Wednesday, July 30, 2008

Book Review #1 When Ghosts Speaks

Ok here it is.. my first official book review. I wanted to get this one done earlier but I ended up going back home unexpectedly last week for a family member funeral. And of course I unknowningly packed the book in the checked in bag. By the time I realized it, it was too late so I did the next best thing and went to the airport book store to get a book to read. There in front of my eyes was the latest political thriller. MY ABSOLUTE FAVORITE kind of book to read. Yeah I know.. I'm weird what can I say. So of course by the time I landed in Sask I was hooked into the storey line and had to finish that book so it took longer to get this review done.

When Ghosts Speak by Mary Ann Winkowski

This book was on understanding the world of earthbound spirits. It focused on the fact that when a person dies there is a light that the spirit needs to cross into. For some reasons (which she goes into), some spirits don't cross; some are because they hear their family members saying "Please don't leave me I need you" so they stay; some are just spiteful and want to expend revenge; some just get caught up in the newness of it all and miss their opportunity to cross over. The light is only available for a short period of time.

I knew a lot of what she spoke about having gone through a lot in my years. But there were some good points, some weird points, and some points that made me think hmmm. Then there were the points that made the hairs stand up on your neck. She did touch on health issues that made me reread that chapter several times although if I went into my doctor's office to tell her the reason I am not getting better is because I am surrounded with spirits and they are feeding off my negative energy, would probably be enough for her to check me in the nearest psych ward.

She spoke of unexplained headaches, intestinal problems, trouble sleeping - either going to sleep or continued waking up (DUH have you been peeking in on me?), Fatigued even when supposedly rested, even being diagnosed with chronic fatigue syndrome or fibromyalgia meaning the more energy a ghost takes from you the less you have, unexplained anxiety (hmm OCD), inappropriate anger or irritation (I wonder if that includes lack of patience with others), vision problems (who has ever heard of a 45 year old having to have cataracts removed from both eyes) and etc.

She concludes by saying that after reading the book, we should know when we die, crossing into the white light is unquestionably the right thing to do. We all have the choice whether or not to do so. She explains what to do when you run into ghosts and how to tell if you have one or more in your home or life. That is about it?

How was it? Did it entice you to read it? Make you rethink our relationship? :) She does have a website if you are interested in learning more:

www.maryannwinkowski.com

Onto the next book...........

Tuesday, July 22, 2008

Epicure find

When I was at mom's in February I was visiting over at one of my cousins' home and noticed this really cool spice cabinet with matching jars. When I commented on their unique look she asked if I had never heard of this company. She also mentioned that the company is based out here. I had never heard of them. They do home based shows like Tupperware etc but the coolest thing is 90% of their inventory is under 10 bucks!! Right up my budget!

So when I came home I contacted the company to find a representative. As my surgery was up and coming it took a couple of months before I could host my own show. I LOVED IT!! They bring all these spices and make up dips and spreads etc then we have a tasters time. Oh man! Everything tasted amazing! You know like when you take a tomato right out of the garden and you think oh yes this is what they are supposed to taste like after having a year full of forced grown store boughts?? You taste the basil and the dill and the sage etc and your mouth goes into this frenzy of MORE MORE MORE!

She also had made this hot dip in a sour dough bread bowl that we all cleaned out let me tell you. I did have plates etc to fill and then go back in the living room to snack and socialize but we never moved away from the table. We just stood there and ate. Even Keith who isn't a fan of dips etc loved them. Then the representative told Keith (when he complained about chick foods and why they never have real foods at these shows) that they do a main course show and that she would be more then happy to come back.

I got a jar of "pot roast" blends and when I made a pot roast last week the smells in the house made you salivate I tell you! So check out their website "http://www.epicureselections.com/" and if you interested in coming to our next one in the fall let me know!

If you're not from the Prairies...

If you're not from the prairie, you don't know the sun, you can't know the sun.
Diamonds that bounce off crisp winter snow
Warm waters in dugouts and lakes that we know
The sun is our friend from when we were young
A child of the prairie is part of the sun
If you're not from the prairie you don't know the sun.

If you're not from the prairie you don't know the wind, you can't know the wind.
Our cold winds of winter cut right to the core
Hot summer wind devils can blow down the door
As children we know when we play any game
The wind will be there yet we play just the same
If you're not from the prairie you don't know the wind.

