"The Gift"

Last weekend I attended "The Gift" in Moncton, New Brunswick.  I know that's a long way to go for a course, especially since it was also held in Calgary and Edmonton, which would have been closer.  I chose to attend in Moncton so I could spend a few days in Fredericton with our daughter.  I hadn't seen her apartment since they moved to Fredericton almost two years ago.  So I decided this course would give me a good excuse to go to visit her.  As it turned out, she attended "The Gift" as well so we had a few days afterward to talk about it, make even more breakthroughs and gain more insights together!  Awesome!

Daughter Nicole at her place in Fredericton, New Brunswick

But, I digress.  I want to tell you about "The Gift".  I went to it thinking I might learn a little something that would help me on this life journey.  I've done a lot of personal growth kind of stuff so I didn't think I'd learn a lot, but one more tool in my toolbox wouldn't hurt.  I must say, I learned more than just another tool -- I learned a whole new way of being in the world.  I learned how to notice when I'm in that resistance cycle and then ways to get myself out of that cycle so that life happens from and through me rather than to me!  I learned how to create what I want in my life.  I learned that "I am a creator; You are a creator; We are creators" together in this world.  And that means each and every one of us, not just those that were at the course.  I didn't just learn all of this in my head, though, we actually worked through it so that when we went home we could continue to apply it in our lives in order to create the kind of life we want.  WOW!

The bouquet Nicole and I bought to celebrate completing "The Gift".  (We were encouraged to celebrate more often!)

Another plus for attending "The Gift" was to meet a lot of wonderful, fantastic people who became friends and whom are staying connected in all kinds of ways - Facebook, Creation Circle, more courses together........  "The Gift" was just that -- a real gift to myself in so many ways.  I thank Jay Fiset and The Creator's Code, Leanne Cochrane, and Josh Hayward for setting this up and for delivering such a powerful, heartful weekend!

Living From the Core

For awhile now I have tried to live life from the centredness at the core of my being.  When I can do that, I feel a deep sense of peace and content.  Life is easy.  Life is vibrant and full of all kinds of possibilities and opportunities.  But it's not always easy to do.  Life happens and sometimes I get caught up in all that's going on and forget to keep centred.  Last week was a good example.

I am doing a lot of homework for a weekend course that I'm taking soon.  The date of the course is creeping up on me so I'd like to get it all done before I go.  I'm also taking an online course through the community college - an introductory course to a program I purchased to format my books, etc.  I have agreed to do some work for the place where I used to be employed.  Monday night I came home from a meeting of a community group I am involved in, with a long list of things to do.  The Scotties curling was also on TV and for the first time in many years I am able to watch it.  So Tuesday morning I set out to accomplish something on my long, long list of things to do.  I tried one thing, and I just couldn't focus on it.  It just wasn't working.  I tried something else and the same thing - I just couldn't concentrate.  Then it was time for a curling game so I put the list aside to sit and watch the game.  But I wasn't even enjoying the curling -- my mind was too busy thinking about all the things I needed to do and the short period of time I had to do it all!  I finally realized this and simply said to myself - "It's okay to watch and enjoy the curling, everything will get done in its own time."  Just that one simple statement, giving myself permission to enjoy the curling game while I had the opportunity, was all it took.  I felt myself relax and a deep sense of peace and contentment settle over me.  The list and all the things on it disappeared from my mind to leave it clear and quiet.  I totally enjoyed that curling game and all the others the rest of the week.

This is what my mind felt like at first - cluttered with all kinds of things.

This is my mind after I gave myself permission to enjoy the curling.

Everything seemed to work itself out after that.  In between games I did a few little things that were important to get done right away.  I realized that a lot of the things on the list I had brought home from the meeting, really didn't need to be done for another month.  I sent an email and received a week's extension on a deadline for the other work I had agreed to do.  The online course only sends out two lessons a week and each lesson only takes me about an hour or two at the most to complete, so I really had lots of time to get them done. 

It happened again in another area of my life as well.  I love to walk and be out in nature.  The last couple of winters I have had pneumonia so haven't been able to get outside and walk as much.  Our house has no windows that the sun can get in so I can't even sit in the sun.  I was bemoaning these facts to myself one day and feeling really bad about it, when the thought popped into my head - "You are your own jailer."  WHAT?!?!?  I thought about it for a moment and decided that thought was right!  I was going to go out for a walk with my dog!  It was a nice day, sunny and a bit warmer than it has been and I wasn't going to cough (which was what had happened every time I went outside up to that point).  So I bundled up, put Sandy (our dog) on her leash and set out.  It was only about a fifteen minute walk but boy, did it feel good!!  I had almost forgotten how much I enjoy that cool refreshing air on my face and just being outside.  It was awesome!  And I didn't cough, not even once!  I've been out for a walk almost every day since, and plan to go as often as I can, if only for ten or fifteen minutes. 

Here is the lake with the beautiful valley hills in the background where we often walk.  What a breathtaking view!  It fills my heart and feeds my soul!!




Below is another part of the path home from the lake that we often take.  Sandy likes to wander off ahead of me.

These two incidents have made me realize how wonderful it is to live from the centredness at the core of my being.  I certainly hope I can continue to do this.

