The Acadian Voice in Canadian Society

'We may lose our voices very soon,' warn Acadian teens CTV News

After reading the above news article and the comments that go with it, I was surprised by the lack of knowledge people have of the Acadian people of Canada. As an Acadian, who was raised to be proud of my heritage, I can't believe that people don't understand that Acadians speak Acadian French, not Quebec French, not France French. It is our own dialect and it's beautiful! It is not "frenglish"! Seriously? What is exactly wrong with people and their ignorance? The Acadian people of every region want their voices to be heard, because they have been fighting to be heard for over 400 years.

Here's a little history lesson:

What is now known as New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, P.E.I, and Cape Breton were all known as one land, a distinct colony called Acadia in the very early 1600's. It also included a small part of Quebec and Maine. New French settlers came to this place and created a new life. They worked with the people native to the land, not against them. Marriages between Acadians and First Nation Peoples were common and quite a few Acadian descendants are also Mi'kmaq and/or Maliseet. The two peoples had a respect for one another that is rarely seen in First Nation's history regarding colonization. Every Gallant, Haché, Melanson, & Mazerolle in North America are all descended from the single Acadian family who settled there with that name. Anyone with that name also has native ancestry. There are other Acadian surnames that are distinct to the colony, the ones I've mentioned are simply the ones that are very prominent in my heritage.

In the 1700's the English occupied Acadia. About forty years after the occupation the Acadian people were exiled from their land. There were groups of people held in captivity in churches and other buildings for months, even years, waiting for deportation. They were considered criminals and held until exile. Any precious belongings they had were taken by the British when the British stole their homes or destroyed them. Some Acadians were exiled to the United States and settled in Louisianna. Hence, the Cajun people are Acadians. Some were exiled back to France, many of whom had never been to France. Out of those who were exiled to France, many died on the voyage. Many of my direct ancestors were in Quebec during the exile. They spent a number of years there, married, and then were allowed to return to northern New Brunswick in the later part of the 1700's. None were allowed to return to the original land that they or their grandparents settled. They had to rebuild and start all over again, which they did. The Acadian people are fighters, hard workers, and survivors. They were able to make a good life for themselves and their children. The Acadian people are distinct, proud, and still thriving. Nothing, not even exile, has been able to quash the Acadian spirit.

August 15th is National Acadian Day!

Further info on the Acadian people:

www.cbc.ca/acadian - The Acadians, history resource from CBC
www.danielnpaul.com - First Nation History by Dr. Daniel N. Paul
www.acadian.org



The video is a tad wobbly, but it's a fantastic performance and a beautifully, honest song about being Acadian and who we are!

The GREATEST Love!

This morning I was having my shower when this song came on the radio and I was reminded, in the most humble way, of the truest, most powerful, greatest love in this universe.  The love that my God has for me and for everyone is more beautiful and more forgiving than any love in this world.  This song reminded me that the Almighty's love is for ALL, not the most deserving, no, All of us!  We are so lucky and so fortunate to have such a Father. 

I wish you a very Happy Valentine's Day and I hope you are reminded of the most powerful love like I was this morning :)  May you feel the blessings that God has given you and the love He has always had for you, whether or not you've ever acknowledged Him.  After all, Love is of God and God is Love! 

Happy Valentine's Day!

Every Life is Beautiful videos

What a beautiful, honest, and loving way to show how everyone deserves the chance to live.  I'm not here to tell a fellow woman what to do with her body.  That isn't for me to decide.  It is for me to share how I believe that every life is real life and deserves the chance and hope that can only come from a change of heart or a will to stand up for life. 

The women above, courageously open their hearts to share how beautiful life truly is.  These videos and others are available at http://www.everylifeisbeautiful.com/ and http://www.octoberbabymovie.net/.

I used to be pro-choice and then I became pregnant with a child.  I knew that he was alive, even when he was smaller than a pea.  I lost that child.  These things aren't easy, but I don't find it hard to choose life.  Everyone is valuable to me, regardless of my faith.  I have been pregnant in great circumstances and in very trying, traumatic situations and everytime I chose life. I have been blessed with a living child. He is a miracle just like all life is miraculous.  I am pro-life.  I believe that every single life is beautiful!  I believe that every child deserves a chance to shine in this world.  I believe that the only way to change someone's heart is through love, not shouting or finger pointing. 

Love is the language of life! 

Shout out to Rev. Brent Hawkes!

Sometimes a good old fashioned shout out is called for and this is one of those times!

