Not much changes...

...It's amazing how not much changes among friends. I realize three things as I reflect on the past week spent with Amelie - not only a treasured friend but a sister.
1. You just pick up where you left off, even if 8 or 9 years have passed.
2. You not only see the best in one another, you bring it out!
3. You share your gifts with them and influence them in wonderful ways - as they influence you.

This week, Amelie shared some of her gifts with me...and I am so very grateful. I feel so much more energized and fulfilled because of her friendship and presence. It would have been a very different first week without Amelie here.

With a treasured friend visiting, taking time out of her very busy life with two small children and work to juggle, for an entire week - we had a chance to reconnect, to talk, to catch up, to listen, to go paddle boarding, to go running, to enjoy wonderful meals we made or out for sushi and to share a glass (or bottle!) of wine on more than one evening.

It was wonderful.

But Amelie's visit also did a few other things...It filled my spirit. Eased my feeling of "alone-ness" in this big new house. It rejuvenated me. Reassured me. Inspired me (to be more than I was when I woke up today). Calmed my fears. Reminded me of the strength and support and friendship available if and when I need. It gave me hope (in so many ways). And showed me just how much of an impact someone can have on another person.

I'm not sure how I influence her, but Amelie's always been an inspiration for me - years ago - and now. And I'll be forever grateful for her presence here this past week because she gave me such energy, hope and inspiration as I begin the second half of this year of intentional living and a new chapter of my life.

Mom, I look so forward to you coming to visit and for the time we'll spend together - out in the garden, sitting with a glass of wine overlooking the lake...or whatever we get up to.

I can hardly wait. Not much changes...among friends, sisters...and between mom's and daughters.
Miss you,
Love Crystal

My wish for you...

Mom,
Today I was working in Penticton, teaching my business program for Community Futures and as I was driving home, the song "My Wish" by Rascal Flatts came on the radio. It's a lovely song but I was distracted, thinking of all that I had to do after I got back to Kelowna...go to the gym for a training session, then stop at Staples and superstore for stuff for the hostel, then go to the hostel and spend some time there and then, when that's all done, go home, feed Scotia, put the huge pile of weeds that I picked into the bin for pick-up tomorrow and make something to eat, prepare for tomorrow and have a shower. (I left the house at 7am and got home just before 8:30pm. Now, this isn't much for some people, especially if they have kids...but it was a long day for me.)

As I was picking the weeds, hauling them up the stairs to the bin, the most gorgeous rainbow appeared and the sky turned a bright pink! It stopped me in my tracks and I had to sit on the cement (actually lay on it) and watch the sky in awe. It was overwhelming. Breathtaking, to say the least.

The song by Rascal Flatts came to mind...but I couldn't remember all the words. When I got inside, I googled the words or lyrics to the song.

Mom - without actually saying these words (the lyrics)...they describe exactly what you do...your wish...that you have for others.

Thank you for your wishes, Mom, for loving me, and for ensuring that I know that "somebody loves me".

It's my wish that everyone could have a mom like you.

I love you,
Crystal




"My Wish"

I hope that the days come easy and the moments pass slow,
And each road leads you where you want to go,
And if you're faced with a choice, and you have to choose,
I hope you choose the one that means the most to you.
And if one door opens to another door closed,
I hope you keep on walkin' till you find the window,
If it's cold outside, show the world the warmth of your smile,

But more than anything, more than anything,
My wish, for you, is that this life becomes all that you want it to,
Your dreams stay big, and your worries stay small,
You never need to carry more than you can hold,
And while you're out there getting where you're getting to,
I hope you know somebody loves you, and wants the same things too,
Yeah, this, is my wish.

I hope you never look back, but ya never forget,
All the ones who love you, in the place you left,
I hope you always forgive, and you never regret,
And you help somebody every chance you get,
Oh, you find God's grace, in every mistake,
And you always give more than you take.

