ECEMBER

ONE THOUSAND TREESFACILITATING WELLNESS

THROUGH CONNECTION, CREATIVITY, AND COMMUNITY SERVICE

PUBLISHERLisa Browning

DEPARTMENTAL EDITORSCreativity & The Arts: Sandra Wilson

Giving Back: Carly GenysHealth & Wellbeing: Leilan Grace Adair

ONE THOUSAND TREESEmail: lisa@onethousandtrees.com

Phone: 519-362-5494Fax: 519-265-6712

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ONE THOUSAND TREESDECEMBER 2016ROOTS AND WINGS

FEATURE ARTICLES:

THOUGHTS ON THE THEME

by Taime Depelteau 1

WHERE DO SPIRIT BABIES COME FROM?by Christine Nightingale 1

DEPARTMENTS:

A SENSE OF COMMUNITY

-- An Evening of Sharing: Death, Dying & Grieving, by Lisa Browning 2-- Roots & Wings: A Mental Health Initiative, by Lisa Browning 4-- Mindful Leadership Summit, by Amber McAuley 3-- Photo Gallery of Recent Events 10

FOOD & NUTRITION

-- Delicious Party Dips 5

GIVING BACK

-- Guelph-Wellington Basketeers: Empowering Women, One Basket at a Time, by Lisa Browning 6-- Volunteer Profile, by Carly Genys 7-- Volunteering in Southwestern Ontario 8

HEALTH & WELLBEING

-- Would You Like to Live to be 100? by Sandra O’Hagan 11-- Winter’s Breakfast, by Noel Trevors 12-- Stop Obsessing and Start Living 17

THE LIBRARY

-- Totem Stones, a poem by Francine Lee 15-- Roots and Wings, a short story by Bob Smith 18-- The Story Behind the Story: The Life of Isabel Crawford: More Than I Asked For, by Marilyn Whiteley 13-- The Creativity Tree, a poem by Sandra Wilson 18

Winter’s Breakfast, p 12 Would You Like to Live to be 100?, p 11

THIS MONTH’S CONTRIBUTORS

Carly GenysVolunteer Profile

Carly is the Volunteer ServicesCoordinator for the United Way ofCambridge and North Dumfries. She isoriginally from Sault Ste. MarieOntario and moved to Kitchener six

years ago. Since graduating from Brock University andreceiving an Honours Bachelor of Science and Bachelorof Edu-cation degree, Carly has pursued her passion ofeducation and volunteerism. When Carly is not at work,she enjoys spending quality time with her family and theoccasional night watching reality TV with friends.

Taime DepelteauThoughts on the Theme

Taime’s given name from her parentsis Taime Depelteau. Her spirit namegiven to her by a local, Indigenousshaman is White Sun Woman. She isMetis. she is a mother, a grand-

daughter, a daughter, a sister, an aunt, a woman. She hasalways written and many have encouraged her tocontinue. For Taime, this is a root that was snipped fairlyearly in life when her father suggested she pursue a "real"career that pays. Keeping in theme with this month'sarticle, "Roots & Wings", she consciously chooses to re-root or re-plant so this seed blossoms. She has fullintentions to use her wings in a way that helps her andothers soar!

Sandra O’HaganWould You Like to Live to be 100?

Sandra is the passionate founder of SOFull of LIFE Fitness and Wellness. Alife threatening event helped give herthe courage to quit a 30 year corporatemanagement career to coach, train and

inspire others to change their lives through fitness trainingand healthy lifestyle choices. Everyone wants to find thatfountain of youth and she has dedicated herself to helpingpeople get there. You can find my Facebook Fan page athttps://www.facebook.com/SOfullofLIFE.fitness or findout more about Sandra and her work atwww.sofulloflife.com.

Francine LeeTotem Stones

Francine writes from Oxford County,Ontario, Canada. She embraces thenatural world like kin, and has hadsuccess with writing contests,published (online and print format)

poetry, short fiction, and non-fiction, dating back thirtyodd years.

Amber McAuleyMindful Leadership Summit

Amber is a successful mental healthand wellness professional withexperience teaching, developingworkshops, and client counselling.She has extensive training in

mindfulness and offers in person and online serviceswithin the education and health care systems. Amber is apublished author and has a passion for running fundraisingevents for child and youth mental health. For moreinformation visit www.coachambermcauley.com.

Christine NightingaleWhere Do Spirit Babies ComeFrom?

After studying Hypnosis for Fertility,Christine found that while workingwith clients, she would get very clearmessages from their miscarried or not

yet conceived babies. Her speciality has become gettingmessages from these babies explaining their difficultiesin coming in, and suggestions for making it easier. Shehas worked with over 400 couples, mostly by email,facilitating communication and pregnancy.For more information visit www.nightingalehealing.com.

Sandra WilsonThe Creativity Tree

Sandra is a writer, educator, amateurphotographer and Director of theWilson Education Resource Centre.With a Bachelor of Arts in English andHistory much of her work includes

historic facts presented in fun and interesting ways.Although trained to take portraits at Sears Portrait Studio,Sandra prefers to capture nature with her camera. Herpassion is to help people learn, laugh and be inspired.Please visit Sandra at www.werconline.ca.

Bob SmithRoots and Wings

Like many writers, R.K. (Bob) Smithhas worked in widely different settings,accounting for diverse characters,settings, and story lines. He describeshis stories as ‘character-driven,’ rather

than ‘plot-driven.’ People face some kind of challenge andface it with creativity and integrity, often connecting withothers as part of the process. He has published novels andshort stories in online, newspaper, and more traditionalprinted formats, as well as having written Christmasstories heard on radio.

Noel TrevorsWinter’s Breakfast

Noel is the very proud father of threedaughters. Two of them are here inOntario with him, and his third is inNova Scotia. His girls, their presence,and love in Noel’s life is his joy. His

passions and teachings he passes on to them, and hisgreatest passion is the time he spends with them and innature

Marilyn WhiteleyStory Behind the Story

Marilyn taught religious studies atuniversities in the United States andCanada. Then historians discoveredthat women had histories! Marilynenthusiastically took up this study and

combined it with her previous educational background tobecome an editor and writer on Canadian women inreligion. One of her books, The Life and Letters of AnnieLeake Tuttle: Working for the Best, was also the result ofconsiderable serendipity, as is her new book, The Life ofIsabel Crawford: More Than I Asked For.

FROM THE EDITOR

My dog, a cross between a Bernese Mountain Dog and a Pyrenese Mountain Dog (who thinks sheis a lap dog!) is named Mandy. Yes, after the Barry Manilow song, as a matter of fact!! Her fullname is Amanda Jane .. do not ask me why! What is even stranger, though, is that all of a sudden,a couple of years ago, I started calling her Josephine.

A couple weeks ago, while thinking about my guardian angels, and how I could determine whothey are, it occurred to me that “Josephine” was a clue.

Mandy has always been very intuitive, and I believe she was sent to look after me, emotionally andspiritually. Any time I am feeling upset or distressed, she knows instantly, and is right by my side. Even if she is downstairson the main floor, and I am upstairs, she senses when I am upset, and comes running.

And so ... on this fateful day a couple weeks ago, I looked up “Archangel Josephine.” Here’s what I found out: ArchangelJosephine is the feminine side of Archangel Jeremiel. Her message is “There is no doomsday scenario.”

Jeremiel is a mentor and teacher who clearly guides us to see ourselves and others. Archangel Jeremiel can be of assistanceas you take inventory of your action and adjust your future plans accordingly.

Having grown up being told that “Whatever can go wrong will go wrong,” there couldn’t be a better message for me thanthis! I now know why I gave Mandy the name Josephine. I now have further insight to the path I am meant to follow in thislife. I now understand, even more clearly than before, why I feel so strongly about empowering others to get past obstaclesand become the best they can be.

