Picture day hair

 All this....to get one pic of his hair freshly out of the braids...LOL love this guy

#pictureday? #hairlove #afrolove #naturalhair

I just wanted to say..." you missed the good parts LOL 😉

 Good morning! This is a pic from our 3rd mountain hike/run trip in less than a year. Our first one was much further but flatter... this trip after running some crazy trails and learning skills from great runners...this was the first I had so many people telling us HOW to hike. One guy who was getting frustrated with me not "heeding" to his advice didn't see me help a lady, paralyzed in fear, find her way down out of a difficult spot an hour before. He didn't see me show my sons the way in which to come down (I gave them choices) that he was pointing at as better examples than me standing....and he didn't see me doing the same moments before. I was getting annoyed by his insistence....not because he didn't know, but because I decided to try coming down in a different way and he was in the way LOL.

We don't get to see the whole picture. I was getting my boys down to the tree line where they felt safe to run down. I did it last trip and it was awesome. They wanted to do it this trip and they did.

I appreciate the encouragement, love and compassion from strangers, because they don't know...the lady I helped was with us on the way up...we had made a connection and she knew I had helped a few times before already...

From all of that, I appreciated who I got to be out there...and I may do it again soon...including standoffs with strangers.

#thankyouGod #timetoheal #biggerpicture #wemadeit #sticktogether #oneanotherlove #Lovefirst #Sawubona

Turf truck wrap in Canmore

 LOL .... and that's a "wrap"

GIFTS of common ground to truly connect and build one another up

 The gift of common ground.

A gentleman came by to buy a bike... He asked me where I was from...originally. I answered, 'I am born and raised here.' Oddly enough, this is one of the ONLY times it was left at that. MOST times, people are digging into my parent's nationality, and deep down into my family ancestry and heritage to find an answer .... to what I don't know. But as I stood there, listening to understand the english speaking through the heavy accent without a flinch, I made sure to give present myself with the "heritage" of human kindness and understanding. I didn't want him stumbling for words as he examined the bike...even though he was, I let him know by how I answered that he was very well understood. I encouraged him that it was a good purchase and his child would enjoy the bike. And off he went.

So it made me think....how often do we stand firm in our differences like a badge of honour without seeing the person in front of us and relating to them on a level of common ground? We are ALL gifted with it. This interaction included parent to parent, minority to minority, and being an educated buyer.

Sometimes, it's even our stories that we have held on to for years. The ways that we stumble and struggle that bring us into the company of others. The ways in which we released ourselves from the "bondage" of "trauma" that helps to bring encouragement and brother/sisterhood with another. We GET to RELATE on so many levels....and we can easily use these tools, nuggets, gems, GIFTS of common ground to truly connect and build one another up.

This is a part of Sawubona (I see you) that I truly relish in each day. And when I look at my "tool box" FULL of relatable tools that cross a wide range of people and experiences, I truly enjoy the wealth of living I have been given.

Anyways, it was just a thought....I've got some laundry to continue "relating" to

#thankyouGod #giftsbeyondmeasure #WeareGreaterstill #divineunion #oneanotherlove #letsRelate #moreincommon

Newsfeed inspirations for today....

 Newsfeed inspirations for today....

I realized....why my "mom" didn't want to be referred to as "mom". It was replacing the word "person" and latched on children like lamprey to a shark. My "shortcomings", and "failures" are not to be based on the back and forth of my relationships with others as much as it may reflect the relationship I have with myself first and foremost.

With that said, my children are not an "attachment" of my being in this world. They are their own pure radiance of love and light into this world and I always feel honoured to be privileged in their presence... and in a role of care and guidance. Maybe that is just me....

OY!!! No matter how much you try to "glorify" the word "mediocre", "IT" will desire a lesser label. Mediocre doesn't desire "company" in the way "misery" does...it could care less LOL. PEACE is an HIGH aspiration....one of success, up their with loving embraces, and legacy. Anything that builds up another that you share into this world is the "extra" to "ordinary". Simple is not equal to mediocre....

Jokes about the "inadequacy" of the "opposite" sex or what would be the desire for you in a relationship will make it challenging to have that relationship period. It seems to speak to your expectations...and if its not much, would you truly bother?

I realized how much I celebrate the growth and "happys" in those around me. Keep at it!

Okay, off to loving up on the peeps around me

#oneanotherlove #dontcallmemom #lovebeingamother #LoveBeingLove #InJoy

Love him and his hair

 

Just love this guy and his hair (think I am gonna try this style soon )

Grow into something more for yourself and others

 Good morning! "...because we know that just as you share in our sufferings, so also you share in our comfort."

This past weekend, I am going to highlight for you some of the things that stood out for me....Lack of sleep, staying awake while driving 3 hours to get to a conference, disappointment and not able to be present in encouragement, eating a soup that didn't sit well with me (LOL everything was fine before the soup ), stomach cramps and bloating, switching tables and sitting beside someone wearing irritating fragrance, STILL tired, head out for a date night, struggle to find parking, disappointment with the yam fries, people walking and driving wherever they want LOL (wrong way on a one way), still triggered by synthetic fragrance irritants (I'm sensitive)...can't get a good sleep, too hot, wake up early to drive again , still a lack of sleep, more overly scented individuals (at this point I am beyond my threshold and tasting it in my mouth), plans to connect more with others fell through...

HAHAHA....whoever posts that stuff???? Well, maybe some do but not necessarily on my feed....no one wants to be a "downer" right? BUT it was in all those moments that connections were being made. Encouragement was being given, and the aspect that stood out the most....vulnerability was being embraced and deepened connection and intimacy. ACCEPTING others in these moments knowing that we may have also struggled or haven't been at our best....it opens up a world of love and comfort. We get to know and experience that we are not alone.

Do you find yourself shocked about how some people show up in a "not so great" moment and fail to remember (or recognize) that you have done the same in some way? I have had the "best" of ugly moments....makes me feel relatable to those who show up in some of the "worst" ways LOL....and with that, I share compassion...knowing that it is temporary....that there are probably moments where they are good people as well....and going with the flow of knowing we are all FULL packages and not just a bunch of parts.

I share this to say, don't be so quick with the idea to CUT OUT or cut off "parts" of you that you decided you don't like without first observing what it has shared with you...what you have learned....how it has helped you to make a choice for the better....and with that, then you can move forward more freely, having shared in your suffering and grow into something more for yourself and others.

#thankyouGod #gratefulforALL #servedforthegood #oneanotherlove #LoveFirst

Lunch is ready! Plant based eating

 Lunch is ready! Pumpkin spaghetti with tomato sauce and greens.

#savethepumpkins #awesomelunch #honouredbygoodfoods #sustainable

Healthier choices are ALL possible with the right knowledge and application

 As we are preparing dinner, I am constantly reminded of what IS possible when it comes to food and nutrition. Limited budget or not...and I say this because I know what our highs and lows of "affordability" have been when it comes to our groceries. We eat our meals, our snacks, and even treats with a stronger sense of appreciation...especially in the last year, and we have growing and healthy children.

Whether you have allergies or restrictions, a diet you want to implement, healthier choices you want to make...they are possible with the right knowledge and cooperation.

Honestly, the biggest difference over the years has been in the family contribution to the meals being made and planned out. It has brought mindfulness and with that, less waste.

Now to finish enjoying the dinner that was made with the boys

#mealtime #youcaneat #healthychoices #mindfulenergy #whatareyoubringingtothetable #Lovefirst