Move along, there's nothing to see
18 March 13
I’m relieved to have reached the decision to stop updating Sparkling Adventures on a regular basis. Dedicated readers will know that I’ve blogged almost daily for over six years, and yet I’ve struggled with maintaining the site over the past couple of months.
I have discovered that I am finding a beautiful and fulfilling energy exchange with those people I am around in real life. This means that I no longer have the time or inclination to go online and tell the stories that fill our days.
I am immersing myself in the moment and choosing to let it pass by, unrecorded. It’s been a relief to stop using the camera, stop researching the obscure details of our family’s adventures and to stop spending so much time on the computer. The creative energy that I previously poured into Sparkling Adventures is being used in other endeavours, including crochet, community art collaborations and an exploration of music.
I still have stories and photos to share up to and including March 11, and I intend to note some aspects of the girls’ development, specifically the birthday interviews.
So our adventures will continue, undocumented at least for a while. As we travel around, you can catch highlights on Instagram and Facebook. As always, I am happy to meet new, old and online friends whose paths intersect with ours.
If there is anything I have ever written that I want to emphasise, it is this: The way of Love is the key to opening ourselves up to people, experiences and joys in the world around us. It starts in us in our hearts. When we examine ourselves and stop the unloving self-talk, quit the judgemental assessments and turn with hope to each encounter, we start on the path of Love towards emancipation.
1 · Jess · 18 March 2013, 10:44
Lauren, continued wishes of light and love to you on your journey, documented or non. Find light and energy wherever it presents itself, and shine on!!
2 · Ruth Suyamin · 18 March 2013, 10:51
will miss your “voice” but totally get why you need to step back…
Hope to someday meet u irl ;)
Ruthie
3 · Paulo · 18 March 2013, 11:06
Lauren, I have enjoyed following your blog for many years. I admire the effort and work you put into it, and I hope someday your girls will be able to appreciate this record of their adventures when they were little. Hope to see you around other corners of the interweb. Cheers! -P
4 · Sian · 18 March 2013, 11:28
I’ve read your blog from the very first entries. It has been such an amazing read, providing lots of thought and highs and lows, honesty, love, inspiration and reflection and more, which I honestly think I will carry with me for many many years. I really appreciate that you have shared so openly so much of yourself.
But I also am glad for you that you have decided to step back and let life into the parts that previously were filled with screen time. I often wondered how you managed it!
Thank you Lauren. And when the time is right, maybe our paths will cross one day :)
5 · Cy · 18 March 2013, 11:59
Take care and enjoy your wonderful life, you have certainly blessed mine and for that I Thank You!
6 · lisa · 18 March 2013, 12:03
You and your girls will be missed. Your blog is a source of great inspiration to me! BUT everything has it’s season. It takes a wise person to know when it is to move on and when it’s time to redirect our energies…so on that note KA KITE for now, be well and be blessed.
7 · Heather O. · 18 March 2013, 12:08
I will miss following all of your sparkling adventures, but I understand the need to pull back and enjoy life, unrecorded. I wish you and the girls all the best. :)
8 · Leisa · 18 March 2013, 12:25
Totally understand! I’m feeling really happy for you actually. Yet another form of freedom you have discovered.
Much love to you all.
9 · Annie · 18 March 2013, 12:48
We love you, Lauren, and I will miss seeing your adventures, but my heart is happy to know that you will really be living them now instead of stressing to document them for others. Enjoy life!
10 · Kathy · 18 March 2013, 13:18
I have really appreciated reading all of your blogs, Lauren, and I so wish that I could meet you in person. But I know exactly what you are saying.
Enjoy every moment!
11 · Rhiannon · 18 March 2013, 13:28
I too can completely understand the need to step back from the computer and to just be with your girls. Enjoy the time you now have where you can relax instead of writing. Much love xx
12 · Nitka · 18 March 2013, 14:09
I’m so sad.
