The world can be a selfish place. What about Me? I deserve… I need… I want…
As children, our Mom taught us 6 girls to give the best of what we had to our guests, to hold doors open for strangers, to give without expecting anything in return, to be empathetic and sympathetic to others, and the golden rule. Thank you Mom, you’ve laid out the foundation of how to raise my own children.
I want to share an experience I recently had at my Nephew’s wedding. The room was decorated beautifully and we all came together dressed in our best to celebrate the deliriously happy couple. As the wedding dance was underway, I found my way to my Mom and my sister Janice’s table. We sat together and watched the couples on the dance floor moving to the rhythm of the music, and it dawned on me that maybe Janice, who’s lived with MS for years, misses dancing. I asked her “Hey, Janice do you want to dance?” She looked at me like I was crazy, and for a second I was embarrassed…how was I going to get her on the dance floor with her limited mobility. What a stupid question!
And then, moments later, as my Aunt Sandy and I were aiding Janice to walk to a different table, Aunt Sandy says “Let’s go dance Janice!” Janice again looked at Aunt Sandy like she was crazy, but we made our way to the dance floor. The three of us interlace our arms around one another and just swayed together to the music. Janice giggled throughout most of it, truly enjoying herself. And then the moment hit me: I’m dancing with Janice! Several times I had to choke back my tears, as the gravity of that moment was overwhelming. It was as if there was no one around us, just the three of us and the sound of Janice’s laughter.
It wasn’t until the song was over and we turned around that I noticed our family behind us clapping, and cheering for Janice. I will never forget that. I know there were family members who took photos, if anyone has a picture of that I would love a copy to frame so I can look at it often.
At the end of the night, as I tried in vain to get to sleep, I couldn’t stop thinking about Janice. I thought about all the times when I was so wrapped up in my own life and my own kids, that I failed to look at the world from her eyes. I didn’t think about what she must be wanting and needing and unable to achieve because of the horrible disease she lives with daily. Sometimes the one trait you struggle to handle in another person is the very same trait you struggle with as well…in this case Selfishness. The trouble with selfishness is it’s a hard one to recognize, because one is wrapped up in their own needs, wearing blinders to others.
All you can do when you are slapped in the face with something you need to change is to learn, move forward, and make the necessary changes. Time to take the blinders off! Once again you continue to teach me so much about life and humanity Janice.
The other night, a few of us shutter bugs got together for drinks. One of our friends walked in wearing a beautiful dress and a brilliant smile. She looked stunning. Now, let me tell you she’s an amazingly strong woman with an infectious laugh that permeates from her soul. She’s been fighting the cancer dragon with the sort of strength and positive spirit that leaves me in awe. She is really LIVING her life, taking time in her busy schedule to enjoy the sweet joys of life: Photography, travel, hiking, good food and great company.
Because she was wearing such a beautiful dress, we asked her if she had just come from a special event, and she replied that she had this beautiful dress hanging in her closet which she didn’t have many occasions to wear, so today she wore it…just because it was a beautiful day. You are an incredible woman my friend!
The simply lesson to enjoy life today…right now…is such a gift. Thank you Kyla.
For a wedding gift, my Mom and Dad gave us a beautiful cutlery set, housed in a wooden box. For 10 years the cutlery sat untouched in its protective box, as there never seemed to be an occasion special enough to warrant using the “fancy cutlery”. One day as I was searching in vain for a tea-spoon to stir the sugar into my morning coffee (those spoons seem to walk off to school), the image of the “special cutlery” popped into my head. I walked over to the box, scooped up each special utensil, and put it all into the everyday cutlery drawer. I’m sure my mother would gasp if she knew this…ummmmm so maybe don’t tell her. 😉 Now everyday is a special day for using special spoons. I feel fancy every time I eat cereal.
What special event are we waiting for my friends? If we instead view everyday as a gift, then every day is special. My hope is that I would view every day with wonder and gratitude. I’m working on that, I forget sometimes and focus on the wrong things, which in the end matter very little.
