Years have gone by in the lives of my children, too much to even try to document. 2 years of Sparks and now she’s a Brownie, from Kindergarten to Grade 2. It has all passed by in the blink of an eye. I have said “so long” to so many “people” along the way who I will never again see. And by “people” I mean all the stages my children have gone through. I can’t help but feel a little sad that I can never again be with “them”,they were in my life for but a moment it seems. I suppose that’s why it’s important to live in the here and now. As much as my children challenge me and try my patience there is so much about them that I love, like and respect. My daughter is so compassionate, loves animals, nature, and the planet. She’s my little humanitarian and I love her for it. She has such a hunger for knowledge that I never possessed and as a result she is my little walking encyclopedia of “did you know’s?....” On the flip side her emotional nature gives way to many challenges and try as hard as I might I find it hard not to tell her to stop being “so sensitive”. But then I remember how it felt when people said that to me, and it didn’t feel good, and was never helpful. But as up I matured I did become less emotional, but I’m not always sure that’s been a change for the better. I want her to embrace her true nature and for others to appreciate it, not see it as a weakness.
a work in progress's Life List
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1. Drift off to sleep with a sense of peace, a quiet mind, and wake up on the right side of the bed
1 entry . 15 cheers2 people -
2. Appreciate and nurture the relationships than enrich my life
18 cheers1 person -
3. Be strong, dependable and brave during times of adversity so those who are in need feel they can lean on me
5 cheers1 person -
4. Give more than I take
2 entries . 14 cheers41 people -
5. Have more days like today
3 entries . 9 cheers1 person -
6. Compare myself to no one, but who I was yesterday
4 entries . 23 cheers110 people -
7. Live healthy
18 entries . 6 cheers192 people -
8. Become a better listener
1 entry . 3 cheers175 people -
9. Re-Enter the Wonderful World of 43Things
4 entries . 6 cheers1 person -
10. Write down the thoughts I want to get out of my head
1 entry . 1 cheer1 person -
11. Do something each and every day to improve the quality of my life, and the lives of friends and family
3 cheers1 person -
12. rediscover my love for running
1 entry . 1 cheer1 person -
13. Take better care of my marriage
3 entries . 3 cheers1 person
I thought I’d come back to 43 things under a new account and start fresh but ultimately I deleted the new account and came back to where it all began. I can’t imagine deleting my original account. I’ve never been good at journaling and this is a good as is gong to get.
When I was growing up I was in Girl Guides, starting with Brownies. Although the memories are hazy, they are pleasant happy memories. Memories of an easier time and place. A safe place where you were always surrounded by friends and an unconditional acceptance. Somehow the environment just created an atmosphere where cliques and competition ceases to exist (at least in my memory). This year I put my daughter in Sparks, “where the Guiding adventure begins” It has only been 3 weeks and the last 2 weeks were spent selling cookies but she is so enthusiastic and she was absolutely delighted when she received her first badge.
When we first started she would just thrust the box of cookies toward them as soon as they opened the door and said ”$4 a box!” I explained to her how to greet them when they opened the door and what to tell them about the cookies. So she lead with it every time and being the actress she is, gave it her own dynamic flair. We were only turned down at 3 doors and you could tell it pained them to do so. Part way through she got the idea of taking her hat off and telling them to put the $$ in the hat. Naturally I had to explain she needed to wait to find out IF they wanted any cookies before she “asked” them to put the $ into the hat. Fortunately most people understand the ways of a child and were only amused by her “selling” techniques.
*picture is from their site, not of my daughter

