We arrived in Holland yesterday. Our house (it is listed as a cottage but it is definitely a bungalow house) is located beside a conservation area. We have neighbours on one side but the other three sides of the house are surrounded by woodland. It is a haven of calm and peace. The woodland surrounding us saw fighting in WWII. Apparently, the trees still have shells in them and local people do not like cutting them down as it wrecks their chainsaw when the chainsaw hits a leftover bullet.
Last night we went for a brief walk in the woods just as dusk was settling in. This morning we enjoyed our breakfast on a patio that surrounds three sides of the house. The weather has been hot and humid...so hot that it was difficult to sleep last night. It is so humid that you are immediately drenched just by sitting. Apparently, this is out of the ordinary for this region. Anyway, this morning we were enjoying sitting and chatting after breakfast, when I heard rustling from the woods in front of us. There was a young male buck (deer) ambling through the bush, grazing on the fronds of ferns that he came across. I had my camera close by and managed (with the zoom setting) to get a beautiful shot of him. He looked fit and his antlers were not very big yet which makes me assume he was young. What a beautiful start to the day.
As I sat on the patio this morning, I could imagine the ghosts of soldiers flitting from tree to tree and quietly advancing through the forest. My imagination was probably enhanced by the fact that we visited the Mook War Cemetery last night. This is a Commonwealth cemetery and I felt a heaviness of heart as we looked at all the stones with the names, rank, age and regiment listed. It is so sad to think that these men died so far from home and so alone. The Dutch look after the graves so well. There are lavender bushes at each end of the rows. I couldn't help but think that lavender is used to help us rest well. There are flower gardens all along the row of stones and are tended regularly as there are no weeds to be seen. There was a guest book to sign. I was so overcome with emotion that it was hard to put my thoughts into words. I thanked "them" (the Dutch) for looking after our men so well. This was especially important for me as I realized that none of these men have family nearby who would be able to come and visit regularly. LEST WE FORGET.
This trip to the Netherlands is not just a vacation but an opportunity for me to be close to where my great-uncle battled and was killed in 1944. I never knew him but my grandmother and my mother made sure I knew about him. My mother and her brother do remember him. I'm looking forward to seeing his grave, the memorial that is in place near where he died and the various museums in the area. I'm not a huge history buff but I do feel emotional when I think of my great-uncle. I must confess to feeling that my grandma, my great-grandma (who I did know) and my great-uncle are close with me in spirit. I felt their closeness before I even left Canada.
Sunday, 20 July 2014
Wednesday, 16 July 2014
Travelling Adventures
Vacations are always times to look forward to travelling and planning your trip. Everything was planned out and we left the house to catch our flight to Toronto and then our connecting flight to Edinburgh. The day we left, the sun had been shining all day but with storm warnings for later in the day. As we arrived at our home airport, we discovered our flight was delayed 3 hours. This mean we were going to miss our connecting flight to Edinburgh. Air Canada was very good and booked us on a later flight from Toronto to Dublin, Ireland where we switched flights and flew from Dublin to Edinburgh. Our original itinerary had us arriving in Edinburgh at 7:00 a.m. on Wed. July 9. Our adjusted itinerary had us arrive in Edinburgh at 2:30 p.m. We had also pre-booked and paid for our rental car so that we could just arrive and pick it up at 7:00 a.m. (our original itinerary). When we actually arrived at the rental car desk, we discovered that they had given our car out to someone else....they only hold it for 3 hours despite cancellations and weather interruptions!! After some discussion and scrambling (because they didn't have any small cars in the lot at all now), we ended up with a larger Mercedes Benz. At this point we had been up for 30+ hours! So we got the car, packed our luggage in and off we went. My husband wanted to drop in on his uncle and aunt so we did that before going to the cottage that we had rented for our time in Scotland. We had a lovely dinner with family and then made our way to our rental cottage.
My husband found the cottage online on a site where you can rent homes and cottages for days at a time. I love this cottage. It appears to have been built sometime in the late 19th century. I much prefer accommodations such as this to a hotel or even a bed and breakfast. As I am at a stage in life of not sleeping well through the night, the cottage affords me the luxury of being up and able to read in another room without bothering anyone else. The cottage has a dishwasher, stove, modern double door fridge/freezer and a washer/dryer combination machine. The backyard of the cottage has some lovely gardens along with a clothes line. There is a rustic gazebo which gives a beautiful view across the fields. There is also a large patio as well with loungers, a table and chairs and also an umbrella. Beyond the back gate at the end of the garden path, there is a path that wanders throughout the woods and brings you to various campsites. The inside of the cottage has the original wood floors and wood doors. There is a wood/coal combination fireplace but we haven't needed to use it for heat at all. There are also radiators throughout the cottage for heating during the colder weather. The radiators' heat is provided by the fireplace as well. If the fireplace is on and the doors are kept closed, this will cause the radiators to heat up. If we keep the fireplace doors open, it will only heat the sitting room. There is a space heater in the full bathroom to take the chill off the air during the night and early mornings. So we have been very happy to call this our home base while in Scotland.
We've been to Edinburgh on the train and visited Holyrood Palace as well as the abbey ruins and the gardens. We've been to Edinburgh before, so we did not visit Edinburgh Castle this time. Instead we wandered The Royal Mile and enjoyed a pub lunch. We always enjoy a visit to Princes Street Gardens. It bring back memories for my husband of previous visits with his mother when he was young. This visit, we sat on the grass and enjoyed watching young couples and families relax in the park.
About 2 months ago, we booked tickets to go on a 3 hour dinner cruise on The Firth of Forth. What an enjoyable evening this was!! The evening was very calm or as the captain told my husband "it was a cracker night". Our dinner was barbecued beef on a bun with salad. There was also a live Scottish folk band that played all night long. Not only did we see some stunning views, we even recognized some of the tunes and we were able to sing along, clap our hands and enjoy the evening. I would love to do that again sometime. The company also offers a similar tour but with jazz music.
We went to The Falkirk Wheel the other day. I had not heard about this before but it is an amazing feat of engineering which brings boats from the lower Forth/Clyde canals to the upper Union Canal that leads to Edinburgh. There are many paths to walk and climb in the same area. When we arrived, we bought our tickets for the next tour boat to go through the Falkirk Wheel. Then we had time to go for a walk through the paths. The skies looked threatening so we had our raincoats with us "just in case". Good thing because as we were walking a mist started. That was fine, we continued to walk along. Then the mist turned to a drizzle so out came our raincoats. But then the drizzle became a steady rain. So we retraced our steps and went into the gift shop to wait for our boat ride. It was enjoyable even if it was raining. I forgot to mention that when we first arrived, we saw a swan with 5 cygnets (babies). The cygnets were getting fairly large but they were still covered in their fine, fluffy and brown down. The Falkirk Wheel runs on hydraulics and use the same electrical energy as 8 tea kettles. My husband tried to explain to me how the wheel worked but I had trouble understanding it until I saw it in motion. It is truly amazing! The Falkirk Wheel spins on a central tube. There are two chambers one on each end of the wheel where the boats are moored while the wheel moves them from one canal up or down to the other canal. The boat chambers are also on rails with wheels so that they stay horizontal throughout the trip. I thought for sure that the boats would feel some sideways movement from the water as the chamber slowly moves. But there is no feeling of movement in the boat at all. If you closed your eyes, you wouldn't even know that your boat was being turned around the wheel. I really believe this must be seen in order to fully comprehend how it works.
