If working a full-time job in production does not take enough toll on a mother's life, she has a 2nd job going home after work - taking care of her spouse and children.  Millions of women in our society do what needs to be done to handle it all.  With fast growing, lovely and smart children, our forever joyful kitchen staff, Nelly Lizama not only juggles this challenge well, but also assists other people needing help along the way! 
When I see Nelly's teenage daughter and her 'tres-amigos' - Isabel, Nancy, and Margarita - tidy up our offices and cocina-central each week, I am touched by their consistent, quiet hard work to keep the work space clean, pleasant and eco-friendly !  Sometimes, I bring them a Horchata or give them a Cafe Gratitude gift card I purchased on payday to dine after work.

So, to Nelly, who is always smiling and singing while making Soups, Crackers, preparing Vegetables, etc. in the Cafe Gratitude Kitchen for over 5 years, I say....."Gracias Madre" !

After working on a Saturday afternoon and evening to catch up with accounting projects, I decided to go home to Vallejo, taking the Ferry at Pier-1, SF.  

Caio,

Here we are in Rome for a friends wedding! Just finished a breath work session and are getting ready for a walk around the city.  It is beautiful here: the sculptures, fountains, piazzas, cobblestone roads, all an opportunity to see the beauty in everything.

What is beautiful all around you?

The baby chicks are here!  We picked them up with the Grandchildren and shared all about the miracle of receiving Special Breeds in the mail. The man at the post office was so precious about handing over the box to Kate. She said when we returned to the farm, “This is my best day ever!” I love the lessons that children can learn living on a farm! 

Tomato plants are in the ground, and we are keeping our fingers crossed for no more heavy frost. The greenhouse tomatoes now have golf ball sized tomatoes! Love the early start we got this year with the new greenhouse. Starts are abundant in the greenhouse and Lindsay is doing a great job of balancing mothering a small child, Newe, and keeping up with all the sprouts, wheatgrass and plant starts too!

Cacao, one of our Dexter cows, is pregnant and due in July.  We can’t wait to have a baby calf on the farm. The grandchildren are looking forward to that as well. Leche, our other Dexter, just returned from two months on the farm where we purchased her and we are hoping she is bred as well and will calf in December or January.

This week we have been having our all employee meetings early in the morning. We have been sharing about how important it is to tell our personal stories of inspiration. We are encouraging our staff and guests to lead the way in the expansion of a love consciousness. Here is a story from my life I want to share with you:

The father of my youngest son and I don't really talk often. He always sends me a thoughtful and acknowledging Mothers Day card, but the rest of the year we rarely connect. While we both supported the growth of our child (grown children now), our lives are very different. A few days ago I received a Thank You note from him, where he was acknowledging our company for it's philanthropic contributions, as well as how kind, happy, level headed, and loving our son has become. He shared his appreciation with me for the guidance of his heart. I cried with joy and appreciation. I love what happens to young people in this company when we give them room and support for their personal growth and transformation.