If you're not from the prairie you don't know the sky, you can't know the sky
The bold prairie sky is clear bright and blue
Though sometimes cloud messages give us a clue
Monstrous grey mushrooms can hint of a storm
Or painted pink feathers say good bye to the warm
If you're not from the prairie you don't know the sky.

If you're not from the prairie you don't know what's flat, you've never seen flat
When travellers pass through across our great plain
They all view our home they all say the same
"It's simple and flat!" They've not learned to see
The particular beauty that's now part of me
If you're not from the prairie you don't know what's flat.

If you're not from the prairie you've not heard the grass you've never heard grass
In strong summer winds, the grains and grass bend
And sway to a dance that seems never to end
It whispers its secrets - they tell of this land
And the rhytym of life played by nature's own hand
If you're not from the prairie, you've never heard grass.

So you're not from the prairie and yet you know snow you think you know snow?
Blizzards bring danger as legends have told
In deep drifts we roughhouse, ignoring the cold
At times we look out at great seas of white
So bright is the sun that we squeeze our eyes tight
If you're not from the prairie you don't know snow.

If you're not from the prairie you don't know our trees you can't know our trees
The trees that we know have taken so long
To live through our seasons to grow tall and strong
They're loved and they're treasured we watched as they grew
We knew they were special - the prairie has few
If you're not from the prairie you don't know our trees.

Still you're not from the prairie and yet you know cold..you say you've been cold?
Do you know what to do to relieve so much pain
Of burning from deep down that drives you insane?
Your ears and your hands right into your toes
A child who's been cold on the prairie will know
Of all of those memories we share when we're old
None are more clear then that hard bitter cold
You'll not find among us a soul who can say
"I've conquered the wind on a cold winter's day"
If you're not from the prairie you don't know the cold you've never been cold.

If you're not from the prairie you don't know me you just can't know ME.
You see, my hair's mostly wind, my eyes filled with grit,
My skin's red or brown and my lips chapped and split
I've lain on the prairie and heard grasses sigh
Ive stared at the cast open bowl of the sky
I've seen all those castles and faces in clouds
My home is the prairie and I cry out loud


If you're not from the prairie you can't know my soul
You don't know our blizzards, you've not fought our cold
You can't know my mind, nor even my heart
Unless deep within you, there's somehow a part
A part of these things that I've said that I know
The wind, sky and earth, the storms and the snow
Best say you have - and then we'll be one
For we will have shared that same blazing sun.

Sunday, July 13, 2008

Summer Reading TO DO List

The other day I was telling one of my granddaughters about a tradition I had with her mom and uncles all the years they were growing up. The first Saturday in June our library (which was huge) had their annual book sale. We saved for ages for this date. We would get up very early that morning and always be the first ones in the line up. We would have packed a picnic lunch as there was a park across the street (right in the middle of downtown although I can't think of the name of it right now) where we would take a break at lunch time and go through our books for a break. We were such seasoned regulars that we knew at 2pm or so that the big trucks at the back of the parking lot would open their doors and they would sell boxes of books for a couple of dollars each. Now these were the big produce crates kind of boxes. I would let the kids know it was getting to be close to 2 and we would wander over to the trucks and just stand there with our carts and carrying stuff, and people looking at us like we were weird.

But we were always the first in line for that as well. You never heard a word from any of us for WEEKS after that day as we would be all in our own little corners reading. Keith always said that it was one of the few things that it didn't matter that he hates reading and only does it under great duress, the boys all inherited my love of reading.. at least back then they did.DNA through osmosis I guess.

I had hundreds and hundreds of books and when we had to move to BC the only moving company that we could find to move us went by weight not by distance as per norm. Because most of the kids were very upset that I was moving them lock stock and barrel, I let them take what I could get away with which meant I left all my books behind to save on the total weight.

We lived at that library and at times when they were trying to annihilate one another or I was running out of hair to pull out from stress I knew that all I had to say was that we were going to the library for Family Home Evening that night and that was the end of that noise.

