Family wellness huddle

Been laid up for most of the day with back issues from yesterday. But something I just realized...the boys will cuddle and crash with me when I am not feeling well. ..just talked about this very thing this morning and now, we are one big family huddle #beautifulhumans #oneanotherlove

Any enhancement to being is luxurious

 But those are luxuries. ..the extra-filling of our souls with awe and wonder. The deepest sigh of enjoyment are in the simple

New bird in the morning chorus

 Good morning! There's a new bird on the block! New addition to the morning chorus. I think I will look into bird songs and bird watching this summer.

That reminds me to pull out the books and start comparing notes, not just on the plants in my environment, but also the birds and animals. But first, a bit of dedicated quiet time with one that I love.

#thankyouGod #naturalalarmclock #birdssoundhappy #backtobasics #keepingitsimple #backtobasics #unconditional #oneanotherlove

Stop stubbing that toe

 Good morning! Have you ever stubbed your toe over and over again in different locations but the same toe? Well, this morning I had it with hitting my leg ....although I think it is now blue and dark green from all the bruising, but I think I am just going to put padding over it and call it a day. At least for the next hour or so...

#thankyouGod #madness #grateful #rememberingtobepatient #needaspaDay #wantaVacay

From raw to surprised...the joy of showing up

 Fact: I spend a lot of my time looking...raw and gritty (a.k.a. "humble") LOL. So when I actually crawl out of PJs and sweats, and take the time to wear something else. ..I laugh at how pleasantly surprised I am to see myself "done" up...

#simplepleasures #mightaswellenjoythis #thankyouGod

Lovingly awkward. A perfect reason for everything

 Good morning! The wind howled me out of my sleep this morning. And then I began my day...there is a perfect reason for everything. Why I went to bed thinking something was dumb only to discover it kinda makes sense....why yesterday and not today was the day I got sod from a neighbour....why I "ran" out of time doing my errands yesterday morning because people (and their encouragement) came first. Yup! All perfect...as a friend got mad at me while I paid for her coffee, while my plan to prepare a good lunch for my son turn into making shredded coconut into "rice"...while my constant distraction was pure ADD style and I think I insulted a neighbour more than once in our conversation. ..yup, my imperfect approach still managed to leave all these people feeling encouraged and built up. I'm lovingly awkward to say the least...and grateful how it's what was perfectly intended for each moment. Now to go and explore more imperfect encouragement...as long as it is called Today.

#thankyouGod #hebrews13three #oneanotherlove #divineintentions #perfectplan #perfectlyimperfect #giftofdiscovery #unfoldingvision

Giving appreciated regard to the dicarded

 Got a bench for the front patio space. And hopefully some reclaimed sod for the community garden too (on Tuesday ). Looking forward to rebuilding and refinishing it. I am excited to finally see my vision for our front yard take shape and have everyone share in its bounty. #thankyouGod #welcome #hospitablespaces #lovemyneighbours

Amen for imperfected living and discovery in life

 Good morning! I was having a discussion about preparedness with someone yesterday when a curious soul came and asked what (and why) we were talking about. I repeated what I said to this older individual and they started waving their hands and saying "No! That's scary stuff " repeatedly. Ummm, I then shared the cliché phrase, 'prepare for the worst and expect the best' (something like that). ..that once you have prepared, you can go on with life and expectation as normal (I was still in the discussion with my friend...). Well, I sent this person into anxiety and panic, with my friend quite surprised at their response.

So two things from this....to a lot of people, I seem like the nails on the chalkboard or the feeling of rubbing velvet against the nap. YUP! That's me! Rubbing against the nap (of conventional response /reaction). What can you really say when that happens. ..I haven't perfected parables yet.

Saying the "wrong" thing at the wrong time (when is there ever a good time to share "the wrong" thing? I never said or claimed perfected humanism. ..if I waited to have the perfect words, I would never speak or share a dang word...amen for imperfected living and discovering in my life...loving progress in the process) Sometimes it bothers me to be "that" person...I even try to "fit in" with nods and smiles and giggles and laughter (ugh) ...but it has never worked. I am that I am. ..#thankyouGod

Second, my applause to the residents of Fort Mac. You guys are amazing! And now a global example of dropping off your panic like a hot potato and getting yourselves in gear. You did not shut down...that "strength" was a great inspiration and I thank you for bringing it to the surface for us all. Now to go forward into the unknown moments of today (a.k.a. that is all of them) with perfect imperfections and courage and hope for a beautiful, unfolded adventure of discovery.

