Shame On You ~Indigo Girls at Lilith Fair 1997

"We're looking for illegal immigrants, can we check your car?' I said 'Funny I think we were all on the same boat back in 1694!" ..Greatest line in this song.

Lilith Fair 1997 ~Sarah McLachlan, Indigo Girls, Jewel....

I saw these amazing women perform this beautiful Joni Mitchell song live at Lilith Fair 1997 in Detroit, MI at the Pine Knob Music Theatre. I'm sure it's already on this blog somewhere but it deserves a re-post.

54-40 Backstage

I've always paid attention to the Canadian music scene. Since my high school days I've followed this band but I've lost track of just how many times I've watched them live. We went on a car ride to the beach today where I got to be the DJ and decided after playing every tune I have of theirs on my iPad that I need more 54-40 back in my life ..and so You Tube and I spent some quality time together when I got home.

Live

"You're worried about how you’re going to feel at the end of your life? What about right now? Live. Right in this minute. That's where the joy's at."
— Abigail Thomas

Push ~Sarah McLachlan

Of every Sarah song there is, this one makes me think of my husband most.

Sarah McLachlan ~Possession ..Live With The Toronto Symphony Orchestra June 22, 2012. Amazing performance..

Ice Cream ~Sarah McLachlan at Massey Hall Toronto March 18, 2011 ..I was at this show!

I'm A Believer

I love Twitter. It's my 'Go To' for News and Networking. I don't use it as a social networking tool in the same sense as I use Facebook; it's more about connecting with like minded people who share the same interests as me but who I don't necessarily know. In fact I can count on both hands how many people I actually do know on a personal level from my Followers List. Today I saw a random tweet to the Twitterverse from @TaisonKrew : "Weird question? Does anyone believe in having a soul?" I responded with "I'm a believer" I received a tweet in return "@jennjam why do you think so?"
..There was far too much of an explanation behind this to try to cram into 140 characters and so this blog post was created :)

I  believe we are souls, not that we have a soul as such. And it's not something I think, it's something I feel. My ideas surrounding this probably differs from how others might answer the same question and I mean no offence to anyone. I should mention first off that I know @TaisonKrew. We used to work together and I want to say I know him well enough to think he believes we are soulful, but I'm not certain. I grew up in a religious free household. Neither one of my parents practiced it and so there is no religious influence on what I'm about to say here. I have always felt very connected to my world. I believe in the ability to create ones own happiness. I feel the various energies in my surroundings. I feel the vibrations of other peoples fear and anxiety, I feel the heaviness of their sadness. I feel the rush of positivity that runs though the air when something wonderful is said or done, and when something wonderful is done but unsaid, the rush has even more force. I love the knowing without saying. That soul to soul communication. There is meaning but there are no words. An unspoken universal language; it's felt not heard. And the people who 'get it', just know when someone else 'gets' it. It has nothing to do with race, gender or class. It's deeper than that feeling of your 'heart melting' over something that touches you emotionally. These energies run further than those feelings. You must be open to allowing them in to really feel them too. They dive through into your core being, or what I believe to be your 'soul'. Every experience that touches you this deeply is absorbed and taken with you from life to life. This core is connected to your subconscious and has the power to protect and guide you if you listen to it. At the right moments in our lives, the Universe will give us a glimpse of our destiny through a dream, a thought, a vision. It is up to us to follow those energies that lead us through the path to that particular destiny. This is no secret. People have been living life this way for ages and ages. It just needs to be recognized and trusted. It's why it's so important to think positively in every encounter. Although we are destined for some drama and negativity in our lives, it will have a purpose that we will learn and draw from at a later time. Maybe even in another lifetime. Not everything is meant to make sense in the moment. Not every experience needs to be analyzed and logically understood, but it should be recognized in order to balance the emotions that may come along with it and then simply accepted as being meant to be. Some people have a natural tendency to deflect these energies as they can be very physically and mentally draining but what they maybe don't realize is they are depriving themselves the opportunities these experiences provide for us down the road; it's unfortunate. Not everything in life is meant to be understood but everything that happens is for a reason. If we can learn to let go of certain experiences and take them for what they are, we will free ourselves from many of the anxieties that torture us. I feel as if I have an old soul; one with many impressions made on it. One that has absorbed many lifetimes of experiences. In the chaotic world I live in and the many roles I play to the many people in my life, I'm grateful for the days where I can acquire stillness from within and connect to my true being for inspiration. In those moments I accept myself for who I am knowing that my inner spirit has lead me to where I'm at ..and for good reason. I don't know if this actually answers the question @TaisonKrew posted, but it's the best way I can describe why I'm a believer.