There is only one kind of store that has a greater pull on me then a shoe/purse store and that is a book store. Keith had to go to a Bell outlet at Guildford Mall yesterday to get an attachment for his work cell which thrilled me no end (said quite sarcastically) so told Keith I was just going to wander down the mall for a bit. I come around the corner and lo and behold not one but TWO book stores are having a sidewalk sale with 50-70% off sales!! Be still my heart.

How many times can one girl say eenie meenie miney mo? I finally pared it down to 5 books. I wanted way more but I limited myself to what I knew I could easily read over the course of the summer as I had also just bought one in the states a couple of weeks ago that I have just started reading. What I would like to do is after I finish reading one, do a review of it on here and you can tell me if you agree or disagree with me :)

It was ironic that the first book I put my hand on was one on paranormal activity. Ironic because I had just posted on that very topic a few days ago. I did a lot of switching from one book to another, one genre to another and Keith just stood there going from one foot to another as he switched the weight of books from one arm to another as I kept changing my mind. What a good man he is!!!! I never tell him enough times!

So here is my summer reading list. I wonder if Oprah would be interested in any of them hehehe

1. When Ghosts Speak - understanding the world of earthbound spirits -whether we're aware of them or not, ghosts or spirits are always among us - learning the difference between earthbound spirits and those who have crossed over; learn why some remain on the earthly plane and how long they have before their "White Light" disappears.

2. Strong at the Broken Places - This book is born of the desire of many to share their stories in the hope that the sick and those that love them will see that they are not alone; though individual's illnesses wreaks havoc in different ways, this book will show how our experiences are strikingly similar and offer lessons for us all - on self-determination, on courage in the face of adversity and public ignorance, on keeping hope alive, and on finding strenght and peace under the most difficult of circumstances. We are strong at the broken places, stronger then we think.

3. The Gift - ESP the Extraordinary Experiences of Ordinary People - Compelling scientific evidence for the reality of ESP, covering the research of precognition, clairvoyance and telepathy; research on the fascinating role played by our personalities, our psychological, physical and emotional states in terms of helping or hindering ESP. The author also examines the psychological impact such unusual experiences can have on your life and offers you helpful rules for successfully integrating these ESP experiences into your life.

4. Encyclopedia and Dictionary of Dreams - the indispensible bedside reference for todays' dreamers, reflecting the changes that have affected our waking hours and inevitably influence the content and significance of the messages we receive while we sleep

***As a side note for those of you not already aware, I have what is commonly called Alpha Delta Sleep Disorder which basically means I do not go into REM sleep; I dream constantly making for very restless sleep and my body never relaxes. I spent many a night at the Sleep Clinic at UBC hospital before they finally diagnosed me. The end result as was explained to me was that although their machines logged me as having "slept" for 7.5 hours my brain activity while I was asleep was actually greater then the average person during their waking moments. Keith of course told the specialist if I learnt to just stop talking during the day I could sleep at night lol. So this book caught my eye. Maybe if I can figure out why I dream so much and the kinds of dreams I have I can actually sleep

5. What the Medical Profession May NOT Tell You about Fibromyalgia - The authors have seen symptoms eliminated and normal living restored in an astonishing 90% of FM sufferers; find out guidelines, methods for coping with symptoms; links between FM, hypoglycemia and carbohydate intolerance- and suggested dietary changes that can heal.

*** another side not...as this illness consumes such a large part of my day and my life, if I can learn something new that will help me live a better day then I am all for it.

6. Hearing The Voice of the Lord - If thou shalt ask, thou shalt receive revelation upon revelation, knowledge upon knowledge, that thou mayest know the mysteries and peaceable things- that which bringeth joy, that which bringeth life eternal.

So that makes up my summer reading list. Something for each part of my life, spiritual, physical, emotional, mental and just plain fun.

Thursday, July 10, 2008

Paranormal State

I watched a show, Paranormal State, for the first time a couple of days ago.. it's summer so nothing exciting on TV. It was a repeat but as I had never watched it, the episode was new. Our daughter is always asking me if I watch it and I say nope. I have enough with seeing real spirits on a regular basis I don't need to watch TV about them. But I did and as I watched it I thought of the first time I had a "visit" way back when I was still very young. I had woken up in the middle of the night wondering what woke me up. I shared a bed with my sister and thought she had woken me up but she was still asleep. I was starting to doze back off when I happened to feel someone watching me. I opened my eyes again and at first all I saw was the flickering light from the oil burner. We didn't have gas heat in those days just this big oil furnace in the corner of the living room. We were never allowed to sleep with our doors closed so the warm orangey colors of the flames were always soothing. Mom used to leave the little front doors opened after we had gone to bed to warm the rooms more.

