I wonder Where My Halo Went . . .get the super glue

What is IMPORTANT?

2008-07-21T14:12:00.002-02:30

Sometimes I find myself going over many things in my mind. Past experiences, Past people who have entered and exited. Past hurts and such.

I began to realize that I draw what I think to me.

I am starting a new page in my life. I will begin to make a habit of being grateful for all of the things in life.
1. Bless those who despitefully use me... and abuse me. Who care less about me
than I realized.
2. Create safe and comfortable boundaries for my happiness.
3. Continue to tell my darling daughters that they are what they want to be and to
strive to be what they really want and expect good things always.
4. Thankful for answered prayers many years ago, with having one of the best
husbands in the world and I know lots say that but I truly mean it. I have an
honest man who is full of integrity and he is a very dependable human being to
which one of my prayers was answered for sure.
5. Don't sweat the small stuff.
6. God is wonderful and the universe is wonderful. I am expecting such great things
in my life and I am living as if I have all I want and need.
7. FAITH is the key to all abundance, joy and happiness.
8. Thankful for all who have passed through on my way to living my life.
9. Grateful for the lessons learned in the mistakes of the past, and the mistakes I
have made but looking to the future with a great sense of hope and happiness.
10. Ask and ye shall receive.
11. Knock and the door shall be opened.
12. SEEK and ye shall find.

Sometimes you wonder about those who are family in your lives and why it seems they choose others over you. How they don't seem to care to stay in touch with you even though you do try and why it seems you just don't matter much to them?
I now leave that with God and I am living each and every day being grateful to God for the day, the chance to enjoy it and each and every moment of the day. Because I am alive, I am grateful to be alive. I am here living a wonderful life with amazing blessings. I am grateful that GOD gave me the intuition I have and the ability to discern situations to which I can find a good path for us. The moving when everyone else said "ARE YOU CRAZY?... both to Alberta and back to NL.
God is the ruler of my life and he alone directs my path. I trust in that and when I trust in that and I strive to be better, it comes so easily to me.

BLESS THOSE WHO seem to forget about you.... Bless those who get wrapped up in their own lives and their own selves and forget about you.... BLESS those who need GOD and for those who need to wake up and be thankful for what they have and the health they have instead of looking at the dreary side of life.

THANK YOU for all of the blessings.
THANK YOU for my life.
THANK YOU for my ability to see, and hear and speak and think.
THANK YOU for my ability to walk and use my arms and legs.
THANK YOU for my children and my husband.
THANK YOU for family who care and who don't.

Thanks for this day and those to come.

FRIENDS FOR LIFE

2008-07-17T15:55:00.002-02:30

Well, it's hard to believe that Ann, Jerry, Andrew and Jenna are back in Grande Prairie so soon. Time sure flies when you are enjoying it.

WE enjoyed having them stay with us for 6 days and we had a great time. Great food, Great Friends, Great time.

Ann & Jerry are now making plans to move back to NL. They are ready for the change and for the move home. Home is where the heart is... and I guess they're heart is here.

So now their excitement begins.
Jerry was offered a job right away and they are looking at all of the options and making their plans.

See ya soon...

FRIENDS ARE THE FAMILY YOU CHOOSE

2008-07-09T14:24:00.002-02:30

Today our friends Ann, Jerry and their son Andrew and daughter Jenna will arrive for 6 days. They arrived in NL from Grande Prairie on June 24th and stayed two days with us and then headed out to visit with their families and friends.

I am very happy to see them again as they have been the best of friends to Kevin and me.

I first met Ann when I moved from Toronto to Bonavista, NL after a tumultuous relationship. My daughters and I moved for survival and Bonavista was the place at the time, that my parents had moved and my father had passed away two years earlier. My mother was still there. I had no where else to go and so while living in Bonavista I decided to go back to school and that is where I met Ann.

Ann had just left a tumultuous relationship in Port Aux Basques.

