To: LIFE, LIBERTY, and...HAPPINESS!

July 4, 2008

To my children, the children and parents of my preschool, my friends, and all others that have shared my heart and life thus far in this world:

First of all, I’d like to, once again, share my deep and abiding love for each of you. Truly, my life has been greatly blessed because of all of my experiences and associations. This letter is my attempt to share some things that I have had come into my mind and heart, just over the last several days, prompting some unanticipated life changes.

Looking back over my life, I see that what is shortly to take place is really just the out-flowing of what I have been preparing for (without really knowing it) since I was a young child. My love for all people is immense. My desire to serve and bless the lives of everyone (particularly children and those with open-minds and hearts) has always been the source of my greatest joy.

Though my life appeared to make some drastic changes five years ago through my divorce from my twenty-year marriage, I believe it has always been moving and building toward the point where I find myself now. My eight living children from that marriage will always hold a sacred, cherished place in my heart and mind. However, they are in caring, capable hands. My love for each of them will always burn brightly, yet I have found that sometimes the greatest love is freely giving another their space for their own learning and growing experiences. I have confidence that their lives will manifest the opportunities and lessons that will be for the highest good of each of them, allowing them to, also, learn to bring forth their own unique joy.

I am now embarking on wrapping up all my dealings with this “world” as I have known it so far. I will be selling off and letting go of pretty much all the “stuff” that I still have in my possession. I will be closing down my preschool the end of the month of August and moving out of the lovely house that has been home to Krystal and me over the last 2 ½ years. Then, in the middle of September, she and I will board a plane with a few suitcases and head for the next chapter in our lives—living among some of the “least among us” in Ecuador.

How long we will stay, where we will go from there, is uncertain at this point; perhaps a few weeks, perhaps for the rest of our lives. As of now, there appears to be passport restrictions of less than 90 days. Will opportunities open up? Will a way be provided to extend that time? Will our journey take us from there to another (currently unknown) location? Or, will that time be sufficient to fulfill the calling of my heart? I don’t know. I do know, however, that I will freely offer my love, vision and assistance to those in need wherever I am.

Although the scenery and climate is supposed to be some of the most beautiful on the planet, there is a tremendous poverty rate among the people in Ecuador. Orphans, street children, homeless, unemployed abound. I have a friend visiting there now who reported to me a few nights ago that, although there are modern malls and many “conveniences” (mostly due to those who are in Ecuador for the oil situation), just even feet away from these are the “poorest of the poor.” He told me of those little ones of even four and five years old with no one and no where to go.

These little ones sleep in the streets, waking in the mornings to scavenge and find or make whatever they can to hopefully sell in order to pay for an egg or rice to keep them alive another day. I weep and tears flow freely as I write this and ponder on their lives. My friend, Fernando, also quickly reported that these were some of the most happy children he has ever seen, expecting and demanding nothing from others but finding every bit of happiness and reason to laugh and smile they can for and from within themselves.

I have found tremendous joy in my life in teaching, helping, and blessing the lives of my “own” children and others through my various schools, classes and many other opportunities. Some of my greatest joy has come when I have seen the “light” go on in parents’ eyes and hearts of how to joyfully raise healthy, happy children and interact with them in ways that empower everyone for the long run.

Several weeks ago, nearing completion of one of the books I am writing, “The JOY of Harmony~How to Joyfully LIVE Your Life…and…How to Happily Raise Happy Children!” I seemed to come to some kind of a standstill. Having plenty more to do to finish putting it together, my desires to write seemed to be put on hold for the time being.

Then, just a few days ago, my mind began opening up and burning in this new direction. Perhaps my experiences among the Ecuadorian people will help me to further fine-tune the principles that I have sought, learned, and put into practice that have allowed me to be a witness to such miracles in the children and others I associate with.

Again, where my life will continue to lead, where I will go from there, I can’t even guess. It is likely that I will help in orphanages. I might open a school of some kind. Perhaps I will make and sell my “green drinks” and smoothies. Perhaps I will do nothing more than walk among the poor and bind up their hearts as I laugh with and interact with them. Whatever I find to do to sustain us and fulfill our inner joy in life, I am fairly sure it will involve children and parents, music and laughter. All I know is that life is a grand adventure; love IS the (only) answer; the injunction to “do unto others as you would have others do unto you”—always—is the only road to true and lasting peace.

