soul care

this is the blog entry that started out as a personal journal entry but throughout writing it it transformed into a blog post.

Here I am sitting at the Dwight Beach dock. 

listening to the wind rustling the harvest stalks decorating the shelter, 

the waves lapping the rocks and the dock, 

feeling the wind brushing my cheek and the sun kissing my face.

What a gorgeous autumn day.

Big fluffy clouds in a bright blue sky, 

bright colored leaves adorning the trees in the distance, 

and quiet...

peace.

Even the people i have encountered both at Ragged Falls
and now here at the beach are not loud and chatty cathies.

they are whispering and silent as they take in the beauty that is Muskoka/Algonquin in the fall.

maybe there's a sadness on their hearts, 

perhaps hope and joy.

maybe they are in an invisible pain, 

or their bodies aren't what they used to be.

perhaps they have reached a time in life that they are good - life is good.

maybe there are stresses they have never shared.

i pray that in the silent moment as they take in the beauty, 

the solitude of nature...

i pray that they will hear the whisper of the Creator

"i love you, precious one."

i know that is what i heard as i took it all in.

Gertie and Norbert 

Norbert is my new iphone 6

came with me on this adventure.

i walked barefoot 

(should have left my birks in the van)

along the Ragged Falls trail and loved the feeling of the mud squishing through my toes.

the best feeling ever.

This was not a planned adventure.

When i got up this morning i was just going to get ready for family coming to visit this weekend.

but as the kids and i waited for the bus i had this pull to grab Gertie and Norbert, 

get into Meatlug 

(the van)

and go somewhere to be surrounded by the creation that refreshes my soul.

so i did it.

i didn't have a destination until i let myself drive past my beloved Limberlost trails.

Sometimes our souls need a time of refreshing, 

so that the Lord can speak to us.

it is so important to take those times 

- when possible - 

i will admit a little something.

i skipped my ladies Bible study to do this.

i needed this time with me, God and the beauty He has blessed us with.

Take time this Thanksgiving weekend to refresh your soul.

Let God speak to you.

this can be a crazy weekend and for some it's a time of stress, 

others sadness, 

and other's laughter.

At some point take some time by yourself.

sit, 

walk, 

run, 

hike, 

lie down,

skip,

cuddle a sleeping baby

and thank God that He loves you and calls you precious.

Thank you Lord.

How precious to me are your thoughts, God!
how vast is the sum of them!

Psalm 139:17

photos taken by me with Gertie and Norbert

Lois and Eunice, thank you for your example.

There was this man named Paul.

He wrote a bunch of letters to people he loved.

two of those letters were to this young man named Tim.

Paul had taught Tim many things, Tim was like a son to him.

Paul had instructed, and demonstrated what it meant to be a follower of this Jesus called Christ.

Many people have read these letters to Tim,

and have so much respect and admiration for the man that Paul was as he instilled the truths to all those he wrote to.

Today as i was reading such a letter i was brought to a portion of it that i have read many times.

many. times.

Paul came alongside this young man,

but there were two that were teaching Tim and instructing him from his infancy.

it was their faith and love of the Scriptures that helped bring this young man to be the man he was.

Paul wrote about the faith that lived in Tim's grandmother,

her name was Lois,

and mother,

whose name was Eunice.

They taught him from a babe about the Scriptures,

so that as he grew he was able to recognize that this Jesus was exactly who He said he was and was able to come to a saving faith.

Eunice and Lois.

their roles were so key in this young man's life and Paul recognized this.

He says to Tim:

"I am reminded of your sincere faith,

which first lived in your grandmother Lois and in your mother Eunice and,

i am persuaded,

now lives in you also."

both those women had a sincere faith.

sincere: free from pretence or deceit

they had a faith that was real.

with a capital R

they didn't put on a false front,

but it was true and who they were.

through this faith they raised young Tim,

from his first days,

in the Scriptures and by demonstrating a life of faith.

i pray that my faith may be sincere, and true.

i pray that as i raise my kids they will see a genuine love for the Scriptures and for the Lord and it may continue on in their lives.

Thanks Paul for recognizing the love and faith of these two women and the impact they had on this young man who you were a mentor to.

'because you know those from who you have learned it'

when you're instructing and teaching your children,

or anyone for that matter,

does your life demonstrate that you believe what you're teaching?

can your little ones trust what they're taught because they know from who they have learned it?

they see our daily lives...

are you teaching them what you yourself believe?

just a thought.

