Blog Archives

Today my Granddaughter is born

3/30/2010

I have not been working much for the month of March because I wanted to be able to be available and drive to the hospital when my daughter had her baby. Her due date was March 20 and the baby was overdue. It was a long wait and every day began with an anticipation of my grand child's birth.
I wanted to introduce you to my beautiful granddaughter. She was born on March 30 , 2010 at 9:49 a.m. Her name is Kiona Sage Priscilla.
Needless to say I am so honoured that my daughter and her husband decided to add my name to their daughter. I am touched and almost cry whenever I think about the passing on of my name.

This picture was taken shortly after Kiona was born. I was waiting outside the labour room and I could hear her cry. She sounded like a little lamb, so quiet and so startled to be in this bright world. They put her under a heat lamp and began to clean her up.
If you notice, the umbilical cord is still quite long. I was talking to her and the nurse asked if I wanted to cut the umbilial cord to make it shorter. I said yes, and that was amazing to be able to do that. Quite an experience. They assured me she could not feel anything.

This picture shows Kiona on the weigh scale. She weighed 9 pounds 5 ounces. That is very big and she is very healthy looking. She is 20 inches in length, so a very good sized baby. Marisa took very good care of her while she was pregnant.

This picture shows Kiona with a soother. When Marisa tried to feed her, she would not latch on so we had to help her learn to prepare herself for her food. She learned quickly and it wasn't too long afterwards that she started to eat.

Here is Kiona all dressed up and nice and warm. She did so well with adjusting to the world. She has a strong cry and makes herself known when she is not happy. That is a good thing,

Here's Kaiden with his new born sister. He was so excited about her birth and calls her "my baby". He is proud to be a big brother. I will spend time helping him to understand his responsibilities as a brother. He will do an excellent job!

This last picture is of my baby girl Marisa and her family. She is such a good mother and partner to her man. I see her strength and I am so proud of her. I can't wait to see how they develop over the years. Such a joyful day to witness life. I am thankful to the Creator and all my relations.
Hai Hai!

0 Comments

Workshop Accessories

3/20/2010

0 Comments

I deliver a lot of workshops throughout the year. When I decided to work on presentations and workshops as a full time career I purchased a laptop and an LCD projector. These were the best idea for me, I learned a lot about how to use the equipment and practised in my own time. I was able to get better at the set-up so I could prepare my presentation.
It helps to have a son who is proficient at computers because he spent time explaining things to me and he displayed outstanding patient at some of my questions. I laugh now when I think about some things I asked him about computers!!
Anyways, I try to keep a look out for accessories that would make my life easier, especially for the equipment part of it. I was at Chapters one evening and I found this item called the Hubman. It was even on sale!
This Hubman has four USB ports and a 5V outlet plug.
I used it when I did an ASIST in High Prairie and it worked great. I was able to put all the equipment together in a convenient way without it looking all messed up.

Hubman

Isn't it cute, when it is in use the green light comes over where the heart is located.

Here it is when I am using all the ports. A month later and so far it's been great.
Two thumbs up!

0 Comments

High Level, Alberta

3/17/2010

0 Comments

I have been working in contract work with various agencies for the past seven years. Consistently I have contracts with northern agencies and more specifically in Northwestern, Alberta.
The biggest town in that area is High Level, Alberta. This is where I usually stay when I have my contracts.
High Level calls itself the "Las Vegas" of the North. They have alot of hotels and motels and the majority of them are named after a hotel in Las Vegas. There we have the Frontier, Stardust, Flamingo.
I think it takes special people to live in the northern climate. It can get very cold, there are shorter summers and longer winters, the cost of food is more because of transporting it to the north and shopping can be limited.
On the other hand the landscape is majestic, the northern lights are magnificent, the people are friendly and helpful. The pace of life is slower and there are lots of opportunity to enjoy nature and the outdoor aspects.
I'll post more pictures about High Level at different times in my travels

0 Comments

Wavin Flag

3/12/2010

0 Comments

I love music, all kinds of music and in particular music with meaning. It lifts my spirit. This song was released recently and is helping the people in Haiti. I went to itunes and bought it...it is so cool that Canadians, especially our young people, want to make a difference.
If you have a chance to pick up the song, I would recommend it. I also added the lyrics after the youtube video so you can see the meaning. Thanks!

