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!
Tuesday, July 22, 2008
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.
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.
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.
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'!!!!!
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!
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
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.
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.
Saturday, June 21, 2008
Crazy hectic life!
I swear my days are getting away from me!! It's almost at the end of June and I am still looking for January! I am going to bed later, getting up earlier and still my day goes whipping by me like I am standing still. I was talking to Keith just a couple of days ago and told him that 7 months ago I got my new job, huge factor in my life on it's own, 2 weeks later I was diagnosed with bread cancer. (God has a wicked sense of humour obviously to give me that kind of responsibility and then have cancer pop up!)6 months later I have had a double mastectomy, visits to the surgeon's every other week, doctors appointments in between, physio twice a week, 2 more surgeries coming up this summer, then at work, my left hand assistant and now my right hand assistant have been released so am left wandering around in the dark trying to figure out what the heck I am doing. And of course doing all this while stepping on people's toes. Obviously one of my unknown talents.
And speaking of toes, I have broken one of mine. I walked blindly into a wall at 4am this morning. Like I didn't know the wall was there!! I was on my way to bed and guess misjudged the distance in the dark. Normally I have a night light on but had given it to one of my granddaughters that was sleeping over.
Work is closed for all of July. Thank goodness!! Hopefully I can then get caught up, get the new executive committee members trained and ready to go in August when we reopen. We have a huge Genealogical Seminar in October that am trying to wrap my brain up in. I am a perfectionist (oh yea I heard that snort Carm lol) and madly trying to make sure every little detail is taking care of. Which is quite difficult when I don't know what all these details involve. Blind faith!
We are having a Canada Day party here. Normally we go to Cloverdale park to watch the fireworks and spend the day but lately the vendors for rides etc have gotten quite expensive so we stopped going. Yesterday I was at the dollar store with 3 granddaughters and cleaned them out of theme stuff, prizes for games we are going to play. Food is going to be all red, white or a combination of both! I think it will be pretty cool!
To top it all off have been continually planning our big family trip to Hawaii for February which is coming up so incredibly fast! And now Keith with his raised blood sugars and cholesterol levels I have been working hard at making sure all his meals are healthy and varied but he tends to skip lunch as he is always on the go so salads are a no hit as they get wilted by the time he gets around to eating it. Same goes for soup that he can reheat at work. He ends up eating it cold after the 4th time of reheating it. Very hard trying to come up with things that are appealing, and yet not always some kind of sanwhich.
So that's what's been going on with me. Same old same old different day :)
And speaking of toes, I have broken one of mine. I walked blindly into a wall at 4am this morning. Like I didn't know the wall was there!! I was on my way to bed and guess misjudged the distance in the dark. Normally I have a night light on but had given it to one of my granddaughters that was sleeping over.
Work is closed for all of July. Thank goodness!! Hopefully I can then get caught up, get the new executive committee members trained and ready to go in August when we reopen. We have a huge Genealogical Seminar in October that am trying to wrap my brain up in. I am a perfectionist (oh yea I heard that snort Carm lol) and madly trying to make sure every little detail is taking care of. Which is quite difficult when I don't know what all these details involve. Blind faith!
We are having a Canada Day party here. Normally we go to Cloverdale park to watch the fireworks and spend the day but lately the vendors for rides etc have gotten quite expensive so we stopped going. Yesterday I was at the dollar store with 3 granddaughters and cleaned them out of theme stuff, prizes for games we are going to play. Food is going to be all red, white or a combination of both! I think it will be pretty cool!
To top it all off have been continually planning our big family trip to Hawaii for February which is coming up so incredibly fast! And now Keith with his raised blood sugars and cholesterol levels I have been working hard at making sure all his meals are healthy and varied but he tends to skip lunch as he is always on the go so salads are a no hit as they get wilted by the time he gets around to eating it. Same goes for soup that he can reheat at work. He ends up eating it cold after the 4th time of reheating it. Very hard trying to come up with things that are appealing, and yet not always some kind of sanwhich.
So that's what's been going on with me. Same old same old different day :)
Wednesday, June 11, 2008
Wants versus Needs
Today I had the opportunity to rationally discuss the difference between wanting something and needing something with a granddaughter. When I was a young mom back in the ice age in a different life time I had been talking about this same topic of conversation with her as we're heading off to do our visiting teaching and were discussing the lesson on the way there. Her comment was "If I want something bad enough I must need it". I loved her :)
But now I am a responsible adult and have to explain to a 4 year old the difference. I explain very logically that you need to have air to breathe, you need to have food in your stomach to live, you need a home to live in and you need to have clothes to wear as Heavenly Father would not be happy if everyone went all over the place naked.
She thought for a few minutes and this was the ensuing conversation:
Her: I need my Mommy Barbie
Me: No you want your Mommy Barbie
Her: No Nana I need my mommy Barbie (which is in the toy box which has already been cleaned up and put away.
Several minutes went by doing the usual power struggle balk yes I do and no you don't sort of thing.
Her: Nana I am not a child I am 4 years old I know what I want and need and I know I need my Mommy Barbie.
Me: Sigh why do you feel you need this Mommy Barbie instead of just wanting her.
Her: Cause she has no clothes on and I don't want Heavenly Father to look in the toy box cause he can see everything and He will see she is naked and you said you need clothes so Nana for the last time I NEEED My Mommy Barbe!
DOH!!!
But now I am a responsible adult and have to explain to a 4 year old the difference. I explain very logically that you need to have air to breathe, you need to have food in your stomach to live, you need a home to live in and you need to have clothes to wear as Heavenly Father would not be happy if everyone went all over the place naked.
She thought for a few minutes and this was the ensuing conversation:
Her: I need my Mommy Barbie
Me: No you want your Mommy Barbie
Her: No Nana I need my mommy Barbie (which is in the toy box which has already been cleaned up and put away.
Several minutes went by doing the usual power struggle balk yes I do and no you don't sort of thing.
Her: Nana I am not a child I am 4 years old I know what I want and need and I know I need my Mommy Barbie.
Me: Sigh why do you feel you need this Mommy Barbie instead of just wanting her.
Her: Cause she has no clothes on and I don't want Heavenly Father to look in the toy box cause he can see everything and He will see she is naked and you said you need clothes so Nana for the last time I NEEED My Mommy Barbe!
DOH!!!
Going On Strike!!
I want it to be known that on this night at 1:30am I am officially going to boycott all weather people and channels. I mean seriously!! How much rain can one area possibly need??? FOR SO LONG!! Usually March it starts to warm up we get some warm sunny days, our gardens go in and we are nice. Now middle of June and I still have the heat on in the house, my electric blanket is still on at night time on the bed and socks on my feet.
I can't sleep at might because I hurt. Every muscle aches. Imagine your worst ever flue and times it by 10. That's my life as an FM patient. Getting out of bed is a struggle. Getting in the tub is a struggle. If I need to be somewhere first thing in the morning like last 2 days in a row as well as tomorrow which makes three days, I am a basket case. I need undamp weather with sunny skies and no more atmospheric pressure!
So here is my plan of action of my boycotting.
1. I will not listen to any weather station or person (and yes that will mean I won't be able to know for sure if Tamma Taggart is pregnant again)
2. I will not go on theweathenetwork.com to check out the next 2 weeks of weather.
3. I will not carry an umbrella with me every single time I go out the door
4. I will not turn the tv on to channel #18 to see what the weather channel says
6. And my last thing I am going to do is I am going to will summer to get here by my sheer determination and free will!! I think it therefore it shall happen. I mean hey they built a ball diamond and the people really did come out to play so why can't this happen? It's going to happen.. I have decreed it so!!
