Family Legacy
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A Love Letter to My Daughter
Seven and a half years ago, I wrote a love letter to my daughter. It was part of a high school assignment. The purpose was to involve her family members in her life experience. Participation in her experience meant we’d be touched, too. I wish love letters to teenagers were required writing of all parents. Writing a love letter to Princess put a magnifying glass on my connection to her. It helped us know each other better. That’s what happens when you connect through writing. I decided this would be a good day to revisit my letter to her. Today Princess turns 25. Reading it now, makes me think. We…
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What’s Your Thread?
Last month, I was a presenter and attendee at Journal Conference 2016: Pioneering the Next 30 Years. It was one of those unique magical experiences that comes only from a gathering of like-minded people, sharing with and inspiring one another. One evening Christina Baldwin and Ann Linnea, of Peer Spirit, presented a group of engaged writers with this William Stafford poem. The Way It Is There’s a thread you follow. It goes among things that change. But it doesn’t change. People wonder about what you are pursuing. You have to explain about the thread. But it is hard for others to see. While you hold it you can’t get lost.…
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Family Echoes
I am one of four sisters and our names all begin with “K”. Growing up we were called the 4K’s. I’m K3 in the birth order. So far, a great deal of my focus for 2016 has been on my sisters. K4 had knee surgery last month. I wish we lived closer so I could help her. K2 and K4 are in my online Journal Your Legacy course. K1 had a milestone birthday this month – 60. K2 and I stole her away from her busy life for a whole afternoon – such a treat to have her all to ourselves. We were the decoys for the big party in…
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Christmas, With Love
Christmas is coming quickly and we are wracking our brains for those perfect gift ideas. In Canada, we have so much. Add our tough economy this year and we’re asking, “What do we buy for someone who has everything they need, within a smaller budget?” I know of an inexpensive, yet valuable gift idea for all those difficult-to-buy-for people on your list – the love letter. A love letter is a true gift of the heart. Gifts of the heart are often creative and well received. You feel good knowing you are giving the greatest gift of all, a piece of yourself, expressed in your handwriting. The receiver feels…
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When Your Kids See You, Who do They See?
Remember what it was like when we saw our parents as perfect? They were strong and never got sick. They were smart and had all the answers. They were there to encourage us during the day and calm our fears at night. I believed mine were on this earth solely for me. That’s the way it should be when you are a little person, right? But at some point, we begin to see our parents for who they really are. I started knowing Mom and Dad as people when I was 14 and they were around 40. They announced they were divorcing and that was enough for me to realize…
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G-Pa Turns Ninety
There’s a pretty special man in my life turning 90 years young today. When I was calling to invite my father-in-law’s friends to his celebration dinner, they were surprised. Ninety? Already? Yes, it’s hard to believe this young-at-heart grandpa to my kids is hitting this milestone. Buddy and Princess call him “G-Pa.” They’ve grown up close to him mostly due to time together at the family cabin. When they were young, he’d load them and his dog into the aluminum boat and putt along the lakeshore from the cabin to the village so they could play with some of the other kids. Over the years, he’s handed them paper and…
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Back to My Accidental Dream Home
In a few days, season three of our temporary life in Slave Lake will come to an end and we’ll be heading south – home to the starter house we bought 30 years ago. It’s nothing fancy. My 1,050 square foot, ‘50s bungalow was never meant to be my dream home. We bought it because it was affordable and in a good neighbourhood. It was always our intention to pay this house off quickly, keep it as an income property and move on up. But, priorities changed when two kids came along. Neither The Consultant nor I had anticipated the emotional impact starting a family would have on us. Our…
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My Family Defined
I’m so excited about my guest blogger today. Buddy, has written his perspective of our family and I’m more than happy to share – What does it mean to be in our Family? I’ve reflected on the question of what it means to be a member of this family for quite a while and realize that my perception of family has evolved and changed with time. I was probably around 7 when I started to have an abstract understanding of day-to-day family life and family ideals – religious beliefs, political views, socioeconomics, and what motivates my family as a whole. Once I hit my teens, the abstract understanding started…
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Honouring Loss
I had an empty nest piece all set to post today but I’ve changed my plan. On Sunday, a life changed abruptly. Today, my heart is with one of my best friends whose partner passed away suddenly on the weekend. Out of respect for her and for the life of her partner, I’d like to honour her loss. My dear friend is dealing with too many unknowns to mention. I don’t know how life will look for her going forward. I just know that, for me, when someone passes the world stops for a while. I reflect on how I spend my time and where I place my energy. And…
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Finding Peace in Places
“I need peace in my life.” This is the silent prayer that has looped through my head for years. Ever since I was in my teens, I’ve sought out perfect spots to find the silence needed to think. The first I can remember was just a few short blocks from home, in a city park, on a little hill, in a community called North Haven. Whenever I felt like I needed peace, I’d go there, hop on a swing and let my feet pump me higher and higher until, on legs outstretched, they blocked Calgary’s city view on the horizon. Or, I’d sit on the swing with one toe pointed…