Limberlost #2: the snag

**see part 1 here**

March.

it was nearing the end.

training was going well.

the boy was still positive he wanted to run Limberlost.

so i sat down one afternoon to register him and i.

my husband didn't know yet which race he'd be running.

I registered myself for The 2017 Limberlost Challenge 14km...

I went to register the boy...

'You need to be 12 to register for this event.'

i stared at the screen on my computer and felt my gut drop.

12?

i had checked everywhere on the site for a minimum age.

i hadn't seen one.

but i might have missed it.

with all the info that a site like that needs i may have missed it.

my boy looked at my computer screen and asked what that meant.

i had to tell him that he is too young.

you see my boy is 9.

He will be 10 in August, but that's still too young.

i did actually see tears in his eyes.

i understand age limits,

that's why i looked.

it's quite a distance for someone of his age to run,

and it's a safety and health concern if they have a course full of kids thinking they can run 14km,

and not being able to run it.

i understand completely.

but i told him i would just ask and see if there was a possibility.

i wrote to the coordinator and told him our situation.

i asked if there was any chance he could register,
but i completely understood if he couldn't.

rules are there for a reason.

i then went to talk to the boy.

i told him to keep training.

we'd hear back and no matter what..

if he could race, great.

if he couldn't, we'd go run the trail anyway at a different day.

he was good with that.

so we waited.

he continued to train with his dad.

not crazy distances yet.

his longest is currently 4km on a road.

he was quite tired, but i ran it the next day and was worse off than him.

we have a one km trail we
(i say we, but is was the boy and his dad)
made out back.

when they first made it last summer i referred to it as:
 the whole 14km Limberlost hills compacted into 1km.

it's tough.

quite steep and quite technical.

i find it exhausting.

and the snow and ice on it doesn't make it any easier.

it is a great training trail.

i received an email in response

the email was copied to the men who would make the final decision for the boy.
and there was an apology for not finding the age requirement,
as the website had just been revamped..
it did look amazing by the way.

but, we waited.

My excitement for his dream, and my race partner, was dwindling.

my fears that we were pushing him, were growing.

that he would not be able to do it and would be discouraged.

he is only 9.

should i have encouraged him?

i love watching him run, he is so happy to be doing it... but could he run 14km?

i know that trail...

the uphills drain the soul out of you...

ok, not really, but i wanted to make you know how i really feel about them.

i don't like waiting, 

but i did like that if he wasn't allowed to run it, it was from others, not me.

and if he was allowed, i'd sign him up.

i spent a lot of prayer about him and his dream ever since his training has begun.

i want him to be able to push past the frustration, and discouragement, and even some pain that comes with training for a long distance, without pushing his 9 year old body too far.

my husband and i had agreed to wait for the decision.
if it was yes, we'd sign him up, 

and encourage him.

but for now...

2km trail run time.

...to be continued

Small Group Bible Study

i have been in some sort of small group Bible study for many years now.

i was in one when i was College age.

i lead one after i got married and i was helping with the youth at our church.

i was in one with the young adults.

i was in one when our young adults group split and we moved in for Dan to lead the study at another group.

after we led the study the leader of the group left and we stayed.

our current small group is the same group that has been remade... 

people have left, people have come, but the core group of us have stayed.

we get together every two weeks.

we have switched nights, times and, when the study requires it, we have gone to every week.

it took me a while to feel comfortable to open up to the group - especially when new people arrive.  

our group is a mixture of:

 those who were raised in the protestant church.

those who were raised in the Catholic church but received Christ as their savior and now live out the Protestant faith.

those who were raised in no church and accepted Christ into their lives as adults.

those who have seen many struggles and survived them from their own persistance and determination.

those who have seen many struggles but have stayed true to their Saviour 

- amidst questioning but drawing close to Him - 

those who have walked away from the Christian Faith, only to make the decision to do an about face and come running back to Him.

those who have stayed close to God through their young life to question Him for a time as an adult.

those who are raising the first generation, in their family, in the church.

those who are raising the second+ generation in the church and in faith of Jesus Christ.

we are made up of a group of people from different backgrounds.  

who have messed up.  

who still sometimes mess up.  

who are not perfect.  

who like to think they're perfect but deep down know they're not.  

who make mistakes.  

who admit their wrongs - even if it's just to their spouses.  

but we all have one thing in common.

we love Jesus Christ.  

we know He is God's Son.  

that He came to earth as a babe (why we celebrate Christmas).  

lived as a man.  

died a gruesome death after being falsely accused.  

was buried in a tomb.  

but... defeated death!  

