Author: walking in freedom

Sorry I seemed to have fallen off the face of the earth. Work is so busy I’m often tired at night to start all over again the next day. We have a lot of needs in Kindergarten this year. More then I’ve ever seen in all the years I’ve worked at school. It’s good though and I’m learning to take something small from each day as a blessing. Sometimes they are big things as well. I was getting bogged down with how much I had to do at work everyday. Now I look for those chances to see something great. I had to change my mindset otherwise the weight of it all would crush you.

Every year the Lord puts a child or children into my class that need me. 3 weeks into school He made it very clear to me who was there for me to help. As the weeks have gone by I have gotten to know this child well and I’ve been building a trust. They seek me out or if the child is sad I try to help them feel better. This one is a hard one. I’m also meeting a lot of different needs in my class. I’m so glad I’m working with an amazing teacher who has a heart like mine. Another blessing.

Last weekend I got to hang out with my favorite kid. I realized that I’ve not been laughing much. He makes me smile and laugh often. Wow he’s growing up so fast. I also realized I needed to laugh more. They say laughter is the best medicine.

This past year I committed to work on my health. I went to physio and worked on strengthening my core and my balance. I participated in two challenges through the company I work for. Things I never imagined I could ever do. Push up and plank challenge and sit ups and squats. Completed both 30 day challenges. I lost 9lbs and just joined a program called Lifestyle RX it’s run though our health care so it’s free to everyone. It will help me get my blood sugars down to normal and teach me how to eat better, sleep, excerise and control your stress.

I had very extensive blood work done and they work with your doctor. They suggest I lose 30lbs. I need to get into a healthy range with my weight or I  will have huge medical issues. The program is 3 months but then they keep checking in on you so you don’t get lost in the system. I’m excited that I can be healthy and feel better in my life and learn how to eat and be healthy in my entire life. I’m excited that I can do this without taking a drug to help me lose weight. I’m excited that every week I will meet with others who have joined the program and learn more about me. It’s time to learn a new way. I learned this weekend that if you have higher blood sugars that you can’t lose weight. That explains a lot.

This year I also joined a gut health group. I’ve learned so many amazing things. I started a product called Zive 7 and it has changed my gut in ways I could never imagine. I’ve been off PPI’s acid reflux medicine for a month now. I never thought that would ever happen. I have a head cold right now but for the first time in my life it’s not as bad as it would have been before with a screwed up gut. I’m learning amazing ways to change. I’m learning about inflammation and how to reduce it. I’ve lost a lot of belly fat what was from bloat. I’m excited about this health journey and have met amazing people on this journey. I will keep you updated on the results.

So much to be grateful for. Remember to stop and smell the roses as they say. Find the little things in your life that bring you joy. 🌹

I have always stood up for what is right no matter how hard it is. I know this comes from how I was treated as a child. I had no voice and was unable to stand up for what I needed to. After I left that horrible place I grew up in and  worked on myself a lot, I vowed that I would be a voice for the voiceless. That’s what I’ve done. I’ve stood in the gap for others.

I hate confrontation but I hate more how people treat others. I have zero tolerance for it. I’ve had to make hard decisions where I was the only one who stood up for what was right. I was known as a trouble maker in my jobs. So standing up for what is right is a trouble maker wow. I have protected children and stood against the people that bullied them. I have stood up to bullies. When you get bullied a lot as a kid and are defenseless it’s time to stand for what you believe in.

I’ve had to challenge people and ask them how do you sleep at night knowing these things are going on. I’ve gone to the authorities and stood on my own to protect children. Recently I went for an interview and experienced a man who tried to intimate me and critized my answers. I’m not really sure why he was there. I then wasn’t sure how I was supposed to answer what I was asked. I was really upset when I left and I’m writing a letter to the board to tell them that it was very inappropriate how I was treated. If I don’t speak out then how many more people have experienced what I have. I’m sure I’m not the only person. That is not a place I want to live in. Nobody ever should feel intimidated by someone who thinks they have power over you.

