December 30

Sitting with my sis falling asleep on my shoulder listening to tunes.... today's blog is inspired by Jack Johnson, who hails from Hawaii.... what a nice fit with the theme for my blog this year.  Happy New Year everyone.... and wishing my mom and dad love on their 40th wedding anniversary today.  Love is always best when shared.

Enjoy:) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c2KYTOw5Fm4

"Better Together"

There is no combination of words I could put on the back of a postcard
No song that I could sing, but I can try for your heart
Our dreams, and they are made out of real things
Like a, shoebox of photographs
With sepia-toned loving
Love is the answer,
At least for most of the questions in my heart
Like why are we here? And where do we go?
And how come it's so hard?
It's not always easy and
Sometimes life can be deceiving
I'll tell you one thing, it's always better when we're together

Mmm, it's always better when we're together
Yeah, we'll look at the stars when we're together
Well, it's always better when we're together
Yeah, it's always better when we're together

And all of these moments
Just might find their way into my dreams tonight
But I know that they'll be gone
When the morning light sings
And brings new things
For tomorrow night you see
That they'll be gone too
Too many things I have to do
But if all of these dreams might find their way
Into my day to day scene
I'd be under the impression
I was somewhere in between
With only two
Just me and you
Not so many things we got to do
Or places we got to be
We'll sit beneath the mango tree now

Yeah, it's always better when we're together
Mmm, we're somewhere in between together
Well, it's always better when we're together
Yeah, it's always better when we're together

Mmm, mmm, mmm

I believe in memories
They look so, so pretty when I sleep
Hey now, and when I wake up,
You look so pretty sleeping next to me
But there is not enough time,
And there is no, no song I could sing
And there is no combination of words I could say
But I will still tell you one thing
We're better together.

To a New Year full of love!

Aloha,
Emily

December 22

Love your neighbour as you love yourself...

As you love yourself...

As I love myself....

What if I have been neglecting my self...

Does that impact my capacity to love my neighbour - - - or anyone else for that matter?

I have always loved Cheryl Richardson's philosophy of "The Art of Self-Care"....

I have decided that it is time to spend more time showing love and care for myself.... in meaningful ways that fill my cup and give me the capacity to love others, and it all starts here and now with improving my health.

Aloha,
Emily

December 19

Happy Holidays Everyone.

May the love of the season gently rest in our hearts.....Renee Locks

I am here to tell you, to promise you in fact, that simple, tiny changes made one minute at a time, one experience at a time, will positively change your life and every outcome of every experience, in powerful (though sometimes subtle) ways.
  ~Karen Casey

December 5

"I love the way you lie...."

These words come from a favourite pop song of my right now by Eminem and Rihanna....

Sometimes we accept lies... untruth...

We allow pain and resentment, apathy, ignorance, disregard to settle in our lives like water trapped in puddles after a flood.... but they stagnate and breed disease.  Our lives become swamps and we get stuck, bogged down by the rot and decay of life lived devoid of the light.... and we get sick... and wonder why we can never get healthy....

Can I admit that I am guilty of accepting lies because the truth would be harder to accept?

Yes.... But the light is growing brighter.... Like sunshine on a meadow of wildflowers...

Once, I wasn't doing very well.  I felt lost and exhausted.  I felt bogged down.

I sat in my front room and turned my face to the sun to take a few deep breaths and regain myself.  And in that moment, I recall that I turned my face, eyes closed to the sun.... Initially, the sun shone dark and red through my eyelids....but within moments, the light pulsed, growing brighter and whiter until it was pure and white.... and the lord spoke to me and said, "I want to fill your life with love and light".  And I knew that I was strong enough to overcome anything, and that he would always find a way to bring me back into his love and light when I wandered into darkness.

I don't believe anymore that God sits and waits for us to return when we wander.

I believe that He is with us everywhere, always.... trying to fill our lives with love and light if we will let Him.

God has always spoken to me through music... and I thank him for the gift of music that he is teaching me to rediscover right now.  Music is truly a language of love.....

Aloha,
Emily

November 28

November 29

I decided to write a letter today to request forgiveness for years of anger and resentment... and to offer my own forgiveness for the reasons for that pain….

I sat pondering what to write…. Wondered if I could really forgive… If I could really let go… there was a part of me that just wanted to hold on to the anger and resentment….some darkness that didn't want to let go. 

Then Ave Maria began to play…. And tears streamed down my face as it became abundantly clear to me that the Lord wants love and grace for me and not anger and resentment.   I finished the letter and sent it.

