I love Krsna, and I am developing a personal relationship with him. Krsna is my sole maintainer, my inspiration, my true love, and my best friend. I am surrendered at His lotus feet, and I pray to Him daily to get closer to Him by serving Him, no what austerities I must undergo in this life or the next.

My family and I live in a 108 year old farm house on 1.5 acres in the country, after moving out of Philadelphia a short time ago. I actually lived close to the Philadelphia temple, but due to ignorance, we decided to move out of the crowded and crime-ridden city area to live in a rural setting so we could grow food and flowers for ourselves to offer to Krsna. I have learned some very valuable lessons since moving out here, courtesy of His Lordship. I am hoping for many more such hard life lessons, if the Lord so desires.

Ahimsa plays a big part in our lives. I have a glass jar with top in every room of the house so I can catch the numerous bugs that invade our space daily. Sometimes I just let them live with us, such as the spiders in every corner of the high ceilings and the ants that gather on the counter to eat any sugar or honey or fruit juice that gets spilled and left. They disappear when I come in to prepare food; I think they hide under the toaster. Additionally, since we are growing quite a bit of food in our VERY large garden (2000+ square feet), I plant additional seeds (mostly heirloom varieties) to allow the various creatures feast without sacrificing food for ourselves and Krsna or them. I try to ensure everyone eats well. Obviously, we use no sort of chemicals or deterrents, other than trap crops or companion planting. Also, no animal by-products or cruelly derived materials are being used on any of the gardens, or anywhere in our household, for that matter.

I have been considering expanding the food production and starting a small CSA and possibly a seed company. The seed packets would have some sort of OM design on them; that seems to be the only thing I have any talent for drawing or painting. I would donate a large portion of the profits to cow protection or some Krsna-related cause. I am still trying to hone my gardening skills to ensure I am able to go into business and be viable, if the Lord so desires.

I was studying to be a Naturopathic Doctor, and was actually about a year away from finishing, but Krsna intervened. There is no way I could advise people that it was okay to consume or use animal products of any sort (as is the general consensus of western medicine), so my interest in naturopathy now is adapted to my family and Krsna. I began to study Ayurveda as was part of the curriculum, but Ayurveda doesn't always eschew meat either. My hope someday is to see a book published in Krsna Conscious Ayurveda.

My goal now is to mostly become self-sufficient with gardening (if the Lord so desires), as I am very loathe to have to enter the supermarket. Seeing rows of meat products, butchers cutting flesh, live lobsters in tank, and other such ghastly things disgust me and I certainly don't want my children to see such things, either. It is the way of the world, though, although I think in the future people with be forced to think differently about where their food comes from when it starts to become scarce. I envision a "Soylent Green" type future in my lifetime. If everyone would become vegetarian, so many of the worlds problems would be solved.

I enjoy photography, especially nature photography. I used to live on a tropical island in a "former life" (Guam), and honed my photography skills there. I am hopeful someday the Lord with let me use those skills to further KC in some way.

I love the ocean and the beach, and any other body of water. I dislike cold weather; I hope to live somewhere someday where these likes and dislikes come together, if the Lord so desires.

It is very difficult to find childrens shoes (and adult shoes, belts, etc) that are vegan. Also, I don't think there are enough reminders of Krsna for children. If I somehow ever become wealthy, I would love to buy some time on a major network or convince PBS to allow me to air a Krsna show for kids. I am learning that kids are very impressionable and like little sponges, and if reminded of Krsna early enough, they start to remember him and love him from a very young age. My own children, Sonja (4) and Ivan (almost 2) are constantly immersed in Krsna bhakti while home with me every day. I feel they are very lucky, although they could be more fortunate than to be with a fallen soul such as myself. They are wonderful little devotees, however. Sonja loves to pick flowers to decorate our home altar, as well as help me in the kitchen (especially with sweets and baking!) Ivan starts dancing and picking up instruments to play whenever he hears devotional music of any sort. I am very lucky to be their mom, as they continually teach me lessons that help me "uncondition" myself.

Cow protection is very dear to me. I am very concerned with the plight of the cows in Kali-yuga. Recently, the Lord has been very merciful by allowing me to help my siksha guru, His Grace Vibhooshan Krishna Dasa with his very nice project to STOP cow slaughter. Please ask me if you are interested in this vision also, so I may offer you some information (or you can see the line below for Save a Cow, Save the World!) As the cow is very auspicious and much loved by Lord Krsna, I feel very strongly about this calling in my life, and intend to take it wherever the Lord's desire leads me.

I have never been to a temple, or met any devotees in person. I don't think Krsna has deemed me ready for this, although I am trying to ready myself just in case. I suppose more dust and more anarthas must be cleared before the Lord allows me this benediction. I am praying everyday for the mercy of the Lord, and someday hope to have a little shred of it, if the Lord so desires. I do, however, feel very fortunate that I am allowed to associate with devotees on Krishna.com connect, read the forums, hear the wonderful kirtans and bhajans, and see the Deities and the temple online everyday. Without this small benediction, I would surely be adrift on the sea of material nescience. For now, I consider Srila Prabhupada to be my Guru. I give prayers and thanks to him everyday that he saved me from hell with his teachings and writings.

There is a constant struggle in my head between my mind and my intelligence. I sometimes feel as if I have a split personality. I sometimes wish my mind would just SHUT UP.

Myself and my children are following the 4 regulative principles, as well as a Vedic/Vaisnava diet, and have been for some time. We are all generally healthy and feeling great.

I am sorry that I didn't find Krsna sooner in my life. It seems that the older you get, the more conditioned you get. I really wasted my life up until the age of 33. I am very grateful that I found Him eventually, however.

"In the Rising Sun, you can feel your life begin/
Universe at play, inside your DNA,
and you're a billion years old today/
Oh, the Rising Sun"
~George Harrison~

"Abandoning their calves, the young cows joyfully worship Krsna with their abundant nectarean milk. With great love Krsna always protects them. In this way Lord Krsna, who always protects everyone, became eternally famous as Gopal, protector of the cows."
~Sri-hari-bhakti-kalpa-latika~

"One is immediately freed from the clutches of maya if he seriously and sincerely says, "My dear Lord Kṛṣṇa, although I have forgotten you for so many long years in the material world, today I am surrendering unto you. I am your sincere and serious servant. Please engage me in your service."
~Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu~

"My dear Lord, now I have complete experience concerning the worldly opulence, mystic power, longevity, and other material pleasures enjoyed by all living entities, from Lord Brahma down to the ant. As powerful time, You destroy them all. Therefore, because of my experience, I do not wish to possess them. My dear Lord, I request You to place me in touch with Your pure devotee and let me serve him as a sincere servant."
~Sri Prahlada Maharaja~

"O my Lord, as powerful as fire, O omnipotent one, I offer You all obeisances, falling on the ground at Your feet. O my Lord, please lead me on the right path to reach You, and since You know all that I have done in the past, please free me from the reactions to my past sins so that there will be no hindrance to my progress."
~Sri Isopanisad~

Jaya Care for Cows!
http://www.careforcows.com/
Jaya ISCOWP!
http://www.iscowp.org/
Jaya Save a Cow, Save the World!
http://www.geocities.com/gorakshyamtrust/
Jaya Srila Prabhupada!
Jaya Gaura-Nitai!
Jaya Radhe-Shyamasundara!