May
15
I Am Yvonne …..
the daughter of Anne Wilma
granddaughter of Josephine and Mary
who left the Ukraine and came across the ocean
to Canada…to have a better life.
older sister to Sonya.
I lived in the city of Toronto, in the west end…
being raised…
in the rich traditions of my ethnic background,
family get-togethers and celebrations…
are treasured memories,
walking to school, coming home for lunch,
safety never an issue.
I fell in love, married and birthed
three beautiful children,
The first treasure, my daughter….
and two sons as different as night and day
We played, we laughed, we read, we created, we sang,
we cooked, we celebrated…
The stories I wove as I gazed upon their wallpaper…
when I put them to bed.
They grew and our lives were rich
with wonderful moments and experiences.
Eternal learner…have I been…
at every stage of life…
defining and redefining who I am
Came a time when faith and courage took me away
from the safe, the familiar
Life became more uncertain…yet through it all…
I grew and healed…
As I explored and discovered…
the missing parts of who I am.
Faith and trust, helped heal
the pain and sadness of the past.
I, doubting who I was as mother…
in so many ways, can look back and see
I raised an amazing daughter,
who is a beautiful woman in her own right
And two sons who are responsible, loving,
helpful and courageous.
I have mustered courage…
even when I thought there was none
I have found counsel in the presence of wise women
I have listened with an open heart….
to those in need both young and old
I have shown compassion, caring,
support and understanding
I have struggled in times of sorrow and despair
I have moved through guilt and disappointment
I have been blessed with the gifts of beautiful women
As souls sisters, therapists and mentors.
I am Yvonne…. I am fully and completely me.
I am beautiful, healthy, whole and complete.
I embody the sacred.
I am discovering and becoming more
of who I truly am every day.