Tour de Northeast!

It is about time I post something to update our goings on, lots of questions about what we have been doing, what we are currently doing, and where we are going next. Answers to those questions can be found here!

We left Maine on August 12. It was fantastic!!!! (this is Emily saying that). A large combined family is moving into our house, soon to be theirs- I am thrilled! We became better friends with them before we left, and I feel so good knowing they will love and cherish the space and use it to its fullest potential!

I have been dreaming of my departure from Maine since about 9 months after we moved there- and leaving was everything and then some, it felt so good. Don't get me wrong about Maine- I am so grateful for the friends I have made, the amazing lessons I have learned, and the challenges I have had (the lowest low in life, birth of my second child, first experience with home ownership, schooling, etc). There are too many wonderful things I learned and grew from in the past 5 years living in Maine to write about. I just always knew it was not the place for me for the long term, and am so thrilled to be moving on to the place that makes my heart soar- where the desert meets the sea!

So I drove with the kids to Manchester, Connecticut, to the Pierson's house in the van. It poured rain on our way- true to our history of weather on our trip to CT- rain! James arrived late that night in the UHaul that was full of our belongings from Maine. We had sold our VW TDI Jetta (the kids had named it "Twinkleberry") to my friend Sara in NH the previous week. Monday morning we unloaded our belongings into a storage unit in Manchester, and James and the kids rushed me off to the train station in New Haven so I could get to NYC for my Yamuna Body Rolling training. Everything happened very quickly, and I was in a constant state of motion for about 6 weeks until about 4 pm on August 13th, when I landed on my bed at the Jane hotel- body still, mind spinning, city life outside, and complete calm around me. This was a new feeling. I liked it! That was the beginning of a life-changing week of healing crisis, a-ha moments, and amazing breakthroughs in my body, mind, spirit (thanks to my great teacher Elizabeth, and thanks to my amazing teacher and mentor in Maine, Marianna!). I had an amazing 8 days of training- learning how parts of my body relate to each other, how my body connects, and how I can help other people return to their bodies and feel. There were several a-ha moments for me- connecting past injury to sensations in various parts of my body, had an intense alchemical shift- whew! It was revolutionary, and I'm so excited about sharing this work in the future!

In the middle of my training Sorrel turned 4 years old. James and both kids took the train from CT to NYC the afternoon before his birthday, came to the studio to meet me after that day of training, and we got to have dinner together with James's Aunt, Uncle, and cousins, as well as an old friend (we figured its been 13 years!) Mike Yoken- who happens to share a birthday with Parula! It was a really nice night, and Sorrel got to eat chocolate cake with candles and "eat out" all day, which was one of his birthday wishes. They left the next morning, and it was really great to have them with me in NYC.

Playing in the pool with Nancy and Lian

Sorrel watching his Great-Grandpa grilling

I returned to CT after an amazing morning of practical tests at the end of my training, it felt great to get that done, and I felt like it was done well! I returned to Manchester after almost 8 days of no kids. It was quite an adjustment to get used to my family life again, even though I missed them like crazy and talked to them everyday while I was gone, it was actually really amazing to have a break (the longest time away yet), and really an amazing treat to be able to work so deeply into my being (which was more than I had ever imagined it could be).

Sam and Phyllis watching by the pool

River about to swim

Pia doing what she does best ...."STICK!"

Piersons- 3 generations

We spent another 2 1/2 weeks in Manchester with James's grandparents and his mom. The kids swam several times every day, really had a blast in the pool! The dogs also loved swimming in the pool, the pool filter seemed to handle the fur too! (Thanks Sam). It was such a sweet time to spend with family. We also had some kinks worked out with the Van (new alarm system, repair the A/C, James finishing some caulking and painting externally). There are still some bits and pieces here and there to be done before our "long" journey begins. We left Manchester last night, September 1, arriving in Malvern, PA at my mom's house just before midnight. It was difficult saying goodbye to family knowing it could be a decent amount of time before we see them again.

Parula in action

 Today we had most of the day to spend time with my sister, brother-in-law, and niece. It is so beautiful to watch the 3 kids all playing together so nicely- Paige is just 3 months older than Sorrel, 16 months younger than Parula, and they all get along together so well! We had a great time visiting with them.

So our plan is to be in PA until next weekend, with a quick trip to the shore (NJ) with my mom late in the week. We will then continue on our way.....west? South? West? The direction will be southwest- Baja- with visits to more friends and family along the way. Please let me know if you want to or can visit with us, or if you know anyone who would be open to our brief presence! We are self-sufficient sleeping, eating travelers (including 2 dogs and 2 kids), just needing a driveway or yard to park in for the night (or 2), and maybe a bathroom and shower to use. We can contribute good conversation, great food, smiles, and perhaps a quick handy-man fix here and there. We will be rambling around in the U.S. until about mid-October, and then we will head south of the border! Thanks and hope we can keep you entertained along the way!!!