Get Outside and Enjoy Your Community

 Your community, neighbourhood, the people next door, people in your own home, you... everyone together matters. So this week I have started homeschooling my daughter. This year my baby turns five and no I’m not okay with it. It has been good, circle time, learning new songs, morning devotions, Simon says exercise, practising in our workbook and spending an hour or two in the afternoons outside. 

Community - parks, woods, mountains - it’s about people and it’s about where you are. We are currently living in a community surrounded by mountains, lakes, rivers and flat wooded walking areas. We love it so much. I take the kids out, walk for about 2+ kilometres and we talk about all the animals we want to get, we run and chase and laugh our way through the forest and say hello to those we pass. 

It is life giving. It is glorious. We come back refreshed, energized and ready to make dinner, free play and eat, bathe, read and sleep. 

Routine, we thrive on it. But not just routine, I was reading about rituals the other day. Creating the ordinary everyday things into something special, something on purpose. To not just be and live and do on autopilot but to live and be and do it all on purpose. To look into your child’s eyes or spouse, friend, pet - whoever you connect with and take a second. Feel it, breathe it and be intentional. Routine, reading the same book before bed and letting the questions flow, not minding the hundredth interruption. Making breakfast and eating it together, joining your children at the table, eating, listening - don’t miss a minute of it. 

If this is an impossible ideal for you that’s okay. Take and give the intentional you can. Not every second of every minute of each day. Take what you can. Give what you can. You won’t ever regret it. And listen, listen to your children, your spouse, those speaking to you, your own inner voice - listen because you will hear what each one is crying out for. What each one needs and wants. That’s how you can give without running out of steam, without burning out. Give what will matter. 

Sleep when you can, eat good food when you can, kiss and hug your children all of the time and do something/anything that you have energy for that will matter to your spouse. And girl, put that show on and get your shower on and don’t feel bad about it for even a second. 

Keep seeking the sunshine and healing,

Laura

How To Help - Who To Help - Friends, Family and Those We Don’t Even Know

 Let’s talk about friends! During the world shutting down, the government decided we shouldn’t have any time with others, no support from family or friends. Stay far apart, very far apart, let’s kill all small businesses but Walmart can stay open and all other big business. Don’t drive anywhere, don’t go out - you can go to a park and hang out with whoever is there but you can’t meet a friend there. You can go for a walk with friends but do not meet in the privacy of your own home or yard. And do not stop on your walk to slow your breathing and chat - oh no, please continue to walk, breathe hard and share alllll your germs. 

Friends and family, how are you? How are you doing? Are you checking in on your neighbours? Do they know you care? Do they have groceries? Do you? Are your lights staying on? Do you need help of any kind? 

Or are you looking on your neighbours to call the government hotline and tell on them? Don’t be that guy.

Can I remind all of us that our neighbours are the ones we see everyday, our neighbours are the ones we borrow sugar from or eggs. Our neighbours look out for our children and homes and yards, they report it if someone suspicious is hanging around. Sometimes neighbours turn into our greatest supporters and friends and yes, sadly our neighbours can become our greatest annoyances or worse.

Good neighbours are better than gold. They are there, everyday. Be a good neighbour.

Back to friends. Have you been sheltering in place? Have you been avoiding loved ones out of fear? Have you shut down along with the economy and everything else? Have you been social distancing or wearing a mask everywhere (your own car included?) now here’s the thing - I’m not judging you. I want you to feel confident and safe. I want you to feel full of joy, anxiety and fear free. So here’s some truth. Germs exist. Immune systems exist. And God knows the exact numbers of our days, nothing is hidden from Him. We can take comfort in those things. God made our bodies to fight diseases and sicknesses and we live in a day and age where we have access to medicine, vitamins, fresh air, the ability to exercise etc. Covid is a virus, there are many viruses out there. We know it is important to wash our hands before we eat, to eat healthy foods, move our bodies, to get outside and breathe fresh air and get some sun daily for vitamin D. These are simple things that most of us can do. But another important thing for us as humans are hugs, love, conversation, living life in community. This is how God made us. 