He rose again!  

He did it for me he did it for you.  

he did it for the romans who put him on the cross.  

he did it for the Jews who were scared of him and his teaching.  

he did it for everyone in this world.  

so that we could have a personal relationship with God, and have eternal life 

- going to heaven when we leave this world -

our small group is made up of people who are thankful for what he did. 

who strive to live for Him each day.  

we screw up... but we are forgiven. 

 Jesus was our sacrifice.  

wanna know what i love about my small group?

i'm gonna tell you anyway, so either stop reading now or sit back and enjoy reading my thoughts.

i have been raised going to church.

my mom adores Jesus and made sure to take my brother and i to church each week.

i did sunday school, i did youth group, i volunteered,

i attended the main service, i went to the evening services, 

i worked at a Christian summer camp, i went to a one year Bible college,

i worked at a mennonite camp...

i asked Jesus to come into my life when i was little.

i have been surrounded with church and churchiness for as long as i have memories.

i am in this small group now.

about half the group met Jesus when adults and the rest of us have known Him most of your lives.  

i love that.

i will be honest with you right now.

telling people about Jesus scares me.  

i have been immersed in the faith since i was wee, 

but sharing it in words has always put an amount of fear in me...

fear i'll say the wrong thing or not know the answers...

this fear does not come from Jesus it comes from my humanity and from Satan.

i am a very relational person.

i want my daily life and actions to separate me from those who don't believe, 

so they will want to know what makes me different.

i'm more comfortable to live this way...

it is not necessarily the best way...

sometimes i need to step out out of my comfort zone.

the people in my small group who met jesus as adults can see the urgency, 

the importance of sharing this Jesus they adore with those around them.

they have an excitement about inviting others to things.

they have a passion to share with others.

are they afraid?

at times, yes.

but you know the difference between me and them?

they do it.

they tell others..or invite others.

i can't sleep, i sweat, i feel nauseous...

but those others.

when they tell their stories, 

when i hear them get excited...

it encourages me.

i feel the same excitement.

i may have been immersed in the church, 

and maybe i can answer some of their questions about the Scriptures, 

i know the answer, of what i should be doing and why, 

but the newer Christians...

the ones that didn't grow up in the church...

these people in my small group.

they encourage me with their passion to share with others, 

as they were shared with not too long ago.

their faith in Jesus...

it's amazing to hear them talk about it.

i know it goes both ways.

there are most likely things about my life, 

my knowledge in Jesus, 

my long-standing faith in Him,

that encourage them.

every one of us in our small group comes from a different past.

we all have a different story before and since we fell in love with Jesus.

we all have different struggles in our faith.

some have the same struggles.

we can all encourage each other.

we can all pray for, and with, each other.

we can support each other as we travel this thing called life.

i am so thankful for my small group.

for each of the people, 

the variety of personalities, 

the different stages of our lives, 

the different stages in our walk with Jesus.

if you are a follower of Christ i encourage you to find a small group Bible study that you can be a part of.

find one that you determine to be able to open up and share with them one day.

you do not have to share your most intimate secrets with them at the first meeting, 

but as you pray together, share together, learn together, 

over time you will want to share with them.

And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching.

Hebrews 10:24-25 (NIV)

i was thinking about this as i was digging in my garden, 

but had to stop to come in and write it.

this may be a mumble jumble of thoughts, 

but when i was digging, i had written the most eloquent blog post...

but...

this is what you get!

no school today

today is yet another bus cancellation day here in Muskoka.

i think in the month of January, we have had 4 bus cancellation days.

i don't say snow days because not all of them were truly snow days.

i don't consider it a snow day if it's not due to snow.

i can't do it.

*ok, sometimes i do, 'snow day!' sounds more exciting than 'bus cancellation day!'*

we have had snow day, horrible gross road day.

we have had possibility of a butt load of snow day

and today we have a freezing rain day.