But this night it wasn't the firelight that caught my eye but some shapes walking in the room. I was too young to be scared and just laid still as this seemingly large family came walking in our room. I have no idea how I knew it was a family other then I could tell there were "adult" and "children" sized shapes and there were 8-10 of them. They just stood at the foot of my bed and somehow it gave me comfort to know they were there.

They came very often in my growing up years. I always felt that they were there to protect me. I tried talking to my mom a few times and she just kept saying that I had a vivid imagination. I would ask my sister if she saw them and she said no I was just dreaming. But I knew I wasn't. I never saw that family of spirits again once I moved from home. I would sense over the years spirits near me but I just went about doing what I was doing knowing they were just watching me and that they were family members.

Then one day in a house where Keith and my's bedroom was in the basement (it was a small 3 bedroom and we gave the kids the bedrooms) I woke up wondering what had woken me. I thought it was this family again and was about to go back to sleep when I could feel the hairs standing all over my body and a chill going up my spine. I was too afraid to open my eyes but even more afraid not to so eventually did. Our bed was fairly near where our furnace was and I could see a shape appearing as if it was coming out of the furnace and walking towards the bed. It got as far as the foot of the bed and just stayed. It was just a shape nothing that you could actually see any body parts or anything but in my mind I knew it was a male and that it was pure evil. I don't know how long I laid like that but eventually the fear got the best of me and this unearthly scream came out of my mouth.

What I did not know was while this was happening, Keith had been in the dining room going over school work (he was going back to school at the time) and our Old English Sheep Dog who was his side kick was laying by his feet. The dog had started to whimper and Keith got up to check the doors and yards to see if someone was coming in the yard as the dog wouldn't stop but there was nothing there. He kept telling the dog to stop as the rest of us were all sleeping. He would quieten for a few minutes but then would start again. Then finally the dog got up and walked to the top of the basement doorway and growled that "I'm in attack mode" growl and when Keith looked over at him his fur were literally standing up all over making him into a poofball.

Keith got up to take him by the collar to move him away from the door but before he could reach him the dog just started angrily barking and growling. It was just then that I screamed in what Keith to this day calls an unearthly scream. Keith tried to yank the dog away from the door to get down the stairs but the dog wouldn't budge but just kept growling and madly barking. Keith finally got past him and came flying down the stairs to find me in the middle of the bed completely colorless and soaked with sweat. He had to give me several hard shakes to make me stop screaming and before I could tell him what had happened. He called a friend over and they gave me a blessing but there was no way I went back to bed that night.

The next day I thought it was just a bad dream and left it alone. Keith went back out of town to where he was going to school. It had been my tradition with out daughter that when Keith was out of town she slept with me. A couple of nights later I woke up and thought oh no not again. I opened up my eyes as I could already feel the fear rising in me and I saw this shape coming out of the furnace. There was no staring contest this time I just started screaming scaring Lareta out of her skin not to mention the dog who came flying down the stairs to jump on the bed growling at the foot of the bed so I knew he could see whatever was there as well as I could.

Over the next 2 weeks this happened 4-5 more times. The last time I called Keith in the middle of the night and told him I could not live like that and he said to find another house which we did and we had moved by the end of that week. I never had another visit with that same evil feeling until we moved to BC. We had moved to Surrey and had friends over for the weekend. They had 3 children and often spent the weekends with us. I woke up and because it had been several years since the last episode I had completely forgotten about it but when I woke up but before I opened my eyes I knew what would be at the foot of the bed. But curiosity got me and I opened my eyes. Sure as shooting there it was but this time it didn't stay at the foot of the bed but starting walking towards my side. I started clamoring over to Keith as the screams started coming out. Seconds later our friend comes barreling into our bedroom with the kids baseball bat in his hand as he is yielding over his head. He told us afterwards he had no idea what to expect when he opened the door but that he thought for sure someone had broken into the house and was attacking us but all he found was Keith shaking me. He apologized later for coming in our room just wearing his underwear but that he didn't even think he said he heard these screams and just came flying in. The kids had been playing ball the night before so the bat was still by the stairs.