May this touch you in some way that it touched me as well.  And may forgiveness light your path of love. 

The video is poor, but the song is moving…. Close your eyes, breathe deeply, and let the darkness melt away and the light of love fill you.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aQVz6vuNq7s

From Wikipedia:

AVE MARIA:

The prayer incorporates two passages from Saint Luke's Gospel: "Hail, full of grace, the Lord is with thee" (Luke 1 28: ... and "Blessed art thou amongst women and blessed is the fruit of thy womb" (Luke 1:42:...

The first of the two passages from Saint Luke's Gospel is the greeting of the Angel Gabriel to Mary, .. The opening word of greeting, χαῖρε, chaíre, here translated "Hail", literally has the meaning "Rejoice", "Be glad"....

The word κεχαριτωμένη, (kecharitōménē), here translated as "full of grace", admits of various translations. Grammatically, the word is the feminine present perfectpassive voice participle of the verb χαριτόω, charitóō, which means "to show, or bestow with, grace" and, in the passive voice, "to have grace shown, or bestowed upon, one".^[2][3]

November 26

1 Corinthians 13

New International Version (NIV)

 ¹ If I speak in the tongues^[a] of men or of angels, but do not have love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. ² If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing. ³ If I give all I possess to the poor and give over my body to hardship that I may boast,^[b] but do not have love, I gain nothing.

 ⁴ Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. ⁵ It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. ⁶ Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. ⁷ It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.

 ⁸ Love never fails. But where there are prophecies, they will cease; where there are tongues, they will be stilled; where there is knowledge, it will pass away. ⁹ For we know in part and we prophesy in part,¹⁰ but when completeness comes, what is in part disappears. ¹¹ When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I put the ways of childhood behind me. ¹² For now we see only a reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known.

 ¹³ And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.

I regret that I have not blogged in many weeks, and that some of my faithful followers have been missing my words.  Thank you for your encouragementJ

The path of love is not always an easy one.  But where I seem to fail, I come back to 1 Corinthians.  It is used in an almost cliché way sometimes, but everytime I hear it, I am confident that I am hearing the truth about love.

There are people that I love very much who are suffering right now, and it saddens me.  It saddens me, because I feel that the suffering is being caused in the name of, or place of, love.  If REAL FORGIVENESS (think love keeps no record of wrongs) if difficult, then imagine that REAL LOVE can be so much more difficult. 

Or is it really? There are things that have happened to me in the past that I didn’t know if I could forgive,  but as I sit here now, and time and strength have gathered…. I can truly say that I can sit in a place of total forgiveness for all wrongs of the past.  Because my commitment to LOVE is so strong, I will MAKE A DECISION to forgive.  Can it really be that simple? I think it can.  It may need to be a choice that I make time and time again, when emotion and hurt return, but I do believe it is as simple as that.  It is the choice to move on…. Not to dwell in pain and resentment… Not to live in anger and hurt… but to simply walk forward in love.  The truth is clear.  There is no room for unforgiveness in the path of love. 

Maybe that is why hateful, angry, bitter, negative people are so abrasive in our lives…. They are resounding gongs and clanging cymbals…. But in the orchestra of life, we have THE CHOICE to make our own music, and I believe, to influence others in a deeply powerful way.   

I see many unhappy every day, who are unhappy because they do not receive the love that they are looking for every day in their lives.  Here is what I have come to believe.  Love attracts love.  To be loved, we start with being loving. 

On my journey, I feel blessed that new and wonderful people are entering my life every day.  Love attracts love… and WOW there is actually a WHOLE IMMENSE WORLD OF LOVE out there taking root and flowering.  In random acts of kindness, kindly made gifts, sharing of food and laughter, giving of friendship, thinking of another before one’s self….

Every act of patience, kindness, compassion, generosity, modesty, respect, selflessness, temperament, forgiveness, joy, truth, protection, trusting, hope and perseverance toward love is an act of love itself. 

It is not length of life, but depth of life.  ~ Ralph Waldo Emerson

We can live forever…. But if we live without love…. We have not lived at all.

Aloha,

Emily

October 30

Halloween... for all that is dark and spooky and creepy about halloween... it has become a family favourite time of year.  We have so much fun and so many laughs... I feel so blessed.  Maybe it is just that it is fall... my favourite time of year... a time of thanksgiving.  We decorate the house... plan costumes for weeks... Invite friends to trick or treat with us... Last night we carved pumpkins... and had a family dance party in the living room.  I hope I will be lucky enough to remember it forever. 
Family... where love blooms and grows....

