All you need is love

My darling youngest daughter - aspiring writer!

Today, I am feeling the love.  Love, love, love.  I am inspired by the following quotes:

Pursue some path, however narrow and crooked, in which you can walk with love and reverence.
-Henry David Thoreau

The ultimate lesson all of us have to learn is unconditional love, which includes not only others but ourselves as well.
-Elizabeth Kubler-Ross

I look at this picture of my darling daughter and my heart swells with love and hope.  I am reminded of how freely and unconditionally children give and expression their love.  To them it is like breathing, like air, no thought, just pure expression and  joy.  As I walk through my day I am hoping have love guide my interactions and my intentions.  I hope to remember to love myself (despite my many imperfections) and to display love when it is least expected, yet most needed.  I am hoping others will show me love and see beyond my imperfections.  I am hoping love is everywhere.  For me, love is openness, love is time, love is a presence, love is kind, love is hopeful, love is embracing, love is understanding, love is passion, love is reverence, love is wisdom, love is....

Where is the love in your day?  How do you bring love into your everyday?  How were you shown love today?  How did you show love to those around you? 



We like to move it, move it!

On to the Vault and the Foam Pit

Star Jump in action!

I have been thinking a lot lately about raising girls.  Today as we were at our weekly gymnastics class, which the girls are really enjoying, and I was thinking about the importance of my daughters self-esteem, self-worth and sense of self-confidence.  I was thinking about all the messages people get from society about their bodies, and the messages directed at girls and women in general.  I try really hard to send the message that our bodies are ours to define and to take care of.  I also intend to send the message that most important is how your body moves and takes you through the life you want to lead.  Does your body let you run, jump, dance, play, sleep, eat and love they way you want to live your life?  If the answer is yes, than what it looks like is not important.  I am trying to counter all the messages we receive that only focus on a body's worth based on how it looks.  I want to focus on how your body helps you live - live the life you want to live.

I love my babies (growing up as they are!) and hope I can help them to love themselves and the body they were born with.  It is nice to have these moments of mindfulness and thought, I am grateful, for my daughters health and our dedication to wellness.  The front rolls are also looking great! Get out and enjoy the day!

Keeping busy

My darling oldest chose this picture - these are her spring flowers!

Spring will come - Come spring come!

We were on the verge of spring in this part of the world, and then Mother Nature let us know she had a different plan.  Lots of snow fell yesterday, school buses were cancelled, some schools closed, driving was made hazardous and people reluctantly put their winter boots, hats and mitts back on and braved winter.

To remind me that Spring will certainly come (in her own time and at her own pace - nature is so smart and wise!), my darling daughter's Gerbera flowers provide inspiration for the warm that lies ahead.  We have been enjoying the last few days by snuggling in with good food, reading great books, and attending my daughter's girls group banquet.  It was amazing to see all this young girls through to young women being with each other, focused on community, friendship, sharing, nature and learning.  It was about inner beauty.  So important when it comes to shaping the lives of women and girls (smart is the new sexy!).

Today we are staying close to home, hopefully napping, we have been making a list of all the creative and fun things we want to do.  We have been crafting for upcoming family birthdays and just trying to enjoy each other.  It is far from perfect or smooth, yet the intention is there.  Wishing you a day filled with emerging sunshine!

Creative Editions

Art by my littlest daughter!

More Art - Bunnies in anticipation of Easter

"The only true happy people are children and the creative minority"
-Jean Caldwell

Today we celebrate and are thankful for creativity.  The spontaneity that comes from being creative, letting it go, putting it down on paper, just being with yourself and your ideas, your feelings, your thoughts, your wildest fantasies - awesome!  We have so much to learn from young children when it comes to creativity - my darlings can imagine a game, a toy or a dramatic scene, quickly, out of anything, and without reservation or analysis.

I break-ed!



Planning to Dance!

Dance and Play

Art, Crafts and Fun!



All week I have been grateful for and celebrating the joy of breaks!  The joy and pleasure that comes from slowing down, letting go, and just enjoying oneself.  It has been awesome to just be!!!  We played, explored, read, jumped, did arts and crafts, napped (mommy enjoyed this very much!), slept in, eat good food, and just liked not having a schedule imposed on us.

The March Break is now coming to an end and the return to routine inevitable - we are still celebrating the love of the break for the next two days!!!!  Peace. Namaste. 

I break for love

Today was another opportunity to have fun with those I love.  Today Grandpa joined us for a visit to a local indoor play place, lunch at our favourite fish and chips store, a look at animals and a stop to get some craft supplies.  My darling daughters ran, climbed, jumped, slided, ate, sang, got excited and played with each other.  The girls decided we needed green hats for St. Patrick's and that dancing an Irish jig was mandatory.

The weather today felt like Spring is whispering to us, hinting of her more full-time presence, calling us outside, reminding us to move, walk and get outside. I took the darlings for a walk around the neighbourhood to see the melting snow become puddles and feel the warm sun on our faces.  I can't wait for tomorrow! 