I can't sleep at might because I hurt. Every muscle aches. Imagine your worst ever flue and times it by 10. That's my life as an FM patient. Getting out of bed is a struggle. Getting in the tub is a struggle. If I need to be somewhere first thing in the morning like last 2 days in a row as well as tomorrow which makes three days, I am a basket case. I need undamp weather with sunny skies and no more atmospheric pressure!
So here is my plan of action of my boycotting.
1. I will not listen to any weather station or person (and yes that will mean I won't be able to know for sure if Tamma Taggart is pregnant again)
2. I will not go on theweathenetwork.com to check out the next 2 weeks of weather.
3. I will not carry an umbrella with me every single time I go out the door
4. I will not turn the tv on to channel #18 to see what the weather channel says
6. And my last thing I am going to do is I am going to will summer to get here by my sheer determination and free will!! I think it therefore it shall happen. I mean hey they built a ball diamond and the people really did come out to play so why can't this happen? It's going to happen.. I have decreed it so!!
Tuesday, June 10, 2008
Who'll Stop the Rain??
Ok ok I get that we live in a green province .. I can appreciate it as much as the next guy that we have flowers blooming all year but come on... could we get some sun please anytime soon??????? I am so sick of this rain! I mean literally! Figuratively as well but I hurt.. this constant rain makes my fibro flare up unbelievingly and I keep trying to push through the pain but it won't let go of it's grip :(
I spent the weekend in Seattle with Curt, Lareta and the kids. I was able to go to the temple several times but it had been the first time I had been there since I had been diagnosed with the cancer and it was very hard. I had hoped to have gone in with Lareta so I wouldn't be alone but she just had not been able to go on Saturday. The trip down and going to the temple the Friday night had been too much. So I sat there trying to not breakdown or start acting out of control but it wasn't easy.
I have lost another member of my executive committee for the Family History Centre.. basically my right hand especially when it came to our annual seminar in October and my head is spinning trying to figure out what to do. I must be hard on the staff.. either that or our personalities are clashing or my feet are too big and I am stepping on too many toes :(
One of my sister in laws did come out all last week from Saskatchewan and we had a wonderful visit. Well at least I think we did. Keith and I kept thinking she was going to drop a bomb on us with why she was down (his family pretty much never comes out just to visit) and so we kept waiting. But she would keep saying no she had just come down to visit. So that was a wonderful way to relax and just sit and talk. One of my favorite things to do.
That's it for me.. on to my day or what's left of my night
I spent the weekend in Seattle with Curt, Lareta and the kids. I was able to go to the temple several times but it had been the first time I had been there since I had been diagnosed with the cancer and it was very hard. I had hoped to have gone in with Lareta so I wouldn't be alone but she just had not been able to go on Saturday. The trip down and going to the temple the Friday night had been too much. So I sat there trying to not breakdown or start acting out of control but it wasn't easy.
I have lost another member of my executive committee for the Family History Centre.. basically my right hand especially when it came to our annual seminar in October and my head is spinning trying to figure out what to do. I must be hard on the staff.. either that or our personalities are clashing or my feet are too big and I am stepping on too many toes :(
One of my sister in laws did come out all last week from Saskatchewan and we had a wonderful visit. Well at least I think we did. Keith and I kept thinking she was going to drop a bomb on us with why she was down (his family pretty much never comes out just to visit) and so we kept waiting. But she would keep saying no she had just come down to visit. So that was a wonderful way to relax and just sit and talk. One of my favorite things to do.
That's it for me.. on to my day or what's left of my night
Thursday, May 29, 2008
Time Flying By
Where has the month gone by? I am still looking for March and now it is the end of the month of May. When I was growing up I remember hearing my mother and her friends/family always saying the older they got the faster time went by. I would think it is the same 24 hours how can it possibly be faster? But now that I am more mature (notice I never said older?) I understand what they meant.
With having to take a couple of months off with my surgery my brain was busy and wanted to get moving to do something but then my body would betray me and say get to bed I need a nap. I mean... seriously... how many naps does one woman need in a day. I have things to do, people to see, and places to go to.
So I am back at work now 2 weeks and trying to play catch up. I have found out I could actually delegate. I wasn't very good at it but at least I tried my hardest. I actually had no problems delegating tasks I had problems letting people doing it at their speed which was not necessarily at mine.
We have a huge genealogical seminar every October and we have been already planning it. I hate leaving things till last minute but I never knew there was so much to do with it. Trying to get 30-40 presenters organized and motivated enough to get their infos in on deadlines was enough to get your hair being pulled out. I literally have to-do lists everywhere. I finally had to go get a huge white board for my office and drew out a grid map with all the hours and classes/instructors on it as my hard copy had so many arrows and notes I was having a hard time figuring out who was who. Now at least I can erase and add new info as needed. Much much better.
My highlight of the whole thing was I able to get someone from Legacy head office to come out and teach a class on Legacy which is a PHENOMENAL software program for family history. I got started using it about a year ago and absolutely love it. Mind you I like anything that is colorful and user friendly. So having them agree to send someone out was a huge BONUS.
So I have been working on that. Then I have been hustling my butt getting our big family trip to Hawaii planned out. Man who would have thought there would be so many little things to plan and take care of. Or how difficult it would be taking 23 people away for a week. I am a pleaser, to me everybody has to be happy and I am stressing myself out trying to make it perfect so that everyone remembers this trip and that I meet everyone's wish list.
Add to that I got my mom a "live" picture frame that I am working on. If you have never seen one it is an electronic picture frame where you download pictures onto a USB stick and then put the stick in the frame. It then takes all the pictures and puts them in a slide show. TRES COOL!! I saw it for the first time at my youngest brother's home earlier this year when I was there and I thought what a great idea for a present for my mom! So I have been taking ALL our pictures of children and grandchildren and putting them in some sort of order of the grandchildren with their parents in order so there is some semblance of unity. Keith asked why I just didn't copy all my picture folders over to the stick instead of them having to be in order. I guess I must have given him the one raised eye brow look cause he said never mind I forgot who I was talking to for a minute . lol
So there it is.. what I have been up to this last little while and why I haven't been on here much. Oh by the way I came across a couple of my high school yearbooks and have posted my picture. This is from 70-71 which would have made me 14 years old. I am in the bottom left hand corner. My maiden name is Cloutier in case you can't recognize me hehehe. Have a great rest of your day!
With having to take a couple of months off with my surgery my brain was busy and wanted to get moving to do something but then my body would betray me and say get to bed I need a nap. I mean... seriously... how many naps does one woman need in a day. I have things to do, people to see, and places to go to.
So I am back at work now 2 weeks and trying to play catch up. I have found out I could actually delegate. I wasn't very good at it but at least I tried my hardest. I actually had no problems delegating tasks I had problems letting people doing it at their speed which was not necessarily at mine.
We have a huge genealogical seminar every October and we have been already planning it. I hate leaving things till last minute but I never knew there was so much to do with it. Trying to get 30-40 presenters organized and motivated enough to get their infos in on deadlines was enough to get your hair being pulled out. I literally have to-do lists everywhere. I finally had to go get a huge white board for my office and drew out a grid map with all the hours and classes/instructors on it as my hard copy had so many arrows and notes I was having a hard time figuring out who was who. Now at least I can erase and add new info as needed. Much much better.
