January Journal Challenge:

 

Seemed easy enough. I do love a great numbered list. I wrote out the first four in my journal and then life got nuts, and I never went back. (Although, I think the idea is to CREATIVELY make these list, artistically, using fancy felt pens and and scrapbooking supplies and whatnot.)

Maybe I should try now? To catch up? I am typically not a quitter...

1. Three things I want to start:

•  I want to start changing my mindset. Embrace the new year, new opportunities, new situations, new beginnings. (I usually don't love "new". I'm happy with 'same-old'.)
• I need to start looking after myself better. (My new hip didn't fix my mobility issues; so I need to adjust my expectations and add physio (and other boring things) to my routines.
• I'm looking forward to starting a new habit of writing in my new 5 Year Diary every night before I fall asleep. 

2. Five habits I want to build:

• Become a better flosser.
• Stretching. Daily.
• Putting dishes in the dishwasher instead of the sink.
• Go outside/breathe fresh air EVERY DAY, even in the winter.
• Listen to music more often.

3. Three lessons from 2025:

• Life is hard.
• Bodies wear out.
• Relationships are fragile.

4. Four things that help me reset:

• A counselling session
• Time with my mentor
• Dinner/coffee with support group/friends
• Journaling/List making

5. Three small goals for this month:

• Figure out how to use blood pressure machine
• Put pink baubles on Christmas tree so it looks Valentine-sy
• Inspired by the books The Correspondent and Theo of Golden, write/send one card/letter in the mail every week.

6. Five things that energize me:

• Hanging out with creative people doing creative things
• Spending time with my kids
• Sunny/non-rainy days
• Inspiring conversations about possibilities
• Talking about business/marketing/ with people who're excited about their jobs

7. Three routines I enjoy:

• Monthly pedicures
• Book club nights
• Saturday evening church services

8. Four things I want more of:

• Time spent with my fam
• Summer days
• Self-discipline
• Savings/Money

9. Three things I want less of:

• Belly fat
• Arthritic joints
• Anxious thoughts about my future

10. Five ways I can care for myself:

• Eat more protein
• Eat less sugar
• Lift weights
• Sleep more
• Say nice words to myself

11. Three things I'm hopeful about:

• Spring always follows winter
• God has a plan. It's a good one.
• By the end of the year, I'll have two daughters in law.

12. Four things I'm proud of starting:

• This blog post
• I made 31 entries in my new 5 year journal. (Plus 7 more since I started this blog post.)
• I started a colour coded, post-it note, To Do wall to organize myself for February
• I started filling up a box for Thrift. Hoping to clean out two closets this week ... 

13. Three fears I'm naming:

• Poverty
• Obesity
• Old Age

14. Five things that feel possible:

• Living with less
• Adding Bingo and Trivia nights to my life
• Answered prayers
• Getting back to work
• Reading 40 books this year

15. Three intentions for my time:

I don't know what this means so I'm skipping it. 

16. Four comfort routines:

• bubble baths
• napping with a heat pack on my back while wrapped in a blanket on my couch
• slippers after walking around in boots
• sleeping in a cold room with a down-filled duvet

17. Three first steps I can take:

• Make an appointment
• Write a letter
• Ask for help

18. Five things that help me feel grounded:

• I'm losing interest in this journaling project
• I was planning on doing it all year, but now I'm not sure I'll make it through January's prompts.
• Things that help me feel grounded? Life. Everyday life is very grounding. 

19. Three gentle promises to myself:

• Yeah, I may be done. All this navel gazing is boring.
• A gentle promise to myself? That I won't beat myself up if I don't finish everything I start.
• And, conversely, I promise to pick up where I left off, if I quit something that I really should complete. 

20. Four things I want to nurture:

• Oy, had to look up the meaning of nurture.  "care for and encourage the growth or development of."
• So, I want to (OBVSIOUSLY) nurture the relationships I have with my kids.
• And, of course, nurture my relationship with Jesus. 
• And, nurture the other important relationships in my life.
• And, I want to encourage the growth and development of me. I want to be working towards a better version of me. 