Young Artists For Haiti – Wavin’ Flag Lyrics

[All]
When I get older
I will be stronger
They’ll call me freedom
Just like a wavin flag

[K'naan]
Born from a throne
Older than Rome
But violent prone
Poor people zone

[Nelly Furtado]
But it’s my home
All I have known

[1]
Where I got grown
but now its gone

[Avril Lavigne]
Out of the darkness
in came the carnage
threatening my very survival

[2]
Fractured my streets
and broke all my dreams

[3]
Feels like defeat to wretched retreat

[All]
So we strugglin’

[Kardinal Offishall]
Fighting to eat

[All]
And we wonderin’

[Kardinal Offishall]
If we’ll be free

[4]
We cannot wait for some faithful day
it’s too far away so right I’ll say

[All - Chorus]
When I get older
I will be stronger
They’ll call me freedom
Just like a waving flag
(And then it goes back x3)

Ahhho ahhho ahhho

[5]
So many wars, settling scores
[6]
All that we’ve been through
and now there is more
[7]
I hear them say love is the way
[8]
Love is the answer that’s what they say
[9]
But were not just dreamers
of broken down breathers(?)
[10]
Our hand will reach us
and (?)
[Drake]
This can’t control us
no it can’t hold us down
[11]
We gon pick it up even though we still struggling
[12]
(?)
[all]
and we wondering
[12]
(?)

[All]
We patiently wait
for some other day
[13 & 14 - female duet]
thats too far away so right now we say

[All - Chorus]

[Drake - Rapping]
Uhh – well alright
How come when the media stops covering
and there’s a little help from the government
we forget about the people still struggling
and assume that its really all love again, nahh
see we don’t have to wait for things to break apart
if you weren’t involved before it’s never too late to start
you probably think that it’s too far to even have to care
well take a look at where you live what if it happened there?
you have to know the urge to make a change lies within
and we can be the reason that we see the flag rise again

[14]
When I get older
I will be stronger
They’ll call me freedom
Just like a wavin’ flag

[15]
and then it goes back
[16]
and then it goes back
[14]
Then it goes back

[Chorus - All]

[Justin Bieber]
When I get older
When I get older
I will be stronger
just like a waving flag.

[End]

This is the original version by K

I get older, I will be stronger
They’ll call me freedom, just like a Waving Flag

When I get older, I will be stronger
They’ll call me freedom, just like a Waving Flag
And then it goes back, and then it goes back
And then it goes back

Born to a throne, stronger than Rome
But Violent prone, poor people zone
But it’s my home, all I have known
Where I got grown, streets we would roam
But out of the darkness, I came the farthest
Among the hardest survival
Learn from these streets, it can be bleak
Except no defeat, surrender retreat

So we struggling, fighting to eat and
We wondering when we’ll be free
So we patiently wait, for that fateful day
It’s not far away, so for now we say

When I get older, I will be stronger
They’ll call me freedom, just like a Waving Flag
And then it goes back, and then it goes back
And then it goes back

So many wars, settling scores
Bringing us promises, leaving us poor
I heard them say, love is the way
Love is the answer, that’s what they say,
But look how they treat us, make us believers
We fight their battles, then they deceive us
Try to control us, they couldn’t hold us
Cause we just move forward like Buffalo Soldiers

But we struggling, fighting to eat
And we wondering, when we’ll be free
So we patiently wait, for that faithful day
It’s not far away, but for now we say

When I get older, I will be stronger
They’ll call me freedom, just like a Waving Flag
And then it goes back, and then it goes back
And then it goes back

When I get older, I will be stronger
They’ll call me freedom, just like a Waving Flag
And then it goes back, and then it goes back
And then it goes back

(Ohhhh Ohhhh Ohhhhh Ohhhh)
And everybody will be singing it
(Ohhhh Ohhhh Ohhhhh Ohhhh)
And you and I will be singing it
(Ohhhh Ohhhh Ohhhhh Ohhhh)
And we all will be singing it
(Ohhh Ohh Ohh Ohh)

When I get older, I will be stronger
They’ll call me freedom, just like a Waving Flag
And then it goes back, and then it goes back
And then it goes back

When I get older, I will be stronger
They’ll call me freedom, just like a Waving Flag
And then it goes back, and then it goes back
And then it goes back

When I get older, when I get older
I will be stronger, just like a Waving Flag
Just like a Waving Flag, just like a Waving flag
Flag, flag, Just like a Waving Flag.