This happened 3 more times in the course of the 2 years we lived there and again I had to move. It worked out as the landlord was selling the house so gave us a reason to move. I don't know why I had these visits. I have not had them since. I don't know why that shape was always just at the foot of the bed but the last 3 times he walked towards me. I had a visit with our Stake President and happened to tell him about this and he told me that evil spirits cant stand confrontations and all I had to do was very loudly ask it what it wanted and to tell it to depart in the name of Jesus Christ. The last time it happened instead of screaming (and that was no easy feat let me tell you) that was exactly what I did and I haven't had it happened since.

I do get visits from regular spirits all the time. So much so that I don't even think of it anymore. The other night I sort of jumped in my chair in the living room as I sensed someone beside me but there was no one there and never thought of it. I was watching tv with my granddaughter. Then I sensed it again and looked but just saw a whisper of a shape and when I turned to look back at the tv I could tell my granddaughter had a strange look on her face. I asked her what was wrong and she said "did you see that light that was just by your chair?" Inside I thought oh no please don't let her be going through this but I just told her yes and that it was ok it had just been a spirit near us. I told her we always have spirits near us and it's usually ok.

I had recent episodes of great frequency early last year where the spirits were very small and I kept stumbling as they were seemingly underfoot and I would try and sidestep to avoid stepping on them. I would think it was the cat when I would go to move and jerk to sidestep him only to realize that the cat was no where near me. This time it took me a long time and a lot of prayers before I realized it was a child from our spirit family trying to tell me they were ready to come down but there was no one "allowing" them to come down to us. Uhhhhhh nothing I can really do to help this time.

This is the first time really that I have sat down and really "talked" about my experiences or at least just a couple of them. I probably will get a visit now from the little guys in the white jackets who will come take me away. I do know that when I spoke to my maternal grandmother about the visits (this was when I still lived at home) she told me that she had that ability as well and that I should think of myself as very very lucky as few people had that capability of being so receptive to spirits that they were around me and allowed me to see them. Funny how when the evil one was hanging around my bed I didn't feel so lucky. But for the most part I do consider myself blessed and comforted.

I have had many conversations with my ancestors, those from very near to very very old as I have worked on my genealogy. I have gotten angry with some when I have been so frustrated trying to find where someone was born or married or died etc and I say help me find you!! A couple of months ago I got woken up out of a sound sleep from my maternal grandmother with a simple sentence ringing in my head "look in the book".. huh?? what?? Again and again that same sentence kept going on in my head. Ok I am awake now... what book and what am I supposed to be looking for. I then somehow knew it was a blue family book that had a piece of information in there that I had missed. So I got out of bed and went looking through our bookshelves trying to find it but nothing... ok think.. where did you last see it... oh yeah in my cedar chest in the bedroom, the same bedroom that Keith is sleeping in. I think I will wait till morning... trying to go back to sleep and my grandmother is starting to annoy me going on and on about checking the blue book. And no I am not a nag like she is for those of you who are snorting to yourselves thinking the acorn doesn't fall far from the tree. I finally gave up sleeping and as quietly as possible in the dark no less tried to get the one cedar chest off so I can get the other one open. I thought I was being very quiet then all of a sudden I hear this "what are you doing?" coming up behind me making me scream. Keith turned the light on and asks me again. So I told him what had been happening and he asks could it not have waited till morning then before I could answer he says never mind I know you and your grandmother. What is that supposed to mean??

He helped me take the lid off so I could get the book and then put it back while I left the room so he could go back to sleep. I flipped through the book in the other room and I did it several times but nothing caught my eye. Finally I just closed my eyes and stayed quiet. Within seconds I knew what I needed to find.. I flipped to the right page and there were 2 pictures of my maternal grandmother's maternal grandmother. I have been searching for that particular line for over 10 years hitting every brick wall known to man kind but could never find out why I had no success. But as I looked at the pictures with the description under neath it I thought wait a minute these have her at 106 years old in 1933. That means she could not have been born in 1850 as I had been told by others in my family. She had to have been born 25 odd years before that. Thanks Memere. Now I can move forward. I still haven't found any more information but at least I am on the right track.