October 19

I'm not sure yet what has made the change, but I am feeling much better about my life today.  I'm thinking it is likely that I have had a fabulous overdose of great company over the past 5 days.  I have seen so many friends and family members - it has been so energizing and uplifting:)

I realized today that love is truly an enduring thing.  I shared an evening the other night with a family who was a very special part of my life two whole decades ago... and even though we hardly see each other anymore, they took time to spend time with me and my sisters and we had a really cool reunion.  Love forges bonds that last a lifetime. 

Tonight I am compelled to blog about random acts of kindness.  My friend Karen gave me the gift of a handmade pair of mittens tonight, and I have felt emotional about it ever since.  I LOVE handmade mittens.  And, the fact that she took her time, and thought of me, and handcrafted a pair just for me made me feel so special and loved. 

I have to confess that I do not often commit random acts of kindness, but I know now that I will start doing it more often. 

Today, I am grateful for all the love that I have in my life.... and the lessons that I learn from those who love me. 

I am also grateful for all of my friends on Facebook who shared their kind thoughts and words in helping me to solve a problem for my daughter.  I love her so much and hate to see her suffer.  It is such a relief to know that I am not alone as a parent, and that I literally have a whole community of friends and family who care about both of us.  I am grateful for everyone who took a moment of their time in the last 24 hours to share their warm thoughts and encouragement with me.

Aloha,
Emily

October 13

Many years ago, I found that this poem inspired me.  For some reason it came back to me yesterday and I looked it up.  Perhaps it will inspire you.....

Desiderata

Go placidly amid the noise and the haste,
and remember what peace there may be in silence.

As far as possible, without surrender,
be on good terms with all persons.
Speak your truth quietly and clearly;
and listen to others,
even to the dull and the ignorant;
they too have their story.
Avoid loud and aggressive persons;
they are vexatious to the spirit.

If you compare yourself with others,
you may become vain or bitter,
for always there will be greater and lesser persons than yourself.
Enjoy your achievements as well as your plans.
Keep interested in your own career, however humble;
it is a real possession in the changing fortunes of time.

Exercise caution in your business affairs,
for the world is full of trickery.
But let this not blind you to what virtue there is;
many persons strive for high ideals,
and everywhere life is full of heroism.
Be yourself. Especially do not feign affection.
Neither be cynical about love,
for in the face of all aridity and disenchantment,
it is as perennial as the grass.

Take kindly the counsel of the years,
gracefully surrendering the things of youth.
Nurture strength of spirit to shield you in sudden misfortune.
But do not distress yourself with dark imaginings.
Many fears are born of fatigue and loneliness.

Beyond a wholesome discipline,
be gentle with yourself.
You are a child of the universe
no less than the trees and the stars;
you have a right to be here.
And whether or not it is clear to you,
no doubt the universe is unfolding as it should.

Therefore be at peace with God,
whatever you conceive Him to be.
And whatever your labors and aspirations,
in the noisy confusion of life,
keep peace in your soul.

With all its sham, drudgery, and broken dreams,
it is still a beautiful world.
Be cheerful. Strive to be happy.

Max Ehrmann, Desiderata

Read more: http://www.inspirational-short-stories.com/desiderata-poem.html#ixzz1afTTocUx
Lovely, inspiring products! Inspirational Short Stories products

October 12

I don't like living like this...
Always feeling behind,
Just trying to get through
Day by day.
But I hope that by planting
seeds of gratitude...
Love will blossom
and grow.

I am grateful that my life is so abundant
that I can be so busy.

I am grateful for my family.
I am grateful for my friends.
I am grateful for health, safety, and abundance.
I am grateful for the opportunities that mean that I
never have to feel stuck where I am....

Aloha,
Emily

September 28th

I'm having one of those moments.... where guilt about how long it has been since I last blogged nearly kept me from signing on tonight.  I feel like I have nothing to say, but again recognize that having nothing to say, but staying engaged in the process, is more important than having something profound to say everytime I show up here.

So... in the spirit of living love.... I supported my sister today to be brave.  I snuggled both of my children and made them laugh.  I showed genuine support to a client living on the edge.  I am working on developing more meaningful relationships.  I am working to get out of my own head and to offer better service to others. 

I am grateful for my newly painted family room which feels so comfortable and peaceful to me.  I am grateful for my husband who has spent countless hours completing this project.  I am grateful for a warm, safe bed to sleep in tonight.  I am grateful that my children are excited to go to school tomorrow.  I am grateful for a job which pays me well enough to live comfortably.  I am grateful that I can make a difference in people's lives.  I am grateful that it is fall, and so cool, and colourful.   I am grateful that I have friends who are worth missing when I can't spend the time that I want to spend with them.  I am grateful for my mom who called to encourage me tonight.

