We made it! Thank you to everyone that helped make this dream possible! This is more amazing and awe inspiring than we could ever could have imagined. I am having a hard time explaining. I just erased five different attempts! So I will start with the journey beginning the morning we left Asheville and our beloved 63 Cumberland.

Ok lets back up to the day before we left. The last minute packing up of the house, and distributing the items that I wanted to hold on to. This, again, was the most heartwarming show of love that I had experienced..( in addition to the other heartwarming shows of love that I had experienced the days leading up to the benefit show). I have been saying for a very long time, that I have the best friends on the entire planet. I have been so blessed and am so grateful. Never do I take anyone or any act of kindness for granted.

It was a collection of people that I love, working hard in the summer heat to “get ‘er done”!   People came and went throughout the day, with hugs and love to share, taking a load with them to goodwill or to “sit”. Friends brought food to nourish and beer to motivate. A tribe of people who love us unconditionally and support us wholly.  The thought of leaving the best life that I have ever lived kept crossing my mind. Why, why, why? But it was time…beyond my understanding of why, it was time.

The looming task of going to Mrs. Deals house finally was impossible to put off any more. My friends covered for me and kept the procession of things being packed, cleaned, moved, going smoothly while I took about 45 mins to do the hardest thing that I have possibly ever done in my life. To say goodbye to someone that I love dearly, knowing that it may very well be the absolute last time I see her alive. Last time to hug her and feel the love from her beautiful blue eyes and her soft and warm hug. Recently she has been calling me daughter, and Maia her granddaughter. She never was ‘allowed’ to have children. Truth is, she is one of the best friends I have ever had. Those of you who have met her, I welcome you to visit her anytime. She would love it.

Ok, back to the story…

Saira drove 2 hours to bid farewell and to lend her services of extreme organizing under pressure! We cleared out room by room, sending boxes with Ken, Shen and Sean to Mary’s Attic. Things I hadnt accounted for found homes with various people, there were piles to go to goodwill. Everything that was going was systematically moved out of the house. I was so exhausted, I was near delirium and definately could not have completed this enormous task without people like Sasha and the rest of my peeps who “showed up” for us.

The last hour and the last room was hilarious. It was my room, and was the task of actually packing my suitcase and deciding the fate of the little stuff that didn’t make it to the trash, give away or otherwise organized disposal. Things I was attached to and didn’t  know what to do with. It was midnight. Sasha, Molly, Saira, Todd, Shen, Sean, Katie, ..was Jill there too? I was delirious, remember. I felt like a rubber ball that was being passed around the room. Good to be in the midst of souls you trust at a time like this. So we had a box next to my suitcase and the chant was: Pack, Send or Toss. Most of the time I was too gonzo’d to make the decisions, so it was up to the consensus of the room! Only a few times I vetoed a decision they had made. Molly had her experience in India to draw from and that was great! I remember Saira holding up my watch saying.. who wants this? and I said.. I DO!! It was really amusing to everyone including me and very helpful as well!

Todd showed up early in the morning for the send off, and Molly came from her apt to send us off as well. That was divinely orchestrated because it was really difficult for Maia to leave the house and they were the perfect ones to coax her out and on to her new life. Todd was also there to point out that is was the healthiest way for her to handle her emotions about leaving everything that was safe and familiar to her. She acted out with tears and her body. She physically held on to the house itself. It was hard to watch, but I kept reassuring her that home and safety was where mama was, and we were doing this together. Rachel and Savannah were waiting for us. In the car, Maia hung herself out the window until we passed all familiar sights. When we were finally in a place she didn’t recognize, is when she pulled herself in the car and put her seatbelt on, and engaged in conversation. She worked thru this beautifully.

Here is her account:

I’m on my way, I’m on my way to my new house to make new friends, meet new teachers and to a new life. Right now I’m on the airplane on my way to Chicago.   I am going to

Chicago

San Francisco,

Japan

Singapore

and

Bali!

It was really hard for me to leave the house, no really, three people had to pull me out of my room, off the stairs, off a tree and into a car

We finally found our way to the airport. And now I’m on my way to the San Francisco airport, we have friends and family there so we’re  staying there for four days.  All right have to go I am in san Francisco ciao!

Later..

All right, I am in San Francisco and we are waiting for Katey oh there she is! We went to a Mexican restaurant

It ‘s three days later now and we still haven’t gone to the beach! It’s weird not to go to the beach everyday because of mom. Anyways I think this is the end of this blog

Your  frend and bologger ,

Miss Maia Rae Morrell

Here is where I left off:

We enjoyed the morning ride and some time in the airport with Rachel and Savi, and they slipped us beautiful cards before we left them for the gate. Love you two.

The flight to San Francisco was smooth, long and uneventful. We had a layover in Chicago, and on the second leg of the flight, Maia sat in the seat infront of me. She made friends with the woman next to her named Fatima who was as beautiful as she was sweet. She is a teacher, and she fell in love with Maia, as people do.