21. Three things that feel new:

• Well. My hip feels new. BECAUSE IT IS. 
• My family feels new. The addition of two new daughter-in-laws, changes the dynamics of my lil fam ... everything feels different.
• This season of my life IS new. I've not navigated these waters before. So many unknowns.

22. Five daily anchors:

• This feels like that question of Five Things That Keep Me Grounded. Being grounded is the same as being anchored, yes? Things that keep one from floating or drifting away?
• Didn't like this question when it was asked on Day 18. Don't like it now. 
• Pass.
• Next question?

23. Three things I want to learn:

• Fancy (fake) modern calligraphy/lettering.
• How to access my Cloud.
• How to be proficient on my new laptop.
• How to use my phone now that it's been updated.
• How to use Google Docs.
• How to make delicious soups. 
• How to love unlovable people.
• How to budget so I don't worry about my finances.
• How to fall asleep quickly, at a normal hour.
• How to not dread washing my hair.
• How to say no to things that aren't good for me. I'm looking at you, sugar. 
• How to trust God.
• How to be disciplined.
• How to think positively.
• How to laugh more.
• How to recognize the blessings.
• How to celebrate the little wins in meaningful ways besides having cupcakes.
• How to be a contender when playing games.
• How to not freak out when I see big spiders or little mice.
• How to ... oh my goodness. I really liked this prompt.

That's it for now. 

I'll pick this up again, maybe, in February. 

Three things I'm thankful for:

1. Thoughts. Words. Challenges. Memories. Ideas. 

2. Miracles. Answered prayer. A God who listens. Hope.

3. As always, (this will never change), sunny days. 

Thanks for popping by,

xo

Happy New Year

Typically, the beginning of January is when I reset. I make lists. Plans. Set goals. Fill in those little calendar boxes. Start a new journal. Assess the previous year and feel shitty about not accomplishing much. I've been known to establish a 101 Things To Do in 1,001 Days online list during January. 

But not this year. 

No siree bob. 

I adjusted my 173 year tradition because of this tweet:

And this Instagram post:

And this Facebook post:

Don't underestimate the power of social media. Everyone is an influencer.

It felt almost biblical... this suggestion that winter is for rest. A season of NOT starting new things. A season (or at least a month) of Sabbath, so to speak. 

So, in response, I didn't make any plans and then expended a bunch of energy trying not to feel guilty about it.  It's a dance, isn't it? Choosing to do this, but your mind leaning toward doing that. And so on. 

ANYWAY, January.

Unexpectedly I was spending time driving friends and family to hospitals (Children's and Royal Columbian), to airports, to appointments. I was delivering soup, hosting overnight guests, participating in emotional meetings, all while fitting in physio/traction sessions, RMT, and doctor appointments in the midst of the unrest in Minnesota which was weighing heavy on me. The shooting of Renee Good rendered me useless the day it happened. 

It also rained every single day during those two weeks.  

The undisputed highlight of those early days in 2026 was the evening my girls arranged for the three of us to have pedi's and dinner together. An absolute Oasis during a chaotic chapter in all our lives. I love having daughters.

The low point of the month was exactly one week later.

Kids and I were on a little getaway, when I got a message from Shelly (my friend) about her nephew, Mark, (my kids' friend, aka Marky):

We hadn't heard. 

We were devastated. Marky? Heart attack? 33 years old, fit, energetic, little bit goofy, father of 4, Marky? In a coma?

The ache for his mom and dad (Karen and Mike) hit me like a tsunami. They'd lost a son already; Kevin had died in a motorcycle accident a few years ago. I could not imagine the pain, the fear, the avalanche of emotions they must be experiencing. I couldn't stop crying. It was just too much. 

Throughout the day, we received updates that were heart-breaking; specialists (cardiologists, neurologists) were ordering and interpreting tests ... and the results were not encouraging. At one point, after 48 hours of being in a medically induced coma,  Shelly texted again:

My lil family grieved. Each of us in our own way processed the unbearable news and mourned Marky. He was one of our 'summer friends'. 

