2009

brings me so much gratitude!

I was hoping to post this blog on the 31st but because 2009 was such a significant year for me I found it difficult to articulate.

But here it is...

While I have learned to live in the present and try to practise it, I do enjoy the end of the year to reflect on what I've learned and where I have moved forward.

2009 had many lessons. Many large and some small, but all significant...

Being grateful is a big one... learning about the mind-body connection is huge, living in the present is a wonderful one,

realizing the insignificance of physical things and zero attachment to outcome is incredible, and choosing to live a more inspired life has changed my life! Learning to forgive... other people and myself has released a lot crap from my life,

learning that my past does not define me and that my thoughts and beliefs create my present and my future has been monumental...

Learning more about my capacity for love and creating my reality have brought on many wonderful experiences!

The journey in 2009 has brought some peace to my life... peace that I had been searching for, for many years,

and that journey is mine to choose...

2009 was absolutely divine!

Thank you!

Life with Lola

brings me gratitude!

We have fallen...

...in love with a girl named Lola.

She really is the sweetest!

and brings us so much joy and happiness!

It's only been a couple of months...

but I cannot imagine life without her.

Thank you!

My Family

brings me gratitude.

I am so truly grateful for my family... Our busy lives don't bring us together very often but when we do get together, it is so special to me. Do they know how special they are to me? I hope so...

To me Christmas is not about presents. The real gift is spending time with my wonderful family.

My grandma is very special to me. She is so giving and the most self-less person I know... she'll give you the coat off her back without a second thought. She essentially saved my sisters and my life when we went to live with her. My love of food comes from my grandmother. Even though she worked 5 - 7 days a week well into her 70's she always had fresh food in the house and there was barely a day that we didn't have soup to start a meal and fruit to finish. We gave her a very hard time when we were rebelling as teenagers but hopefully she is proud of the women we have become based on the qualities of traits we learned from her, such as respect for people, young and old, and polite manners.

My sister, Sheila, is a free spirit. She is very loving, loveable and is always ready to have fun. She is my biggest cheerleader and thinks the world of me. She was my "partner in crime", so to speak, for many years and my original "we".

Alyssa is my super creative, truly gifted, super smart niece. She is very independent and does not follow the crowd. She has family in the States, Europe and northern Canada so she's done a lot of travelling. The world is her oyster.. and she is so, so special to me.

My Uncle Peter and Aunt Flo have been mine and my sister's parent figures for a long time and they continue to guide and nurture us. They welcome us into their home generously and whole heartedly and are the glue that keep our family together. Peter and Flo thank you for keeping your hearts and home wide open... Your love means more to me than I could ever express...

My cousin Lena loves my sister and I so much! She is like our big Inuk sister... we are so special to her and she shows it! She was so generous to us as children, she never came to see us empty-handed, which just shows her generous heart. She has a great big laugh, a huge heart and like Sheila, is always ready to have fun! I think I speak for the entire family when I say we are so happy that she has joined us in our family get togethers.

I've watched my cousins Pete and Natasha grow up and they are such blast to hang out with! They are very near and dear to my heart and I will look forward to many more years of friendship and get togethers with them.

I see Nick's sister's Sacha, Remy and Taylor as my little sisters. I want to take them under my wing and protect them but they have also grown before my eyes and are now great young women - very smart, friendly and fun! I am so happy that they have welcomed me into their family as generously as they have.

Nick's mom, Del, is a strong, resilient, very smart and creative person. She has raised wonderful children and holds the family together. She has welcomed me whole heartedly and I will be forever grateful for that.

Nick's little brother Devon is smart and funny! And when I ask him nicely he gives me a hug. Thanks Dev!

As a child I looked up to my cousin Sandra and as adults it's so nice to have her a part of my life.

Sandra's husband Glen is such a great guy! So likeable, funny and fun... just a really great person. Love ya' Glen!

I have happy childhood memories with my cousin Tommy! And his new wife Mary is lovely and smart! Good catch, Tommy! More get togethers are in order!