I am grateful that I embraced love tonight instead of hiding because I felt so much less than perfect. 

Aloha,
Emily

September 12th

Hello!!

Sorry it has been so long since my last blog, as I have had some big things happening in my life, and some limitations to my internet access.

In and around all those things, my mind keeps returning to the idea of living love, and I am excited to see that I believe this journey is already yielding positive results! Thank you to all of you who have provided feedback and are enjoying the journey as well.

Four things have struck me recently:

The first is the idea of being good “for” people, and not just being good “to” them.  I have noticed that there are many times when I have been nice or polite to someone, but withheld the truth in my heart because I didn’t want to hurt their feelings.  So, I have stayed superficial in my relationship or conversation with them, for fear that true expression of my feelings would result in rejection.  I am learning that being honest and loving is a hard road to walk, and I’m not always sure yet where the line is between speaking the truth in love, and just speaking my understanding of the truth because it serves another purpose.   I am learning…

The second is the idea of love being perfect.  It is not new that I would be hard on myself for being less than perfect, and so learning to live love has meant that I am learning to love myself and others in all of our mutual imperfection.  That is a hard row for me to hoe, since I have pretty high expectations of myself and others and can be quick to judgment.  I realized that I had developed the idea that learning to live love would help me to be more perfect…. DUH!  How ridiculous is that really?  I imagine that most people would already agree that only God’s Love is perfect, and I can’t imagine there being such a thing as perfect human love, given how imperfect we are as human beings. 

Thirdly, someone I love shared this with me, and I wanted to share it with you:

Center for Action and Contemplation <cac@cacradicalgrace.org>

BREATHING UNDER WATER: Spirituality and the Twelve Steps

We admitted to God, to ourselves, and to another human being the exact nature of our wrongs.  ~ Step Five of the Twelve Steps As any good therapist will tell you, you cannot heal what you do not acknowledge, and what you do not consciously acknowledge will remain in control of you from within, festering and destroying you and those around you. When human beings “admit” to one another “the exact nature of their wrongs,” we invariably have a human and humanizing encounter that deeply enriches both sides—and even changes lives—often forever! It is no longer an exercise to achieve moral purity, or regain God’s love, but in fact a direct encounter with God’s love. It is not about punishing one side but liberating both sides. This is the way that God seduces us all into the economy of grace—by loving us in spite of ourselves in the very places where we cannot, or will not, or dare not love ourselves. God shocks and stuns us into love. God does not love us if we change; God loves us so that we can change. From Breathing Underwater: Spirituality and the Twelve Steps, pp. 37, 39, 40-42

So – how profound is that??? I loved the last paragraph especially, and the timeliness of this article fit nicely with my musings about love being perfect.  The pursuit of perfection seems to be a personality trait for some of us, and a cultural overtone for the rest of us.  Imagine what the world would be like if we redirected all the resources we spend on the pursuit of perfection into the pursuit of living love instead?  Surely we would encounter love and God’s Love on a whole new level….

Lastly, I am pleased that my goal to live love prevented me from raising my hand against my five year old son this week.  When he carelessly broke the window out of my car at a highly inopportune time, the first thought that went through my head was to beat the crap out of him.  I am not proud of the thought, but am proud of the courage that I had to walk away and deal with my anger in a more productive way.  Afterward, it led me to all sorts of contemplation about parenting with love.  To be honest, I had no idea how to effectively punish him.  He sat in time out, helped me to clean the mess, and to at least partially compensate for the $360 loss to the family finances, he will not be granted any special treats or gifts until Thanksgiving.  Any other ideas??? I am certainly open to them.  I foresee reading some parenting books in my future, and if anyone has some titles to recommend, I would be grateful.  My kids are both now school age, so a whole new world of parenting has begun.

My blog today is dedicated to my hubby who has loved me through 11 years of marriage as of this past weekend, and 14 ½ years total.  Thank you sweetie, I love youJ

Emily

August 30

How fitting... I just just learned that "aloha" actually has three meanings... do you already know what the third meaning is??? It is "love"....

From Wikipedia...