I break for bowling



Big sister helping little sister get the right size bowling shoes - Sister love!



Going for a strike!



Score! Yes!

Today, I break for bowling, good old fashion, 5 pin, have fun, get a strike, high five your family members - bowling.  As a family, we went bowling today to share some fun on the March Break.  There were lots of other families there this morning with us to enjoy the game and share some laughs and stories of the strike that almost was!  Mommy and Daddy enjoyed a little friendly competition to see who could achieve the highest score (I won't say who won!). 

I reflected on how much the girls have changed, how independent, more grown-up and savy about the world they have become.  They are full of life and ideas! and have lots of questions, really good questions, that at times are difficult to answer, as I simultaneously want to prepare them for and protect from the world and the way it works.

For today, we breaked for fun, family fun, just fun!  Here's wishing you a day filled with fun and love.

P.S. You may have noticed I changed the background page of the blog - green shamrocks in anticpation of upcoming St. Patrick's Day!  As you know, I love a celebration!

I break for . . . breaks!

Artwork by the two favourite artists - my beautiful darlings.

You might notice a trend in this week's posts.  I have started the title of each post, ' I break for...', it is my attempt to remind myself that I need to break, pause, be mindful, or just stop!  The second part of the title refers to something I am wanting to pay attention to, embrace, enjoy or just savour - no matter how fleeting.  I tell myself I can always recall a beautiful image or experience in memory later.  Sometimes these images are helpful to think about as one is trying to drift off to a peaceful, restful and, hopefully beautifully uninterrupted sleep.  So all week, in an ode to March Break, all of my postings will bear the I break title!

I do find it hard to slow down sometimes, to ignore the household things that need to be done, that I want to get done, to do more, be more, help more, interact more, call more, more more more!  I find even talking about slowing down, or purposefully not doing more can be hard.  Everyone feels pulled to do so much, and frankly most of us are rewarded and reinforced for doing more and (my least fav, mostly ironic term) "squeezing more time" out of our day to do more.  Sometimes I just want to stop before the day begins. 

I imagine a day that starts off filled with green vegetable juice (kale broccoli spinach and some apple for sweetness) and also good hot strong coffee and homemade granola (still warm!).  My day would allow for some exercise (yoga and a long hike or walk outside), some creative writing with good friends and good feedback, and awesome vegetarian lunch (warm, fresh and with quinoa! - I like food), an afternoon nap, some good conversation, a chance to do some painting or art, more great tea or coffee, something sweet and, an evening filled with dancing and fun!  Ahhh, I feel better already!  What is your ideal day?  What will you break for today?

I break for cake!

Marble Chocokate Cheesecake - Yum!
Homemade Caramel Sauce - Double Yum!

Today we celebrated my mother's birthday.  I love celebrations, the excuse to eat sweets with those you love, to sing in delight, to smile at each other, to give presents and watch the person open them with anticipation - it is all so great.  I am thankful for opportunities to share the good times with my family, to pause and take the time to be happy and enjoy each other.  We also went out to a local restaurant and ate pizza!  Eat with your hands, cheesy, yummy goodness.  I love food, good food, slow food, local food.  I love the experience of sitting with loved ones and sharing conversation (or a game of I spy), comfort, warmth and nourishment.   Today, I break for cake, celebration and good food.  What are you grateful for today?

I break for fun!

If I keep a green bough in my heart, the singing bird will come. 
- Chinese Proverb

We are on the verge of March Break in my part of the world  March Break!!!!!  I am so happy about March Break - a break, a chance to sleep in (maybe wishful thinking - but I am dreaming), maybe nap, do whatever I/we want, with the sole goal of having fun (and staying healthy).  There is no schedule, there is no expectations, there is no end result that has to be achieved - need I say more?

I am intending to be present and mindful of enjoying each moment of this March Break.  I am grateful for a chance to slow down, have fun, and play.  I am aware of how much more positive my outlook becomes when I have a chance to breath and move and go at my own pace.  I hope to quiet the racing thoughts, the list of to do's, shoulds, need to, have to. . . . .and do more noticing, more gratitude more joy. 

Today's picture is of my darlings literally jumping for joy at the thought of March Break!  How will you spend the next week?  What will bring you a sense of peace and gratitude?

Back on Track and Special Guest Blogger

Well, some health has finally taken root and it seems time to get back on track.  To help me with this, my oldest daughter would like to be today's special guest blogger.  She would like to write about bananas, because they are yummy and good for your body.  She would also like to write about money, which she says is very delicate and you never put it in your mouth (there is a deep metaphor here - she is so wise!).  The third thing she would like to write about is, her sister, she loves her and wants to play with her (makes my heart smile).  She says that is it for tonight.

So as we continue to achieve health and get back on track, there seems like nothing better to be grateful for than each other.  See you tomorrow, sleep well.