My highlight of the whole thing was I able to get someone from Legacy head office to come out and teach a class on Legacy which is a PHENOMENAL software program for family history. I got started using it about a year ago and absolutely love it. Mind you I like anything that is colorful and user friendly. So having them agree to send someone out was a huge BONUS.
So I have been working on that. Then I have been hustling my butt getting our big family trip to Hawaii planned out. Man who would have thought there would be so many little things to plan and take care of. Or how difficult it would be taking 23 people away for a week. I am a pleaser, to me everybody has to be happy and I am stressing myself out trying to make it perfect so that everyone remembers this trip and that I meet everyone's wish list.
Add to that I got my mom a "live" picture frame that I am working on. If you have never seen one it is an electronic picture frame where you download pictures onto a USB stick and then put the stick in the frame. It then takes all the pictures and puts them in a slide show. TRES COOL!! I saw it for the first time at my youngest brother's home earlier this year when I was there and I thought what a great idea for a present for my mom! So I have been taking ALL our pictures of children and grandchildren and putting them in some sort of order of the grandchildren with their parents in order so there is some semblance of unity. Keith asked why I just didn't copy all my picture folders over to the stick instead of them having to be in order. I guess I must have given him the one raised eye brow look cause he said never mind I forgot who I was talking to for a minute . lol
So there it is.. what I have been up to this last little while and why I haven't been on here much. Oh by the way I came across a couple of my high school yearbooks and have posted my picture. This is from 70-71 which would have made me 14 years old. I am in the bottom left hand corner. My maiden name is Cloutier in case you can't recognize me hehehe. Have a great rest of your day!
Thursday, May 15, 2008
Sunday, May 11, 2008
Nana's Responsibilities
This has been a busy busy week for me as a Mum and Nana. Most of it has been spent working on my plan to get our whole family to Hawaii in February. This year made 30 years that our families blended together and I had wanted to do something spectacular to thank Keith and our children for being the best all these years. Because we had a huge anniversary almost 2 years ago I knew that financially I wouldn't have been able to do it for this year but the following year was going to be just fine. Keith and I aren't the credit cards kind of people where we put huge purchases on our credit cards and then pay for it for the next 5 years so it has meant scraping and saving every penny.
So plans have been made and trying to get things finalized this week. I should have had most of this done but these last couple of months have been slightly insane to say the least so have followed behind in my to do time line. Needless to say trying to find accommodations for 23 people have been hmm let's say mind challenging. It took me till Friday to find out that it apparently is a huge national surfing competiion at that same time frame in Oahu which means every surfer, board and clothing manufacturers, sponsors etc will be there making every thing scarce. I manage to find 3 different places that would be suitable. 2 of them are sperate villas but side by side and another one is one huge house. But we are about 45-60 minutes away from downtown Honolulu which will be ok I think.
I sent emails out to all the kids asking them to choose as we will go by majority rules of which one the most like. One answer came back that they wanted the one on the beach lo.. ok they are all on the beach!! I am so looking forward to it.
The other thing I got to do this week was taken one of our grandsons on a Cub Scout day hike. It was a Mother and Son hike but as our daughter is basically on "house arrest" for the remainder of her pregnancy apparently it states in the Nana rule book that Nanas have to take grandchildren in places of Moms :) Which was ok by me cause I had a really great time. We got to spend the afternoon together talking about school, his friends, Cubs, life at home with 4 sisters, the new baby coming along.. it was a wonderful bonding moment. I have included a couple of pictures. We went to a place called Deas Island that I had never been there before.. Very very nice place!
So all in all it was a pretty cool Nana week this week! And this week promises to be even better with sunshine!!! Let's hope the weather man is a little bit more accurate this week!
So plans have been made and trying to get things finalized this week. I should have had most of this done but these last couple of months have been slightly insane to say the least so have followed behind in my to do time line. Needless to say trying to find accommodations for 23 people have been hmm let's say mind challenging. It took me till Friday to find out that it apparently is a huge national surfing competiion at that same time frame in Oahu which means every surfer, board and clothing manufacturers, sponsors etc will be there making every thing scarce. I manage to find 3 different places that would be suitable. 2 of them are sperate villas but side by side and another one is one huge house. But we are about 45-60 minutes away from downtown Honolulu which will be ok I think.
I sent emails out to all the kids asking them to choose as we will go by majority rules of which one the most like. One answer came back that they wanted the one on the beach lo.. ok they are all on the beach!! I am so looking forward to it.
The other thing I got to do this week was taken one of our grandsons on a Cub Scout day hike. It was a Mother and Son hike but as our daughter is basically on "house arrest" for the remainder of her pregnancy apparently it states in the Nana rule book that Nanas have to take grandchildren in places of Moms :) Which was ok by me cause I had a really great time. We got to spend the afternoon together talking about school, his friends, Cubs, life at home with 4 sisters, the new baby coming along.. it was a wonderful bonding moment. I have included a couple of pictures. We went to a place called Deas Island that I had never been there before.. Very very nice place!
So all in all it was a pretty cool Nana week this week! And this week promises to be even better with sunshine!!! Let's hope the weather man is a little bit more accurate this week!
Wednesday, May 07, 2008
What mud pies?
hard to believe these are the same 2 little girls who earlier this evening found ONE mud puddle in the back yard and showed up in my dining room (that has beige carpet) completely covered in black from head to toe asking for a cloth to wipe their hands!! EEEEKKK... in the tub clothes and all... guess they had a long day... after 1 am and I finally just cleaned up after Papa and their playing house!
Saturday, May 03, 2008
Welcome Back to Me
Man this has been a long time coming! For someone that never stops talking it feels like forever since I logged in to here. It has been a rough last couple of months. Not one that I would care to repeat. But I have learned a few things along the day.
1. That no matter how old I get my mother will still tell me to go have a nap right after lunch and send me to bed at 9PM
2. I really CAN delegate
3. My faith in God was stronger then I thought.
4. I can still laugh
5. Being flat chested isn't as bad as I thought
6. People's faces turn red when they get caught staring at my flat chest when they think I am not looking
7. My children are the very BEST in the world
8. Prayer is the best medicine you can find
9. I never knew how much I was loved by so many people
10. Keith really does love me unconditionally
I still get tired.. my brain is still in hyper mode most days but my body is a traitor and makes me go have a nap instead. I saw my surgeon a couple of weeks ago and she said I was about at where someone would be at 6 month postop and I was at one month at that time. My physio therapist is also quite surprised at my range of motion and how much I can do. She did caution me to slow down on the amount of times I did my exercises and the amount of repetitions I did as I would end up making things worse.
But this week will be my first official week back at work and I am so happy!! I have been doing work at home and on the computer but not the same thing as actually being at work. I did my staff training last week and that went well although I sat through most of it.
We went to a dance at the church Friday night. It was a country theme which I love, but it ended up being square dancing. Which normally would not be a problem and I would be right in there like a dirty shirt but not now. There was no way I was going to be raising my arms and looping them over anyone's heads or doing any twisting of arms behind my back etc. So that made me sad. I ended up getting Keith to take me home after an hour and a half or so.