                                      Congratulations Rev. Brent Hawkes on the honour of being a recipient of
                                            The Queens Diamond Jubilee Medal

 Lieutenant Governor of Ontario Presents Diamond Jubilee Medals


As a member of an LGBT family and just as a human being in general, thank you for your example of living your Faith with love and conviction.  Thank you for following the call to serve and for being such a strong advocate for my family and all the families like mine.  You are kind, honest, and most importantly real!  You are interwoven in the fabric of our country and I hope you truly know how much I apprecciate how you've made us all better.  You deserve this honour and I couldn't be more happy for you :)

With my Sincerest Blessings,
Beth Metcalf



P.S.  

How We Help Our Son Through Headaches/Migraines

I figured it might be helpful to those reading if I shared what we do for childhood headaches/migraines.  I know that other families must experience them too.  As an adult who had migraines as a child, I've figured out some things from remembering what my mother did and other things I've learned.  Here are a few things I've learned over the last few months.  When my son gets a headache or worse, a migraine, we:

1.) Validate that he knows his body by taking action and believing him, everytime
2.) Stop everything I'm doing, everything, but calmly
3.) Breath with him, "in your nose and out your mouth" slowly
4.) Medicate according to the doctor's recommendation (Since I'm not a Dr. I won't advise you on how to do that)
5.) Give him a nice big glass of water
6.) Sit with him for atleast 30 minutes while he lays down and we relax
7.) A cool face cloth on his forehead
8.) Turn out the lights or close the blinds


Daily things I do regardless of whether or not he's experiencing headaches that day:

1.)  Keep bags in the bathroom garbage cans, so they can be quickly removed and transformed into upchuck buckets at a moments notice.
2.) Ensure one room in the house can become the "dark room" quickly
3.) Ginger Ale and forks ~ It eases the stomach, but only if it isn't bubbly
4.) Keep a spare change of clothes in his backpack at all times (migraines with neaseau can appear quickly)
5.)  Keep extra medicine at the Grandparents house!
6.)  Always ensure he wears sunglasses when outside or in the car
7.)  Talk about it as positively and honestly as possible. 
8.) Keep the settings on one tv a little darker.  Television can be a wonderful distraction from the discomfort
9.) Keep bedtime and length of sleep consistent. It's best if bedtime is early enough that they can wake up on their own in the morning.  Lack of sleep is a big trigger.
10.) Keep carpet stain remover on hand at all times


We've also had Morgan's eyes tested again, just to be sure.  Glasses are ordered and on the way next week.  I have high hopes that they will lessen the effects of his migraines and also make them less common.  One less trigger is always a move in the right direction.

I'm also working on finding some fun, kid yoga to help his body learn how to process stress in a healthy way ~ the working on part is that I'm trying to convince him it's fun and cool.  So far he's not buying it.  ;)


Here are some links that I've found helpful:
http://www.bellaireneurology.com/headaches/migr_childhood.html
http://health.howstuffworks.com/pregnancy-and-parenting/parenting/your-childs-headaches-may-be-migraines1.htm
http://www.migrainepage.com/topics/childhood.html

Great Video on the Gay Rights Movement in America

The above video originally came to my attention on Facebook, when it was shared by George Tekei.  I am thankful that he shared it and I hope that everyone will watch it and learn from it.  We are all equal in God's eyes, because we are beautifully and wonderfully made.  It is my hope that the villification will end, because it will be drowned out by the sounds of love!  I am proud to live in a country that recognizes the equality of love.

I Choose Trust Instead of Hasty Conclusions

I know I'm guilty of jumping to conclusions as I'm sure we've all been guilty of it from time to time.  This time it's some of the Canadian people in general as a result of the media, jumping to conclusions about the Conservative governments stand on gay marriage.  They tried to accuse the government of using backdoor ways to invalidate the legal marriage of over 5,000 non-resident same-sex couples. 

Hmmmmm...well it doesn't really seem that way to me.  It seems to me like the law didn't take the legality of future actions of marriage, such as divorce, into account when it was drafted.  It also seems to me like a very rational government response to fix an obviously glaring flaw in that law and how it doesn't line up with each other and how's there's a lack of consistency.

I understand why people are so skiddish and nervous about their right to be married and stay that way.  After all, it wouldn't have been the first time in the last few years that a country, state, or any other place has reversed marriage equality.  The problem is however, Canada didn't reverse or change any laws.  Nothing actually happened.  All that happened was the flaw in the law was brought to the foreground and now the law is being rectified.

We should be commending our Prime Minister for sticking to his word and respecting the democratic process that enacted marriage equality in Canada in the first place.  He is not taking away anyone's rights, as a matter of fact he and his Justice Minister are doing the exact opposite and strengthening the law to provide proper protection for same-sex couples who marry here, but do not reside here.  Although I haven't agreed with every legislation I do agree with most.  This one will be no different.  They are doing a great job and I say good for them.  Good for them for sticking to their guns and showing Canadians that they aren't the big bad wolf that people sometimes make them out to be.

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/politics/justice-minister-declares-all-same-sex-marriages-legal-and-valid/article2301691/