Krystal’s nature seems to be very similar to my own. I have no doubts that this new chapter in each of our lives will bring us both great joys, heartache, tax our physical, mental and emotional boundaries, and give us many further lessons in loving, teaching and truly serving. Perhaps it will open up further the implementation of the Worldwide United Foundation (wwunited.org), thus helping to end all poverty, loneliness, stress and despair—for every one—for ever.

Throughout my brief 46 years on this planet I have filled my life, mind and heart with poignant stories of others who have gone before me who have “done the impossible.” Many were scorned and chalked up by all others are “crazy,” insane,” “off their rocker.” Yet always, often unknown by others, each person who has taken up their inner charge to follow that divine directive from within, against all apparent odds, has changed at least themselves. Sometimes they have been led to bless the lives of others. Often their courage, that appeared to masquerade as insanity, was a catalyst for others to live their own lives without fear, finding their own unique joy within themselves.

I again extend my enduring love and gratitude for each of you. If you have desires to stay close and would like to be kept abreast of what we are experiencing, please let me know. I am attempting to get my website working and up-to-date (loveistheanswer.info). Though about to be renovated, feel free to check in periodically starting in the next couple weeks. I will attempt to open up and keep a blog going. There is some internet availability within the larger cities of Ecuador. Hopefully, I will be able to utilize it to keep in contact with those desiring to.

I plan to fly in to Quito on the 20th of September and see what we find. I do have an Ecuadorian contact who has volunteered to pick us up from the airport and help us to find initial lodging. It will probably not be too long before Krystal is able to speak fluent Spanish. I’m sure she’ll be helping me in my language efforts.

I will be selling off and attempting to raise as much money as I can from the “stuff” I have now. Although I have freely given much away throughout my life (even having a huge “free sale” with a friend a couple years ago to raise awareness for the W.U.F.) I will now, however, attempt to get the best prices I can on everything left. If you may have any interest in any of my furnishings, appliances, toys, games, etc. please let me know soon. (There is not much that can fit into a couple suitcases and a box or so. J ) Also, if anyone has an interest in a beautifully running, nearly like-new condition 2005 Nissan Sentra SE-R (loaded) with about 16,000 miles on it, I will need to sell it before I move.

To the many thousands of empty stomachs and arms of my new continent, I will bring my love, vision and hope. As much as I have benefited from my interaction with those here in my “native-land,” I am seeing that my true love, and perhaps my greatest ability to help, is among the “least among us.” There have been many who have gone before me, utilizing no computer, no white board and markers, no manipulatives, books, toys, not even a paper and pencil. Indeed, these have changed hearts, minds, and left a legacy of love. Perhaps in my own small way, I can help bless another heart.

May we each find our own great joy in life, whatever that may be for each wonderfully unique one of us. May depression, loneliness, judgment, hunger and war find their swift end. May we each find the smiles, giggles and laughter of our own true nature that has been (often) held imprisoned within ourselves. This is my hope. This is my joy. This will be my dying breath.

My love forever,
Kimberly

P.S. If there is any interest, I may plan to go ahead and do another seminar or two before I leave.

P.P.S. As I don’t have email addresses for everyone that has had a part in my life and may have some interest in what I am now making happen, please feel free to pass this letter on to others.

Keep Smiling! :-)




It Couldn't Be Done
Edgar Guest

Somebody said that it couldn't be done,
But he with a chuckle replied
That "maybe it couldn't," but he would be one
Who wouldn't say so till he'd tried.
So he buckled right in with the trace of a grin
On his face. If he worried he hid it.
He started to sing as he tackled the thing
That couldn't be done, and he did it.

Somebody scoffed: "Oh, you'll never do that;
At least no one ever has done it;"
But he took off his coat and he took off his hat,
And the first thing we knew he'd begun it.
With a lift of his chin and a bit of a grin,
Without any doubting or quiddit,
He started to sing as he tackled the thing
That couldn't be done, and he did it.

There are thousands to tell you it cannot be done,
There are thousands to prophesy failure;
There are thousands to point out to you, one by one,
The dangers that wait to assail you.
But just buckle in with a bit of a grin,
Just take off your coat and go to it;
Just start to sing as you tackle the thing
That "cannot be done," and you'll do it.