0 Comments

Wonder's of the Day

3/7/2010

0 Comments

Last week I went to deliver a workshop as I have done on many occasions.On my drives to and from various communities I can see the wonders of the day. These are views that I see often but I can never get enough of.
In my journey through out this great province I see the Creator's work in all aspects. Here's some pictures from this last drive

If the workshops are within driving distance and the roads are clear, I like to get an early start on the day. I am a morning person. I wake up and I look forward to what the day has to offer.
Sometimes I will be driving and the sun begins to rise and it's beauty is breathtaking. Sunrises are never the same, the colours are different each time. I took this picture as I was diving East not too far out from my place.

On this particular day, it was cold and lots of fog. The ice stayed on the trees for quite a while before the sun melted it. The trees look so magnificent covered with frost. It reminds me there is still a bit of winter left.

The camera that I use is excellent for focusing in closer and getting a nice picture. If you're interested it is a Canon G10.

What a beautiful day for a drive.. can't wait for the next trip to see more!!!

0 Comments

Banff

3/1/2010

0 Comments

Happy March 1st....spring is on the way!!
Last week I went to a conference hosted by LIVN, Life is Valued Network, in Banff. Here's some pics of that experience...

This picture was taken on my drive to Banff, the sun was setting over the mountains and the view was breathtaking!

I had an opportunity to walk through Banff the evening of the first day of the conference. The sun was shining, there was snow in the community but not very much and it was warm. Such a glorious day for a walk, here's what I saw...

In Banff there are a lot of international visitors. While I was there I heard many different languages. The people are very friendly. I received smiles, nods of hello and some people stopped to briefly chat. One woman stopped us to say that the local art shop was a beautiful place to see. We went in to check it out and it was terrific. I couldn't afford any of the art pieces but there was great to look at. Expression through art is a powerful tool.

As we were walking, we found a store called "Rocks and Gems Canada". They had a wonderful selection of stones from the area. Stones are one of my favorite things to use and wear, I like worry stones, stone rings, I use rocks in the talking circles I lead and I use them to help me when I feel anxious, particularly when I have to give a speech that I am feeling anxiety about. They help to ground me and with a prayer, I feel connected.

We had a fabulous supper, chicken and rice, as well as entertainment with Don Burnstick. If you haven't had the opportunity to hear Don speak, please take advantage if you find out he is performing in your area.
Don speaks about his life, his issues and how he made his way through difficult times. He uses aboriginal cultural tools to speak about lessons learned.
This one part of his presentation speaks to the seven steps of ages we go through starting at birth, and in particular being a youth. He talks about youth being affected by SAD (Sex, alcohol and drugs) Powerful influences that affect how we see ourselves and others.
One of the gifts of the presentation were his thoughts about what we need to work through on our journey towards healing. He talked about working on ourselves through PRAYER, SHARING, CRYING and LAUGHTER.

This is one of the presentations I sat in on. One of my concerns has always been about how we address community based suicide prevention strategies, particularly in Aboriginal communities. I was glad to see that some work was being done in this area. This particular session was delivered by Dave Mascar, who has worked in Suicide Prevention for many years. I look forward to seeing more of his work in this area.

These last two pictures are from my drive back to Edmonton. I decide to go the long way north to Jasper but turning towards Rocky Mountain House. On the road were these Big Horn Sheep.
They stopped to look at me and slowly moved on their way. They looked so majestic. Very nice and always a pleasure to see our four legged brothers and sisters in my travels.

Hiy Hiy, thank you Creator for the gift of this meeting!

0 Comments

Today my Granddaughter is born

Workshop Accessories

High Level, Alberta

Wavin Flag

Wonder's of the Day

Banff

Priscilla Lalonde

Categories

Archives