Right now though I have been working on plans for our Hawaii trip next February. I am so excited about it!! Being able to take all our children and grandchildren there has been our dream for last couple of years and now it is coming up fast! Normally I would be doing all the planning and booking online but because of the cancer, the surgery and the seemingly non stop appointments downtown for surgeons etc, I have gotten quite behind. I had a timeline that I had made up last summer of when everything had to be booked by etc and I got behind. Now I am thinking I might end up trying to see if anyone knows of a really good travel agent and have them do all the foot work.
I did manage with the help of Lareta, to finish the spare bedroom just a couple of days before I went into the hospital. What a transformation! I do not know what I would do without her help! She has such an eye for color combinations and for finding the right thing at such dirt cheap prices. Except for the bed and dresser which I already had, the rest of the bedding, accessories, night stand etc probably cost me less then 50 dollars! We have had 4 different sets of overnight guests and everyone loves the room :)
I also got a new living room area carpet that I just love!! As well I found some candle holders at Salvation Army for 2.99 for the three of them.. There are gorgeous and look so nice on my fireplace mantle. I am loving my home these days!
Well that is it for now. I am planning on a homemade seafood chowder for dinner and I am off to the kitchen. Keith was diagnosed with high blood sugar, high blood pressure and VERY high cholesterol about 10 days ago so it has been a learning curve for me to make sure all his meals are low sugar and fat. Not the easiest thing to do especially with him grumbling of where his potatoes are and why everything is so different. But he lost 6 pounds in his first week. We got some new weight scales last week that not only measures your weight it measures your water levels, your bone mass and your body fat! I love them!! Keith... not so much lol
1. That no matter how old I get my mother will still tell me to go have a nap right after lunch and send me to bed at 9PM
2. I really CAN delegate
3. My faith in God was stronger then I thought.
4. I can still laugh
5. Being flat chested isn't as bad as I thought
6. People's faces turn red when they get caught staring at my flat chest when they think I am not looking
7. My children are the very BEST in the world
8. Prayer is the best medicine you can find
9. I never knew how much I was loved by so many people
10. Keith really does love me unconditionally
I still get tired.. my brain is still in hyper mode most days but my body is a traitor and makes me go have a nap instead. I saw my surgeon a couple of weeks ago and she said I was about at where someone would be at 6 month postop and I was at one month at that time. My physio therapist is also quite surprised at my range of motion and how much I can do. She did caution me to slow down on the amount of times I did my exercises and the amount of repetitions I did as I would end up making things worse.
But this week will be my first official week back at work and I am so happy!! I have been doing work at home and on the computer but not the same thing as actually being at work. I did my staff training last week and that went well although I sat through most of it.
We went to a dance at the church Friday night. It was a country theme which I love, but it ended up being square dancing. Which normally would not be a problem and I would be right in there like a dirty shirt but not now. There was no way I was going to be raising my arms and looping them over anyone's heads or doing any twisting of arms behind my back etc. So that made me sad. I ended up getting Keith to take me home after an hour and a half or so.
Right now though I have been working on plans for our Hawaii trip next February. I am so excited about it!! Being able to take all our children and grandchildren there has been our dream for last couple of years and now it is coming up fast! Normally I would be doing all the planning and booking online but because of the cancer, the surgery and the seemingly non stop appointments downtown for surgeons etc, I have gotten quite behind. I had a timeline that I had made up last summer of when everything had to be booked by etc and I got behind. Now I am thinking I might end up trying to see if anyone knows of a really good travel agent and have them do all the foot work.
I did manage with the help of Lareta, to finish the spare bedroom just a couple of days before I went into the hospital. What a transformation! I do not know what I would do without her help! She has such an eye for color combinations and for finding the right thing at such dirt cheap prices. Except for the bed and dresser which I already had, the rest of the bedding, accessories, night stand etc probably cost me less then 50 dollars! We have had 4 different sets of overnight guests and everyone loves the room :)
I also got a new living room area carpet that I just love!! As well I found some candle holders at Salvation Army for 2.99 for the three of them.. There are gorgeous and look so nice on my fireplace mantle. I am loving my home these days!
Well that is it for now. I am planning on a homemade seafood chowder for dinner and I am off to the kitchen. Keith was diagnosed with high blood sugar, high blood pressure and VERY high cholesterol about 10 days ago so it has been a learning curve for me to make sure all his meals are low sugar and fat. Not the easiest thing to do especially with him grumbling of where his potatoes are and why everything is so different. But he lost 6 pounds in his first week. We got some new weight scales last week that not only measures your weight it measures your water levels, your bone mass and your body fat! I love them!! Keith... not so much lol
Wednesday, April 16, 2008
Reflections of Our Time
The paradox of our time in history is that we have taller buildings but shorter tempers, wider Freeways, but narrower viewpoints. We spend more, but have less,
we buy more, but enjoy less. We have bigger houses and smaller families, more conveniences, but less time. We have more degrees but less sense, more knowledge,
but less judgment, more experts, yet more problems, more medicine, but less wellness.
We drink too much, smoke too much, spend too recklessly, laugh too little, drive too fast, get too angry, stay up too late, get up too tired, read too little, watch TV too much, and pray too seldom.
We have multiplied our possessions, but reduced our values.
We talk too much, love too seldom, and hate too often.
We've learned how to make a living, but not a life. We've added years to life not life to years. We've been all the way to the moon and back, but have trouble crossing the street to meet a new neighbor. We conquered outer space but not inner space. We've done larger things, but not better things.
We've cleaned up the air, but polluted the soul. We've conquered the atom, but not our prejudice. We write more, but learn less. We plan more, but accomplish less. We've learned to rush, but not to wait. We build more computers to hgold more information, to produce more copies than ever, but we communicate less and less.
These are the times of fast foods and slow digestion, big men and small character, steep profits and shallow relationships. These are the days of two incomes but more divorce, fancier houses, but broken homes. These are days of quick trips, disposable diapers, throwaway morality, one night stands, overweight bodies, and pills that do everything from cheer, to quiet, to kill. It is a time when there is much in the showroom window and nothing in the stockroom. A time when technology can bring this letter to you, and a time when you can choose either to share this insight, or to just hit delete...
Remember; spend some time with your loved ones,
because they are not going to be around forever.
Remember, say a kind word to someone who looks up to you in awe,
because that little person soon will grow up and leave your side.
Remember, to give a warm hug to the one next to you, because that is
the only treasure you can give with your heart and it doesn't cost a cent.
Remember, to say, "I love you" to your partner and your loved ones, but most of all mean it. A kiss and an embrace will mend hurt when it comes from deep inside of you.
Remember to hold hands and cherish the moment
for someday that person will not be there again.
Give time to love, give time to speak! And give
time to share the precious thoughts in your mind.
AND ALWAYS REMEMBER:
Life is not measured by the number of breaths we take,
but by the moments that take our breath away.
we buy more, but enjoy less. We have bigger houses and smaller families, more conveniences, but less time. We have more degrees but less sense, more knowledge,
but less judgment, more experts, yet more problems, more medicine, but less wellness.
We drink too much, smoke too much, spend too recklessly, laugh too little, drive too fast, get too angry, stay up too late, get up too tired, read too little, watch TV too much, and pray too seldom.
We have multiplied our possessions, but reduced our values.
We talk too much, love too seldom, and hate too often.
We've learned how to make a living, but not a life. We've added years to life not life to years. We've been all the way to the moon and back, but have trouble crossing the street to meet a new neighbor. We conquered outer space but not inner space. We've done larger things, but not better things.
