Home found (we think)

I think we found our home. It is in SE Portland and it is a great building that was a school before, so all we will have to do to it is put in new paint and carpet and furnish it. The landlords have to apply for a Conditional Use Permit in order for us to occupy the space, but everyone anticipates this happening without a hitch. So we are almost there!

Update on marketing fundraising - we have raised almost all the funding we need to fund our marketing/branding/new identity. This is very exciting. It is amazing to me that we did that, out of thin air it seems that we were able to raise $36000 and we only need an additional $4800 to make this happen. It isn't out of no where though, it is actually due to several key people and their super hard work. I am only responsible for a very small portion, but it feels good to be able to have come up with something. Anyone feel compelled to chip in to cover our gap? With the money we will be able to get our marketing and piece in place. Then we will have both key pieces that we need to start our major fundraising to open the school for the fall of 2010. Still on schedule - 8 months to go.

Meaning in Relationship

“Because meaning is formed in relationships within the family system and in individual interactions within that system, sustained effort in conscientious relationship to the child can allow the parent or caregiver to access greater trust, to engage the process of self-inquiry, and to make new meaning throughout life in relationship to the context of his or her world. The results of my research have revealed that deep involvement with the children in our lives can break open the parents’ hearts to greater well-being and self-awareness.” (Josette Luvmour, 2008)

God I love that woman!

Life gets away

I have been meaning to write for so long but life seems to have a way of speeding by these days. Time is an interesting thing. When I was a kid time seemed to crawl. When it was Thanksgiving, Christmas seemed like such a long way off. Now it seems like it will be here when I wake up tomorrow. So as the time is zooming by, I am plugging away at this project and trying to enjoy the simple moments with my kids. Like my youngest daughters first time in the snow. Reading books and playing word games with my 3 almost 4 year old. Snuggling up and doing crafty family projects.

Rest asured that the project is still very much alive and well. We are working hard with this building partner to get a space deal together - hoping I will be able to reveal the actual place soon. Fund raising is slow and steady which makes sense given the economy. I am reading a great book called The Common Vision - Parenting and Educating for Wholeness about the educational philosophies of Steiner, Aurabindo and Inayat Khan. It is amazing to me that what these guys have been saying has been around for so long (since the early 1900s) and it had no taken stronger hold on the way that the masses conceive of education. I know that there is an evolution to shifts in thinking, and that some people are just ahead of the curve, but come on people - 100 years! Hell, Ba and Josette have been writing about this for 25 years and it is still a struggle at times to find people who can truely "dig it" if you catch my drift. But hey, I am not letting it stop me, watch out, make way, let's create a revolution! One... small... step... at... a... time.