But back to the TV show. I would have liked to have had that resource available to me back when I was a child or even when I started having those evil visits. Was it something I was doing wrong at the time? Had something happened to someone in those 2 homes? Why am I so susceptible to these visits and yet no one else of my siblings as far as I know? Does it skip generations? Who do I ask? All I know is that for many years since that first evil visit and even today at 52 years of age I still sleep with a night light on in my room. Not only is a night light on in my room but there is a light on in every room in the house at night time. Always. Keith never says a word. He just keeps changing the light bulbs.

Tuesday, July 08, 2008

GOD CREATED CHILDREN (AND IN THE PROCESS GRANDCHILDREN)
To those of us who have children in our lives,
whether they are our own, grandchildren, nieces, nephews, or students...
here is something to make you chuckle. Whenever your children are out of control,
you can take comfort from the thought that even God's omnipotence did not extend
to His own children. After creating heaven and earth, God created Adam and Eve.

And the first thing he said was
' DON'T !'

'Don't what ? '
Adam replied.

'Don't eat the forbidden fruit.'
God said.

'Forbidden fruit?
We have forbidden fruit?
Hey Eve..we have forbidden fruit! '

' No Way! '
'Yes way! '

'Do NOT eat the fruit ! '
said God.

'Why ? '

'Because I am your Father and I said so! 'God replied, wondering why He hadn't stopped creation after making the elephants

A few minutes later, God saw His children having an apple break and He was ticked!
'Didn't I tell you not to eat the fruit? '
God asked.

'Uh huh,'
Adam replied.

'Then why did you? '
said the Father.

'I don't know,'
said Eve.
'She started it! '
Adam said.

'Did not! '
'Did too! '
'DID NOT! '

Having had it with the two of them,God's punishment was that Adam and Eve
should have children of their own. Thus the pattern was set and it has never
changed. If you have persistently and lovingly tried to give children wisdom and
they haven't taken it, don't be hard on yourself.

If God had trouble raising children, what makes you think it would be
a piece of cake for you?

THINGS TO THINK ABOUT !

1. You spend the first two years of their life teaching them to walk and talk.
Then you spend the next sixteen telling them to sit down and shut up.

2. Grandchildren are God's reward for not killing your own teenagers

3. Mothers of teens now know why some animals eat their young.

4. Children seldom misquote you. In fact, they usually repeat word for word
what you shouldn't have said

5. The main purpose of holding children's parties is to remind yourself that
there are children more awful than your own

6. We childproofed our homes, but they are still getting in.



ADVICE FOR THE DAY:

Be nice to your kids. They will choose your nursing home one day

AND FINALLY:

IF YOU HAVE A LOT OF TENSION AND YOU GET A HEADACHE,DO WHAT IT SAYS
ON THE ASPIRIN BOTTLE:
'TAKE TWO ASPIRIN'
AND 'KEEP AWAY FROM CHILDREN'!!!!!

Saturday, July 05, 2008

Litlle Miss Saving Grac e

About a year and a half ago I started getting "feelings" about one of our granddaughters. Feeling that I needed to be watching her and not her day care. I couldn't understand why I was feeling like this. This went on for a couple of months and so I talked to Keith as the feelings were getting stronger and stronger. He told me to go with my gut instinct as that has always led me down the right path. So I nonchalantly asked the kids if they had been having problems with their day care but they said no she loved going there etc.

But it still weighed on me that I needed to get her out of day care and here with me so we talked to the kids and told them I would be able to watch her now and they were quite happy and last September I started watching her. Nothing ordinary happened. Then 3 months after she came into our house I was diagnosed with the cancer and then had subsequent surgeries. She has gone with me on these surgeon visits, she has been here when the public health nurse came to change the draining bags etc. She was fascinated about everything they were doing.

Tonight just before Mommy got here to pick her up I was watching her play in the back yard collecting caterpillars and putting them in her collection box and listening to her rattling about crustal us stage and cocoons and butterflies and I listened Io her babbling away in her lone little world and it hit me like a tom of bricks. I was having those feelings for real but they weren't about me saving her it was about her saving me.

