Lawson & Amber: January 2009

10 January 2009

Amber's New Toy

We started our new year off finding a replacement for Amber's POS car. This is Amber's first new car and honestly, I've never seen her so excited. For those of you who really know Amber, you know she's pretty evenly tempered, no huge ups, no huge downs. I'll have you know, she almost did a happy dance.

Our Holiday Break

Amber and I spent our Christmas break with her family in Leicester, North Carolina just outside of Asheville. It was a very relaxing visit. Her parents have a wonderful home with an unbelievable view. On Christmas day her father’s family came over for a feast…turkey, ham, mashed potatoes, macaroni and cheese, green beans, dressing, potato casserole, rolls…

After Christmas I made a trip to Louisville to see family and friends. I wasn't able to see as many people as I would have liked, but it was a good visit. My first outing was to the Vietnam Kitchen…I know…big surprise. One of the highlights of the visit was finally being able to meet Baby Bella.

Sam & Bella

Sam, Nic, & Bella

How we chose our title...

Many Native American groups, especially in the Eastern part of the nation, traditionally viewed North America as an island. Various groups told different creation stories of how the land they inhabited came into existance. The phrase "Turtle Island" is a rough translation of the name several northeastern groups gave to the land. They believed that the earth was a large island which rested on the back of a turtle's shell and that the shell was suspended from the sky vault on four huge ropes.

For many people, "Turtle Island" now represents a more complex message. It is a way of naming the soil which supports us in a way that acknowledges the occupants which resided here long before European conquests. "America" is a title which ignores the rich history, and culture, of the people who called the Island home for centuries before Ericson or Columbus. "Turtle Island" honors the traditions of an ancient civilization, while still recognizing the ever changing naure and merging cultures of the people who call this particular piece of the earth home.

By choosing to refer to our homeland as "Turtle Island" we recognize the root of our nation's culture, the history of our families, and the ever evolving nature of our own lives. As we make our place in the world, and move from location to location, we know the Island will continue to nurture and support us in the same manner it supported our ancestors as they built their own homes and families.

Lawson & Amber

10 January 2009

Amber's New Toy

Our Holiday Break

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How we chose our title...