We've cleaned up the air, but polluted the soul. We've conquered the atom, but not our prejudice. We write more, but learn less. We plan more, but accomplish less. We've learned to rush, but not to wait. We build more computers to hgold more information, to produce more copies than ever, but we communicate less and less.
These are the times of fast foods and slow digestion, big men and small character, steep profits and shallow relationships. These are the days of two incomes but more divorce, fancier houses, but broken homes. These are days of quick trips, disposable diapers, throwaway morality, one night stands, overweight bodies, and pills that do everything from cheer, to quiet, to kill. It is a time when there is much in the showroom window and nothing in the stockroom. A time when technology can bring this letter to you, and a time when you can choose either to share this insight, or to just hit delete...
Remember; spend some time with your loved ones,
because they are not going to be around forever.
Remember, say a kind word to someone who looks up to you in awe,
because that little person soon will grow up and leave your side.
Remember, to give a warm hug to the one next to you, because that is
the only treasure you can give with your heart and it doesn't cost a cent.
Remember, to say, "I love you" to your partner and your loved ones, but most of all mean it. A kiss and an embrace will mend hurt when it comes from deep inside of you.
Remember to hold hands and cherish the moment
for someday that person will not be there again.
Give time to love, give time to speak! And give
time to share the precious thoughts in your mind.
AND ALWAYS REMEMBER:
Life is not measured by the number of breaths we take,
but by the moments that take our breath away.
Friday, April 11, 2008
When I said I do
I have had a friend over from Saskatchewan visiting here for last couple of weeks. We have been friends for 26 years. It was an instant bond between us. She made a comment the other day that Keith was going to have a hard time when I got better as he wouldn't have anything to do. I asked her what she meant as it didn't make any sense to me and she said "because he has been getting your food, helping you shower and get dressed and taking care of you since you got home from the hospital". I smiled at her and told her it was obvious she hadn't been around for a long time as Keith has been like that for many years. But she just remembers him as "The Wild Man" and had a hard time seeing this new and improved version. I told her that when Keith and I met I don't know if it was the Spirit that told me, my instincts, or what it was but I was the only one that seemed to be able to see what was so deeply hidden beneath layers of protective brick wall.
But her comment made me think if I take him for granted so when he came home from work that day I talked to him about it and he said no he never once thought I was taking advantage of him and it was all part of the package. I said what package. He said the "for better or worse package". We accepted that part when we got married just that you took on more then you bargained for when you had to take me when I was wild and had 3 small boys. He continued on by saying that what kind of man would he be now these last couple of years if he bailed on me when it was my turn in the "worse part" of our vows?
Of course I had to cry and hug him as hard as my chest would allow me to. I am going to attempt to add a video to this post but if for some reason it doesn't work please check out the link and click on the song "When I said I do" and please take the time to listen to it if you wish. It is from Clint Black and his wife Lisa Hartman and there is a line in there that says even with everything around them going on that only they could undo what they had built together. I thought how true that is. So many times in life in marriages people say that such and such broke them up, loss of job, infedility, kids, etc but when it is all said and done, the only thing that can undo what a couple builds together is themselves.
I am so thankful I have a husband who has taken care of his end of the vows and believes in them. I am so blessed to have a husband who loves me unconditionally even when he is holding my head out of the puke bucket. He thinks I am the most beautiful woman he has ever known and tells me that every day. I am sure I would still be able to deal with this whole mess this past 6 months but I thank my Father in Heaven every single day that I have such a strong and loving man by my side to help me through this. I truly believe with every heat of my heart that when he said I do he meant it.
http://apps.facebook.com/qloud_app/index.php?page=my_library
But her comment made me think if I take him for granted so when he came home from work that day I talked to him about it and he said no he never once thought I was taking advantage of him and it was all part of the package. I said what package. He said the "for better or worse package". We accepted that part when we got married just that you took on more then you bargained for when you had to take me when I was wild and had 3 small boys. He continued on by saying that what kind of man would he be now these last couple of years if he bailed on me when it was my turn in the "worse part" of our vows?
Of course I had to cry and hug him as hard as my chest would allow me to. I am going to attempt to add a video to this post but if for some reason it doesn't work please check out the link and click on the song "When I said I do" and please take the time to listen to it if you wish. It is from Clint Black and his wife Lisa Hartman and there is a line in there that says even with everything around them going on that only they could undo what they had built together. I thought how true that is. So many times in life in marriages people say that such and such broke them up, loss of job, infedility, kids, etc but when it is all said and done, the only thing that can undo what a couple builds together is themselves.
I am so thankful I have a husband who has taken care of his end of the vows and believes in them. I am so blessed to have a husband who loves me unconditionally even when he is holding my head out of the puke bucket. He thinks I am the most beautiful woman he has ever known and tells me that every day. I am sure I would still be able to deal with this whole mess this past 6 months but I thank my Father in Heaven every single day that I have such a strong and loving man by my side to help me through this. I truly believe with every heat of my heart that when he said I do he meant it.
http://apps.facebook.com/qloud_app/index.php?page=my_library
Thursday, April 10, 2008
Putting things into perspective
Today has made a year that my cousin, Darell Cloutier has gone missing. These past couple of months have flown by as I have dealt with my cancer and going from one specialist appointment and one surgery to another. I have been so wrapped up with my health and pain that everything else just got swept under the carpet so to speak. I haven't spent very much time online (so completely forgot what time of the year it was since my surgery as it has been too painful to check out my sites) but now realizing what day it is has put things into perspective. I may be hurting more then I have ever hurt in my life but at least my family knows where I am. At least my pain reminds me I am alive and kicking.. well ok maybe not kicking but you get the point.
Stefan, Jaime and Uncle Raymond, my heart and prayers go out to you today and every day.
Thu, April 10, 2008
From anger to tears: Missing man's friends try to move on as hurting family can only hope for closure in year-old case
UPDATED: 2008-04-10 01:53:52 MST
By MICHAEL PLATT
A full year has passed, but for the family of Darrell Cloutier, life refuses to move on.
The 34-year-old Calgarian vanished in the Bahamas one year ago today, leaving friends and relatives in a purgatory of pain and frustration, with only one realistic conclusion: It was murder.
"At this point, we're pretty sure he was, ah, taken care of," said Stefan Cloutier, Darrell's brother.
"Whether it was random, or whether it was building up over time -- whether he was a target -- we just don't know."
Colleagues who went looking for Darrell after he failed to show up for work found the front door of Cloutier's condominium open and his groceries still sitting in his car.
There was no sign of Darrell, who was only two weeks away from returning to Calgary when he vanished.
Police acted quickly at first, and a 36-year-old Bahamian woman, said to be an acquaintance of Darrell's, was arrested and charged with fraud after Darrell's bank card was found in her possession.
That woman has since been released on bail without further charges, while another suspect in the case -- a man described as "armed and dangerous" in the days following Darrell's disappearance -- was let go without charge.
No further arrests have been made, and Darrell's brother says he doesn't expect the situation to change any time soon.
Stefan says police in the Bahamas have let the trail go cold, and seem content to let the file gather dust.
"It's just been incredibly frustrating, and nothing seems to be getting done," he said.
"Everything moves in slow motion."
A $10,000 reward fronted by Darrell's street hockey pals in the Bahamas remains unclaimed, and a website posted by the Royal Bahamas Police Force asking for public help seems to have withered on the vine -- two tip lines, when tried, ring unanswered.
