Last year I made a family slide show to celebrate my mother’s 60th Birthday. It shows pictures of her when she was just a little girl along with her brothers and parents. It then progresses to when she became a Sikh……then has a child (me)….and then becomes a grandmother (Narayan and charanjeet).
Be sure to also check out the first video that I made a few years ago for my papaji’s (Siri Vishnu Singh) 50th Birthday! You can watch that video here.
Every morning Charanjeet wakes up around 6:30am and one of the first things she always wants (aside from oatmeal) is to see her brother Narayan. She just says it over and over…"Narayan…Narayan… Narayan". I then set her down next to Narayan who sleeps on the top bunk bed, and she strokes his hair saying softly…."Narayan" over and over with a big smile full of happiness. Narayan then wakes up gives her a hug and they snuggle and smile at each other. I have to say, Charanjeet is the best person to wake up with. She does a much better job waking up Narayan than me. As a parent this is one of the things that I love seeing beautiful kids together expressing their love and affection. As I see them I know that in what will seem like an instant, they will be all grown up. At least I’ll have these pictures to remember them at this stage.
Here are a few pictures that I took just after the kids woke up.
Here are a few pictures from yesterday in the morning before Narayan went off to school. Arjan wanted to send out some cards to family with a picture of the kids so I took a quick picture as best I could. It’s a challenge taking pictures of kids. Once they are in the right place….the best strategy is camera motor drive (click-click-click-click-click….) This way with all the movement you’ll hopefully get a smile at the right moment. These kids sure are growing up fast!
Messy Face Charanjeet Kaur after having a snack of jam and cashew button on a rice cracker.
Espanola, New Mexico is a small town so there is not very much to do compared with big cities. One of the nice things about having the sangat here is that it is very cozy and everyone gets together often. Throughout the year there is always something happening at someone’s house. It’s like a big family and everyone is almost always invited. So when someone has a birthday (which is often) there is normally a meditation/chanting/kirtan; and then of course, food and socializing. There always seems to be something that is a reason to have Kirtan and/or meditation at someone’s house. For example, before Guru Gobind Singh ji’s birthday every night (for a few weeks) someone different in the sangat hosted Rehiras, Kirtan and food at their home. There is something sweet about getting together in people’s homes and being together in this way. Here are a few pictures from this weekend.
Gurujot Singh, Hari Singh and Others chanting as we meditate to Gurbani Kirtan at someone’s house.
Last night I was writing about Charanjeet talking and saying different things and this morning she was at it again talking away. I sometimes try to record her with a video camera….but as soon as she sees the camera she wants it, and starts saying "Baby" because she likes to look at the pictures on the camera or the video. So this time I got Narayan’s new little mp3 player which records audio and just walked around with her for about 20 minutes this morning. Here are two edited clips. Maybe I’m the only one that thinks they are cute because she is my daughter….but then again this blog is sort of a family journal and it will be interesting to look over the years of my family recorded on the internet. By the way…She just turned 18 months old.
Wahe Guru and Nitnem
In the morning when we do banis she always wants a nitnem. Here is one of the "Nitnem" encounters along with her cute "wah-hey-goodoo".
Various Talk
This is some different snippets of her saying things. Some of her common "expressions" are in this clip: Parantha!, Sikaboo (translation: Scooby doo)
I’m back from my vacation and it’s great to be home. Winter time is a nice time of coziness and consolidation. I feel like everything slows down and I am able to internalize more (Like the plants that go into hibernation the end of the year). For me it’s a time of thinking and evaluating. By the time the new year comes I always start to think about what I want to accomplish in the next year (personally, spiritually and professionally). The winter time is sort of a "deep-breath" to stop and think about where I am and where I want to go. It also helps that at this time of year I normally take a vacation, so I am able to get out of my normal every day patterns of work and day to day things.
Today me and Arjan celebrated our 9th wedding anniversary. In this day and age commitment in marriage is not a common thing. Divorce rates are so high it seems that no one stays married for long these days. I am thankfull to have a happy marriage and a awesome partner to travel this journey with. That’s not to say it is always easy. I think God must be testing to see if I can keep my "marriage black belt" in recent months, since it has been quite challenging having two kids and all that goes with being a family. It is so easy to fall into your emotions and feelings and be reactive when problems come up, rather than being conscious and communicative. Having a relationship is an art and skill in itself. This is one of the reasons why I think having a family and being married is the highest "Yoga"….since it forces you to work on yourself (And hopefully become a better person). It is no longer just about YOU.