The word aloha derives from the Proto-Polynesian root *qarofa, and ultimately from Proto-Malayo-Polynesian.^[1][2] It has cognates in other Polynesian languages, such as Samoan alofa and Māori aroha, also meaning "love."
A folk etymology claims that it derives from a compound of the Hawaiian words alo meaning "presence", "front", "face", or "share"; and ha, meaning "breath of life" or "essence of life." Although alo does indeed mean "presence" etc., the word for breath is spelled with a macron or kahakō over the a (hā) whereas the word aloha does not have a long a.

Flower arrangement in Hilo, Hawaii, 1959

[edit] Usage

The use of the word as a greeting has been reconstructed to Proto-Polynesian.^[3] Before contact with the West, other words used for greeting included welina and anoai. Today, "aloha kakahiaka" is the phrase for "good morning." "Aloha ʻauinalā" means "good afternoon" and "aloha ahiahi" means "good evening." "Aloha kākou" is a common form of "welcome to all."
In modern Hawaiʻi, numerous businesses have aloha in their names, with more than 3 pages of listings in the Oʻahu phone book alone.

[edit] Trends

Recent trends are popularizing the term elsewhere in the United States. Popular entertainer, Broadway star and Hollywood actress Bette Midler, born in Honolulu, uses the greeting frequently in national appearances. The word was also used frequently in the 1968 and 2010 versions of the hit television drama Hawaii Five-0. In the influential 1982 film comedy Fast Times at Ridgemont High the student, and surfer, Jeff Spicolli, Sean Penn, uses the greeting with the eccentric teacher Mr. Hand, Ray Walston, who had earlier made use of the greeting himself. The Aloha Spirit is a major concept in Lilo and Stitch, a very popular Disney series of movies and TV shows, set in Hawaiʻi. The drama series Lost, shot in Hawaiʻi, has a thank you note at the end of the credits saying "We thank the people of Hawaiʻi and their Aloha Spirit". Aloha is a term also used in the Nickelodeon program Rocket Power.
Arguably the most famous historical Hawaiian song, "Aloha ʻOe" was written by the last queen of Hawaii, Liliʻuokalani.
The term inspired the name of the ALOHA Protocol introduced in the 1970s by the University of Hawaii.
In Hawaii someone can be said to have or show aloha in the way they treat others; whether family, friend, neighbor or stranger.

Fascinating, that this word aloha means love - or literally in the presence of the essence or breath of life?  Is it not true that love really is the essence and breath of life?  What is a life without love? Sadly, in my work in corrections I see everyday what happens when people live a live devoid of love....

Do you ever get the feeling that some things are meant to be? That some things do not come into your life just by chance or coincidence?  The really interesting thing is that "aloha" has another meaning for me.  I am really hoping to earn a trip to Hawaii this February, and the only way that I am going to do that is by helping a whole bunch of people to have some really great experiences.  I am noticing that the more I get out of my own head, where I worry about how to get things done for me, the more I am able to see others and to be of better service to them.  It is awesome.  Could being more loving in my life actually take me to a place where I could experience that land where "aloha" was born? That would be really cool!
Today, I played some fun music and enjoyed some time with my kids and cooking dinner.  I was patient. I was relaxed.  I was busy, but I had fun.  I helped a couple of stressed people out to relax... I feel good. 
I am noticing that simple acts and simple choices start to add up to big changes and I love it. 
In the spirit of Aloha....
Emily

Comment Help

Hi Everyone. I am trying to make it easier for you all to leave comments.  Once you have signed into the blog, you should just be able to click on the blue link that shows how many comments have been left and a comment screen will now pop up.  You will type your comment, then choose your identity (ie your google account) and click on "publish comment".  I hope this makes it easier for you all. Thanks for your support and encouragement and love!

August 23

In memory of the Honorable Jack Layton:

"My friends, love is better than anger. Hope is better than fear. Optimism is better than despair. So let us be loving, hopeful and optimistic. And we’ll change the world." - Hon. Jack Layton.

Jack lived the soul of another favourite quote of mine from Margaret Mead:
"Never doubt that a small group of citizens can change the world.  Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has."

Never doubt.... every act could change the world for someone else.... Thank you Jack for being one of those people who persisted in making the world a better, and more just, place.

August 17

I am going to be brutally honest, and tell you that I am only writing right now because I feel like I must in order to be true to this process.  In truth, I am bone tired and when I start rolling the concept of love around my brain, I come up blank..........................................................................................



I guess that is really why I am writing then................................................................................................

I don't want to be the woman who gave up on my blog... who gave up on my goal... who gave up on living a life that enriches others with love, and is enriched by love....

