🎄 I don’t usually write my journals as if talking to someone, but rather as simply....my journal. My thoughts and experiences of my own personal journey. Today is different. Today I want to say a very merry Christmas to all of my team mates in the I Ho Chuan, and wish the happiest and most wonderful moments for all of you. Thank you all for your friendships and never ending support. It is appreciated.
This Christmas was quite different for me. Due to my current situation, I didn’t buy a single gift, nor bake a single goody, nor hang a single decoration. But none of that mattered. My family is awesome. They are supportive, loving and understanding. My gifts this year, were gifts of service. Acts of kindness, such as cleaning my daughters house for her. She has 4 kids aged 9 months to 7, and is a very dedicated mom who home schools her children. She appreciated getting her house cleaned.
Another difference this year, is my family is not all together as we usually are. I am at my daughters home in Leduc for Christmas, but my son is in Georgia, a daughter in Toronto, and another daughter in Thailand. Yet our love for each other is felt through the distance. And of course through video chat as well. 😊
My favourite gift I received this year is a gift of life. Inside a box was a mug, and inside that mug a piece of paper. On that piece of paper, a poem. And under that poem....an ultrasound picture. In that picture, the new member of our family, and my new grandchild. This is more special than you can know, as it will come from a daughter who has dreamed of being a mom from a very young age, but has never been in the right relationship, or situation to do so. Until now. Of course there were many happy tears.
I am so filled with gratitude this day. More so than most days, if that’s possible. I hide in the kitchen as I watch my son in law, dressed in his new dead pool hoodie that is zipped up over his face, shooting his new automatic nerf gun at his sons, who are defending themselves with their own new nerf guns. They wait for mom, who also got her own nerf gun for Christmas as well. It’s a family thing here, and so much fun to watch the interaction between them all. Running, laughing, hiding, and lots of cute little giggling.
There are a variety of changes going on in my family right now, and changes for a very bright future for all of us. This moment...this very moment...is remarkable.
Sifu Stoddart
- Sifu Stoddart
- My kids and the strong bond we share, are the most important things to me. Over the years I've done many things. I attained my certification for a fitness instructor and taught in many areas such as kickboxing, circuit training, pilates, African dance, hatha and ashtanga yoga. I have received my certification for a Special Needs Educational assistant. This allowed me to work with a group of wonderful kids in a Positive Development Program at an inner city school in Edmonton. Today, I am an area supervisor for a retail home renovation store. I achieved my certification as a belayer in top rope rock climbing, and also as a lead climber. I attained my black belt in 2004. There is an excitement and feeling of self sustaining when I grow a garden, collect wild berries, then can a whole winters supply of juices, jams, sauces, syrups, fruits, ketchups, and salsas. I am very passionate about the outdoors, and my big dream of all times is to one day live out in the mountains with nothing but the wilderness at my doorstep. I would hike, fish, x country ski, snow shoe, kayak, mountain bike, rock climb, practice kung fu on top of a mountain, and grow a huge garden in the summer.
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