Yesterday, we went for a drive up into the Highlands in order to see a second cousin on my dad's side. When I was a child, I would see this lady with my parents fairly regularly as she and my father were more like brother and sister rather than cousins. She moved to Scotland several years ago. I called her up to see if she and her husband would like some visitors from Canada. I hadn't seen her in over 30 years!! We made the drive up towards Inverness. I had forgotten how much I love the Highlands. If I were to move to Scotland, I would live in the Highlands for sure. In order to get to my cousin's home, we drove on major highways (4 lanes), two lane highways and highways (more like country roads) that were barely two lanes. Some of these more remote roads had sheep that were grazing right beside the road and could even wander across the road. We toured the Dallas Dhu Historic Distillery on our travels this day as well. It's always nice to have a dram of whisky at the end of a tour. We spent a lovely afternoon with my cousin and her husband. It was a time of much laughter and very good food as we ate at The Mosset Tavern. Much too soon, it was time to head south back to our cottage. My heart was truly warmed and bursting with love as we finished our day.
Today, I believe we will head for St. Andrews and perhaps have another pub lunch there. Every time I visit Scotland, I always feel like I have returned home. My great-grandfather emigrated to Canada from Edinburgh when he was finished university. It almost feels like his blood runs through my veins and when I visit Scotland, I really do feel a warmth and the comfort of returning home. I always feel settled here. I love the rural feel of Fife and north into the Highlands. The area does remind me of the area of Ontario where my great-grandfather settled which was also where my grandparents lived. I was even born in that area of Ontario. It is very, very similar to Scotland.
In addition to visiting St. Andrews, we also want to make our way to Loch Lomond. When we came to Scotland for our honeymoon many years ago, we visited Balloch and really enjoyed it. We returned there on our last visit when we had our children with us. It would be nice to make a trip to Balloch again before we leave to continue our travels. This holiday is not overly scheduled and we have a list of wants that we are working through but at a leisurely pace. We are also visiting with my husband's uncle and aunt on an almost nightly basis. They are always such fun and again we leave their home with our hearts full.
My husband found the cottage online on a site where you can rent homes and cottages for days at a time. I love this cottage. It appears to have been built sometime in the late 19th century. I much prefer accommodations such as this to a hotel or even a bed and breakfast. As I am at a stage in life of not sleeping well through the night, the cottage affords me the luxury of being up and able to read in another room without bothering anyone else. The cottage has a dishwasher, stove, modern double door fridge/freezer and a washer/dryer combination machine. The backyard of the cottage has some lovely gardens along with a clothes line. There is a rustic gazebo which gives a beautiful view across the fields. There is also a large patio as well with loungers, a table and chairs and also an umbrella. Beyond the back gate at the end of the garden path, there is a path that wanders throughout the woods and brings you to various campsites. The inside of the cottage has the original wood floors and wood doors. There is a wood/coal combination fireplace but we haven't needed to use it for heat at all. There are also radiators throughout the cottage for heating during the colder weather. The radiators' heat is provided by the fireplace as well. If the fireplace is on and the doors are kept closed, this will cause the radiators to heat up. If we keep the fireplace doors open, it will only heat the sitting room. There is a space heater in the full bathroom to take the chill off the air during the night and early mornings. So we have been very happy to call this our home base while in Scotland.
We've been to Edinburgh on the train and visited Holyrood Palace as well as the abbey ruins and the gardens. We've been to Edinburgh before, so we did not visit Edinburgh Castle this time. Instead we wandered The Royal Mile and enjoyed a pub lunch. We always enjoy a visit to Princes Street Gardens. It bring back memories for my husband of previous visits with his mother when he was young. This visit, we sat on the grass and enjoyed watching young couples and families relax in the park.
About 2 months ago, we booked tickets to go on a 3 hour dinner cruise on The Firth of Forth. What an enjoyable evening this was!! The evening was very calm or as the captain told my husband "it was a cracker night". Our dinner was barbecued beef on a bun with salad. There was also a live Scottish folk band that played all night long. Not only did we see some stunning views, we even recognized some of the tunes and we were able to sing along, clap our hands and enjoy the evening. I would love to do that again sometime. The company also offers a similar tour but with jazz music.
We went to The Falkirk Wheel the other day. I had not heard about this before but it is an amazing feat of engineering which brings boats from the lower Forth/Clyde canals to the upper Union Canal that leads to Edinburgh. There are many paths to walk and climb in the same area. When we arrived, we bought our tickets for the next tour boat to go through the Falkirk Wheel. Then we had time to go for a walk through the paths. The skies looked threatening so we had our raincoats with us "just in case". Good thing because as we were walking a mist started. That was fine, we continued to walk along. Then the mist turned to a drizzle so out came our raincoats. But then the drizzle became a steady rain. So we retraced our steps and went into the gift shop to wait for our boat ride. It was enjoyable even if it was raining. I forgot to mention that when we first arrived, we saw a swan with 5 cygnets (babies). The cygnets were getting fairly large but they were still covered in their fine, fluffy and brown down. The Falkirk Wheel runs on hydraulics and use the same electrical energy as 8 tea kettles. My husband tried to explain to me how the wheel worked but I had trouble understanding it until I saw it in motion. It is truly amazing! The Falkirk Wheel spins on a central tube. There are two chambers one on each end of the wheel where the boats are moored while the wheel moves them from one canal up or down to the other canal. The boat chambers are also on rails with wheels so that they stay horizontal throughout the trip. I thought for sure that the boats would feel some sideways movement from the water as the chamber slowly moves. But there is no feeling of movement in the boat at all. If you closed your eyes, you wouldn't even know that your boat was being turned around the wheel. I really believe this must be seen in order to fully comprehend how it works.
Yesterday, we went for a drive up into the Highlands in order to see a second cousin on my dad's side. When I was a child, I would see this lady with my parents fairly regularly as she and my father were more like brother and sister rather than cousins. She moved to Scotland several years ago. I called her up to see if she and her husband would like some visitors from Canada. I hadn't seen her in over 30 years!! We made the drive up towards Inverness. I had forgotten how much I love the Highlands. If I were to move to Scotland, I would live in the Highlands for sure. In order to get to my cousin's home, we drove on major highways (4 lanes), two lane highways and highways (more like country roads) that were barely two lanes. Some of these more remote roads had sheep that were grazing right beside the road and could even wander across the road. We toured the Dallas Dhu Historic Distillery on our travels this day as well. It's always nice to have a dram of whisky at the end of a tour. We spent a lovely afternoon with my cousin and her husband. It was a time of much laughter and very good food as we ate at The Mosset Tavern. Much too soon, it was time to head south back to our cottage. My heart was truly warmed and bursting with love as we finished our day.
Today, I believe we will head for St. Andrews and perhaps have another pub lunch there. Every time I visit Scotland, I always feel like I have returned home. My great-grandfather emigrated to Canada from Edinburgh when he was finished university. It almost feels like his blood runs through my veins and when I visit Scotland, I really do feel a warmth and the comfort of returning home. I always feel settled here. I love the rural feel of Fife and north into the Highlands. The area does remind me of the area of Ontario where my great-grandfather settled which was also where my grandparents lived. I was even born in that area of Ontario. It is very, very similar to Scotland.
In addition to visiting St. Andrews, we also want to make our way to Loch Lomond. When we came to Scotland for our honeymoon many years ago, we visited Balloch and really enjoyed it. We returned there on our last visit when we had our children with us. It would be nice to make a trip to Balloch again before we leave to continue our travels. This holiday is not overly scheduled and we have a list of wants that we are working through but at a leisurely pace. We are also visiting with my husband's uncle and aunt on an almost nightly basis. They are always such fun and again we leave their home with our hearts full.
Monday, 23 June 2014
And the Celebratons continue....
A dear friend of mine, who has accompanied through the highs and lows of the last decade, travelled with me to the Kitchener/Stratford area. We decided back in the late winter that we would celebrate our decade birthdays together by attending the Stratford Festival. We ordered our tickets back in March, made arrangements to stay with my brother and his wife in Kitchener and eagerly awaited the arrival of this past weekend.