My friendly Curves lady called me today to say "HI" which I really know means, "You haven't been to our facility in 3 months and we're checking up on you!!!".  It is a good thing that there is no blog lady to call me... because I don't want that phone call.  So, here I am.  Good thing that I can blog buck naked (not really because I am too tired to get out of my lazy chair) from the comfort of my laptop... because there is no way that I am going to squeeze into exercise clothes and sneakers right now. 

I wish I could say that I feel more loving or more loved right now, but I am just not 100% sure that is true.  I giggled at a derogatory comment a while ago just because I was too tired to object to the person on the other end of my phone.... I've been so busy that I haven't taken any time for random acts of kindness.... I've made choices that served people less important than my family or myself, at the expense of my family and myself....I've had more moments than I wanted where I was abrupt, harsh, impatient or careless.

Awareness is, of itself, an important part of the process.

Then, on the other hand, maybe I do feel more loving and loved just by continuing my commitment to this journey, and reaching out to you out there in bloggerworld. 

As my son would say, "Aloha"... which I understand means hello and goodbye at the same time....
Hello fellow community of love gardeners....
Goodbye fatigue, apathy and feeling alone....

Aloha,
Emily

August 8

So today's thought is about love and gratitude.  I was away at a business conference in Montreal this past weekend and was reminded that love and gratitude seem to be inextricably linked for me.  It is easy for the flame of love to flicker and fade as the people and things that you love become routine, mundane, or all-too familiar... but gratitude wields the power to fan the flame of love and re-ignite passions that grew weak. My new challenge for myself? To think of 10 things that I am grateful for at the beginning and end of each day....

For tonight:
1. The income, choices, and freedom that my direct-selling business has afforded in my life.
2. My children who love and hug me everyday, no matter how I am feeling.
3. The love, faithfulness and support of my husband.
4. The comfort of my home.
5. The fullness of my cupboards.
6. The laughter I share with friends.
7. The beauty of the world.
8. The economic and political stability of my country.
9. My memories.
10. The courage that helps me to key in these words.
11. God who made it all possible and watches over me, waiting to bless me at every opportunity he can....

July 29

I haven't blogged in a while because I've been unplugged a lot lately... in many ways.  We bought a trailer a few weeks ago and have spent almost half our time since in it.... relaxing!! Who knew that relaxing was so important. I am a serious TYPE A get things done and live to my full potential sort of character, so rest and relaxation don't often rate high on my list of priorities... but I do value fun and family. 

Looking at my 5 and almost 4 year year old children recently made me realize that those priorities needed to jump up higher on my list of things to do, and so the trailer entered our lives.  I have honestly had the two happiest moments that I can recall in recently history in the past two weeks.... Once I was just lying in bed and felt overwhelmingly happy... and then today, reading a book with my feet up on the deck.  Who knew? Who knew that the secret key that might unlock more of my happiness and love potential rested in some simple R&R? Maybe you did, but I sure didn't.... A little work to do tonight, and then 4 more days of fun.  Simple bliss... and more love and hugs from my kids in the past two weeks too.... Time will always be priceless.

I've heard people talk about love languages, and I don't know what they technically are... but I am convinced that mine is time.  I consider the time that people give to me a gift... and if I am giving you my time, then you can be sure that I you are being loved by me. I hope that my family feels awash in love for the next few days...

Oh, and I read something today in an ice cream shop in Huntsville - "YOGS".... May it inspire you. 
"You cannot buy happiness, but you can buy ice cream, and that is almost the same thing."

July 11

I am crazy tired tonight and really should be going to bed... love for my sleep has never seemed to take precedence over my love of a challenge LOL!!

I spent a few precious hours with my sister last night talking about this exciting topic of living love and reviewing some pretty cool inspirational figures on YouTube... who knew what a wealth of inspiration is on there?!?!? 

The Rob Bell clip that I posted the other day was one that we checked out, and I actually found that I got more out of it when I could just listen to him and not watch the visuals... anyway, what a powerful concept that every life and every moment is meaningful.  Can you imagine if each of us just spent even 10% more of our time living meaningful love in our lives??? Can you imagine what a different place the world will be.  To be honest, I am working on about 1% more love each day to start..

Anyway, my mind just keeps wandering back to the idea of simple things... simple things that we can do to show love to others.

Sadly, I grew up experiencing a religious environment where many people focussed their energy and attention on gaining rewards and favour with God in the afterlife in heaven... The belief, for some, seemed to be that we are really all just unworthy sinners putting in time here on earth until we can one day earn the favour of God, and be rewarded for our faithfulness (by which I really think I just mean going to church every week).... with life of paradise with Him in Heaven when we die.