So let me put this out there…
If you are waiting for a memorable event to enjoy something “special”, why not enjoy it today…just because.
~Dress the table in your fanciest linens, put out the good china and cutlery, prepare a delectable supper, enjoy a glass of that wine you’ve been saving…just because today is a gift.
~Pick up the phone, and call a loved one that you’ve lost touch with.
~Tell your friends and family something you appreciate about them…just because you appreciate them.
~Book that vacation you’ve always been meaning to take, even if it’s just a day trip.
~Take a break from the work, and enjoy the sun even if it’s for 5 minutes.
~Go for a walk, run, or bike ride and really take in all your surroundings. Simply because you can.
~Puddle jump, or go for a walk in the rain. A little water won’t hurt.
~Think of all those goals you’ve put on the back burner…waiting for the “right” time. Maybe, just maybe, NOW is the right time.
~Take up a new hobby that you’ve always wanted to try. Life long learning is a gift. I don’t know where I would be without photography. It’s a creative outlet that I’m so thankful for.
~Watch the sun set, or the sun rise.
~You know those fancy towels that hang in bathrooms…they are for display not for use. Use them.
~Get dressed up, and go to the grocery store, or to the movies, or anywhere the daily tasks of life takes you.
And when someone asks you: “What’s the special occasion?” You can then reply with a smile “Life.”
I’m often reminded to shift my perspective. Very often. Life aligns to humble and teach what is of true importance. I’m grateful.
I long, as does every human being, to be at home wherever I find myself.
Maya Angelou
For so many years I didn’t feel like I was home. It’s difficult to describe in words, but it was a restless, incomplete feeling. I lacked direction and purpose. Sometimes in life when one lacks direction, they will take the path of least resistance, which isn’t always the right path. Rather it’s the easiest. I used to say to my Mom when I was young “But that’s too hard” to which she replied “Who said life was easy?”
My purpose was unclear for many years, and at times it’s still unclear. One needs purpose and direction in order to move forward though. It’s essential. I didn’t understand why my Dad didn’t sell his cattle before he started his radiation treatments. Looking back on it now, I realize that perhaps he needed to take care of his cattle during one of the hardest times in his life. It gave him purpose and direction while he was struggling.
So today I’m reminded of the importance of direction even if I’m unclear of which way to go! Just put one foot in front of the other. Don’t stop searching. Keep going. Life’s direction can unfold itself when one least expects it. Don’t fear challenge, but rather embrace it. When your mind says No, that’s when you say Yes…we are all stronger than we even realize.
Purpose is found within life’s passion. Those things in life that bring clarity, true happiness, and peace. What is it that you value most? Often I realize the right decision for me is the one I fear the most. I fear change and the unknown and I hold back on pursuing my dreams because of that.
Courage is the most important of all the virtues, because without courage you can’t practice any other virtue consistently. You can practice any virtue erratically, but nothing consistently without courage.
Maya Angelou
During my summer holidays, I was once again humbled to my core. I was talking to my Dad and my sister Janice about how I loved that my sisters Brenda and Roxanne shared a joy for running. My sister Brenda and her husband Mark had just left for their morning run and my Dad said to me “You know Janice was a track star in high school.” Janice has lived with MS for many years, and because we are several years apart, I don’t remember Janice in high school. Janice looked at me with longing in her eyes and said “Yes Chris, I used to love to run. I ran in the morning, in the afternoon, and at night! I loved to run. I miss it.”
As those words escaped her lips, I thought of the times that I had to convince myself to go for a run when I would rather be on the couch. I immediately felt small. Ungrateful. Spoiled. Selfish.
A vision of Janice flooded my mind’s eyes, her auburn hair floating in the breeze, her breathing steady, her strong legs urging her forward as her runners hit the pavement at a steady pace. She ran simply for the joy of being able to. At that moment, I would have given anything to give her my legs so she could run, even for one last time. I’m so sorry Janice. You teach me so much about life, and I’m so grateful to you. I love you.