What a glorious weekend it was! The warmth of friendship made the drive very delightful as we travelled. When we arrived at my brother's home, we were met by the joyous tail wagging bundle of energy called Maxi. She is 11 years old but she still has the energy of a puppy. Next to meet us was my sister-in-law with a huge smile on her face as she welcomed the weary travellers into her home. This is what I love about my brother and sister-in-law. They welcome friends and family into their home with grace, laughter and love. My brother had met my friend once before about 10 years or so ago. My sister-in-law had never met my friend but that didn't matter. Her arms were open wide to receive us with all our belongings. Due to my brother's work schedule, we didn't see him when we arrived. Regardless of this ,my sister-in-law took us downstairs where we enjoyed some snacks, water and getting to know each other. The television was on as we started watching an old movie with Errol Flynn and Maureen O'Hara. I was so tired, I don't even remember the name of the movie! And you know what? The movie didn't matter. What sticks in my memory is the warmth and love of friendship and family. As my friend and I were quite tired (I was nodding off during the conversation and movie watching), we retired to our beds earlier than I normally would.
Saturday morning dawned nice and bright. We three women again enjoyed each others' company as we had our cups of tea and coffee and then breakfast. My friend and I then enjoyed a leisurely walk with Maxi around the neighbourhood. We heard the birds singing, saw lots of other people walking or jogging with their dogs and children playing at the local playground. All the happy sounds and bird songs made for a very relaxing start to the day. Unfortunately, there was a phone call from my mom with some sad news. A good family friend had passed on in the night from a heart attack. Outwardly, I continued on but inwardly, my heart was burdened. This family friend was a man of great faith and I have no doubt that he is with his Saviour. He is also reunited with his own parents and his daughter who tragically died many years ago when she was in her early twenties. My heart has been aching for his widow although she will also be comforted with her own faith in Jesus. My prayers continue to be with this family. As I said, outwardly I continued on with my day. My friend and I drove to Stratford for the matinee showing of "King Lear" starring Colm Feore as King Lear. As we arrived at the Festival Theatre with time to spare, we enjoyed a stroll alongside the Avon River and over the pedestrian bridge to the island and back. We thoroughly enjoyed our time together and the show was spectacular. The time passed very quickly. Then we hopped in the car and drove downtown to the Avon Theatre where we found parking. A quick walk of a block or so and we were at our dinner destination which was The Annex Room. I loved how our day was entwined with threads of affection, friendship and appreciation of the "finer things in life". We enjoyed lots of conversation and laughter as we dined on some fabulous food. Within, I had decided that I would not have dessert. But....when the dessert options were listed from memory by our friendly waiter, I could not pass up my favourite dessert of crème brulee. I have not found one that comes close to the crème brulee offered up at Chez Piggy but at The Annex Room it was just as good. This is a huge compliment! My friend and I enjoyed our desserts (she had a trio of sorbets) along with cups of peppermint tea. We did not feel rushed but our waiter was certainly unobtrusively attentive. After our dinner, we made our way to the Avon Theatre. We still had time so we browsed through the Theatre Store. Then off we went to see "Man of La Mancha". Again, it was a tremendous show. Just before the first act ended, there was a scene that was so intense, it shot like an arrow right through to my core. I felt anxiety, fear, and worry about the female lead. What a well done job of acting and choreography. As the lights went to black and then the house lights came up for intermission, I felt very unsettled. I truly believe it is a true compliment to all who work on the or in the show that I would feel so deeply.
My friend and I were both weary and tired by the end of the day. Thank goodness, my brother's home was only a 30 minute drive away. As we drove down the highway through a rural area, we could see an orange glow to the right. Oh no....this is never a good thing to see in the country! My heart plummeted. Then I remembered that we had seen a controlled brush fire on the way to the Stratford Festival earlier in the day. I've watched the internet for new regarding a barn fire but there's been nothing. I hope it was only the brush fire which had raged out of control. As we drove by, I could see the silhouette of the barn back lit by the flames. There were fire trucks and personnel there battling the flames. My friend was driving, so I was able to see all this in an instant as we drove by. We arrived at my brother's home and again we were welcome with open arms, warm love and the excited wagging of Maxi's tail. My brother was awake and it was the first time we saw him. My friend had a cup of peppermint tea and I shared a glass of red wine with my brother and sister-in-law. It was an emotional day and I was glad it had started with the love of family and friends and then ended with the same positive warmth of love.
Yesterday, we all had a leisurely start to the morning. As we all arose at various times, we congregated on my brother's deck. It is a wonderful oasis of shade, birds and privacy. As we sat around my brother's patio table, we sipped on coffee and tea as well as just chattered and enjoyed some more warm fellowship. At one point, there was a chickadee hopping around the railing of the deck as we sat and admired him (or her?). Next we were visited by various sparrows. Nearby in the the neighbour's tree, a cardinal sang with a clear beautiful voice. We then decided to rouse ourselves from this beautiful location and go out for breakfast where we enjoyed more laughter and conversation. The kernel of the idea of celebrating our birthdays by visiting the Stratford Festival, grew and popped into a full fluffy popcorn filled with love, appreciation and so much more than "just" going to a play or two.
My friend and I drove home feeling weary but I was filled with an inner joy and was sad to see the adventure end. However, now I will be looking forward to the next adventure on the road of life.
What a glorious weekend it was! The warmth of friendship made the drive very delightful as we travelled. When we arrived at my brother's home, we were met by the joyous tail wagging bundle of energy called Maxi. She is 11 years old but she still has the energy of a puppy. Next to meet us was my sister-in-law with a huge smile on her face as she welcomed the weary travellers into her home. This is what I love about my brother and sister-in-law. They welcome friends and family into their home with grace, laughter and love. My brother had met my friend once before about 10 years or so ago. My sister-in-law had never met my friend but that didn't matter. Her arms were open wide to receive us with all our belongings. Due to my brother's work schedule, we didn't see him when we arrived. Regardless of this ,my sister-in-law took us downstairs where we enjoyed some snacks, water and getting to know each other. The television was on as we started watching an old movie with Errol Flynn and Maureen O'Hara. I was so tired, I don't even remember the name of the movie! And you know what? The movie didn't matter. What sticks in my memory is the warmth and love of friendship and family. As my friend and I were quite tired (I was nodding off during the conversation and movie watching), we retired to our beds earlier than I normally would.
Saturday morning dawned nice and bright. We three women again enjoyed each others' company as we had our cups of tea and coffee and then breakfast. My friend and I then enjoyed a leisurely walk with Maxi around the neighbourhood. We heard the birds singing, saw lots of other people walking or jogging with their dogs and children playing at the local playground. All the happy sounds and bird songs made for a very relaxing start to the day. Unfortunately, there was a phone call from my mom with some sad news. A good family friend had passed on in the night from a heart attack. Outwardly, I continued on but inwardly, my heart was burdened. This family friend was a man of great faith and I have no doubt that he is with his Saviour. He is also reunited with his own parents and his daughter who tragically died many years ago when she was in her early twenties. My heart has been aching for his widow although she will also be comforted with her own faith in Jesus. My prayers continue to be with this family. As I said, outwardly I continued on with my day. My friend and I drove to Stratford for the matinee showing of "King Lear" starring Colm Feore as King Lear. As we arrived at the Festival Theatre with time to spare, we enjoyed a stroll alongside the Avon River and over the pedestrian bridge to the island and back. We thoroughly enjoyed our time together and the show was spectacular. The time passed very quickly. Then we hopped in the car and drove downtown to the Avon Theatre where we found parking. A quick walk of a block or so and we were at our dinner destination which was The Annex Room. I loved how our day was entwined with threads of affection, friendship and appreciation of the "finer things in life". We enjoyed lots of conversation and laughter as we dined on some fabulous food. Within, I had decided that I would not have dessert. But....when the dessert options were listed from memory by our friendly waiter, I could not pass up my favourite dessert of crème brulee. I have not found one that comes close to the crème brulee offered up at Chez Piggy but at The Annex Room it was just as good. This is a huge compliment! My friend and I enjoyed our desserts (she had a trio of sorbets) along with cups of peppermint tea. We did not feel rushed but our waiter was certainly unobtrusively attentive. After our dinner, we made our way to the Avon Theatre. We still had time so we browsed through the Theatre Store. Then off we went to see "Man of La Mancha". Again, it was a tremendous show. Just before the first act ended, there was a scene that was so intense, it shot like an arrow right through to my core. I felt anxiety, fear, and worry about the female lead. What a well done job of acting and choreography. As the lights went to black and then the house lights came up for intermission, I felt very unsettled. I truly believe it is a true compliment to all who work on the or in the show that I would feel so deeply.
