My trip to Portland was amazing in multiple ways….
The trip to Portland was set up to see my sister, my baby
nephew Emerson and to visit the land in the area as well as connect my children
to my sister’s family. The trip was also meant to spend time helping out my
sister with the first birthday party of Emerson for he turned one year old
while we were visiting. We were also set out to celebrate the fourth of July
with my sister, which has never been done with before with my children and
herself.
All of these were attained, yet there was so much more that I had not expected. It was more of an awakening than anything else, while we were visiting. There was so much intervention of the universe that explaining it in a few simple words would be a waste, so I’ll lay them out to you and allow for you to see if you feel the connections as I did.
All of these were attained, yet there was so much more that I had not expected. It was more of an awakening than anything else, while we were visiting. There was so much intervention of the universe that explaining it in a few simple words would be a waste, so I’ll lay them out to you and allow for you to see if you feel the connections as I did.
(Here’s your warning to back out of reading the rest of this
blog, for it’s bound to be very lengthy)
When the children and I arrived at the airport we were approached and asked if we wanted to check in our carry ons. If you've ever traveled with children, alone, you realize that this is in itself a blessing!! We agreed on the spot….this is where the trip began with blessings. Not to mention that the children were extremely excited, willing to get up at 5 AM and move along at a GREAT pace to get to where we needed to be in a timely fashion. This was the beginning of what I didn't realize was going to be an astounding trip.
When we arrived in Portland, we were greeting with love from my brother in law and he immediately wanted to start to show us their lives. We went to a park to enjoy the baby, Berkley the Boston terrier and the scenery. We ended up visiting one of the many parks in Portland and realizing that the city was made up of many bridges. My daughter was in awe when she was taken into a small coffee shop and the interior design in the bathroom. Funny, possibly, but her imagination is now flowing with great ideas for her future. After a while of adjusting to the fact that we were now in Oregon we went to the house to get situated.
We were blessed with some rainy weather, for we needed to prepare for the party coming on that Saturday and we had things that needed to be put together and prepared. Not to mention to rest a little bit after a day of travel. One does not realize how much that takes out of the body and soul until it hits you like a freight train.
We set out to visit one of the largest book stores around, Powel's Books. The children loved it and I was a bit taken back by all the 'words' in that place. Very profound and a good thing we didn't have all day to spend there or alot of cash, I'm pretty sure we would've had to pack another bag to take home with us.
When the children and I arrived at the airport we were approached and asked if we wanted to check in our carry ons. If you've ever traveled with children, alone, you realize that this is in itself a blessing!! We agreed on the spot….this is where the trip began with blessings. Not to mention that the children were extremely excited, willing to get up at 5 AM and move along at a GREAT pace to get to where we needed to be in a timely fashion. This was the beginning of what I didn't realize was going to be an astounding trip.
When we arrived in Portland, we were greeting with love from my brother in law and he immediately wanted to start to show us their lives. We went to a park to enjoy the baby, Berkley the Boston terrier and the scenery. We ended up visiting one of the many parks in Portland and realizing that the city was made up of many bridges. My daughter was in awe when she was taken into a small coffee shop and the interior design in the bathroom. Funny, possibly, but her imagination is now flowing with great ideas for her future. After a while of adjusting to the fact that we were now in Oregon we went to the house to get situated.
We were blessed with some rainy weather, for we needed to prepare for the party coming on that Saturday and we had things that needed to be put together and prepared. Not to mention to rest a little bit after a day of travel. One does not realize how much that takes out of the body and soul until it hits you like a freight train.
We set out to visit one of the largest book stores around, Powel's Books. The children loved it and I was a bit taken back by all the 'words' in that place. Very profound and a good thing we didn't have all day to spend there or alot of cash, I'm pretty sure we would've had to pack another bag to take home with us.
The party was put together and it was a huge success!! I think the best thing was seeing the family extremely happy that it came together as well as it did and seeing my baby sister enjoying everything that she’s created on this journey.