With roots to keep us grounded, and wings to let us fly ... there is nothing we cannot do!S

Lisa

THOUGHTS ON THE THEMEby Taime Depelteau

Roots and wings. It sounds likesomething you would order from themenu of a trendy, nouveau restaurant.Their dish description may go a littlelike this, "Something from the earthand something from the sky; in adelicate but bold balance ofinternational flavours!". Mmmmmm.I'll take it! The best of both worlds.

Whenever someone asks me which oftwo things I prefer, and assuming bothof these things are likeable, I alwaysanswer both. Why choose only oneand limit myself? This applies to themetaphorical roots and wings also.

In a society that sweeps people up in abig dustpan full of fuzzies, it's vital tohave strong roots that keep you stableand grounded. In relation to a plant,roots are vital because they suck thewater and nutrients out of the soil andinto the plant. The plant would notthrive if it didn't have strong roots; itmay even die.

Not only are the roots vital for theplant, but they are also vital for thesoil!

When it rains, the roots hold the soil inplace so the soil does not wash away(erode).

The human equivalent can becompared quite easily to our plantspecies; as is the case with much ofnature. Charles Darwin made thisevident when he studied nature andwitnessed its phenomena. This is alsothe way it works for humans and ourenvironment. Like plants, we needroots to claim security, confidence,safety and growth. Think of it in termsof a small environment such as anindividual family who has a father,mother and children. Let's say one ofthe parents have no roots.

They are unstable, uncertainty isalways in the air and nothing is evercompleted.

Not only will this person struggle tothrive, but their family (the soil to theplant) will also, over time, suffer. Onthe flip side, if a family has very strongroots, the children will grow up to theirfull potential knowing they have whatthey need to stand strong - even in theface of adversity. The child who hasweak or no roots, will fall with theslightest wind.

We could also look at a couple as anexample of the importance of havingroots to spread your wings. If a couplehas strong roots, they will last throughchallenge after challenge. Thestrongest wind may shake theirbranches, but their roots will keepthem standing strong. If this samecouple has weak roots, the slightestprovocation can end their future.Roots give us what we need internallyto spread our wings and fly. It mayeven be a prerequisite, although thereare many without roots that try.

Our current culture is indicative of this.You can see it in micro environmentssuch as an individual or a family; oryou can see it in a macro environmentsuch as a whole country's attitude andpolitics. So many are aimlessly on themove. We all want to spread our wingsand fly! We feel cheated if we don't.Robbed of some inherit birthright! Wewander aimlessly not being able to fly,yet not knowing why.

We go in the wrong direction, or getcaught in a downdraft without acompass or tools to help navigate ourflights. The lack of strong roots (afantastic support system - past orpresent) is why! No one expects aplant to grow if it does not root; yet wehave millions of people out there withno roots that are trying to fly!

No wonder depression has becomemuch too common. How can we

thrive if we're being blown about in thewind?

We are born of the earth with the skyall around us; reminding us all thatthere is no ceiling in our life. We arelimitless in our possibilities.Limitations come into play only whenwe are stunted by what nurtures us. Ifour families didn't/don't give us theroots we need so we can feel the powerof our wings, do it for yourself. Thereare all sorts of self-help methods outthere. Awareness is key. We first needto know the value of roots to seekthem. As contrary as it sounds, to plantoneself is to prepare to fly. Remember,weak roots don't just affect the oneplant. They can cause the entire soil toerode. As a society, we all have a rightto spread our wings. We also have aresponsibility to maintain and createstrong roots; for ourselves and others.

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WHERE DO SPIRIT BABIESCOME FROM?

by Christine Nightingale

These are some ways Spirit Babies canmake moms aware of their existence.But where do these spirits come from?There seem to be four main sources, indecreasing order of frequency.

One: Past Life Connection to one orboth parents (from before any of thesouls involved were born)

The great majority of Spirit Babieschoose their mother from their soulgroup. A soul group has about 45-60members, with a great deal of overlapbetween groups. Think of throwing ahandful of pebbles into a quiet pond.The ripples would intersect, but no twostones would have exactly the sameripple.

What this means is that a mother mayattract a Spirit Baby who was once herbest friend, her sister or her mother. ASpirit Baby may also choose the father.

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And sometimes an older Spirit Babywill invite its younger siblings in ...allbecause of past karma (unfinishedbusiness, often caused by a prematurepassing, such as a friend or fiancé lostin wartime, or a childhood death(which was once very commoneverywhere in the world.)

Two: Current Life Connections (atleast one parent had a connection tothe child in this lifetime in anotherform)

A woman had a male friend who diedyoung in a motorcycle accident. Sheknows that the energy of one of herdaughters is the return of her friend.

A third mother had a stillborn babygirl. Many years later her seconddaughter gave birth to a little girl. Thegrandmother said the grandchildlooked exactly like her lost baby.

The first of these types of children tobe studied extensively were describedby a team of child psychologists. LeeCarroll and Jan Tober found that agreat many children coming to theirtherapy practice were unusually bright,questioned authority, and were veryspiritually inclined. They found thatthis change was a world-widephenomenon. The first of the IndigoChildren were the flower children ofthe sixties, but now they are appearingin increasing numbers.

Rainbow Children love all the coloursof the rainbow (which are the same asthe colours of the human chakrasystem.) To review, red is the colour ofthe root chakra or grounding, orange ofcreativity, yellow is for personalpower, green for love and healing, bluefor self-expression, indigo for intuitiveawareness and white for connectionto spirit level. (Our wings to thehigher realm are often visible as a glowabove the head of a loving being, or aperson making love. It is actually theloving emotion between the parentswhich opens the mother`s crown

chakra, through which the Spirit Babycomes to connect to the newlyfertilized egg.)

Rainbow children love colourfulsurroundings and brightly coloredclothes. They are high-energy andcreative. Their gifts will help toawaken humanity. Doreen Virtue saysthere are very few currently incarnated;parents are crystal adults; they havenever incarnated before.

Four: Rarest of all...the true StarChildren who do not come from oursolar system Time and space have nomeaning on the other side. In ourMilky Way galaxy alone there are100 billion stars. Very recently,astronomers have discoveredhundreds of exoplanets (planets notin our own solar system). We nowknow that there are hundreds ofbillions of galaxies. So very likelythere are millions (or billions) ofinhabited planets.

Some undoubtedly have moredeveloped life forms than ourselves,with better technology. Perhaps manyof them have conquered disease andwarfare. If so, those beings might wellwish to help us here on Mother Earthto find better ways of treating theenvironment, other species, and eachother.

All Spirit Babies, regardless of theirsoul origin, choose their parents, lifetasks and challenges very carefully. Letus take them by the hand and learntogether.

My book "Spirit Baby" is available forsale on Amazon.

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AN EVENING OF SHARING:DEATH, DYING AND

GRIEVINGby Lisa Browning

We had another amazing evening atNovember’s Sharing Evening. Thetopic was Death, Dying & Grieving,and I was honoured to have thefollowing four amazing speakers sharetheir insights:

Tammy Adams: IntuitiveUnderstanding, Grief Recovery

Method

Kevin Cahill: Clarity Builder

Francine Houston:Transformational Intuitive and

Transformation Coach

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Lisa Woolgar: Walking With You,Counselling Services

I asked each of them to sum up whatthey hoped would be the main thingpeople would take away from theirtalks.

Tammy’s takeaway: It is my hopethat by sharing my message today thatpeople will be able to see grief for whatit is and be willing and open to bringcompletion to their pain. To embraceThe Grief Re-covery Program and beable to move forward in their lives.

Kevin’s takeaway: Death is in thefuture, you die in the present and yougrieve about something that happenedin the past. There are a lot of ways thatpeople can think about the past, live inthe past, dwell in the past, experiencethe past, appreciate the past, hate thepast, be defined by the past or use it asa catalyst for their future.