*i have a friend that had fog day before Christmas, we haven't had that one...yet*

last night i heard the weather report for today.

there was a freezing rain warning for our area that would begin in the morning then turn to snow and back to freezing rain in the afternoon.

we have had days predicted like that and had the buses still drive.

sometimes the buses had no issues for the freezing rain came after the after school bus time.  and people were so happy the buses didn't get cancelled.

sometimes the buses were good before school but after school the roads were treacherous, and people were furious the buses didn't get cancelled.

we have had days predicted like that and the buses were cancelled.

sometimes the buses had no issues for the freezing rain didn't come until later in the evening.  people were furious that the buses were cancelled.

sometimes the buses were good before school but after school the roads were treacherous and people were glad the buses were cancelled.

see what i'm getting at?

anyone?

bueller?

no matter the decision made, someone out there will probably have an issue with it.

i, for one, take it as it comes.

sure, some days i go "seriously?  why are the buses not driving?  oh well.  do i want to drive them in?"  

sometimes yes i do, sometimes no i don't.

some days i go "seriously? i can't believe they are not cancelled...Lord keep our bus drivers safe out there as they transport my kidlets to and from school, thank you for them"

i'm not perfect and we do not have perfect happy-go-lucky snow days, all the time.

i'm blessed to be able to be home for my kids, so snow days don't hinder us.  

i don't need to find babysitting, or call in sick to work when a snow day happens.  

i live close enough to the school that i could drive my kids in if i needed to that day.  

they have come to appointments with me when buses were cancelled.

i know that on a snow day the work load is not the normal at school.

there's a lot more review as well as a variety of extra activities since the population of the school is so small on those days.

so i know my kids aren't missing learning something new on a snow day, they won't be behind.

last week we had 3 bus cancellation days.

last week was the first week back after Christmas holidays HAHA!

oh Muskoka, you always amuse me.

am i always this optimistic?

nope.

but a lot of times i am verbally positive while my brain is cringing and wanting to complain.

i find when i make an effort to not complain and to find the positive, the blessing, the fun in the situation i am able to allow God to turn my complaining, grumbling, frustration into thankfulness.

it helps me refocus.

the people making the decision are making this decision to keep my children safe.

(i don't care if their reason is to avoid lawsuits or genuine concern for my kids, if the safety concern is number one, i'm all for it)

so, 

thank you people in charge of making the decision.

i've said it before i'll say it again...

i'm glad i am not you.

*Jan 2014 snow day post*

41

hi all.

last year i had trained for months and ran 40km on a trail to celebrate turning 40.

(read about it here)

then came home to an amazing birthday party.

this year was a lot different.

this year i turned 41.

since my parents will not see my boy for his birthday next week they came to celebrate both our birthdays.

on the sunday (since my husband would be at work monday) we did the gift thing.

my boy and i opened our gifts.

he got Star Wars Risk and a remote control BB8

I got a pizza stone for the bbq, some books i had been wanting, a cute little dragon from my girl and tickets (to a concert in August) from my hubby.  

my boy's choice for dinner that evening - boston pizza.

on my actual birthday i slept in a little.

took my dad for a walk on our new 1km trail out back.

got a phone call from my mom-in-law.

went to lunch with my parents and kids.

then my parents headed home and the kids and i went to the boardwalk on the trail for some swimming.

HOT day!

lots of fun with them.

My 2nd jump as a 41 year old. 

then we went to the dollarstore for some candy, and i bought myself some Reese PB Cups... 

tried a couple stores to find myself a Jones Soda, but, alas... no Jones for my birthday.

after a few minutes of the kids playing at the park, while i enjoyed my pb cups, we headed home.

we headed across the tracks to let the kidlets do some scootering...

until my boy went into the ditch.

for dinner dan made french toast and i wanted to watch The Princess Bride. 

and my boy remembered to give me my new colouring book Harry Potter Magical Creatures. 

it was my birthday,

i'm now 41.

it didn't feel special...

41 feels no different than 40 did..

or 39 for that matter.

it felt like a normal summer day.

but it was wonderful.

Limberlost Challenge

this year i ran The Limberlost Challenge.

i ran the 14km.

it was fun.

i loved it.

i had to go through a big big big big big big big big big big mud pit.

i got muddy.

i finished my race.

dan ran the end with me.

i passed the finish line, i finished my race.  

i was so happy.

