Guess who's turning 21 on Sunday? My baby girl

May 6, 1986, this child all of 9lbs 4oz decided that she was coming into this world on her own terms. I barely made it to the hospital in time! Sarah a very good friend in my life at the time, rushed all the way from Don Mills to go to the hospital with me. She loved kids and she often babysat Robyn and then of course babysat Danielle as well. Within, 4-1/2 hours of the beginning of contractions, Danielle Marie was born at 10:34 am. The doctor and all the nurses that were around at the time kept saying, she is beautiful. What a gorgeous baby! She was, just lying there, looking at everyone with eyes wide open and such beautiful pink skin and was absolutely adorable.

From the very beginning, I knew I had a rascal on my hands! She was always smiling, always laughing, she barely cried. When you would wake up in the morning, you would hear her gooing and mumbling to herself and you would go in and look down in her crib and you would say, "Good Morning", she would grin from ear to ear. She always awakened with the biggest smile on her face and eventually she would be standing and waiting for you to walk in and say "Good Morning, Danielle".

On the many occasions when she started to walk around, she would be up to her mischievious behavior and on one occasion I found her in my bedroom closet fast asleep after opening all the wrapped Christmas presents I had hidden there. She had opened the gifts and was having so much fun playing she fell asleep.
Many times she would have taken the sugar bowl and hid away under her bed so she could eat the sugar. She would also put anything into her hair, her food, baby creams, vaseline, and on one occasion while visiting her Aunt Joanne and her cousins, decided to go exploring and found the Water Paints that Aunt Joanne had put away in her cabinet. Next thing we knew, Joanne and I were having a cup of tea in the kitchen and in walked Ms. Danielle with red paint from head to toe. I was at first shocked but then I couldn't help but laugh. We could only see the whites of her eyes, she was a red head for quite a while. Unfortunately, Aunt Joanne couldn't get the red paint out of her carpet!

Danielle loved to pose for pictures, she was such a happy child with a great personality. She would ask the strangest questions. In this picture, she is the Flower girl for her Uncle's wedding in Halifax and is enjoying every minute of it. Danielle, was always invited out to people's houses for lunch with their kids and wherever she went, people would always say, she is such a sweet girl. She at one time came home from Sunday lunch and we asked her what she had for lunch. She said, Crumbs and other stuff. We said, Crumbs? She said, yes, Crumbs. So Kevin's mom phoned the lady to ask what they had for lunch because she was curious. They had Hashbrowns with their lunch but to Danielle, it was crumbs.

Danielle always excelled at school, and when she started to play trumpet in Grade 7 her natural talent was shining through. Her teacher encouraged her to join a Marching band called the NORTHSTAR Marching Band. Danielle marched in the Calgary Stampede Parade one year and was always chosen from her class for special occasions when they would have students from all over Southern Alberta come together for a few days under a famous conductor and play at the Jubliee or at the University of Calgary. She was always chosen for HONOR Band concerts here in Calgary because she was a great trumpet player and she was committed.

Danielle was always first trumpet and her teacher Mrs. Fossey, really believed in Danielle and saw in Danielle the potential that existed in her natural talent. Danielle still is in touch with Mrs. Fossey today and they would meet for coffee when she came to visit Calgary.

Danielle was always actively involved with volunteering at school with Peer groups and outside school as well. At one point, Danielle was not happy with her Math mark and was going to school by day, working part-time and going to night school to bring her mark up. I felt it was too much for her to take on because she had a lot of travelling to do as well as each place was in different areas of the city. Danielle wanted to SUCCEED and EXCEL and she did.

Whenever I visited "Parent-Teacher" interviews or spoke with people that Danielle was interacting with, her supervisors, or bosses, I usually got the same thing...."Danielle is a very intelligent girl", "she is capable of anything" and she is well liked. She always impressed her teachers and supervisors with her ability to communicate extremely well, her ability to conduct herself as a superior customer service employee and she was able to calm down irrate customers and people. Danielle has quite the ability to debate and was on many debating teams in school.

