For Ukraine

June 28, 2023.Reading time less than 1 minute.

Set Fire To The Rain

April 21, 2023.Reading time 2 minutes.

The war in Ukraine continues, and from the comfort of my sunroom, I still do what I can to help. Today, I am waiting on the arrival of our fourth family – two brother-in-laws, whose dream to land in Toronto, find work and lodgings, and then bring over the elder’s wife and child, proved unattainable. […]

Muskrat

April 14, 2023.Reading time 1 minute.

Went to the river to clear my mind. It’s been a rough couple of weeks helping Ukrainians. Some, feeling they can’t make it in Canada, or missing family too much, have gone home. Worse than that, we uncovered human trafficking. One employment trafficking, and another procuring young women for the sex trade. I have felt […]

Sunflowers and smiles

January 23, 2023.Reading time 1 minute.

A local craft shop owner makes votives in yellow and blue with sunflowers on them and all proceeds go to Ukrainians. A BC retailer saw her work online and ordered 100 candles, selling them at $5.00 each. Ryan Reynolds saw the effort and doubled the intake. She sent much of the proceeds to a non-profit […]

Heart Full

January 20, 2023.Reading time 3 minutes.

When can we meet? The message is from Alla, whose bright voice messages always made my day back in the Spring, when I helped her family of five find flights and a host. We are opening our little bakery…we will be very glad to see you. Another message from another family, who with my help, […]

A Ukrainian/Canadian Christmas Celebration

January 9, 2023.Reading time 1 minute.

More than 150 people gathered yesterday in our local Presbyterian Church to celebrate Ukrainian Christmas. I am too tired to say much more than I am warmed to my core and so grateful for all these people, who have come into our lives since our decision to host a Ukrainian family. The photos capture it […]

Chilly Reflections

November 18, 2022.Reading time 1 minute.

Although my body is healing, my heart is aching still. The requests for help from Ukraine keep pouring in, and the response on our end is drying up. Three families arrive in the next month, and one is already here, with nowhere to go. Three more have reached out. I have no answers. Just ache. […]

Changes

November 14, 2022.Reading time 1 minute.

After 7 weeks of respiratory illness, I think I’m finally on the mend. The family of refugees we’ve been hosting signed their first lease yesterday, and will be moving December 1st. Although hubby and I agreed that we wouldn’t host another family, we have committed to a single woman, my age, who we’ll take in […]

Please Know This…

November 7, 2022.Reading time 3 minutes.

I received a heart wrenching letter from a Ukrainian whose family has moved to Canada as a result of the war. It brought to mind how often immigrants are vilified, especially to serve political purposes, and how wrong we are when we jump to judgment without knowing the whole story. So, next time you come […]

Arrival!

August 26, 2022.Reading time 2 minutes.

“Coming to Canada is like landing on an alien planet,” my friend Svetlana tells me. She arrived a month or so ago, and even with her perfect command of the English language, she struggles to make sense of our way of life. “The bus system, is going to drive me crazy,” she adds. Svetlana and […]

Focus

It’s so easy to spot in others – those that constantly complain about everything – but, do we catch it in ourselves? These days I admit to feeling overwhelmed. Everywhere I look there are things to pack, and dust balls waiting to be scooped up. I lie awake thinking about it, instead of getting much […]

Monday Mood: unmotivated

I’ve been pushing and pushing and I’ve hit an impasse. Luckily, I booked myself a reflexology treatment for this morning, so I can lean into the feeling and melt. The sky, mirroring my mood, is a big grey blob. Hopefully, the clouds and this lethargy will disperse later.