filled with gratitude.

i have been compiling a list of people who have helped out on this community project. people who have donated money. people who have donated their labour, or materials, or both. people who have been more than willing and have picked up a shovel and gotten (really) dirty when there's work to be done. people with good ideas. people with good intentions. people who have donated their time at craft fairs selling things to fundraise. people who have made those things to sell. people who donated the materials for those people to make things for other people to sell. ;) people who have dropped off food for the people who are volunteering their time in the rain on the project's construction. and so many more.

it fills me with gratitude and complete awe that a community of just 400 people can garner this much support for such a project. it's so inspiring. there is community spirit here that is beyond anything you could imagine. when push comes to shove, your neighbours are there for you. ALWAYS. which is why i *LOVE* living here. it's not just the natural beauty, it's the people.

i spent the morning at tai chi and feeling the energy of the group was wonderful; very healing.

tonight i am filled with gratitude. for my neighbours. for my tai chi mates. for reiki. for the work ethic of community, and that my dad instilled in me. for a playful puppy. for leftovers for dinner (because i really didn't feel like making anything). for a loving family and their wonderful hugs. for my children's piano playing. for rest.

i laughed heartily at myself today - at the many 'faces' i have: today i was wearing rubber boots, sweat pants, a plaid flannel jacket, black toque, work gloves, and was FILTHY with mud. i laughed because i remembered that just two weeks ago when dh & i went out for the evening i was wearing a beautiful organic cotton empire-waist dress and my knee-high black boots and felt really lovely and sexy and feminine. it was such a stark contrast to the androgenous clothes i had on today; in fact, one of the other neighbours, another hs'ing mama, stopped by and she was quite shocked - she didn't even recognize it was me beneath the mud and work clothes! oh yes, the many different faces of 'self'. i am still the little girl i was growing up. i am still the teenager finding her way. i am still the university student. i am still the athlete, the mother, the wife, the friend, the volunteer, the neighbour, the daughter (and daughter-in-law), the sister (and sister-in-law), the aunt, the niece, the granddaughter, the raw vegan, the lifelong learner, the gardener, the blogger.... i am all of these, and more besides! ;)