At first Ann was a very harsh, bold person that I wasn't sure I liked. She would show up early on Saturday mornings with her son and it really earked me. Of course, because of her very generous heart I grew to love her as a friend and when she started dated Jerry, we all became friends. After awhile, they decided on New Years Eve 1989-90 that I should go to the New Years Ball with them. Well, not wanting to go because it should be couples, they had invited a fellow by the name of Kevin Ryder to come too. He showed up and the rest is history.

Kevin and I got married and Ann and Jerry stood at our wedding. We stood at Ann & Jerry's wedding. They moved to Port aux basques and we moved to Calgary that August. Ann and Jerry moved to Calgary the following year and Jenna had been born 2 months prior.

Ann & Jerry, Andrew and Jenna lived with us for 8 months and then moved out on their own. A year later they moved to Grande Prairie and are still living there.

We have a lot of history between us and we do enjoy each others company. We are dear friends and I cherish their friendships as they have been there through thick and thin for me and I for them.

I am very grateful for them and grateful to have them in my life.
I do hope that somehow they will find a way to move back home so we can all hang out again as we did when we lived here.

In ALL things give thanks

2008-07-08T15:57:00.002-02:30

I have not been writing much here in the blogger. Most of those I know don't really blog or care to but today I feel compelled to be thankful.

In All things give thanks and so I am going to blog all of the things I am grateful for and some of them will be speaking positively for what I expect to come. GOOD THINGS.

1. I am very grateful for my health, my legs that can walk, my eyes that can see, my ears to hear.

2. I am grateful that I can smell and taste.

3. I am grateful that I can drink good water and eat amazing food.

4. I am grateful for the person God created in me, the creative, imaginative, intuitive creation I am.

5. I am grateful for my parents.

6. I am grateful for a father who had great faith, who didn't waver no matter what anyone thought.

7. I am grateful for two brothers.

8. I am grateful for my husband Kevin who came into my life and has given me the true meaning of LOVE.

9. I am grateful for the YOUNG / BRUCE family.

10. I am grateful that Bruce, Joanne and their families are still in my life.

11. I am grateful that I live in a place that affords me fresh air and good living.

12. I am grateful for my two successful daughters who gave me such joy and are a constant joy in my life.

13. I am grateful for the RYDER family.

14. I am grateful for the many friends I have met over the years and some who are constantly in my thoughts and prayers.

15. I am grateful for Jim and Marion Burton for their generosity to me from the ages of 9-13 while living in La Scie, NL.

16. I am grateful for past employers and co-workers I have had the privilege of working with over the past few years.

17. I am grateful for our jobs, our home, our vehicles, our livelihoods.

18. I am grateful to NEWDOCK for keeping me working.

19. I am grateful to Manpower Professionals for keeping me busy.

20. I am grateful for my dog Shadow and for WHipper who are constant joys in our lives.

21. I am grateful to GOD for all of the blessings he bestows on me each day.

22. I am grateful for waking up each morning and enjoying each day.

23. I am grateful for the abundance and joy I have.

24. I am grateful for all the good things that are coming my way.

25. I am grateful that I can look at the Ocean each day.

26. I am grateful for the ability to make a good meal.

27. I am grateful for those in this world that help to bring peace, love and prosperity to others, who give generously to those in need.

28. I am grateful for the places I have lived and the wonderful experiences I have enjoyed.

THANK YOU GOD for all of the blessings.
BLESS those who may read this and bring them joy, peace and abundance.

AMEN!

2008

2008-01-11T14:52:00.000-03:30

Where had the time gone?

It's been an interesting 6 months. We have experienced the laid back attitudes of the EAST COAST, which if you don't get used to it can be quite frustrating when you are used to GO GO GO, the drivers from out around the Bay who are so used to no lights and being the only one in the world driving, the SNOW, apparently we are having the 3rd snowiest December on record since 1942 and the nicest people who would do anything in the world for you, like our neighbor who plows our driveway when he is done working.

It's been a busy time, we have had to learn how to deal with MOUNTAINS of snow and how to drive in it again. The great thing is they really do clear the roads here so well. BUT we did however, purchase a new toy for us all to use, a snowblower. We also purchased a ski doo to have fun with but as soon as we purchased it, we got a snowstorm and it's been mild and great ever since so it's all melting away. I am sure we will get a chance to use though.