13 · Renee · 18 March 2013, 14:26
I have mixed feelings about this, Lauren. I am glad you will be on the computer less, but I will miss seeing your adventures online (like Bali!) How will you keep a record for your children and David from now on? Please keep using the camera, even if you don’t journal your activities!
14 · Jesse · 18 March 2013, 14:42
:( I’ll miss reading about your adventures, but thank you so much for sharing your life with the world! Many blessings on you and your family in your future adventures!!
15 · Irene · 18 March 2013, 15:05
Namaste. <3
16 · Yeshe · 18 March 2013, 15:39
17 · Yeshe · 18 March 2013, 15:48
weird, half my comment disappeared!
Anyway, I said :( sad to see you all go, I love reading about your adventures and thoughts on life. If you are ever in the Mudgee/Wellington area…see above. LOL
Much love from Yeshe and Lily xxoo
18 · Chelsea · 18 March 2013, 16:15
Lauren, I am so proud of you for listening to your heart. I totally get it and will keep up with your beautiful family on facebook. Love to all of you! love ,Chelsea
19 · Yvonne Gluyas · 18 March 2013, 16:21
Love your blog, but love you and your family even more!! The girl’s sketches are still on my fridge…. Do keep in touch! All the best from Yvonne
20 · Narelle · 18 March 2013, 17:58
About time…….
I actually unsubscribed because you just seemed to live so much online – I love what you have taught me – you are one of the most amazing women I know. and I am so very very happy your creative energy is going into the children….. Me too x x
21 · Jessica · 18 March 2013, 19:40
Your blog will be missed, I am grateful to you for all the spiritual inspiration you have shared here. I wish you and your family well, may you continue to walk in love for all your days.
22 · crunchy · 18 March 2013, 21:08
Thank you for all your posts to this point, and the ones that are to come. We’re so lucky that your words and thoughts are permanently here. Congratulations on your decision to cut back, you are supported in this as in the way you run your life in general. I wish you and your family peace in the future.
23 · Jenn · 18 March 2013, 21:16
I have no doubt the adventures will continue to sparkle but I will miss reading about them and will miss the ideas and inspirations that come from you!
24 · Sarah from Michigan · 18 March 2013, 23:31
Lauren,
I will miss reading about your adventures, but please know you’ve already made an impact on the way I, a stranger in Michigan, feels about parenting and life in general. I’ve been following along and rooting for you for some time and will continue to do so, sending you positive energy each time you and your girls pop into my head.
I am so happy for you and your decision to stop blogging, as much as I will miss it — it’s clearly a wonderful decision for your children, who will surely savor the time with their mama away from the screen, and also for you. It is so easy to spend increasing amounts of time in front of our computers and phones, somehow believing that THIS is what’s important…the draw of that screen is a strong one. My fear is that my daughter’s childhood will race past while I sit tapping on my phone, and when I finally look up, I will realize that it’s all passed me by. I fight it everyday, and am happy to see that you are too.
Best of luck to you, Lauren – I will still stop in to see how you and the girls are doing from time to time, and you will remain in my thoughts. Thank you.
25 · Lin · 19 March 2013, 00:55
Lauren,
I first found you when looking for something related to dredlocks(I’m a dredlocked homeschooling mama too!) I have enjoyed the authenticity of the life you lead, and have grieved with you over the hardships you all have suffered. Your blog is one of only two that I read daily, so it will be missed! But I wish you all peace, healing, and strength as you proceed through life. Farewell, and best wishes!
26 · Trudy · 19 March 2013, 01:56
awe, im gonna miss reading about your wonderful adventures but totally understand. Good Luck and God Bless!!
27 · Jennifer F. · 19 March 2013, 02:27
As with many others here, Lauren, I am a stranger to you in a foreign land (Ohio), but I have been so moved by your grace and wisdom!
Praise God for the sparkle you have been in the lives of so many of us. . . . . May He continue to bless you and your beautiful family, and may you ALWAYS continue to see the sparkle in every new adventure!!!
