I came down with some kind of wicked tummy bug last weekend and it just about ruined a perfectly good week. An appointment with my acupuncturist determined that I must take copious amounts of "cleansing" herbal tea pills. The drama and pain was soon over and I felt much better in no time.
Still, I had to cancel a date on Friday with a friend, which we made up for with a two-hour phone call full of all kinds of catching up and also, Big Plans. Then, I consoled myself further by purchasing iPhones for Brandon and I, and got immediately sucked into the drug-like, cosmic vortex known as Instagram. Before I get caught up in singing it's praises, I want to make sure you know how to find me: pixiecampbell. I know that many of you do not do Instagram, so here are some of my weekend captures:
Unsuspecting victims of my new toy.
It's an addiction, really, and it came at the perfect time, when I suddenly needed yet another distraction.
However, the really big news is not that I've come late to the iPhone party. The really spectacular news that I've been holding on to for weeks is that we are making a gentle transition out of California's Central Valley. And down and over to California's Central Coast.
It's a dream come true for us.
And we thought we already lived where the food comes from.
We'll be moving over the course of the year, with Brandon heading down first to begin working in his new position, and the children and I will follow no later than year's end. I have a project I have to finish up here, so we'll be visiting him mid-week for a few days and he'll be back on the weekends. It sounds crazy, but this is the kind of thing we're apt to do when we're co-creating magic with the universe. Now I have to tell you about magical Ojai.
Ojai is a lovely little art town nestled in the Ojai Valley, surrounded by the Los Padres National Forest, about twenty minutes from the seaside, and 40 minutes south of Santa Barbara. It was a very easy YES for us. An opportunity for Brandon presented itself and we've been trying on all of the possibilities and proceeding thoughtfully, knowing full well that if we could make it work, we would. We've loved our visits there and it's been on our dream list for ages.
The residents have fruit trees and magnificent gardens all over their yards, and local food is served in many of the restaurants, and sold in the beautiful marketplaces.
Ojai is one of those little villages that's very community-rooted, nature-absorbed, active, and peaceful. It has a lovely consciousness about it, with art and music at every turn, great schools for Miles and Ivy, and room for us to expand our hearts and our visions. Plus it's laid back, lush, and freaking BEAUTIFUL.
It's funny, we moved to Bakersfield over four years ago with every intention of leaving as soon as possible. Only in the last year or so, have I had to cut my hometown some slack. Things have been working very well here for us. Being here has given me an opportunity to experience many much-needed healings with my parents, and I knew when I came here my feet would be to the fire about that. But as I've softened and opened, so have they, and the work I came here to do with them has reached completion for now.
This home has been a safehaven. This crazy valley has unexpectedly been a place of healing, renewal, courage, possibility. My parents have given us so much support, helping us to create a home for our children and build something lovely for our family.
And the Universe! Something I learn time and again is that I suffer when I want something before it's time. This has been another teaching in surrender, loving what is in front of me, and doing the work I am meant to do. I am learning deeply, on so many levels, what it means to trust that all change comes just at the right time. That there is no need to push the Earth through her orbit by obsessing. That the wheel is turning all by itself. It's also a lesson in naming what I want in detail, and then stepping back, letting go, and confidently honoring my deepest human intent while it unfolds in right time. That's my job, and it's all I can do.
I love this world. I love this experience of being alive. Not because I am lucky or things are going our way, but because it teaches me. It teaches me to trust.