“Other people are going to find healing in your wounds. Your greatest life messages and your most effective ministry will come out of your deepest hurts.” Rick Warren
As soon as I hit publish on this post I’m going to the gym. I’m going to post an uplifting post-it note to the mirror in the change room, and then hit the running track simply because I’m able to run. And I will feel gratitude in my heart the whole time, even when it hurts and I want to stop.
I feel like I’m home now. I’ve found myself through the lessons that others have so selflessly shared with me. I can’t tell you how much that means to me. Thank you.
My Grandma Dicke is an amazing woman. In May, she celebrated 94 years!
She’s kind, gracious, and extremely generous. She gives more than she takes (in fact, she rarely takes), and takes care of other’s needs before her own. She’s always been that way. She has a talent for knitting, and she lays out hand-made mittens and washcloths for our family to choose from at family functions…just because. She’s an incredible role-model for our large family. We are blessed to have Grandma as the matriarch of our family.
I was thinking today that she must have learned so much about life in her 94 amazing years, so I decided to call her and ask her a few questions.
Chrissy (as she calls me): What is your earliest childhood memory?
Grandma: “Walking to school at 6 years old. I also remember driving the team of horses. I rode horseback to the school and the church which was on the corner. The church yard had a barn where we put the horses. It was 2.5 miles from home. As soon as were big enough to sit up, we rode horseback. “Freda” was my horse’s name.”
C: What did you do for fun as a young girl?
G: “We played ball at school: soft ball and foot ball. We had a swing, I loved to swing.”
C: What chores did you do on the farm?
G: “I milked cows and drove horses. One year we had 4 horses, and another year we had 6 horses and a cultivator. We worked hard, but we still seemed to have time to play. We had a big loft and Mom would send us out there to play so she had some time to herself.”
C: What was life like when you were raising a family in the early years?
G: “Things were pretty tough, we didn’t have much money. We had a lot of second-hand clothes given to us.”
C: Was it hard raising 6 kids?
G: “Yes, I was always tired! I worked hard in the field.”
C: Can you share an important life lesson you’ve learned through your life experiences?
G: “To be responsible for your actions.”
C: What was life like during the depression?
G: “During the depression, it was pretty hard getting food. We had a beef ring and we took turns once a week taking in beef. The butcher would cut it up and separated it into bags for us and we would pick it up on Saturday morning.”
C: What’s a Beef Ring Grandma?
G: “A beef ring is when you each raise beef and when it gets to be a certain size, you would take it in to get butchered and we would split it up amongst us. There was 20 of us neighbors that did this. Some people would have poor beef and you wouldn’t get much beef one week, and then sometimes a neighbour would have one with lots of fat, so we had lots of meat.
Life now is pretty different living in one-room. I read through my bible once a year and that keeps me strong.”
And then she laughed. The from-the-belly kind of laugh that works into your heart and mind and then lingers there for a while like a melody.
2010: Looking over old photographs at the 100 yr celebration of the farmMy Grandma and 4 of 6 of her Children at the 100 year celebration of the farm...The same farm land Grandma helped work.
I could tell she was growing tired, so I thanked her for all the interesting life stories, and we said our good-byes. My Grandma continues to teach me so much today. I have no idea how fortunate and spoiled I am. I have all the modern-day conveniences which I take for granted.
As I was listening to my Grandma recall memories of her childhood, I realized something. The reason she’s such an incredible woman today is because of all she went through in her life. The good and the bad both form character, and Grandma’s character is something to aspire to.
I also realized how important it is to find out about one’s history ~ rich in knowledge, tradition, and wisdom. If we don’t ask questions and learn from our elders, that history can’t be passed down. Thank you for sharing with me Grandma. I love you!
Dad’s last day of kicking cancer’s ass is today…the final radiation treatment. So proud of his outlook on life: full of strength and positivity. Will be celebrating with him at the lake in a few days. I’m having a “Life is great” moment!
