Tag: love (page 4 of 7)

Uncertainty

Uncertainty. A potent word. A word that brings to mind FEAR. Or does it? Maybe uncertainty creates the possibility to discover a new path that leads to something wild and wonderful.

The Coronavirus is the plague of our day. We are more connected now than ever before and with that comes a river of information. Information is power, the more knowledge you have, the more tools you can arm yourself with to cope. But the abundance of data we are flooded with can also bring anxiety and fear. Facts are coming in almost by the second, not the minute. I will admit that I have at times been overwhelmed by all the information coming my way. 

When that happens, I take a very deep breath. I am blessed. I come from strong stock. I am a farmer’s daughter. My grandparents fought on the frontlines and the home front during WWII and I carry with me valuable lessons I learned from them. We are a “make do” tribe. We are a “figure it out” tribe. We are innovative. We are resilient. We accept the challenges that lay ahead. 

We do not know what tomorrow brings. But that is always the case, whether or not we, as a world, are facing Covid-19 or not. We shall continue on. We will be strong for each other. We will continue to do right by people. Help a neighbour; help a friend; help a loved one if you are able. Even if that’s as simple as a wave from the window, to leaving milk or bread at their door. 

So much is out of our control. I know that there are so many ‘rites of passage’ that will pass so many by. But there is plenty that we can control. As Winston Churchill once said, “Attitude, is a little thing that makes a big difference.”

And for those of you who live so very far away from those you love so deeply. I understand you. It is a boat we share. It is scary to know that if a loved one is in need you can’t be there to help them; you can’t reach them. But we will continue on. We are blessed to live in a time with the technological capabilities to talk to one another, across borders, across oceans. And we shall continue to walk in faith. 

I am fully aware of what is happening around the world, so please never for a moment, think that I frivolously share things here. But as it has always been; will continue to be for me; and I hope for you: a safe place. This is my spot in the world, I come to share and as much as possible, I would like to continue to do that and not with a heavy heart. We are seeing enough of that in the daily news and in the world around us. And I never want to jump on a band wagon for “hits” or “likes”, I see too many others do that to increase their blog and social media traffic. That is not who I am. I come here only to speak from my heart. 

Thank you to our doctors, nurses, paramedics, healthcare workers, firemen and women, police and teachers! Thank you to all those lending a hand. We are forever in your debt. The toll mentally and physically that this will take on our frontline defence, will for some be more than they can bear. When this hell for you on the front lines is over, we will be here for you, to help you pick-up the pieces. 

Do not forget that we are ladies and gentlemen. Let us continue to hold ourselves to high standards and not be dragged down. We are all in this together. This isn’t happening in one town, one city, one country, this is GLOBAL. 

Let this bring out the best in us. We have already seen extraordinary acts of kindness and people coming together in our own community. Acts of love and creativity. Let, that be the torch we all pick up. There are silver linings; light will always prevail over darkness; and some good will come of this. Let us all act sensibly and responsibly, as some people who may be more susceptible to this virus may not appear vulnerable to the naked eye.

I pray that you all stay safe and stay well. 

xoxo

HELLO, March!

Hello, March! You bring us a slow awakening of the earth this month as we prepare for spring. There are already signs that the world around is starting to stir with daffodils and snowdrops blossoming and the few nests we have stumbled upon in the beginnings of being built with twigs and thread and bits of hair.

We’re ready for the days to slowly get a little longer, one by one, inching along. We’re ready for walks through the woods where treasures await to be discovered and our forest friends come out of their homes after a winter’s nap. We’re ready for more hiking adventures and the possibility of a picnic in the glen.

We’re ready to wear the green and celebrate St. Patrick’s day, to slowly move through this season of Lent with time for reflection and to celebrate life in the moment and all that it has to offer. So, here’s to seeing the sunrise on our morning walk, dinners by candlelight, music, dancing around the house and the joy of taking in and being aware of the world around us and the beauty that it has to offer if we only look.

{Image Phoebe Wahl // Pinned HERE}

HELLO, February!

Hello, February! This month you usher in a birthday for one of my most cherished loved ones. You bring us Valentine’s Day and all the red, pink and white love and fun that goes with giving sweet surprises to family and friends. I’m ready for heart shaped desserts and more dinners by candlelight and steaming cups of hot chocolate with a stack of pancakes.

I’m ready for more music and dancing around the kitchen while we make dinner. I’m ready for a week off from school for winter break. I’m ready to still relish in winter, itself! I’m not wishing it away yet. I like these quieter moments. It’s a time to reflect, to be still, to recover from the hectic start to the year and to prepare for more of the year ahead.