#quiettime #divinerighttiming #inspiration #gratefulforbreath #acceptwhoIam #Lovefirst #oneanotherlove

Awakened by the Morning Chorus

 Good morning! Thank you morning chorus (a.k.a. the multiple variety of song birds that sing at the crack of dawn...in our backyard. I think the robin perches itself right outside our kitchen and bedroom windows.). You got me up at 4 a.m. as I had slept in and forgot to get lunch/breakfast going. It was a tight one this morning, so thank you for your timely song....I'm going to roll into bed now

#thankyouGod #naturespraise #naturalalarmclock #mmmpillows #zzzzz

Lessons from gardening - Spring 2016

 Good morning! I'm a whole month behind it feels like...no, I was not ready for Spring in February or drought like conditions or old roots from a dead tree (never knew it was there) "coming" to the surface in my lawn that I have to now dig up and start new. These lessons from gardening...from having to minimalize my perennials and find others to share my abundance with (or as my neighbour says, "bless others with"), to thinking we had ourselves ahead of the game with starting seedlings inside to them all dying off and having to start again. Timing is important. ..being observant....being ready to share....staying on top knowing what you plant and want to grow and making sure to "weed" out what you don't want or need (or find a recipe for dandelion jelly

) Next winter will be different. ..next "Spring" I plan to be ready...but for now, this will be another full out gardening week

#thankyouGod #blessingothers #paintingthehouse? #gardeningschool #learningmylessons

Down to the basics. ..being prepared

 

This part is called. ..family prep time. It's time to get what started quite a few years ago into the home stretch. Sometimes you have an idea about what you want to do...a vision. For this man it was Get the gear...now years later and after much dialogue, trial and learning, growth and continued soul searching, it's down to the basics. ..being prepared. There is no end to it...it keeps evolving and upgrading. But choosing to be in this headspace and readiness keeps what matters most in the forefront. #thankyouGod #closetohome #geterdone #Lovefirst #oneanotherlove #beprepared #familytime

Being places where I can make an impact.

 Good morning! Truth is...I spend a lot of time. ...choosing to not be around others. ...staying in silent observation. ...I am grateful to God for calling me...out myself....to do things and be places where I can make an impact. Sometimes the interactions are downright messy. Leaving a space that only God can fill and be in. Sometimes they are beautiful, connected, and expansive...leaving everyone encouraged and filled up. I am blessed that most of the time, that is my surprise and experience. The first one...the messy kind , has always served beyond my current level of understanding. ..and for the most part, has deepened connections in ways I could not have imagined. I guess we will see. God , I rest it all in your hands.

#thankyouGod #divinewisdom #biggerpicture #beyondwords #intothegap

Allowing grief it's full expression.

 Good morning! This week got blown wide open for me. I realized that I have been through a lot of loss in my life, and most of which I have not grieved. It's funny sitting in this space (yesterday I bawled my eyes out while driving at the loss of having a closer relationship with someone dear to me...I highly recommend against that...I could barely see...) when I watched my mom hold in her grief for years after her mom died....she said she wasn't ready. ...I guess I wasn't ready for all these years. But it is weighing on me like baggage now, so I am dropping bags and letting go. It's not that I am ready, but I AM willing. Is every pessimist an optimist who has not grieved? Who knows. ..but I want the burden on my heart to be lighter, so I am going to allow grief it's full expression. I feel I have the "space" right now to do it.

#thankyouGod #justbeheld #allowpeace #griefisokay #IAmSorryforyourLoss #itisLoveExpressed

It's okay to feel your grief

Good morning!  This week got blown wide open for me. I realized that I have been through a lot of loss in my life, and most of which I have not grieved.  It's funny sitting in this space  (yesterday I bawled my eyes out while driving at the loss of having a closer relationship with someone dear to me...I highly recommend against that...I could barely see...) when I watched my mom hold in her grief for years after her mom died....she said she wasn't ready. ...I guess I wasn't ready for all these years. But it is weighing on me like baggage now, so I am dropping bags and letting go. It's not that I am ready,  but I AM willing. Is every pessimist an optimist who has not grieved? Who knows. ..but I want the burden on my heart to be lighter, so I am going to allow grief it's full expression.  I feel I have the "space" right now to do it.

#thankyouGod #justbeheld #allowpeace #griefisokay #IAmSorryforyourLoss #itisLoveExpressed

It's hot out

 Ok...38? I need to be drinking a whole lot more water. ... #norain #dry #thisty!

Hate mongering. ..the party of shadows

Good morning! Lately it's been a wonderful exposure of things tucked in shadowy spaces. So my "Spidey senses " have been triggered for conversations, and points made against others' anger, hatred, and rage spoken from a place of anger, disgust, hatred, and rage. I'm not toting that I am above reacting at some level...I'm sure I have a shadow hiding a defensive trigger somewhere. I'm sure it will be called out when its "buddy" strolls by on its way to a gathering of some sort. And I am grateful. ...that I have been put into MANY MANY situations where. ...somehow, people have felt very free to express themselves (including their hatreds) to me...and somehow I am the "exception ". I know I have many friends who go through the same...and our first response is sadness. That sadness holds within it a knowing...that there is a greater truth to known and embraced, just not fully seen. We know because we live and experience the other side of what is assumed. There are many spaces and places in ALL our lives like this. This is not a call for advocacy in anything ...maybe....just one. Consider Love first...as a standard...as an umbrella or blanket....as a foundation...as life-giving and honouring...just pause and allow....the shadowy bits to come out into the light running and gathering as you stand firm and observe ...them relate and remind us that we are possibly put together of more than just the bits in the shadows.