I think that during these times it is important to keep up your relationships. Reach out, we need each other. I also think it’s important to respect the boundaries of those around us. Some people NEED to social distance, wear a mask, hand sanitize, etc to feel safe right now. Respect your friends boundaries, check in on them, text, call, FaceTime them. Don’t drop them just because they are believing or behaving differently than you. Care for those you love and care for those you don’t even know. For example, I wear a mask in public out of kindness and respect for those that will feel safe because of it. On the flip side of that are those who NEED conversation, stranger or friend - stay if you can, lend your ear and remember you have a choice, you have boundaries and you know what makes you feel safe - do that in kindness. 

We also have friends who NEED the company, the face to face, the coffee and conversation. They need to move in your presence and there is nothing wrong with this. We are all made for community, love, friendship. Do not be afraid of those friends who need your physical presence but be wise. Wash your hands, if you are sick or they are sick stay home - this is normal behaviour - if you or someone close to you has had the flu you stay home so you don’t spread it around. 

Do not feel ashamed; if you have covid it’s okay. You would not feel shame if you got a cold or the flu or pneumonia etc, let us not feel shame over Covid. It is a virus to overcome, to heal and recover from. Do we want it? NO! But we also don’t want a cold or flu.

If you hear anything please hear this. You are loved, you are precious, we need you here on planet earth and you are special and unique. Have your boundaries, be kind, respect others and be respected in return. 

If you disagree with someone you can always leave - you don’t HAVE to engage in an argument or dispute. You can have your beliefs and point of view but it isn’t on you to try and force someone else to think like you, agree with you etc. It is our job as people to be kind to those we come across in our daily lives. To look out for and help each other. To love each other. 

Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.

We can do this dear ones, we can love one another and be kind, we can be joyful and bring peace, we can be patient with each other, we can be gentle and practise self control. 

Keep seeking healing and sunshine ☀️ 

Laura

Do you know yourself beyond your name?

 How in tune with yourself are you? Sounds hokey right? But take a second. Sit in silence, with yourself. Can you do it? Can you look yourself in the eye? What do you think of yourself? What do you take in? What movies do you watch, what music do you listen to? What books are you reading? What foods are you binging? What are you seeking online? In your relationships? Where is your self worth coming from?

When it’s quiet, when you’re not busy, when it’s just you. Who are you? What are you doing? Craving? Are you eating chips, chocolate  and ice cream, are you sleeping well? Staying up too late? 

Why?

Are you sitting in the presence of God? Worshipping? Un burdening yourself to God aka praying? Are you speaking life and love and encouragement to yourself? Are you telling yourself how smart you are? How gracious and kind and loving you are and will be today? Are you setting yourself up to be positive and kind to whomever you come across? 

I don’t. I know I should, I know I want to but I go after the junk. I had a difficult childhood and some traumatic events happen in my teens and young adult years. And it sucks. It sucks because I don’t brush my teeth or wash my face every morning and night like I should. I don’t tend to watch happy, joyful movies, I tend toward the dark. I go to bed around 2 AM  when I should head to bed around 10:30 PM and I want to eat ice cream late at night. I inhale romance novels and it’s what I do but it’s not what I want. 

I want to have a routine for me, not just for my children. I want to go to bed at a good time so I can thrive in my next day and be at my best for my children. I want to feed my mind and therefore body with positivity and life, love and encouragement. I want life flowing through me and out of me. I long for Gods presence daily and worship and prayer, friends and cooking and baking and adventures. A hike, a kayak, something in the fresh air outdoors. 

We are heading into our first home renovation and we’ve moved to a new city during a world shut down. So many changes and chances to scream and share frustration, anger and upset OR step back and choose calm and kind words and teamwork. I’m really hoping and praying and trying to set myself up to change for the beauty and better along with my house. A physical visual reminder of what I’m trying to do in myself. 

Currently my home has been demolished to the studs 🤣 one step, one day at a time.

Find the healing and sunshine dear ones ☀️ 

Do you know you are precious?

  

Hello Dear Ones,

You are so precious and I love you with my whole heart. This is what I say to my daughter daily. If your mother didn’t say it to you - as a mother myself, let me speak your preciousness over you. “You are precious, and I love you”

How our caretakers treated us and responded to us from the womb all the way up until we become old enough, mature enough to find our worth from inside ourselves (and from God) shapes and defines us. How we attach and how we process life - the good and the bad, trauma or Trauma affects our minds, bodies, spirits and souls. Did you know that trauma we have witnessed, been a part of or done to someone or been done to - left unprocessed, gets trapped inside our bodies? The well worn paths in your brain, the ones you journey down without even thinking about

were formed before you knew anything. As adults it is a difficult process to form new brain pathways, new ways of thinking and therefor doing but it’s worth it to become the person you have always been meant to be. God promises abundant life, not small, close minded, stubborn, old, broken, ashamed, beaten lives. We were made for love, freedom, reconciliation with God and each other. 