Nick, the love of my life, my life partner and best friend. Even though I tell you a million times a day that I love you and I'll tell you a billion more times, I'll still not have said it enough to express how much I truly do. You bring me so much joy and years ago I would never have imagined that I could be this happy. Now I know, and I imagine many more wonderful experiences in our life. We are so blessed and I am so grateful!

And to the latest addition to our family, Lola... I knew I was going love you but I didn't expect to fall so hard! Thank you for filling my heart with joy... Even though the idea of you was not a positive one for the family, I knew they would fall in love with you when they met you!

From a very grateful girl to my wonderful family... Thank you for being a part of my life. I hope this entry shows how much I appreciate your presence in my life!

Merry Christmas!

Just happy...

...brings me gratitude.

As previously mentioned I was a little off this summer.

I don't feel ill will towards it... I accept it as is and am happy to move on.

I am just happy now.

Happy to be enjoying work. Happy to have work!...

Happy when I have a day off. Or happy when I have an evening with My Love.

Happy that we have so much to look forward to...

Happy about the amazing experiences we have had recently..

and so many more to look forward to...

and in honor of Gandhi, on the anniversary of his birth... my favourite quote:

Be the change you want to see in the world.

Love.

Thank you!

I'mmm Back!

brings me gratitude.

Something happened about mid-summer. I stopped feeling grateful... and hence, stopped writing my blog and I have to admit, it kind of brought me down.

I'm not really sure why, being summer and all, but I delved in and stewed in it, not feeling myself.

Maybe it was the fact that my husband and I didn't have more than 2 days off together during the entire summer that brought my mojo down...

or reverting back to negative thoughts.. Anyways, it doesn't matter anymore because I'm feeling much better!

Maybe she has something to do with it...

Meet Lola.

Meg and Keegan's Apple had a litter

and we decided after MUCH discussion to adopt one.

Actually we decided before the puppies were born because we knew that we wouldn't be able to resist after the fact...

We are soo excited!

We both had dogs growing up and we have wanted one for some time now but our schedules were not conducive.. We both worked long days and nights.

But our schedule now permits.. and we couldn't be more excited.

What is so incredible is that we have been able to watch her grow. We were there just hours after she was born, after she first opened her eyes and now Lola and her siblings have just started walking around. I swear there is nothing cuter than new born puppies!

We are looking forward to Lola joining our life... and sharing our joy. Awwww!

Life

brings me gratitude.

I Love...

...life...

And life showing itself...

as much as it has this summer!

Thank you!

Slowing Down...

brings me gratitude.

Today is Thursday, and I have a rare mid-week day off... always a great indulgence!It's been a while since I last blogged but a lot has happened in the last couple weeks.

I guess the most apparent is a mystery injury to my right foot.

I don't know if you can really tell from this photo but it is quite swollen..

I've been to the doctor and it is not a sprain, as I initially thought, but perhaps a fracture.

The swelling has since gone down but I've been limping around and today I am taking advantage of my day off by staying off my foot. The mystery is that I'm not sure when it occurred...

Last week we had a morning date at the coffee shop,

and decided to play tourists on a tour of the Toronto islands.

Did you know that there is a bird sanctuary on the island?... very serene and peaceful. But I digress.

My foot was sore but it was not worrisome...

But then we hosted a rock band at work,

and I was on my feet for hours and hours, in heels no less!

Needless to say this was not what my foot needed and realized that I had to go to the doctor.

X-rays were taken and I go back tomorrow to find out what is going on.

The benefit has been that I have had to slow everything down. I've had to lessen my hours at work,

I've had to take a break from exercising (or thinking that I should be exercising), and I've had to remember that it is a gift to have a healthy body with full mobility.

Sometimes I forget... how blessed I am.

But I try to see the messages and lessons from my occurrences in life.

Sometimes the things that occur are out of my control.

Sometimes it's a bad choice...

But no matter what, there is always a lesson that can be learned,

to bring me back to the things that are most important.

I am grateful that this happened.

Of course, I hope that it is not a serious injury but this is my body's way of telling me to slow down and smarten up!

Or at least get better shoes for work.