Balance

~ What I dream of is an art of balance. ~

-Henri Matisse

[Palladio's Villa | Italy | Reverie-Daydream Image]

10 Things ~

Have you ever stopped to think about what you can't live without?

The lovely Paloma of La Dolce Vita asked me to share 

10 Things I Can't Live Without {here}.

[Paris | 27 Weeks Pregnant with the crumb]

The Academy

The California Academy of Sciences is one of our favorite places to visit, and it makes me beam with pride knowing it is the largest public Platinum-rated building in the world, and also the world’s greenest museum.  The Academy's sustainability extends to all facets of the facility - from the bike racks and rechargeable vehicle stations outside the building to the radiant sub-floor heating inside the building to the energy-generating solar panels on top of the building!  Not only is this a place to learn about science, natural history and species from all over the world, but we can also absorb a few lessons about living more efficiently and eco-friendly.

We spend hours within these 'green' walls ~ moving from the planetarium to the aquarium, through the 4-story rainforest, pausing for penguin feedings, and getting lost in time as we stroll through the natural history exhibits.  Our minds race, our hearts pound, and our yearning for learning increases more and more.  The Academy is addictive, and their mission ~ to explore, explain and protect the natural world is one I believe we should all adopt.

[Image by Reverie-Daydream]

Enlightened Path

Dearest Gaia Miette,

The role of Mother was never part of my overall life plan,

but you, my sweet crumb, had a different blueprint in mind.

You entered my world and turned it upside down,

proving that life is full of unexpected and beautiful surprises.

I graduated from a top university, read thousands of books, practiced yoga with great teachers,

but you, and your wee self, have taught me more about life than any of the above.

You have shown me the importance of patience, the wonderment of simple things,

the liberation from selfishness, and the significance of living in the moment.

Oddly, I cannot imagine life without you,

And trust me, there was definitely a past filled with lots of extraordinary living.

However, your entrance into my world has only caused me to look forward,

ahead to all the great things you will do, be and give.

The moments we will share together for the rest of our lives,

the numerous times I hope we walk hand-in-hand through it all, the good, the bad, and the spectacular.

My heart is forever changed and filled with an adoration words cannot describe,

and I thank you for diverting my path and adding one of the greatest roles of my life to our story.

Love,

Mama

[Mama & Gaia ~ El Retiro, Madrid, Spain]