Police there do answer other phone lines, but attempts to reach the officers in charge of the case leads to multiple transferred calls, and apparent confusion over who is investigating.
Stefan says the family's frustration over the lack of police progress and concern led them to hire an investigator in Canada, but when the private eye flew south, police in the Bahamas refused to co-operate.
"They basically kicked him out," he said.
Both Stefan and his father Raymond have visited the island trying to find answers, but they, too, returned empty- handed.
Back home, there's been no service acknowledging Darrell is gone, said Stefan.
"We're not ready for that," he said.
"There's no closure yet."
Darrell's friends feel a similar frustration, but while a family is endlessly reminded of the son and brother missing from their lives, they have no choice but to move on with theirs.
Dylan Murray, who lives in Calgary, says the year since Darrell disappeared has been painful for those who knew the generous, hockey-loving Canuck, who donated time to the local kids hockey street league.
"I'm hurt, the guys back in Bahamas are hurt, because until you know what happened, it's hard to have closure," he said.
"I feel horrible for his family; it must be excruciating."
Murray says he has come to terms with never seeing his friend again, and he's sure Darrell met with foul play,
As a year passed, Murray says he forced himself to face that reality.
"That's the toughest part, but it's what I've done," he said.
"At first, you feel mad at yourself for giving up, but then you have to admit it to yourself -- when someone is missing for this long, you can't imagine they'll ever be found."
As Murray mourns, other friends remain angry that Darrell's killer remains free.
Jason Kinsale, a Canadian who worked with Darrell, says the apparent lack of a serious police investigation is the hardest part to accept.
"The reality is, he's not coming back, and after a while, you come to that conclusion," said Kinsale.
"But the people who committed this crime need to be charged -- someone is out there who has gotten away with this."
Stefan, Jaime and Uncle Raymond, my heart and prayers go out to you today and every day.
Thu, April 10, 2008
From anger to tears: Missing man's friends try to move on as hurting family can only hope for closure in year-old case
UPDATED: 2008-04-10 01:53:52 MST
By MICHAEL PLATT
A full year has passed, but for the family of Darrell Cloutier, life refuses to move on.
The 34-year-old Calgarian vanished in the Bahamas one year ago today, leaving friends and relatives in a purgatory of pain and frustration, with only one realistic conclusion: It was murder.
"At this point, we're pretty sure he was, ah, taken care of," said Stefan Cloutier, Darrell's brother.
"Whether it was random, or whether it was building up over time -- whether he was a target -- we just don't know."
Colleagues who went looking for Darrell after he failed to show up for work found the front door of Cloutier's condominium open and his groceries still sitting in his car.
There was no sign of Darrell, who was only two weeks away from returning to Calgary when he vanished.
Police acted quickly at first, and a 36-year-old Bahamian woman, said to be an acquaintance of Darrell's, was arrested and charged with fraud after Darrell's bank card was found in her possession.
That woman has since been released on bail without further charges, while another suspect in the case -- a man described as "armed and dangerous" in the days following Darrell's disappearance -- was let go without charge.
No further arrests have been made, and Darrell's brother says he doesn't expect the situation to change any time soon.
Stefan says police in the Bahamas have let the trail go cold, and seem content to let the file gather dust.
"It's just been incredibly frustrating, and nothing seems to be getting done," he said.
"Everything moves in slow motion."
A $10,000 reward fronted by Darrell's street hockey pals in the Bahamas remains unclaimed, and a website posted by the Royal Bahamas Police Force asking for public help seems to have withered on the vine -- two tip lines, when tried, ring unanswered.
Police there do answer other phone lines, but attempts to reach the officers in charge of the case leads to multiple transferred calls, and apparent confusion over who is investigating.
Stefan says the family's frustration over the lack of police progress and concern led them to hire an investigator in Canada, but when the private eye flew south, police in the Bahamas refused to co-operate.
"They basically kicked him out," he said.
Both Stefan and his father Raymond have visited the island trying to find answers, but they, too, returned empty- handed.
Back home, there's been no service acknowledging Darrell is gone, said Stefan.
"We're not ready for that," he said.
"There's no closure yet."
Darrell's friends feel a similar frustration, but while a family is endlessly reminded of the son and brother missing from their lives, they have no choice but to move on with theirs.
Dylan Murray, who lives in Calgary, says the year since Darrell disappeared has been painful for those who knew the generous, hockey-loving Canuck, who donated time to the local kids hockey street league.
"I'm hurt, the guys back in Bahamas are hurt, because until you know what happened, it's hard to have closure," he said.
"I feel horrible for his family; it must be excruciating."
Murray says he has come to terms with never seeing his friend again, and he's sure Darrell met with foul play,
As a year passed, Murray says he forced himself to face that reality.
"That's the toughest part, but it's what I've done," he said.
"At first, you feel mad at yourself for giving up, but then you have to admit it to yourself -- when someone is missing for this long, you can't imagine they'll ever be found."
As Murray mourns, other friends remain angry that Darrell's killer remains free.
Jason Kinsale, a Canadian who worked with Darrell, says the apparent lack of a serious police investigation is the hardest part to accept.
"The reality is, he's not coming back, and after a while, you come to that conclusion," said Kinsale.
"But the people who committed this crime need to be charged -- someone is out there who has gotten away with this."
Tuesday, April 08, 2008
Back at the Helm
Hi Everybody
Bet you guys all thought I had died and gone to Heaven huh? I haven't been online other then a line here or there as it is still quite painful to move my arms up any height. You know my head knows I did the right decision of having the double mastectomies but let me tell you, if I had to do it again knowing how much pain I would have, I would have thought twice. We all have said in the course of our lives, "I've been to hell and back" or "I had a day from hell". Now I have never personally been to hell nor do I plan on ever going there but I can honestly say it FEELS like I have been to hell and back. Unbelievable pain like nothing I have ever encountered in my life. And I have had to deal with it on a daily basis for years. Shaking head. The things you take for granted like reaching up to shampoo your head or lifting your arm to brush your teeth feels like someone is holding a blow torch to your chest. They took the draining tubes out of both sides last week and that took 45 minutes it was so painful. I am the type of person that has to be in control of my everything. You don't see me cry or lose control etc. That was as close to screaming out loud as I have ever gotten. I am surprised my daughter's fingers were not broken as I had been squeezing them so hard. Sorry Lareta. What a sweetheart! She said it was ok that it was payback for all the times she squeezed my fingers numb when she was in labour.
I saw my surgeon last week and she said I have a triple whammy, first the mastectomy itself, they had to cut the muscles on TOP of the chest wall to remove the breasts. secondly, they had to cut the muscles UNDER the chest wall to put the tissue expander in, thirdly because of the Fibromyalgia, the muscles that are remaining are screaming their heads off due to the cutting. It never ends. On the positive side, the surgeons say the incisions themselves look perfect, no redness, no spreading just very thin lines that will barely leave a scar when this is over with. But I want that today. I want this to be desperately over. I get these swelling pockets for lack of a better word that fill with fluid all over my chest and down my sides. Then every now and then I will literally feel a pop, get a searing burning pain for a few more hours and then that will subside. I have found out that is normal and that is just the muscles being pulled from the scar tissue forming which is why I have to be diligent with my exercises so they won't continue.
