Category Archives: family

A Ritual of Farewell

By Jovanna | Published: January 3, 2014

On January 1st, my youngest son left the “nest”. A few months earlier when he read his art school acceptance letter, my first reaction was “No! I’m not ready to let you go!” followed almost immediately by “This is going to be so wonderful for you!” Ah, the balancing act of mothering… The only reason […]

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Holy Now

By Jovanna | Published: December 13, 2013

Last weekend, it was such a pleasure to take my 16-month-old grandson to the green house to choose poinsettias. He and his mom were as happy as I was to step out of the cold, into a sea of colour! Over the years, I’ve shifted my attention from gift giving to celebrating the magic of […]

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Showering Love

By Jovanna | Published: November 29, 2013

I attended a lovely baby shower last Sunday. When planning the shower the new “mom to be” said, “I’m looking forward to spending time with all the women of my family in an intimate gathering. I would be happy to just have their company, blessings and advice!” We kept it simple. Everyone brought something delectable […]

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Soup and Sweetgrass

By Jovanna | Published: November 8, 2013

Last week when my stepson held a spontaneous celebration in honour of his house’s 100th year birthday, I was excited to be invited. I love houses and all the meaning they hold. Having another reason for getting together to share the ritual of a meal with our family members was such a delight. A flurry […]

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A World with Octobers

By Jovanna | Published: November 1, 2013

This evening as darkness fell, my neighbourhood was alive with the sound of children’s laughter. Pumpkins were carved and candles were lit as an invitation. The cool air and occasional gusts of wind added a magical quality to the night. Trick or treat! What fun! Ahhh….autumn. This quote captures my sentiment about this time of […]

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Not a Care in the World

By Jovanna | Published: October 25, 2013

When I was a child I used to lie down in the stream where our family camped fully clothed. I remember the freedom of seizing that cool moment on a hot summer’s day. I also used to climb way up high in the Linden tree that grew at the edge of a deep ravine in […]

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Honouring 90 Years!

By Jovanna | Published: October 18, 2013

How do you honour a woman who has lived for 90 years? That was the puzzle my siblings and I were trying to solve when we met in Iowa a few weeks ago to celebrate our mother’s 90th birthday. My mom had requested a small family gathering so my sister and my brother and I […]

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Mealtime Rituals

By Jovanna | Published: May 31, 2013

When I was a child our family would sit down for lunch together every Sunday after church. My father would always say the grace. “God bless this food to our use and us to thy service and make us ever mindful of the needs of others.” As a child the words got all slurred in […]

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Don’t Run the Other Way!

By Jovanna | Published: April 5, 2013

“When I hear the word ceremony I want to run the other way!” This is what a woman told me recently who was attending a talk I gave to a women’s group. The talk was followed by very simple ceremony. “Ceremonies”, she said, “just aren’t my thing.” And yet, she thoroughly enjoyed this ceremony. She […]

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Offer a Gesture

By Jovanna | Published: March 15, 2013

The late winter weather is ever changing. One day recently my son and I were soaking up the sun on our front porch and on the next day there was a world of white snow. Warm days followed and the snow began to melt but this morning when I opened the door I was greeted […]

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