Francine’s takeaway: I think themessage I really want for people tohave as a major take away is that yourend of life ATeam conversation is aconversation that is relevant, importantand not as scary for your loved onesthat not knowing what you want.

Lisa’s takeaway: Our bodies andemotions have a natural wisdom thatspeaks to us loud and clear about whatwe most value, need, and hope for.Together we are remembering how tolisten.

Next month’s topic: Goal Planning,Manifestation and the Law ofAttraction. Watch the One ThousandTrees facebook page for details!

MINDFUL LEADERSHIPSUMMIT

by Amber McAuley

Isn’t this a wild time to be on earth?Many of us are experiencing suchmixed ideas about what the fu-ture willhold and the chaos seems to beaffecting us all. People young and old,rich and poor, living in cities andjungles are being impacted by the stateof our global consciousness. Or lackthereof...

I’m a coach and my specialty isteaching mindfulness, self-care, andcommunication tools. I recently wentto the Mindful Leadership Summit inWashington DC and had several “ah-ha” moments. It seemed worthwhile towrite about my biggest take-aways andshare them along in hopes that somereaders may find some inspiration.

1. Are you the type of person whoputs other’s happiness and well-being in front of your own? Doyou treat others with morekindness than you treat yourself?For some reason or another, manyof us speak to ourselves in a waythat we would never speak to ourchildren or loved ones. We’ve allheard that in order to truly loveothers we must first loveourselves, but it’s difficult to putinto practice because lovingourselves can be seen as beingselfish or inconsiderate. I’mdelighted to share the latestresearch that’s proving that ourown personal happiness is an actof compassion that has immensereach. Emma Seppala (ScienceDirector, Stanford UniversityCenter for Compassion andAltruism Research and Education)and her research department havediscovered that each person’s well-being has an enormouslyinfluential impact on everyone; upto 3 degrees of separation! Whichmeans that if I’m happy it can havean impact on my daughter’s,

teacher’s, partner. In conclusion,you can now rest assured thatwhen you love yourself it’s a giftto the whole wide world!

2. How well do you perform whenyou're feeling tired, bored, orstressed? Most of us would agreethat our performance levels are notoptimal when we're in that mind-set. Otto Scharmer, Co-founderThe Presencing Institute, noted theresults of a study from 45,000students surveyed. 75% of themoods they identified with wereconsidered negative, and the top 3descriptive words were; bored,tired, and stressed. And, this is thefirst time in history that teensexperience higher levels of stressthan the adults who are raisingthem. He shared some good newsabout a mood meter app thatincludes 6 steps towards buildingemotional intelligence. He saidthat we can take 6 steps now toavoid 12 steps later. I thought thatwas catchy :) Check it out andpass it along. http://moodmeterapp.com/

3. Have you interrupted sex to checkyour emails??? You don't have toanswer, but at the MindfulLeadership Summit conference Ilearned that many many manypeople do!!! Apparently 48% ofmen and 62% of women admit tointerrupting sex to check theiremails. That number as-tounds me.Most of us probably notice thatwe're living in a time where ourattention is overly stimulated andit's simply part of our collectiveexperience. However, we canunplug more often than we do andI think it's especially important tounplug while nurturing our closestrelation-ships. I’d like to suggestthat you take a moment today tounplug and give full attention tosomeone you love; that could evenbe giving yourself your fullattention. Here’s a guided mind-ful

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body scan practice you can tryhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3oOqkWZLpIQ&t=17s

4. A Family Doctor isn't always thebest place to get stressmanagement support. GraemeMoffat, VP of scientific andregulatory affairs Interaxon, Inc.,pointed out that about 80% ofDoctor vis-its are stress related,but over 70% of our Doctors reportthey feel a lack of stressmanagement tools to offer theirpatients. And so... only 3% ofDoctor visits include stressmanagement sup-port. Thisexplains a lot! The good news isthat stress management tools areavailable in several locations andwe can sometimes find what weneed outside the clinical setting.My top 3 suggestions are: lookonline for guided relaxationpractices, check out the bulletinboard at your community library,and read the upcoming events inyour local newspaper. All of theabove mentioned can help boost aperson’s sense of connection andwell-being. Not to mention, onecan minimize the time spent inlengthy waits at the clinic.

5. Our personal safety is a globalphenomenon. I heard Mayor SarahFlitner (Jackson Hole, Jack-sonWyoming) speak about her drivefor creating a mindful community.She highlighted that human beingsare wired to connect with others sowe feel safe, heard, and relevant.Then, she spoke about the eventsof 9/11 and pointed out that 19human beings felt so unheard,unsafe, and irrelevant that theyended their own lives and the livesof many others. Mayor Sarah re-minded us that solutions tochallenges are not found in thenews and the media; the solutionsare found in the everydayinteractions we have with oneanother. We are collectively

contribut-ing to global challengesand we can only make progress bychanging how we relate to theworld around us. Let’s all committo doing an action every day thatwill help another person feelheard, relevant and safe. You neverknow how meaningful it can be.

There are days when I’m out and aboutand I observe so much unhappiness. Isee the newsstands filled withmessages of doom and gloom and Istart to think the dark force is toostrong and I lose sight of the light.

My attendance at the conference wasvery timely; I left feeling clear,grounded, and had a sense of renewedfaith. I learned that 8% of the people inthe United States are practicingmindfulness and I was surrounded byinfluential people who are 100%dedicated to bringing about positivechanges that will affect our world.

Marc Brackett, Director at Yale Centrefor Emotional Intelligence, was invitedto speak at the White House andpresent research on social andemotional learning and school climate.

It’s amazing how schools are startingto consider the importance of teachingmental health strategies. Hearing aboutthe conversations that are happeningon a macro system level gave me aburst of optimism. Adults are startingto put plans in place for creating moremindful and empowered children/societies. It might not be so far in thefuture that we’ll see schools threadingin more social and emotional learningoutcomes.

I’d like to see a day where there’s aCanadian Mental Health Guidealongside the Canadian Food Guide.

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ROOTS AND WINGSby Lisa Browning

I am very excited about the newdirection of the former “On ButterflyWings.” Under the very capableleadership of Danielle Betts, the goalof this initiative is to change the waypeople perceive mental health.

Here are a few words from Danielle:

I always wonder what my life would belike if teachers never questioned mybreaks, if my friends knew how to calmme down, if I accepted myself theminute this all started, if stigma wasnon-existent.

The possibilities are endless, and I’mready to change these ideas into plans.

I have so much to say and I’m ready tobe heard. I want people going throughwhat I go through to know they’re notalone and they have the power overtheir life.

Stop letting people tell you who youare and belittle you. You are so strong.You wake up every day to fight thesame fight you did before and that, myfriend, is courage at its finest.

I made it through, even though therewere so many times I swore I wouldn’t.

I want my fellow Mental HealthWarriors to know, you are no less thansomeone without this crazy yetwonderful trait.

You will make it through.

Plans and Projects

• monthly newsletter encouragingempowerment through creativeexpression

• high school play about mentalhealth and support

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• week-long initiative to raiseawareness of mental health issues

• workshops with teachers andstudents

• Feel Good Day for the community

• anthology of empowerment storiesabout mental health

If you are interested in any of theseinitiatives, or have more ideas, pleasecontact Danielle by email atdanielle@onethousandtrees.com or byphone at 519-841-5101.

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DELICIOUS PARTY DIPS

It’s time for a little skinny dipping overthe holidays so I’ve given you myfavourite healthy dip recipes just intime for new year celebrations. Thereare 4 purely delicious dips to choosefrom and what I love about them is thatthey are easy to make and muchhealthier then store bought versions.They all keep for about 4 – 5 days inthe fridge, any leftovers are perfect toserve along side summer salads, dollopover steamed vegetables or pan roastedsalmon or use as a sandwich spread inplace of butter.