The Hepfam and the Ofam are neighbours at Cultus; and all our memories of those golden years of the '90's and 00's ... include Marky, his older siblings, his cousins, our cousins and other residents of our little corner of Lindell Beach. Kick-the-can at twilight, sleepovers on long weekends, walks to Pat's to get treats and fart bombs, building castles/floats for the regatta parades, hangs 'n wrestles on the dock, trampoline talks ...

Marky and Drewbs were the youngest but were included in all the shenanigans; age meant nothing to the Lindell Beach Gang. By the time they were pre-teens, Lindell Beach was their kingdom. They roamed and ruled and the streets with joy and adventure. 

This was just not right. Unfair. Hard. Horrific. 

My kids had arranged for us to go out for a special dinner that evening we got the news, to watch what was expected to be a stunning sunset. While we sat on rooftop patio, in awe of the colours, tenderly attending to our hearts, Shelly forwarded a text from Mike:

He will be glorified with or without a miracle?

WHAT?

What kind of faith is THAT?!

Mike's message gutted me, humbled me, and changed the focus from us and what we would be losing, to God. 

On His THRONE. 

With Jesus beside Him, making all things right. 

I can't even.

No seriously. This is Mike's (and I'm assuming, Karen's) response to the possibility that they might lose another son? They will praise Him, with or without a miracle?

Man. 

I knew in that moment, reading Mike's text, that I needed an attitude adjustment towards just about every hardship I've encountered recently. 

(It's been a couple weeks, and his text/his faith/his testimony during that dark hour, still haunts/inspires me. May that be my first response when things go sideways ... "But even if... yet will I praise Him.")

That text turned my thoughts from The Now to The Eternal. And if it was God's decision was to have Marky move on to heaven, it was a good and perfect plan that we would come to understand some day. 

And if God is good, then His timing is good. And we can grab hold of peace because "we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him..." (and we know Marky loved God.)

We continued to received difficult updates about Mark's prognosis including the final definitive one; an MRI indicated his brain had been oxygen starved for too long. There was no hope. So friends, families, strangers, churches, groups, in every time zone around the world, started to pray. 

But God. 

Did a miracle. 

Mark will be going home, to his wife and four kids, whole, healed and healthy, this week. And those of us who were grieving are now rejoicing and giving God all the glory. 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

January: Emotional whiplash instead of stillness and rest. Totally worth it. Miracles are just the best. 

(For those of you on LinkedIn, Mike has posted updates and details of their journey to his page.)

Three things I'm thankful for;

1. SO, so grateful that we just happened to be together, all in the same place, on a lil vacation, when we got the news. I can't imagine being alone in my condo, hearing the news, and grieving by myself, with my kids each in their homes doing the same. It was a blessing (and a tare occurrence) that we were with each other. 

2. Obviously, I'm even more thankful that Mark is still with us, thrilled that God is still in the business of doing miracles.

3. Happy that we're moving on to February, with it's longer days, warmer afternoons and Valentine's chocolates.

Thanks for dropping by, xo

1. 

Advent 21

 Right. 

Let's get back at 'er. 

Of my three choices, I've decided to answer, "what made you laugh this year?"

I feel a little bit like the judges for the Oscars, the only movies you/they/I remember well enough to vote for are the ones that were released at the end of the year.  The Academy Award Winning movies are typically the ones that come out at Christmas. 

So when thinking about something or someone that made me laugh this year, all I can remember is the thing that happened recently. Did I laugh before that? Maybe? Does anyone remember me laughing at any point between January and November? 

ANYways, I laughed. 

It was the beginning of the month, and I was thinking about Christmas presents. I usually give a small token gift for everyone in my book club because affection. And book club is life giving and my favorite night of the month. We had gone on a Used Bookstore Crawl in Chilliwack, in July and I asked the owner of Nuggets to take a photo of us inbetween the bookshelves across from the til. 

I had taken a selfie of us (an ussie) in front of The Bookman, but my head is too big (I was in the foreground) so I asked him to take a pic where I wouldn't be the star. (See what I mean?)

So, for Christmas, I was had reprints of the Nuggets photo printed and I put them in frames, one for each of us. 

And THAT'S when I remembered that Marj wasn't able to join us. So the photo is incomplete. 

Not willing to abort a good idea, I wondered if I could get a designer-friend to photoshop Marj in, assuming I could find a suitable photo of her somewhere. 

