Grateful Heart and Helping Hands

I love new- new possibilities, new years, new plans, new intentions. I have an intention for this year, to pay attention to being NOURISHED. Being constantly replenished is what our bodies do continually, right down at the cellular level. Every day, drinking water takes toxins out, eating foods nourishes our bodies and creates the means for renewal at the cellular level. Our physical demands make use of what we eat, our energy and actions built on the blocks we create through our food and food choices. I have been thinking quite a bit about how I want to age. I am now a senior in some circles, since I am over 55- and that means I need a different type of nourishment. My brain could be slowing down, my joints and muscles may need more support, my reproductive system has quit reproducing, my eyesight is changing- all of these need to be replenished and nourished! How do I go about aging gracefully? A few years back I decided I would try to use as few chemicals as possible, both in my ...

A blank page. A busy mind. Burning issues, fingers itching to type-- all good so far! What I CAN'T believe is that I haven't posted for over 3 years. SO MUCH--so very very much-- has happened in that time! When I last posted, I have two grandchildren. Now I have six! When I last posted, I lived in Hazelton. We then moved to Stewart, sold our FAMILY home, moved back to Hazelton and now? We live in Kitwanga! KITWANGA! We lived here in 1986--and here we have come, a circle we never thought we would close! But what is burning, what is making my mind busy? I am becoming. One thing I never understood when I was young is, I would continue to 'become'. As I 'mature' (read: age) I find myself finding a focus. A narrowing of field, broadening of mind, deepening of understanding. I like who I am becoming! Sadly, it took over 55 years to LIKE myself, though that in itself is part of that 'becoming', too. Wisdom Years: quite the title. Since I have had white hair ...

I've been waiting to say that. I can hear the *boo* from here- have a laugh, that's my intention! My man and I have been busy rearranging. I love rearranging! We had an office that we have made into an exercise room and the office items are now in our larger rec space, having moved the piano to create space. The TV is gone, as is the small hideabed couch and chair. Books have been moved to a spare room- we have a few! A few spare rooms, a lot of books! My kitchen has had things done that have been plaguing me for a while! I rearranged cupboards and drawers, cleaned and scrubbed and tidied. I love how satisfying it all feels! I make my own all purpose cleaner and so the whole kitchen has a nice minty mist to it. In the midst of all this cleaning and rearranging, we have had another load in the dehydrator and made more applesauce and slices for the freezer from our very abundant apple crop. We have plums that should be ready very soon-- and again, so satisfying! Truly nesting! ...

That title pretty much sums up my last few days. I have been in a quiet mood, enjoying time alone, time at home, taking care of a few things and mostly, taking care of my nest. The summer has been awesome in every single way. Beginning with the arrival of our beautiful granddaughter, it has been full of celebration and joy! Doula trainings, birthing classes, plans for Fall and upcoming anniversary celebrations have rounded things out nicely. But in each and every moment, whether at home or at work, my mind and heart seem to be centred on birth. Birth is, as you know so well, my passion. This passion has been deep within me for so long, starting with my own births then followed by supporting others. I have been looking for births to attend, births to support, supporters to support and education to confer. I learn so much from each person I speak with, where their journey has taken them, what birth has taught them and how they learned such amazing truths. Truth. Truth is what much of ...

Leaves quietly make their way south, turning in their time and falling soundlessly. Colours are changing from vivid to vibrant and with them, we change our activities from outdoors to in. The last few days have meant that our nights are cooler, quilts on and blankets for feet when we watch a movie or read a book. But what a summer it has been!! Our summer started with a new addition, fruit of our womb and blood of our blood. Mo chuisle. A bright and shining star in the universe! Celebration of life is my passion and it is, as I have said many times, more than what I do, it is who I am! We adore this wee Miss, adore her and her parents completely! When we think on all of our blessings, we are grateful to overflowing for all the gifts that come straight from our children. They are becoming 'family' themselves, expanding on what we started close to thirty years ago. My lover, best friend, chosen partner, father of my children, husband and I spent a bit of our summer exploring. W...

Trying something new here, posting from my iPad! Our holiday has done wonders. I feel rested, refreshed, relaxed and renewed! Sunshine, beaches, breezes, paddling and visiting with my lovely family- what more could I ask for? We spent time with my mother in law on the way, having spent the night at my brother's home. We are so blessed to have family that are happy to see us when we turn up very late at night! The long drive south was hot and sunny and hasn't changed much since we got here. We have done some shopping, some visiting, some eating and some walking here and there. Planning for a few nights out in the kayak, we have looked at charts and maps and bought foods that will work. A fishing trip this morning was fun, with limited success but maximum satisfaction! Most of all, this time away gives my love and me some time on yet another adventure! We like adventures, enjoy time together and are so excited to see areas yet unexplored by us! My childhood included so much tim...

