Hoops of Goodness

This week at work we're rolling with the theme of wellness and promoting the overall message of good decision making. Last night we hosted the First Annual Seniors vs Seniors basketball game. Twelve senior kids verse twelve teachers who were out shooting hoops to raise money for Precious Gems. I went into the planning and preparation with having never done anything like this before & we managed to pull off a very successful evening.

We had around 250 in attendance. There were those in the crowd cheering for their fellow classmates while others were pulling for the aged and winded teachers. It was a whole lot of fun with good music, positive vibes and a whole lot of dribbling and shooting. We raised around $600 which will all go towards prevention programs at Seneca. How cool is that?

Sitting on the bench, catching my breathe, looking around at all the kids and staff I was overcome by the love, support and overwhelming goodness of people that walk the halls of Seneca each day. I am blessed to work in a place that looks beyond the realm of academics and drives towards strengthening character, heart and spirit that will last long beyond their years at Seneca. Being able to be a part of something so unique is really quite amazing and I do not take any aspect of it for granted.


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The past few weeks have been anything but boring and predictable. Between wedding stuff, field trips, the precious gems activities scheduled throughout this week and everything else my head can seem to be bursting at the seems. But even in the midst of the insanity, it all seems so worth it when considering the end result.

With winter feeling to be in the distant past having the opportunity to get outside and even a little dirty, is right up my alley. Last week there was a community wide clean-up in Chatsworth with heaps of clubs involved from Seneca. We covered a 2.5 mile span and it was nice having an opportunity to make a dent. A few days later I had the opportunity to take a group of 30 students to Cooper Trauma for a program based on the importance of making good decisions and living life with the realization that it is precious, fragile & critical to live fully with opportunity to make a difference. Sixteen and seventeen year old kids presented with a very real, intense message. I believe in my heart a difference is being made. It's important to keep the message consistent and real.

With a pretty layered week, it was wonderful to have a weekend of chill and pre-meditated catch up on what lies ahead in the week to come. Tomorrow night we roll with teachers verse student basketball game to raise money for Precious Gems and then onto Saturday for the 12th annual run. Lots to do and lots of coffee in between, but all for some super good reasons. Keep on keepin' on.


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Visit de hermana

The past week seems a blur, but a very relaxing and enjoyable blur. Jess and the boys returned to Va after nearly a week in Jersey. Not only was the weather perfect, but having time to be together in a very non-rushed Jersey state of mind was great. The boys loved rolling down the street in their wagon heading to the beach with no real itinerary for the day. It was a 'daily planner free zone' for about 96 hours and it was wonderful.

I feel blessed to have the time I do with Jess and the boys & being with them puts me in a good place. In a few weeks they'll be rolling back into town for the fun run. We're gearing up for the 12th annual, which is hard to believe. I'll be looking forward to another Tristan & Gabe session as we draw closer to May. Yay!



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It seems as though we might actually be in the midst of Spring with snow, ice and frost being a distant memory. Last week skies were dark and rain pelting down & all I could think of was the desperate need for sun and chill. Winter has felt somewht never ending leading me to distant visions of palm trees and flip flops that felt, at times, unattainable. But the past two days have put an end to all that and have been the essence of earth, wind and chill. Jess, Tristan, Gabe & I hit the market in Richmond on Saturday with clear blue skies, sun and sprouting green sprigs of grass. Yay, Spring!

From hanging out at the park, making smores and even partaking in a fairly impressive Easter Egg Hunt; it was really quite a wonderful weekend. I've been missing Keith & the girls as they are across the pond treking through London & Paris, but they're having a great time and that's a good thing : )

The last time I was on the farm it was overcast, gray and much of the 95 acre wood felt lifeless. Time has an amazing way of transforming things and Faith Farm definitely sprung to life. Green rolling hills, budding trees and baby piglets and sheep bouncing around the hillside is a vision to behold. Wow, it is truly beautiful! We were able to bat out a number of things on 'the list' for the wedding and as life springs back to the farm it's exciting to have a vision of what this place will look like come August 1st.

The car is all packed up and Jess & the boys & I shall be venturing north of the Mason Dixon for some quality time together in Jersey. It'll be nice to be together, continue catching up and possibly do a little dress shopping for the wedding. Jess has been quite the 'wingman' for me these past few months & I'm profoundly blessed to have her through all the planning stages. Good stuff. We're up and out at 2 am and officially, on the road again!




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