We are moving, and as sad as it is to leave the farm, great things await us! We are so excited for the possibilities of working with immigrants, making films, going for walks, being with family, and exploring community in the diverse city of San Antonio.
There are so many things I want to write about, and pictures I should post, but I need to wait until things settle down and I have more time. Once they do, I am going to write about our family business or the business that we aspire to have, just because we can:
- law office
- film production
- all natural soaps
- belly dancing!
We are going to make the most of our time in the city, while maintaining the long term goal of living sustainably off of the land one day.
Sunday, September 26, 2010
Saturday, August 7, 2010
The Struggle For Peace
This past couple weeks have been challenging, in a good way. I got a new and unexpected case involving 2 girls seeking asylum, who were detained by immigration. This was my first time as the Law Office of Julie Flanders to deal with a situation where the clients were detained. It was heart-wrenching and complicated. I was glad to take the case because it was meaningful. But the meaningful work kept me up late at night and presented new dilemmas.
I had to deal a lot with different immigration agencies. All I can say about those agencies is that they are a mess. Their policies are inconsistent and their personnel are at times very unhelpful. To my surprise, I began to think about a career change. If I were to work inside one of those agencies, perhaps I could make things a little bit better. And by treating people with respect, perhaps I would make people's day better who are going through something like my clients were going through. By simply answering the phone kindly. And I began to think about a steady paycheck....
I knew starting my own business would be challenging. When I told Jon about my thoughts, he reminded of all the reasons I chose to do this. To be outside the system. To not follow the status qou, the easy path. I sighed. Then at church our guest speaker/ musician spoke about the struggle for peace. Peace does not come easily. Peace does not come through settling, peace comes through struggle. So I decided that if it is peace that I am struggling for, it is a good struggle. Life was not meant to be easy. So there it is. This is not going to be easy, but at least I am not alone- thanks to all you other peace fighters out there. Keep up the good fight. And thanks for your support- I am going to need it.
I had to deal a lot with different immigration agencies. All I can say about those agencies is that they are a mess. Their policies are inconsistent and their personnel are at times very unhelpful. To my surprise, I began to think about a career change. If I were to work inside one of those agencies, perhaps I could make things a little bit better. And by treating people with respect, perhaps I would make people's day better who are going through something like my clients were going through. By simply answering the phone kindly. And I began to think about a steady paycheck....
I knew starting my own business would be challenging. When I told Jon about my thoughts, he reminded of all the reasons I chose to do this. To be outside the system. To not follow the status qou, the easy path. I sighed. Then at church our guest speaker/ musician spoke about the struggle for peace. Peace does not come easily. Peace does not come through settling, peace comes through struggle. So I decided that if it is peace that I am struggling for, it is a good struggle. Life was not meant to be easy. So there it is. This is not going to be easy, but at least I am not alone- thanks to all you other peace fighters out there. Keep up the good fight. And thanks for your support- I am going to need it.
Wednesday, June 30, 2010
I have many interests these days. I think that it's good; as supposed to being interested in nothing. The problem is keeping them all balanced. I have my law practice of course, my belly dance business, and then there's the farm, which I want so badly to be more involved in. So far I have helped to pick tomatoes and eggplant (delicious!) and weeded a little, but that's it. I hope to get a head start on the fall planting season by starting all kinds of seeds, transplanting them, and taking care of them as they grow up. I've really never done well at taking care of plants, but now is my perfect chance.
I also want to make soaps. I've finally ordered all of the ingredients and I can't wait to GO! I will be making the old-fashioned, all natural cold-pressed kind, and the easier melt-and-pour kind of various kinds for loofah scrub soap. I don't know if I'll make any money at it, but one can hope.
With all of these things I want to do, and none of them a guarantee for paying the bills, I have to learn a lot of faith. I think it's a good practice in faith not to spend all of my waking hours at the office trying to get cases, but instead using my free time in the pursuit of something I enjoy. I think I should be very grateful for the opportunity to build this kind of balanced lifestyle, especially because my whole family is very supportive of this. So I am going to try to make the most of it, and not worry about the bills. More pictures of farm life and soap-making adventures to follow.
