HarperHolistic

Poetry tea time is something we look forward to each month. There isn't a right or wrong way. It doesn't have to cost anything either. It can be as elaborate, silly, or as simple as you like. I choose a theme for each month at the beginning of the year to make it easier for myself to focus on a theme. Each of my kids, including myself, either creates a poem or finds a couple to share over tea (in my late nanny's tea cups).🥹🍵🫖 We take turns around the table, although today Harper preferred to stand and present hers.🤗 Then, we enjoy snacks/tea and follow-up with a fun craft. It's such a fun way to spend time together reading poetry and encouraging the love of reading. Mostly, I love the memories we are creating. Truly homeschool memories that I'll cherish forever. Today was nettle tea, and Kien made gf lemon loaf. 🩵❄️😊

It's a first for us! 🎉We read the entire Bible chronologically this year. It wasn't intimidating either. was extremely helpful. It provided the daily reading plan and the daily recap video on YouTube. I really appreciated the perspective and clarity because some days, I was left thinking, "What did I just read?" 🤔🙃🙂 What's so interesting is that nobody made us, but we all felt this desire placed on us to want to read the Bible. ♡♡♡

Looking back has been pretty cool, we started reading the Bible, then we found a church & started going consistently, then we were baptized, and then we shared our testimony at our Christmas Eve service. I love how everything is making sense now, the joy in chaos...peace that makes no sense. 📚⛪️ ✝️

I cringe a little at how I viewed life and even the things I have shared here on social media. 😬 Here's to growth and possibilities. We are all looking forward to taking another trip through the Bible, starting tomorrow. Hello, 2024.

Today, I wanted to celebrate my kids working hard this school year. 🎉 We are so close to wrapping up our homeschool year and ready for summer break. So, at the movie theater, I made sure to present Harper's Access 2 card. 🎬🍿

The Access 2 card, which is a program through Easter Seals, is for people of all ages and types of permanent disabilities who require the assistance of a support person. Simply present this card, and the support person will receive free admission. There are literally hundreds of different places (cultural attractions, entertainment venues & recreational facilities) across Canada that accept this card. Everything is listed on their website. We make sure to present this anytime we go to the museums. 🎟

The goal of this program is to improve social inclusion and to provide access to various attractions. To be honest, I had never heard of this program before. It was our social worker who mentioned it after Harper's first surgery.
There is a small fee of $30 when you first apply, but it is valid for 5 years. I appreciate that this program is trying to make a difference by providing opportunities and experiences without the added financial burden.

Hopefully, this can help others who are in a similar situation. ♡

For years, my favorite all-purpose cleaner has been my beloved OG cleaner concentrate. ❤️ I love it to clean ALL the things, including floors & stains. Seriously, it is such an easy, affordable non-toxic option, and you can even supercharge it with oils of your choice.

But when it comes to grime, abode cleaner wins.🏆It's actually my preferred cleaner in the bathroom now (tub/shower, toilet, and sink). What I love most about this cleaner is how easily it lifts any grime you have. For me, it's the tub/shower. It literally wipes the grime off effortlessly. And smells so fresh. ♡

Now, I still use the OG cleaner concentrate. I let my kids choose which one they'd like to use for their chores that day. Whatever they choose, I feel confident knowing it's a safe, non-toxic option. Which cleaning in your home should be! Toxic options wreak havoc on your health. 🤢

Do you prefer the OG cleaner concentrate or the abode cleaner? 🤔 Or both like me?? 🫣

About last night.💘

Getting dressed up is way more fun than I remembered. Especially when your uniform consists of sweats and no makeup. 🥰💄 👠

I spoke on a panel sharing my personal experience as a parent with a child who has an acquired brain injury. The focus was on resiliency. I was able to share our one team family approach, how life has changed for the better since the beginning of Harper's journey, and my personal strategies that have helped in my journey moving forward. 🧠

Woah!! Preparing for this talk was a beautiful, painful experience. Had me question if I should be speaking on this panel. Am I resilient? It surprised me how emotional it was preparing for this talk. Going back to the beginning and reliving all the chaos and setbacks in just 4 years. Knowing this is far from over as this is a lifelong journey. And as painful as it was, it was also therapeutic. 💔🙏

My favorite moment from my talk was on the drive there. I said to the kids that the driving conditions were horrible (poor visibility). Harper chimes in and says, "You can do hard things, Mommy. That's what you always tell me." 🥹👏

And so the talk went well. You CAN do hard things. 💓

Someone tried skating for the first time! 😱⛸️🙌 This is HUGE due to her foot drop and other health circumstances. Having an experienced skater (daddy & the grandparents) along with the skate aids helped for support and encouragement. As I know, I could not have taken her on my own. The skates acted as a brace for the AFO that she wears regularly. She didn't even fall, but frustration kicked in. Fortunately, adaptive rental equipment is available, so we were all able to continue skating in our own unique way. But knowing that skating IS possible for her fills my heart with so much joy! ♥️

So if you need a little encouragement... you CAN do hard things, and sometimes, it might look differently. ✨️

The first thing I do every morning (before water or coffee) is tongue scrape. There is so much satisfaction in tongue scraping! 💟👅 When we sleep, our body naturally detoxes, and that shows itself up as a white film on our tongue. So, instead of that film being ingested back into our bodies by drinking water first thing, it's important to remove it by tongue scraping. You don't need a fancy scraper either (although very inexpensive). You can just use the back of a spoon. 🥄 I've played around with various oils, and MetaPWR is by far my favorite to add a drop to my tongue and then scrape. You'll immediately notice how clean your mouth feels, EVEN before you brush your teeth 🪥. Instant gratification is always a bonus. 🥰😘 After you start doing this, you'll start to notice how much better breath you have. It is such an easy way to have a positive impact on your health.