I checked her Facebook page, and THANK GOODNESS that woman likes to load her pages with family photos because I was presented with a gold mine of incredible options. 

And, then, because I usually start projects at midnight, and don't go sleep til everything has been executed according to the vision I have in my head, I wondered if I could somehow add Marj, myself. Without needing to wake anyone up. 

Thanks to an Instagram Stories feature involving stickers, I FIGURED IT OUT. And as I stuck stickers of Marj into the bookstore ussie, I laughed. A serious, belly laugh. Complete with tears. I just couldn't stop. 

I sent them to London Drugs at, like, 3 am, to get printed and couldn't wait to pick them up to see if they turned out. And then it felt like an eternity til we had our December gathering on the 18th. I was so excited to share the fun.

Thank goodness Marj is The Absolute Queen of Riotous Laughter, and loved the photos as much as I enjoyed making them:

(Maybe you had to be there?)

Three things I'm thankful for:

1. Today is Winter Solstice. Longest night of the year. The schlep to get here has been arduous and heavy and slow. It felt like the worst case of PMS. But today it ends and the light returns. 

I celebrated by joining Val (and her daughter and two granddaughters) and Karm (and her daughter and two granddaughters) and Edith (with her daughter and two granddaughters) (and Lois and Bruce) at the Christmas Hymn Sing at Clearbrook Church: 

All the grand girls are between 7 and 11 years old. They scared me.  There was a reason I was praying for a son each time I was pregnant. (hahaha.) (But seriously.) (Girls have hair. And nails. And sparkly accessories.) (And feelings.) (And say many, many words that I don't understand.)

2. I am thankful that I am still a work in progress. When I liken myself to a painted rock...(don't we all?) I am aware of the phases a rock goes through ... it starts with being chosen, washed and painted a base colour. 

Then layers of colours are dotted on, starting with white, one colour at a time, each layer looking only slightly better than the one before. 

The final touches are the Top Dots and they pull the whole thing together... 

I don't think I'm being Top Dotted yet, as He seems to still be adding new colours to His project. ("He" is God. And I'm His project in this scenario.) (Please try to keep up. I am in a spiritualizing everything phase.)

Above ^  : Chosen, washed, base coated black, first set of white dots added.

 

Above ^: Five layers of colours, then top dotted. All done. 

Above ^ : Half way through the colour layers.

Above ^: Final colours dotted on, then gold top dots added 

Maybe I'm being too metaphorical with rock dotting? Hahaha. All I'm saying is, I don't think the golden final touches have been added yet. 

3. Lastly, I am thankful for people who're all in, this advent season. Like, they are full of joy. And it just spills over like a boiling pot. 

 I mentioned an Instagram account on my Advent 2 post: I was thankful for THIS Instagram account. His sisters gave him 24 Advent gifts with instructions to hand them out/give them away every day. I'm totally invested in this project. For example, the Day 2 gift was supposed to be given to a Becca in Buxton. He had to go to Buxton (he lives in London, and ask around if anyone knew a Becka). Day 4 was for Charlie in Cardiology. He called around to hospitals to see if there was a Charles, Charlie or Charlotte who worked in the cardiology department. 

ANYWAY, so fun. 

And the other day, (Day 19) he had a present for a "Sam in Swiss Cottage". This whole thing is taking place in London, BUT the SAM in Swiss Cottage was a Canadian! From Langley! Who works at CLA church! 

I am totally trying to think of a similar scheme to put together for next year. 

If you're on Instagram and you wanna follow a young New York family who decorates their front stairs (it's called a stoop in the States) then this is wild: Stoop and the City. 

Lastly. (I know, I said lastly already, but this really is lastly.) I am thankful for writers who don't give up. Virginia Evans had been writing novels for 20 years and none of them had been published. And then, during Covid, she wrote one more book, the type of story that she likes to read. She wrote it in a dark, cramped, hallway closet between her hanging clothes and storage items, every morning from 4:30 - 7:00 am before she got her kids up for school and had to leave for work herself. Took her 6 months. 