I am anxious for the summer so I can get out and plant a garden. It will be my first and I am hoping for a decent crop...maybe a few warped carrots but good enough to eat. ha ha

I don't get to be on here much anymore and am enjoying a new job now and we are all so busy. The girls are busy with school, Whipper is busy guilting us into giving her treats and it's exciting here these days with the anticpation of good things coming our way, in the air!

Adios

OCTOBER

2007-10-01T09:37:00.000-02:30

OCTOBER, what I like about October is the changing of the colors of the trees... although it does signify a death of some sort...it's just so darn pretty.

October also brings memories of Harvest Festival at church where everyone used to bring veggies and fruit and so on to put in front of the alter for Thanksgiving. We used to sneak in and grab an apple now and then without anyone knowing. Most people didn't realize that we didn't get too much back then.

Thanksgiving is such a nice time to get together with friends and family and eat Turkey, yum....

When we look out our window we overlook a pond and there are trees all around that are now starting to change color. It is beginning to look so pretty! It's a bit cooler now and soon we will be heading into Christmas, my favorite time of the year.

Lately, I have been temping at my old employer but here in St. JOhn's...what a lovely week I have had. Everyone is very laid back and professional. I have really enjoyed it.

Everyone is doing well, busy and happy. Whipper (Robyn's dog) has taken a shine to Kevin and me, but mostly Kevin who supplies sneaky treats under the table. She is such a cute dog and is such a GIRL that if you don't pet her she will whine as if to say, HEY, why are you not petting me? I need you to love me now.... hurry up will you? She is filling the void of our OREO...

We are still organizing at the house and doing some renos...it should all be up to par by the end of October I hope. Life is slowly settling in and becoming normal again... ha ha

AUGUST - ALREADY

2007-08-06T14:53:00.000-02:30

It's amazing how time flies!
Here we are now living in Newfoundland, working and getting on with our lives and it was only a couple of months ago we were living in Alberta. Time FLIES!

This month is an exciting month.
Lots of family and friends celebrate their wedding anniversaries this month, including Kevin and I .

My brother and his wife celebrated 29 years on August 4th. We went out there for the weekend and had a big family BBQ, with fire in the firepit as well as FIREWORKS. It was a very enjoyable time for everyone.

Kevin and I celebrate 16 years on August 24th and it might be the day before we move into our house....so I think we will celebrate once we get moved in.

Fall is around the corner and Newfoundland can boasts some beautiful FALL days. I am sooooo looking forward to them and am excited for the future.

LIFE IS PRETTY GOOD!

Just a THANK YOU! But a deserved THANK YOU

2007-08-03T15:29:00.001-02:30

I was raised to say "THANK YOU".

When someone does something nice for you or someone offers to do a nice thing for you, you should say "THANK YOU". It's not about attention or putting people out there or whatever hang ups people might have. It's about being courteous and say "THANK YOU".

Kevin and I were supposed to leave Calgary on June 16th after the closing of our house sale. Bruce and Joanne had kindly offered to put us up for the Friday night so we could head out of Okotoks early the next morning on our way to Newfoundland.

Our lawyers were late in requesting the pay out information of our mortgage to our mortgage company and so we were delayed. Friday night, Saturday, Sunday, Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday night. We felt like people who were left out on a limb because we had no home, we didn't have the money in our account we waited for, and we were now overstaying our welcome. We felt lost! It was stressful and the first couple of days went okay, it started to take it's toll on us by the rest of the time.

Kevin and Bruce went and played golf. We all went out for dinner one night. We did what we could to chip in and not be BURDENS. I know it was hard on Joanne having to come home so early some evenings I mean, it's hard to come home before 9 pm from work.. (ha ha).

Bruce and Joanne were kind enough to let us stay there and we felt they deserved some recognition for allowing us to remain there that long. After all they say that HOUSEGUESTS wear out their welcome by the 3rd day. So we had REALLY worn it!