I also want to make soaps. I've finally ordered all of the ingredients and I can't wait to GO! I will be making the old-fashioned, all natural cold-pressed kind, and the easier melt-and-pour kind of various kinds for loofah scrub soap. I don't know if I'll make any money at it, but one can hope.
With all of these things I want to do, and none of them a guarantee for paying the bills, I have to learn a lot of faith. I think it's a good practice in faith not to spend all of my waking hours at the office trying to get cases, but instead using my free time in the pursuit of something I enjoy. I think I should be very grateful for the opportunity to build this kind of balanced lifestyle, especially because my whole family is very supportive of this. So I am going to try to make the most of it, and not worry about the bills. More pictures of farm life and soap-making adventures to follow.
Sunday, June 13, 2010
I love our farm!
I've always wanted to live on a farm, or at least in the wild, but I never thought I would get to do it so soon! We find ourselves living on nine acres of land that is at our disposal. Our dream come true. We are a long way from living sustainable lifestyles, but this is our chance to try. On top of that, it's incredibly peaceful to live where the sunset is always in view, and there are wild flowers and loofahs growing in your backyard. We are incredibly excited to have this place and to share it with others, should you care to visit.
I will try to keep you posted on our adventures as we go along. So far we have built a chicken coop, bought 30 chickens, harvested loofah, planted squash and beans, and adopted two dogs. So the journey begins.
Friday, April 2, 2010
Right Time And Place
Most of you know I have been passionate about immigration laws for a long time, even before I really knew what they were. It was hard not to get jaded when I began to actually study them in depth and see them in practice. And that's because learning about them showed me they are even more complicated and depressing than I imagined. And while my initial reason for going to law school still holds true- if I become an expert in the area I can have a shot at actually influencing the law someday- it doesn't usually feel like that day will ever come. So it has become a challenging career with some ways to help people- but only in limited circumstances, and not much I could do about it.
I was at an immigration conference not too long ago, and found, to my surprise, that I still get emotional about these issues. The particular issue that had me almost in tears in the middle of a lecture was the Dream Act, a law that has only been proposed, but is desperately needed. It would help the thousands of teens who graduate high school every year, just to find out they can't get a job or go to college. So they are stuck. And most of them grew up here, so it's not like they can just go back to their country of birth. They are bright, energetic, hopeful youth, until they become disillusioned with the entire world they have thought they belonged to.
Even in my short time in practice, I've had more than five potential clients like this. For most of them, there is absolutely nothing I can do. Until the Dream Act passes, that is. So, keep your ears peeled. If it passes, it will allow these youngsters to become US citizens if they go to college.
Although it is frustrating in the meantime, it is refreshing to be a professional in this area where I see a great need and a possible change in the future. Other people see the need too, and that is why the Dream Act might actually pass. I am glad to have the background and knowledge to let people know about this now and when it happens, I will be able to help so many people!
www.dreamact.com
I was at an immigration conference not too long ago, and found, to my surprise, that I still get emotional about these issues. The particular issue that had me almost in tears in the middle of a lecture was the Dream Act, a law that has only been proposed, but is desperately needed. It would help the thousands of teens who graduate high school every year, just to find out they can't get a job or go to college. So they are stuck. And most of them grew up here, so it's not like they can just go back to their country of birth. They are bright, energetic, hopeful youth, until they become disillusioned with the entire world they have thought they belonged to.
Even in my short time in practice, I've had more than five potential clients like this. For most of them, there is absolutely nothing I can do. Until the Dream Act passes, that is. So, keep your ears peeled. If it passes, it will allow these youngsters to become US citizens if they go to college.
Although it is frustrating in the meantime, it is refreshing to be a professional in this area where I see a great need and a possible change in the future. Other people see the need too, and that is why the Dream Act might actually pass. I am glad to have the background and knowledge to let people know about this now and when it happens, I will be able to help so many people!
www.dreamact.com
Sunday, March 7, 2010
Thoughts from C.S. Lewis
One of the things I like about Phase II of my life (the one after law school) is the ability to read whatever I want, whether it be childish, entertaining, challenging, or reflective. Between the library and friends' houses, there are a lot of books I want to read. Sometimes I get overwhelmed, but then I realize there is no rush, which is the whole point.
