On blog about enduring the pandemic: This is perhaps the end of the beginning Churchill

The end of the beginning

This is reality: The days are getting shorter The weather is getting colder The numbers of COVID-19 are rising No vaccine is yet available More people are hospitalized and dying Our American cousins continue to be extremely divisive, rely on “alternate facts” and have a contentious election looming–which we have no voice in, but will …

The darkness isn’t always something to be feared…sometimes, it is a cozy place to connect. On blog about safe haven in the cozy darkness on So low down is up date

You will be found

It doesn’t get any darker than this!! There’s an odd relief in knowing it is only brighter from here. Today is my annual “So Low that Down is Up” day…December 21, the day of the longest night. Tomorrow, December 22, is gonna be a wee bit brighter. Today is my favourite day of the year…for …

A collage of 3 pictures highlighting the jersey 11.

Dear Son: Number 11

Dear Son, I remember hearing the thrill in your voice when you called me weeks ago: “Mom, coach told me I’m wearing number 11 this year!!” Number 11–the heart of the team. A well loved player whose legacy was valued and cherished is remembered by number 11. Now it is your job to honour him …

one of the definitive moments in my life was realizing that most of us are brave and afraid in the exact same moment all day long. Brené Brown quote on picture of a woman on an adventure platform. On blog about feeling big and different feelings: nevertheless

Nevertheless…you got this

I posted a picture last week, the day before school started on Facebook: I wanted to encourage the students, the teachers, and everyone else that was and is starting something new and exciting and terrifying and wonderful and nervewracking. Hal Anderson read it and got choked up.  It touched on the part of him that …

The magic of street hockey

“Mommy, I think I need to play some street hockey.” When my littlest Junior Tribe Member was a little tyke, he was plagued with frequent, raging ear infections.  His temperature spiked high, his ears hurt bad and he was sick. We would come back from the doctor’s, prescription in hand.  The antibiotics hadn’t yet kicked …

Putting my Brave on

I’m a total self-professed TED and TEDx geek…I love all things TED(x). Talking at TEDxWinnipeg was a dream come true when I didn’t even have that as a realistic dream. That made the TEDx talk that I did this week completely and ridiculously intimidating for me, considering that I speak regularly at all sorts of events. …

Sweet Sixteen

She would have been sixteen today. I have her birthday marked on our calendar. We mark the occasion every year. Not with a birthday cake though. With white daisies. Janna Hope was only 3 weeks old when the abnormalities of her little heart were too much for her little body to bear. In the years …