Politics and Courage

"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." ~ Jack Layton (Letter to Canadians, August 20, 2011)

I am not a particularly political person. In fact, at times I am rather apolitical... or perhaps simply uninformed and a little disengaged from the bickering and bureaucracy that seems to plague so much of our political landscape. So I will admit that I was quite shocked at just how moved and saddened I was to learn of the death of Jack Layton.

I remember vividly watching the campaign and the force with which Jack Layton committed himself to the task before him. He showed unrelenting passion and commitment. And yet, there was a shadow... his hip, his cancer. But no one engaged with the shadow, for the light he shined was far more powerful. And the light won...

Then in June, he removed himself from the public eye... and in his final public appearance i felt a cold rush wash over me... i knew he gambled... he chose politics and he gave it all he had. He danced the dance and engaged without fear for what might be. He knew his calling and he stepped into the light.

Yet as he leaves us... not only from politics, but from this earth... I wonder if it is was all worth it. But how could it not be. One thing that cannot be taken from Jack Layton is his integrity... no matter what anyone might say about him, he lived and worked each day of his life with integrity and a strength of will second to none. He did this until his last breath. This is something to celebrate and to honour.

So let us hear his last words and truly embrace them into our hearts. For they are not the words of a politician running for office... they are the words of a man who believed in the future and fought for  his beliefs until his last breath bade him farewell. We truly can change the world... for we are the change itself. "Be the change you wish to see"... be the change!! Just be.

Nana comes to visit!!

We were blessed with a wonderful (though very brief) visit with Nana (Mallory, Mom) over the last ten days. It was wonderful to have her here and to share moments together. One of the greatest challenges of establishing a life abroad is the fact that we are often so far away from family. Yet it never ceases to amaze me how family can cut through the distance of time and space as if it never existed from the very first moment we are together again. Thank you for playing with us. We love you.

Isn't she lovely...

A snuggle with Nana

Celebrating Nana day... joint birthday celebrations with gifts for all!!!

Last day of vacation

Today the girls and I decided to celebrate the last day of Isabel's summer vacation with a little road trip. Our plan had been to go to the Children's Museum, but when we arrived it was closed... so we moved on to Maloka: a fabulous science museum. The girls and I had a fantastic time.

We spent an hour in the sensory room walking up a musical ladder with lights, creating our own gym, and making all sorts of science experiments (including 'witches boogers' and 'crazy bouncing balls'). Then we moved on to the electricity section and learned about mazes. We 'crash tested' cars. We spoke across the long hallway via an 'old fashioned' phone. We explored the inside of the brain. And then the highlight was definitely digging for dinosaur bones. The museum was completely empty as most activities only begin in the late afternoon... but one of the animators made an exception and opened up the dinosaur pit just for the girls. I did not get too many photos (as I only had my phone)... but the images make me smile so here they are. Most definitely a perfect way to wrap up our summer vacation where we go to enjoy so much beautiful time together as a family... even though Joshua was ridiculously busy, we had sunshine and the kids and I spent all our time out in the parks. Pure bliss.

isabel in the circle tree

Anaïs in the circle tree

reflections

crash test cars

inside the brain train

digging for dinosaur bones

In the rain forest

Sweet memories...

A dear friend of mine sent us a beautiful new hat for Anaïs (thanks wave kaia)!! As soon as Anaïs opened it she decided she would give her 'old' hat to Leo (thank goodness it's a white bunny hat so it can be passed along without too much sensation). And what followed was mama getting to enjoy a little photo shoot with two of my munchkins. I just love their smiles, their connection, and the way the 'pose'.

Leo trying on his new hat

Anaïs trying on her new hat

posing for the camera... love the way Ana is looking at her brother

a true 'pose' smile by Anaïs

Look of love between brother and sister

hey, that's my eye... Anaïs LOVES this photo!!

love my little bugs 

Ana is so patient with her little brother

lovin' it!!!

Seriously...  she is only 2!!

Healing Chai Tea

This is positively one of my favourite liquid escapes... a warm chai tea with steamed milk (of any variety) and a touch of maple syrup. Simply preparing it fills the entire home with a scent of warmth and goodness... like a delicious hug for the senses. It is a recipe that I acquired from a dear friend, true inspiration, and phenomenal ayurvedic nutritionist and yoga leader... Christine of Fearless Cooking and Shunnya Yoga Centre. Christine calls this drink "mental clarity and energy all in one cup."