As I pressed enter on the keyboard, my phone rang. I didn’t have to look at the number. I intuitively knew it was my Dad calling from the road as he travelled the last of the daily trips into Edmonton for radiation. Rather than the customary “Hello”, I answered the phone with “Congratulations on your last treatment.” He replied “Yes, it’s the last one!”
And then we talked about the series of bad storms in our area, his work schedule to get ready to go to the lake, and where everyone was going to park their trailers at the lake lot. It’s tricky planning for 4 trailers, a couple of boats, and numerous vehicles that accompany our large family at the lake. “We will make it work!” he chimed in.
As we talked about normal everyday life events, my mind wandered to the phone call we had just months earlier when Dad learned he had cancer. Many questions and the great unknown was dropped onto his lap….and now, cancer has become a part of life. We talk about Radiation appointments like we talk about the weather.
For a brief moment, a single question invaded my mind: What about tomorrow? I pushed tomorrow out, because Dad needs today. We all need today. The last of the radiation. It’s a day of celebration.
This past Christmas we gathered together to celebrate Dad’s recent surgery to remove the cancerous prostate, and now in a week we’ll gather together for our yearly family lake vacation and celebrate the end of the radiation treatments. We will huddle around a roaring campfire and talk over one another with fits of laughter sprinkled throughout.
So today marks a celebration of strength for my Dad. cancer can’t take that from him. There will be no room in my mind to worry about tomorrow. That would be giving power over to the disease. We have today. Thank you God for today!
We as a family have been given a gift. We have HOPE and we have come together in love and support. I have to admit a fact that I’ve been avoiding for years. My Father and I didn’t have the strongest of relationships in the past. The hectic pace of life took over and we didn’t talk as often as I wanted. There was always somewhere to be, or some pressing matter of greater importance to attend to.
I have to tell you my friends what I’ve learned throughout this year:
~Family is everything.
~Time is precious.
~There isn’t a right time to say “I love you.” I no longer say good-bye at the end of a conversation with Dad. We end our talks with “I love you.”
~Today is a gift.
~Happiness is a choice.
~Positivity is a choice.
~Forgiveness is a choice.
~Hope reins supreme.
~And a quote I read the other day that is blunt, but so true: “If you keep one foot in the past and one foot in the future… you’re probably pissing all over today.” ~ author unknown
Yesterday is just that…yesterday. It’s done and it’s in the past. There’s no point in worrying about tomorrow, because we have no control over tomorrow. But guess what my friends, we have the gift of today.
The next time you are spending time with your family and the little annoyances of life take over…the kids are arguing, your vacation isn’t going as planned, the truck breaks down, the mosquitos are eating you alive, etc. ~ Just smile and shake it off. It’s not important. It’s just part of the adventure that is life!
The true joy of life lives within love and a heart full of gratitude. I often say Life is Good; however, today I say Life is Great. Sometimes one just has to be reminded that it’s within our control whether we allow the beauty that is life to take over and permeate our soul.
For years I gave myself permission to give up. I resisted challenging myself. I fought against change. I scratched the surface of what I was truly capable of. I didn’t know what I was capable of because I never truly put in all of the effort I had to give. I was cheating myself. I recognize that now.
“Unless you are prepared to give up something valuable you will never be able to truly change at all, because you’ll be forever in the control of things you can’t give up.” Andy Law – Creative Company
I have a memory that I will always hold on to. I was sitting in my car outside of my work, it was 8 years ago. It’s a memory of a thought actually. I was desperate to lose the weight I had packed on in my teens and 20’s but I didn’t know how. I thought “If only I could pay someone to teach me how to lose it. A quick fix. I don’t know how to eat a healthy and well-balanced diet. I don’t know how to work out. I just don’t know…I’m stuck here.”
The memory of the feeling attached to being “stuck” is something that I will never forget and I channel that memory every time I want to give up today.
