Jan
1
2009
Happy…
Happy…Happy…Happy…2009!!!
God’s Blessings and Peace be to every soul this coming year…
LLL
Nov
7
2008
Borrowed From A Fellow Blogger…
So a friend of a friend has a very lovely blog that I land on every once in a bluish moon. Her latest
entry was a listing of “I’s”. I thought it looked like fun,and have hada hankering…ha ha…hankering…anyway, yes, hankering
for some good old fashion me time.
So here we go…
I am: a wackadoo, really…but I love life and I can’t wait for the rest of it…
I think: all the time!!! It never stops. Most of the time it’s a grand thing, but sometimes it gets me carried away to far off foolishness…
I have: wonderful people in my life, husband, family, friends…lots of amazing people…I am blessed…
I dislike: ingnorance…
I miss: my grandmother, my mom, my little house in Tracy where I grew up, the plentiful trees of my home province and walking through them for hours, my little comfort spot by the stream, my lake, my childhood…there’s a lot that I miss…but a lot to look forward to…
I fear: the tree people…*shudder*…
I feel: that the world is a amazing place, and if it weren’t for human nature, it could be that much more amazing…
I hear: my husband eating chips…
I smell: ducky…
I crave: learning…and in all honesty - Punjab Sweet House as well…Indian food is my downfall…and Chinese food…and Japanese…and Lebanese…and the beauty of it is I can learn while I crave…and Mexican…and Italian…gah…
I cry: often…some tears of joy…some tears of pain and sorrow…often necessary and always healing…
I usually: will only watch movies at home in my pj’s and with a glass of something hot in the fall and winter and something cool in the spring and summer…so it shall be written, so it shall be done…
I search: for things endlessly and needlessly because I am often careless and it drives me right out of my little brain…
I wonder: about absolutely everything…
I regret: nothing. Though that is not to say I am not sorry…
I wish: all of the time and most of the time on either stars, rainbows or clovers…I wish on anything really…I wished on a pickle the other day…I just wish because it keeps my childlike innocence in check and because it makes me feel that anything is possible…so I wish…
I love: life and everything it includes…husband, family, friends, home, water, food, cultures, city, country, the world…so many things to love…
I care: about the environment and my impact on it…
I worry: that we aren’t doing enough good to make up for the bad that we and the ones before us have created…
I am not: a bad person, but I could be a better one…
I remember: the bumper pads in my crib and climbing out of my crib to go and find my mom. I remember the various carpet samples on my wall to keep the sound out of my room because I would wake up at every little noise. I remember making a boat out of plywood in my back yard and sailing away over the enormous puddle that was there because of the spring rain. I remember all of my pets, especially Christmas, my cat. I remember the magical land we created all over areas of the Rankine Road. I remember the “Goosie Gang”. I remember my first bookbag for school, and the navy jumper my mom had made for my first year of school. I remember LOVING school when I was little. I remember my first kiss was a boy named Chris Angus when I was 5. I remember our babysitter’s chocolate cake. I remember eating Flintstone vitamins with my brother like they were candy. I remember wanting to be just like Jolie Burtt when I grew up. I remember my first convention and how thrilling it was. I remember my first plane ride to Florida with my family and I remember the lightening that hit the wing on my first plane ride to Florida (yikes!!!). I remember my getting my driver’s license…first try. I remember my favorite school play that we performed was “A Christmas Carol”. I remember my graduation day like it was yesterday. I remember my first love. I remember laughing so hard with my friends that it hurt - numerous times. I remember dancing like we didn’t care and we didn’t. I remember Montreal and LOVE remembering it. I remember learning life changing lessons and then moving on with what I’d learned. I remember the first time I met my husband. I remember three weeks later saying “He’s the one!” to my best friend. I remember Argentina, Uruguay, Brazil, Jamaica, China, Hong Kong, Mexico, London, Italy and so many other things that we’ve experienced. I remember my grandmother and continue to miss her like mad everyday, although they say time eases the heartache. I remember every single minute of our beautiful wedding. I love memories…