Four days with Katey in Fairfax!! It was exactly what was needed! There were kids on the street that Maia scootered with, went to the movies and the creek with and even had a sleepover with! I cant even explain how much my soul needed to touch base with Katey and the veins of the Bay Area. We saw the West Coast Morrells and my surrogate papa and his lovely wife, George and Eva. It had been years, and was sooooo good to see and hug them again.

The next phase of the adventure to the other side of the world began in the San Francisco Airport where we met up with Phillip and Zeb Curry. They are friends who live in Bali and go to the Green School, and were traveling back the same time we were headed out there. How lucky for us! The first leg of the flight was about 9 hours to Japan. Maia and Zeb kept eachother company the whole way there, Phillip and I occupied the other row across from them. The random movie, sleep and food was confusing to my body. We had a 3 hour layover in Japan and it was hot in the airport! It was about 100 degrees outside and about 90 inside.. maybe 85.. whatever, there was no AC.  The next leg was to Singapore and was about 7 hours. Singapore is officially my favorite airport (it is Zebs as well). We spent the night in Singapore and left for Bali the next morning. First we had breakfast in Singapore at an Indian Warung… a roadside type food vendors. Interestingly delicious! The efficiency of Singapore is unbelievable, but very controlled.. but it works for them. Bali is the exact opposite by comparison. Beautiful Chaos.

When we arrived in Bali, we saw just how opposite it is from Singapore. Long line at immigration, a whatever attitude at the last security check point… funny.

Our new friend and driver, Wayan picked us up at the airport with a home made sign from my boss’s 7 yr old son .. so nice to be welcomed!!! He drove us to our new home in Bamboo Village, that looks a lot like Ewok Village, and we got there safely due to his spot on skills behind the wheel. Actually it is like a dance that only the locals know. As it looks like complete chaos to us, it makes perfect sense to them. He drives with one hand on the horn and I try to figure out what he is saying with the horn… it seams like a different message each time he blows it… mostly letting people know he is there, I am guessing. I am happy to have a driver!

Field on the way home

a family's temple

We stopped at Wayan’s house on the way home and met his family. Maia held the baby Maday. He lives right around the corner from us.

Wayan's neighbor up a tree picking flowers to sell at Market the next morning

the most unassuming most delicious smelling flower i have ever seen

Ebu Ayu greeted us at the house. She is our new friend and cooks and cleans for us! She makes a lot of raw foods, so I am excited to try her dishes! Today she wrote down a few phrases for me  in Indonesian. We had a little class! Tomorrow she is taking Maia to her house. Wayan also took Maia yesterday to play with his kids for a few hours. She is so lovable and has really made a nice connection to these people already. Of course.

That is all for now.

xo

As sad as it is for me to leave my beautiful life, my wonderful friends, and our Rainbow Mountain Childrens School family in Asheville, NC, I am excited for the new chapter  in Bali, Indonesia to unfold.

I got the job I have been hoping to land at Green School in Bali! I will be a “Resident Parent” at the newest program addition to Green School, the  ”Global Village” (boarding for the school).

I am really excited for the opportunity and the “great adventure” in front of us!  But… unfortunately, there is a glitch in the plan.  In order to satisfy the board of directors at the school, this program was to have a certain amount of kids registered for it by a certain date.

The bad news is: They didn’t get the desired numbers, so the program (under the Green School name) has been suspended indefinately or until it grows.

The good news is: After that time, Green School will pick it up and it will be under their umbrella.

Until then, there were four kids who HAD registered for the experience, so we are going on with the show! The difference is that I will be working for the man who started the program and not the Green School.

The bad news is: Since I am not working directly for Green School, I will have to pay tuition and fees for Maia until the time that Green School picks up the program. With 2 months to pack up my life here and figure out how to move myself and my daughter to the other side of the planet, there is not much time to save up enough $$!

So, either I BAG the whole idea of giving Maia the opportunity to live and learn about other cultures from around the world, for her to go thru her pre teen years and possibly teen years as well at a school who teaches children to be stewards of the earth, where 27 countries are represented, on an island  filled with Hindi temples, beautiful, heart centered people, exquisite art, and the most beautiful beaches on the planet, OR, I trust that the universe has set me on the right path, and I tackle (without fear) the issue concerning the cold hard cash…So I must say to myself, dream big and trust with your heart.  (and that, my friends, was the longest run on sentence ever.)

I am blessed to have people in my life who love with their whole hearts, who live the lives they love, they sing, they dance, they play music, they grow food, they teach the children, they make art, they create beauty and love all around them, they dream big, they inspire others. They all inspire me to live my life to the fullest, (which to me means to do what makes my heart and soul the happiest) and to teach my daughter to do the same.

Yes, I am humbly asking for help in this great endeavor. What ever you can help with, I stand in gratitude and thank you from the bottom of my heart. There is a donation button to the right of this blog. :

I will be able to use this site to keep everyone updated on our travels and experiences, with blogs and photos. Thank you Gary for setting this up for me!!

I am also planning a big going away party, with lots of music and fun for the whole family so check back here for announcements about that.

Also I will be able to post items I have for sale…like most of my house!!!

MUCH LOVE  and stay tuned…..