The Lord knew what was coming up and he knew that I would need motivation to get out from under my quilt every morning. He knew I would need a reason to get dressed and get outside ever day. he knew that every morning come rain or shine there was a little 4 year old girl at my door.

I get it now. She has saved me on days when all I wanted to do these past 6 months is climb in bed and hide from the world; she was there when I knew she had to get out to get some fresh air and so I got dressed and went for my walks for exercise. I believed her sole purpose in life was to save me. Save me from myself and save me from my pity party.

I wrote her a letter tonight and it is tucked safe in my cedar chest for one day when she is older and will understand who she really was in my eye and how she became my saving grace.

This is Rosaleen. (the red headed one with the purple ties) If I didn't know better I would think that those ties behind her were actual wings. Making her a very beautiful angel sent from my Father in Heaven to help me get back on my feet and off my butt. thanks Sweetheart Nana loves you with all her heart!

Friday, July 04, 2008

Mrs. K. with an Attitude

So you may now call me Mrs. K for Klutz. I had my shoulder checked out yesterday as I wasn't able to even pull my shirt over my head without great difficulty and apparently my last escapade with my midnight ventures has landed me with a cracked rib. I mean seriously are you kidding me??

Could there possibly be anyone else out there who is a klutz worse then me? Then today I am out and I noticed my 3 year old granddaughter had these huge bruises on each shin and so I asked her where she got her owies from. She said "What owies?" I said the ones on your legs so she looks down and then looks at me, shrugs and says "I don't know they just came." Hmm wonder if klutziness is hereditary??

But at least I am still smiling :)That's being a klutz with style hehehe

Wednesday, July 02, 2008

Happy Canada Day

Well yesterday did not start off well, Senthia (our 14 year old granddaughter) and I spent the better part of all that day and evening baking and cooking for our big family celebration the next day. I was purely exhausted but wanted to finish watching the movie I had been waiting to see, but ended up falling asleep! So when I did wake up it was about 3 and pitch dark in the bedroom. I needed to go potty so go in the bathroom and as I was trying to get to the light switch my top half of my body wanted to go forward but my legs were going backwards and when my calves hit the back of the tub it hit with enough force cause I was already unstable on my feet, that I just fell backwards. I hit the back of my head on the tiled wall and then hit my right shoulder on the soap dish thingy that sticks out of the wall then fell in a heap in the tub. Apparently I made some type of noise cause Keith came flying in the bathroom completely disoriented and then asks me if maybe I shouldn't get undressed BEFORE I climb in the tub for a bath!! Gee thanks Keith. The removal process was not any easier. Normally he would just have taken my hands and pulled up but now he can't do that because of the chest muscles. In any other situation I am sure what we were doing would have equaled something out of the Three Stooges let me tell you. But he got me out my hero and tucked me in bed..... a few minutes later I very quietly say "Keith I still have to go pee"! Poor man... He must really love me lol

Needless to say when I got up finally in the morning I had a nasty headache but that never stopped me. Senthia (Our granddaughter) and I started in on the decorations and the food. It was a very very nice day with family and friends AND!!!! To boot!! We found out we are going to be grandparents again! So numbers 13 and 14 are on the way.

I had found this 3 game set at Walmart for 19.99. It has a volleyball/badminton net, a volleyball, 4 badminton rackets and a set of horseshoes. So that was set up on one side of the backyard. Then we had race games and tug a war going on in the other half. We also had a social area for those that did not want to participate or were not able to join in the games. It had been a pot luck dinner and I had said that foods had to be red, white or a combination of red and white. And everyone followed through. We had scalloped potatoes with red bacon bits made into a Canada flag, A potato salad with red tomatoes made into flowers as garnish, BBQ ribs, honey garlic chicken wings for white, sun dried tomatoes tortilla chips and red salsa and white sour cream, home made sundaes, strawberry shortcake, sheet cake with Canadian flag made with raspberries and strawberries, then we had one of our sons bring all kinds of fruits to make slushies all day and evening, another brought watermelon. We had tons of food and we all went to bed on full tummies! All the prizes for the games were items that either had the word Canada on it or the Canadian flag on it. The kids were pretty excited even some of the adults.

All in all it was a great celebration of a day that makes me thankful to be a citizen. I am proud of my heritage and any time I can celebrate I am a French-Canadian I do.