Hannah's First Blog

Hi Everyone!

This is my first attempt at blogging, so bear with me. First of all, to recap on the last few months. So, here it goes!

Let's start with National Red Scarf Day, January 31st! This year, I was lucky enough to get to celebrate National Red Scarf Day with my great friend Rick. Rick (as some of you might know) is like part of my family! He taught me a few words in Ojibwe and one of them means grandfather. Rick is like my 'moshum' (grandpa in Ojibwe) and I love him alot! Rick also now works at the Ladybug Foundation on the Advisory Board. Besides being incredibly intelligent and kind, he also knows what life is like when you're homeless and he understands what helps the most. His job includes helping to decide which organizations help the homeless the most and which are the best to support. You can also learn more about Rick on the Ladybug Foundation website. Sorry, I'm trailing off. Anyway, for this years National Red Scarf Day we got to celebrate it at my favourite bookstore, McNally Robinson. Tory McNally and her store have been such wonderful friends, from editing Ruby's Hope, to selling Ruby's Hope. In case some of you don't know, Ruby's Hope is a book I wrote. It's about how I used to think if I gave stuff away, I'd have less, but then I learned that when you give from your heart you get so much more. The event went swimmingly and I hope it becomes a tradition for every National Red Scarf Day.

Now, on to February. It has been such a busy part of the year! First, I went to Victoria to speak to a group from the University of Victoria. They were the neatest group of people! While we were there, my dad and I got the chance to have tea at the Empress Hotel. I love tea and actually for my birthday this year I received a tea box from my family, filled with all sorts of teas to try and equipped with a tea drinkers guide. In Victoria my Dad and I met many homeless people asking for help on the streets. That made me really sad, but we stopped at every one and had a chat and gave a little of this and that. Also (about a week after I came back from Victoria) my Dad and I travelled to Saskatoon to speak at the Sunwest Triwest Teacher's Convention. There were about 800 teachers there. One person that attended the conference sent me the most amazing email. He talked to me about how he never used to really stop and talk to homeless people, but on his way home from the convention, he saw a homeless fellow asking for help. He stopped and didn't just talk to this fellow, he took him for lunch. He told me in his email how that lunch changed forever the way he sees homeless people. He told me that when they parted ways after lunch he cried a little, mostly because he felt his heart open. That email made my heart hopeful. I believe in my heart together we can and will make our world a better place.

At the end of February, my whole family (including my family members from out of Winnipeg) travelled to Vancouver to celebrate my Papa's 80th Surprise Birthday Party. Also while I was there I spoke at my cousin, Evan's school called Southridge School. It was extremely fun! The kids were amazing and so were the teachers! The different members of my family came in dribs and drabs, trying to see how long it took my Pa to figure out why we were there. Once we got there he figured it out and smiled from ear to ear. I had a wonderful time with my huge wild family!

This past Monday, I participated in part two of an art workshop at David Livingstone School. David Livingstone is one of my very favourite schools and I spoke there last year. An incredible artist named Jackie Traverse held an art workshop there, where we learned about the Seven Sacred Teachings of the Ojibwe culture and created mixed media art about the animals that the teachings represented. Rick came with me too and we got to work with the students on our pieces. David Livingstone is one of my very favourite schools because of the feeling that you get when you walk through their door. I love the students and the teachers! It is just a wonderfully hopeful place.

Now what else has been happening this year? Well, the second term of school is almost over and spring break is approaching. I don't know where the year has gone as far as school goes! Report cards are coming out soon, and I'm not sure whether or not to be nervous or excited about it. My goal this term is to get 90% or over in all subjects. Last term everything was either 90% or over except for one subject and I am working very hard to achieve my goal. We acquired a sled dog this past January named Ada and because of the cold there has been great mushing weather. The bad part about the weather is that it only makes it harder for those living a homeless life. One more thing before I get to my homework, yesterday I competed in the musical theatre girl's class in the music festival. I sang the song 'Different' from the musical 'Honk!' and got to dress up as the ugly duckling! It was so fun and I won first place in my class. I am very excited about it.

Well, I hope my first attempt at blogging has gone well. I'll be back with more news soon!

Hugs and Ladybugs!
Love Hannah