Grateful Heart and Helping Hands

Many years ago, I had the privilege of singing this song at a second cousins wedding. It would make a good theme for life!!  We've Only Just Begun , Karen Carpenter--brings back some memories!! But really, I have been thinking of plans, of making choices that affect the very heart of who we are, both in terms of birth and wee babies and in the broader sense of life. With childbirth, there is that sense of new beginnings, of new life, one that is entrusted to us, one where we have to make wise choices so we can guide this child to a full adult life, one of contribution and involvement and their own personal fulfillment. This morning, over tea and muffins, there was again an opportunity to share excitement and fear, concern and  anticipation. Birth, new life, new beginnings, a lifetime, the whole road ahead. And we have no idea! But we are called to be faithful, to trust. Choices presented to us need to be answered one at a time, not all at once. Decisions need not be overwhelm...

A long and winding road, yellow ribbon snaking beside the river The river, misting like its name, a watery dinner plate Greens, every hue, by land and by sea, the colour of life Life Every moment of it a gift, reverently placed in our care Snow on the mountains Euphemism loftily held high The rock, which cries out, heaves upward with grace Gracefully ageless, aging gracefully Wear your wisdom, women, wear it with honour for the gift Earned in the day by day grind, earned in the trenches of life that teaches Earned in our growing families, our growing relationships, our growing love Love Every definition falling far short of truth, though striving, striving as high as those snow capped peaks Lunch with friends revealing our shortcomings and being satisfied Shared meals finding the definition of love, of life Coffee with family, a time to share wisdom and stories and laughter and love that grows with a lifetime Understanding the gift of life itself, from every minu...

Here I am, on post number 152. Wow!! I am not good at establishing habits, yet here is one that seems to have stuck.I have actually been feeling a bit badly for not posting for a few days. I have been busy, new classes to teach, new families to welcome into my practice, new exercises from the physiotherapist, new friends to make. In the meantime, some old stuff is here too. Old injuries reappearing--physio should change that. Old classes making way for new material. Older children with new issues to deal with. All in all, nothing unusual except everything. My oldest son brought some friends up with him to pick mushrooms for a week or so. Pine mushrooms--or matsutake-- are one of those habits in our fall season. Along with hunting, it is the particular call of the wild that my man and his boy follow regularly. A modern day gold rush is how my man sees it. You go out into the wilderness, alone, where you can be so very grateful for this remarkable creation. You walk for miles and miles ...

Once again, the blog brain is feeling fragmented, wandering everywhere. Today was busy, chasing down answers, putting a class together, celebrating a new baby in a large family. I am feeling much more settled with the answers I have been given to questions which have been looming and disturbing me for some time. Calm is descending when I think of how answers have been given to a puzzle in our life, one that has been here for a few months now, really one that has been gradually growing for years. I feel like there is peace. This peace brings joy! The class tomorrow brings some challenges of its own, one where I am teaching to those who know the content, but are willing to bear with me as I bring a new light and focus into it. I love learning about birth and find myself learning new things every time I do a class. This in itself is part of the joy of the challenge, where I can sit back and take stock after the day is done. Before that can happen, I will be working to put 12 hours of inf...

You are wonderfully made. You’re formed by God’s hands, dreamed up in His heart, and placed in this world for a purpose. There’s no one else like you... You’re one of a kind, irreplaceable. God has given you everything you need and created you just as you need to be to make a difference in your own wonderful way. So go for it, friend. The world is waiting and heaven is cheering you on. -Holley Armstrong Gerth- Friends became grandparents yesterday. I sent this poem that I found off to the one who made the journey from woman to motherhood. When I read the poem, I found I was unable to do so without crying. The profound understanding that this is expressly written for me, for you, for each one who reads it, spoke so deeply. As you read it, let it seep into your pores, sink deep into your marrow, engage you at a cellular level! Psalm 139 speaks about being fearfully and wonderfully made. I think you have seen me mention it a time or two. This takes the Psalm and brings it to...

My heart is heavy. I have been thinking for a while about loss. Loss is never easy to come to terms with, to accept. It is work, a work in progress. We have experienced loss in large and small ways over time, but a recent loss is weighing heavily today. Part of its weight comes from not knowing, not understanding, not seeing where the consequences will fall in the future. It is not a death, but a separation-- and I am left wondering if this is somehow much much worse. Worry over the potential for damaging another, something I can not consciously intend to do, not now, not ever. Today, the post by Ann Voskamp is called  When You're Seeking Happiness  and I am once again struck by God's amazing timing. He has ways of sending me messages through others, through situations and words of wisdom. I really need to work on leaving everything with Him! This loss I speak of is not likely to subside any time soon, yet I know I can go to Him for comfort. At the beginning of my cancer jou...