I believe: that there is only one Creator, God the Father Who sent his only Son, Jesus to die for our sins and sent us the Holy Spirit to be our Comfort here on earth until He returns to bring us home. I believe that religion is a strange and frustrating institution but I believe that faith is amazing and wonderful. I believe in the power of forgiveness. I believe that, as a race, we have done despicable things that need to be atoned for that we may not have committed ourselves but that we can break the lines of to move forward as one world and one people without the barriers of race that have been made ours by our ancestors disgraceful decisions. I believe that it is our CHOICE to not continue our life’s walk in ignorance. I believe that there is goodness in our world but we have to see it and realize it for what it is. I believe we can move forward in love and peace and I pray it happens…
I sing: all the time and in extreme randomness and without warning…
I don’t always: do what I should in life, but I always try…
I write: so often that it consumes a good portion of my day. So much so that I’m hoping it will one day be my career…
I lose: my selfishness a little more every day…
I listen: well and thoroughly or so I’ve been told…
I don’t understand: people who are ignorant…therein, perhaps, lies my own ignorance…
I can usually be found: with something chocolate or with my husband and something chocolate…
I need: to focus…
I forget: that life is what we make it and that I need to become the amazing and fantastic experience that I am searching for and not continue to search for it in someone or something else…it’s all in me…
I am happy: and that is a wonderful thing and a gift from God…
Oct
11
2008
Based on reflection…
Happy Thanksgiving to all. In keeping with the general theme of this weekend, I would like to give thanks. This is not to say that this is the only time I give thanks, I try and give thanks as much as possible because I am well aware that I have, indeed, so very much to be thankful for.
I begin first and foremost with God. It is fall, and fall, in my opinion, is the grandest of seasons. A season full of plenty, as this is time for harvest. A season where God truly shows off His creativity in landscapes. The color of fall is lovely (well, if lovely were a color, and in this case, it is). God is good, and I thank Him.
I am thankful this year that I have married the love of my life. I am thankful that he is a man of integrity, humor, kindness, happiness and a man full of love for life, for family and in particular, for me.
I am thankful for the mystery of fate. I am thankful for the health of my family and myself. I am thankful for my being. I am thankful for salvation. I am thankful for faith. I am thankful for friendship. I am thankful for the world, and my ability to see it, travel it and behold it. I am thankful for Italy. I am thankful for journeys made in the past that have brought me to this place in my life. I am thankful for protection. I am thankful for freedom. I am thankful for Canada. I am thankful for all of God’s creatures, and in particular, kittens. I am thankful for my mother. I am thankful for my father. I am thankful for my brother. I am thankful for the ability to love. I am thankful for the gift of forgiveness. I am thankful for fits of laughter that are painful. I am thankful for bacon. I am thankful for lives lived to the fullest. I am thankful for memories. I am thankful that what has been a whole year for me has only been a beautiful moment in Heaven to my grandmother. I am thankful for tears. I am thankful for healing. I am thankful for her life. I am thankful for Heaven. I am thankful for the promise of reunion. I am thankful for lima beans, even though I dislike them ever so much, somewhere, someone enjoys them. For that I am thankful. I am thankful for evergreen trees. I am thankful for the seasons. I am thankful…
I am thankful for the ability to write a thankful list at least once a month…memo to me…new project.
Love and peace to all. Happy Thanksgiving.
lll
Sep
26
2008
Words of Inspiration…
These are not my words, but I find them very inspirational.
“Be creative. You’re the artist today.
You’re the one who can brush away
The clouds and make the sun shine.
Paint your own picture, choose your own colors.
And forget all that business about
Having to stay between the lines.”
Jun
27
2008
My most recent commitment…
So lately, as you can well tell, I haven’t been blogging much. Shame on me! However…I’m over it. I do want to update you on a project I have been working on lately though. It’s a very simple, and yet difficult at the same time. It would seem that it should be the easiest thing in the world to remember to do, but, actually, it’s something I have to remind myself of very often. The project is…smiling.
