My boys sharing what they experience with their dad.

 

Yes.

It's 2 days past Father's day and I am doing a post recognizing the impact of Father's in my life.

As "the mother" I hear a different side of living from my boys that they experience with their dad. I also get the gift of hearing how they feel about me ( for worse or for better ).

I stood there on Sunday... using my hubby's phone, taking a video of the presentation the boys were asked to share. Listening to the words and knowing ...

That they are officially in their next phase of life....ALL OF THEM.

They are all now on the journey of... choosing the type of men that they want to be in their lives.

My dad shared that journey with me. Very similar to the relationship I share with my oldest.. sharing his authentic heart. The joys, the pains, the evolution, and the struggle.

You see, it's not just a day in June, it's a season.

The whole MONTH is #mensmentalhealthmonth . This is a topic that sits HUGE on my heart. Being a tomboy most of my life, most of my friends were guys. I've lost several dear friends to su!cide. When that knot in their throats could no longer be choked down. I've seen others weighed down for YEARS under the pain of regret...with nowhere they felt safe to turn to. Many of them wishing they had another male to share their struggle openly with, but without finding that place to express.

My mission to help in #raisingmen came from the inspiration of my dad.

He helped to raise me to be a great mother and wife. Almost every task he walked me through...from making meals to cleaning to knowing about quality and mastery in life. LOL he even had me walking with encyclopedias on my head for maintaining my "royal" posture.

What I learned most... was about his strength in vulnerability. He shared openly. Not just knowing himself...also knowing his potential, and that he had a choice in each moment how to respond (or react).

This helped ME to be a support for my husband and to help me raise men with his level of heart, personal awareness and choice.

So, I am grateful to have had my dad in my life setting the foundation for me to support others in their mental health...starting with the men in my own home.

#thankyouGod #happyfathersday

How could I have loved more?

I'm standing here...

My son just heading to bed after being up all night on his computer...

Looking out the window and considering how many times our neighbour freely walked into our yard to knock on our back door.

I'm so glad we never "figured out" how to close that in.

I'm so glad our neighbour always knew he was MORE THAN welcome to come over.

And I hope he knew how much we loved him and considered him family.

How much MORE we wanted to be there for him and reciprocate the many gifts he's given us over the years.

Greetings, smiles, news, conversations, side jobs, cookies, chocolate, cards, gluten free pancakes with turkey bacon (also gluten free), furniture... my most favourite mirror at the end of the hall.

Moving into this neighbourhood was a faith walk in itself (a story for another time), but what was greater was the miracle of knowing even more deeply what #onenotherlove looks like.

I can still see him walking away after our chat a couple days ago. Tanned legs, moving slower...

I should've insisted the boys go over...I should've...

WE (ALLof us) are in "debt" each day.

To pay the continuing debt to love one another.

At the end of a life, this calculation is always being made. I've been to WAY MORE funerals than weddings and I will tell you this one truth...

We are ALWAYS asking... "How could I have loved more?"

So let's start each morning WE ARE gifted with with this question and we will be given the answer.... and gifted with showing up in life more fully.

Who knew a simple and repeated thank you would be enough.

Romans 13:8

#thankyouGod #divineunion #receive #saythankyou #Lovefirst #neighbourlylove #aslongasitiscalledToday #encouragedaily #debtoflove #Romans13eight #lifetothefull

I woke with acceptance.

 

This morning...

I woke with acceptance.

The potential for feeling heaviness was not so heavy because it was out of my control.

I honour the choices I have made in life, because again, they've already been made and they are out of my control.

So then what is left?

Live forward.

Live WELL forward.

Make new choices with the "future me" in mind.

Take small, simple, and inspired actions I can nod approval for.

Pray blessings and well-being on those around me because... I really do mean to and I celebrate their "life-well-lived" when I see and hear about it.

Go after doing the things I've dreamt about over and over again... because someone IS celebrating me and wanting ME to live MY life fully too.

We ARE here for the FULL LIVING.

And from the depth and joy of soul-filled living and conversations last week, to the reminder that death prompts this week, I feel the pull and call to live and share my life fully NOW.

May you connect with the depths of your soul today, and dance lightly with your spirit as you make moves more from the Wholeness within.

#thankyouGod #divineunion #onenotherlove #lifetothefull #aslongasitiscalledToday #encouragedaily #connection #celebration #dance #liveforward #soulinspiration #beyou #fully #authenticity