Long walks in the neighbourhood. Afternoon at the lake. Sitting on the deck, basking. Enjoying the leaves changing colour. What? Here it is, September 11, with the best weather I think we have had all summer long! I am not complaining at all, just mentioning how strange it all is! This summer has been lovely. A trip of a lifetime for us, spending time with family, friends and each other. Taking time after coming home with family, making plans for the year to come. With less people living here, I have had a chance to REALLY clean the house--I usually do Fall cleaning rather than Spring cleaning. I know I posted on this a while back. Now it is time for hunting, for putting meat into the freezer, for putting gardened goods up, for planning for the winter ahead. I know we are hoping to spend as much time with the whole family as possible with everyone living so far away. We don't know what that will look like yet, but we are game. Worshiping together today gave me a chance to contem...

Marvelous night for a moon dance! The aurora lit up the sky until the moon was too high. Hunters are settling into their cozy bedrolls, telling themselves that it is too warm, too bright, but the moose are probably out there celebrating! They are likely out moon dancing! And with good reason! The weather has been unseasonably warm this week, shorts and sleeveless warm. With that comes flooding north of here, shutting off towns and highways. It is typical of spring, this kind of weather, but here we are in the second week of September and reaching mid-20's during the day! Tonight, with the aurora dancing in the northern sky from west to east, I am hearing a little Jethro Tull and thinking of a January night so long ago. We drove the 40 km highway to our little log cabin in the woods. We had been out late with friends and were coming home in the wee hours. The kids were all asleep in the back seat and we hated to disturb them. It was -30 out and our day had been awesome. As we pulle...

Summer has arrived. Yes, it is September. This is the kind of weather teachers hate--when it is calling from outside, beckoning the students like a mythical siren. As I sit here, I am reminded once again that I am both menopausal and have a tendency to run hot at the best of times. A bit like a turbo car? So, I am uncomfortable, to say the least! I pour out litres of water in weather like this--maybe I should get used to carrying a personal towel around! I am back in my preparation period. I have a mom at 35 weeks who is entering into her home stretch. And stretch is a good way to put it! But this is a time for reflection, for contemplating the journey, the end of this road and the beginning of another. As our bodies encourage us to slow down, we have opportunities to set up our nest, to create our space in readiness for our new calling. The journey from maiden to mother is right on the horizon, what a journey it is! Our bodies give us signals, large and small, to remind us to care fo...

First day of school complete-check. Special dinner on the way- check. Everyone excited about the new year--jury may still be out! My man just came home from his first day of a year that may just be one of the most difficult he has ever had in terms of his assignment. Job action complicates things. People are so divided about the issues and think, largely, that teachers just want a better salary. Far from it! They really want conditions that create an optimum learning environment.Teachers have the same amount of education as lawyers, yet they make less than a third of the salary. Nurses, with a bachelor's degree, make more. Trades folks, journeyed trades people, make more than teachers. RCMP make more than teachers, with a less than six month training! But, like I say, it is not really just about salary! Students have so much expected of them. They head out into a world that expects them to have good grades in sciences, maths, language and a broad range of experiences. With parent...

Happy New Year! Today is one of my favourite days of the year. Out with the old, in with the new-- it makes me want to clean, to freshen up the way the house looks. Time to tidy that bookshelf that is in disrepair, time to wash walls or floors or pillowcases and sheets. On this, we renew schedules and routines, set alarm clocks and make plans for the year ahead. The fridge has a brand new calendar on it, with fresh ideas, fresh colours, fresh plans. The day is ripe for baking, for newly purposed shelves, to think of snacks and school lunches. My favourite part is the celebratory dinner we will have! Tonight, I have prepared a pork roast which is sitting on top of roasted potatoes and onions. You should smell it in here! So, I am thankful! ~new calendars and pencils, paper and pens ~plans and dreams and hopes and schedules and routines and new friends ~birthing class preparation, making a new powerpoint from my OWN knowledge! ~daughters on day trips, daughters thinking of new work,...

Friday, Labour Day weekend is ahead. Today will be a chilled, relaxed sort of day with plans for a long drive and an overnight visit to the ocean. We miss our fun-loving girl (can you guess which one?) and will go to her seaside town to visit. Maybe she will make us a batch of her amazing french toast ! I love heading to the ocean. It relaxes and refreshes me, speaks deep in my soul! My son's name means 'From the Sea" and, since his name is a family name, I guess it may pertain to me as well! If I were to list my top favourite activities, they would all centre around the ocean- kayaking, beach-combing, long walks on the beach, any and all of the above revive and refresh! My daughter's french toast secret? Make your french toast as usual, but add some vanilla and cinnamon to the egg mixture. Then, slice fresh strawberries and bananas- pineapple too if you have it- on top of one slice, cover it with another and put french vanilla yogurt on top. You could drizzle m...