Hello 2026 – the year came in like a gentle lamb. Looking outside at the freshly fallen snow, like a blank beautiful canvas awaiting our painting. The sunlight streaming through the front doors and windows. Cold, yet the warmth of the sun pulls me in.
This year began with a beautiful diffuser blend. Beautifully aligned. I started with conciously choosing Frankincense – the oil of truth. Then clearing my energy and listening, hearing Black Spruce and then reaching with eyes closed for the rest of the blend. So beautiful and the emotional meanings all align so perfectly.
The sunshine was incredible! I love the purple hue that came through! Its like you can almost reach out and touch the energy coming through the door! Magical.
How incredible everyday will be if each day begins with the peace that today did – with gratitude!
Feeling inspired to feed my soul in all the nourishing ways today <3
I came across this photo and quote a couple days before New Years. I have been filling my creative desires with revamping my photo storage and porfolio. As a hobbyist photographer I take great pride in my images captured and the canvases I create for my loved ones!
I remember taking this photo in 2014, it is still one of my most favourite winter images!
In the big picture, as I type this blog, its already the new year in another part of the world – wild to think of that. Especially when I read some other photographer’s blogs and they are posting the day ahead of me – such a mind fuk at times but also cool. Remember back in 1999, I do – I remember sitting there counting down and everyone cheering when the lights stayed on. My how life has changed – so much, since then.
Today, a new chapter begins in our book of life. We turn to a new blank page. A time when many make resolutions and promises to themselves. I truthfully, aim to be present and do the things that I know work for me – forcing too many changes on myself can backfire.
So I celebrate!
Taking my vitamins and omega’s pretty much everyday – might miss 1 day a week
Committing to learning more about moon cycles and beginning the 2026 Moonology Diary
Using 1 journal to reduce overwhelm or that “another thing to do”
Conscious social media time
Joining a local monthly group for growth
Listening to my body
What lights up my heart – my photography!
I am really excited about showcasing more of my art !
The original below, before the quote. I love this country winter image!
As a mama with two young babes this was my ‘outlet’ with and without them. I loved capturing moments with them, and when given the opportunity to get out just me and my camera, this is the magic I appreciate. Even if that opportunity was 1 min on the side of the road ;) These images hold all the memories and I love that!!!
Thank you 2025 for this year, for the growth, cleansing, love and finding more of me. As we energetically close out this 9 year cycle – Ive also read about planet shifts from 2011 in early 2026, and open up to the energy of the new year!
Like a beautiful white blanket of snow, or many, piled on top of each other. The new year feels like its coming in like a lamb, 2025 exiting like a lamb as well. Is it truly a lamb, being the weather is wreaking havoc with some closed roads, or is this the calm, the peace the we all need, the quiet, stepping into a revolution. The one where we are all led by peace, love and gratitude.
I had a little fall yesterday that has slightly set me back, although given my favourite place is our home, I am grateful to enjoy a relaxing, comforting evening with my loves at home. Resting up my leg, frustrated yes, with all this snow I wanted to come home yesterday, off early and grab my camera and get outside. Sometimes we need a little slow down in life and it may feel very inconvenient, I am seeing the other side of the opportunity to enjoy some time with my feet up! Also… working on my photography portfolio – this has felt so exciting! I will share in the new year!
Happy New Years Eve… I hope you are enjoying yourself whatever you may be doing and enjoying your own company and perhaps of others as well! <3
What is the one thing that truly lights up your life – beyond your job, husband/wife, kids, etc… what is YOUR thing?!
Mine, is photography.
One thing I am leaving within 2025 is allowing others opinions to force change in my own life. Or be a source of anxiety or fear. In a broad form and also with what brings out your deepest passions, joys, desires and is THE thing that fills your creative mind.
In 2026 and beyond, lets see SO much more of this.
Within our home, my daughter has recently got into sewing, she is really good at it. As a mother I say that, and because she is, really good for getting started. My mom, elated she has someone to share her deep knowledge of the skill to. We have been able to shift things to give her a dedicated spot for this now.
This. More of this.
The creatives are of all kinds.
Anything hands on, anything that requires dreaming, anything you can tangibly create, whatever your thing is that you love – work, hobby… more of this!
I work with plumbers and gas techs, they are by trade creative as they design and repair systems – yes as their job however I am in awe when they create a rough in design for a system that flows perfectly. I love working with numbers, I can also get lost in a photo walk or going through images. I could not do what the guys in the field do, and thats ok!
My husband, son and daughter all love to fish, the guys more, however when provided the opportunity our daughter is right in there with them – while I photograph them ;)
Our son began helping a buddy with his race car, the irony that his parents met at a race track and even when pregnant with him he was hearing the cars go round!
My grandma knits – hmmm actually, this is probably crochet, blankets for us all again this year – something I honestly treasure, money cannot replace what someone has created with love. I could walk by this blanket in a big box store, but coming from her, handmade by her, knowing the time and effort she puts into them – always a first choice to snuggle with! Also something that I admire, but am not gifted with the talent.
Some people bake, or ski, read, write, are really into fitness or body building, cook, quilt, golf, hockey, basketball, baseball, do crosswords or puzzles, walk, run, whatever it is – if its something you or someone else enjoys, let it be that. Let it be enjoyment, or even ask them about it – watch their face light up – or nervousness set in, hmmm actually sometimes that can cause a person a bit of anxiety. Be a positive support!
Someone recently made a comment to me, while camera in hand, about how they have a good camera and most time lately they only choose to grab their cell phone because ‘its the same, there’s no difference between a camera and a phone, it produces the same thing’… Confidently, I did speak up and said, ‘except that is not true and there is a difference’. My comment was ignored and he continued on. Phones are convenient, 100%, yes I use mine all the time. However they are not the same. Regardless of the quality of something, I also highly recommend using common sense with making opinionated comments to someone about their passion!
