I love kids.
Innocent. Open. Vibrant.
Full of potential and infinite possibility.
There we were at Miracle Beach on a windy spring day. Sweet Maclaren with her perfect little voice sharing the secrets of the universe with me and most importantly where the seven dwarfs were hiding.
It was truly my pleasure.
Until we meet again lovely girl!
xo
These feet were made for walking...
In an wild dose of spontaneous inspiration she signed up for The Great Walk. A road she's been down many times before, but never walked.
She'll walk 63.5km (40 miles) on the dirt road between Gold River and Tahsis, on Vancouver Island, British Columbia, Canada.
She'll finish with a smile bigger than any one she's ever had before, and I only wish I could be there to see her cross that finish line.
I can actually see it now... huge grin and a few tears welling up in her eyes. When you have amazing people in your life it is easy to be continually inspired by them. She's incredible.
She's walking for herself, and along the way has also picked up donations for the Canadian Cancer Foundation and our local Food Bank. If you'd like to donate please email shannun@telus.net.
The Great Walk is tomorrow and please send a whole lot of love and positive support her way, and for all of the Great Walkers! Good Luck Auntie Thelma! We love you!!!!
The Gratitude wall.
I'd been trying for weeks to come up with a new idea for my thank you cards.
We've tried out ideas... nothing was lighting my hair on fire. Until... this morning.
I would write my thank yous all over chalkboards. I'll say thank you, I thought... in my own writing. I wanted a big wall. I drove around. Looking like a creep in back alleys. Scoping out the best spot.
I found the perfect spot. Venturing into the local awesome business, I just straight out asked the owner if I could make a giant chalkboard on the back of his building. His response? "I don't care what you do back there. Go for it." LOVE IT!
So, armed with my creative partner Shannon. We set out at 3:45pm to transform the alley. At 7:45 covered in paint and chalk dust. We realized, we were done. We had painted. Waited for it to dry. Applied second coats... waited some more. Then started scribbling with our chalk. It started as a way for me to say thank you. We ended up wondering if we weren't the only ones that wanted to say thank you, so my gratitude wall turned into THE GRATITUDE WALL. We suddenly realized that this wall would be alone, without supervision. Someone could walk by tonight and spray paint all over it and ruin it. OR... someone could walk by, see it... get inspired and pick up the chalk that we've left there... and draw something of their own. Write their own story. Anything is possible. Make your own art. You might ask why? Our answer is, why not.
I love this concept. Take a back alley. A somewhat unloved space. Ask the walls owner for blessings. Buy chalkboard paint $22 Buy chalk $2 Buy paint trays, paint brushes, rollers etc $6 (from dollar store) Leave art behind (and some chalk). Priceless and full of infinite possibilities. Make the world more beautiful. More colorful. More awesome. Maybe you know somewhere that needs a little love?
Be open to inspiration. My cousin Gord says, "The universe provides". xo
Sarah and Keith
The best part about Sarah and Keiths wedding on Hornby Island wasn't their stunning location/venue. It wasn't her amazing dress, beautiful flowers or her perfectly adorable shoes. Nor was it Keiths handsome tux, uniform or his immaculate and inspection passing shoes... it was them. Sarah and Keith. Although you could see the gratitude for everyone around them. It was just the two of them.
There are so many images I love, for so many reasons... but the main reason, in all of them, is that it was all real. I didn't ask for Sarah to throw her arms in the air {photo above} and shout into the wind "THIS IS THE BEST DAY OF MY LIFE". She just did it all on her own. I didn't ask them to be so totally in love, so happy, and therefore have that ooze all over their images... they did that.
Sarah and Keith were married at the gorgeous Sea Breeze Lodge on Hornby Island. Have you been to Hornby lately? If your answer is no... why not?
Your love is inspiring and contagious.
Thank you for inviting me into your world, for sharing your moments... for allowing me, to capture a little bit of you.
I loved every minute of it.
On Luck and Lotteries
Recently a local Campbell River family won $35.7 million dollars on a Lotto Max ticket.
They live a few blocks away from us. Campbell River is a small town and that is a lot of money. Everyone is talking about it. At the grocery store, on the sea walk, walking dogs. Everywhere, and most everyone.
I've heard people say crazy things. It seems everyone knows how this family should spend their money, and are even dividing it up for them. I can't even imagine what that kind of money does. I mean, let's be honest here. If I knew my brother had won 35 million dollars, I'd be hoping our mortgage would be paid off. But isn't that weird? It's not my money, I have no claim on it. But, I bet you'd be bitter if your sibling or friend won that kind of money, and didn't share. Isn't that weird!?! I heard someone say "I hope they spread it around", "I hope they remember the community center, the food bank.". I thought that was interesting or crazy. We all presume to think we know what to do, or what not to do, or what we'd do. But we don't.
In fact, I'm pretty sure I'd be the worst person to win the lotto. For real.
I realize that financial freedom comes with great rewards. Immense rewards. We all think, that would be the best gift. But would it? You may just find that, that amount of money would cause incredible grief and sleepless nights as well. You may want to pay off everyone's mortgages family, friends... but which friends. How many friends. Which family members? All of them? Some of them? Your favorites? I'd be willing to bet that a whole lot of trouble would come with a great big pile of money. Of course you could pay off all debts, buy some fancy things, charter planes, buy stuff, be rich, give to charity but... who knows what that really costs.
Would I pass up millions of dollars? Likely not. But, sitting here in my own little life I already know that my fortune is our health. Our baby. Our life. I've said it before, and I truly believe it. I've got no doubt that this lucky family will enjoy and LOVE their lucky little ticket. But, if you are envious, or jealous... I'd bet you could count your blessings RIGHT NOW and know that you already have your own fortune. Right where you are. Right now. Without lotteries.
I found this via Pinterest yesterday, and knew I had to share. "If you have food in your fridge, clothes on your back, a roof over your head and a place to sleep you are richer than 75% of the world." {Full Post HERE}
Just something to think about.
Here is my fortune. Smelling flowers and laughing at the wind.
