Health Rhythms is Coming...Listen to the BEAT!!

Barry Bittman and Christine Stevens     AND THE DRUMS!!!

Our Health Rhythms Trainers!!

The anticipation has been in my head and heart for more than a year since I first found out about the Health Rhythms Facilitator training.  Now I am ready to move on and explore all of the phenomenal options to empower people and guide their healing.  The information packet came yesterday and the anticipation has become a reality!!  YEAH team!!!

Endings BUT not...Relationships Continue!!!

What a group!!  A year and a half ago, the Office of Head Start created a new Training and Technical Assistance system for each state.  ICF International was the contractor and Zero to Three, a non-profit based in DC subcontracted to provide Infant/Toddler Specialists.  That they did!!  ZTT's task was to provide I/T specialists for the 14 states of ICF's contract.   The challenge of it all was virtual teams with limited travel dollars.  Our group, fondly called SBITS (state based infant/toddler specialists) began sharing our life stories and meeting via weekly phone conferences.  OK...better than not at all, but still not the easiest way to build relationships - and ZTT is best known as a Relationship Based organization!!!  Finally in June, 6 months after inception, we all finally came together in DC for the Birth to Three Institute and there was some amazing connections forged.  The photo above is NOT inclusive but one of a small gang of us hanging out on a summer's evening at DuPont Circle!  Now going on, you will see the gang, including our 'fearless' leaders, Matthew Melmed on the right and Lillian Sugarman, next to me in the back left.  Missing was Sandy Petersen, home healing in Colorado!!   In December, we found out that OHS would be terminating our contract and there would be a new system created.  The news was a long way off - way more than 200+ days and now, we are into the last three weeks.  Transition is never a simple thing.  Some have new ways to make an impact in the Infant/Toddler field; others are still searching.  We wonder what we have done but I can say for sure that every time one of us went out and shared information about the importance of the first three years of life (and pregnancy too) we were having an effect on the larger environment and making differences in the lives of the children, families and staff we work with.  Will our relationships be over?  Maybe on a weekly conscious level, but never based on the connections we have made and the wonderful work we have done together!!  What's next for me...watch for new of Remo's Health Rhythms drum circle facilitator training (coming up 9/10-12) and find out my intention of make yet more differences in the world of wonderful people!!

                                   

Back row from left:  Martie (DE), Lillian (of the world/ZTT), Renee (MO), Heather (NE), Beth (IA), Joe (WVA), Donna (AK), Angela (MD), Kelly (OK) and Matthew (of the world/ZTT)

Front row from left:  BethAnn (KS), Diane (OR), Melissa (ID) and Deb (VA)  (Missing:  PA & DC!!)

THANK YOU FROM DEEP WITHIN MY HEART FOR ALL OF THE LOVE, SUPPORT, COMPASSION AND KNOWLEDGE

WE HAVE SHARED WITH ONE ANOTHER! 

 I AM FILLED WITH GRATITUDE!!

What Does FREEDOM Mean to YOU!?!?

A few weeks ago, I had a doctor's appointment to talk about some possibilities going on in my body.  As I was about to get in the car to go, I looked over at the butterfly bush and saw FIVE of these glorious beauties just gently floating around the deep purple flowers and being FREE!  Yes, I know this picture is a thistle and it is from yesterday, but same butterflies!!  Being very still and watching them (a behavior I have not engaged in as much as I used to, but am recovering!!), I thought about what it means to be FREE!!  And this fits in with my trip to Iowa and Nebraska.  I had 7 luscious days of no real responsibility to ponder life, self and surroundings.  It was so perfect.  Today a friend asked me what I noticed about the differences in the culture.  I was challenged to answer because I was just focusing on who I was with and what I liked where I was.  Interesting.  I saw the similarities - not considering statistics, but FUN!  As I think on it, isn't that a kind of Freedom in itself?!?  I was being in the present moment and enjoying every bit of it!!  Now to carry that feeling home and live it daily!  Can be done.

What does being FREE mean to you??

Write and share your thoughts.  I would appreciate the conversations.

martiemol@aol.com

Nature's Balance - Not Always Fair!!

Seems like we are 'bugged' a lot this summer by all types of creatures in the garden from rabbits to ground hogs to caterpillars and beetles.  Just the other morning we noticed these bright and colorful creatures on the parsley plants in the box on the railing.  I use the term parsley plants loosely because so little is left of them!!  These little guys appear and within days, the big ones are gone, little caterpillars appear and the plants are nothing but stems in the ground.  I suppose this is one of the ways that nature takes care of its own, but can't they find weeds to eat?!?  They are beautiful colors though now aren't they?!?

A Great Adventure Always Includes Special Friends!!

   

Beth and Martie in Iowa (actually Nebraska, but we won't tell!!  Trust what the shirt says!! And it was hand painted by a woman at the Farmer's Market.

Any great and wonderful adventure is built around the place and even more so THE PEOPLE!    When I began planning this advanture and shared where I was going, the response was, "WHY?"  What I shared was that I was going to visit two very special people in my life to see where they lived and who they shared their daily adventures with.  I went with no intentions but to be open to experiences and that we had!!  I started in Iowa with Beth and her husband, Wil who everyone calls Frosty.  Yes, there is a story to that but that is for another time.  We visited Farmer's Market, Italian Festival, toured growing up spaces, took off on a pontoon boat on the Reservoir and saw so much, my head was spinning and thanks for the photos to remember many of the stories!!  I met friends, colleagues and relatives and especially grandson Clarence Pete!  He's just turned a year and is he ever a cutie!  Coming with him were Jake and Carrie and their dog Sammy.  After three days, it was time to transfer me to Nebraska and the adventures with Heather and Ivy!!  That they were and what a contrast in experiences yet all just so perfect!!  In Nebraska we drummed, ate, danced and played with 5 year olds!  I got to see Heather's near perfect new work environment and meet her new team.  It was totally a thrill to see the pleasure on people's faces as they anticipated having Heather as their Infant Toddler specialist.  I've been home for a bit more than a week and am still digesting and reflecting on a time of fun, family and no responsibilities!!  That in itself did a lot to make the adventures perfect.  More stories to come, but where do I start?  As I said in the beginning, always with the most special people!!  Thanks to all of them!!!  I will be back but next time it will be with Bill and an RV!  Just you watch!!!

Heather and Martie in Nebraska  Can you believe we finally got someone to take our picture together at the airport before I left?!?  (And boo hoo - no pictures of me with Ivy!!  Wonder how that happened?!?!?!)