Every time my legs scream to stop running ~ I remember, and I keep going.
Every time I want to skip a workout ~ I remember and I lace up my shoes.
Every time I believe I can’t reach a goal ~ I remember and I forge on.
That “stuck” feeling was so overpowering, that it’s the reason I won’t go back there. When I first started changing my lifestyle, I did feel like I was giving something up. It was a way of life that I was comfortable with in many ways, even though it was destructive. It took awhile for the end picture to become visible to me, but I felt the benefits of exercise and changing my diet early on. It’s funny how your tastes change, and they do change.
The prescription for change in regards to my lifestyle has transferred into other areas of my life that have required change. One has to be able to give up something that they perceive as valuable. The best part is, often down the road you realize that it wasn’t all that valuable in the first place and with healthy change comes healthy replacements carrying equal value.
I have a honeysuckle vine growing up the side of our deck. This year it looked dead. It was a sad mass of twisted & woven brown vine. I was surprised when I saw signs of new green growth from the bottom. The new fresh vine has now woven its way into the dead. I could have cut back the dead vine before the new vine made its way to the top, but I left it. It’s symbolic. Never underestimate the power of new, the will to fight, and the drive to persevere when you think you have nothing left. It’s within all life. Sometimes you just have to dig a little deeper to find it.
The saying “Everything happens for a Reason” is overused for a reason…because it’s true! During hard times in life, I’ve asked myself in frustration, “What good could possibly come out of this?”. And then, often times years down the road, I realize why I had to go through it, even if it’s simply because it brings about acceptance and understanding to another soul in a similar situation. It allows for compassion and empathy.
Even something as simple as taking a job that I didn’t exactly think was glamorous back when I was a teen, instilled life skills that I was able to take to the next job, and to the next, and then finally into the world of Photography that I love today. I couldn’t have found this career had I not made all those other choices that led me here. And who knows, maybe this career is preparing me for something different in the future that I will find purpose within as well. Life is funny that way. The future is open and full of opportunities, sometimes one just has to take some chances and veer off the familiar road that is comfortable and second nature. A wise person once told me to take on the challenges that make you feel the most scared and anxious. The more scared you are, greater the reason to go for it.
I remember my very first office job, which was my practicum after I finished my office-administration certificate. I showed up bright and early with my eager eyes on. I tried on several office outfits before settling on one that I felt would show my new employer (who didn’t have to pay me since it was a practicum) that I was professional and I meant business! Yes I did…I’m now a super serious, efficient, and proficient office worker.
My new boss walked into the building, and I stood off awkwardly to the side, waiting for his hand to be extended so I could firmly shake it. On another note, I believe hand shakes should be firm. There is nothing worse than shaking a feeble hand with no life in it. It always takes me by surprise when I shake a flaccid hand when I’m expecting a strong handshake.
Anywhoooo, I shook his hand firmly and with purpose. And then…something horrible happened. Now let me also tell you that this was back when I was “portly” and sported a large set of ta-tas. It all happened in slow motion. My bra strap apparently gave up on supporting my large heavy melons, and broke. It not only broke, but it shot out with such force that it hit my new boss on the way out, and to my horror landed on the outside of my super serious office shirt. We just stood their, holding one another’s hand, although the hand shake came to an abrupt halt.
The weirdest sound escaped my lips. It was reminiscent of Chewbacca.
I will have to give it to him, he didn’t flinch or even react. He let a few painful seconds pass while my previous eager eyes morphed into horrified-deer-caught-in-the-headlight eyes. He calmly asked me “Did you want to go home and fix that?” to which I replied “sorry my bra strap whipped you.” And on that note, I turned on my heels, and ran home to change.
