Beautiful Awakenings: Canadian Summer Reflection

Tuesday, August 28, 2007

Canadian Summer Reflection

We participated in loads of great activities this summer.

Too many to mention. Here are some snaps of a few:

PARK TIME

COUSIN TIME

Zeke spent a lot of time with his baby cousin Dominic. He's somewhat smitten!

FURRY FRIEND TIME

DRIVIN' TIME

When are you going to sell that cherry red beauty Grandpa?

Anyone know anyone who wants to buy a sweeeeeeet 69 Ranchero?

WATER TIME

The local waterholes are not the Caribbean Sea (we're spoiled!) and we did have to substitute salt for chlorine but overall good swimming fun!

A Series of Three - Zeke and Jason at the Pool

READY

SET

GO

DID WE MENTION WE LOVE WATER?

WATERPARK TIME

Yes! More Water......

Zeke with his first cousin Tatijana and the very first time he'd been down a slide on his own!

WEST EDMONTON MALL GALAXYLAND TIME

Somewhere in there the kid in all of us has to come about!

RELAX TIME

Papa Jason Bacac warming the seat! He's wearing the shades for a reason....the eyelids are heavy!

FAMILY REUNION TIME

We went to a Family Reunion at the Olsen Family Farm..............it was a beautiful day........and many people were able to show. We have many, many NEW babies under 3 that attended too!

The Global Perspective

The Host & Hostess

Uncle Neil & Auntie Jane celebrating 40 Easy Ones!

Zeke & Jason walking back from the field

Pool Play

Zeke & Janis discuss options for fun.

The Entertainment

Michael "Marley" Olsen

Foot Loose Gregoire Zazzara

Horsin' Round Jack & The Dream Girls

Twinkle Toes Zeke and Hacky Sack Jack

Zeke and Anna hanging by the pool (where else would they be?)

There is always a Beautiful Country Belle present at these functions.....maybe even a few!

Auntie Cath Taylor at 87 years young

And a little Baby Belle

Anna

And a Momma Belle

Karen
(Note: Greg the Entertainer belongs to them!)

POPSICLE TIME

This is a BIG TEET........

.......and we're really happy that we got to have one!

SOAPBOX OR SUITCASE TIME

Depending on how you want to look at it!

Bon Voyage for another year!

Talk About A Boat of Hope

If ever there was someone on this earth that made you proud to be human, it was SIR ERNEST SHACKLETON. I think he is probably one of my most venerated heroes....and proably where I understand 'staying afloat on the reality boat' the best and clearest.

Click on the link and learn more about this amazing man.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qj0fAYiY09A

Looking closely at Shackleton's behavior on the trip with HMS Endurance, you can see many great leadership lessons. I'll mention five of them here.

1. He always boosted the morale of his crew. He knew what made his men feel happy and contented, and, as much as he could, he gave it to them. He gave them the best tools and resources he could afford. He encouraged them. He held them accountable. He set realistic goals.

2. He made himself available. He spent lots of time with the crew. He was not a distant leader. He knew how to connect with and speak with everyone. He made time to listen to their concerns.

3. He knew how to have fun. No matter what he faced, he always encouraged social activities and fun times when work was done. He knew how to create an environment where his men felt good in spite of their circumstances.

4. He remained optimistic AND realistic. In other words, you can understand the gravity of the situation and, at the same time, remain optimistic that you will find a way to overcome it.

5. He kept troublemakers close to him. Every leader has troublemakers in his crew. Most leaders distance themselves from troublemakers. Shackleton kept them close so that he:
Knew what they were doing
Kept them from contaminating the rest of his crew
Had some direct influence on what they were doing and saying.

For greater and more in-depth insights:
read Shackleton's Way
watch Shackleton - The Greatest Survival Story of All Time
watch The Endurance - Shackleton's Legendary Antarctic Expedition.