*as dictated by my girl*

*my turn to tell you how it was*

I had originally hoped to be in the top 10 of my age group this year.

but i did not train enough.

i went into this year with not having run more than the 10km i ran at Band on the Run one month before.

i was not prepared but i was planning to run it anyway.

i love the Limberlost Challenge.

my hubby made the decision to run the 56 one week before so we signed up.

(obviously even though i was planning to run it i was hesitant to sign up)

Dan hadn't been feeling the greatest and was planning to take it easy, and not push himself too much.

he was aiming for a 7 hour finish.

i was just wanting to cross the finish line, i didn't care how fast, although i will be honest, i wanted to break 2 hours. knowing that would be crazy hard.

the night before the race happened.

thunderstorms.

rain.

lots of both.

the morning of the race happened.

rain.

we set up for the kids to hang out 

(a friend was coming to hang with them)

and got ready for the race.

a wet morning.

but everyone was excited, and spirits were high.

the 56km race headed out.

dan hung back and didn't rush.

the 28km race headed out.

our friend showed up so i could get ready for my run.

my turn!

off we went.

last year i was determined to be at the front at the beginning so i didn't get caught behind the crowd entering the trail or crossing the first bridge.

but, i forgot that this year - mainly because i wasn't ready for the race.

i love running trails.

i spent a lot of time running with people who had never run it before.

i chatted with many of them.

we ran similar pace for a bit.

i really enjoy the many people on the trail.

so many encouraging people, and i love also encouraging those i pass or who pass me.

i am so thankful for everyone who run the aid stations.

the trail was pretty much one big trail of mud!

hills to slide on, puddles to go through.

mud, mud and more mud!

I think I wore the right shirt for the day

it was beautiful.

and exhausting.

i was running and chatting with a couple in the last 2km.

i felt done.

i hurt.

i was walking a little more often than i wanted to.

when suddenly someone jumped on me.

i now had less than a kilometre and someone jumps on me.

it was Dan!

he was finishing his second lap.

i was going slower than last year.

and he was faster than originally planning to run.

we ran together for the end.

i told him to go on, 

but he wanted to cross my finish line with me.

i was about to walk the last little hill when he took my hand and we ran out of the woods together.

i finished my race with my husband!  

it made me so happy.

I didn't make the top 10 of my age group.

but i am happy with my time, and results.

Results 14km (look up my bib #329)

and off he went to lap 3 of 4.

i will train better next year.

i think.

when dan was on his 4th and final lap we went to see him at the one mud hole.

which was even bigger now.

we saw the first place guy pass.

pretty sure it was him.

but the second place guy didn't pass us.

(we were pretty sure he hadn't already gone by)

and then Dan came.

we were pretty sure he was in second.

he was hurting but doing well.

we headed back to the finish to see him.

He came in 2nd overall.

1st in his age.

he had a great run.

Results 56km (bib #766)

so that's what taking it easy looks like.

haha.

i absolutely love that race.

i am already looking forward to it again next year.

Good Friday service

this past friday my little family went to the Good Friday service at church.

our church, being one of the largest for space in the community, hosts the Community Good Friday Service.

The churches in the area get together to remember Christ's sacrifice on the cross.

*Then on the sunday we are all at our separate buildings celebrating the resurrection!*

When the kids were littler we didn't go to the service because there's no child care during it.

and, honestly, with little ones we wouldn't really be focusing on the service.

we were there this year.

i love seeing all the pastors sitting up front.

I love seeing faces from the community that i don't normally see in our church, but now connect them to a church.

i love hearing the variety of pastors as they either pray, or read the Scritpures.

i love seeing the pastors i look to as a friend - people i don't see in the pastoral role otherwise. 

but what brings tears to my eyes...

what gets me choked up...

what stirs my heart...

when the whole auditorium is standing, 

singing about the cross, and the resurrection.

singing praise to our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.

when i see the hands being raised, 

the smiles, 

some eyes closed as the singer is focused on God and blocking out all around them,

when i hear the voices blending.

no one caring if they're off key, or in perfect pitch.

the volume that comes..

the emotions that come into the singing as the words hit home...

what a teeny tiny glimpse of heaven.

that is why i love the Good Friday service.

to hear I Need You on Good Friday morning...

goosebumps.

*i don't really care for the video of this but it's all about the words of the song.*

catch our church services: 

On Demand 

or 

YouTube

Petzl inspired me...

