Author Archives: Melissa

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💤💤💤💤 nap time 💤💤💤

In my Ayurvedic course we had a discussion about kids with ADD and how sometimes being chronically sleep deprived presents the same symptoms   

We discussed how kids will sometimes use electronics to stmulate their brains to stay awake when they naturally would want to fall asleep. I agreed with this theory but kind of out it out of my mind   

This morning I woke up at 5   I got up , had breakfast and some tea, and sat in my chair reading for a while. I soon discovered that I was exhausted and that no one wanted or need anything from me in that particular moment. I headed back up to bed for the most delicious nap. 

Usually in Ayurveda they say not to nap during the day, but there are certain circumstances where it is recommended and right now I fit quite a few of them. There has been so much going on that I’m physically and mentally exhausted. 

So I slept. And it was awesome. And when I woke again two hours later (giggle) I felt ready to take on the world. 

I realized when I woke up that had we had a tv here I probably would have plunked in front of it and not napped when I obviously really needed to. I can see how it adds to sleep deprivation. 

It was the beginning of the happiness moment of my day. It actually set me up for my happiness moment which happened tonight while walking with the kids and the dogs 

      

It also kind of happened earlier today at Target with Jacob. Man, he’s a funny kid  

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Icicle

I have to admit, when I woke up this morning and looked out and saw there was still snow on the ground I rolled over and moaned “nooooo, it’s Apirl 7. Snow? Still?” I am a summer person.

But Jenna, Jenna came running to me later in the morning when we were getting ready to go over to my parents’ place and said “mommy, you need to come out back so I can show you the icicles.”

She was so excited, I grumbled my way around the back of the house, and sure enough, there on the roof of the mud room were a row of wonderful icicles hanging.

She grabbed one and ran off with it.

She sucked on that icicle the whole time I showered and got ready, kept it in the car with her the entire way into town and finally announced at the door of her grandma’s house that she was done with it and threw it on the lawn (it was a much, much smaller version by that time).

Her finding joy in the weather, appreciating the sun and the icicles and the beautiful morning was my moment of happiness today.

Except that before all of that,

This

Happened:

I had been sitting having my morning cup of tea watching the Golden Girls when I was joined by Jacob shortly followed by Jenna. They sat and giggled and watched the episode with me and when it was over I went to turn of my iPad and move on with the morning. Both of them informed me that they weren’t done watching and wanted to see the next episode. Fun family bonding time – also a heart warming happiness moment.

We needed them because there were some unpleasant moments today too. I am so grateful that I have the intention to focus on and find a happiness moment in every day.

I am completely humbled by the grace and bravery of my dad. I learn so much about how to be a quietly strong person from him.

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And the card attached would say, thank you for being a friend 

A rather poor picture of a very delicious strawberry cheesecake made by my aunt  

When I was a teenager one of my favourite downtime activities was sitting with my sister and watching an episode of The Golden Girls. I loved sharing a half hour with Rose, Blanche, Sophia and Dorothy.

Last Christmas I bought season one on iTunes and watched it on our trip from Roanoke to Calgary. When we found ourselves moving back to Calgary a couple of weeks ago I downloaded the second season. Living in a house with no television, no wifi, and none of our books; these girls have entertained me during my quiet times.

What I have found interesting is that I still love them just as much 25 years later.  I’m discovering that a lot of the jokes went over my head as a teen. But considering that I’m now in my 40s (gasp) and still younger than those girls I’m impressed with the age range they appeal to. I don’t ever remember thinking it was an old people’s show as a teen and I don’t feel that way now.

Today after lunch I sat down with a small piece of the cheesecake my aunt made for Easter supper last night and turned my iPad onto The Golden Girls. It wasn’t long before 10 year old Jenna grabbed a piece of cake and sat down beside me and started watching along.

Sitting watching The Golden Girls and eating cheesecake with my daughter. My happiness moment for today.

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Easter Sunday

This was our Easter morning view. A little snowy but beautiful all the same. To me Easter is a Vancouver Island thing with flowers and the ocean and walking logs by the beach on the way into Sidney for lunch. 

But Easter here is pretty amazing too.   

  

 We saw this on the way home from church. Pretty majestic.  

Happiness moment of the day was a family meal at my cousin’s place   I so love those times. Lots of love and laughter. I was extra heart warmed that part of the blessing included gratitude that we have come home. 

What a blessed Easter   

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Freedom dog 

 My little Dotted Dog has some issues. She’s socially challenged and a little neurotic   This is why we get along so well. I understand those issues well. 

She has a history of chasing cars and being unsociable with dogs. It’s not that she’s aggressive, but since she has no social skills (and thinks she’s a human ) she’s run into some difficulties. More so typically with owners. 

This mornng she met my cousin’s dog, Star, who is 7 months old and full of energy. I was a little worried about how it would go. But Star came running at her like Dottie was the most amazing being in the world and Dottie decided to just pretend she wasn’t there. Eventually they ended up settling into an ok kind of walk with Star bouncing and Dottie with her cloak of invisibility. 

Out on the walk, Dottie saw what may have been her first gopher. I never saw it to be sure but there certainly was something of interest there. 

    

But the biggest deal of all was that as soon as we got back in the yard I let her off her leash. Because of the car chasing and general neurosis she’s always on a leash. But now she has more freedom. 

