery

2008-07-13T18:11:00.000-07:00

Today our Bahá'í community went to a beautiful river called "Piedras Negras" about an hour away from our home. We filled Marco's pickup truck with nice round stones for the purpose of lining the cemetery wall. After a delicious lunch we drove back to town and to the cemetery where all of us worked passing the stones over the fence and then placing them next to the wall by Dad and Alan's graves. When we were finished we all said prayers. I know this made Dad very happy on his birthday!

After I got home I took a hot bath in my new tube! Isn't it beautiful?

A view from the prayer room this morning

2008-06-26T11:48:00.001-07:00

How fortunate am I to be blessed with such beauty all around me!

The children at CINAE

2008-06-26T11:48:00.000-07:00

The children at CINAE who really opened their hearts to this "gringa"!

2008-06-26T11:47:00.000-07:00

Our study group - amazing women with such beautiful minds and open hearts! (Dick you are included - didn't mean to leave you out)

Life-long Pioneers

2008-05-17T07:34:00.000-07:00

These three men: Alan Pringle, Jere McKinney, and Bill Keillor, left their homes as very young men and dedicated their entire lives to the service of the Baha'i Faith in Latin America.

Their lifelong efforts were dedicated to raising the awareness of “the oneness of humanity” , the viability and beauty of “unity in diversity” and the undeviating faith that “world unity is not only possible, but inevitable”.

These remarkable men entered 'that garden', spoken of in the Baha'i Writings, and stayed to tend it until they were called home.

(Quotes are from the Baha'i World Faith: www.bahai.org)

Jaleh's Birthday

2008-05-09T09:38:00.000-07:00

David, Gianni, Ela, and I celebrated Jaleh's birthday with dinner at Taj Mahal. Jaleh looked so beautiful and radiant as you can see in her picture. She's looking forward to a great year beginning with a great new job as assistant in an art gallery. She will also be teaching a yoga class in the evenings. Congratulations Jaleh!

Barney

2008-04-28T16:30:00.000-07:00

The other day our dog, Barney, was playing with his friends (the neighbor's dogs) out in the yard and was vigorously defending a bone he had found. He latched onto it so tightly that it lodged between the back of his lower front teeth and jaw. David and I both tried to pry it loose but without success. So Barney was taken to our local vet. He had to sedate him and saw the bone off with an electric saw!

I love this video of Sasha quoting Abdu'l-Baha on kindness to animals and thought it appropriate for this blog.

"If an animal be sick, let the children try to heal it, if it be hungry, let them feed it. If thirsty, let them quench its thirst. If weary, let them see that it rests." 'Abdu'l-Bahá

New Neighbors

2008-04-26T13:54:00.000-07:00

We've always been very lucky to have great neighbors, and it looks like our new ones will be no exception. This is Chris, Camila and their son Victor, who is four years old. They are from Sweden, but lived in Barcelona for ten years. They will move into the new house at the entrance to our property. Gary, who is our next-door neighbor, invited us to his home this morning for a great brunch and to introduce us to the new family.

"Ropa Americana"

2008-04-19T19:49:00.000-07:00

I love going shopping with my friend Sonni. We both love to go to stores called "Ropa Americana". These are stores in the middle of San Jose where one can find REALLY good bargains, similar to the Goodwill in the States. Goodwill, however, is like Saks Fifth Avenue in comparison. These stores are just stuffed full of horrible clothes, but hidden among the junk are shopper's treasures if you have a good eye (which Sonni does).. Within the space of a few minutes, she has a Donna Karan or Ann Taylor in her hands. Today we purchased 4 blouses, 2 slacks
and one jacket all great looking, designer lables for under $20! Then we treated ourselves to lunch at the French "Cafe Christophe". Thanks for a great day, Sonni!

Friends

2008-04-13T09:02:00.000-07:00

Some definitions of "friend": "another I", "a second self", "a person with whom I may be sincere", "a person with whom you dare to be yourself", "one who knows your faults and loves you in spite of your virtues". These definitions may be true on one level (the "I" level), but i wonder how many of us think of being connected to our friends before we entered this world at the soul level - the world that is alluded to in the Hidden Words of Bahá'u'lláh:

"O MY FRIENDS Have ye forgotten that true and radiant morn, when in those hallowed and blessed surroundings ye were all gathered in My presence beneath the shade of the tree of life, which is planted in the all-glorious paradise?......"

My Best Friend

Peacock feathers

2008-04-10T08:14:00.000-07:00

I love peacock feathers. They remind me of the mystical, the serenity of Baji and the wonder and awe of God's creative design. The feathers that I have are old, faded and a bit frayed so, I had been thinking of how beautiful new ones would look in the tall blue vase that Jere bought for one of my birthdays. However, finding peacock feathers in Costa Rica is not always easy - in fact I don't think I've every seen them here except at "ZooAve". Colin tried to bring some down, and even hand-carried them on the plane so they wouldn't get crushed, only to have them confiscated at customs upon his arrival. Therefore, one can imagine how surprised and delighted I felt when, returning home one afternoon, I saw a man walking along our dusty rural road with an armload of beautiful peacock feathers. (I mean, what are the chances!) Of course I bought as many as my "peaje" change dish would allow. My peacock feathers have taken on yet another profound meaning - God's infinite care in providing for our every need, even the smallest most whimsical!

Continuity

2008-04-09T16:32:00.001-07:00

Watching a community grow up

"I bear witness oh my God that Thou hast created me to know Thee and to worship Thee..."

Bahá'u'lláh

Mangos and Gardenias

2008-04-08T16:32:00.000-07:00

Rain and wind competing for attention ...lightning teasing nearby structures... exciting and scary ....

Morning's treasures on the ground

Thoughts about today

2008-04-07T08:43:00.000-07:00

This blog is at Aria's suggestion and my need to express the gratitude I feel and which oftentimes overwhelms me