I’ve committed to smiling more in all areas and circumstances of my life. When I’m walking, when I’m driving, when I’m cleaning my home, when I’m watering my flowers…just to smile. I began this project one day while I was out and about on the streets of Edmonton. I came to a stop light in my car, and I looked around at the cars that surrounded me…and I did not see one person smiling, not even the passengers. Now possibly, it’s because this is when people do their best serious thinking, or possibly they’re in too much of a hurry to be somewhere to remember to smile. Regardless of the reason - the sad reality is that as a society, we really smile far too little for what we have. One thing I did notice though, was that, as soon as I made eye contact with the older couple at the next red light and gently nodded and smiled, they smiled back! That felt great! It felt better than great!
And so, with that exchange of facial muscle gestures, Project Smile began. It began two weeks ago, and so far, is going well for me. It’s remarkable though how often I have to remind myself to smile, in everyday simple situations and circumstances, such as driving, or getting the mail or making dinner. I’m enjoying this project though, and I have even encouraged my honey to do the same, although he smiles a lot as it is. He is a naturally smiley person, and I am very fortunate. Plus, he’s got a great smile to boot!
This project is a project that really can be taken on by anyone who would like more smiles in their life. It’s true what they say, they’re the cheapest gift. They’re free! Give them away!
If you decide to take on this challenge in your own life - please let me know! I’d be interested to see what your progress is with Project Smile. Truly, a smile is a beautiful thing to behold!
Live, Love and Laugh!!!
May
18
2008
The Wonder Of Sprummer…
I say sprummer because I feel that now a’days, unlike when I was a child, we move right from winter into summer, and completely bypass spring! I dearly love summer, but also recall being captivated by the spring season as well. The smells in the air are so crisp and clean, the trees begin to bud ever so slowly, there are puddles everywhere to run through and rivers and streams are at their highest which makes for some AMAZING kayaking.
Nevertheless, I am not complaining. SUMMER IS HERE!!! And I could not be happier! Wedding(s) planning is in full force. Invites are on their way (promise!).
I keep looking for rainbows after rainstorms. I think that is a good thing…
Apr
17
2008
Breathe…
Well, finally…finally spring is here. And just when you thought the sun couldn’t shine any harder, the birds couldn’t sound lovelier, and the air couldn’t smell fresher…the weatherman threatens to bring snow in two days…the weatherman should be shot…fyi…sigh…oh well…it’s got to end sometime right…you’d think. But, after all, this is Canada, and snow is as natural as air.
I’m going home in 2.5 weeks…home New Brunswick, that is. I’m really excited. I’ve been wanting to go home and see everyone, say goodbye to my house and say hi to my grandmother without 40 billion layers of snow between where her earthly body is laid and me…
Memo to ladies out there who endeavor to start a blog the year they’re getting married…don’t be stoopid!
Lately, I’ve been going in and out of my mind with planning. This morning was a doozy! First, the printer I was hoping would be printing off my invites has yet to get back to me after 3 messages in two weeks…maddening! Then, later this morning, I inquired with my mom as to whether she’d received my bridesmaid’s dresses…that was fun. I had to order them in the States through Nordstrom, but Nordstom only ships within the States. So I had them shipped to my wonderful family in Maine. Cher, a family relative and all around lovely lady, cousin and friend, told me that it wasn’t a problem to send them to her and she would ship them up to my momma. It took one day for them to complete the order and 4 days for them to get to Cheryl in Kennebunk, Maine. Cher promptly sent them out, via UPS, to my mom in Tracyville, New Brunswick. UPS had told Cher that the parcel would take a week to get there (she sent them on the 7th and they were supposed to arrive on the 14th). My mom, as many of you know, isn’t living at our old address, she’s living across the way, but all mail still goes to our old address as she checks it everyday. SO…this morning, they still hadn’t arrived…two days after they were supposed to…OYE…So I call UPS with the tracking number Cher had given my mom. The lady on the other line was very pleasant and nice to chat with…until she told me the package had been delivered on the 11th, and left, as per the judgement of the delivery guy, SOMEWHERE on the property…SOMEWHERE my girl’s dresses were sitting at 54 Rankine Road…no slip to say it had been delivered…no phone call to say it was there…just left…somewhere…PANIC!!! PANIC x 3!!! All I could think about was…oh no…they are under some tree in our yard and it’s rained who knows how much in the last 6 days…they’re covered in mold and mud stink…someone saw a box and thought it was a free giveaway…WHERE ARE MY DRESSES!!!??? So, I called my mom, trying to stay calm but really completely freaking out. Thankfully, my mom has a way of calming me down and not getting ahead of things in her mind like I do. She told me she would go out right away and look for the box full of my lovely bridesmaid’s dresses. So, she told me everything would be ok, and just to wait until she got back to me. Sure enough, within 10 minutes, my mom called me on her cell and told me that she had recovered a box from UPS that was sitting in an old decaying truck on our property. It seems the delivery guy felt it was a safe enough spot to leave my box, and since it was unlocked and visibly undrivable…it was fine…FINE was it???!!! Well, if nothing else, thank God for decaying trucks on country side roads…ANYWAY…they are here, they are fine and they are the sizes I ordered…my mom is my hero…
So with all that…wedding planning is going well!