28 · Danielle · 19 March 2013, 03:53
Thank you for sharing your journey, Lauren. You’re a beautiful woman, and a beautiful spirit. Nothing is as hard as what you’ve already gone through. So you can look forward to better times ahead. You and your family deserve that. <3
29 · Nicole Weldon · 19 March 2013, 07:59
Oh I’m a little sad but happy for you aswell. I found you about two years ago when I was googling unschooling, and found this amazing family travelling freely around Australia and blogging online. I was instantly hooked. You have inspired me to at least rethink the way we are living and educating our children . I didn’t follow your blog daily, and looked you up last year and discovered the heartbreaking passing of your beautiful boy. I bawled for hours. I have since sent you all white light and love often. I have loved reading about your sparkling adventures with the girls. Good luck to the further sparkling adventures in your life and thanks for inspiring me,and I’m sure, many of your other followers to start making sparkling adventures of their own. Good luck. Peace and blessings. Nicole
30 · Taryn · 19 March 2013, 11:40
It’ll be sad not to read of your marvelous adventures regularly, but it’s completely understandable! Praying you find rejuvenation, joy and peace in this new look adventure that is life!
31 · Stephanie · 19 March 2013, 12:48
Lauren, I have been following your blog for only a few months. While I am so happy for you and your decision I am sad that I will no longer be able to follow your adventures. You, your girls and your lifestyle have been an inspiration. If it is not too late and too much to ask I would love to try to receive one of your bumper stickers.
Peace, love and many more adventures
Stephanie
32 · Jodie · 19 March 2013, 19:02
Lauren I have loved reading your journey, I have been inspired to explore more with my own children and wish you and your children more wonderful adventures to come. The road is not always easy and the path not always clear but you need to make decisions that are best suited to you and your children. I know you will cherish every moment :) Safe travels xx
33 · Flaminia · 19 March 2013, 19:15
Lauren, totally understandable, I wish you all the best, you and the girls deserve it, I will continue following your adventures on fb, I often think of you especially when I face hard times in my life and I take you as an example to follow, in the matter of how to react to circumstances.
I hope to meet you sometime, somewhere, somehow…
I send you a big big hug and lots of kisses, and thoughts, and smiles, to your amazing family (including a special one to “my” Brioni :-), so similar to my daughter Anastasiya). Flaminia from Italy
34 · K · 19 March 2013, 19:19
Big love to you, Lauren. Looking forward to the day our family can meet yours and we can connect properly xx
35 · Eli · 19 March 2013, 19:48
Great that you have realised that blogging is not living , it nevessarily detracts from being in the moment. Wish u the best .
36 · mb · 20 March 2013, 04:55
Lauren:
I tripped on your website in a convoluted manner that even now I can’t remember how I did it! You have been an inspiration in your openness —- to emotion, adventure and more. I wish you nothing but the best…peace and happiness….you have opened my eyes to thinking outside of the box and that different paths are equally valuable. Love from a fairly conservative reader in NJ/USA. MB
37 · Kylie · 20 March 2013, 19:27
Much love to you and your sweet little girls Lauren. Enjoy the many wonderful adventures you all have ahead.
38 · Bel Bryant · 20 March 2013, 22:03
Will really miss you, more than you’ll ever know. Thanks for your blog but I’m really, really sad to see it go :( Good luck & best xx ps wish I’d posted more than this.
39 · melissa · 20 March 2013, 22:51
Lauren, I hope you will give us updates on you and your family from time to time. Sparkling Adventures is a favorite in our house. My kids love looking at the pics from your amazing adventures. Take care!
40 · Sarah · 21 March 2013, 08:59
About time – find some privacy for you and your girls, some space to just be.
41 · E (USA) · 21 March 2013, 10:41
Godspeed, Lauren.