My boy asked me a great question and i wrote about it HERE.

since then i have been thinking long and hard about people who have inspired me.

i have been blessed with many people who have provided me with inspiration in my life and for each of them i am extremely thankful.  

therefore, i may not write about some.  

but their inspiration lives on in my life and is passed down into my kids' lives.

today though i am going to write about a crazy lady.

Sharon.

we met back in 1997.

She had finished her year at Summit College and we worked at Camp Widjiitiwin.

We were prayer partners for the summer.

lots of laughter, chats and yes, prayer too.

Her camp name was Petzl.

she did the rock climbing.

this is us at the end of the summer.

fast forward to 9 years ago.

we hadn't kept in touch the greatest but she was now married with a little boy and twin girls.

i was married, no kidlets yet.

her babies were a year old and she needed someone to watch her kids.  

she called me up and i went one day a week to hang with the girls while their brother was at school for Junior Kindergarten.

i adored each one of the kids.  

i remember her telling me how she had taken up running after the twins.

(she looked spectacular)

but that was all in passing.

soon after was pregnant with my boy.

i stopped hanging with her kids once my little one was born.

we went to the same church and saw each other now and again.

after my kids were born, and my husband encouraged me to run, i would think back to that very brief conversation about Sharon running.  

one day she sent my husband and i a message about a race we may be interested in.

The Limberlost Challenge.

  My husband loved the idea, i thought the distances were too far.

the next year dan ran the 56km.  

what an amazing trail to run on.  

*my husband inspires me to run.*

over the last couple years as you know, i've become a runner.  

running distances i never thought i'd ever run.

i have seen her at the band on the run held here in town.

and the fun runs in the spring.

we have encouraged each other as we both were training for races and runs.

i have enjoyed our chats and her encouragement.

when i was training for my 40km she was someone who i talked with a lot.  

we were both training and our runs were challenging.

i may never have run the limber lost challenge if she had never sent that email.

i LOVE that trail and am excited to run it again this July.

thanks Petzl for the encouragement and inspiration you have been for all these years.

*first photo taken by someone at Widji.

on a film camera back in '97.

photo in the blog taken of the photo by me with Chester.

2nd photo taken by K.V at '14 band on the run.

posted on Facebook.

mommy, who inspired you to snowboard?

there was fresh snow.

we were out back at our sled hill.

my girl and hubby were down at the bottom.

i was walking up the hill, carrying my ancient snowboard.

my son was sitting at the top putting his board back on so he could take another run down the hill.

we were chatting as i got closer.

i told him how i loved watching his sister ski and him board.

i informed him that i didn't learn to snowboard until i was about 21.

and that was after only downhill skiing a couple times in my life - which i hadn't really enjoyed.

i told him i loved that he was starting out young.

he asked me if i was a good snowboarder..good like him.

i laughed and told him i could stay up - most of the time.  i was good.

then he continued and asked me a question that has stuck with me since that moment.

"mommy, who inspired you to snowboard?"

i told him i couldn't pick anyone specific, but when i first saw the sport i loved it.  

i hadn't like skiing and it looked like skateboarding on snow.  

**i had always wanted to skateboard - but i'm chicken.  

i used to watch the guys (and girls) skate and always wanted to learn but didn't want to get hurt.  

i didn't want to fail. those were some thoughts that passed through my mind but didn't make it to words**

i told him i liked that my feet were together - unlike skiing.

and then i went to college and snowboarding was an activity encouraged and instructed a little and i loved it.

i told him that since i met daddy that he has inspired me to keep trying.

i asked him who inspires him to snowboard?

he shrugged.

i asked if his daddy does.

he smiled his big smile and nodded.  

then down the hill he went.

what a great question.

not just who inspires me to snowboard but, 

who inspires me?

i have actually been thinking about that question for a few weeks and his asking of it has given me the idea.

over the next little while i am going to write a few posts about people who have inspired me in some way or another.

some may be in crazy huge ways, 

others may be some small thing that has stuck with me, 

or some may be just about enjoying this silly thing called life.

i hope as you follow me on this journey it will bring to mind those people who have been an inspiration in your life.

So, as i begin i guess you can say that this post was about the one who inspired me to pursue these future entries.

MY BOY!

thanks kid.

i probably won't share about my husband or my dad - - 

i have told you many times how i've been inspired by them, but who knows where i'll go with this mini series.

*photo taken by me, 

with Gertie.