Category: Sunflowers

September

9/30/2020

First day of school 09/08/2020

(Breathe in. Breathe out.) September was a crazy, busy month. I made it through my first month into my second program at Canadore College. I was surprised at the end of August when I enrolled for my courses to find out all course will be provided online (I was previously told it would be 50/50 in class and online) but I rolled with it.

I'm taking Indigenous Wellness and Addiction Prevention. My class are

Traditional Healing, Learning, and Teaching
Introduction to Substance Abuse Counselling and Teaching
Contemporary Challenges Facing Native Communities
Introduction to Cultural Specific Helping
Environmental Citizenship

During September 22 through 24, I participated in a Culture camp with my class. It was an amazing experience and wonderful to meet my classmates in person. I felt welcome and accepted by my peers and I learned so much about my family's culture. I was thrilled to make my own hand drum, it was hard work but I had so much fun working along side my new friends.

The "Back to School" pose for my Culture Camp trip 09/23/2020

September 30

Today was Orange Shirt day. I wore my GGC orange hoodie. After my morning class, I took Miley for a walk, the sun was shinning, and it has been a while since I routinely take my walk (October challenge). As we were finishing our stroll in the trails, the rain started to come down, I walked with my right hand out, catching the raindrops as we continued on, enjoying the crisp air and the fact that I am alive on this day. I could never imagine having my children taken away from me because someone thought they were savages. No one should have ever experience that trauma (parent, child, or anyone affected). When I homeschooled my (smallish) children, we had natives studies classes and they had nature days with their dad. I want my children to learn and love their culture. That's why I am where I am today. My educational path has crossed my passion for my family to learn about their heritage and I love how things are coming along for myself, my children, and for Kirk.

Happy Mail Day!

I love getting real good mail. This parcel I just couldn't wait for it... I needed it last week for my Culture camp, I'll be wearing my new ribbon skirts at the next camp or special ceremony with my class. My skirts were created by Alexa Eliza. I adore her shop, the skirts are so beautiful, and she has gorgeous items in her etsy store.

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our wedding anniversary

8/5/2020

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We love to say we grew our own wedding party.

Kirk and I started dating in September 1998, broke up for about five months, and got together again on March 6th (which we call kiss-aversary). We were engaged in the fall of 1999, but every time we started to plan our wedding, life would get in the way and we would put our plans aside. We had our first born daughter in 2002 and our only son born in 2006; in early 2008, we decided it would be our wedding year, no matter what challenges came at us.

We had invited our friends and family who lived in our town, and had our ceremony on Tuesday, August 5th, 2008. We planned to be married by Lake Nipissing, it was a stormy day, and kind strangers invited us in their home so our guests and us would be dryer and not get electrocuted.

This year for our anniversary, Kirk offered to take me for a weekend away together. I joked about a road trip that we could do this summer because of quarantine and covid restrictions. He loved the idea and wanted to travel it this summer.

We've been together for 22 years (married for 12 years).

Kirk has been super supportive during the last few years: when my health was bad and through the doctors' appointments, medical tests, blood work, visits to specialists, x-rays, ultrasounds, CT scan, MRI... speaking up for my health when I didn't have the words or the strength to express myself. I know it's been hard for him to see me at my worse, all he wants to do is "fix it" but he can't, and that's his greatest struggle.

He was encouraging when it was decided that I wanted to attend college and work on my future. He was supportive when it was time to step aside from my spring semester; he understood the stresses involved that lead me to put aside my dream to make sure our family would be able to cope with their new lifestyle during the pandemic. Kirk was understanding when it was time for me to focus on my healing and begin my journey IFCI: I started working with a fibromyalgia coach and I was accepted in the Certified Advisor program with IFCI. He is happy that I have a plan to return to school in the fall to continue my education.

I am grateful for our relationship, Kirk is my best friend & my support team when I need him most.

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September

September 30

Happy Mail Day!

our wedding anniversary

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