The secret to a good baba ghanoush isfirstly to choose a great eggplant. Theseedless variety are available at themoment and what’s great about themis that the taste is sweet and velvetywhich makes for a delicious babaghanoush. It’s the seeds you see thatcan sometimes make your eggplanttaste slightly bitter. I aways roast my

eggplant in a hot oven in preference tocharing on top of a stove. Mainlybecause I prefer the cleaner flavoursover the smokiness of traditionalversions and the subtle hint of lemonand freshness shines through. What Ilove to do is serve this dip topped withdeli-cate jewels of pomegranate thendrizzle over a little cold pressed oliveoil just before you serve it.

What’s good about them:

Eggplants are high in the mineralmagnesium that helps with nerve andmuscle contraction in the body.

Avocados are nutrient dense, low incarbs, high in fibre, antioxidants andhealthy mono-unsaturated fats that areanti-inflammatory to the body. Anumber of age-related diseases havebeen linked to inflammation, includingobesity, cancer, type 2 diabetes,atherosclerosis, arthritis, osteoporosis,depression and dementia. Eating plentyof fresh fruits and vegetables, reducingsaturated fats from animal sources, andchoosing good oils coming fromomega-3 and oleic sources — such asfish, linseeds, avocado, olives andalmonds — are steps in the rightdirection.

Red capsicum (bell peppers) are low infat, carbs and calories and high inantioxidants such as beta-carotene aprecursor to vitamin A, helping topromote vision and support a healthyimmune system.

Beetroots are packed with phyto-nutrients called betalains that provideantioxidant and anti-inflammatorysupport to the body. They are also highin minerals such as calcium andmagnesium that help with bonemineralization and muscle contraction.

GREEN GODDESS DIP

500 g ( 17 1/2 oz) about 3 avocadospeeled and seededjuice from 1 – 2 lemons, depending onyour taste1/2 cup parsley leaves1/2 cup mint leaves1 handful baby spinach leaves1/4 cup pumpkin seeds½ tsp sea saltgood grind of black pepper¼ – ½ cup (60 ml – 125 ml) water

Combine all ingredients in a high-speed blender like a Vitamix untilsmooth and creamy.

Serve with vegetables crudities andnibbles such as:capsicum – carrot – radish – celery –cucumber – asparagus – witlof –broccoli + cauliflower flowerets +green olives and Persian feta.

Enjoy – Serves 20.

BABA GHANOUSH

2 large seedless eggplant / aubergines2 tablespoons tahini paste½ – 1 lemon1 clove garlic½ teaspoon sea salt and pepper

Pierce the skins of your eggplant witha fork then place onto a lined bakingtray.

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Roast in a hot 200 C oven until the skinblackens, eggplant has collapsedslightly and the flesh is lovely and soft.Remove from the oven and place theeggplant into a colander to allowexcess juices from the eggplant to runout and cool.

Remove the inside flesh from theeggplant – you should have about 500g of soft creamy flesh.

Combine into a high speed blenderalong with tahini, juice and zest from½ lemon, 1 clove garlic, salt andpepper until smooth and creamy.

Taste and adjust to your liking, addingmore lemon or tahini if needed.

Spoon into a serving bowl along sidevegetable crudities such as:capsicum – carrot – radish – celery –cucumber – asparagus – witlof –broccoli + cauliflower flowerets +green olives and Persian feta.

Serves 20

I love to serve mine garnished withfresh pomegranate seeds and a lightdrizzle of cold pressed olive oil.

MATMAHARA DIP

3 large red capsicums (bell peppers)80 g (2 oz / 1/4 cup) walnuts3 tablespoons olive oil2 tablespoons pomegranate molassesor aged balsamic½ teaspoon sea salt and black pepper

Preheat your oven to 200 C/ 400F.

Place capsicum onto a baking tray.

Roast for 30 – 40 minutes or until theskin blackens and capsicum is soft.

Remove from the oven and cover withglad wrap - (the steam helps yourremove the skins easier) you shouldhave 500 g / 17 1/2 oz cooked weight.Combine the capsicum, walnuts, olive

oil, pomegranate molasses, salt andpepper into a high speed blender orfood processor.

Blend until smooth and creamy.

Spoon into a serving bowl along sidevegetable crudities such as:capsicum – carrot – radish – celery –cucumber – asparagus – witlof –broccoli + cauliflower flowerets +green olives and Persian feta.

Serves 20

ROASTED BEETROOT DIP

600 g beetroot, washed, trimmed, skinleft on.2 tablespoons pomegranate molassesor aged balsamic2 tablespoons cold pressed olive oil(walnut, flaxseed oils)Pinch sea salt and black pepper

Preheat oven to 200 C.

Wrap each piece of beetroot in foil andplace onto a baking tray.

Roast for 40 minutes or until thebeetroot is soft.

Remove from the oven and allow tocool for 1 hour in the foil.

Wash the beetroot under a cold tapremoving the outer skin. You shouldhave about 500 g roasted beetroot.

Combine the beetroot into a high speedblender along with pomegranatemolasses or alternative, 2 ta-blespoonsolive oil and a little sea salt and pepper.Spoon into a serving bowl along sidevegetable crudities such as:capsicum – carrot – radish – celery –cucumber – asparagus – witlof –broccoli + cauliflower flowerets +green olives and Persian feta.

Serves 20

Notes: Fold through 2 tablespoonsorganic natural yoghurt.

The above recipes are reprinted fromthehealthychef.com

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GUELPH-WELLINGTONBASKETEERS:

EMPOWERING WOMEN,ONE BASKET AT A TIME

by Lisa Browning

As a frequent user of Facebook (yes,frequent is an understatement!), I amwell aware of the power of thisplatform to connect, inspire, andspread information. I have personallymet some amazing people, many ofwhom have become very close friends… and I have also been made aware ofsome equally amazing initiatives.

One such initiative is the Guelph-Wellington Basketeers. Several monthsago, I came across a Facebook post,asking for donations to their annualcampaign, in support of womentransitioning from life in a shelter forabused women, to life on their own. Iimmediately emailed the addressprovided, as I knew I had to getinvolved.

I received a response from LaurieMontgomery, the coordinator of theGuelph-Wellington Basketeers, and wemade arrangements for me to drop off60 copies of the first women’s volumeof Sharing: our stories, our selves, oursuccess. I went to Laurie’s home, theevening before the baskets werescheduled to be delivered to Women inCrisis. I was blown away by the sightthat greeted me.

There were baskets everywhere … andnot just small or medium size baskets,as I had envisioned. These wereRubbermaid laundry baskets, full tooverflowing!

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From their website:

The Basketeers provide some of thesimple necessities and niceties of life,bundled in a basket and gifted towomen as they embark on the nextchapter of their lives.

The Basketeers are a group ofgenerous volunteers with large hearts.We are not a registered charity.

The shelters that many of us werealready supporting said it was fairlyeasy to find groups willing to buy orsponsor Christmas gifts for children,but their mothers seemed to have beenforgotten. We feel by supporting themothers, they will, in turn, find thestrength to create new lives forthemselves and their children and notreturn to their abuser, and will feelstronger for their children. That is whyour group “The Basketeers” wascreated. We are a generous group ofaround 3500 volunteers with largehearts. We are not a registered charity,every basket donated is a gift ofencouragement and support for awoman as she transitions back into thecommunity.

Look how we’ve grown! In 2000, wedonated 14 baskets to one shelter andin 2015 we supported 54 women’sshelters in Ontario, Quebec,Newfoundland and Cobb County, GAwith a total of 1,644 beau-tifullywrapped baskets. More than 10,000woman have received a new beginningbaskets from the Basketeers!In sixteen years we have grown from

the original group of Basketeerscovering the Greater Toronto Area andwe now have thirteen additionalchapters located in Stratford, Ottawa,York, Durham, Hamil-ton, Brantford,Guelph, Kitchener, Thunder Bay,Prince Edward County, St John’s,Newfoundland, Montreal, QC andCobb County, Georgia.