It’s been fun watching Narayan and Charanjeet (our kids) change and move into different phases. Charanjeet is 18 months old and is changing so rapidly. I keep thinking how I need to record more of the "moments". She is copying so many words and learning new things every day. Her latest favorite word is "Aaw Man…!". She heard Narayan saying that after something happened and she picked up on it. Now something will drop…and she blurts out "Aaw Man!". It’s quite funny. Another recent classic word is "Parantha!". A month or so ago I made my first stack of paranthas from start to finish and I was saying "Paronetaaaa!!" (with a loud/strong Punjabi accent). Ever since then she just blurts it out like that with lots of enthusiasm at all moments.
So, as we start this new year I hope you all are thinking about your life and all the gifts that you have. It’s a great time for renewed commitment and change. Even I need a kick in the butt sometimes to get myself going and make a change. Ready-Set-Go! (I’m "cooking" up some plans too)
Here is an audio clip by Hari Bhajan Kaur who brought the Espanola sangat through to the new year during the all night Rainsabhai Kirtan. She ended just after midnight 2008 singing the Shabad "Ram Japo Jee Aasay Aasay".
Well I’m still here in Florida, however being in Orlando in the city is quite a different experience than being in Lake Wales Florida at the Winter Solstice Camp. This is probably the most crowded time to be in Orlando. We went out the other day to go to the mall and after hitting the mass crowds we are still recovering. We tried to lay low yesterday "recovering" from that outing. Going to amusement parks with huge crowds is so draining! Last year we went to the various Disney parks (Animal Kingdom, Epcott Center and Magic Kingdom) which was more than enough. Disney has it worked out to a science to grease as much money out of you as possible (taking full advantage of you being tired and having whiny sugared up kids). Now that I am here again this year and see the even larger crowds than last year I don’t want to go anywhere. Looking outside my room window I can see the crowds of people constantly streaming by and the cars jammed up trying to go somewhere. Well, it was worth it coming to this side of the country for Winter Solstice. That hit the spot. It was so relaxing and chilled out this year.
So, I’m a bit stuck in my room right now; Charanjeet isn’t feeling that good this morning so she is sleeping as I type here in the room. Narayan is going to go out with his grandfather to the driving range and maybe play some Golf. I guess it might be another dull day in sunny Orlando. It supposed to be about 82°F / 28°C today so it should be quite warm. Quite a contrast to back home where it is probably pretty cold and maybe snowy.
I’m already missing quiet little Espanola. This place (and most big cities) is Maya city! Living in a small town I sometimes forget how things are for the rest of Americans. It can be so sad looking around at the American consumerism and waste. It’s a constant trying to "look cool" and competition with everyone around. Who has the nicest car, cell phone, clothes, looks sexy..is the prettiest…etc..etc. It’s so shallow. People never seem to be satisfied with what they have and who they are. The sad part is that our society drives this craze. One of the benefits of living in Espanola is that you are not constantly hit up by this maya and the want to buy something. Life is a bit simpler since there are no malls, shopping centers (other than the evil Walmart). There isn’t much to do (city wise) other than sports, outdoors stuff and hanging out with friends. I suppose I am also in a different stage of life than many younger people, since I am married and have kids. Being in a city can fun for some time, but I prefer smaller places to live. For me living in a sangat of like minded people is most important. Check out this thought provoking video called "The Story of Stuff".
2008 is almost here and another year has whizzed by. At this rate I’ll be a grandfather before I know it and we’ll be taking vacations to mars. I’m looking forward to this next year…
What can I say, haven’t had much time these days to do much blogging. Family life really changes things. Those of you who have kids will know what I mean! It can be quite challenging juggling everything (I guess that’s why one becomes a "black belt" when having kids).
Winter is definitely a slow-down time for me. I normally take some vacation time and have a chance to relax with family. I’m looking forward to being at the Winter Solstice Camp in Florida in a couple of weeks and then hanging out with family afterwards. We might go skiing/snowboarding next weekend so that will be fun!
Anyways…here are some pictures from this weekend. I stopped posting pictures as often because I figured people would get tired of seeing the many faces of Charanjeet and Narayan (but also it’s been harder getting unique pictures of them). Narayan has gotten so used to me taking pictures that either he tries "escape" the camera…or he does his fake smile. It takes extra effort and techniques to squeeze out a real smile. Charanjeet is still so fresh and fun to take pictures of, but she moves fast so it can be hard to capture.
Charanjeet kaur coming to me to show her new turban. I love this picture. She normally has a smile on her face….but this one is so focused "old".
Charanjeet is growing so much and copying everything we are saying. It’s soo much fun. Though she is also in a phase of screaming/crying quite a bit as a way to try to get what she wants.
The frown face that Charanjeet learned from her brother Narayan.
Waffles at Breakfast and Kiran Kaur (England) staying with us while visiting Espanola.
Charanjeet wanting me to read her the book “Goodnight Moon” …or as she says… “La Loon” (The moon in french).
First day of snow in Espanola and the kids are all dressed for the cold.
Get MrSikhNet by Email