I’m so glad God’s given me a voice to continue to speak out for what is wrong. Stand in the gap for others. Stand up for what is right in this world even if you have to do it on your own.

Look at these faces all innocent animals that are not being tested to see if they have the avian flu. In the coming days they may very well be culled but they are not sick. For the last 10 months none of them have been sick.

About a week ago one of my friends put up a very heart breaking video on Facebook about a lady Katie Pasitney who part owns Universal Ostrich Farm in Edgewood, BC Canada.  The video wow was a plea for her 330 ostrichs to get tested. I had heard about this farm before but really had no idea what was happening. I started to watch and see what was happening. It was like watching a movie but no this is in the same province that I live in. This is reality.

Her mother Karen Espersen and business owner Dave Bilinski have run this farm for 35 years. Last December a duck flew over their farm and brought with them the Avian flu. They lost about 70 ostrichs. Ever since then the CFIA the Canadian federal government for safety of Canada’s food supply have tried to take over the farm. In 10 months not one ostrich has been sick either have the people who run the farm. The animals have built up immunity.

4 days ago I watched Katie and her mother being arrested for being told that they could feed their ostrichs before they were slated to be culled. In fact they were lied to, to get them into the pen so they could be arrested and removed from their farm. The CFIA came and took over the farm and 40 plus police came. Their job the CFIA is to feed and look after the ostrichs. That’s like putting the wolf into the sheep’s pen. They took down the farms security cameras and put tape on them and build walls of hay. This is so the world can’t see them cull these animals. Interesting every night for the last 3 nights the hay bales combust. I believe that is the Lord at work.

The next day after the arrest after Katie and her family had prayed they got a stay order for the ostrichs to be spared their death. Last Thursday the CFIA put in their report and Katie and her family have 2 days which will be Monday to challenge their order.

The family is fighting for all farmers because it’s scary that the government can have that much power and the farmers have nothing. They won’t test the ostrichs because they know that they aren’t sick. If you have followed the story the CFIA aren’t even following protocol. It’s all show the white painters suits and they leave the farm and go and eat at restaurants and sleep at hotels in town. If there was a threat then the family would have been sick and all the people around them.

The ostrichs have been used in Science and have antibodies that cure Covid and H1N1. Their eggs carry the antibodies and for 35 years they have helped change our world. Now the farm is a threat to all of that. That explains why a farm in a very small town is now a target. It’s so much bigger.

I heard today from Katie that the CFIA have been in town trying to rent equipment and buy traps so that when they cull them they can do it in the back of the farm and those tarps do not break down. So on top of it all they will leave the carnigae on the farm.

So I’m reaching out to my blogging community pray that the ostrichs can be tested and saved to continue the work that they have been doing. This is not just about Universal Ostrich Farm. This effects every farmer in Canada. This needs to STOP.

I will leave you with this video that someone made and it speaks loud and clear.

https://youtu.be/pOh6jcEAbO8?si=CUfmFB2a_YxDWGsy

Thanks for listening and I’m so glad that I can be a small part of this because the Truth sets you free and it needs to be told.

Thank you Katie, Karen, Dave and all your families for what you are doing every day with boots on the ground. The world is watching and many are praying. We stand with you during this time. ❤️🙏✝️

Yesterday at school we prepared apples to make applesauce. As I sat here tonight eating this amazing sauce I thought My applesauce is finally done. I’m sitting here eating it and thinking about how delicious it is the apples from my teachers tree and little hands that prepared it. This applesauce is made with love. Even though our class is a tad bit wild at times. The care each child put into cutting these apples was amazing. I will carry that with me when times seem tough. 🍎🍎❤️ I love how each one is them, turned the handle of the cool apple peeler. They were mesmerized how it peeled and the core popped out.

I was sitting at the cutting table but I could hear how each of them thought this was a magic peeler. I love the innocent of children. Then they came to me and with their plastic knives cut the apples. Some of them cut the pieces big, some so carefully cut them so small. Each child taking such care to cut and put it into the crock pot. Not one of them had ever cut anything before let alone apples. They loved it so much.