My friend and I were both weary and tired by the end of the day. Thank goodness, my brother's home was only a 30 minute drive away. As we drove down the highway through a rural area, we could see an orange glow to the right. Oh no....this is never a good thing to see in the country! My heart plummeted. Then I remembered that we had seen a controlled brush fire on the way to the Stratford Festival earlier in the day. I've watched the internet for new regarding a barn fire but there's been nothing. I hope it was only the brush fire which had raged out of control. As we drove by, I could see the silhouette of the barn back lit by the flames. There were fire trucks and personnel there battling the flames. My friend was driving, so I was able to see all this in an instant as we drove by. We arrived at my brother's home and again we were welcome with open arms, warm love and the excited wagging of Maxi's tail. My brother was awake and it was the first time we saw him. My friend had a cup of peppermint tea and I shared a glass of red wine with my brother and sister-in-law. It was an emotional day and I was glad it had started with the love of family and friends and then ended with the same positive warmth of love.
Yesterday, we all had a leisurely start to the morning. As we all arose at various times, we congregated on my brother's deck. It is a wonderful oasis of shade, birds and privacy. As we sat around my brother's patio table, we sipped on coffee and tea as well as just chattered and enjoyed some more warm fellowship. At one point, there was a chickadee hopping around the railing of the deck as we sat and admired him (or her?). Next we were visited by various sparrows. Nearby in the the neighbour's tree, a cardinal sang with a clear beautiful voice. We then decided to rouse ourselves from this beautiful location and go out for breakfast where we enjoyed more laughter and conversation. The kernel of the idea of celebrating our birthdays by visiting the Stratford Festival, grew and popped into a full fluffy popcorn filled with love, appreciation and so much more than "just" going to a play or two.
My friend and I drove home feeling weary but I was filled with an inner joy and was sad to see the adventure end. However, now I will be looking forward to the next adventure on the road of life.
Tuesday, 17 June 2014
"Companions on the Road"
My church has a theme this month called "Companions on the Road". For me this has so many meanings! Of course, there is the physical companions of family, friends and pets who always are there during our times of darkness and brightness, grieving and celebration. As I thought about this, I realized that my memories and the essences of my deceased family members and childhood friends who I've lost contact with are always companions with me as I travel this journey through life. Whenever I bake a pie, I truly feel my grandmother's presence as I mix the dough and work it. I used to watch her when I was a child and she would get working the dough with her hands in her metal enamel-lined bowl. Her essence travels beside me as I'm an adult and she is physically long gone from this world. But as I work the pastry dough, she's there beside me, travelling with me.
I don't know if it is turning 50 this year, but I am missing my dad more than ever. He died of lung cancer when I was 26. I find his memory is at the fore of my thoughts as I go through each day. Of course this happens every year on Father's Day but this year, my dad's essence has been with me constantly since just before the anniversary date of his death. He's walking beside me and I am not alone. Perhaps this is also God's way of reminding me that I am never alone.
I know that it is much easier to "feel" God's presence when I've had the rough times in life. But when life is going along with no particular bumps in the road, I find it more difficult to keep God close. That's when I tend to take God for granted. Just like we do our friends and acquaintances. As I ponder why I'm being inundated with memories of friends from long ago, I realize that it may be because of the two anniversaries that I went to in April. One for my Senior Public School and one for my church. Again, I have "companions on the road" in the form of memories of a former ministers and even student ministers who obviously impacted me as I remember them many, many years later and wonder where they are now or are they even still alive. Again, various companions that walked physically with me over the years and who may not even know how their lives intersecting with mine made such an impact. Likewise, I've been remembering friends from my childhood. I have reconnected with a high school friend in January and we keep in touch sporadically via email. I also reconnected with another childhood friend from church in April. I need to call her! Just this week, I found another childhood friend who I haven't seen in 20 years! We will be starting to reconnect through email. These are all friends and people that I have fondly thought of over the years and wondered how we grew apart and lost touch. Companions. The warmth of friends, family and people we have known over the years is such a gift.
As we travel through life, we collect "things" and we work hard to afford "things". In the process, we get caught up in working that we forget the importance and warmth of the intangible "things". A life altering experience, such as illness or the death of a loved one, can make you change the priorities. I find that now my focus is on maintaining relationships and enjoying each minute of my journey on this earth. My challenge is to spend time with all my friends and family either in person or via the internet and spend time enjoying this beautiful planet that we live on. Companions on the road. I certainly enjoy this phrase literally with my husband and our friends that have motorcycles. It is exciting to ride on the back and smell the fresh rain, the fishy smell as we pass by a lake, the smell of fresh cut hay in the country or the smell of somebody barbecuing their dinner as we ride by.
I think that God has provided us with memories and opportunities to meet people so that we have constant companions on our road through life. Sometimes these companions are there for just a short time such as the lady that I met on our street when we first moved into our neighbourhood 13 years ago. She invited my children and me to go for walks with her and her children. She showed me around the neighbourhood. She showed me where the library was. She showed me the shortcuts to take to get to the mall. She showed me the various parks and playgrounds for the children. Then she moved away. She was my companion on my road which led to a new place where I'd never been. I truly felt like God provided an opportunity for me. I could choose to take it or ignore it. In accepting an invitation to go for walks, I had a companion who assisted me on my own road of transition.
Do you have any "companions on the road" from your past who helped you then and maybe inadvertently help you now?
I don't know if it is turning 50 this year, but I am missing my dad more than ever. He died of lung cancer when I was 26. I find his memory is at the fore of my thoughts as I go through each day. Of course this happens every year on Father's Day but this year, my dad's essence has been with me constantly since just before the anniversary date of his death. He's walking beside me and I am not alone. Perhaps this is also God's way of reminding me that I am never alone.
I know that it is much easier to "feel" God's presence when I've had the rough times in life. But when life is going along with no particular bumps in the road, I find it more difficult to keep God close. That's when I tend to take God for granted. Just like we do our friends and acquaintances. As I ponder why I'm being inundated with memories of friends from long ago, I realize that it may be because of the two anniversaries that I went to in April. One for my Senior Public School and one for my church. Again, I have "companions on the road" in the form of memories of a former ministers and even student ministers who obviously impacted me as I remember them many, many years later and wonder where they are now or are they even still alive. Again, various companions that walked physically with me over the years and who may not even know how their lives intersecting with mine made such an impact. Likewise, I've been remembering friends from my childhood. I have reconnected with a high school friend in January and we keep in touch sporadically via email. I also reconnected with another childhood friend from church in April. I need to call her! Just this week, I found another childhood friend who I haven't seen in 20 years! We will be starting to reconnect through email. These are all friends and people that I have fondly thought of over the years and wondered how we grew apart and lost touch. Companions. The warmth of friends, family and people we have known over the years is such a gift.