I was so honoured to be able tocontribute to this very worthwhileinitiative that I was moved to tears, andI was thrilled to hear later that 2016was their most successful year to date.I know that I will be involved againnext year, and for years to come.

For more information about theBasketeers, please visitwww.basketeers.org.

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FOCUS ON VOLUNTEERING

International Volunteer Day:Shining a light on those that make

a difference

International Volunteer Day happensevery year on December 5th and iscelebrated throughout the world. Thisspecial day acknowledges the passionof volunteers and shines a light on thetime, energy and effort they put into

their community. Whether it is througha short, one-time special event or ayearlong commitment, we are thankfulfor the hard work and dedication of thevolunteers throughout Cambridge andNorth Dumfries. The enthusiasm ofthis month’s volunteer is a greatexample of why InternationalVolunteer Day was created in the firstplace.

Sandra Whittaker is a Volunteer Driverwith Community Support Connections– Meals on Wheels and More and shealways goes the extra mile. Not onlydoes Sandra help clients get toimportant medical appointments; shealso helps them get into and out of theircars. Occasionally she will stay withthe clients while they are at theirappointment so they feel safe withsomeone who truly cares. Since joiningthe team in January 2016, Sandra hasdriven more than 6,000 kilometers!

Sandra was inspired by her mother togive back to local seniors. Her momhelped her through some of the mostdifficult times of her life and, as a wayof thanking her, Sandra looked forwardto taking care of her as she aged. Sadly,her mom unexpectedly passed away atthe age of 76. No longer having theopportunity to care for her mom in theway she had hoped, Sandra decided togive back to others. Because ofvolunteers like Sandra, our neighboursare able to live in their own homeswith independence and dignity.

“I knew I wanted to volunteer but Ididn’t know where to start, and that’swhen I heard about the manyopportunities at CSC. When theytalked about seniors needingtransportation to get to medical

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appointments, I knew that was what Iwanted to do. I have a car, I likedriving and I like people. It fulfilledwhat I was looking for and the clientsare so appreciative of the rides.” –Sandra W.

To look for volunteer opportunitiesacross Cambridge and NorthDumfries, search the online VolunteerOpportunities Database athttp://uwcambridge.on.ca/volunteer.php or call the Volunteer Centre at 519-621-1030 x243.

VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIESIN GUELPH

Database BuilderCanadian Mental Health

Association - Waterloo Wellington

A volunteer is needed to customize adatabase for volunteer management. Itis a pre-existing software that allowsorganizations to personal it for theirneeds. The volunteer will meet withthe volunteer coordinator to determineneeds and then develop the fields,checklists, forms and reports within thesoftware.

Autism Services Support AssistantKidsAbility Centre for Child

Development

Volunteers will provide support to theAutism Services team and childrenwith Autism Spectrum Disorder whoare participating in IntensiveBehavioural Intervention Centreservices. This therapy uses behaviouralteaching methods and individual andgroup activities tailored to each child.Volunteers will be asked to assist with

preparing snacks and lunches, play,gross motor activities, toileting, andtransitions.

Board MemberTorchLight, Distress Line

TorchLight extends an invitation toenthusiastic and dedicated individualsfrom our community (includingstudents and volunteers) to serve onour Board of Directors and becomepart of this forward-thinking team.Volunteers will attend monthly boardmeetings and the annual generalmeeting.

For more information about these andother volunteer opportunities, pleasevisit www.volunteergw.ca.

VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIESIN KITCHENER-WATERLOO

The Alzheimer Society WaterlooWellington is looking for volunteersfor its Visiting Companion Programto engage with clients in the comfort oftheir home.

SHORE Centre is looking for male-identified volunteers to facilitate theirJust4Guys program covering topicsrelated to healthy relationships andsexual health.

Junior Achievement of WaterlooRegion is looking for a volunteeroffice assistant to assist with receptionduties and event help.

For more information about these andother volunteer opportunities, pleasevisit www.volunteerkw.ca.

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Empowerment Day, Saturday, November 19

Book Launch: Grampa’s ButterflySaturday, November 12

Book Launch: FriendsFriday, December 2

WOULD YOU LIKE TO LIVETO BE 100?

by Sandra Mackie O’Hagan

Imagine what you are going to be likewhen you reach 80, 90 or even 100years old!

Will you be able bodied, active andhealthy, hiking and biking, social andhappy?

Or will you be old and frail or in awheelchair? Will you be cared for orsuffering from disease?

Would you like to live to be 100?Many people would answer thatquestion with a very emphatic “No”!

But, What if you do? What if you liveto be 100? What will that look like?

Despite many people feeling like theymight not want to live that long,advancements in medicine are keepingsick people alive regardless of qualityof life!

Canada has about 8000 Centenariansbut in 50 years the prediction is thatthere will be 78,000 of us!

What will stop people from living along and healthy life? Diseases fromsitting too much and moving too little!

Less than 10% of disease is geneticand 90% is lifestyle. Modern medicinedoes not look at lifestyle issues, itlooks at disease as a result of lifestyle;which is why “sitting” is becoming thelifestyle disease that smoking has beenup to now.

Cancers, Heart Disease and Stroke arethe leading causes of death in Canada.As well, Canadians are living withrespiratory diseases, Diabetes,Alzheimer’s, Kidney disease,Osteoporosis, Arthritis and obesity.Not to mention, stress, anxiety,migraines, insomnia, diseases of thegut and bowel, and much more.

All of these diseases can also beaffected or reduced by adding oneprescription. There is one very simplething you can do to help achieve betterhealth and longevity and that is dailyexercise.

Hippocrates said; “Walking is man'sbest medicine. If we could give everyindividual the right amount ofnourishment and exercise, not too littleand not too much, we would havefound the safest way to health. Naturalforces within us are the true healers ofdisease.”

Less than 15% of adults from 40-59are getting the minimum 30 minutesper day of moderate to vigorousphysical activity for healthy activeliving. Only about 5% of all adultsaccumulate this amount of physicalactivity on a regular basis.

With all the health benefits, simplicity,limited amount of time required andthe great feeling it give you; why don’tpeople exercise?

Here are just a few reasons andsolutions to consider:

1) People say they do not have time.You have probably heard thesaying that if you do not take thetime to be well, you will take timeif you become ill.

How do you find the time?Schedule your health investmenton your calendar like any otherimportant appointment and just doit.

2) People do not exercise becausethey are in pain or they do notknow where to start.

How do you exercise when you arein pain? You do what you arecapable of. Just start where youare, not where you think youshould be. I never recommendstarting with a boot camp whenyou have never worked out. Startsmall, 10 minutes a day and workup by 5 minute increments untilyou are up to a minimum of 30minutes per day.

If you are in pain, be sure to get adiagnosis and incorporatemovement that will help reduce oreliminate pain or discomfort in thebody.

3) People have short sighted goalslike wanting to lose weight, fixpain or combat a disease like highblood pressure. Often when theyhave succeeded, they go back totheir old lifestyle and theirproblems return.

It is important to make exercise apart of your lifestyle and visualizea future of living long and healthyin old age.

4) The last important point toconsider when thinking aboutadopting a healthier lifestyle(which includes exercise) is tochange your dialogue. Instead ofsaying “I have to exercise” or “Ihate exercise”, change yourdialogue to “I get to exercise”, “Iam able to exercise” and “I amlucky I can exercise”.

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If you were in a wheelchair, you woulddo anything to be able to walk again sodon’t let yourself live with the regretof not doing it while you can.