Boys In My House

There are boys in my house - and Spiderman shoes
And 200 papers in various blues.
There's Bob (he's a builder) and Thomas the Train,
There's a fireman coat to wear in the rain.
They have cars on their shirts and frogs on their hats.
There's a glove and a ball and a red plastic bat.
There's dirt on a face and a smudge on a nose;
Grass stains on knees and sand between toes.
There's bathtime at night with bodies to scrub,
And when we're all done there is dirt in the tub!
There's bandaids and bruises and curious bumps,
There's smiles and laughter and sometimes there's grumps.
There's odors most icky; there's boogers so green
There's more yucky things than I'll ever get clean.
There's piles of laundry; there's stories at night;
There's bedtime and bathtime and dinnertime fights.
There's cars and there's trains and there's books about trucksThere's Scoop, Lofty, Dizzy, and Travis, and Muck.
Sometimes there are bugs, and sometimes there are frogs;
Sometimes they are lions, or dinos, or dogs.
There are cute little vests and darling neckties
Dragged right through the mud - oh what a surprise!
There's running and climbing and jumping and falling
And laughing and crying and hugging and brawling
And rolling and losing and finding and creeping
And whining and stealing and sometimes there's sleeping.
There's tantrums and time outs and extra loud noise -
There's love in my house shaped like two little boys.

Savor Life

As you go about you daily chores, be it at home, at the office, in the shop or on the worksite, be sure to appreciate the things around you.

Even while doing something as mundane as the laundry, you can appreciate the smell of the clothes as they come out of the dryer, the security you feel as you do your laundry, the fact that you have clothes to wear and a washing machine in your home.

Appreciate the teenager who is complaining about doing dishes because that means she is at home and not on the streets.

Appreciate the taxes that you pay, because that means that you are employed.

Appreciate the mess you have to clean up after a party; because that means that you were surrounded by friends.

Appreciate the clothes that fit a little too snug, because it means that you have enough to eat.

Appreciate the shadow that watches you work, because it means that you are out in the sunshine.

Appreciate the lawn that needs mowing, windows that need cleaning, and gutters that need fixing, because it means you have a home.

Appreciate the complaining you hear about the government because it means that you have freedom of speech.

Appreciate the parking spot you find at the far end of the parking lot, because it means that you are capable of walking and that you have a car to park.

Appreciate the weariness and aching muscles at the end of the day, because it means you are capable of working hard.

Appreciate the alarm clock that goes off in the early morning hours, because it means that you are alive.

Savor life.

Go To The Dance To Dance

If you accept a job you really don't want, but that you believe may lead to a better one for you, you aren't dancing. You're only waiting until you find a more suitable partner - who may never come.

If you buy a certain car just to show off, you aren't dancing. You're too busy checking yourself out to notice anyone who wants to dance.

If you spend every nickel you earn buying into a lifestyle you can't afford just to impress other people, that's not dancing. That's bragging about dance steps you don't even know.

When you go to the dance to dance, your feet don't get tired, the punch bowl never empties, the music never stops, and the night lasts forever. And don't worry. When you go to the dance to dance, the perfect partner will find you.

YOU FIRST

When I was young and free and my imagination had no limits, I dreamed of changing the world. As I grew older and wiser, I discovered the world would not change, so I shortened my sights somewhat and decided to change only my country.But, it too, seemed immovable.

As I grew into my twilight years, in one last desperate attempt, I settled for changing only my family, those closest to me, but alas, they would have none of it.

And now as I lie on my deathbed, I suddenly realize: If I had only changed my self first, then by example I would have changed my family.

From their inspiration and encouragement, I would then have been able to better my country and, who knows, I may have even changed the world.

The Paradoxical Commandments

1. People are illogical, unreasonable, and self-centered.
Love them anyway.

2. If you do good, people will accuse you of selfish alterior motives.
Do good anyway.

3. If you are successful, you will win false friends and true enemies.
Succeed anyway.

4. The good you do today will be forgotten tomorrow.
Do good anyway.

5. Honesty and frankness make you vulnerable.
Be honest and frank anyway.

6. The biggest men and women with the biggest ideas can be shot down by the smallest men and women with the smallest minds.
Think big anyway.

7. People favor underdogs but follow only top dogs.
Fight for a few underdogs anyway.

8. What you spend years building may be destroyed overnight.
Build anyway.

9. People really need help but may attack you if you do help them.
Help people anyway.

10. Give the world the best you have and you'll get kicked in the teeth.
Give the world the best you have anyway.

The Paradox of Our Age

We have taller buildings but shorter tempers; wider freeways but narrower viewpoints; we spend more but have less; we buy more but enjoy it less; we have bigger houses and smaller families; more conveniences, yet less time; we have more degrees but less sense; more knowledge but less judgement; more experts, yet more problems; we have more gadgets but less satisfaction; more medicine, yet less wellness; we take more vitamins but see fewer results.