I was able to remember what it was like to be married with little ones and how I don’t miss it. Don’t get it me wrong, that life works for some, but it’s not my cup of tea. I tried that and it was something to experience, yet I’d never go back to living in a home with little ones in it all the while working on a relationship. There’s too much stress and drama that’s created while trying to learn about your significant other. The experience that I had and also watching others go through it does not attract me at all at this point in my life. I’m pretty sure I've been there and done that and I’m O.K. knowing that I’m not willing to go back to that.
This brings our trip up to the day of the party. Here’s where I need to share with you some other interesting experiences that I encountered while I was there. I had a phone call from a fellow body builder and he was going through a very painful time in his life. We played phone tag for a day or two, for I’d not realized what had happened until we spoke. We spent a good two hours on the phone, as we usually do, yet this time it was very god centered and grounding for his sake and where he was at in his life.
The following day, I was sitting with the family and their friends and I received another message from a good running buddy. She was going through something painful with another friend of hers. I took her phone call and was able to be there for her and listen, make a few suggestions and experience some gratitude for where I am in life today as well as the knowledge and wisdom I’ve been blessed with. Later on that week, she shared with me that her friend was able to get some help and shared her gratitude with me and how I was able to be there for her.
Following these two requests I had four more request come
through while I was on the trip. This is all within a total of 8 days. My dream
that I’m working on and fulfilling is motivational speaking. It has also been
highly suggested for me to venture into Life Coaching. I will be following
through on this suggestion when I return home, for it’s very clear to me now
that my calling is to not only share with the world my experiences through
speaking it’s also to share with those that are finding troubles in their lives
on an individual base.
One other thing that became very clear to me while I was on
this trip was how I’ll present myself to the world. For many women deem to
think that they need to show skin and also model their physique to the world
and then base their careers and paychecks around that. For me, women are so
much more than a ‘physique’ …they are gentle souls who have so much love and
care to spread around this world. That’s the work that I’ll also venture out
on. I want to share with the women in this world that they are a human being
with beauty inside and out. I never realize that my grandmother was teaching me
this my entire life, yet, now it’s entirely clear to me that presenting
ourselves as much more than a physique is extremely important. Don’t hear that
I’m not going to work on my physique and continue on modeling or competing,
just hear that I’m going to do it with integrity and also share with you the
strength behind my training and my love with clothes verses without. #bewhole
#showyourentirestrengths
Sunday after the party, my sister and her son took us out to the Silver Falls State Park to enjoy the waterfalls and the beautiful nature scenery. It was completely epic and breath taking. Plus, a good 4 mile hike never hurt anyone.
Monday we went to visit Cannon Beach, Ecola State Park, Seaside Beach and all the surrounding areas. We chased sunsets, made sand castles, and created a bond that no one will ever break all with lots of love, many portions of nature and adventures for all of us. The children were able to experience that ocean in a different venue, for they’d visited the portion of the Pacific in Seattle three years prior.
They spent three days with their feet either in sand or the ocean, enjoying every single moment and as I watched them my heart was brought so much warmth and comfort. Their smiles and laughter was priceless, for this is why I do what I do. My son would venture out and find seashells and all the while running back to share with such enjoyment that the moment was captured and kept inside of my soul, feeding me the best energy possible. At one time, we found five full sand dollars that were brought in during low tide. He didn't realize the amazing ‘find’ that we came across, yet, it was a gift for they were aligned in a perfect line allowing me to realize that there’s a much larger being out there then myself and the ocean was it at that exact moment.
Sunday after the party, my sister and her son took us out to the Silver Falls State Park to enjoy the waterfalls and the beautiful nature scenery. It was completely epic and breath taking. Plus, a good 4 mile hike never hurt anyone.
Monday we went to visit Cannon Beach, Ecola State Park, Seaside Beach and all the surrounding areas. We chased sunsets, made sand castles, and created a bond that no one will ever break all with lots of love, many portions of nature and adventures for all of us. The children were able to experience that ocean in a different venue, for they’d visited the portion of the Pacific in Seattle three years prior.
They spent three days with their feet either in sand or the ocean, enjoying every single moment and as I watched them my heart was brought so much warmth and comfort. Their smiles and laughter was priceless, for this is why I do what I do. My son would venture out and find seashells and all the while running back to share with such enjoyment that the moment was captured and kept inside of my soul, feeding me the best energy possible. At one time, we found five full sand dollars that were brought in during low tide. He didn't realize the amazing ‘find’ that we came across, yet, it was a gift for they were aligned in a perfect line allowing me to realize that there’s a much larger being out there then myself and the ocean was it at that exact moment.