I just finished a picture book biography about C.S. Lewis, "Images of His World." It was very peaceful and reflective. I'm just going to copy here a couple of quotes I love that came from letters Lewis wrote to his friends.
About home and locality (see writings of Wendell Berry- sense of place):
"There is one odd thing I have been noticing since we came to our new house, which is much more in the country, and it is this. Hitherto there has always been something not so much in the landscape as in every single visual impression (say a cloud, a robin, or a ditch) in Ireland, which I lacked in England: something for which homeliness is an inadequate word. This something I find I am now getting in England-- the feeling of connectedness, of being part of it. I suppose I have been growing into the soil here much more since the move."
About pace:
"I number it among my blessings that my father had no car...The deadly power of rushing about wherever I pleased had not been given me. I have not been allowed to deflower the very idea of distance....
No one can describe the delight of coming to a sudden drop and looking down into a rich wooded valley where you see the roofs of the place where you're going to have supper and bed; especially if the sunset lies on the ridge beyond the valley. There is so much mixed in it; the mere physical anticipation, as of a horse nearing his stable, the sense of accomplishment and the feeling of 'one more town,' one further away into the country you don't know, and the old, never hackneyed romance of travelling."
About healing:
"I gazed down into a little ditch beneath a grey hedge, where there was a pleasant mixture of ivies and low plants and mosses and thought of herbalists and their art, and what a private retired wisdom it would be to go on probing along such hedges and the eaves of woods for some herb of virtuous powers... and having at the same time a stronger sense of the mysteries at our feet where homeliness and magic embrace one another."
I just finished a picture book biography about C.S. Lewis, "Images of His World." It was very peaceful and reflective. I'm just going to copy here a couple of quotes I love that came from letters Lewis wrote to his friends.
About home and locality (see writings of Wendell Berry- sense of place):
"There is one odd thing I have been noticing since we came to our new house, which is much more in the country, and it is this. Hitherto there has always been something not so much in the landscape as in every single visual impression (say a cloud, a robin, or a ditch) in Ireland, which I lacked in England: something for which homeliness is an inadequate word. This something I find I am now getting in England-- the feeling of connectedness, of being part of it. I suppose I have been growing into the soil here much more since the move."
About pace:
"I number it among my blessings that my father had no car...The deadly power of rushing about wherever I pleased had not been given me. I have not been allowed to deflower the very idea of distance....
No one can describe the delight of coming to a sudden drop and looking down into a rich wooded valley where you see the roofs of the place where you're going to have supper and bed; especially if the sunset lies on the ridge beyond the valley. There is so much mixed in it; the mere physical anticipation, as of a horse nearing his stable, the sense of accomplishment and the feeling of 'one more town,' one further away into the country you don't know, and the old, never hackneyed romance of travelling."
About healing:
"I gazed down into a little ditch beneath a grey hedge, where there was a pleasant mixture of ivies and low plants and mosses and thought of herbalists and their art, and what a private retired wisdom it would be to go on probing along such hedges and the eaves of woods for some herb of virtuous powers... and having at the same time a stronger sense of the mysteries at our feet where homeliness and magic embrace one another."
Tuesday, March 2, 2010
Life in New Braunfels
Life in New Braunfels is peaceful. I role out of bed, get some tea, and sit at my computer. On some days, Jon makes me breakfast in bed. Either way, he is always cooking for dad and I, and we consider him the firm's chef. It is great working with him around. And it is great working from home. All the way around it is a good life here. I am beginning to get a lot of business, which is keeping me busy. But I am learning how to manage it, by deciding not to take certain cases, and I am lucky to have some great clients. I have soooo much to learn, but I am excited about it.
Jon's homemade almond flour pancakes with homemade yogurt (delicious!).
The appetizer to an amazing all raw, three course meal at Moo-Jesus Ranch.
Jon's homemade almond flour pancakes with homemade yogurt (delicious!).
The appetizer to an amazing all raw, three course meal at Moo-Jesus Ranch.
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