The month of November has brought us many opportunities to reinforce community, sharing, gratitude and abundance!
We all picked carrots – the last of the abundant harvest !! - to take home, and then got to see the Tangerini's new farm machine that picks carrots and loads them into a bin - in action!!! We read and then brought to life the story, The Apple Cake, about an old woman who 'fills many buckets' on her journey into town to find apples to make an apple cake. We even make our own apple cake to bake in our reflector oven, but lost the oven in the fire pit before the bread could bake (reflector ovens apparently need heat, but not flame.....!!) We brought out the hammers and 'certified' some Sprouts to use hammer and nails when they are available. We saw, in 2 beloved stories (The Quiltmaker's Gift and Extra Yarn), that giving feels good and helps other people. We started sewing quilt squares to make blankies to donate to families with children who don't have blankies. We will have 'quilt kits' available at drop off on Monday and Tuesday to take home over Thanksgiving break for anyone who's interested in sewing some squares with their families. Cheetah babies has been the game of the month (a made up game that all of the kids play with varying levels of peace and happiness), and inspired a family meeting where we all weighed in on how we feel about that game as well as hitting (roughhousing that leads to hitting for fun, or hitting yourself to make people laugh). As it turns out, most of the kids like the cheetah game (as long as they are included....) but a few are scared when others play it. We all agreed that if anyone is feeling scared or sad because of the game, Christine and I will help the group find another game to play. We let everyone know that hitting of any sort is not ok at Sprouts. We also agreed that you need to ask if someone wants to play that or any other 'scary' game, and answer back when someone says they don't want to play that game. They always get lots of practice asking others if they'll hand over a tool or other item 'once they are done' and working through sad or frustrated feelings when they can't get what they want right away:) We celebrated the light in each of us that shines even brighter when we are together – community, family and the changing seasons - with our Lantern Walk. Each child made a lantern and then we gathered around the fire, warmed lavender water over the fire for cloths to clean our hands and faces before our special 'tea party', lit out lanterns from the fire (Christine and I lit tapers to light their tea lights), sang a few songs (Down with Darkness: Down with darkness, up with light. Up with sunshine down with night. Each of us is one small light, but together we shine bright! Go away deepest darkest night. Go away, make way for light) and This Little Light of Mine, and then took a walk with our lanterns around the yurt. We wish all of you a beautiful week filled with love and gratitude for all that Is. Christine and I are so grateful to be surrounded by such light-filled families. Happy Thanksgiving!!
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