The journey of our lives is unique to each of us. We are all an individual and each one is special. Sadly many make poor or downright bad decisions that lead to life long consequences for ourselves, our families and friends and those who were affected by our choices. Now we didn’t start out that way - bad, in the womb and after is when the person who you are right now was being formed. It’s good to become aware of who you are. How you think of yourself. How you view others, how you respond and react to others in different situations. Become aware because you can choose to change and grow. You aren’t stuck with who you are no matter how “bad” you are or how mature, grown or “good” you think you are. 

Eventually we all have to come to a place to take ownership of ourselves and make the changes we desire to live lives of freedom in Christ but there is a time where we are not responsible for our small, young selves. As a family, a community, a people we are each playing a part in each other’s lives, making choices that affect others and ourselves. Smiling, loving, encouraging and hugging or holding another precious person when it’s appropriate can change someone else’s life and it will change yours. 

Start where you are. You have yourself. Look in the mirror and tell yourself the truth, about who you are.

1. You are loved by God, created in his image. No matter who you are or what you have done this is true.

 “For God so loved every person on planet earth that he sent his son (Jesus) to pay for our sins. The payment was death - but whoever believes in Gods son Jesus will find salvation and receive eternal life with God.” And in case you don’t know, Jesus rose from the dead and is sitting beside his Father in heaven praying for each of us. So cool. 

2. Everyone makes mistakes and everyone does bad things on purpose. Nobody is perfect. 

“For everyone on planet earth has sinned in their lifetime and fallen short of the glory of God”

3. God put you here for a reason and that reason is so you could be loved by him and love him back, love others and find community, so that you could know God and be known by him and others and so you could share your gifts and talents with the world. Everyone has a gift. Mine is encouragement. I’m good at speaking life over others. It’s mine to share and give away. What’s yours? You may not know what your talent or gift is, don’t worry, you will. 

4. You are smart, bold, have courage, can do hard things, face your fears, choose life, you are beautiful and you are precious and special and known and loved.

God knows the words on our tongues before we speak them and knows our thoughts from afar. He will never leave us or forsake us and he never forgets us. Even if our parents forget us, God never does. God is love and he loves you. He forgives us of our sins and washes us clean. 

So once you can speak truth to yourself looking yourself in the eye expand to those around you. Do so when it is safe to. Be kind. Kindness is in words, tone of voice, actions and even thoughts. And have boundaries. Say no, be clear and be healthy. If you don’t know what that looks like maybe look into getting a counsellor. Serve others and be open to being served. Be gentle and patient. Knowing that doesn’t mean passive or allowing others to walk over you. And most of all day sorry when you need to and offer forgiveness for yourself as much as for others. Process and move foreword. Don’t hold the past close or long to go back - live in the moment and look forward to the future. 

We get to grow and change. It is painful, beautiful and possible. 

Look for the healing and sunshine,

Laura

Gentle, Peace - Come and Sit with Me

 This post is simply to help you sit and breathe. Find peace so you can take it in, use it up, get more and then when you’re ready, go out and offer it to others. So whatever makes you happy - comfort food, dessert, nature, sunshine, water, rain, Christmas lights, a forest, island - whatever it is for you - find it, stare at it and find your joy / peace. These pictures I took, but make them your own here (please don’t share them or copy and paste them) transport yourself into the photo, feel the calm and quiet. Smell the food, be there under the umbrella - sheltered from the rain, bask in the sunshine, feel it on your face, find warmth. Find open arms and a hug. Find healing.

2021 - How ARE you doing?

Hello and how are you doing? Please make a cup of whatever your heart desires, sit, relax and read. So, how are you? Covid, isolation, sadness, fear, afraid, anxious, happy, sad, alone... I’m not here to impress anyone. I’m here to put some thoughts out there, to listen and spend some time. 

To be honest Covid as a disease hasn’t felt that overwhelming to me. I mean it did when it was in Italy and the poor were dying because they didn’t have access to proper medical care while the rich were fine. Or when I read how the elderly were being turned away to die in favour of the young because there weren’t enough breathing tubes... covid hasn’t taken anyone close to me or even made anyone sick that I know of. Yet it has changed my entire world and yours too I’m guessing. 