I think the hardest part sometimes is for us to believe in ourselves and I think with Danielle these days, she is coming into her own and learning about herself. Danielle is making strides in her life to learn who she is and what she wants out of this life. She is moving forward as an adult and living life on her terms. We all have no doubt that Danielle will be successful at whatever she choses to do in her life and we are proud of her!

Danielle always seemed to have a heart for the down-trodden! She would on many occasions call to ask if we could take in some person who was going through great difficulties at home or with their parents divorce or whatever it was because Danielle wanted to save them and help them. We of course could not take in other kids but on one occasion did let one of her friends stay with us for a couple of days because she ran away from home and was going through some physical abuse but her parents knew she was with us. Danielle has always been a very sensitive child with a soft heart and although we did not really notice it until much later because Danielle was always happy, making fun, laughing and making others laugh, we didn't see the full scope of our Danielle. Danielle brought sunshine into our lives the minute she came into this world. We of course did not realize that she held everything inside and did not want to hurt anyone or have her troubles interfere with anyone elses life. She always aimed to please others! Danielle has a great heart which can at times burden her with others problems! She always sees "THE PERSON" in people. When she volunteered at a Mental Heath Institution in Generic Care, she didn't see the person's sickness, she saw the person and I found that to be amazing. Most of us will not feel comfortable around those who are mentally ill and who are hospital bound. Danielle was kind and saw them as people.

We are sorry we won't be there for your birthday this year. 21 is a milestone and it is a "RIGHT OF PASSAGE" to make changes, decisions and move forward as an adult. We want you to know you are dearly loved and cherished and I hope you have a wonderful "21st" birthday. You have a wonderful life ahead of you! We are thinking of you and WE LOVE YOU! See you soon!

MS - Update on my Brother

I spoke with my brother last night and he had endured another treatment on Wednesday. He spent over 61/2 hours in the hospital being poked and prodded before his treatment. I asked him how he was feeling and he said, after travelling into St. John's, 1 hour and 20 minutes, being in the hospital 61/2 hours and then travelling back home 1 hour 20 minutes, he was a bit sluggish! No kidding.

He said he was feeling pretty good and he is not sure if he is getting the treatment or placibo still but we are holding out for the better deal. He said he doesn't feel much different except last time he went through an ordeal of stomach troubles and he did have one incident of passing out but they thought it might have been a drop in blood pressure that caused it. They are working on the stomach troubles as it seems all the medications he has been taking over the years has damaged some of his stomach linings.

He will have to return to St. John's in 3 months to go through the MRI tests and the EKG's and the other work-ups he will need to track this experiment.

He was saying how he came across a few MS patients that were a lot worse than he is and it makes him stop for a minute. It must be trying to look at others and think, I could end up a lot worse than I am but he is holding out hope that the treatments will keep him from getting any worse. This is an experiment and without people taking risks with these experiments we wouldn't end up with new medications and treatments. Unfortunately, some people can die or get worse, we know that prayers have been answered for my brother and we know that God is all powerful. He is in control of every situation and he allows what is necessary for each of us.

If anyone believes in prayer, say a prayer that this treatment will do what it is expected to do and if not, to at least hold him where he is today and not progress into the next stages of MS.

God bless!

TIME is ticking - For Sale, For Sale

We are now in the process of having the painters come by this week to give our place a fresh coat of paint. Our realtor is having someone come by at 8:30 on Saturday morning to professionally measure our home and lot. Things are progressing as we have begun to throw out things we do not need or use and should soon be renting some storage for our belongings as we have to begin more packing and moving.

It's an exciting time but it is also an anxious time. I can't believe we are down to the crunch.

We are hoping to get to Cambridge for Jason's wedding and we are still holding out to go and should know pretty soon if we can manage to go, if not, we will have to miss it due to all of the things on our plate to do, which really sucks. Joanne we have to get together soon!

It's a crazy time and we have such a long list. Everyone keeps asking, so is it on the market yet? It will be, it's coming, hang on!
As soon as we have a fresh coat of paint and our things in place, it will be!