But that is enough whining. The women from my church have been phenomenal!! 2 weeks worth of meals was wonderful. And Friday 2 of them came over to do vacuuming and bathrooms. Now you might think how wonderful that is but I never let people come clean my house. That's my job and if it wasn't for the fact that my head was in the puke bucket the whole time they were here I would have made a more valiant effort to object.
There have been many many times these past 3 weeks that I have been thankful I don't drink alcohol. I swear I would have been hitting those bottles just to numb this. I have had enough of this. I haven't even been able to get any of the saline injections yet as my skin quote and unquote "is way too hypersensitive to touch it right now". No DUH!! what was supposed to be a 2 month deal is now going to be 4-5 months before I finish healing because of the FM and everything else going on.
BUT!!!!!! Pathology came back and it is a clean bill of health!!! No new cancer YEAAA Well my armpits are killing me so I will sign off here. For those of you that have emailed me and sent me e-cards and regular cards and flowers I thank you from the bottom of my heart. Every email has been printed and everything has gone into a "Positive Book" that I go through during mu dark hours. This shall pass as all things in life. But just not today.
Bet you guys all thought I had died and gone to Heaven huh? I haven't been online other then a line here or there as it is still quite painful to move my arms up any height. You know my head knows I did the right decision of having the double mastectomies but let me tell you, if I had to do it again knowing how much pain I would have, I would have thought twice. We all have said in the course of our lives, "I've been to hell and back" or "I had a day from hell". Now I have never personally been to hell nor do I plan on ever going there but I can honestly say it FEELS like I have been to hell and back. Unbelievable pain like nothing I have ever encountered in my life. And I have had to deal with it on a daily basis for years. Shaking head. The things you take for granted like reaching up to shampoo your head or lifting your arm to brush your teeth feels like someone is holding a blow torch to your chest. They took the draining tubes out of both sides last week and that took 45 minutes it was so painful. I am the type of person that has to be in control of my everything. You don't see me cry or lose control etc. That was as close to screaming out loud as I have ever gotten. I am surprised my daughter's fingers were not broken as I had been squeezing them so hard. Sorry Lareta. What a sweetheart! She said it was ok that it was payback for all the times she squeezed my fingers numb when she was in labour.
I saw my surgeon last week and she said I have a triple whammy, first the mastectomy itself, they had to cut the muscles on TOP of the chest wall to remove the breasts. secondly, they had to cut the muscles UNDER the chest wall to put the tissue expander in, thirdly because of the Fibromyalgia, the muscles that are remaining are screaming their heads off due to the cutting. It never ends. On the positive side, the surgeons say the incisions themselves look perfect, no redness, no spreading just very thin lines that will barely leave a scar when this is over with. But I want that today. I want this to be desperately over. I get these swelling pockets for lack of a better word that fill with fluid all over my chest and down my sides. Then every now and then I will literally feel a pop, get a searing burning pain for a few more hours and then that will subside. I have found out that is normal and that is just the muscles being pulled from the scar tissue forming which is why I have to be diligent with my exercises so they won't continue.
But that is enough whining. The women from my church have been phenomenal!! 2 weeks worth of meals was wonderful. And Friday 2 of them came over to do vacuuming and bathrooms. Now you might think how wonderful that is but I never let people come clean my house. That's my job and if it wasn't for the fact that my head was in the puke bucket the whole time they were here I would have made a more valiant effort to object.
There have been many many times these past 3 weeks that I have been thankful I don't drink alcohol. I swear I would have been hitting those bottles just to numb this. I have had enough of this. I haven't even been able to get any of the saline injections yet as my skin quote and unquote "is way too hypersensitive to touch it right now". No DUH!! what was supposed to be a 2 month deal is now going to be 4-5 months before I finish healing because of the FM and everything else going on.
BUT!!!!!! Pathology came back and it is a clean bill of health!!! No new cancer YEAAA Well my armpits are killing me so I will sign off here. For those of you that have emailed me and sent me e-cards and regular cards and flowers I thank you from the bottom of my heart. Every email has been printed and everything has gone into a "Positive Book" that I go through during mu dark hours. This shall pass as all things in life. But just not today.
Monday, March 17, 2008
Last Post
Well here it is the last night before I go to the hospital for my surgery. I thought I was ready.. well or so I thought when the surgery was for wayyyyyyy in the future.. not so much now that it is here. I have done all I can do to prepare. Our family and close friends in the ward and stake fasted for me yesterday, I had a special blessing last night... not much else to do but keep crossing things off my to do list that keeps growing by the minute.
We had our family Easter dinner yesterday along with the egg hunt as I knew I would be in no shape to do one next Sunday and that was good. Kept my mind busy and when you watch grown adults and little children chasing all over the place looking for their eggs and bunnies you can't help but be happy with life at that moment.
For those of you readers that have Facebook, our daughter will be changing my status as she gets news. I know I am "supposed" to have limited arm mobility coming out of the hospital so I may have to use "the old bat the eyes at the husband trick" so that he might get me a voice activated computer hehehehe. Oh no wait.. money going to Hawaii.. focus on priorities girl :)
Well I am off for now. I wish you all a very Happy Easter and my the Lord shine on you this year. Be good and hopefully all will go well with the surgery and I will be around to give you all the details next week some time. Take care all!
We had our family Easter dinner yesterday along with the egg hunt as I knew I would be in no shape to do one next Sunday and that was good. Kept my mind busy and when you watch grown adults and little children chasing all over the place looking for their eggs and bunnies you can't help but be happy with life at that moment.
For those of you readers that have Facebook, our daughter will be changing my status as she gets news. I know I am "supposed" to have limited arm mobility coming out of the hospital so I may have to use "the old bat the eyes at the husband trick" so that he might get me a voice activated computer hehehehe. Oh no wait.. money going to Hawaii.. focus on priorities girl :)
Well I am off for now. I wish you all a very Happy Easter and my the Lord shine on you this year. Be good and hopefully all will go well with the surgery and I will be around to give you all the details next week some time. Take care all!
Wednesday, March 12, 2008
Old age vs Being Young
Do you realize that the only time in our lives when we like to get old is when we're kids?
If you're less than 10 years old, you're so excited about aging that you think in fractions.
'How old are you?' 'I'm four and a half!' You're never thirty-six and a half. You're four and a half, going on five! That's the key
You get into your teens, now they can't hold you back. You jump to the next number, or even a few ahead.
'How old are you?'
'I'm gonna be 16!'
You could be 13, but hey, you're gonna be 16!
And then the greatest day of your life . . You become 21. Even the words sound like a ceremony .
YOU BECOME 21. YESSSS!!!
But then you turn 30. Oooohh, wh happened there?
Makes you sound like bad milk! He TURNED; we had to throw him out. There's no fun now, you're Just a sour-dumpling. What's wrong? What's changed?
YouBECOME 21
You turn 30
Then you're PUSHING 40. Whoa! Put on the brakes, it's all slipping away.
Before you know it, you REACH 50 and your dreams are gone.
But wait!!! You MAKE it to 60. You didn't think you would!
So you BECOME 21, TURN 30, PUSH 40, REACH 50 and MAKE it to 60.
You've built up so much speed that you HIT 70! After that it's a day-by-day thing; you HIT Wednesday!
You get into your 80's and every day is a complete cycle; you HIT lunch; you TURN 4:30 ; you REACH bedtime. And it doesn't end there.