But more than anything, yeah, and more than anything,
My wish, for you, is that this life becomes all that you want it to,
Your dreams stay big, and your worries stay small,
You never need to carry more than you can hold,
And while you're out there getting where you're getting to,
I hope you know somebody loves you, and wants the same things too,
Yeah, this, is my wish.

My wish, for you, is that this life becomes all that you want it to,
Your dreams stay big, and your worries stay small,
You never need to carry more than you can hold,
And while you're out there getting where you're getting to,
I hope you know somebody loves you, and wants the same things too,
Yeah, this, is my wish.

This is my wish
I hope you know somebody loves you
May all your dreams stay big

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q4JFBsmyiFc


PS: this is for you.

When you change the way you look at things...

"When you change the way you look at things, the things you look at change."
Wayne Dyer

Hi Mom,
I've (almost) always loved outdoor work...from raking leaves and cutting the grass at home when we were young...to working for the City, cutting grass at the cemetery for 3 summer's,(while going to university). I love being outside and working hard.

...but this...THIS is a little more than I bargained for!
Today I spent about 2 and a half hours in the yard, pulling weeds, watering, picking cherries, assessing, shaking my head at the never ending yard, confused as to what is a weed/flower/or who knows what...and LOVING every moment!
I think I've figured out one way to decide if it's a weed or flower....When you pull it out, if it has a bulb and not a root...it's probably supposed to be there! However, some weeds look quite pretty...and I might move them to the 'flower' category for keeping!

Today was an extraordinary day! A completely intentional day!
- I woke up early to go to the old house to cut the grass and work on the yard for the showing today. No offers yet...but my fingers are crossed!
- Then I went to the hostel, taking the 2 staff (that were working) latte's and mocha's!
- After that I got ready for work (tomorrow) and then got lost in the jungle!

Over 2 hours later, when it started raining and my feet were black from the dirt and I was about to be drenched, I came around the front of the house and Gwen called from her deck, "God says it's time to get out of the garden!"

I do love yard work...but I never knew that time would stand still today and I never expected to enjoy it like I have!

Thank you Mom...for being an example that outdoor work, yard work, picking raspberries/saskatoons/weeds is an experience not to be missed! I actually do remember not liking yard work years and years ago - when we first started helping you in the garden...and you taught me that picking weeds was needed - if you want to have fresh zucchini, peas, carrots and other things in your garden.

I needed to change how I looked at picking weeds....and then things changed!

Now...if you don't mind, can you PPPPPPPUUULLLLLLLEEEEAAAAASSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSEEEEE get out here b/c I can't tell the difference btwn a weed and a flower! I NEED YOU!!! ;)
Love Crystal

Footprints on my heart.

Some people come into our lives and quickly go. Some stay for a while, leave footprints on our hearts, and we are never, ever the same. ~Flavia Weedn

Mom,
Thank you so much for leaving footprints all over my heart, for ensuring that I am never, ever the same (in some ways...always growing and evolving, but yet, completely the same in other ways...in my values and essence of who I am). Mom, thank you so much for validating me - making me feel so "bright", like the glowing moon or shining sun, each and every time we talk or connect. I can't tell you how much I appreciate you and your footprints on my heart, at this moment.

It means everything to me.

What you teach me today, as I reflect on your wit and wisdom in living intentionally, is that it's so very simple (even though it's not always easy) to leave footprints on someone's heart...
I just have to...
1. create space and an environment in my life to spend with friends and loved ones.
2. be 100% present. Fully engaged. Ears open.
3. validate the "essence" of the people around me - see them for who they truly are and who they could be.

My friend Melanie calls it "showing up fully".

It's that simple.

Two night's ago, a friend called me to say "Look at the moon! Look at the moon! I wanted to call you to make sure you could see the moon over the water." .

Now, there's someone who validates me...someone who knows what my spirit is all about. Someone who knows what makes me tick. That's someone who leaves footprints on people's hearts. Much like you do, Mom. Much like my friends do.

Amelie and I were having a glass of wine and visiting at the time. It was a moment I'll remeber forever, symbolic of the fact that the special people in our lives are those people that truly do validate the essence of who we are and show up fully.

