Sailing, Sailing, Over the Rideau Canal

Today we are going on a boat cruise from Ottawa to Merrickville. It should be quite lovely. Michael commented that you only do the local things when you have guests. I think that's true.

To be on the water, allowing someone else to operate the boat you have to trust. I guess we have to do that with so much in our life. Trust. Trust that the people we are with are the right people for that moment at that place because if they weren't we wouldn't be together.

Life is letting go. Trusting and floating through life as spirit expressing. It doesn't have to be difficult and isn't so much when I remember to stay in the flow of spirit.

Pic.. One my brother took in Newfoundland.

Turning your "I Ams" on

Something struck me this morning as I was sharing with my brother Michael about not sleeping last night. I heard myself say, "It's hard for me to sleep". This sounds like a statement of what is. My question for myself was, "Is that the way I want it to be"? The answer is NO.

Since what happened... the not sleeping... was in the past... it should be referenced as such so it does not sound like a condition that is permanent. So it becomes, "It's been hard for me to sleep". Can you hear the difference?

Let's turn our I Am nots into I Ams. I will now affirm, "I am a good sleeper". "I sleep easily and effortlessly". I will let go of what has been, let it stay in the past and turn "I am not a good... whatever.."  to I Am....... (fill in with a positive statement of what you desire to be".

There is no time and space so we are not fooling ourselves. I speak it as Truth NOW!

Pic.. From my brother's computer.. a pic he took in Arizona... peaceful.. like a good night's sleep.

Weddings Are For Everybody

I have performed hundreds of weddings like the one I did last night. Two people making a serious committment to one another with hope in their eyes and love in their hearts. But the ceremony isn't just for the couple. It's for every person there.

Sometimes I'll tell the gathered guests that are in a relationship, to hear the words about love as a reminder of committments they've made to each other. Together for awhile we all float in a sea of love. Our hearts are opened as the words wash over us and as we witness our couple's love before us.

And the wedding is also for the couple's parents. This day is a day of hopes fulfilled not only for the couple but for their parents. They have imagined, like I did, what their daughter's or son's wedding day would be like. Who would she or he marry? A wedding day is a day of dreams come true.

The comment I write in the guest book or on the picture frame provided is always the same. "May you feel the love you feel today, everyday of your married life".

Pic..Many stand up and say "I Do". But the ones who continue to stand together once the bloom is off the flower are the ones who stay together for eternity.

Habitat Provides Home

I was honoured yesterday to bless the newest Habitat for Humanity home and the beautiful mom and son whose home it now is. Kerri and Brendon were overjoyed to accept the keys to this accessible home. They currently live in a two story town house where she has to carry him up and down the stairs daily.

I am in awe of those who raise special needs children. The daily care must be exhausting and the financial burden of the cost of medicines must feel defeating. Kerri commented that when Brendon turned 14 the government no longer paid for his medicines. I don't understand that. Why isn't his medicine covered by our Ontario Health Plan? For July his care costs have been approximately $2400.

She not only received a house which soon will be a home but a cleaning company gave her one year's free cleaning services!!  That brought a huge smile to her face. There are so many people doing good things. Thanks Habit for Humanity for your dedication and commitment to making dreams come true for those like Kerri, who had lost hope for a better life.

Pic.. Kerri and Brendon yesterday.

Habitat for Humanity

Today I am honoured to bless the new Habitat for Humanity home in London and the family for whom it has been built. There will be local politicians, suppliers that provided goods, volunteers who provided their time and talents.

I will bring bread that the home may never know hunger and salt that the family and all who enter may know the full flavour of life. How exciting for this family to have their very own home. It surely is something that so many people can take for granted....owing their own home. Bob and I are living in the third home we've ever owned. This is this family's first. And it would not have been possible without the dream of Millard Fuller the founder of Habitat for Humanity.

I heard him speak at a convention and he was so inspiring. I wanted to go and build houses! And our church did get involved in one build.. one day. And now I have this honour. I feel blessed.
Pic.. This family has their own front doors to open up their world in ways they never knew possible until Habit for Humanity.

Walk in The Park

This morning we got up early and drove to Springbank Park for our walk. It took an hour to walk the loop around Storybook and back. It's very different than walking in the neighbourhood and very pleasant. It's sad to see the Storybook animals, or most of them, gone.

One thing I notice is whether people respond to my "hello" or not. Some do and others are in their own world and oblivious to those around them. That's okay, I know I just need to do what feels right for me. Sometimes Bob will say I don't have to say hello to everyone. But really, it feels right to me. Walking past a fellow human, in close proximity, it just feels like the right thing to do.

Funny though I don't do the same thing when I am walking downtown. Maybe because there may be more people or maybe because we aren't having the same experience? Walkers are walkers. We know we both got up early to get to the park and enjoy nature. Downtown people are there for varied reasons and we may not be having a shared experience I guess.

Well, do you say hello to people you pass on the street? Downtown and in your neighborhood? Share your experience.

Pic.. Looks like an interesting place to walk.

Pedestals are Shaky

I read that the statue of Joe Paterno was taken down. He was the winningest coach in college football history and it appears he lost his perspective when it came to doing the right thing for the boys he found out were being abused.

The Catholic church, Penn State, Orphanages, the abuse that is put upon our children seems to know no bounds. The "holy" and the "heroed" are guilty.

We all have the responsibility to stop any abuse we see or hear. There was a time when I did not know that. When I was a teen living in Toronto in an apartment building, almost daily I would hear our neighbour scream at her little boy. She would say the most terrible things like how he was the reason her life was so bad. It brings tears to me to remember this now.

I don't know why we didn't call someone. Did we think it wasn't our business? Did we think it could make it worse for him? I do know that they disappeared all of a sudden. Had someone made the call we didn't make?

It is all of our responsibilities to be sensitive enough to notice abuse and then to do something about it.

Pic.. When it seems to be getting darker and darker, remember a new day will dawn.