As we travel through life, we collect "things" and we work hard to afford "things". In the process, we get caught up in working that we forget the importance and warmth of the intangible "things". A life altering experience, such as illness or the death of a loved one, can make you change the priorities. I find that now my focus is on maintaining relationships and enjoying each minute of my journey on this earth. My challenge is to spend time with all my friends and family either in person or via the internet and spend time enjoying this beautiful planet that we live on. Companions on the road. I certainly enjoy this phrase literally with my husband and our friends that have motorcycles. It is exciting to ride on the back and smell the fresh rain, the fishy smell as we pass by a lake, the smell of fresh cut hay in the country or the smell of somebody barbecuing their dinner as we ride by.
I think that God has provided us with memories and opportunities to meet people so that we have constant companions on our road through life. Sometimes these companions are there for just a short time such as the lady that I met on our street when we first moved into our neighbourhood 13 years ago. She invited my children and me to go for walks with her and her children. She showed me around the neighbourhood. She showed me where the library was. She showed me the shortcuts to take to get to the mall. She showed me the various parks and playgrounds for the children. Then she moved away. She was my companion on my road which led to a new place where I'd never been. I truly felt like God provided an opportunity for me. I could choose to take it or ignore it. In accepting an invitation to go for walks, I had a companion who assisted me on my own road of transition.
Do you have any "companions on the road" from your past who helped you then and maybe inadvertently help you now?
Monday, 26 May 2014
Celebrations!!
What a fantastic, full week it's been! It all started off with Mother's Day on May 11 which was my last post. Then I went to the Cancer Centre for my 6 month check up. Great news!!! I've graduated to check ups once a year now. That was on May 14. The next day, my husband took me on a holiday to Las Vegas to celebrate my 50th birthday! I am not bothered by the number at all. I am so happy that I've reached this age. That I survived! That I can continue to live life to the absolute fullest! So off to Vegas we flew. Now you must know by now from following my blog that I am at peace and feel as one with nature when I am surrounded by the soothing quiet of birds, water and nature. My husband planned this trip along with our friends from around the corner. Her birthday is five days before mine. We celebrated our milestone birthdays together in Las Vegas. We met up with them there. In my mind, I was celebrating my continued good health as well as my birthday.
We arrived Thursday and got settled in. We stayed at the Flamingo Hotel. That night we went on the newest attraction in Las Vegas which is a huge ferris wheel called The High Roller. Instead of seats, it has pods that are enclosed in Plexiglas and can hold up to 40 people. The pods move very slowly. From the ground when you look up at the top of The High Roller it looks like it isn't even moving. But when you look at the pods closest to the ground, you can see them moving slowly. Anyway, what a view of the Las Vegas strip!!! From the top, you could see all the hotels and all the lights of the strip. It was breath taking!! On Friday, we met our friends for breakfast at the restaurant in the Flamingo. This would become our habit as the food was very good and satisfying. We had a quiet afternoon wandering the strip and playing some slots. Then off we went to get ready for our birthday dinner at the Homestead Steakhouse in Caesar's Palace. I normally wear jeans or pants but for this celebration I had decided back at home that I was going to get "dressed up". So I wore a long skirt (that can handle the wrinkles from packing and not show them) along with a short sleeved jacket over a tank top. I felt wonderful!! The dinner was fantastic! After our dinner, we made our way to Fremont Street. The last time I was there, it was overly crowded and I had a bad experience. I'm sure I blogged about it in August of 2012. Anyway, on Friday night it was a much different experience and I fully enjoyed it. There were buskers and outdoor band concerts. My husband bought me and my friend gold bottles full of an alcoholic slushy. It was very good on a warm night. We thought it was fitting that the gold bottle fit our 50th birthday celebration. I think I made it back to my hotel room at 1 a.m. where I fell into bed exhausted. Only to be suddenly wakened by a loud fire alarm! What a rude awakening!! Thank goodness it was a false alarm. Saturday was spent wandering the strip as we went in and out of the various hotels and shops. Saturday night, we went to see Rod Stewart at The Colliseum in Caesar's Palace. What a great show he put on! We were pleasantly surprised considering he is 69 years young.
Sunday (the 18th) we went on a bus tour to the Hoover Dam and the south rim of The Grand Canyon. For me this was a highlight of the trip! My husband and I decided to take the option of being dropped off at Mather's Point and we walked the 1 1/2 hour trip to Bright Angle Lodge where we met the bus to come back to Vegas. I took tons of pictures in an effort to capture the magnificence of the view. I never felt so close to God! I will always cherish these memories of my visit to The Grand Canyon. It was a long day as the shuttle to the bus picked us up at our hotel at 6:30 a.m. and then we were dropped off at 9:45 p.m. I must say it was fantastic to see The Hoover Dam all lit up at night as we returned to Las Vegas.
On Monday, we visited The Bellagio Hotel and saw an amazing conservatory within the hotel that was full of flowers, ponds, and birds. There was also a chocolate shop with a huge chocolate fountain that was at least 2 stories tall. Monday night, we went for dinner at the Las Vegas Hotel (LVH) for dinner at Benihana and then we went to a musical called "Raiding The Rock Vault". It was again a wonderful evening of food, entertainment and friendship as we shared this event with our friends. We all really enjoyed the dinner and show at a very affordable $90 which included the dinner and show.
Our friends left on Tuesday. My husband and I wandered The Miracle Mile Shops associate with Bally's Hotel. Amazingly, with visiting and looking at all the stores, I didn't buy anything! I was looking for some jewelry but nothing jumped out at me. Tuesday evening, we went to Harrah's for dinner at Toby Keith's I Love This Bar. After dinner we went to the show at Harrah's called "Defending The Caveman". This was a hilarious one-man comedic play. If ever you get to Las Vegas, you need to see this reasonably priced show. It talks about and explains the differences between men and women and why we aren't the same. My husband and I laughed quite hard.
We came home on Wednesday (21st). Our children met us to take us home from Toronto and when they saw me, they ran and gave me a huge hug at the same time. I felt so cherished and loved especially because our children are teenagers and young adults. It really warmed my heart. Our celebrations were not finished. My husband surprised me with a dinner out with the family on Saturday night at one of my favourite restaurants. It was an evening full of laughter and good food.
As I transition into being a parent of adults, I had my first instance of a shared story from my children that I knew nothing about. Apparently when they were much younger, my son had some fun with his little sister by convincing her that there were fresh water sharks in the lake near our home. This now explains why she was afraid to go swimming! We all roared with laughter.
So life is great and full of blessings which are reasons to celebrate. Bring on life to the fullest!
We arrived Thursday and got settled in. We stayed at the Flamingo Hotel. That night we went on the newest attraction in Las Vegas which is a huge ferris wheel called The High Roller. Instead of seats, it has pods that are enclosed in Plexiglas and can hold up to 40 people. The pods move very slowly. From the ground when you look up at the top of The High Roller it looks like it isn't even moving. But when you look at the pods closest to the ground, you can see them moving slowly. Anyway, what a view of the Las Vegas strip!!! From the top, you could see all the hotels and all the lights of the strip. It was breath taking!! On Friday, we met our friends for breakfast at the restaurant in the Flamingo. This would become our habit as the food was very good and satisfying. We had a quiet afternoon wandering the strip and playing some slots. Then off we went to get ready for our birthday dinner at the Homestead Steakhouse in Caesar's Palace. I normally wear jeans or pants but for this celebration I had decided back at home that I was going to get "dressed up". So I wore a long skirt (that can handle the wrinkles from packing and not show them) along with a short sleeved jacket over a tank top. I felt wonderful!! The dinner was fantastic! After our dinner, we made our way to Fremont Street. The last time I was there, it was overly crowded and I had a bad experience. I'm sure I blogged about it in August of 2012. Anyway, on Friday night it was a much different experience and I fully enjoyed it. There were buskers and outdoor band concerts. My husband bought me and my friend gold bottles full of an alcoholic slushy. It was very good on a warm night. We thought it was fitting that the gold bottle fit our 50th birthday celebration. I think I made it back to my hotel room at 1 a.m. where I fell into bed exhausted. Only to be suddenly wakened by a loud fire alarm! What a rude awakening!! Thank goodness it was a false alarm. Saturday was spent wandering the strip as we went in and out of the various hotels and shops. Saturday night, we went to see Rod Stewart at The Colliseum in Caesar's Palace. What a great show he put on! We were pleasantly surprised considering he is 69 years young.