This moment was a "God Wink", a sign from the universe and a clear indication from the angels, cheering from the sidelines in my life.

Mom, your footprints are everywhere, on my heart, on your other kids hearts, on your grand-kids hearts, on your friends hearts...and we are never, ever the same!
I love you!
Crystal

Go with all your heart.

Amelie took this photo when we were downtown the other day. It's a great message for me today to follow my heart...and be true to it.

Some things can look sooooo good on paper. But that's not enough. It just may not fit as good as it looked from afar. Something that looks good "on paper" is like looking at a pair of jeans in a store and buying them - thinking that they'll fit perfectly. I'm not sure about anyone else, but buying jeans is a lengthy process for me, trying on a dozen pair before I find one that fits just right.

As I swap my blue jeans for shorts, skirts and dresses, with summer's arrival, I'll remember that things that look good on paper rarely fit as well as I hope...largely because my heart isn't involved in the equation.

Following my heart, where ever it may lead...can only take me in the right direction. On all levels.

I can hardly wait to see where we're going! this is going to be an amazing summer!!
Mom - you'll be the first to know.
For the record - I'm not going anywhere right now! Except to the garden! Look what we found there yesterday!

Have a great time at the beach!!
Love crystal

Something to write home about...

"We are born with all the wisdom, playfulness, and imagination we need; we just sometimes need help and reminders to return to our senses and get out of our own way." Mark Lesser

Good morning Mom!
Here is the sunrise this morning at 5:00am. I am so excited to sit down with you and your blog. Now that I have internet hooked up at the house, I'll be on line easily. It's been a funny week, taking my computer with me to try to squeeze a few minutes on-line where ever I can...or walking over to Gwen's front drive-way at 6:00am to try to log on to her wireless.

I've missed this time. This peaceful, thought-filled, introspective time to reflect on life and all that you've taught me. The past 6 months have been such an incredible journey of returning to my senses and developing ways to live a little more intentionally...and get out of my own way just by thinking of you and all your wisdom that you've taught or shown me (and our family).

Mom, this started out to be a gift for you...one that I was never going to tell you about until this year was over and I made a book of all these posts - to give to you in 6 months from now - on your birthday. I'm so very glad I told you about it several months ago, although I have to admit, I was really afraid to do so, b/c I feared that maybe you wouldn't like it, or you thought I was silly, or who knows what...
As I've written before, the gift really is in the giving. I really never knew the magnitude of this committment or the results that would happen...

There are so many small and large things that have happened in the last 6 months, caused by or greatly influenced by writing your blog. The BIG things are obvious, for starters,...I don't know that I'd have taken the leap to buy the new house if I had not been committed to living more intentionally the past 6 months. And my work...I don't know that I'd be as focused or clear on my purpose without the 200 hours of writing to you. (I probably write or think about what I'm going to write - for an hour each day - (what can I say - I'm a bit slow) - and that addus up to about 4 or 5 weeks of full-time work over the past 6 months. I never expected that the time would be as much as it has been...and I certainly never expected the benefits to be as great as they are...

Then there's a million small (but really - not small at all) things that seem to be happening...a drama-free life for the most part, less stress, more clarity, fewer distractions (although many still exist), more tiny steps taken towards what truly makes me happy and brings me joy...

It's really so simple. In order to have something to write about every day - as in - apply to my own life what I've learned from you - I actually have to live it. And even though I'm sooo not perfect, I can honestly say that the past 6 months have led me to live so much more intentionally, as you do...and THAT is something to write home about!

It's now 7am and the sun is beaming in the windows. I just baked some gluten-free brownies that I added a bunch of nuts, seeds, cranberries and stuff to (makes it a healthy treat instead of a sinfully-delicious one)...and I'm going to tune the guitars. (This could take a while!) Then...I'm going to actually get to work before Amelie wakes up and we get out on those paddle boards! She leaves on Saturday. I am eternally grateful for her presence and influence in my life. Years ago, perhaps I influenced her...as she managed the hostels and found her path. I see how things come full circle...and how she has influenced me now...from teaching me to compost...to how easy it is to make the most healthy, great meals (she's an amazing cook) just by chopping a bit of garlic, onion and green bits...and adding it to just about anything.