Wish us luck! (and energy)

April 10th, 2007 - OREO's birthday

April 10th was the date we gave Oreo for his birthday. We were never sure of his actual birthday but we knew it was around April.. and so April 10th, was the day we chose for him to recieve his gifts....and special birthday stuff.

It's funny how they say time heals all wounds and you know if you have ever grieved for someone, you know that time does help it to get better but it still hurts at times and we do miss him a great deal but we know he had a good life and we sure enjoyed him being with us.

I miss being able to go out and sit on the deck in the sun and have him come out and sit with me as we watch the birds, his favorite thing to do, and him playing with his toys. He was a wonderful dog. WE miss him a lot but he is gone back to Alberta earth to feed the trees and to help them grow.

Kevin and I miss him so much!
They are such wonderful creatures!

Bad Day - Bad Moments - My BLOG Pity Party

Have you ever been so dissappointed in something that it hurts your heart?

Have you ever believed in something for so long and then find out that it wasn't what you thought or it isn't what you thought it would be only to be so disappointed that you even ask God, How come? I really thought this was okay and it was taken care of.

Have you ever trusted so deeply that you never looked back only to NOW see the road ahead with many new curves and steep hills you didn't expect would be there?

Have you ever sacrificed so much for someone or something that you now find yourself second-guessing your decisions and feeling used?

The majority of my life has been filled with many challenges and difficult times that would make you wonder, GEEZ GOD, can I turn off the SIGN on my head that says PICK ME ????? But the majority of the time, I have worked through them all and seen hope in the future and FORGED AHEAD and stayed positive about what lay ahead, I believed that things would be okay and work out. I believe in people and I also know they can let you down.

Today's blog is my official pity party and then I will get on with things as per normal.

Today I look at things with that hurting eye, that aching heart, the disappointment and wonder why? It's just for a moment. I can't always be up and positive.

I look forward to my new move and changes with hope and faith but now with just a tiny bit of "WHAT IF" which frightens me because I have always taken my challenges one by one by getting knocked down, and I keep getting up, brushing off the dirt and wiping the blood off my face but I KEEP GETTING UP.

I guess that's what a MONKEY WRENCH can do in your life. You go along believing that WOW we are doing okay, life is good, and then a MONKEY WRENCH comes in and just gets caught in the spokes of your wheel and you go flying over the handle-bars. OUCH! That hurts! Where did that come from? Why is this happening? How could I be so trusting and stupid to believe that it was 100% okay.

BUT once again, I say Okay God. This is all yours. This is now in your INBOX and you can take care of it please because, to tell you the truth, I am not sure I have the energy to deal with it anymore. God, can you take this big sack of burden here and can you carry it for me.... thanks. I know you said you would and I have basically been carrying a good portion of it for awhile now...and I need to see the CHIROPRACTOR again. I appreciate it! You said you would never leave nor forsake us and I am trusting in your word.

"For as the rain cometh down, and the snow from heaven, and returneth not thither, but watereth the earth, and maketh it bring forth and bud, that it may give seed to the sower, and bread to the eater: So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it" (Isaiah 55:10, 11).

A STORY

WAS IT THE COFFEE YOU WANTED?

A group of alumni, highly established in their careers, got together to visit their old university professor.

Conversation soon turned into complaints about stress in work and life. Offering his guests coffee, the professor went to the kitchen and returned with a large pot of coffee and an assortment of cups--porcelain, plastic, glass, crystal; some plain looking, some expensive, some exquisite--telling them to help themselves to the coffee.

When all the students had a cup of coffee in hand, the professor said: "If you noticed, all the nice looking expensive cups were taken up, leaving behind the plain and cheap ones. While it is but normal for you to want only the best for yourselves, that is the source of your problems and stress.

"What all of you really wanted was coffee, not the cup, but you consciously went for the best cups and were eyeing each other's cups.

"Now consider this: Life is the coffee, and the jobs, money and position in society are the cups.

They are just tools to hold and contain Life, and do not change the quality of Life. Sometimes, by concentrating only on the cup, we fail to enjoy the coffee God has provided.

"So, don't let the cups drive you .... enjoy the coffee instead."