And so, we thank you very much for your HOSPITALITY, your KINDNESS and you know sometimes when life gets hard, you will get a blessing to come your way for doing nice things for others. It was one of the things he told us to do, "DO UNTO OTHERS AS YOU WOULD HAVE DONE UNTO YOU". I pray your blessing has come to you or is on the way for your kindess to Kevin and I.

Thank you again!

GOD BLESS!

Kevin and Wanda

It's just like living in "PARADISE"

2007-08-03T14:56:00.000-02:30

Hello people! or the one or two that actually give a damn about commenting on my blog.. haha.

We made it!
The trip started on June 20th, 2007 after a bit of delay because of lawyers. Don't you love Lawyers? They do not like to be organized and so they wait till the last minute to request information that might take up to 4 days to process...thus our delay!

Finally after all of that stress and bitching with the lawyers, we got on the road at around 7:45 am and we arrived in Brandon, Manitoba that evening around 8:30 pm. All the way across it was a very pleasant drive considering that Kevin was pulling the CARGO trailer and I was right behind him. We had Walkie Talkies that our neighbors had given us in CAlgary as a going away gift and boy they did come in handy. The scenery was spectacular and we couldn't believe that we were actually doing it! We were moving back. It was surreal!

Finally after a night in Brandon, Manitoba, Nipegon, Ontario, Pewa, Ontario, and a night in New Bruinswick, we arrived 7 hours early in Sydney, NOva Scotia. We sat up on the top of the terminal and watched the boats and ferries go by as well as all the people. It was a beautiful day, the weather was warm and there was a breeze right off the salt water. It was fantastic! WE soaked it in.

We crossed the Atlantic ocean from Sydney, Nova Scotia to Port Aux Basques, Newfoundland on the Leif Erickson Ferry at 2 am in the morning. My first time driving on and off a ferry by myself I might add. I was a little anxious but it worked out just fine. We got a night cabin and we were able to get some sleep and a shower by the time she docked in Port Aux Basques at 9:30 am Newfoundland time and we arrived at my brother's in Clarenville by 5:45 pm on Tuesday, June 26th, 2007. My brother stored our CARGO trailer which he still has and we parked Kevin's truck "BIG RED" and we stayed a couple of days then headed into St. John's.

It's been quite the ride:
WE purchased a house with a piece of land which we move into in about 3 weeks or so. It's a cute bungalow and we are excited about getting settled again. We have a few reno's to do, nothing major and the yard work will need to be overhauled by next spring/summer. We will be living in "PARADISE". That's the name of the town. It's just a few minutes outside of St. John's.

Kevin is working for the summer doing his usually stuff 'CRIBBING'. He has signed up for a few courses in Sept/Oct to try out for a different career. I am working for ManPower Professionals on Contract and am finishing up a 3 week assignment at the NEWDOCK Dockyard, downtown St. John's. It's been a hoot! I love the accents, and the Oh my Love, Oh that's alright ducky, oh don't you worry about that my dear.... it's just unreal! I takes me all of less than 5 minutes to get to work...I can't get over it!

In the meantime, I have found a doctor who has been putting me through a great deal of tests. I have been sent to Emergency, had blood work, CAT Scans and am now heading for more tests and a possible biopsy. I have an autoimmune disease that I am now dealing with and this doctor has begun to take care of me unlike the one I had in Calgary for nearly 14 years who missed many things. I am hoping for this to be cured and I can go back to being my normal self but all in due time. I was dealing with this stuff in Calgary and the swollen ankles should have given away a BIG sign along with all the other symptoms I was experiencing at the time but I am now on the MEND! I can honestly say I feel "I am getting quality care".

The girls are working and busy. Both are heading back to Memorial in September to continue with their degree's. It's been great to be able to see them more often.

We are headed to Clarenville this weekend for my brother's and sister-in-law's 29th Wedding Anniversary. There will be FIREWORKS! Gawd I love it!... ha ha

Anyway, please send all comments and replies to wcr11962@hotmail.com if this should not work right now....