Some 20 years later, I have now come to a very different belief about heaven and what happens when we die.... and at the end of the day, I no longer believe that living is all about what happens when we die.  I think that if we live love every day, here in the heaven that is God's Kingdom on earth, then our afterlife with him just takes care of itself. 

I have come to such a strong conviction that this is heaven right here, right now, in this moment, sitting right here on my couch typing these words with my family sleeping upstairs and my neighbours in their beds in their homes around me...THIS IS HEAVEN... right here. Right now. All around me.

I believe that I can create heaven all around me by choosing to live love today.  Or I can choose to create hell by choosing a life that is absent of love.  I am going to say that one more time, because I think a lot of people might have expected me to say that hell is created when we choose the opposite of love, and some people might think that is hate.  I will have to reflect more on what I think the opposite of love is, but right now - I see it as a simple absence - a void - a vacancy.  It could also be hate, or malice or cruelty... but far too often, I see hell created here on earth by sheer apathy, lack of concern, ignorance or absence of love.  I see starving people and neglected children, and sick people without hope... and most of the people around them turning a blind eye. Where those people sit alone, without love, there is hell. Of course I believe that God loves those people, and he will bring them comfort where they will seek it, but I also believe that he intended the rest of us to be his hands and feet and to bring his love to the neighbours we share our lives with.

My husband and I have been fortunate to share a contented marriage.  Of course we've had our ups and downs, but at the end, I believe that our strength has come from the conviction that we will always be OK as long as we are taking care of one another.  As long as we continue to live love towards one another.  And sometimes, that is a deliberate choice....

Do I live love? Who do I take care of? Who is taking care of me? Do we mostly take care of ourselves and our own little family? Who is in our family's circle of love and care?

These are questions I find myself asking... and in the busyness of my life, I fear that my circle of care has shrunk over time.  I would like to expand it.  To whom much is given, much is expected... and that only seems right.

July 10 - something to share

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wjXYlwvS5LY&feature=related

Found this and loved it!

July 10

Wow "Cookin" you have given me some things to think about.  It is easy to forget how privileged we are here in Canada, and to honestly reflect on how little I have given to others, compared to what I have.

Someone else recently commented to me how rare selflessness is. 

Tonight I am just tired to be honest, and these deep thoughts are hurting my brain!  Maybe I just resist them because I know that to really embrace them would force me to make some changes....

But, at the end of the day, that is what this journey is all about.

Keep posting!!

July 5

WOW! Today is July 5th already... time does fly... and I think that is the biggest challenge for me in remembering to live love.  Time just seems to go by so fast, and there is so much to do, it is easy sometimes to forget how small acts of love... and an attitude of love can make a big difference.  Like this morning, I was feeling rushed to get things moving, but my daughter was being really pokey about getting her hair combed up into ponytails... it would have been so easy to ram that brush through her hair and tug the ponytails up into place, and make her day start off wrong too... so glad I remembered to live love and took my time.  Already, I am noticing that living love is helping me to slow down, be more patient, and more caring towards others.  It is forcing me to step outside of my own head, my own inner world, and to think outside of myself. 

This past weekend we celebrated Canada Day by spending a weekend camping up at a small lake north of Huntsville.  It was lovely.  And it made me think of a whole new area of love that I had never really considered before... and that was love for my country... my nation... and on another level, for my environment.  I couldn't help but wonder, in our every increasing global culture, what will happen to patriotism and nationalism? While I firmly believe that globalization has some wonderful things to contribute to our daily lives.... It made me wonder... how do we make choices that demonstrate our love for our own communities, and also for others all around the world? How big can love grow??  Can we really learn to love the whole world?  I'm sure it starts by learning to love our neighbour next door.  Even when your neighbours have door mats that say "Go Away"....

Ideally, by creating a community that lives love, we will have a reaching impact around the world... cool!!  Think of the stone thrown into a pond and the ripples that spread to the outer edges of the water...I wonder what ripples this stone will create.

Living love one day at a time....

June 29th

WOW! I am so excited to learn this process is already having a positive influence on people.  The biggest effect for me so far, has been an inner sense of calm.  While I remain far from perfect, I have the strong sense of an inner focus that is guiding me in making my choices.  It is very cool!
I'm going to continue to embrace the quote that I shared the other day... I think there is so much to the idea of love not being blind, but seeing everything, and still choosing to see less than everything.  The idea of love and grace is not one that I have explored too much in the past. I believe that I have chosen, at times, to get too caught up in little negative things that really aren't important in the end.... someone once advised us not to "sweat the small stuff" right?? 