Sunday (the 18th) we went on a bus tour to the Hoover Dam and the south rim of The Grand Canyon. For me this was a highlight of the trip! My husband and I decided to take the option of being dropped off at Mather's Point and we walked the 1 1/2 hour trip to Bright Angle Lodge where we met the bus to come back to Vegas. I took tons of pictures in an effort to capture the magnificence of the view. I never felt so close to God! I will always cherish these memories of my visit to The Grand Canyon. It was a long day as the shuttle to the bus picked us up at our hotel at 6:30 a.m. and then we were dropped off at 9:45 p.m. I must say it was fantastic to see The Hoover Dam all lit up at night as we returned to Las Vegas.
On Monday, we visited The Bellagio Hotel and saw an amazing conservatory within the hotel that was full of flowers, ponds, and birds. There was also a chocolate shop with a huge chocolate fountain that was at least 2 stories tall. Monday night, we went for dinner at the Las Vegas Hotel (LVH) for dinner at Benihana and then we went to a musical called "Raiding The Rock Vault". It was again a wonderful evening of food, entertainment and friendship as we shared this event with our friends. We all really enjoyed the dinner and show at a very affordable $90 which included the dinner and show.
Our friends left on Tuesday. My husband and I wandered The Miracle Mile Shops associate with Bally's Hotel. Amazingly, with visiting and looking at all the stores, I didn't buy anything! I was looking for some jewelry but nothing jumped out at me. Tuesday evening, we went to Harrah's for dinner at Toby Keith's I Love This Bar. After dinner we went to the show at Harrah's called "Defending The Caveman". This was a hilarious one-man comedic play. If ever you get to Las Vegas, you need to see this reasonably priced show. It talks about and explains the differences between men and women and why we aren't the same. My husband and I laughed quite hard.
We came home on Wednesday (21st). Our children met us to take us home from Toronto and when they saw me, they ran and gave me a huge hug at the same time. I felt so cherished and loved especially because our children are teenagers and young adults. It really warmed my heart. Our celebrations were not finished. My husband surprised me with a dinner out with the family on Saturday night at one of my favourite restaurants. It was an evening full of laughter and good food.
As I transition into being a parent of adults, I had my first instance of a shared story from my children that I knew nothing about. Apparently when they were much younger, my son had some fun with his little sister by convincing her that there were fresh water sharks in the lake near our home. This now explains why she was afraid to go swimming! We all roared with laughter.
So life is great and full of blessings which are reasons to celebrate. Bring on life to the fullest!
Tuesday, 13 May 2014
Mother's Day Weekend 2014
I had a wonderful Mother's Day Weekend. My daughter has been busy in the last 2 weeks working backstage and preparing props for their high school musical "Grease". This is one of my favourite musicals. I have a "Grease" music book for piano which I bought when the film version with Olivia Newton John and John Travolta had first been released way back. My daughter found the book which had long ago fallen apart and I had it rebound in a spiral binding. I've been listening to her play the piano which fills my heart with joy. So on Friday night, my husband and I went to the school for one of the performances. Despite the uncomfortable folding chairs, I really enjoyed the performance. My daughter's role was one of being backstage. The actors performed very well. Their singing voices and acting were amazing. Not just teenage acting but there were several people who's charisma resonated out through the audience. There was some very fine acting and singing. Not forced singing or straying off key but legitimate fine vocal performances. During the intermission, my husband bought me some carnations for Mother's Day which were being sold as a fundraiser for Multiple Sclerosis. At the end of the show, I was wishing I had something to give my daughter in appreciation for her role in the production. I gave her my carnations. She was so appreciative and then generously gave one of them to her best friend who was also working backstage. That was Friday night.
On Saturday, my church was holding a Mother's Day Tea and Silent Auction. I had not signed up to volunteer at this event because I had thought I was going to be driving my daughter to an appointment during that time. She announced on Friday night that she changed the appointment to another day. This meant we could attend the Mother's Day Tea. After a leisurely morning spent enjoying some coffee and breakfast on the patio while I watched the birds and squirrels play in the yard, my daughter, my son, my husband and I set off for the church. What a transformation the organizer achieved at the church!! We walked in and there were 15 card tables set up covered by lace and embroidered table cloths. There was a fountain surrounded by flowers in the middle of the space. At the entrance where tickets were being purchased and collected, there was a dispenser of limeade along with a tray of tiny shortbread discs. We were all offered a little drink and biscuit as we found a table. On the table was a plate of fancy finger sandwiches which reminded me of my grandmother as she used to make these in support of her local Women's Institute group. We sat down and a server (volunteer from the church) came and asked us if we wanted orange pekoe or flavoured tea. As a family, we chose the orange pekoe tea. The server went away and we listened to students performing on the piano as nice background music to this beautiful atmosphere. Our server came back with a pot of tea for our table. She announced that spring salads would be forthcoming and we were to help ourselves to the enjoyment of the sandwiches. What a really nice time I had with my family sitting, chatting and laughing together. This doesn't happen often as our children are their own individuals with work schedules and busy social calendars. The salads came and were thoroughly enjoyed. After finishing her salad, my daughter waited for me to finish savouring my own salad and then asked if I would go and browse through the silent auction items with her. We left my son and husband visiting with each other and off we went. I know this is a small thing but it was one of those moments that creates wonderful, warm memories to hold us through the trials and cold moments of raising children. I thoroughly enjoyed my time with my daughter. When we came back to our table, my son asked if I would go up with him to look at the silent auction items. Off I went with my grown son while in the background the soft piano music continued to play such soothing songs. If I had a film version of this Mother's Day tea, it would be softly muted with filters but very bright and cheery. This is how I remember my time at the tea. My son saw an electric tea kettle at the silent auction and shyly asked if I would put a bid on it as he could use it in his first apartment in September. I ended up not wining any of the bids but that was OK. This was fundraiser for the church but more importantly for me, it was a time to reconnect with my family. After the tea, we went home and my daughter went to play "Grease" music on the piano. A little while later she asked me to play some of the music for her. This then led to us playing some piano duets together. What a balm and joy to my aching heart!! My heart is still full a number of days later as I write this. The best moments in time do not require money to be spent. Just time spent enjoying each other doing something that we both enjoy is enough. That was my Saturday and what a gift it was!