The Miracle of Birth

The beginning of a new year is a good time to be thinking about new birth.  But I had even more reason to be thinking about birth.  On November 1, 2013 our second grandchild made his appearance into this world.  It was a home birth and I happened to be staying with my son and daughter-in-law at the time.  Although I didn't witness the actual birth I did get to see the little miracle about two hours later. 

 

This little fellow reminded me of the births of my four children.  It wasn't the pain of labour I remember so much but the exhilaration of the actual birth and the incredible wonder of being a part of creating this beautiful creature within my body for nine months.  And then helping this little miracle make its way into this world.  What a privilege it is to be part of this miracle!

Since this was a home birth, Mom and Dad and baby camped out on the futon in the living room for the first few days.  Surrounded by love, this little fellow couldn't help but thrive.

Mom, Dad, and Uncle Ryan with the new-born baby

And the miracles just continued to happen.  From day to day, sometimes even hour to hour, we noticed changes in him.  His thin little lips suddenly became fuller and actual lips, not just a line.  He smiled for the first time -- and not just from gas but a real smile -- as he looked at Mom and Dad and even gave Grandma a big smile!  He would scratch his face and there would be a bright red mark that only a few hours later had disappeared.  His umbilical cord dried up and fell off within four days.  So many wondrous things that I don't remember noticing with my babies.  I guess I didn't have time, or take time, then.

Even tiny little feet.....

and hands... seem to be miracles! (By the way, these are Ruth's hands, our granddaughter, at only a few days old)

How does all this happen -- a baby form from a simple sperm and egg with all the parts of a person in miniature.  It truly is a precious miracle!

Even the task of discerning his name is something of a miracle.  I remember having lists of names prepared for our babies, but when they were born none of them seemed to fit.  It takes a day or two of just being around them, getting to know them, and letting them help you figure out their name.  Sam and Hallie did just that, and settled on Felix Omally, which suits him perfectly!

little Felix Omally a few days old

I am so thrilled that I was able to be close by to experience this miracle of birth and the miracle that is Felix, our grandson!  I hope I will have opportunity to spend plenty of time with both Felix and Ruth, our granddaughter (different son and daughter-in-law) and so experience all the miracles that happen as they learn and grow.

Journey of Excitement and Anticipation

Last Thursday, October 24, I left home on a long journey to Glidden, Saskatchewan via Saskatoon.  I know that's a very long way around, but I needed to stop in Saskatoon.  I was filled with excited anticipation for several reasons as you will discover.

I used to think that this time of year -- when the colourful autumn leaves have all fallen from the trees and before the snow covers everything with a white blanket -- as drab and gray.  I have since learned different.





As I headed toward Saskatoon, the sun was shining brightly behind my left shoulder.  The enormous prairie sky was a beautiful blue with delicate white feathery wisps of clouds.

All the way along the colours never ceased to amaze me. 

All the tints and shades and hues of golden yellow in the grass and fields of combined grain, the rust of the weeds and small bushes, the red to wine of the willow trees, and even some green still on the trees and grass in places.  I even saw some bushes in one spot that, with the sun shining on them, were a bright pink.  All this spectacular colour added to the excitement I was already feeling.

Then there was the wildlife I glimpsed at times.  A coyote running along between the two sides of the divided highway,  flocks and flocks of geese circling in the air, the ducks and even some swans.  Again all of these added to the excitement I felt.

I arrived in Saskatoon at the printers to look over the proof of my new book!  Amazing!  It was so much more beautiful than I had imagined.  Incredible.  Now I can hardly wait until I have the actual books in my little hands - one to two weeks!  (You'll hear more about that in a future blog.)

Leaving Saskatoon and heading out to Kindersley and then on to Glidden, even more colours were awaiting me.  The sunset came with some glorious colours.

It was after the sun had set completely that the sky came alive.  The feathery clouds turned all shades of pink and peach against the blue sky.

The horizon remained peachy-orange long after the sun was gone and almost the whole way to Glidden!

So when I arrived in Glidden I was so filled with contentment, peace, awe and wonder, and excitement!  And the excited anticipation comes as we wait for a new baby to arrive - my son and daughter-in-law's - our second grandchild.  

This is the two (or should I say three) of them dressed up for a Hallowe'en party as Father Time and Mother Earth.

Another bonus, I will see my other two sons, another daughter-in-law and our precious little granddaughter while I'm here.  Life just doesn't get any better than this!!

Calling Lakes Centre Serenity

I'm at Calling Lakes Centre for the weekend.  This beautiful, peaceful place snuggled into the hills of the Qu'Appelle Valley.  As I go outside for a walk this afternoon, the serenity of the surroundings permeate my being, filling every cell in my body with contentment, peace, tranquility.

 I notice the gentle breeze lifting the yellow leaves from the tree branches, sending them dancing down to the earth.  The crisp cool air clears my head and I am even more aware of the world around me.

The water laps lightly onto the rocks at the edge of the lake.  The gentle rhythm resonates throughout my entire body.  The sun tries hard to shine through the clouds and the flowers valiantly hold their heads up despite the cold temperatures, speaking to me of resilience and determination.  The tweeting and chirping of the birds in the trees fills me with gladness and joy.  They feel like kindred spirits.

I just want to sit here amongst this beauty, absorbing all of its peaceful, life-giving energy.  I am one with all things.  At one with the whole universe.  I am.