This is that book. And it's my favorite of the year. It's also the one we read for book club in December, so there's my Academy Awards theory back in play. I can't remember what I read in January. Maybe it was better? But I don't think so. This one was just so very lovely. I recommend it. So do Marj, Kim, Sandra, Sheri, Sue and Laurel. 

Thanks for stopping by,

xo

Advent 12

 Let's just pick up where I left off. Those missed days are NBD.

(No big deal.)

To be honest, I'm finding these journal-type prompt questions uninspiring. (My dream December destination? or, My heart is filled with love when I think about ...) Blechk. 

But you know what I DO find inspiring? Conversation with friends who bubble with enthusiasm when they talk about something/anything with passion. 

Recently I was out for dinner with M. When I asked her what she's been up to lately, she started to glow when she told me she had just finished doing her favorite Christmas activity. "It's that Gift Giving Opportunity at London Drugs. The one where you take a name tag off their Christmas tree, and buy some of the items on their wish list. It's always for a senior, living in a care home. Someone who doesn't have family and receives no gifts. 

Every year I look forward to choosing a name. This year, I looked at a few name tag options, but when I saw the one for Alice, who is 85 and blind; I KNEW she was my gal. She asked for some sugar-free candy, and a sweater or tshirt in size medium.

I spent the afternoon choosing a number of high quality, super soft, beautiful coordinating sweaters and shirts for her, not able to decide which ones to give her. And, seeing I'm diabetic, I know the best low/no sugar treats out there. I was so excited to get a good assortment for her. 

When I got home, I asked B (husband) which clothing items he thought we should wrap, and he said, Give her everything. They're all so perfect."

RIGHT?!?

She was grinning and buzzing. 

I love it when I get to see the natural high people get when they've done something (outrageously) (anonymously) generous. Also (wildly) personal. And (totally) perfect. 

I don't think I've ever thought twice about that London Drugs Giving Tree. Or buying gifts for seniors. 

I just loved everything about her story. 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

After writing out that ^, I opened Facebook to grab a photo, and this was the first story on my feed:

We want to HELP if we can.

my name is Sam, my fiancé is Tori. we are life long locals, Chilliwack/langley and we feel an overwhelming sadness, and calling to help in any way we can.

we have 1 extra vehicle, we can lend. we have 2 dogs 2 rabbits, and we are able to house more if needed. we aren't able to provide any hospitality to livestock bigger than a goat but we would try if we could

if you need a place to stay we have a spare room. im a HD mechanic, with years of fab experience, i have access to any peice of hd equipment or lift you may need and tori is a commercial scuba diver. I also dive but I don't think there's anything we can help with under water. we both know boats so if yours is floating we could save it and keep it at our place in the driveway. our cars can be parked on the street. we are in a very safe neighborhood in north Vancouver.

neither of us knows what we can offer but we are both professionals who deal with water every day either above or below. if we can help you, we want to.

we are praying for you all and if there is anything we can do please ask. if you know someone who needs help please share. and if you can help and we get overwhelmed, I will forward them to you.

you aren't alone and tori and I want you to know that. please reach out even for the littlest thing.

I don't know this young couple, but whoa. People are amazing. 

(For anyone reading this blog post in the future, or from a part of the world that is unaware of our current situation, an atmospheric river dumped ten billion gazillion litres of rain water on us and the resulting floods have put parts of Hwy #1 (and surrounding low lands) under water. More rain is forecasted in the coming days. We. Are. Wet. )

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Three Things I'm Thankful For:

1. Inspiring meals this week with incredible friends. (On Tuesday I was with a friend who is writing a series of stories based on the Women of the Bible for a study with a group of older ladies (in their 80's and 90's). She read us the stories she'd written about Elizabeth (John the Baptist's mom) and Mary (Jesus' mom). OY. She made their lives real and honest and alive and relatable. 

2. I am so thankful for Canuck Place's Children's Hospice. (Karyn's niece is getting exceptional care, and her family is getting much-needed support during these difficult days. If you could contribute towards Karyn's goal of raising $150, you can do so here. )

3. I am thankful for machines that see deep inside us. And I'm thankful for smart people who know how to interpret those images. 

Thanks for dropping by,

xo