In addition to exercise, eating well forfuel, 8 hours of uninterrupted sleepwithout wireless devices and socialtime are all critical to healthy aging!

We are all going to age. We hope--because the alternative sucks--why notensure the last 10 to 20 years of yourlife are not spent in ill health?!

Be sure to always enjoy each day, havefun, friends and laughter and if youtake anything away from this article,remember to…just keep moving andI’ll see you at 100!

* * *

WINTER’S BREAKFASTby Noel Trevors

When I was younger, I spent manyyears in the woods with my father,hunting, hiking, fishing, identifyingtracks, species of plants and trees, andlearning survival skills.

The greatest gift, however, was beingwith my father learning about histeachings as to why he escaped to theforest and what he gained from doingso.

As a father myself now, looking backI see how much he rubbed off on me.It is what I teach my two girls, and Iam always amazed when I catch themdoing the exact sort of thing I andmany kids used to do.

It also reminds me to never forget thatpart of who we are and the child stillinside of us all.

Sadly, we forget and lose that part asadults, when we have the hustle andbustle of our own life such as work,chores, events, friends, keeping upwith the Joneses, and trying to become

validated through our own success andbeing lifted high in others’ eyes. Withall this, and the stresses, loss, grief,divorce, addictions and whatever, weforget all those small things thatshaped us early on. And truly the onlytruth that matters is with all thosethings taken away we are naked and asvulnerable as equals. We are all thesame.

We are of God’s creation, not of thethings we now live by and that definehow we live.

Some are on a spiritual journey tryingto please our creator and earn our spotin his heaven, some try to fulfill andjustify our existence and find reasonjust so we can sleep at night feeling wehave done our good deed of the day.

Either way, we are all lost, and forgetthe truth. We forget that life isn’t worthmuch without passion. Withoutrespect, empathy and truly seeing andhearing each other, and taking feelingsand emotion into consideration.

Our creator does not choose sides anddoes not have favourites. Our creatorloves us all equally and only sees lovefrom within.

I have been through emotional andphysical abuse, I have been separated

and divorced, I have hit rock bottomand, yes, at times thought of giving up.

But when I get into the state of mind,off too the woods I go. Sunny, damp,hot or cold, I know my time in thewoods is my salvation and peace toempty my thoughts, write, read, talk tomy grandparents that have passed andpray to Jesus that when I’m judged, Ihave lived the best life I could.Off I go on many a winter day; Isuppose winter’s my favourite time tohit the woods for an escape, and tocook my breakfast.

As the fresh snow lays crisp and cold,the trees naked with only the tree itselfvisible to all to see the imperfections,icy bark, vulnerable to the elements,the harsh wind feels like it’s cutting theskin while the sun gives enoughwarmth to the face. Each step isslippery or a struggle as the snow isknee deep.

Just like life, if you think about it. Doyou give up because of the harshnesslife gives you? Or do you continue onand strive to that perfect spot that givesyou shelter from the storm?

A soft woods stand is in sight, pinewith some cedar branches waddeddown with snow, same as the weighton our backs we carry, financially,emotionally, work related, grief, loss ofsomeone you love.

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You step into the thicket and the winddies down, but the sounds of the windblowing through the trees can still beheard. Branches rattle, small birdschirp. A downed tree just the perfectheight to sit on with a clear patch to setup a fire just in front.

The axe makes quick work to gatherand process wood, my knife whittlesaway making shavings to start the fire,and birch bark or dry shavings buildmy fire bundle to start the fire.Everything needed was already givento me by nature.

As I use my flit/steel, a spark erupts offthe end, a red ember glows andbabying it gently I blow to make asmall fire, feeding it to life with thesmall tinder.

Emptying my contents from my bag --pan, cutlery, food, pot, dish -- I beginmy morning feast, melting snow in mypot, bringing it to a boil, feeling theheat while my breakfast cooks,simmering slowly, while the smell ofwood smoke lingers and hangs in theair.

I hit my spot, my salvation, I am nowat peace.

My time in the woods gets me awayfrom the falseness of life, the thingsthat bind me, and cause hurt. Ourexpectations of our selves as we sit athome, everything we look at, either hasa memory, meaning, or false value.

The outdoors, however, takes thataway. It provides itself and the beautyof who we are. Not what’s man made.

My father’s teachings are simple assimple can be. It’s being grateful forlife, for one another, for family,friends, daughters. But most of allthose that hurt us, bullies, ex’s, badbosses, ourselves.

When in the woods, by a lake, ocean,wherever, being outside and away

from our normal setting gives a chanceto reflect and really look at who weare. The wild doesn’t discriminate, aseverything is equal and fair game to it.It calms my nerves, taking the time tosee the beauty around while mybreakfast is cooking.

Knowing I can talk to my loved onesthat passed, forgive the ones that hurt,and have whomever I want sit besideme and join me on those gifted days.

You can sing, read, listen, askquestions, talk to yourself, cry, yell andpray.

People hold things in far too often, lieto themselves and say everything’s okwhen deep inside it’s so far from thetruth, putting on a brave face forwhomever.

When they can’t get that embrace theyneed, ear to hear, person to see,shoulder to cry upon, the woods offerall that and more. Many times I havehad Jesus or my loved ones join me inperson or spirit.

Another side of my escape is while mybreakfast in cooking, if I am with mytwo daughters, it gives me a chance tosee their confidence, explore, askquestions, play with sticks and rocksand get more joy than from a store-bought item.

They can sit on my lap and watch thefire, tell stories, ask me questions andbecome vulnerable to opening up totheir emotions and feelings. It givesmy daughters a broader perspective ofthe world than the four walls of ahouse, and TVs.

They get dirty, and play hide and goseek, laugh, jump, without a care ifthey get dirty.

Seeing my girls do that brings me backto my childhood. I remember whatinnocence is, and that it still remainsinside all of us.

They show me that life is so full ofbeauty, that it truly comes fromaccepting that life is simple, or shouldbe.

Love life as deep as you can and try toforget or forgive the stresses and hurtthat the world we made gives us.

As the real world in children’s eyes issimple, joy is simple, love is simple.

We as people and adults make it hard.

Find your inner child.

And enjoy my breakfast with me.

* * *

THE LIFE OF ISABELCRAWFORD

by Marilyn Whiteley

“Would you be interested in writingsome brief biographical sketches aboutCanadian women?” Susan and I werecatching up on our news at a meetingof the American Society of ChurchHistory. “I’m going to edit a dictionaryof women and religion in NorthAmerica, and I need some people towrite about Canadians.” Was Iinterested? Certainly! I’d beenstudying and writing about Canadianchurch women for more than ten years,and here was a new opportunity.

A few months later I got an e-mailfrom Susan and Ellie, who wasworking with her on the project. WhileSusan was from the United States,Ellie was a Canadian, and they’ddrawn up a list. Nellie McClung? Ofcourse. Others either I recognized orsaw that it would be easy to learn about

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them. But who was this Isabel AliceHartley Crawford?

An e-mail to Susan and Ellie produceda brief answer: Crawford was listed ina Baptist dictionary. Sure enough, thereshe was. The entry was brief: she wasborn in Cheltenham, Ontario, in 1865and died in Grimsby in 1961, but hada career as a missionary and as apopular speaker on missions in theUnited States. The entry also reportedthat a book by Crawford had beenreprinted in 1998 with an introductionby a current scholar. With that book, Ihad more than enough information forthe brief bio, plus another fact:Crawford had kept journals, and theywere in the American Baptist Archivesin Rochester, New York.

I was intrigued by this woman. She hadlost most of her hearing when she waseighteen, yet she had a long and activecareer. While she dealt withtremendous hardships, she retained alively sense of humor. She was anindependent, spirited, feisty womanwho didn’t shrink from conflict andwho became a champion of Indianrights. And nobody had written abiography of her. After finishing thebios, I returned to the large project onwhich I’d been working, but I tuckedIsabel Crawford away in my memoryfor later.