We drink too much; smoke too much; spend too recklessly; laugh too little; drive too fast; get too angry quickly; stay up too late; get up too tired; read too seldom; watch TV too much and pray too seldom.

We have multiplied our possessions, but reduced our values; we fly in faster planes to arrive there quicker, to do less and return sooner; we sign more contracts only to realize fewer profits; we talk too much; love too seldom and lie too often.

We've learned how to make a living, but not a life; we've added years to life, not life to years.

We've been all the way to the moon and back, but have trouble crossing the street to meet the new neighbor.

We've conquered outer space, but not inner space; we've done larger things, but not better things; we've cleaned up the air, but polluted the soul; we've split the atom, but not our prejudice; we write more, but learn less; plan more, but accomplish less; we make faster planes, but longer lines; we learned to rush, but not to wait; we have more weapons, but less peace; higher incomes, but lower morals; more parties, but less fun; more food, but less appeasement; more acquaintances, but fewer friends; more effort, but less success.

We build more computers to hold more information, to produce more copies than ever, but have less communication; drive smaller cars that have bigger problems; build larger factories that produce less.

We've become long on quantity, but short on quality. These are the times of fast foods and slow digestion; tall men, but short character; steep in profits, but shallow relationships.

These are times of world peace, but domestic warfare; more leisure and less fun; higher postage, but slower mail; more kinds of food, but less nutrition.

These are days of two incomes, but more divorces; these are times of fancier houses, but broken homes.

These are days of quick trips, disposable diapers, cartridge living, thow-away morality, one-night stands, overweight bodies and pills that do everything from cheer, to prevent, quiet or kill.

It is a time when there is much in the show window and nothing in the stock room.

Success

At age 4, success is...not peeing in your pants.
At age 12, success is...having friends.
At age 16, success is...having a driver's license.
At age 20, success is...having sex.
At age 35, success is...having money.
At age 40, success is...finding meaning & purpose to life. At age 45, success is...finding meaning & purpose to life.
At age 50, success is...having money.
At age 60, success is...having sex.
At age 70, success is...having a driver's license.
At age 75, success is...having friends.
At age 80, success is...not peeing in your pants.

How To Make Beauty

For attractive lips, speak words of kindness.
For lovely eyes, seek out the good in people.
For a slim figure, share your food with the hungry.
For beautiful hair, let a child run his/her fingers through it once a day.

For poise, walk with the knowledge that you never walk alone. People, even more than things, have to be restored, renewed, revived, reclaimed, and redeemed; never throw out anyone.

Remember, if you ever need a helping hand, you will find one at the end of each of your arms. As you grow older, you will discover that you have two hands; one for helping yourself, and the other for helping others.

- Audrey Hepburn

A Beautiful Awakening

Ready or not, some day it will all come to an end.

There will be no more sunrises, no minutes, hours or days. All the things you collected, whether treasured or forgotten will pass to someone else.

Your wealth, fame and temporal power will shrivel to irrelevance. It will not matter what you owned or what you were owed.

Your grudges, resentments, frustrations and jealousies will finally disappear. So too, your hopes, ambitions, plans and to do lists will expire.

The wins and losses that once seemed so important will fade away. It won’t matter where you came from or what side of the tracks you lived on at the end.

It won’t matter whether you were beautiful or brilliant. Even your gender and skin color will be irrelevant.

So what WILL matter? How will the value of your days be measured?

What will matter is not what you bought but what you built, not what you got but what you gave.

What will matter is not your success but your significance.

What will matter is not what you learned but what you taught.

What will matter is every act of integrity, compassion, courage, or sacrifice that enriched, empowered or encouraged others to emulate your example.

What will matter is not your competence but your character.

What will matter is not how many people you knew, but how many will feel a lasting loss when you’re gone.

What will matter is not your memories but the memories that live in those who loved you.

What will matter is how long you will be remembered, by whom and for what.

Living a life that matters doesn’t happen by accident. It’s not a matter of circumstance but of choice. It’s all by design.

Choose to live a life that matters.

A well-known speaker started off his seminar by holding up a $20 . 00 bill .

In the room of 200, he asked, "Who would like this $20 bill?" Hands started going up .

