The day before the rest of my life...

Tomorrow I board a plane and head to Oracle, Arizona. What will I find there, who will I meet, how will I absorb all that is taught me?! I started on this journey almost one year ago when I began taking classes in Saskatoon, SK. My friend and mentor reached out to me after several sessions and told me she felt moved to see if I felt a calling to teach. What an understatement; I have flet a calling to teach all my life!! But, was I being called to lead someone on their own personal spiritual journey while practicing some amazing yoga? I first had to reawaken my spiritual journey before I could turn to assist others. Which leads me to.. the day before the rest of my life!!
I will be disconnected from technology while on retreat at the C.O.D ranch, so no updates while I am there of my progress, but I am really excited to see how transformed I am when I am through. I am, however, under no circumstances implying that my journey or my transformation will be complete after 8 days in the desert!! My life course is changing and I am scared, excited, entralled and intimidated. These past 8 weeks of webinars have given me a glimpse of what's to come, but I am sure I will be overwhelmed with the enormity of it all once there and fully immersed.
I have done my best to prepare, but will put it in God's hands that I am ready to receive. Thank you all for your prayers, guidance and support along the way. I couldn't be the woman I am or the one I hope to become without you!

Quotations that spoke to me today

After only a few short hours of sleep, I am awake and ready to spend a little time on my mat this morning. We had an amazing Holy Yoga class last night and I can't wait to transfer some of this energy; both muscular and organic, into my practice today. Why is it that we can't feel this enthused all the time?! These next 6 weeks are simply going to fly right by and I have so many goals to achieve, things to get organized and miles to travel until the time arrives. Can I do it?! Doubt is creeping in, but if I simply breathe and allow God to take over I know it will happen.

I found these two quotes this morning, they are not scripture and I don't know who said them, but they spoke to me today... are they saying anything to you?!

"Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond imagination. It is our light more than our darkness which scares us. We ask ourselves – who are we to be brilliant, beautiful, talented, and fabulous. But honestly, who are you to not be so?"

"You are a child of God, small games do not work in this world. For those around us to feel peace, it is not an example to make ourselves small. We were born to express the glory of God that lives in us. It is not in some of us, it is in all of us. While we allow our light to shine, we unconsciously give permission for others to do the same. When we liberate ourselves from our own fears, simply our presence may liberate others."

God Bless

Kenny Chesney - The Boys of Fall

Wordless Wednesday.... it's back too ;-)

I'm back.....

Wow! In re-reading my last post from 2009, I can not now take this opportunity to apologize for being away for 3 weeks as it has been 17 months since I have last written :-( It is not because I do not love y'all; I just got sidetracked, waylaid, and/or rerouted in my efforts to check in!! I am sure you know the phrase..."Life happens while you are making other plans!"

I believe Facebook actually took over my computer time as I became more involved in viewing other friends and family's pages while updating my own status on a far too regular basis. I am always trying to learn and grow and I believe FB has many amazing good qualities (just like chocolate and wine), but I have consumed too much. I really like the personal nature of my blog and want to reconnect to the intimacy of just talking to YOU versus my myriad of Facebook Friends.

Time management has become more and more important in my life as the kids get busier, life gets crazier, and Dennis begins traveling again (to CHINA). I find that I am trying to continually carve a new niche for myself as I never want to stop growing or learning - EVER.

Holy Yoga is my new passion and I have never felt more complete - what a blessed calling!! My new accountability partner, the lovely Liv, in fact, is the one who brought my attention back to my much neglected blog. Thank you!!

Speaking of the Fall, I have some amazing adventures ahead - truly, amazing, really, truly, AMAZING!!! I can't wait to share my thoughts, reflections, anticipations, anxieties, joys, trials and everything in between!! In the past, I would back track and fill in days, events, items I had missed, but I feel the need to only look forward for now. Once I get on a roll and am posting regularly, I may add some things that impacted my life, made me proud, or just brought a smile to my face - you'll have to stay tuned to find out!!

As always, thank you for being part of my journey. I appreciate the time you set aside to spend with me. Love, love and more love...

One hundred and one

It is hard to believe that this is my one hundredth and first post :-) I am writing today to sincerely apologize for having been away for three weeks! I do not know where the time has gone, but I do know that it has not been floundered away - promise! After posting Dennis' birthday pics I realized that that was my 100th post and I honestly couldn't believe it. I took some time to look back at old posts in random order and WOW, what a blessed life I live! I am truly thankful and humble when I think about how lucky I am.

At this late date and time, I do not believe I will backtrack and finish the Christmas pics - I know there was just a huge collective sigh of relief out there on the world wide web! Suffice it to say, our holiday was wonderful and the kids got everything they could ask for and more...

To update you on the present goings on: we are all happy and healthy. Alison went on her ski trip last week and had a blast. Jack and Kitty went swimming with their class and enjoyed a much appreciated break from math that day :-) Ali will be going speed skating next week for the first time. We'll see if she can live up to her Dad's capabilities around the oval! We have February break upon us on the 16th-20th. No plans but to hang around the city and relax! I, however, do have plans in March to head to my beloved Big D with Tannis. We have no plans on arrival, just being there and spending time. Dennis will be heading back to the Ukraine at the end of March and he just returned from a grand adventure in Vegas with Chris and Corey to watch the SuperBowl. So as those little highlights might detail, we do not allow any grass to grow (or snow to pile up) under our feet around here!

Thanks for hanging with me as always! I love you XOXXOX

A birthday to celebrate in between Christmas installments

Dennis celebrated his 63rd birthday in style. He had coffee and donuts delivered to him in the morning by Corey, several phone calls before lunch from some of his favorite ladies, a great Asian afternoon meal with me(!), a quiet afternoon to himself, a few more phone calls, a birthday dinner at Fuddruckers, a personalized video from Linsey, a call from his sister Kay and last but not least the piece de resistance - coconut cream pie :-) Happy Birthday darling. I love you more from year to year!!

This one needed a post all on it's own - still the Texas warm up to Christmas 2008

The reason this one needed a post all on it's own is because not only is it captured in amazing photographic fashion (thanks honey!) but it highlights that my beautiful Linsey knows the perfect way that to reach my heart. She has an incredible knack of of being able to let you know how much you are loved without saying a word! She first displayed this technique 16 Christmases ago when she gave me a wooden angel. I wept then and as can see; it wasn't the last time...

Here I am so happy to be unwrapping....

Everyone is cheering open it, open it

Oh no, I've caught a glimpse of the word GiGi

That's all it took to bring on the waterworks...

I love it!!!!!!

I couldn't be a prouder GiGi! These are all my grandson's hands and my baby granddaughter's feet. Honestly, could there be anything more precious? You can not believe how incredibly moved and touched I was, but the pictures do a pretty good job!!!

A BLAST FROM THE PAST........
I couldn't resist scanning in a couple of photos from Christmas 1992. It appears the face I make just before I cry hasn't changed, but thank goodness the hair and the nails have!!!

I love you Linsey with all of my heart. Thank you again for EVERYTHING. Your thoughtfulness and compassion overwhelm me!