I returned quite sure that this would be the last of my embarrassing moments. Oh silly girl, I was so wrong. The phone rang while I was on the second floor (which was in the industrial shop part of the building). Apparently I was the one whose job it was to answer the phones only I didn’t know anything about these fancy office phones. Rather than put the caller on hold, I just laid the phone down and ran down 1 level to my boss’s office to let him know he had a call. I realized the phone upstairs was still off the hook so I ran as fast as I could up the stairs to hang it up. If you can believe this, I ran right into some exposed roof ducting and nearly knocked myself out. I saw stars and the impact from my head to ducting brought on a loud thunderous noise that reverberated throughout the whole building. I blindly crawled to the phone to hang it up, and then I heard my boss at the bottom of the stairs hesitantly say “Oh my, are you alright?” , and my shaky voice replied “Ooh yes! I’m Right as Rain!” What teenager says that, like I stepped out of a scene from the Littlest House on the Prairie. I believe I also took on a British accent.
All of this happened before Noon on the first day of my new super-serious non-paying practicum. What is the point to this story? I don’t really have a point, I was just reminded of it while I was typing the first two paragraphs of this super-serious blog post. It has prepared me for the knowledge that I will continue to embarrass myself often, and my kids will just have to deal with it.
“If each man or woman could understand that every other human life is as full of sorrows, or joys, or base temptations, of heartaches and of remorse as his own . . . how much kinder, how much gentler he would be.”
William Allen White
You know those moments in life, when another kind soul shares an encouraging word that you will always remember? In time, the encourager may not remember the words they’ve shared, but the receiver of encouragement will always remember and treasure those words…locking them forever in their memory to be recalled when they need it most.
Through out the years, I’ve had many of these amazing kind souls share their words of wisdom with me at times when I least expected it and when I needed it most. One of these amazing souls happens to be my sister Roxy. She is my second Mother. She taught me that different is beautiful, and that it takes courage to go against status quo. She knew who she was early on in life, where as it took me years to figure it out…I’m still figuring it out. She had the tenacity to stand up for her beliefs.
She raised my little sister and I to love and appreciate music, live theatre, and all facets of the amazing world that is the Arts. A world of colour, imagination, depth, and diversity. We called ourselves “The Sisters 3 Club” and we used to put on little drama productions for anyone who would watch. My sisters and I grew up in a small town where the flair for the unique wasn’t always embraced; however, Roxy embraced different and owned it. I always knew she would grow up to enjoy a life full of the Arts, which she has.
I grew up watching her perform at the Fringe festival, and various other productions she was part of in University. She later went on to be a Drama Instructor guiding those who share an appreciation of the Arts. Today she transforms spaces in homes to reflect who the owner is through interior design. http://www.rightathomeredesigns.com/ I’m so proud of her.
Her love for the Arts was passed on to me as well and I’ve kept many of the stubs for productions she either took me to, or that she was a part of.
One of the words of wisdom that she shared with me when I was a little girl, has stayed with me to this day, and it’s something I tell my daughter often. While I can’t remember it verbatim, it went a little something like this…. I asked Roxy “Do you think I look nice in this outfit?” She looked down at me and replied “Do you think you look nice?” I nodded my little girl head and she followed with “Then that’s all that matters. Wear what you want to wear. Whatever you think is beautiful, is then beautiful.” The lesson I took from her words in relation to something as insignificant as “what should I wear” is to be the woman I want to be, and Own it. Even if it’s different…actually, especially if it’s different.
She taught me to believe exactly what one’s heart and soul leads them to believe. The transformation of a belief morphs from a question, to a feeling of peace that comes when one follows the only path that is right for them because it’s their own truth.
So here’s to different…
Here’s to the ability to understand and appreciate others who come with a different point of view from our own. May our understanding come without judgement.
Because different is refreshing, and it not only brings about change, but it can also solidify what you know is your own truth. That is exactly how we all grow in life.
Thank you Roxy for all you’ve done to influence and inspire me in this crazy ride we call life. I love you.
There have been many times over the past few years that have reminded me to cherish life, but none more powerful than this past month.