On Sunday which was Mother's Day, I awoke early and put on the coffee, emptied the dishwasher, put on a load of laundry and had a bowl of cereal so I could be ready for church. I then went out to the patio to enjoy the warmth of the bright sun and watch the birds. My husband, knowing I like to listen to Jigs and Reels with Danielle Butt on OZFM on Sunday mornings, brought out his IPad and tuned it in for me. I hung up the laundry to dry outside and when it was time, I went off to church. When I came home, my husband had a very nice lunch ready for me with soup, sandwiches and homemade rhubarb punch. We ate and my children gave me a very sentimental Mother's Day card with their own additions. Their own sentiments touched and added to my already overflowing full heart. Needless to say, when this happens my eyes fill with tears that slowly overflow and roll down my cheeks. It was a wonderful gift! Due to the busy week of rehearsals, performances and then a late-night cast/crew party, we excused my daughter from the next planned activity. My son and husband took me golfing on a local Par 3 course. I've had one golf lesson so far this year. I had a great afternoon playing golf. In the past, I could always throw the ball farther and straighter than I could hit it. In the past, it was the norm for me to have holes where it would take me 10 to 15 shots to get the little white ball in the hole. With just one lesson, I was able to keep up with my husband and son until I started to tire at the last few holes where once again I was back into the double digits. I don't remember my score, but I do remember enjoying the warmth of the sun, the camaraderie between us, the birds and the sound of the running water as the little river was full. My Mother's Day ended with my husband making me a prime rib dinner complete with Yorkshire pudding. He even made a rhubarb lunar cake for the dessert.
This past Mother's Day weekend has provided me with many warm memories and moments worth hanging onto. I will pull the memories out during difficult times like little precious gems. At those times, I will handle them like rolling smooth stones in my hand. I will admire the memories just like admiring those smooth stones. Then I will tuck the memories back into my heart for the next time I want to cherish them. I truly am blessed!
On Saturday, my church was holding a Mother's Day Tea and Silent Auction. I had not signed up to volunteer at this event because I had thought I was going to be driving my daughter to an appointment during that time. She announced on Friday night that she changed the appointment to another day. This meant we could attend the Mother's Day Tea. After a leisurely morning spent enjoying some coffee and breakfast on the patio while I watched the birds and squirrels play in the yard, my daughter, my son, my husband and I set off for the church. What a transformation the organizer achieved at the church!! We walked in and there were 15 card tables set up covered by lace and embroidered table cloths. There was a fountain surrounded by flowers in the middle of the space. At the entrance where tickets were being purchased and collected, there was a dispenser of limeade along with a tray of tiny shortbread discs. We were all offered a little drink and biscuit as we found a table. On the table was a plate of fancy finger sandwiches which reminded me of my grandmother as she used to make these in support of her local Women's Institute group. We sat down and a server (volunteer from the church) came and asked us if we wanted orange pekoe or flavoured tea. As a family, we chose the orange pekoe tea. The server went away and we listened to students performing on the piano as nice background music to this beautiful atmosphere. Our server came back with a pot of tea for our table. She announced that spring salads would be forthcoming and we were to help ourselves to the enjoyment of the sandwiches. What a really nice time I had with my family sitting, chatting and laughing together. This doesn't happen often as our children are their own individuals with work schedules and busy social calendars. The salads came and were thoroughly enjoyed. After finishing her salad, my daughter waited for me to finish savouring my own salad and then asked if I would go and browse through the silent auction items with her. We left my son and husband visiting with each other and off we went. I know this is a small thing but it was one of those moments that creates wonderful, warm memories to hold us through the trials and cold moments of raising children. I thoroughly enjoyed my time with my daughter. When we came back to our table, my son asked if I would go up with him to look at the silent auction items. Off I went with my grown son while in the background the soft piano music continued to play such soothing songs. If I had a film version of this Mother's Day tea, it would be softly muted with filters but very bright and cheery. This is how I remember my time at the tea. My son saw an electric tea kettle at the silent auction and shyly asked if I would put a bid on it as he could use it in his first apartment in September. I ended up not wining any of the bids but that was OK. This was fundraiser for the church but more importantly for me, it was a time to reconnect with my family. After the tea, we went home and my daughter went to play "Grease" music on the piano. A little while later she asked me to play some of the music for her. This then led to us playing some piano duets together. What a balm and joy to my aching heart!! My heart is still full a number of days later as I write this. The best moments in time do not require money to be spent. Just time spent enjoying each other doing something that we both enjoy is enough. That was my Saturday and what a gift it was!
On Sunday which was Mother's Day, I awoke early and put on the coffee, emptied the dishwasher, put on a load of laundry and had a bowl of cereal so I could be ready for church. I then went out to the patio to enjoy the warmth of the bright sun and watch the birds. My husband, knowing I like to listen to Jigs and Reels with Danielle Butt on OZFM on Sunday mornings, brought out his IPad and tuned it in for me. I hung up the laundry to dry outside and when it was time, I went off to church. When I came home, my husband had a very nice lunch ready for me with soup, sandwiches and homemade rhubarb punch. We ate and my children gave me a very sentimental Mother's Day card with their own additions. Their own sentiments touched and added to my already overflowing full heart. Needless to say, when this happens my eyes fill with tears that slowly overflow and roll down my cheeks. It was a wonderful gift! Due to the busy week of rehearsals, performances and then a late-night cast/crew party, we excused my daughter from the next planned activity. My son and husband took me golfing on a local Par 3 course. I've had one golf lesson so far this year. I had a great afternoon playing golf. In the past, I could always throw the ball farther and straighter than I could hit it. In the past, it was the norm for me to have holes where it would take me 10 to 15 shots to get the little white ball in the hole. With just one lesson, I was able to keep up with my husband and son until I started to tire at the last few holes where once again I was back into the double digits. I don't remember my score, but I do remember enjoying the warmth of the sun, the camaraderie between us, the birds and the sound of the running water as the little river was full. My Mother's Day ended with my husband making me a prime rib dinner complete with Yorkshire pudding. He even made a rhubarb lunar cake for the dessert.
This past Mother's Day weekend has provided me with many warm memories and moments worth hanging onto. I will pull the memories out during difficult times like little precious gems. At those times, I will handle them like rolling smooth stones in my hand. I will admire the memories just like admiring those smooth stones. Then I will tuck the memories back into my heart for the next time I want to cherish them. I truly am blessed!
Tuesday, 29 April 2014
Blessings are the Clouds' Silver Linings
I can't believe a month has elapsed since I last posted!! Where did the time go? It's been a month of warm blessings and challenging times. On April 5, my senior public school held their 50th Anniversary. I attended with my husband and my brother and sister-in-law. What a wonderful weekend this was!! I saw old pictures from almost 40 years ago! I saw acquaintances and friends that I had lost contact with. It was absolutely wonderful to meet up with an old friend that I hadn't seen since 1989!! We had lost contact with each other and to meet up again was such a source of warmth and love! We've exchanged contact information and I'm hopeful that we will be able to stay connected over the miles. It was a great day which brought back many memories. The school hadn't really changed over the years and it didn't take long for me to find my bearings and remember the classrooms that were mine in those 2 years of Grades 7 and 8. I even found a room that had the attendance records all the way from the beginning! What a treasured visit this was. After open house at the school, we went to a local restaurant for more connecting over dinner. It was a fabulous day and as always, I had the warmth of my brother and sister-in-law's love as we stayed at their home.
The day after the school reunion, we went to visit my mom. We started going through old toys and books in her basement. What treasures we found! I found a Children's Prayer Book that was given to me for Christmas from the church Sunday School in 1967! My mom then mentioned that the church was celebrating it 60th Anniversary on April 27. Hmmmm....I had just enjoyed a warm and fuzzy day at my old school, why not make the trek to Kitchener again for my childhood church's anniversary!
Of course, in between these events there was the Easter too. My son came home from university for Easter but had to return to his school for one last exam before coming home for the summer. We enjoyed our Easter weekend with him and I was able to fuss and create a feast for 4 our Easter dinner. He did return to school, wrote his exam and he is now back at home for the summer. I am enjoying having my whole family under one roof again.
As the title of this post suggests, there have been some very challenging times in April as well. My health is still really good. The challenging times have been difficult. Sometimes, I've been questioning God on why. Why can't I have some long term peace in my home and around me?! I've met the challenge of cancer and still relied on You. I've continued my daily prayers and enjoyed the warmth of knowing You. I've continued to praise, worship and be thankful for this world around me. Why do You still send me so many challenges?! As I've asked these questions of God, I've also realized that throughout these challenges my family is there beside me. I am still surrounded by not only God's love but the love of family and friends. These are the silver linings of the clouds or storms in my life at the moment. And....not only have I been faced with some major challenges, but God has also given me many blessings.