 

My moment of happiness. Freedom. 

This made me think how true this is for all of us. Dottie is not the only one to have freedom. Jacob got to walk to Tim Hortons with friends. Today the kids walked the mall by themselves. Freedoms they never had before.

 There is a huge amount of freedom that comes with the feeling of security and belonging.  

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A generational cake

When I was a kid grandma used to make what us cousins called Grandma’s special cake. To us it was a recipe unique to grandma and we always looked forward to the times when she would make it. Always for brandings, usually for community events, sometimes just for us to enjoy.

You can imagine my horror when I moved to Québec and there was a bakery there that sold Grandma’s special cake. The horror grew when my cousin’s husband was delighted because it was his aunt’s special cake.

Yesterday my cousin texted me to remind me that she’d made a dessert for my parents and I’d forgotten to pick it up at school. She finished with I have three words for you

Grandmas

Special

Cake

Well. I didn’t have to be reminded again.

Last night my mom and I split the cake. They kept some and we took some. Today at lunch Jenna and I dove into it. As I was eating I thought about the generations who have enjoyed this cake. We were sitting in the house my great grandparents built eating it, my parents were in the house my grandparents built and my mom grew up in eating it. 5 generations of family sharing love from that cake and the memories attached to it. Because not only is it yum yummy, but every bite has a fun childhood memory attached to it.

As I was getting ready to put it away I saw another cousin walking down from the barn after a ride. I went out and shared the last piece of our cake with her. The delight on her face was totally worth it. Cake love. Family cake. My happiness moment for the day.

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Holy Cow!

When I was a little girl my grandpa used to take me around the ranch in his truck. I have fond memories of bouncing through the fields chattering away with him – laughing, singing, whistling. My mom says I thought that damngate was what all gates were called because of these rides. As fun as it was (and it was very fun), I also remember him warning me often and severely about how dangerous the cows were. I was little – like 5 or maybe 6 – and the regular cows were big, but the chianina’s they had were gigantic. The fear was real. I was terrified.

Sadly my grandpa died when I was 7, but I have tons of great memories of doing things with him (lucky me). However, one thing he didn’t do was reprogram me from my fear of cows. Still when I’m out walking and there’s a rogue cow on the road I’ll turn around and hustle myself back home as fast as I can. Even if they’re on the other side of the fence and they look at me funny I get a little giggly in the legs.

I have been lucky enough to have been invited out to “help” (and I use that term very loosely) chase cows on horseback which I enjoy. But, last summer my cousin invited me to “help” chase bulls and I have to say I was more than a little terrified. All was fine while I was just left to meander along through the field looking for flowers. But as soon as I was told to go get a bull and bring it back into the herd I was a total puddle of fear (after following the bull around for a while with him glaring at me and me pleading him to please stop being such a butt and just go back I was saved by one of the ranch hands who so easily brought him back).

Today I was out walking Dottie along the road. It’s calving season so the cows are up in the homestead field which is right beside where we walk. Across from this field is the slough where the swans are hanging out on a break from migrating north for the summer. I was stopped on the road to admire the swans when I felt Dottie push in between my legs and start to shake. I looked down and my little Dotted Dog was all puffed out like a porcupine. All of her hair on her body was standing straight up and she was shaking all over. I looked where she was looking and…. cows!!! Dottie saw her first cow and just about had a cow herself.

Finally she got a little braver and went across the road (on her leash) with just her hackles up to get a better look at them. Stopped, stared, ran back behind my legs. She did this a couple of times and then just ran/walked/glared at the cows until we were past the field

Fear of cows. It’s a real thing.

The swans were amazing this morning. Such beautiful birds. On my way back I was admiring them when a bald eagle flew over my head and up into the homestead field. Bliss. My moment of happiness today – swans, eagle, cows, and my dotted dog.

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Happy Dottie

this is what the happiest dog in the world looks like

   

I don’t think her tail stopped wagging the entire walk.  She’s as happy to be here as I am to have her. 

Even though she would never admit it , Ella is happy too. She is helping me blog right now

  

So happy they are safely here after such a long flight. Almost 2,000 miles they travelled yesterday. So grateful for all the love and kindness of my husband who worked so hard getting them here 💗💗. 

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The new kids….. Again

today was the kids’ first day at their new school. After a lifetime of coming back to Calgary to visit, today they started their new lives of actually living in Calgary. Which meant once again being the new kid. 

I don’t know who was more nervous – them or me. I had a really good feeling in my gut about this school. I was just hoping my gut was going to be right. 

We got up early and were sitting at the table having breakfast when suddenly Jacob started yelling the mountains are purple!!!!! So we rushed outside to look. We ended up staying out and taking the first day of school pictures 

This is from our yard. 

  

Here are the kids in front of the barn my grandpa built

  

It certainly was a glorious morning. 

 

After much anxiety I left the kids in very capable hands at the school. How lovely it was to be greeted by one of my sister’s oldest friends and then my cousin. New kids but not strangers. 

I picked them up after school and both of them were smiling an excitedly telling me how wonderful their day was. They both made friends   They both had fun. Jacob was ecstatic because they dissected a cow eyeball. He said that’s the best first day ever!!! Seeing the joy in their souls was my happiness moment for the da

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