Several years passed, but finally“later” came, and I went to work,dreaming of writing a biography. Iwould drive to Rochester, staying forseveral days, taking notes on my laptopcomputer. But then, to my dismay,those archives closed in order to moveto Atlanta.

Yet disappointments can turn out to begifts. I used the time doing backgroundreading related to Isabel’s life story(for I had begun to think of her by herfirst name). Thus I came to see her lifein a much richer context than if I’d hadmy way and persisted in single-mindedresearch.

When the archives finally opened intheir new location, my husband and Ibegan making trips to Atlanta for twoweeks at a time. Gradually as Iworked, I came to recognizeconnections with Isabel’s story. Sheworked for the American (Northern)Baptist denomination in southwesternOklahoma, and my parents had metwhile teaching at Bacone College, anAmerican Baptist school for NativeAmericans in eastern Oklahoma.Isabel had visited the college bothbefore and after my parents taughtthere, and she became a friend ofPrincess Ataloa. Ataloa was a memberof the English department at Bacone ofwhich my mother was the chair. Andgrowing up, I absorbed my parents’interest in and respect for NativeAmericans.

Isabel worked on the Kiowareservation during the difficult periodwhen the reserve was opened up forhomesteading. My mother’s father wasamong those much-feared settlers whocame in and settled on what had beenKiowa land. My grandfather was oneof the “bad guys”!

And I discovered another connection.Isabel had learned Plains Indian signlanguage, very useful because of herdeafness. At a missionary societyconvention, she was asked to presentsomething in sign language. Shesigned the Twenty-third Psalm, andlater she put back into English the wayshe had signed the familiar passage.The woman’s mission societypublished and distributed her version.

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New babyon the way?

The anticipation of a new baby can be an exciting timefor a family, but it can also be confusing for

big brothers and big sisters.

Here are two books, written by Saplings authorBrenda Cassidy, geared at younger children, that talkabout with the subject with humour, and are a great

springboard to conversation.

Now on sale! Visit www.ottbookstore.com.A great Christmas present as well!

When my mother realized that she hadnot much longer to live, she told methat there was an Indian version of theTwenty-third Psalm, and she wished tohave it read at her funeral. I found it,and it was included in the service. Myfather then said that he wanted it at hisfuneral, too, and a year and a half laterthat was done. Now, after abouttwenty-five years, I discovered thatIsabel Crawford was the author ofsomething that had meant so much tomy parents. Clearly it seemed thatwriting Isabel’s biography was a taskthat had been waiting for me.

Isabel had a grand-niece, Doris, livingin North Carolina, and on one of ourAtlanta trips we visited her. Doris wasin her nineties and an activegenealogist, and I learned much duringthe day we spent with her. As a youngwoman, she had attended thedeaconess training school of theUnited Church of Canada. I had beenon the advisory committee for a historyof that school, and as thanks for myhelp, I received a copy of the book. Imailed it to Doris, and her letter ofthanks contained surprising news.Doris knew that I lived in Ontario, butuntil she saw the return address on theparcel, she didn’t know where. Dorishad a cousin, Barbara, living inGuelph.

Excitedly I phoned Barbara. Sheinvited me over, and she said, “By theway, I have some journals thatbelonged to Aunt Belle.” Morejournals? I had read Isabel’s account ofconveying her journals to the Chicagomissionary training school from whichshe had graduated. I didn’t know thatshe had continued to keep journals forseveral more years. They had passedon to Isabel’s niece and then toBarbara’s mother. Barbara generouslyloaned them to me, and I wasprivileged to see pieces of Isabel’swriting that perhaps nobody else hadever read.

I added new material to the manuscriptthat I had thought was nearly finished,and then I looked for a publisher. I wasdiscouraged until I talked with ahistorian-friend who knew about Isabeland had encouraged my project. Hesaid, “Why don’t you submit it to mypublisher? Tell them I’ll write aforeword for your book.” I filled outthe publisher’s forms, sent themsample chapters, and prepared for along wait. Two weeks later I receivedan e-mail accepting my book, and ayear later I had a copy in my hands!

There was still one loose end. Barbarahad wondered what to do with thejournals. Her children weren’tinterested, but at first Barbara wasn’tready to let go of them. Now, when Ipresented her a copy of her great-aunt’sbiography, she decided to do what Ihad gently urged: she would let themjoin Aunt Belle’s earlier journals in theAmerican Baptist archives. Yet shehesitated to send them through themail. In one final instance ofserendipity, the next meeting of theAmerican Society of ChurchHistory−where it all began−was to beheld in Atlanta. And so in January of2016, my husband and I drove toAtlanta, and a few hours before thestart of the meeting, we presented theremaining journals of Isabel Crawfordto the delighted archivist of the

American Baptist church. It was theconclusion of a remarkable, grace-filled journey.

The Life of Isabel Crawford isavailable on Amazon.

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TOTEM STONESby Francine Lee

symbols of expressiontradition, ritual, rite

bearpower, cunninghummingbird

joy, magicfrog

peace, rebirthrabbit

renewal, alertnesssalmon

persistence, determinationmoose

steadfast, solitudebutterfly

transformation, beautyowl

wisdom, visiondeer

kindness, sensitivitydragonfly

immortality, agilitycoyote

bright, playfulhawk

insight, awarenesswolf

loyalty, perseveranceelk

strength, freedomram

grace, presenceturtle

protection, longevitybison

power, abundance

why do weexpect to be

each simultaneously?

STOP OBSESSING AND STARTLIVING!

Your partner has moved on – but youhaven’t. You are spending too muchtime thinking about your ex., crying alot , stewing over everything.It is time to stop obsessing.

If you are still putting all youremotional and mental eggs in thatrelationship, it feels terrible. If almostall your thoughts are about your ex, itcan feel like your life force is goingdown the drain. This is ob-session,when you can’t break loose mentally.To heal, you must break the cycle andstop obsessing. It is an unhealthy stateof mind, where you are stuck and goover the same territory over and over.It is wearing down the treads in yourmind. Ob-sessing over your ex cancause you to lose interest in otherhealthy activities and people. It cankeep you stuck emotionally, in anger,anxiety, helplessness and hopelessness.

Obsession Signs

You have persistent and disturbingthoughts about your ex

You have unreasonable expecta-tions, such as hoping you will getback together, when your ex hasmade it clear that is not their desireor intention

You find yourself taking actionsthat are not wise, or in your bestinterest, like trying to “acci-dentally meet" or repeated callingor texting that is not being returned

You have to decide to stop obsessingbecause it is unhealthy for you.

It is not “cute." It is not romantic.Obsession is not a sign of how muchyou love your ex. It is a sign that youhave gotten stuck in an unhealthy placeinside your mind. It will eat away atyour self esteem and can lead todepression, poor sleeping patterns and

unhealthy eating.

If you have been broken up for morethan a month, and you are stillspending a huge portion of your energythinking about your ex, it is time to behonest and realize that you may be inan unhealthy mind state.

Stop Obsessing -- Four Steps toGetting Over Your Ex

1. Admit you are obsessing.2. Recognize that this is not healthy

for you.3. Make a strong decision to let go

and stop obsessing.Focus on whatyou can control.

4. Redirect negativity -- deliberatelychoose positive thoughts andactions.

Step One – Admit You AreObsessing: Your ex is called an ex,because it’s over. You have to ac-ceptthis, even if you still have desires to betogether. The sooner you can admitthat it is over, the sooner you can beginto heal. If your first and last thoughtsevery day are about your ex, andalmost every thought in between, youare obsessing. It is not helping youmove forward, it is keeping you stuckin the past.