42 · Robyn · 21 March 2013, 22:05
Yours is the only blog I’ve ever followed Lauren, and I have no idea how I first came upon it given that I’m an atheist, a mad old crone and don’t believe in home or free schooling! But I’ve been engrossed in your love, vitality and commitment to growth. You’ve given me much food for thought (non vegetarian btw!) and I feel blessed to have followed your early sparkling adventures, your journey through despair and your new incarnation as one of the most amazing women I have ever encountered. May you and your girls find more sparkling adventures, may you never again experience the depths of sadness that you have countered, and may you all continue on your amazing journey.
Oh, and yep, ditching the camera and stuff is a Very Good Idea. It sucks the real-stuff out when you have to concern yourself with posting it to social-media sites. Having said that, I’ll miss the updates, but I trust you’ll be having a wonderful life all the same!
Take care Lauren, and give your remarkable girls a big smoochy kiss from some weird internet lady who thinks they’re pretty cool.
Robyn
43 · Hayley · 22 March 2013, 14:52
Hope ur not missing the World Wide Web too much. I’ve been reading ur blog a year or so , as a stuck at home house wife wishing we had the balls to just follow our hearts out of the rat race. I often did wonder whether all the writing, research, photos etc was taking away from actually living in the moment and enjoying the right now. I guess it was. Congratulations and enjoy everything to come xxxx
44 · Laurie · 23 March 2013, 21:29
i will miss you, happy travels!
45 · Therese · 24 March 2013, 22:33
Best wishes and enjoy your new freedom, Therese
46 · Robin · 26 March 2013, 08:34
Dear Lauren,
Long time reader, first time to comment. Blessings to you and your family. There must be something in the stars because here on the other side of the earth I am feeling a shift in all that I have held as “normal” and your willingness to share in your darkest days and now your wisdom to stop sharing via the internet and be present to the beauty of each moment inspires me to go forward in trust that a new “normal” can be embraced as the old fades away. It’s all good!
Thank you, thank you.
47 · Ingrid · 26 March 2013, 12:48
Hi Lauren,
Im another mother out their who lost a little boy. Although my boy was 11 days old when I lost him. Ive followed your posts since the untimely circumstances of Elijah’s death and have read some of your posts prior to his arrival. I just wanted to say your posts/writings have been a real inspiration. You are another out there that wears their heart on their sleeve. It has been refreshing reading your posts and your day to day life with the kids etc. I totally understand your decision to want to step back and not write as much and perhaps have some privacy but I just wanted to let you know you made a positive impact on my life. All the best
48 · Anna · 26 March 2013, 14:36
hey Lauren
i’ll miss the blog too, and the spiritual and physical inspiration it’s provided. But hey, hopefully i’ll get another IRL dose at the end of this year :) And you’re providing further motivation for me to join FB! (????! we’ll see…)
hugs, love, godspeed
Anna
49 · Me · 29 March 2013, 10:39
I think you will be greatly missed, maybe someday our paths will cross.
Thank you for being an inspiration!
50 · Mel · 8 June 2013, 08:56
I have loved reading about your families adventures and way of life. I love the reading what you post and many things you say resonate within me. You are such an amazing, wise, loving and caring soul, and although I have never met you I feel like I know you. Thank you for being so brutally, painstakingly honest at times (which I am sure would have been so hard for you). I am so truly glad that you have found beautiful things and people to surround yourself with and you are using your energy in different ways. Time for you to just be, be with your kids, be in the moment. Enjoy.. You deserve it!
I will stop in from time to time to see what you are up to, follow you on twitter and instagram, and Facebook. Take care of yourself and your beautiful babies.
51 · Jamie · 18 June 2013, 13:05
You have touched my life throughout the years, reading of all your family’s adventures. Your blogs will be missed. I wish you the best Lauren, and thank you for the past 6 years of awesomeness! Every time I hear a certain song, I think of you and your family :)
Congrats on moving on though! Sometimes we all need a change :)