Thank you Mom! For everything!
Love Crystal

Non-stop Joy.

It's time...time to sit down! Stop! Rest! Relax!

I don't think we've sat down for 4 days straight!
We've been packing, moving, unpacking, going to yoga, bootcamp, paddle boarding, running, shopping, working, laughing, talking, catching up, reminiscing, working a bit more and taking time to enjoy life in every way this past week!

It's been non-stop! Non-stop joy, to say the least.





...and to be able to pick up a friendship where you left off from years and years ago leaves me speechless and so filled to the brim with appreciation.

More to come in the morning....I'm exhausted!
Sweet dreams!!
Love you, Mom,
crystal

Being "present"....

Mom,
SORRY I've been absolutely AWOL!
It's been a BIG week...moving, great friends...and simply being "present".
I will write more tonight!!
Love you,
Miss you,
And really wish you were here!!
Love Crystal

Do you think I'm a mushroom?

Mom,

I'd like to say that funny phrase you shared with me when we were chatting a while back..., "What...do you think I'm a mushroom...you think you can just feed me manure and keep me in the dark?"

I'm sure everyone has a perfect opportunity where they could say this to someone. While I'd never say it, it does come to mind!

(well...lets be honest, it's never good to say "never"),

I love your sense of humour Mom. Thank you for teaching me to have one, too.
Love you,
Crystal

PS Living intentionally right now, I find myself surrounded by people that love me; focusing on health, fitness and eating well; as well as de-cluttering, simplifying and being efficient as I move to the new house.

I am so grateful for my life. It's not always easy, but every day I get to choose ...and I am choosing the hest I can.

I Get To Choose so many things...

Life is a choice.
Love is a choice.
Friendship is a choice.
Health is a choice.
Connection is a choice.
Lifestyle is a choice.
What we eat is a choice.
How I feel is a choice.
Gratitude is a choice.
Fulfillment is a choice.
Listenting to my inner voice is a choice.
Listening to my inner calling is a choice.
Happiness is a choice.
Joy is a choice.
Peace is a choice.
What I focus on is a choice.
Forgiveness is a choice.
Hope is a choice.
Faith is a choice.
The future is a choice.

The value of friendship...

The value of friendship:
Friends...
Love you for who you are.
Bring out the best in you.
Believe in you, especially when you don’t.
See the potential in you.
Show you possibilities.
Listen.
Share.
Challenge you.
Laugh with you.
Tell you the truth.
Make your life better, easier and more simplified.
Give without expectation.
Help when you need them – and do whatever it takes.
Celebrate with you.
Share in your passions.
Stretch you to become what you could be.
Enable you to see the bigger picture.
Encourage you to follow your heart.
Defend you and protect you.
Call out your spirit.
Love you altruistically and unconditionally.
Let you do the ugly cry...for as long as you need to (but not a moment longer than that).
Inspire joy.
Lighten the load.
Show you the humour in most every situation.
Aren’t afraid to get messy with you.
Hold a positive vision for you.
Pick up where you left off, as if it were yesterday, even if years have gone by...

Mom – this is the kind of friend you are – to your friends, family, children, grand-children and strangers, alike. Thank you for teaching me the value of friendship.

I wish you were here. Instead of you with the drill, Amelie’s got it and is putting up hammock chairs on the lower deck.

We also picked 19 (yes – nineteen!) 4-leaf clovers from the front yard. It seems that 4-leaf clovers find me everywhere I go. Yesterday when I was cutting the grass, I left the clover patch and just cut around it. Nineteen clovers- to share with friends...one leaf for hope, one leaf for love, one leaf for health and one leaf for wealth.