Ingredients:
2 litres Water
15 Whole Cloves
20 Green Cardamom Pods (cracked slightly)
20 Black Peppercorns
3   Cinnamon Sticks
8   Slices Gingerroot (peeled; fresh ginger can be easily peeled with a  small spoon)
1/2 tsp Black Tea (or green tea or herbal, or your very own blend... as you prefer)
Splash of Milk, any variety


Instructions:
Bring water to a boil, add the cloves and continue boiling for one minute. Add cardamom, pepper, cinnamon, ginger and tea. Cover, and continue boiling for 20-30 minutes.  Strain.

Serve with steamed/frothed milk and sweeten with maple syrup, honey or agave (if desired... i usually drink it with a little steamed almond milk: delicious).

Each of the ingredients adds their own health benefits...
Black Tea provides antioxidants which are known to lower cholesterol levels and reduce blood pressure.
Cloves invigorate and help generate heat in the body, making them useful during cold and flu season.
Ginger strengthens and heals the digestive and respiratory systems, removes congestion, soothes sore throat, and relieves body aches.
Cinnamon acts as a stimulant to the other herbs and spices enabling them to work faster. It is also great for the bones.
Black pepper adds warmth to the body.
Cardamom stimulates the mind and gives clarity. It also acts as an antidote to caffeine.
Boiled Milk eases the assimilation of the herbs and prevents irritation of the colon and stomach.

When each of my babies were just born, I added star of anise (to ease their tummy's) and used chamomile flowers (instead of tea) to relax both me and my little angels. It's always fun to experiment and try to add new flavours... the aroma and the heat of this concoction is so soothing for my soul.

children are miraculous

I positively adore SARK (Susan Ariel Rainbow Kennedy). I am inspired by her creativity, her honesty, her ability to put her feelings on paper with so much charm, her willingness to dream... and she will always remind me of one of my dearest friends with whom I shared my initial love affair with her first books when we started reading them over a decade ago.

The other day, I received a special treat... a friend sent me a copy of this wonderful poem. It reminded me again of how very blessed I am to be with my children every single day. I am smitten by the colourful way in which this poem dances between the challenges and joy that parenting offers. It is, no doubt, hard work to raise a child and to 'really' love a child. Though I am most certain that every parent loves their child the best way they can... parenthood pushes us to experience ourselves as we truly are, and challenges us to grow into the people we most want to be... in the eyes of our children and in our own hearts. In this way, children really are miraculous. So often we think that we are here to teach them (as their parents, their teachers), and yet many of my most humbling and greatest learning moments have come from the lessons taught by my kids... as little as they are. Their ability to be present, their ability to engage with the world, their ability to play without boundaries... it is magic.

I think my favourite line (at this moment, for as time changes my thoughts may too) is about finding elephants... because Anaïs adores elephants, and because we always tell Isabel she has a memory like an elephant, and because the girls and i have a song about all the different animals and we all like the elephants. Makes me want to wake them both up right now and give each one a kiss. Perhaps a better plan is to join them in dreamland and look forward to hugs and giggles and sillies tomorrow.
Hmmmm... I also love the one about reading books out loud... with joy; and imagining yourself magic; and encouraging silly; and... well, i like it all... ha, ha!!! And so wanted to share it and place it somewhere to remind me in a simple, colourful way just how much magic there is in every single day. And when I forget and falter in my ways, I can come back here, regain perspective and always try again.

Copyright SARK 

Oooooo, we can even add a little melody to the words as we read them... singing always makes everything even brighter... at least in our house!!! I think that my girls (and boy) might grow up one day thinking that they grew up in a musical... and wondering why the rest of the world does not put a melody to everything they say and do?!? But hey, what would the world be without music? We certainly love to sing... and dance and play.

{Postscript (July 26th): Today I shared this SARK poem 'out loud' with Isabel. She giggled all the way through... and said her favourite lines are: "Encourage silly" and "Say yes as often as possible". She laughed out loud and shook her head at the thought of banging on pots and pans... perhaps a little too much noise for my little talker. And she insisted that kids are NOT small: "we are all big" she said.}

this moment...

{this moment} - A Friday ritual inspired by Soulemama. A single photo - no words - capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savour and remember.