My daughter and I were able to make some words and fun in the sand, smiling and bonding with the universe wrapping us. I watched her and her words in the sand were incredible, for she wrote things such as: “I Refuse 2 Sink “. Somewhere along the lines I've done something right parenting her and I’m extremely grateful that she’s becoming a strong young lady with such independence and creativity.
It was incredible to see my sister and her family walk along the beaches, for they were the perfect little family. Their own creativity and personalities came out so vividly and the ora that supports them creates such a warmth to my soul. It’s comforting knowing that my baby sister is ‘home’. My brother in law is incredible with not only animals but with young children. He’s a gift that many don’t encounter in their lives and hopefully he’ll find that and embrace it.
The best thing to top it all off with was the firework show in Vancouver, WA. My sister, the children and I headed to Fort Vancouver for an amazing firework show. We did not find the traffic excruciating, nor did we run into chaos or stress during the short trip. It was a very smooth and relaxing time and the fireworks themselves were phenomenal!! Twenty straight minutes of nothing but magic in the sky to celebrate the birth of our country.
One more area of my life expanded while we were visiting
that is in the sport area of my life, I was granted the opportunity to work
with a natural supplement company out of Madison, WI named P2P Muscle as well
as promote for RockTape. These will not only help me to move forward to my next
competition, they will also help with the support needed to move on to a wider
aspect in the body building arena I’d like to venture into. (#GRATEFUL)
Lately it had also been suggested that I try out for the
T.V. Show called “America Ninja Warrior” and when I had shared I was connected
with two beautiful women that had previously been on the show. Coincidentally,
they both live in the Portland area and we set up a ‘Ninjette Date’. I was able
to meet them and now have some ninja friends in that area. This is what I adore
and live for with the networking skills that I adhere. Meeting new people and
also connecting them as well is priceless and something I thoroughly love in
life.
All in all I’m very proud of my children, for they were amazing during our stay and I’ll be forever grateful to my sister and her family for allowing us to stay with them as well as sharing their world with us. I think as I get older, learn more about myself and also realize that we only have one life to live, it’s much easier for me to find peace, keep things in perspective and enjoy the moment. For this trip held many moments where I usually would've created chaos or an unneeded stress. Growing from hardships has been nothing shy of a blessing and creating a world that I've always wished I would live is a spiritual experience.
Awakening to what my future holds and the direction I've decided to head in is exciting and it becomes more and more apparent to myself as I continue on this journey called life. Allowing myself to connect with my soul and continuing to be willing to new opportunities as well as trying to stay open minded to all the possibilities has brightened my world and those around me tenfold. Time will only tell where I will actually end up yet, for now, this road is the adventure I've chosen and I’m not about to turn around……..it’s just getting good!!!
~~~~ God Is Good ~~~~
~~ Faith without works is Dead ~~
~ All you need to believe in is the first step, not the entire staircase ~
www.LoriJYokiel.com
All in all I’m very proud of my children, for they were amazing during our stay and I’ll be forever grateful to my sister and her family for allowing us to stay with them as well as sharing their world with us. I think as I get older, learn more about myself and also realize that we only have one life to live, it’s much easier for me to find peace, keep things in perspective and enjoy the moment. For this trip held many moments where I usually would've created chaos or an unneeded stress. Growing from hardships has been nothing shy of a blessing and creating a world that I've always wished I would live is a spiritual experience.
Awakening to what my future holds and the direction I've decided to head in is exciting and it becomes more and more apparent to myself as I continue on this journey called life. Allowing myself to connect with my soul and continuing to be willing to new opportunities as well as trying to stay open minded to all the possibilities has brightened my world and those around me tenfold. Time will only tell where I will actually end up yet, for now, this road is the adventure I've chosen and I’m not about to turn around……..it’s just getting good!!!
~~~~ God Is Good ~~~~
~~ Faith without works is Dead ~~
~ All you need to believe in is the first step, not the entire staircase ~
www.LoriJYokiel.com