In 2026 choose to build people up.
We can gain so much more from building each other up, we do not have to be good at everything, we do what aligns with our heart and allow others to confidently do the same! Even if someone might be “better” than us, rather see each as our own individual artistic style.
God appreciates alignment and making things right, so I had to laugh when I realized that a family member of his, received one of my custom canvas prints of the loon family, in the large group gift grab! How cool that he will see it and be reminded of me and my passion for photography! Also awesome hearing others compliment the canvas, this was a true reminder for me to never, ever let someone else put out your flame! What lights you up – is for a reason!
In 2026 we do not bring forth ignorance, which includes the passive aggressive way of putting people down! This will leave you far in the dust!
In 2026 I am so excited to dedicate even more of my time to my photography and capturing the beauty all around us.
One of my favourite things about photography is going back through the images. I used to check my camera far too often while in the moment and shooting, now I aim to shoot conservatively and encourage my family members who get handed my camera. I am however able to be much more present in the moment, so present that I forget about many of the photos until I go through them.
On Christmas Eve, I quietly took a moment to myself and asked my brother for a sign. Knowing he would be there, without a doubt, and how much his presence would be missed. I knew, he would make himself known.
Christmas evening as my Grama and I were sitting on the couches, she looked at me and said ‘he’s here’, I, confused at first, looked up at her and she pointed to her rose quartz bracelet she was wearing, Adam had bought for her. Such a heartfelt sign. Especially for grama to word it that way.
Boxing day was beautifully relaxing with so much gratitude. Time spent together, memories made and captured and gifts given and received. As I spent most of the day going through our photos from Christmas, my heart was again reminded. There was 1 photo of me and my siblings. I honestly thought there was more. My daughter taking the photo was having a very hard time getting the camera to focus when it was my siblings and our spouses. I had to help my daughter a couple times to get the camera to focus – yet I could take photos of others and they were in focus. While going through them today, I realized we had 1 sibling photo, of me with my brother and sister. Then it hit me, I found the photo of the siblings and spouses and there beside my brothers head, is our brothers Angel ornament. In the photo below his ornament is directly behind our brother. How appropriate that its beautifully lit up behind us, or the fact that I didn’t realize only 1 was captured and this was it.
Here is our sibling photo… where we all, appear more as each other, even our spiritual sibling. Pretty cool way to get my attention little brother…
I had to go through many of the extended sibling photos as well, again the camera not focusing for my daughter with all of us in the photo. In this one below, the ornament is to the right of my brothers head.
Enjoying our last Christmas with family today and then we will begin to pack things up. Its been enjoyable these past few days including some organizing and de-cluttering. Part of this shift after the holidays is also freeing, which includes freeing up space physically and emotionally. Freeing and permission to feel. To enjoy the down time with no plans. Allowing myself time to relax and come back into flow.
Thinking of all those who have a conflicted heart this season. Where you are missing someone, or many people from your life, perhaps both living and passed on.
All while also living your own life. Following your heart, being in the moment, lit up by your passions and loving life. Having fun, laughing. Excited.
It can be both.
I am allowing myself permission, it can always be both. I know one day, some day, this will get easier. My passion however, has lit up even more. Capturing photos for my heart, for my kids and our family legacy, is everything to me. I am truly grateful for this art!
I found this ornament at our local green house, The Mount Forest Greenhouse. Every year I find at least one there that I add to our collection. They have it decorated so beautifully for the Christmas holiday season. So many trees, lights, decorations, ornaments etc! I also found 3 cool white stars that fit perfect behind our tree in the window. Looks great inside and out!
My heart has been holding a lot this Christmas season, appreciating the time with loved ones and equally the time spent within the walls of my home.
Merry Christmas from our family.
This year, we have a special ornament on the tree. Last year I know my heart was still numb processing the grief of loosing my brother, along with the wild ride of our nephew being born the day after we said our final good bye to Adam. This year, feels more real, more permanent. I miss him that much more. I also know, he is near by, oh how I wish I could hug him.
The cup beside Adams angel, grateful our local funeral home provides these angel ornaments, is one we have had since the year we lost my husbands mom, my mother in law, who sadly passed a couple months before she was ‘officially’ my mother in law, she loved coffee. We have a coffee cup ornament with Diane on it.
Its funny when I am taking pictures, I do try to look at details, as well as the bigger picture, but sometimes that doesn’t happen and when I looked at this image on the computer, I saw it.
This ornament is my boy Elwood, my first dog of my own, he was by my side all the time until I went to school and then he was back with me, he helped raise up on our babies and welcomed us into our new home before it was his time to cross the rainbow bridge. The ornament underneath, was my brothers last Christmas with his family, in 2023. The one with the big smile that although slightly blurry you can still see – that’s my brother Adam. When I went to take the photo of Elwood and Becker’s ornaments, I hadn’t even paid attention to what was around. Appreciate this sign from above <3
My Becker, he truly was one of the kids, the best dog for our kids to grow up alongside with. I am so grateful for him as my 2nd dog. I love these personalized photo ornaments! Some of my favourites on our tree.
This season is always so heart warming, this year does feel more bitter sweet, understandably. Im not sure yet on this journey how this will ever feel normal.
I am grateful for the loved ones within our life. To the ones who show up in even the smallest ways. Who see you for you.
Its reminded me the importance of presence and capturing moments that will forever turn into memories.
I am grateful for those who we have been able to spend time with over this Christmas holiday season and the many photos already captured!