Into the 90s, you start going backwards; 'I Was JUST 92.'
Then a strange thing happens.
If you make it over 100, you become a little kid again.
'I'm 100 and a half!'
May you all make it to a healthy 100 and a half!!
HOW TO STAY YOUNG
1. Throw out non-essential numbers.
This includes age, weight and height. Let the doctors worry about them. That is why you pay 'them.'
2. Keep only cheerful friends. The grouches and negative ones pull you down.
3. Keep learning.
Learn more about the computer, crafts, reading, golf, gardening, sports, volunteering, whatever.
Never let the brain idle. 'An idle mind is the devil's workshop.' And the devil's name is Alzheimer's.
4. Enjoy the simple things.
5. Laugh often, long and loud. Laugh until you gasp for breath.
6. Tears happen.
Endure, grieve, and move on. The only person, who is with us our entire life, is ourselves.
Be ALIVE while you are alive.
7. Surround yourself with what you love , whether it's family, pets, keepsakes, music, plants, hobbies, whatever.
Your home is your refuge, safehaven and sanctuary.
Make it who you are and what you want.
8. Cherish your health:
If it is good, preserve it.
If it is unstable, improve it.
If it is beyond what you can improve, get help.
9. Don't take guilt trips. Take a trip to the mall, even to the next county; to a foreign country but NOT to where the guilt is.
10. Tell the people you love that you love them, at every opportunity.
AND ALWAYS REMEMBER:
Life is not measured by the number of breaths we take, but by the moments that take our breath away.
If you're less than 10 years old, you're so excited about aging that you think in fractions.
'How old are you?' 'I'm four and a half!' You're never thirty-six and a half. You're four and a half, going on five! That's the key
You get into your teens, now they can't hold you back. You jump to the next number, or even a few ahead.
'How old are you?'
'I'm gonna be 16!'
You could be 13, but hey, you're gonna be 16!
And then the greatest day of your life . . You become 21. Even the words sound like a ceremony .
YOU BECOME 21. YESSSS!!!
But then you turn 30. Oooohh, wh happened there?
Makes you sound like bad milk! He TURNED; we had to throw him out. There's no fun now, you're Just a sour-dumpling. What's wrong? What's changed?
You
You turn 30
Then you're PUSHING 40. Whoa! Put on the brakes, it's all slipping away.
Before you know it, you REACH 50 and your dreams are gone.
But wait!!! You MAKE it to 60. You didn't think you would!
So you BECOME 21, TURN 30, PUSH 40, REACH 50 and MAKE it to 60.
You've built up so much speed that you HIT 70! After that it's a day-by-day thing; you HIT Wednesday!
You get into your 80's and every day is a complete cycle; you HIT lunch; you TURN 4:30 ; you REACH bedtime. And it doesn't end there.
Into the 90s, you start going backwards; 'I Was JUST 92.'
Then a strange thing happens.
If you make it over 100, you become a little kid again.
'I'm 100 and a half!'
May you all make it to a healthy 100 and a half!!
HOW TO STAY YOUNG
1. Throw out non-essential numbers.
This includes age, weight and height. Let the doctors worry about them. That is why you pay 'them.'
2. Keep only cheerful friends. The grouches and negative ones pull you down.
3. Keep learning.
Learn more about the computer, crafts, reading, golf, gardening, sports, volunteering, whatever.
Never let the brain idle. 'An idle mind is the devil's workshop.' And the devil's name is Alzheimer's.
4. Enjoy the simple things.
5. Laugh often, long and loud. Laugh until you gasp for breath.
6. Tears happen.
Endure, grieve, and move on. The only person, who is with us our entire life, is ourselves.
Be ALIVE while you are alive.
7. Surround yourself with what you love , whether it's family, pets, keepsakes, music, plants, hobbies, whatever.
Your home is your refuge, safehaven and sanctuary.
Make it who you are and what you want.
8. Cherish your health:
If it is good, preserve it.
If it is unstable, improve it.
If it is beyond what you can improve, get help.
9. Don't take guilt trips. Take a trip to the mall, even to the next county; to a foreign country but NOT to where the guilt is.
10. Tell the people you love that you love them, at every opportunity.
AND ALWAYS REMEMBER:
Life is not measured by the number of breaths we take, but by the moments that take our breath away.
Monday, March 10, 2008
Soap Box Time
OK I haven't been on my soap box for awhile and I need to vent. Today's topic is dumpster diving. We live in a townhouse complex and right across our driveway is a large commercial bin for our garbage. Every single day (usually 2-3 times a day on weekends and moving days) we get someone diving into the garbage bin for recyclables. Why they should be in there instead of people recycling them is beyond me but we will save that topic for another day.
Now I understand everyone has to make a living and I don't have a problem with people wanting to dive into garbage bins to get pop bottles but why do they have to dump all the bags into the driveway and then leave them there?? Come on people!! At least be a good sport and put the bags back into the bin!! Do you not realize that be leaving the bags all over OUR driveway you are leaving them for the crows to get at and tear them to shreds leaving our garbage strewn all over the place? Do you not realize that because of you, someone has to come in behind you and clean up your mess? And what gives with the attitude of swearing at me when I very politely ask you to put the bags back in the bin when you are done?
Because our kitchen window faces the bin I see it more then pretty much anyone else. I have tried complaining to our property managers but when I call by the time they send their maintenance man over the divers are long gone. End of the month when people move out is such a nightmare!! The bins are over filled because people are throwing out all the tings they don't want to move and then the divers come and completely pull out all the bags to go through them and of course leaving the bags all over the driveway. Enter into the factor the cars coming into the driveway and not seeing the bags till they have already turned into it and are driving right on top of them and you have an even bigger mess! Then of course that means free meals for the crows to pick at the bags to leave strips of black plastic all over our yards and flower beds etc.
When I become President of the World I am going to make dumpster diving illegal and if anyone gets caught instead of having to pay a fine they will have to go pick garbage up! yup yup yup that's what I am going to do. Do you think dumpster diving should be against the law or am I making a mountain out of a molehill?
Now I understand everyone has to make a living and I don't have a problem with people wanting to dive into garbage bins to get pop bottles but why do they have to dump all the bags into the driveway and then leave them there?? Come on people!! At least be a good sport and put the bags back into the bin!! Do you not realize that be leaving the bags all over OUR driveway you are leaving them for the crows to get at and tear them to shreds leaving our garbage strewn all over the place? Do you not realize that because of you, someone has to come in behind you and clean up your mess? And what gives with the attitude of swearing at me when I very politely ask you to put the bags back in the bin when you are done?
Because our kitchen window faces the bin I see it more then pretty much anyone else. I have tried complaining to our property managers but when I call by the time they send their maintenance man over the divers are long gone. End of the month when people move out is such a nightmare!! The bins are over filled because people are throwing out all the tings they don't want to move and then the divers come and completely pull out all the bags to go through them and of course leaving the bags all over the driveway. Enter into the factor the cars coming into the driveway and not seeing the bags till they have already turned into it and are driving right on top of them and you have an even bigger mess! Then of course that means free meals for the crows to pick at the bags to leave strips of black plastic all over our yards and flower beds etc.
When I become President of the World I am going to make dumpster diving illegal and if anyone gets caught instead of having to pay a fine they will have to go pick garbage up! yup yup yup that's what I am going to do. Do you think dumpster diving should be against the law or am I making a mountain out of a molehill?
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