Gwen, Amelie and I all went for a run yesterday in the heat. Gwen was ahead of us but it was great to be out on the trail together. And lastnight, Mel, Amelie and I had a picnic of sushi and wine in Peachland...with ice cream for dessert.



Over the past few days, I am so aware of the value of friendship – surrounded by so many wonderful friends that I can hardly express how lucky I feel... finding almost 20 four-leaf clovers is just a fraction of just how lucky I am, in this moment and always.

Love you,
Crystal

Magic happens...

Tiny steps...in the right direction...every day...and then magic happens.

Good morning Mom,
Where did the time go? It’s been 6 months (today!) that I’ve been writing your blog. The time has gone by so fast...and yet...not fast at all in other ways. Thank you, Mom, for the past 6 months. It’s been such a gift for me, to write to you and create this gift for you...and to think about all the wisdom you’ve shared in my lifetime and to try and apply what I’ve learned from you in my life, to live more intentionally every day.

Mom, thank you for being an example, the greatest of examples, of how life should and could be lived...if we live a little more intentionally every day.

It’s poetic (an understatement) that on this morning, this glorious morning, I am sitting in my new house, looking out at the most gorgeous sunrise ever! I slept in the new house for the first time, last night, with Scotia and Amelie (who arrived yesterday to stay for a week).

Lastnight, Gwen, Amelie and I celebrated the new house by doing “zumba” (like aerobics but think “Latin American” style). We need the “beginner” dvd, to get the steps...although tiny steps every day could get us to shake parts of our bodies like they do on the video in no time! (Well..we’ll see about that.)

Then, we made a salad and baked salmon for dinner and ate in the sunroom (since it is where the only furniture is – a table and few chairs and it has the best view). It was a wonderful evening! Surrounded by sisters (real and soul-sisters). I only wish that you and your other daughters were here too. ...not only to celebrate but to help pick weeds! Haha! The yard is a jungle!

Mom, seriously, I hope you know how much I appreciate what I’ve learned from you...and today, what I feel is the blessing of learning, from you, what taking tiny steps, in the right direction (for me),and doing so often, can bring to life.
I truly believe, as we talked about yesterday, that there are angels everywhere. I think some sort of “power” much greater than my own has guided me to this place and will continue to guide me, if I choose to listen, to where ever the future will go.

Tiny steps forward...in the right direction...every day.

This morning, I realize, so clearly, that all we have to do is have that dream, whatever it is. We don’t have to know how to reach it. We don’t have to know the steps to take. We just have to put it out there. Think it. feel it. Say it. Let it go. And then some how, some way, without my full understanding, magic happens. And if we take any steps forward...in the direction of those dreams...and do this often...one day you wake up, and realize that, that particular dream just turned from a dream into real life. .

This house, while just a house and low on the list of what’s really important in life – compared to family, friends, friendship, health, faith, and love – feels like a haven. A sanctuary. Paradise. A blessed place to “”be”, to dream...and then let those dreams go...to float out on the water and come to life.

Thank you Mom.
I love you more than words could ever express.
Crystal
PS: This was the view lastnight as a double-rainbow crossed the sky!

Patience...patience...

Patience...patience...
"Dear God, please help them fix the plane so I can get home to Kelowna tonight."
Mom, it's now midnight and I should be home, crawling into my bed beside my purring cat, but I'm here in Seattle...waiting...waiting....for the plane to get fixed.
Not impressed.
Not smiling.
Not patient anymore.
Totally tired from being up since 5:00am this morning.
Not much I can do excpet make the best of it...which is what you would do.
I'll think on how to do that...
Love Crystal
PS: This is where I would like to be right now.

Soy Lista

Mi hermana esta soy lista! (My sister is VERY SMART!) ...which is why we're joking around and I'm pointing to her head.
Kate was teaching us spanish after her 7 hour class yesterday. We had an awesome last night's dinner together. Everyone is just incredible!
All of them. Each of them. In their own way.
They are all "soy lista" in their own special way and I'm so glad to be here with Kate and all the grand kids. What an incredible trip!

