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Being Together!

Being Together!
All of us!

Monday, May 30, 2011

Treasure!

I am beginning to get excited for the summer holidays.  The sun is shining today and it is warm outside.  There are less then 20 days of school left and I have to admit that I am looking forward to having my children home. 
We have many traditions for the summer.  We always get out a big piece of newsprint and make a list of all the things we want to do.  We make a list of our individual goals (I'm big on goals I guess!) and we plan a trip or two.  We enjoy evenings by the campfire, star gazing, planting the garden, having friends and family visit, trips to the beach and camping.  This year I am add a couple new ones...
Tomorrow is the last day for the Wii.  I will then pack it up and put it away and the T.V will be unplugged for the summer.  The summer is way to short to be spending it in front of some gaming system pretending to bowl or play tennis.  In it's place will be real tennis rackets, bathing suits and the first clue to a summer long treasure hunt!
I realize how crazy it is to be referring to a movie on a blog about going without T.V, but I want my kids to know that it is much better to live the experience then to watch someone else.  One of our favorite movies is National Treasure.  I wish I could send my family around the world on an amazing treasure hunt, but our local area will have to do!  I have come up with just over 10 clues, they are hard and the best part is that they will have to work together to get it done.  Yes, there will be a treasure at the end, but the I hope they will find the real treasure to be the relationship and memories they build working together. I will not be helping them at all. There will be riddles to solve, puzzles to figure out and obstacles to over come. I am excited for them. I hope they will find it to be more fun than watching a movie!
I believe summer time is about treasure hunts~about finding the magic, fairy dust, warm breezes, a slower pace, the laughter of children young and old and the joy of being together.
I hope you have the courage to go on a treasure hunt of your own, I plan to!

Thursday, May 19, 2011

Magic

The sun is shining today and everyone seems to have a smile on their face!  A reminder that going without, makes having something that much better.  A note on our last challenge, I have found that you find what you are looking for. Like magic, once I begain to look for the positive, I saw the positive.
Our basement got some water as I said, because of this we were able to make plans to prevent it before we begin our renos. I am so grateful it happened before we began.  I also came across a box of the kids special papers and journals.  I began journals for them when I found out they were on their way.  What a special time it was to read from them together, cozed in from the rain.  It brought back some fun memories and I believe even helped the kids to remember that they once got along really well!
My son, Nathan, has been outside even in the rain. He is working on a new project in the back yard aka: the secret garden.  He has found a spot just past the end of the yard surrounded by trees, where old raspberry canes and some kind of tall flower grow.  It is a perfect circle.  He has cleared it all out, ridding it of it's weeds and has begun to circle it with rocks he has collected from the property. 
I went back there last night to see how he is making out.  It is a magical place.  I am so grateful for his creativity and enthusiasm. It was contagious.  Together we found the perfect spot to hang the hammick, plant the poppies and delphiniums and start a little strawberry patch. He is planning a stone patio, willow arbours,a secret path to join the trail to the rest of the woods, some funiture made out of the willows from our land as well as wind chimes and bird feeders.  We talked about what flowers and plants would attract humming birds and butterflies.  As  I stood taking in the beauty of the spring, I was overcome with the hope of what was to come.  Not just with our little secret garden, but with this wonderful young man that I have the privillege to know and love. Of course I could not help but wonder if this moment would even be possible if we hadn't decided to turn off the T.V.  He could have been spending all of that time playing some game on the Wii, or sitting, watching some mind numbing sitcom.  Instead he was creating magic, discovering what he is capable of accomplishing and being successful.
I hope that you will have a magical day!  I plan to!

Tuesday, May 17, 2011

Optimism

Wow, two weeks have gone by since I last posted.  Crazy how time flies. 
It is still raining here in New Brunswick.  I have got to say it's getting really old.  Hard to get motivated to do anything.  We did get some water in our basement.  About an inch in most of it.  As I was cleaning up and grumbling a bit, my oldest son, Nathan said, " Mom it could always be worse, we could be in Japan, Quebec or Manitoba."  Thank you Nathan!  Way to put things into perspective.  I stopped complaining and began to be grateful. We caught it quickly, nothing was really damaged. I had to throw out a couple of books and clean up was pretty quick.  I have NOTHING to complain about.
Yet, there seems to be a blanket of tiredness covering out little part of the world.  Everyone I talk to is tired, tired of the weather, the damp and cold, the long winter and spring, just tired.  We are all hoping to see the sun.  Amazing how our environment affects us. 
It makes me even more in awe over those who face real devastation and can still be cheerful or at least optimistic.  How do we become that kind of a person?  Is it naivety, faith, a choice? Maybe a bit of all of those?  It is wonderful and can be inspiring.  So my challenge today is to find someone who carries these traits and see if I can find out their secret.  If it's you, maybe you could share your tips!  I would love to know, I could really use a boost.  No more than the many who have lost their homes, and livelihood. 
I hope you have an optimistic day, I hope to!

P.S My heart goes out to all who have been evacuated from their homes for flooding, fire or storms.  I hope that all might turn out well for you.  You are in my thoughts and prayers.

Tuesday, May 3, 2011

More Change

It seems only right to write something about change today!  There has been a lot of it over the past few days!  Here in Canada we now have a Majority government, depending who you are, will determine how you feel about these changes!
There has been a big royal wedding aswell as the death of a wanted man.  In parts of the states, there is change to the landscapes as many try to rebuild their lives.  Here at home our snowy days have changed to rain!  In parts of the country there is flooding and people being forced out of their homes.
It is said "the only thing we can count on is change."  I guess that is true.  With many changes, we have little to no controll over the outcome and that maybe the hardest part of it all. I have often said to my children, "you can't choose whether to go through it or not, but you can choose the attitude you will have." (You can imagine how well this is received!) And they are quick to give me the same advice!
So, I have had the desire to create some changes of my own~ to gain a bit of control maybe?! I have added and rearranged pictures on my blog, I have tried a couple of new recipes, I bought a new rug for my front room, I changed my bedding from winter to summer...just to name a few.
Please don't think that I am trying to make light of the craziness that is going on in many lives around me.  I hope and pray all will be well for those going through heartache. I can't imagine having to leave my home wondering if it will still be standing when I return.  I am grateful every night when all of my family is tucked into their beds safe and sound. 
Change doesn't always have to bring heartache. I am grateful when winter turns to spring, spring to summer, summer to fall and back to winter. (I really do enjoy snow!)  I love when school is out and I have my children home all summer, I am happy again when fall comes and they are all back to school!! I was happy when the terrible twos gave way to the fabulous fours (Yes, my children took 2 years to get through that stage!) I love watching them change and grow into young adults with great ideas and amazing minds! 
I look forward to the teen years with all that that involves, I am excited to see them choose their own path and seize the moment.  I hope that they will create goodness where ever they go!
There can come strength with change, we are stretched and forced out of our comfort zone.  We must choose to act or react.  We see our lives in a different way and this might be just what we need!
So today, as you embrace the changes in your life, I hope that you might find the hope in it, I know I hope to!