So, February, we are ready for you and all that you hold and it would be even better if you could kiss us with snow! At least once! 💙

{Image Phoebe Wahl // Pinned HERE}

Skating into the Weekend!

Today is the last day of school before Christmas and the anticipation is palpable! I plan to soak up every drop of this Christmas break with my loved ones.

We’re skating into the weekend and into the holidays and I can’t WAIT!

* I don’t know what it is? I often wonder if I was born in the wrong era, but there is something about these old Christmas specials that just touch my heart. I think they were quite spectacular. It was like having a little piece of Broadway brought to you in your living room. I can remember repeats of these shows being played on TV when I was little and watching it with my grandparents and I was completely mesmerised by it all.

Fifteen

“ Happiness in marriage is not something that just happens. A good marriage must be created. In the Art of Marriage, the little things are the big things. It is never being too old to hold hands. It is remembering to say ‘I love you’ at least once a day. It is never going to sleep angry. It is at no time taking the other for granted; the courtship should not end with the honeymoon; it should continue through all the years. It is having a mutual sense of values and common objectives. It is standing together facing the world. It is forming a circle of love that gathers in the whole family. It is doing things for each other, not in the attitude of duty or sacrifice, but in the spirit of joy. It is speaking words of appreciation and demonstrating gratitude in thoughtful ways. It is not expecting the husband to wear a halo or the wife to have the wings of an angel. It is not looking for perfection in each other. It is cultivating flexibility, patience, understanding and a sense of humor. It is having the capacity to forgive and forget. It is giving each other an atmosphere in which each can grow. It is finding rooms for things of the spirit. It is a common search for the good and the beautiful. It is establishing a relationship in which the independence is equal, dependence is mutual and obligation is reciprocal. It is not only marrying the right partner, it is being the right partner. It is discovering what marriage can be, at its best.”

The Art of Marriage by Wilferd A. Peterson

Today, I celebrate fifteen years of marriage with Mr. Michie. I wouldn’t want anyone else by my side on this journey, but him. Here’s to another fifteen!

{Image: Bogart & Bacall // Pinned HERE}

First Batch

Today, I started my Christmas baking. This year, I’m making three different cookies to bundle up and give away. The first, was a batch of “snowdrops”. These are deliciously delicate, studded with pecans and each bite has hints of honey and vanilla and all of that is generously enrobed in powdered sugar. 

As I chopped the pecans this morning I couldn’t help but think of one of the first women I ever worked with, Mrs. Moss.  Her job growing up in the weeks leading up to Christmas was chopping all the nuts and fruit that her Mama would need for Christmas cakes, cookies and pies. I don’t ever chop nuts and not think of Alice Moss. 

I know I’ve shared her story here before and I’m gonna do it again today. She was such a special lady. It’s funny, but along the way, other people’s stories become a part of you. Maybe that’s how we keep them alive, as long as we continue to tell their story, their threads continue to be woven into the tapestry, for their story has become a part of our own story. 

The story I shared of Alice’s childhood during Christmas, can be found HERE.

The first part of her story and how she met her husband can be found HERE.

Home

Yesterday was a good day in many respects, but it was a long day. I hadn’t slept very well the night before because a local security alarm went off literally all night. It started just before 1am and didn’t quit till after 6am. I know it didn’t quit till then, because I was downstairs making breakfast and just after six, went to open the curtains and as soon as I peeled them back the alarm stopped. I just rolled my eyes.

So the not sleeping so hot, compounded by the fact that our neighbours are door slammers and they must have been in and out of their house over 20 times yesterday and every single time they left, they kept slamming the door, making everything rattle. Plus I had a long list of tasks to get through and for one reason or another, they just weren’t getting ticked off of my list.

All of that was piled on top of the serious amount of pollen we’re getting at the moment and it had made my voice hoarse and my nose run like a faucet. So I was feeling a little sorry for myself.

Mr. Michie had a late meeting and I walked to meet him after work. It was a lot windier and a lot chillier than I thought it was after I started walking. By the time I realised that, it was too late to turn back for a coat. I was a popsicle by the time we met each other. He kissed me hello and then he slipped off his coat and put it on me and zipped me up in it and all of his warmth inside the jacket was warming me up and suddenly the world felt pretty rosey again.

He did what he always does, what we always do; we take care of each other. It was an act of kindness, of love, of gentlemaness. It was a simple act, but that simple act had turned my day around. In that simple act, I knew that I was home.

{Image HERE // Pinned HERE}