“Mami, Freiken invited me to his birthday and it is going to be in the park with a Brinca-brinca.” Javier says energetically interrupting the sudden silence that filled the car upon dropping off Jaimito and Olaia in school. “OK Javier, that sounds nice. But where does Freiken live?” I ask. “He lives far away Mami.” [...]

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Living in the Basque Country shattered our two dimensional approach to a basic staple, mayonnaise. The Basques made their own mayonnaise at home, often with fresh farm eggs,  and then with unexpected twists and turns, some mixed in lemon instead of vinegar, others added garlic. The explosive taste of fresh made mayonnaise made sandwiches stand [...]

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I am a working mother of four.  An entrepreneur and an eternal student.  In my circles, mothers of four are rare.  As people find out that I am a mother of four  I often get condolescences, chastized, called a nut, and assumed to be frazzled and unhappy, burdened by some accident. This is no “accident” [...]

Read more of Family: the joy that money cannot buy…

"Mom are we in St. Louis yet?" Javier asked as we were up in the sky and a thick layer of clouds made it seem like the plane was standing still. "No, Javier, not yet…" I replied."When I get to Mama  ‘ouise’s  house I am going to make a snowman with Jaimito and Olaia," Javier [...]

Read more of The charm of our little yellow house…

William Damon’s book, "The Path to Purpose" is not yet on my bookshelf but in the meantime I read an article on the books key findinds in Education Week (June 11, 2008), "Majority of Youths Found To Lack Direction in Life." It seems that Damon’s findings point to one fifth of survey participants as having [...]

Read more of The Spark to Jumpstart Our Economy…

My kids see my husband and I all the time. Up to the age of 4 we are both the primary care givers. Once they begin school and music lessons they begin to meet the world. Schooling ends and again they are again in the fold of their parents. So much togetherness forces the issue [...]

Read more of Why so concerned with “happiness”…

There is no denying time, it passes whether you want it to or not. Last night my sweet little girl, my first born whom I can still recall as a newborn infant, asked me if she could cuddle up next to me and fall asleep on my bed. She is now a 4’10",  lanky version [...]

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Este año el trabajo invadió mi tiempo de reflexión durante la Cuaresma. Las semanas pasaban y no tuve tiempo para pensar en imperfecciones, flaquezas que mejorar, el tiempo traicionaba mi mejor intención. Pero mi sincero deseo por crear espacios de espiritualidad trascendental en mi vida y la de mi familia fueron escuchados y pude reconectar [...]

Read more of Celebrando la Semana Santa con mis hijos…

I now I am not alone when I wondered what my children would be like. However, I thought we would have more time – "more time" for our lives to change and somehow be "more ready" to help them as they each found their way. But here I am. Not much has changed but our [...]

Read more of The New Generation Begins to Make Their Mark…

When love pours out and touches another life the human ground it touches is nourished and made ready for the harvest.  I have seen this miracle occur many times. It happens between loving parents and their children. It can be seen even in the brief moments when we give of ourselves to strangers with a [...]

Read more of Warning: Gushy Emotions Run Amuck…