Unfortunately our crock pot wasn’t working is why I cooked the apples at home. We will bring it back to school cooked for them to try it on Tuesday. I can’t wait to see how they enjoy what they made. I love watching their faces and comments. They were so proud to be able to make something themselves.

So even though I feel overwhelmed sometimes I need to remember that they are so young and they need to be shown how to do many things. Cutting apples for our sauce was not one of them.

I’m struggling right now and thought blogging would help me get into a different mindset. Often if I write things down it helps. I hardly ever get stuck like this anymore. There is a lot going on. It seems as time goes on that I get overwhelmed easier. This week I was thinking that is still grief. My dad has been gone now for almost 8 months. I miss him everyday.

I got super overwhelmed at work this week so much so that I wanted to get in my car and drive away. I instead found a good friend and we chatted about it and she knew exactly what I needed. I love that. I hate feeling overwhelmed instead of wanting to figure it out. I wanted to just leave.

My job is so crazy right now I’m feeling really overwhelmed by it and I’m super confused what I’m supposed to be doing. Yes I’m supposed to be there for the children but 8 children have massive needs. I can’t do all that they need. So I’ve been going full tilt and this week I now hurt my back. I can’t keep up this pace day in and out. I need to find the right balance.

I then wanted to run again and not work in my class because it’s too much. Wow there is a lot of running going on here. What happened to the person who fights for things no matter what? I feel trapped in a box and I don’t know how to fix it. Not everything can be fixed. Yes I’m a fixer and if it can’t be then I want to run.

The flip side of that is I’m valued and need to be just where I am to help the children. I’ve been told that. I think if I run from all the people who need me especially those children who are they going up look up to. Who will they trust? Every year God puts the right children into my class for a reason. Really God did I need 8 children with high needs. Yes my heart is huge so obviously this is what he’s given me. So now I’m off with a sore back I can see clearer that yes this is what I’m doing and I need to embrace what is happening even if it’s crazy. Hopefully I won’t get overwhelmed like that again.

I like being in control and get lost when I can’t be like right now. I never had that control as a child. I realize that I don’t need to be in control that’s God’s job and I need to trust this journey, because he’s never let me down. I’m also waiting for an interview about a place to live that’s cheaper and will help in so many ways. It adds to the things I have on my plate now, but God has given me peace about that and I’m ready for the interview. 

I love that when I feel fear or wanting to run that I can pray and ask the Lord for peace. Peace that transcends only from him. Instantly I feel that surreal peace. Sometimes I will see a bald eagle 🦅 which means to me that God’s got this all under His control and that I will be ok.

So this is part of my journey, I don’t know what it looks like but really who does. See already my mindset has changed. Thanks for listening. How do you feel peace if you feel anxiety? Are there things that can change your mindset?

School has started and we have completed 4 days. Our children are lovely as all children are but we have some with high intensity and needs. Maybe my teacher and I can teach them how to relax and chill. We have a lot of diverse needs and about half of them have English as a second language. Two don’t speak any English so that’s challenging but it’s amazing how fast they pick up English. It’s amazing to watch.

This is the first year that I’ve worked in school and have had the highest needs in Kindergarten. These children were all 1 when Covid hit so we are seeing huge amounts of needs in schools because of that. We remember how hard it was for us as adults well families were all isolated at home. No socializing outside with other children. The effects over the next few years well be profound.I hate that because it effects everyone especially the children.

The children that come to my class every single year I’ve worked at school has been children that need what I can give them. I was telling my teacher this past week that the experiences I’ve had in my Early Childhood Educator have made me who I am today. I’ve got amazing skills to help all children.

I’m looking forward to getting to know each of them and their families. Last week we just had half come in the morning and the afternoon so they have no idea there is more children coming. It will be busy this year but I’m working with an amazing teacher and I look forward to watching them grow.

My heart soars when I can spend time getting to know each of them. I love that some already come to me when they are unsure about things. I’m good at my job so we will work out what we need to. Here’s to next week.