Day Three

I am thrilled to hear that some people have read my post and are excited about spreading the love!! Welcome to my first two followers:)

Since I launched this blog, I have to admit that the familiar enemies have change have been clinging to me... doubt and fear!! 
I'm suddenly afraid that I'll have nothing of value to write here... or that I won't have time... or that I'll fail to make any significant difference.... or.... or .... or.... why is it that I am so reluctant to be all that I can be??

Interesting...

I found a quote today that really caught my attention: Love is not blind - it sees more, not less. But because it sees more, it is willing to see less. ~Julins Gordon

What do you think of this? It made me stop dead in my tracks of trying to be perfect in this pursuit and just to move past fear and doubt... and to remember that love overcomes fear and doubt everytime. 

This reminded me that love is willing (perhaps can't help but) to look past imperfections and annoyances... so for today, I will have more patience and more concern for others... that is the focus for today:)

Day Two

I think that the best thing I can do today to be more loving is to go to bed now... It would be easy to stay up for another 2 hours trying to get everything done... but I suspect that sleep is a key ingredient for me:) Off to bed!!

Day One

So this is my first official day one, and was brave enough to come out of the closet and advertise my blog to friends on Facebook... thanks for visiting!

Today is Sunday...I woke up at home alone, since my husband and two kids were away overnight so I could have a girls night. 

Perhaps that will be one of my guiding principles in living love... to always make time for friends and to always make a bit of time just for myself to be alone and relax...because both seem to have made me feel like a more relaxed and loving person today.  The kids are relaxed and we have just had some fun playing a making crafts....  living in the moment and not worrying about what is coming ahead.  An easy day to start and a good one:)

A thought on friends... since I am blessed to have some wonderful ones.  I've often wondered what the best ways are to show love for friends? Time spent together, a listening ear, gifts, laughter shared over food, a decision not to criticize when it would be all too easy??  A little grace and a lot of forgiveness? And a good heaping portion of fun.... I think I prefer time and a good laugh together... that makes me feel loved. Oh yeah... and honesty... there is nothing like having special people in your life with whom you can be utterly honest.  Thanks friends!

To Start....

Hello:)

I'm not yet sure who will read this, and it is unfortunate to say that I have thought about writing a blog for many years now, but never did because I didn't know who would ever want to read it.  Today, however, I have decided to begin the blogging process just for me.  And, if my process helps you along the way, then I am grateful that I was brave enough to give this a try.

The reason for my blog? I want to live more love in my everyday life.  I want to learn more about what it is to love and to be loved, and to see how living love can change my world.  From learning to love myself more, to learning to love others, I just can't help but feel that if there was more love, the world would be a better place.

You might call this a spiritual journey, and I believe you would be right, since I believe that the greatest calling we have is to love. 

But it is also just a journey to learn how to be a better parent, a better spouse, a better friend, a better neighbour, a better self. 

I want to know... could I make a real difference in the lives of my husband and children if I could learn to respond to them in love, even when I am frustrated or angry?  Could I make more of a difference to my friends, my community? Could I finally overcome depression or lose those troublesome pounds if I could learn to treat myself with more love?

Don't get me wrong - there is a lot of love in my life right now, but somehow, I feel like I have been missing a "moral compass" of sorts at times.

Recently, two inspirations touched my life.  The first was an affirmation from the AuraStella jewellry catalogue, "I let my inner star guide me.  I am a shining example of love and light".  I loved this quote, and started to ask myself, do I really feel like that shining example of love and light? And the answer was simply that I believed I could do better.

And then this one, "Let no one ever come to you without leaving better and happier.
~Mother Teresa".  Read that one again. 

I am a grand-daughter, daughter, sister, wife, mother, aunt, cousin, friend, neighbour, business associate, team leader, employee.... you get it right? I am so many things to so many people, and at the end of the day, I am a leader.  I touch lives everyday.  I have the power to influence and to change the world.  AND SO DO YOU.  We all have that power. 

And so, it is with this understanding, and the firm conviction that this is why I am here on the planet, that I have decided to dedicate the next year of my life to living love. 

I'm scared that I won't be able to live up to the big task.
I'm not even sure how I should do it.
I'm nervous about what it might mean and how I might have to change.

But, I'm also convinced that it is not an option.  I am convinced that this is too important a mission to ignore.  If, for no other reason than to launch my children into a world of love, then, I cannot afford to fail. 

Would you like to live love with me?