Live love laugh, everyone - cuz sometimes, that’s all you can do!
Apr
2
2008
Stuff in my brain…
Well, if you’re unaware…it’s April…APRIL. Where does time go…I think it goes over the mountains and along vast riverbanks filled with loveliness and wild things until it finds its resting place and there it stays and indulges in its memories…
I’m having some creative blocks lately…I think my creativity needs refueling. I’ve been writing like a madman…woman…whatever…planning the wedding of a lifetime, and then writing more…I recently bought myself…believe it or not…a typewriter. I found it on Kijiji (my new favorite addiction) for $50…but bargained down to $30. It has become, on some small level, my pride and joy. I’ve always enjoyed writing on a typewriter. I like to see the product of my work, and unlike a computer that you would have to print every page as you’re writing it, I can see it as I’m doing it on the tw. To be completely honest, I think I’m more enamored with the sound it makes…I guess I feel more productive with my new(ish) typewriter. It’s a Smith Corona 1500, and her name is Sophie. She’s a lovely writing companion…I love her.
I love chocolate too, though, so I guess…
Have you ever wondered why someone who said something is what it is and people just said ok, that’s what it is….for example…who said that that particular amount of space makes an acre…and then how did they come up with the word acre…and then who had to agree upon it to say yeah, you know what, that is an acre…
I wonder…and I’ll leave it at that…
Mar
18
2008
The Craziness Of Being In Love…
First it starts with an amazingly memorable proposal. Your future husband catches you off guard by sitting in a patio chair one second and bending down on one knee the next. Then he presents you with a ring that you could’ve only imagined in your dreams…the perfect ring for you…without EVER having asked what your preference was. Then, after he’s asked you the ultimate question, you shout out an emphatic YES!!! and then hold each other for what seems to be an eternity, but is actually only 30 seconds….complete and utter joy…
THEN…you’re at it…off like an annoyed dog on the trail of a menacing cat…planning your wedding (weddings in my case) like a mad woman. You book the venues, you ask your dear one’s to stand up with you, you find a person who can legally marry you and you say to yourself “I’ve got lots of time…” Before you know it, it’s bloody March and only 20 weeks until your wedding!!!
AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!
Am I panicking…only ever so slightly…keeping my cool like a bowl of ice cream on a summer day in Phoenix…do I have reason to panic? Not so much, no. Actually, we met with our wedding planner who we’ve hired to help us out the month before the wedding and the day of and she informed me that I’m doing very well in getting things crossed off my list…yay me! yay us! Do I feel like I should be panicking…ab-so-friggin’-lutely!!! Because about 7 months ago, I still had a whole year!!! Now…20 flippin’ weeks! However, all of this - the planning, the payments, the busy-ness, the compromising, the craziness, etc. will be so worth it when I walk through those double doors and practically sprint down the isle to get to him and marry him. Because, isn’t that what it’s all about, committing your life to that person and having them commit theirs to you…sigh…I can’t wait.
And all of this planning is worth it…totally worth it…but sometimes you just need to remind yourself of that…
So…memo to me, I guess