So much has happened since I last posted. In fact, a year has! My grandson is starting Kindergarten in the Fall--and he has been joined by a precious cousin! We have a girl! And I am over the moon in love! Business as a doula is doing well and it too has been joined by a cousin. I have started to do DONA Approved training now, so others can become birth doulas. This dream has been a long time coming for me. Dear readers know how much passion I have for all things birth, all things life! I have spent time training for this, studying and learning and becoming. It transpires into sharing with others, all that has made me ME . It has also been a year of struggle in so many ways. With my dedicated passion for life comes a passion for people. People means relationships take precedence and I have had one major relationship in my life become my greatest struggle ever. My grandson knows when he breaks something or ruins something, he asks forgiveness. I have told him that things are NOT import...

I am doing everything I can not to do the one thing I need to. I hate that! It has been a good and busy day, full of good stuff! The local youth community garden project had a $10 fill-your-bag with produce you pick day! So, for $20, I filled two bags with tomatoes and basil and carrots (tri-coloured!), beets, hot peppers, broccoli and a mid-sized pumpkin. My hands are stained with dirt and it feels so very good! Thing is, I am not usually a procrastinator! I don't like the pressure of deadlines, so I often work at things until they are done, just to have them out of my way. This new turn? I am not liking it so much! I have had a lovely project on my plate since mid-July. Soon after taking it on, we left for a 4 week holiday--and I have just not been able to get it done since! Strange part is, I love the work itself! But I think, at the heart of it, I am scared I will fail, not do a good job or let my mentor down. In thinking that way, I have allowed myself to put this off over a...

Like the new header picture? It was lovely watching my grandson wade in tide pools and enjoy his delight in his findings. While on vacation I bought a book for him called " Down By the Seaweed Cafe". The book takes the same kind of delight a young child would in beach treasures. It encourages the reader to participate in a Seaweed Dance--which of course, is a gentle, lovely swaying! We learned some new things about current by watching seaweed flow. While we were away we spent more time than ever before in our kayaks. There is so much to learn about current, ebb and flow and tide and our own ability to paddle in it. We had adventures, finding beaches and pretty ocean pathways. I found out what happens when I paddle in too close to a back eddy! I ended up facing backward then forward in about 2 seconds--all the while trying to figure out which stroke I was supposed to be employing! Mostly, I think we learned about letting things go. We used less strength when we...

In the world of doulas and childbirth educators, attachment is a very important concept. The significance of attachment is researched and analysed, written about and debated. Over the years I have come to know s much abut attachment theory and its importance on human development and relationships. We all yearn to belong. It is as simple and complex as that! A healthy conception and gestation support good attachment, as does positive birthing outcomes and breastfeeding. All of these are referenced in terms of healthy attachment. We also know that healthy relationships foster healthy attachment. I have shared my passion for all things birth. The more I learn, the more I want to know! In my last post---April 1 2012?!!-- I mentioned being encouraged to become a Birth Doula Trainer. Since that post, I have attended 3 more births, taught twelve more prenatal classes and.....am working on becoming a Birth Doula Trainer! I have jumped through most of the hoops and, as far as I understand, sim...

It has been a long while since I posted. March was a crazy-busy month, loaded!! I taught more classes in that one month than in the last six. But it brought about so many opportunities, so much joy. I have been encouraged to become a doula trainer. I have had a very informative conversation with a gifted author about shared passion. And I have continued to research and read toward what may eventually become a book. In the middle of that month, we took a trip to Vancouver Island. With two of our adult children there, the draw is great. We drove down from the north end, having taken the ferry from Prince Rupert.  The trip down was beautiful  And relaxing! We read, snoozed, watched scenery and planned what our time away would look like We thought about time with our daughter, the bride-to-be and her hunny. We planned some time with our son, the tree planter and hugger and his lady. We wanted to spend time in Victoria, in the Long Beach area and time wit...

I am home for a quick lunch. Yesterday, we had cheesy Roasted Potato Chowder--which is loaded with sweet potatoes, red skinned potatoes and roasted garlic. We decided it would be even better a day later--and truly, it is! The day is bright, cold and lovely. There is a promise that spring may not be far. We had a strange day of snow and hail among sunshine yesterday and woke up to a snow storm with hardly a cloud in the sky today! This would be typical of spring-like weather, so here's hoping! When the day is rushed, it is hard to find time to pray, to keep in touch with God. My reading this morning reminded me how important it is to memorize, so that I can stay in touch and pass it on! Deuteronomy 6: 6-7 These words that I am commanding you today must always be on your minds. Recite them to your children. Talk about them when you are sitting around your house and when you are out and about, when you are lying down and when you are getting up. It makes me think that, n...