Do you tongue scrape? 👅

If there are changes you want to make for the New Year ~ start now! Why wait until the New Year to make a resolution? Maybe by then whatever you wanted to work on will become more of a consistent practice.

As a family we want to be more active. In the winter I always have the same excuse about not liking the cold and if I'm being honest, it's challenging with Harper. But if I'm dressed properly and there are adaptive options for her, then there are no excuses.

Today was our first time taking Harper out with us and we were lucky to have some flurries. ⛸️❄️ Are you making any New Year's resolutions?

Whenever I feel that head tension creeping in, this is an absolute must!

1 drop on your thumb 👍 and press on the roof of your mouth. You will be amazed, of the relief you will feel.

If you have been hesitant on oils this one will make you a believer. 🙌 🙏 And if you are ever wondering what oil to use 🤔, "when in doubt, use Frank"!!

It's a pricer oil with a wholesale price of $92 cdn. However, you can get Frankincense free this month with any 200PV order (loyalty, one-time or new starter kit)! How cool is that?
Good thing the free Frank promo is on as I'm running low. 😬

Send me a message if you are ready to get started or have any questions.

Harper has a new pen pal who is the sweetest little girl. 💌 What I wanted to share about this experience is what Harper said all afternoon until she went to sleep. "I'm so lucky!" "How did I get so lucky?" 💓🥺

With everything my 8 year old has gone through, along with her current health challenges, she feels lucky! I admire her positivity. What if we all took a que from Harper and throughout our day thought, "how did I get so lucky?"
What's the best that could happen? 🤔✨️

So I've had this moisture meter for over a year, I mean I HAD to have it. 🎁 And used it once. 🙄😬

Decided to pull it out for Harper's chores. 🪴You know to teach her the proper way to water plants, so as to not over water them. I typically look & possibly feel if it looks dry, then I water. Thinking this would be too messy of a technique for her. Thank goodness I went with the moisture meter and put Harper in charge of watering plants. 💕

Well...we discovered that:
1) I have been over watering.💧
2) Most of the plants in the basement are not thriving and 😟
3) She was able to bring "Figgy", our fig plant back to life. 💚

Do you have a moisture meter? Let me know in the comments.

Quick recap of our first week. Loving our read aloud, 'Because of Winn-Dixie', fun nature journaling, and a special moment coming across my late grandparents names in our books from the library, JoEllen & Otis. 💝 Keep in mind these are names that aren't common, so this made our week feel extra special.

Tomorrow we'll be starting week 2 of our homeschool. 👏 Technically it was supposed to be week 4. However, someone had different plans for me.

I felt under the weather a few days into our school year. 🦠 I'm used to shaking things off quickly, which didn't happen for me this time. I have to admit I didn't like surrending and doing nothing but rest. 💤 I also didn't like that I needed help. But rest is exactly what I needed and appreciate the help from family. 🙏

I feel energetically upgraded like a new person. Any mommas out there needing rest, take it before you are forced to. In order to be there for our family, it is our responsibility to make sure we stay healthy. 💯

Typically in the past I would just ask my kids when I needed help around the house. To be more efficient this homeschool year, I made daily chores for each of them. Age appropriate and to be completed before we begin our school day. I am fully aware that in all reality this likely won't be completed up to my standard. But that's not the point. How can you ever get good at something if you don't ever start? These chores are age appropriate, non-toxic cleaning products and need to get done. So I added things like watering plants, toilets, sinks, vaccuming, mirror's, dusting, laundry, and helping mommy out whenever asked. To my surprise my youngest is VERY excited. So much so, that telling daddy is the first thing she shares when he gets home from work! I have to admit, I was worried with Harper's limitations how this would work out, and to my surprise she does just fine. Dare I say even more detailed than her older brother. 🤫😉
Plenty of discussions went in regarding an allowance, and we decided what's best for our family is no money for chores. 🚫 They live here and are not hard done by, so don't feel bad for them. Plus, these chores take hardly any time to complete. We are a family and we work together as a team, so we all will help out. 🪴🚽🧻🪟👨‍👩‍👧‍👦
✨️ Creating a new beginning can spark, hope, enthusiasm and confidence. ✨️

Have you ever felt so happy you just wanted to cry? That was this weekend. 🎆⚓️🌞⛱️💖🌊

Nothing that cost money, just spending time with family. Slowing down and soaking in every moment.

Lose yourself in nature and find peace. ♥️

Today we celebrated our last day of homeschool. I am so proud of my kiddos and wanted to do something special to celebrate all of their hard work. Daddy made unicorn pancakes🦄 🥞, they each received special hand written cards, completion certificates for their grade, and a little gift to say good job! ✨️👪

These card holders that my stepfather, Peter made, are absolutely fantastic for Harper! It is truly a blessing with her left-hand function weakness. This allows her to play cards independently now, with 1 hand. 🙏✋️

The neat part is that both of the kids can paint theirs if they want. Functional + fun. 🥰♥️🃏♣️♦️♠️