As we draw towards the end of summer. I look back and wonder where it went. It was a great summer. I got to spend most of my days with my favorite kid. He’s growing up fast. I want to wrap my arms around him to stop him growing up. He’s off to middle school on Tuesday. New adventures for him. Yesterday he told me he loved me and that he loved spending time with me. I told him that I’m so proud of him for doing things that were hard. I’ve never seen him joke about things. I was making him lunch and he told me that he was never eating lunch again. I told him he needed to eat lunch to get energy. He told me he’s never eating again. Then he started to laugh and said that it was a joke and it was funny. I laughed and realized that he just doesn’t miss a beat. I’m so blessed that I get to watch him grow up. I love that kid.

I got to hang out with friends and family this summer. My aunt came from France and got to catch up with her. I got to go up island with two of my good friends and do our annual trip to Parksville and Coombs. It was good to catch up.

Then I got to go up to Qualicum Beach for a couple of nights with another couple of friends. I realized that we stayed in the same place that my best friend who passed away. Wendy and I stayed there in a different suite when we went to a rabbit show. That was a cool memory. I learned more about patience when we worked on Lego flowers. That’s not for the faint of heart. It looks amazing now it’s done.

It was nice to eat good food and hang out and laugh and play games. It was our time before school starts. I want to hold on to the last of summer but slowly it’s slipping away.

You know you were busy this summer when it zipped by. School starts next week. God always puts just the right children into my class. So it will be interesting to see who comes this year. I’m looking forward to getting back I’m working with the same teacher as the end of last year. I look forward to meeting our new kids and seeing all the old faces. ❤️

What is you could change one thing in your life, that would make a massive difference in your health. Would you take that risk? Unfortunately it often takes having health issues before we do things to change our life. For me it’s not been working for a long time no matter what I do to try and change it. I don’t know if it’s being worried about trying something new or I just get stuck in the same old ways. That’s part of it but the missing piece was I didn’t know any different.

4 months ago I joined a gut health group. It’s been very educational and life changing for me. I always knew that my gut was a train wreak but had no idea how to change it. I wanted to learn all I could about my gut. Did you know that your gut is a second brain? It effects every single thing in your life. My immune system was horrible and everything that blew by I caught it. I was lucky if I could be well for 2 weeks. I missed so much work with being sick all the time.

I watched every video and really listened and asked lots of questions. I realized that no longer could I do this on my own. I joined an amazing community that I get information and videos every week. I get to talk to real people that are living their best lives. To me that was just a pipe dream. Today it’s a reality and I’m living my best life 1% a day. Anyone can do that.

https://drannatoker.com/ This is the gut health group that I belong to. Knowledge is power.

This is what I changed in my life. I’ve been taking Zive 7 now for 6 weeks and I’ve seen amazing things. My bloat in my stomach has decreased and my stomach is flatter. The inflammation and stiffness I had in my knees is almost non existent. Wow what??? I have more energy and I feel the best I’ve ever felt in my entire life. I’m even super active which was not me before.

The biggest thing I’ve noticed is my self esteem has risen and I’m doing things that I would never have done before. I joined a challenge called Sit ups and Squats and doing videos of myself and posting them on social media. I used to not like who I was at all. I found another amazing community the Zive Alive Facebook group where I get to hear and see podcasts each week about your gut.

I realized that when you balance your blood sugars that it effects your entire body. My blood sugars have been all over the place. Now they are stable which I love.

Life is so short and living my best life is the most important thing to me. I started this journey at the beginning of the year and I’m so glad I found ways to help me continue to live my best life. Are you tired of being sluggish and slow and sick all the time. I’m so glad I found ways to improve my health.

https://shopzive.com/pages/learn?srsltid=AfmBOoryV5uQ9pMuI68gz6MJ5zDNmpa1WwwcUdsg5_xiSe6tNQabAKZL

This is information about the pre/ probiotic I’m taking now. So go out there and live life like you have never before and take risks and learn. It’s so worth it. ❤️