The Relay for Life was this past Friday, and I’m still recovering from it! What a night it was full of tears, strength, pride and most importantly HOPE. Also a night of snow in June!
image Copyright: Canadian Cancer Society
I tried to keep my GPS pedometer on for the entire night but my phone kept running out of batteries; however, it did record 20 KMs of walking! Thank you for supporting our team with your donations and well wishes. You can see images from the event on my photography blog by clicking HERE.
Back to perspective….The Relay for Life, and all the people who I’ve met there, have changed my life. They’ve made such a profound impact on my heart. Despite the snow and rain, the tone of the night was one of strength and hope. Every person there who donned a yellow shirt wore it with pride…they are cancer survivors. They did not walk that first lap with sorrow or sadness, they walked it with huge smiles, exuding the true joy of life with each step.
image Copyright: Canadian Cancer Society
It brings me back to what the gentleman said to me as we were in the waiting room of the Cross Cancer Clinic last week. As I sympathized with him over his cancer diagnosis, he said with a small grin “What’s a person to do? You just have to deal with it and make the most of it.” He exuded positivity. It poured out of him with every word and gesture. He knows what it means to cherish life. He respects life.
We spend far too much time complaining my friends. We complain when it’s too cold, when it’s snowing, when it’s raining, and then we complain when it’s too hot. But then you meet someone that has nothing to complain about because he’s fighting for his life. He wakes up each day and is thankful for it. He appreciates the gift that is life.
Yesterday, I was editing the photos from the Relay for Life. My kids broke out into an argument upstairs and I was growing more annoyed by the second. Minutes later, I received news from a dear friend that a mutual friend of ours learned that very morning that her young son had Leukemia. Heart-breaking perspective my friends. I pray for her and her son in the days to come. That they will find strength and peace through the support they receive, and that he will start his healing today. And I will hug my kids tighter because life is a gift.
The whole point of what I’ve learned this past month isn’t that I want to say in bed with depression. It isn’t that I should be knocked down by life’s harsh blows. It’s that I need to live the best life possible, and to give my kids the best life possible. My Dad returns from his daily Radiation treatment, jumps in his tractor, and feeds his cows. He carries on with a smile and a kind word to all who know him (and even those who don’t!) I can’t explain to you how proud of him I truly am.
All around me things look differently. The mundane items I’ve walked by a hundred times, all of sudden have meaning. They tell a story of true life…the love that lives within the every day.
My daughter’s flip-flops, still full of grass, that she literally walked out of to go inside from the afternoon’s backyard play session…
The way my kids sheltered their sidewalk chalk under the patio table so they wouldn’t get rained on…
The pansies that bloomed (despite the snow) that remind me of my Grandma Perkins. Pansies always make me smile when I take the time to appreciate them. They are so intricate and delicate yet hardy and strong (just like my Granny)…
And then I made my kids go outside to get a photo taken on this day when I appreciate them so much.
Lucas and Tessa haven’t grown out of the hugging stage, I hope they never do. Lukey has always been a little care taker of Tess, and of anyone younger than he is. If you come over with a baby, guaranteed he will ask to hold him/her.
My son Ty was bitten by a dog a few years ago on the side of his nose (I should clarify it wasn’t our dog pictured here! ha ha). I hoped this scar wouldn’t bother him. Quite the opposite is true, he thinks it makes him “look tough”. He tells his buddies he was attacked by a cougar. 😉 I love the confidence he displays through his actions.
It’s a beautiful life. Life is too short to carry anger, grudges, or to waste time worrying about what you could have or should have. Live in the now, in the spectacular present. There is so much to be thankful for.
I remember back when I was a little girl, I dreamed of the day I had my own house, my own career, my own children. How disappointing it would be to tell the little girl of my youth that I didn’t understand how lucky I am, that I didn’t truly give life the respect it deserves.
Life is meant to be lived with Joy. Slow down, take it all in. Soak up the love. Take some holidays, enjoy a walk in the park, give more than you take. Life is busy…yes it is, but sometimes you just have to MAKE the time for what’s truly important.
Reclaiming LIFE 