How? Well, the government recommended shutting everything down and so everything did - shut down I mean. Nobody really knew what was going on at the time so everyone was scared. I felt like everyone around me thought I was a monster for putting my children into a shopping cart and getting groceries with them. The dentists had a conference where they were all exposed to covid so that shut down and when they reopened I was made to feel like it was dangerous to take myself and daughter to get our teeth cleaned. School was cancelled, parks shut down, everything closed except for big chain stores and fast food joints. At the time I was living in a small townhouse with two toddlers and a deck. It felt like we couldn’t even go outside for a walk. Streets were deserted and yet parking lots were full. Like in a zombie movie. It felt like we were suffocating. 

My husband woke up, went to work every day, came home and that stayed the same. His life didn’t change in that routine. And I’m grateful. So many have lost their jobs, and everything has gone up. Gas, groceries, everything is getting pricier. My heart aches and screams for those who are silently suffering behind house doors, wondering what they’re going to do. And the rich get richer.

I wear a mask to be respectful towards those to whom masks feel safe / mean safety. I wash my hands for hygienic reasons, because we were supposed to be washing our hands before there was a pandemic. 

I can take my kids to a park and they can run and play with whatever stranger is there but I’m not supposed to meet up with someone I know... I can go for a walk with a friend but I can’t stand around outside talking with them no matter how far apart we are... I’m not supposed to have anyone over in my large backyard to hang out with, share my heart, connect, breathe life into no matter how spaced apart we are. Oh, my backyard you ask? Not my tiny deck? Well, we moved during a pandemic. 

Can I just say any transition during covid is not for the faint of heart. Those having babies, those trapped in an old folks home, retirement home, moving, changing jobs etc. You are supposed to be supported, loved, helped. But the government says - not during covid. You’re on your own. Forget weddings, church and funerals. Forget anything held in the privacy of your own home. Forget anything that creates social interaction, lifts moral or brings joy. Oh wait!!! Your kids can go to school, hang out on school grounds, mask-less, playing, learning, etc. But don’t have anyone over. Nothing behind closed doors. And if you get beat up at home? Too bad for you. Now you’re alone 24/7. How is this okay? How is this happening? There are inconsistencies and double standards everywhere you turn. The rich are vacationing and living their lives and we are... stopped, stuck, waiting?

I’m not saying covid isn’t real. It is. Covid exists. I’m not saying covid doesn’t kill. It does. But so does the flu or pneumonia for example. You can get a flu shot. It doesn’t mean you won’t get the flu, ask your Dr. Every year they have to guess the strains of flu that will be out and about and if they are right then you have some back up from your shot and if they’re wrong then you may as well have skipped the poke and heavy metals and toxins. 

And everyone has an opinion. And it’s big and loud and afraid. Fear is what drives people to be big, loud, scary. Or you may be a flight or fawn or freeze type but if you are a fighter - it’s all fear based. So take some deep breaths, I’m mean big - inhale for 6 seconds, hold for 4 and exhale for 8. Take a second to step back and see I’m not writing to attack or hurt or judge. I’m not writing even to find a cheer squad or a group of people who agree with me. But facts hold up right? No they don’t because there are so many out there and it’s hard to sift through the constant change of what’s being said. 

Covid isn’t new - fact - but covid 19 is a new strain.

Covid is a virus - fact - and that means it can adapt and change. 

Covid can kill you - fact - it has killed people. But it has also affected others not at all. Others have gotten covid and not even had a fever. Like the flu it affects each person differently.

Covid has a vaccine - fact - but like all viruses this vaccine only covers covid 19 and even then they aren’t sure how long it’s good for.

It comes down to this. Fact check. Don’t be lazy, look things up for yourself. Try not to be afraid. Take some deep breaths and go outside - get your daily dose of vitamin D. Apparently that helps. If you need a friend then do what needs to be done, stay home if you’re sick, wash your hands - simple things that make sense. 

After all, if you’re single then you’re allowed to interact with one or two people anyway. And if you have nannies or grandparent support or babysitters or in house cleaners you can keep that going too. 

Be smart, be sane and find healing this year. Thanks for reading and make sure to leave kind, communicative, factual based comments below. 

Keep seeking healing and sunshine,

Laura