Step Two – Recognize It Is NotHealthy: You have to really want tochange and get better. You have to letgo. No amount of hoping, musing,daydreaming, fantasizing, plotting,scheming – is going to bring your exback. The decision to let go is one youhave to make many times a day. Itwould be nice if you could just make itonce and it would stick, but chancesare you have to re-make that deci-siontwenty or a hundred and twenty timesin a day.

Step Three – STOP OBSESSING:Instead of obsessing on the past, focuson the present. Focus on what you cancontrol. Every little decision youconsciously choose, such as what shirt

to wear, what to eat, what music tolisten to, can help get your attention onthe present and on issues that you cancon-trol. This may seem like a tiny,inconsequential action, but it redirectsthe brain toward this moment andaway from the past. Consciouslychoosing positive thoughts and actionsbegins to erode the cycle of obsession.

Step Four – Redirect: When youcatch yourself thinking thoughts aboutyour ex, you want to not in-dulge thosethoughts. You have to go on a “diet ofthe mind," and deliberately choose toput your at-tention elsewhere. If youhave ever done dog training, you knowthat sometimes the dog loses focus onthe task at hand, and you have to gentlyredirect his attention back. That iswhat you need to do when you findyourself spinning unproductivethoughts. You need to deliberately, andwithout judgment or impatience, returnto something that is useful, productiveand positive.

Obsession is not good for your health.It is unattractive to a new mate. Youwant to stop obsessing and start living.You will be free as soon as you decideyou really want to be.

Reprinted from http://www.healthy-relationship-advice.com.

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THE CREATIVITY TREEby Sandra Wilson

Deep in the EarthThe seed hides and sleepsUntil one day that seed, the ideaThrough the soil peeps

The sapling then growsEach branch sprouting new leavesLike the idea that grows biggerWhen we strengthen our beliefs

The trunk becomes sturdierA ring for each year that passesA strong base that is createdBecause of all our successes

So as roots spread undergroundAnd branches reach up highWe can inspire those around usEven those just walking by

Now the tree stands tallWith room for a nest or twoA home for birds that take flight andsoarJust like you can do.

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ROOTS AND WINGSby Bob Smith

The stage called. Other Grade Ninestudents auditioned for the schoolchoir, tried out for a sports team,played in the Chess Club, whatever.Not Nicole. For her, the ThespianSociety was the obvious choice.

When she went into Room 221 afterclasses on Monday afternoon as theposter directed, Ms. Salmon handedher a sheet of paper as she was doingwith everyone else who entered. WhenNicole read the instructions, they saideach square – the bottom part of thepage was divided into a grid –contained a phrase and she was to findsomeone in the room who matched thephrase and write in that name. Severalchuckles and one outright belly-laughindicated people were reading the

phrases and finding some humour. Asshe read the squares, Nicole foundthings like ‘flosses after every meal’and ‘owns a piece of lime-greenclothing’. Farther on, one square said‘swims like a fish or runs like a deer’.Beside it was one that read ‘ looks likea fish or smells like a deer’. Anotheron the next row said ‘thinks Peter Panis something you keep under the bed atthe cottage’.

After the hubbub of the ice-breakersettled, Ms. Salmon gave them each aslip of paper with three questions andsaid they would have two minutes toask them of someone who would beasking the same things in return. ThenMs. Salmon would call ‘Change’ andeveryone would switch people andrepeat the process.

Nicole and the others quickly read thequestions. She decided JenniferLawrence was her favourite actorunder 30, Grey’s Anatomy was herfavourite TV drama and she was herebecause she had always been a naturalperformer, loved being on stage. Allthrough elementary school, she hadtaken a leading role in any show.Whether it was Bucky the Beaver inGrade One or Margaret O’Reilly inGrade Eight, an anguished Irishimmigrant leaving the potato famine,she had relished the chance to act.

As an only child, opportunities at homewere limited, though her parents wereusually willing to be an audience.Their jobs kept them quite busy andthough she appreciated theindependence of not having to go toMrs. Wilmot’s with three other kidsafter school, she admitted to herselfbeing home alone could be lonely. Shehad asked her mother once why shewas an only child and Mom explainedthat she couldn’t have more childrenafter Nicole. Nicole wasn’t sure why,but the topic was obviously painful soshe didn’t press for details.

But despite their busy-ness, her parentsalways had time to make her feel lovedand valued. More than once she hadheard Dad say, “We have to encourageand support our kids because childrenare apt to live up to what we believe ofthem.” When she was old enough tounderstand what that meant, she askedabout the saying. He said it was aquote from Lady Bird Johnson, wife ofan American president. “How can weexpect you to believe in yourself if wedon’t believe in you?” he added.

She often wondered what growing uphad been like for her parents, who wereboth from huge families. Her father’sfather had died young, leaving apregnant wife and nine children. Theoldest ones quit school to work to helpsupport the family. Nicole’s motherwas the oldest of eight and Nicolecame to understand that Grammausually was pregnant or had an infantso Mom had major child-rearingresponsibilities. Nicole’s parents’sense of family was constantlydemonstrated, not simply withpractical things like food and shelterbut with things like encouragementand affection.

So her answers to the three questionswould be clear. However, shediscovered they weren’t always assimple with others. When shecirculated, most people hadstraightforward replies for favouriteactors and shows, but the thirdquestion – ‘Why are you here?’ –brought more complex responses. Sheheard, “Beats going home,” orvariations of that theme four times.One guy shrugged and said, “Becausethe judge said I have to do somethingafter school and this looked easiest.”Another girl said she was therebecause her mother forced her.

“I’m shy,” she said, “and Mom thinksthis will be good for me. I’d ratherpaint. Maybe they’ll let me dobackgrounds and props instead ofbeing on stage.”

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Even the girls who said they wanted tolearn more about acting seemedsuperficial to Nicole. All namedactresses she considered prettyshallow, who relied on looks, notability. Most identified soap operas astheir favourite TV shows; those whodidn’t, identified shows Nicole feltwere prime-time soaps. The only guyshe thought might be serious aboutacting was clearly stuck on himself,obviously considered the rest of theminferior beings and he was only doingthis because Ms. Salmon had giveninstructions and he didn’t want toannoy her.

Why am I different? she wondered onthe school bus on the way home.

Fortunately, there were two buses, anearly one at 3:00 o’clock for those whocouldn’t wait to get away from schoolor who worked or had some otherresponsibility requiring them to leaveimmediately, and a late bus at 4:30 forthose who attended someextracurricular activity or had adetention.

Why does acting feel like flying to me?She knew most people thought publicspeaking or any other kind ofperformance was one rung below dirtydishes, soiled laundry, and excessivelyloud alarm clocks.

When she got off the bus, sheremembered she was supposed to pick

up toothpaste at the drug store. Inside,she passed a display of plaques withinspirational quotes, things like,‘Nothing is impossible. The worditself says I’m possible’ and ‘The bestpreparation for tomorrow is doing yourbest today’. As she walked by therack, she was struck by a framedtapestry that said “There are two giftswe should give our children. Roots toknow where home is and wings so thatthey may soar.’

That’s why I can have wings, shethought. I have strong roots.

* * *

19

NEXT MONTH ....IN ONE THOUSAND TREES

Our focus for January isManifestation.

You get there by realizing you arealready there.

Eckhart Tolle

Do you have an inspiring story you’dlike to share?

If you know of any community wellnessevents taking place in January, pleasecomplete and send us the Event Listingform found on the magazine page ofour website.

Articles are always welcome for any ofour “regular” departments ...

A Sense of CommunityCreativity and the Arts

Environmental AwarenessFood and Nutrition

Giving BackHealth and Wellbeing

The Library

Deadline for submissions isDecember 20.

As always, we look forward to hearingfrom you with any feedback or articleideas!

lisa@onethousandtrees.com

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