He said, "I am going to give this $20 to one of you but first, let me do this . He proceeded to crumple up the $20 dollar bill. He then asked, "Who still wants it?" Still the hands were up in the air .Well, he replied, "What if I do this?"And he dropped it on the ground and started to grind it into the floor with his shoe. He picked it up, now crumpled and dirty . "Now, who still wants it?" Still the hands went into the air .

My friends, we have all learned a very valuable lesson . No matter what I did to the money, you still wanted it because it did not decrease in value. It was still worth $20 . Many times in our lives, we are dropped, crumpled, and ground into the dirt by the decisions we make and the circumstances that come our way. We feel as though we are worthless.

But no matter what has happened or what will happen, you will never lose your value. Dirty or clean, crumpled or finely creased, you are still priceless to those who DO LOVE you.

The worth of our lives comes not in what we do or who we know, but by WHO WE ARE and WHOSE WE ARE .

Count your blessings, not your problems . "And remember: amateurs built the ark professionals built the Titanic. If you've been brought to it you'll be brought through it.

Making Sandcastles

Hot sun. Salty air. Rhythmic waves.

A little boy is on his knees scooping and packing the sand with plastic shovels into a bright blue bucket. Then he upends the bucket on the surface and lifts it. And, to the delight of the little architect, a castle tower is created.

All afternoon he will work. Spooning out the moat. Packing the walls. Bottle tops will be sentries. Popsicle sticks will be bridges. A sandcastle will be built.

Big city. Busy streets. Rumbling traffic. A man is in his office. At his desk he shuffles papers into stacks and delegates assignments. He cradles the phone on his shoulder and punches the keyboard with his fingers. Numbers are juggled and contracts are signed and much to the delight of the man, a profit is made.

All his life he will work. Formulating the plans. Forecasting the future. Annuities will be sentries. Capital gains will be bridges. An empire will be built.

Two builders of two castles. They have much in common. They shape granules into grandeurs. They see nothing and make something. They are diligent and determined. And for both the tide will rise and the end will come.

Yet that is where the similarities cease. For the boy sees the end while the man ignores it. Watch the boy as the dusk approaches.

As the waves near, the wise child jumps to his feet and begins to clap. There is no sorrow. No fear. No regret. He knew this would happen. He is not surprised. And when the great breaker crashes into his castle and his masterpiece is sucked into the sea, he smiles. He smiles, picks up his tools, takes his father's hand, and goes home.

The grownup, however, is not so wise. As the wave of years collapses on his castle he is terrified. He hovers over the sandy monument to protect it. He blocks the waves from the walls he has made. Salt-water soaked and shivering he snarls at the incoming tide.

"It's my castle," he defies.

The ocean need not respond. Both know to whom the sand belongs...

I don't know much about sandcastles. But children do. Watch them and learn. Go ahead and build, but build with a child's heart. When the sun sets and the tides take - applaud. Salute the process of life and go home.

Ecstasy

Ecstasy is a language that we have completely forgotten. We have been forced to forget it; we have been compelled to forget it. Society is against it, civilization is against it. Society has a tremendous investment in misery. It depends on misery, it feeds on misery, it survives on misery. Society is not for human beings. Society is using human beings as a means for its own ends. Society has become more important than humanity.

Every child is born ecstatic. Ecstasy is natural. It is not something that happens only to great sages, it is something that everybody brings with them into the world. It is life’s innermost core. It is part of being alive. Life is ecstasy……….

The Dash

I read of a man who stood to speak
At the funeral of a friend
He referred to the dates on her tombstone
From the beginning to the end.

He noted that first came the date of her birth
And spoke the following date with tears,
But he said what mattered most of all
Was the dash between those years

For that dash represents all the time
That she spent alive on earth
And now only those who loved her
Know what that little line is worth.

For it matters not how much we own;
The cars, the house, the cash,
What matters is how we live and love
And how we spend our dash.

So think about this long and hard
Are there things you’d like to change?
For you never know how much time is left
That can still be rearranged.

If we could just slow down enough
To consider what’s true and real
And always try to understand
The way other people feel.

And be less quick to anger
And show appreciation more
And love the people in our lives
Like we’ve never loved before.

If we treat each other with respect,
And more often wear a smile
Remembering that this special dash
Might only last a little while.

So, when your eulogy is being read
With your life’s actions to rehash
Would you be proud of the things they say
About how you spent your dash?