Gratitude and Service

In November and December, the Team Palmer School had a lot of discussions about gratitude and service.  Mrs. Palmer had an idea.  The children would pick, out of a jar, a piece of paper with a service to do.  When they had done the service in whatever way they decided, Mrs. Palmer would write it on the paper, stick the paper in a balloon and tape it to the wall.  Any acts of service through out the day could be written down and any thing they were grateful for could be added too.   The class goal was to fill the wall with as many balloons as possible.  They filled the wall.  They popped the balloons.  They took the next few weeks reading the acts of kindness and feelings of gratitude.  Our pieces of paper became "flecks of gold" (based on this little video)  and the children looked forward to reading these before class.  If only Mrs. Palmer would have thought to take a picture before all the balloons had been popped and half of them had been taken down.  But at least she remembered in time to capture this.  It will be a tradition every year.

Oura Wan

 Our Oki family. 

 We made a little island with the treasures we found at the beach.

 Landon is digging the hole to hold his palm tree.

Success!!

Zakimi Castle Ruin

This was our adventure one sunny/cloudy/cold Sunday afternoon.  Sometimes we feel like staying at home and taking naps and just relaxing on Sundays.  And this is good.  But it's ALWAYS better when we go outside and explore the island.

33--Forest Adventure Park

My birthday was the best day ever. For a few hours I felt young (er). It took my brain a little while to let go and remember what it used to be like before motherhood/adulthood. Free. Not thinking about all the things left undone or thinking back on the things done. To not think. To just be. To laugh and play and not worry and to really enjoy the moment. Oh, to really feel like a kid again--it was the best birthday gift ever.  Thanks, E.