I have been offline for a week. No complaints, it is often a bit of a time waster! But I have been contemplating the power of communication during this "time out". I have a friend in Pakistan right now and, with the push of a key or two, we can connect with live feed video-conferencing technology. A bit of a miracle! But the computer is necessary. With the clicking of a few keys, we can stay in touch with hundreds of 'friends' at a time. Communication seems to also be complex. Connecting via written word can cause misunderstanding and hurt, outrage and offence. People draw conclusions from perception, not a favourable way towards relationship building. We need to rely on our knowledge of the person with whom we are communicating, their character and personality, strength of relationship and characterisation of the same. Both through written word and spoken, this holds true. When I practice my craft, my calling, I need to rely on strong communication skills. Understa...

Sorry to those of you who were unable to read yesterday's post. It was largely a tribute to my lover of 30 years. I have changed the background and layout of my blog, so hopefully this fixes the issue. Today, I have the awesome privilege of spending time with my favourite little man. He is 3. He is full of questions and is interested in EVERYTHING! The world is an exciting place and it is a blessing to me to spend time with him. We have played games, matched shapes, counted lots, talked about food choices, gone grocery shopping and even visited a friend. He is a joy to be around. He plays nicely in the living room while I put away groceries, enjoying just being together. A little voice calls, "Nana?? Nana??" "Yes?" " I love you, Nana. I love you bunches and tonnes!" Wouldn't that just melt your heart? Right now, he is scrambling onto my lap, because he is just a little cold. I don't mind sharing my warmth, not one little bit! I hope he is not ...

‎ "When someone loves you, the way they say your name is different. You just know that your  name is safe  in their mouth." Billy - age 4 I wonder how true this is? It sounds pretty much true to me! I know that there is nothing more wonderful than hearing my name called from the mouth of My Love. It reaches my heart, melts me just a little. Thinking back over a lifetime, I could say I knew by the tone of voice if someone was calling me from a heart of love or if I was being called out for discipline- know what I mean?  Today, I will be teaching a group of expectant mothers about comfort measures for labour. We will be talking about ways to relax during labour and what it takes to relax. We will also be exploring the purpose of hormones. We have been designed remarkably well for this very job of bearing babies, right down to a spray of hormones, measured in 1/1000th of a ml. That is so tiny, so remarkable, perhaps a miracle. Doctors have tried to create a substitu...

The day is bright and sunny. For February, it holds promise, hope. Every day should hold some promise, some hope! Part of today's hope is for time with a friend tomorrow, enjoying the break in the winter. We will, I am sure, take delight in the brightness, the outdoor gift that we have living in this place. We will see the strength of the mountain, the uniqueness of crystalline snow. The river may have some open spots, showing the deep green coldness below. And the day will hold promise, hope. We have started another busy week. Family has gone home, gone to work and school. Life is back to some form of normal. And I am back to busy, back to work, back to making sure my priorities stay straight. And that is so hard to do! I have been following  A Holy Experience  and have been dared to find joy in every day. Today, the dare was in finding 3 gifts outside, not a difficulty for a day like today! ~gleaming drops of water, shining with sunlight ~ice over gravel, glistening ~b...

Seems as though my posts are getting fewer and farther between. Life is running by at an alarming rate and I am doing my best to keep up. So, for no other reason than simply for the discipline of writing, hello to you! My man asks abut my blog, looking forward to, I think, some glimpse of my life, my thoughts. Something about not being a mind reader, so he uses this method? I am not sure, but nevertheless, I appreciate his encouragement. This last week, I spent most of the week in Vancouver. What an inspiring week! I met with a friend one day and we whiled away hours over lunch and tea, getting to know the heart of one another. Previously, we met in a teacher-student capacity, yet, I think, we knew we would bridge that and make it to friends. I am so glad we have! I am blessed to have many inspiring women in my life. Another friend picked me up at my hotel and we spent a portion of our day together- over lunch, antiques, cranky dogs and good laughs. Again, I find myself so grateful f...

A couple of days ago, I posted all of Psalm 139. Today, I was sent a link that resonates soundly deep within my heart and spirit. We are so fearfully and wonderfully made! This will take about 15 minutes to watch, but please do, it is worth while! Our Master Designer knew these things when He created us--how marvelous, how wonderful! So, without further ado, here it is--enjoy and ponder--and I will be eternally grateful! Annie Murphy Paul speaks on Origins

Sun sitting on the shoulder of the mountain, shadowing pink in the ice mist. A long drive past the thickly crusted winter river, where nutrients lay in wait for the next salmon run. Thoughts dart in and around my head as I prepare to meet with another birthing client. This work, this doula calling, educator and mentor, friendship bond within giving foundation to my raison d'etre. I take time to contemplate how being a doula has impacted me in other aspects of my life and am drawn inexplicably to the thought of aging parents. One who is close to my heart speaks of caring for ill and aging parents, not as if it drains all of her personal and emotional and financial resources, but instead builds them up. She speaks of family bonds, drawing closer and of caring for a toddler aged parent, still considering their dignity and pride in the moment ahead of her own. Esteem and respect colour her choices, beautifully aware of how this will foster the same in her own children as she ages. My ...