The next time we are together will be Christmas and we're already talking about all the fun things we're going to do then! Karaoke, salsa dancing and more!

Everyone has said that they don't want to leave...which is a wonderful indication of just how great a week it really was.

Today...Vamanos a'la ching gara! (Spanish slang...for..."Lets get the F&^% out of here!" It became a ritual. when it was time to leave - anywhere, I'd say "Vamanos ala ching gara!" And then Kate would say, "SSShhhhhhhh!"

Love you, Mom.
You are so very soy lista, too...in so many ways that I cannot even begin to express! You and all that you have given all of us was part of the topic of conversation last night and we are all so grateful for you.

I'll call you tomorrow morning!
Love Crystal

Hidden talents...

I think we all have so many amazing "hidden" talents. How fabulous to have these talents...but so sad that we keep them hidden!

It's time to let those hiddent talents out!

Mom, you would have loved to see your family singing tonight, belting it out, having so much fun! Taylor sang with Jose (the owner/pianist). Can she ever sing!!! Mark played the piano a bit and was awesome. Hayley also got in there and danced/sang a little. The rest of us had a great time, too, singing our hearts out together.




We decided, upon walking back to the hotel in the rain, that we're going to incorporate a little music into our Chritmas this year. I think it was April that mentioned getting a Karaoke machine...and we talked about bringing some music/lyrics to some great songs that everyone can sing to.


We'll see...we've got over 6 months to practise. :)
It could be good!! Perhaps there, we'll all share some more of our hidden talents!!
Love you, Mom.

It's our last day today in Guatemala! Kate is off to espanol esquella this morning. 7 hours of spanish every day for a week! Wow!! Everyone else is still sleeping but will be checking out the market today and packing up as we leave by 7:15am tomorrow for the ride to the city and to catch the flight at 11:00am.
We won't be late!
Love you,
Crystal

To be content...

Only two days left in this amazing country, where smiles are contageous and the food is real. Real beans, real huevos (eggs), lots of hot peppers and more tortillas than I can count. Not to mention the culture, music, colorful clothing and such happiness and joy than one can possibly comprehend. And the fact that they are so content with so little and so grateful...for anything...is remarkable!!

We left our runners (muddy, dirty, smelly and beyond recognition) at the village (b/c no one would dare take them home in their suitcase - they are so stinky and dirty). I got an email from Paige today that said, "By the time I got back to the village after seeing you off at the boat, the group had all taken a pair of your shoes and begun cleaning them up to keep for themselves."

Mom - this is something you would do. You rarely take anything for granted, save and reuse constantly and are so content with what you have.

Mom, that made my breath stop and feel most embarassed. We discard so much and these people see such value where we take so much for granted. They are so content with what they have, don't seem to want for more yet are grateful when they do receive something, and then they value it and take so much care where we take so much for granted.

I think the trip has been amazing - in so many ways - and for me, at least, it's been a reminder to not take so much for granted and to be content with what I have. I have so very much! We all do!

Here are your grand-kids - extraordinary in their own way - as we stopped at some ruins and then went out lastnight for dinner in Antigua.

We are all grateful, in different ways, for what we've learned here this week. And simply being together has been something we have not taken for granted for a moment.
love Crystal

It's hard to have a title for this post...












Mom,
What can you say after looking at these photos? They tell a great story of what being a "family" is all about. Not just our own immediate family but a community that welcomed us into THEIR family. We worked together, ate together, laughed together and played together.
There is something so humbling and loving in being invited, welcomed, and treated like a part of "the family". Now I know what others feel like as you invite them to be a part of our family. There really are no words to describe it.

As we leave tomorrow for Antigua, it is clear that "a little hard work (or dirt) never hurt anyone" (as you would say), and also that it's amazing what can be accomplished by working "together".

The group is all out tonight having dinner and taking a salsa dance lesson. Mandy and I stayed back to chill out and relax.
Everyone is so very happy!
Love you,
Crystal
PS We'll call you from Antigua tomorrow afternoon/night.