Twice now, in April, my husband and I have gone for some motorcycle escapes in the surrounding areas. They've been great fun and another way to enjoy God's world. We were driving on a back county road when I heard a waterfall. Over to my left was a huge waterfall pouring down the rock face beside the road on my left. All the snow melt was causing this rush of water. It was beautiful!
This past weekend was the church anniversary. I made the trek to Kitchener on my own as my son was helping a friend move from her apartment, my daughter was working and my husband was supervising the home front. Once I had heard about the church anniversary, I had made contact with a lady that I used to sing in the church choir with. I made arrangements for my sister and me to sing in the choir for the Anniversary service. In that process, I was asked to provide some memories of my time at the church which I would present during the luncheon after the church service. I agreed but then in the midst of the busyness of life, I forgot. On Saturday night, I was at my brother's home and the phone rang. It was the lady from the choir asking about my participation in the memory portion of the day. OOPS!!!! I had forgotten! I agreed to do it and then promptly got a piece of paper from my brother so that I could write down some key points to jog my memory. I have forgotten to mention too, that when I had been home and going through my mom's basement, I had come across an old mobile that she had hanging there. It was a mobile I had made when I was a child of 6 or 7 (I think). My memory isn't that clear of the age. Anyway, the Anniversary service was very special as my sister and I sang in the choir just like we did as teenagers. There were a few choir members from those years and we met many new choir members who opened their ranks and allowed us to join in. The anthem and the hymns spoke to my heart! I felt the warmth of the Holy Spirit as I sang. As I looked out over the congregation, I recognized people from my childhood. What a special day it was! My mom, my siblings and their families took up a whole pew. It was so nice to be together for the day. After the service, there was the luncheon and then the sharing of memories. I made sure that I ended my contribution with heartfelt thanks for the support of my church family from afar when they sent me the prayer shawl while I was going through chemotherapy. The church building has been there for 60 years, but the church is more than just the physical building. The church really is the caring human beings who taught me that the building is God's house and as such we can laugh, cry, grieve, disagree and learn that it's OK to agree to disagree and move on in love just like we do in our friends' and families' homes. My childhood church truly did give me that foundation that God likes to hear us laugh in His home. God is very much willing to comfort us as we grieve and cry in Her home.
My challenges are still very much here but the silver linings of these storms are definitely the blessings of reconnecting with old friends and having the support of my extended family and church families. Despite the current storms, life continues to be great! I pray each day that God will see me through these challenges.
As I write this, I am also getting ready for a fundraiser this weekend for my Relay For Life team. Each year it is harder and harder to raise the funds. The first year as I entered the team while I was still in chemotherapy and many friends and family donated. As I remain in remission and the duration since my illness lengthens, it is more difficult to reach the same monetary goal that was reached in that first year. I would ask that you please consider donating using the following link to help us reach our goal. The money goes towards research which gives more people fighting cancer the opportunity to beat this terrible disease. The money raised also helps run support programs for cancer patients and their caregivers. The link is as follows: http://convio.cancer.ca/site/TR?pg=team&fr_id=14852&team_id=308559
The day after the school reunion, we went to visit my mom. We started going through old toys and books in her basement. What treasures we found! I found a Children's Prayer Book that was given to me for Christmas from the church Sunday School in 1967! My mom then mentioned that the church was celebrating it 60th Anniversary on April 27. Hmmmm....I had just enjoyed a warm and fuzzy day at my old school, why not make the trek to Kitchener again for my childhood church's anniversary!
Of course, in between these events there was the Easter too. My son came home from university for Easter but had to return to his school for one last exam before coming home for the summer. We enjoyed our Easter weekend with him and I was able to fuss and create a feast for 4 our Easter dinner. He did return to school, wrote his exam and he is now back at home for the summer. I am enjoying having my whole family under one roof again.
As the title of this post suggests, there have been some very challenging times in April as well. My health is still really good. The challenging times have been difficult. Sometimes, I've been questioning God on why. Why can't I have some long term peace in my home and around me?! I've met the challenge of cancer and still relied on You. I've continued my daily prayers and enjoyed the warmth of knowing You. I've continued to praise, worship and be thankful for this world around me. Why do You still send me so many challenges?! As I've asked these questions of God, I've also realized that throughout these challenges my family is there beside me. I am still surrounded by not only God's love but the love of family and friends. These are the silver linings of the clouds or storms in my life at the moment. And....not only have I been faced with some major challenges, but God has also given me many blessings.
Twice now, in April, my husband and I have gone for some motorcycle escapes in the surrounding areas. They've been great fun and another way to enjoy God's world. We were driving on a back county road when I heard a waterfall. Over to my left was a huge waterfall pouring down the rock face beside the road on my left. All the snow melt was causing this rush of water. It was beautiful!
This past weekend was the church anniversary. I made the trek to Kitchener on my own as my son was helping a friend move from her apartment, my daughter was working and my husband was supervising the home front. Once I had heard about the church anniversary, I had made contact with a lady that I used to sing in the church choir with. I made arrangements for my sister and me to sing in the choir for the Anniversary service. In that process, I was asked to provide some memories of my time at the church which I would present during the luncheon after the church service. I agreed but then in the midst of the busyness of life, I forgot. On Saturday night, I was at my brother's home and the phone rang. It was the lady from the choir asking about my participation in the memory portion of the day. OOPS!!!! I had forgotten! I agreed to do it and then promptly got a piece of paper from my brother so that I could write down some key points to jog my memory. I have forgotten to mention too, that when I had been home and going through my mom's basement, I had come across an old mobile that she had hanging there. It was a mobile I had made when I was a child of 6 or 7 (I think). My memory isn't that clear of the age. Anyway, the Anniversary service was very special as my sister and I sang in the choir just like we did as teenagers. There were a few choir members from those years and we met many new choir members who opened their ranks and allowed us to join in. The anthem and the hymns spoke to my heart! I felt the warmth of the Holy Spirit as I sang. As I looked out over the congregation, I recognized people from my childhood. What a special day it was! My mom, my siblings and their families took up a whole pew. It was so nice to be together for the day. After the service, there was the luncheon and then the sharing of memories. I made sure that I ended my contribution with heartfelt thanks for the support of my church family from afar when they sent me the prayer shawl while I was going through chemotherapy. The church building has been there for 60 years, but the church is more than just the physical building. The church really is the caring human beings who taught me that the building is God's house and as such we can laugh, cry, grieve, disagree and learn that it's OK to agree to disagree and move on in love just like we do in our friends' and families' homes. My childhood church truly did give me that foundation that God likes to hear us laugh in His home. God is very much willing to comfort us as we grieve and cry in Her home.
My challenges are still very much here but the silver linings of these storms are definitely the blessings of reconnecting with old friends and having the support of my extended family and church families. Despite the current storms, life continues to be great! I pray each day that God will see me through these challenges.
As I write this, I am also getting ready for a fundraiser this weekend for my Relay For Life team. Each year it is harder and harder to raise the funds. The first year as I entered the team while I was still in chemotherapy and many friends and family donated. As I remain in remission and the duration since my illness lengthens, it is more difficult to reach the same monetary goal that was reached in that first year. I would ask that you please consider donating using the following link to help us reach our goal. The money goes towards research which gives more people fighting cancer the opportunity to beat this terrible disease. The money raised also helps run support programs for cancer patients and their caregivers. The link is as follows: http://convio.cancer.ca/site/TR?pg=team&fr_id=14852&team_id=308559
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