"We are spiritual beings, having a human experience" ~Oprah Winfrey

Happy Daddy's Day

My husband is so much more than just the 'father' of my children. He's a Daddy. He takes pride in his family and is a super Dad. He's hard working; he provides a very full and enriching lifestyle for us and doesn't often complain. He puts up with a lot but handles it all in a masculine laid back sort of way. I can't really describe him , he's like no one else I've ever met. He's the Dad who goes to every Swim Lesson, Soccer, Hockey, Basketball, Baseball Game and helps out with the team where needed. He knows all of the kids by name.
He cooks, he does laundry, empties the dishwasher and occasionally will even mop the floor. He is a mentor to our children and shares what fascinating facts on nature he knows. (and he knows a lot!) He's the Dad who does homework with the boys at the kitchen table while dinner is cooking and helps them to better understand the complexities of mathematics and science that I could never begin to teach them. His mind amazes me; he's a smart cookie.
He's creative too. He's the Dad who helps the boys to build castles out of cardboard boxes and paints them for school projects. He encourages them to add more detail in their drawings and gives them tips on learning to draw; again, something else I myself could not teach my children! He kicks my ass at Draw Something every time.
He takes us on family vacations, camping trips, bike rides, movies, batting cages, mini putting, waterparks, and so much more. He has dreams for what we'll do and where we'll go in the future.
He makes sure that we are all well taken care of. Today with it being Father's Day, you'd think he'd take the day off and sit back but so far thats not the case. He made my morning coffee, wants to take us out for breakfast and then is coming home to get dinner ready for his own father.
He's a good man, this Charlie Brown of mine! <3 Happy Daddy's Day, Christopher <3
"Anyone can be a Father but it takes someone special to be a Daddy" ~Proverb

Mom, We KNOW!

It's a weekday morning ritual. Most days it's up to me to get my boys and my two nieces on the school bus. The girls come over just as my boys have finished packing their belongings & brushing teeth. They sit and watch TV and as soon as Pokemon is over, they know they need to hustle and get out the door. When I heard the show was over this morning I said as I always do "C'mon Kids, let's get going!" and Carter responded with such certainty "Mom, we KNOW that when Pokemon is done we need to go, you don't always have to tell us!!" In that moment I realized that they are that independent, that they don't need that cue call anymore ..they understand routine and time lines. For years it has been my job to keep things in order and without even realizing it, I've trained my successors. I took a minute to think about other small things that they do on their own and felt a sense of Mommy accomplishment; a sense of Mom pride for the things you don't intentionally teach them but by setting a good example, they learn. Those things.
As I stood there internalizing all of this Carter called me out of my trance and says "Coming Mom?!" Oh, right! The school bus! With my usual pottery mug full of coffee in hand we did our usual walk to the stop, waved to the same usual neighbours and met up with the other Moms and Kids as we always do. I like this routine but wonder how much longer it too will last as they all go and grow up on me. As the bus approaches all four of them gather around me, their lips pursed for smooches and one by one I get to kiss them them all goodbye for the day, thanking my lucky stars they are not so grown up that they want to give that up just yet. It makes me smile inside and out.
And as for the next day I get them on the bus, I'm just going to stand back with my coffee and watch them finish their TV show, get their things together on their own without telling them what needs to be done and wait for my "Coming Mom?!" cue.