I just finished reading a book "Succulent Wild Woman" by Sark. Very fun, very outside the box. I will recommend it to any woman who wants to chuckle and feel challenged to throw away a few inhibitions. This is a quote from near the beginning of the book - I'm taking it as a challenge - and encouraging you all to "LIVE OUT LOUD".

“If you ask me what I came to do in this world, I, an artist, I will answer you: "I am here to live out loud”
-Emile Zola

Occasionally I click around onto links to blogs that I find on other friends blogs. Does that actually make sense? I was clicking and scanning posts when I read this challenge. Click on your pics folder on your computer, click on the fifth file and then the fifth picture. So I did. This is what I found.


It is from my sister and I's wedding back in 1992 - she was a little tired after the rehearsal.

I watched the swearing in of the 44th President of the United States this morning.

Not something I would normally do...but this was history and I couldn't miss it. I think he gave a sober speech, a wise speech. One that offered hope, but recognized that it will take work. Serious work. I think he fully realizes the weight of power that now rests on his shoulders.

I have read some negatives about this inauguration. The cost, the waste, the choice of people asked to pray. I find that sad. I see all the pomp and ceremony totally and completely appropriate and necessary. This is history. And this man deserves to be honoured as the choice of the American People to hold the most important office in the world.

I am excited for President Obama and his family, I am excited for America and her people. He will do many things through the next four years that will probably disappoint me, things that I will profoundly disagree with.

But still...I am looking forward, with anticipation and hope, to an interesting future.

Life is funny sometimes. And sometimes it is not.

I am amazed at how easy it is to be perfectly content and peaceful with my world in one moment and so utterly inwardly chaotic the next. Maybe that's the human condition. Never quite right - closer some times than others but knowing that we were created and designed for something that we just can't quite get to. Hmmm...seems I'm a feeling a little philosophical today.

January is full of new beginnings. I have no resolutions this year. Right now my goal is to get through Jan 9 (my 2 year anniversary of the wind thang) with Reid gone to see the Canucks game and the girls and I having our own little party. Lofty goal, I know. I'm going to start looking for part time work. Not sure what to do there but I need to contribute a little bit financially to our family. I am at a loss of what to do but I'm going to be open to whatever. We are also calling this "The Year of living Healthy". As a family we are (actually have been for a while) changing habits and getting healthier - not just physically, but working on our mental and spiritual health as well.

So maybe those are resolutions. I resolve to party with my girls on Jan. 9, I resolve to find work, and I resolve to be healthy - physically, mentally, spiritually.

As I sit here and write - my kids are snuggled in the living room reading. They are bouncing for joy because school was canceled. It's funny that they've had a couple weeks off - planned vacation - but this feels so much more exciting! I guess because it was a bonus - something unplanned and unexpected. All the really spectacular things in life seem to be those unexpected and unplanned things...

Christmas was, as always, perfect. The snow was falling on Christmas eve as our family made their way over to our house for our maritime tradition of seafood chowder - The town oh so quiet and peaceful. Christmas morning - Santa brought Rock Band for Wii - which can I just say is AWESOME! We walked over to my sisters for an amazing breakfast and then down to my parents for the gift opening. With 6 girls you might think it's a bit nuts - but they open one at a time, pause to examine and thank and enjoy the moments that pass. I think everyone had an amazing day - the only thing that would have made the season absolutely perfect would have been my brother and his son there. I think my parents felt the hole. But laughter and joy overflowed and we had a blast.

New Years eve found us with some good friends, playing Rock band and other games. As we toasted to the New Year we each found ourselves feeling overwhelmingly grateful for all that we have. Family, friends that are as close as family, health... none of us are hungry or jobless. None of us have to carry our loads alone. What a gift.

Our annual New Years Day Polar Bear Swim was more a roll on the ice as the lake was frozen over. Quite funny actually...Phoebe waded in to her ankles and then everyone ran to the hot tub! It was a nice time sitting in a beautiful home, overlooking Kawkawa Lake as the snow fell.

Maybe this snow day is a reminder. Maybe it is in the unplanned and the unexpected that the true joy is found. Maybe we need to spend the year looking not for the usual same old same old...maybe we need shake our routine up and embrace the surprises that each day holds.