Take Care!

Bye for now

FINAL BLOG

2007-05-30T13:21:00.000-02:30

This will be my final blog for a long time as I am now in the stages of finishing up work and packing.

1. My last day of work is Tuesday, June 5th. There have been lunches and lots of niceties and so it makes it a little harder to leave but I know it's the right thing to do. On Friday we have a one day TRANSIT strike to prove they can shut down the city and cause problems, I think we learned that from the last time but the Mayor seems to have forgotten. Anyhow, I will work from home on Friday.

2. My list is being checked off and slowly, things are being done.

3. My packing has begun and the house is beginning to look so different. Kevin and I are taking a couple hours each night to pack up a room. He takes the boxes out to the garage and puts them the correct pile cause I am organizing now so the packing into the Cargo trailer must be planned correctly.

4. OH yes, then there is the Cargo Trailer, a 7 by 16 foot Cargo trailer to haul our belongings back to the rock. It's funny cause most of what we hear is, DO YOU THINK YOU WILL GET ALL YOUR STUFF IN THAT TRAILER? ah yeah DUH! It's 7ft wide, 6ft high and 16ft long...and I was born in the SALVATION ARMY and I am THE PACKER OF ALL TIME.... yes, it will fit all of our stuff cause I can assure you I can fit anything into anything......
but we usually say well, that trailer is not for our furniture...."IT'S FOR ALL OUR MONEY" hahahaha (Oh the looks)

5. We now have a realtor on the rock... and he is working diligently to find us a home. It seems everything we like is SOLD or SALE PENDING. I guess things are hopping in the St. John's area so we are going to wait till we get there to spend time going around and seeing what we like and don't like. I know for sure 9 times out of 10 I will have to paint and replace flooring cause whenever PINK and BLUE came in, it never left.

6. We have looked at the job situation and it is looking good, and have a couple of prospects at the moment but we usually get "WHAT ARE YOU GOING TO DO THERE?" ARE YOU SEMI-RETIRING? A no ....we are going to be working. Yeah, they work there they really do and not everyone is a bum...really! Are we going to be doing well, Yes we will because we will have no mortgage and no debt...yeah, it's going to be nice. Am I going to try to find a house that I can drive a ski-doo out the back yard, dam tootin'.

7. Well, must get going. ADIOS! Goodbye and I wish everyone a wonderful summer.

If I come back to blogging, I might need to supply the NEWFIE Dictionary!.... haha
SO "Long may your jib draw" (English: A good wish for the future)

Farewell, wish us luck and pray for a safe journey across Canada.
BYE

THE MOVE is on

2007-05-22T14:41:00.000-02:30

ALL conditions are lifted and I have begun the list.... THE LIST!

We officially will be homeless on June 15th.
It's exciting for us now, we have a CARGO trailer to haul our belongings and Kevin and I are trying to figure out if we should get an intercom or walkie talkies on the way as he is driving one truck pulling a trailer and I will be driving the other. Anyone wanna go for a long ride?????

We are excited about the trip, the excitement of getting ready to purchase a new place to live, and all the craziness that goes along with moving to another province again.

We just got back from Grande Prairie over the long weekend. It's an 8 hour drive to Grande Prairie and we go once or twice a year to visit some long time friends. The weather was down right awful but had a couple of days with some sunny periods in between... CALGARY got rain & snow... hahahaha
Oh but they wouldn't want to live back EAST.... the weather is just so awful they say...Well, in nearly 14 years, I can honestly say, I don't remember too many warm and sunny May Long Weekend's here in Alberta. It was freezing and we didn't get to do too much outside.

24 days from now... we will be preparing to drive across Canada. It's exciting. When we moved to Calgary in 1993, we drove through the United States and came through Montana to Alberta. It was exciting, scary and we didn't know what to expect. Now time has flown and we are on our way back home.

I am excited!

Conditionally SOLD!

2007-05-07T12:01:00.000-02:30

It's pretty much a done deal.
Once the conditions are met by May 12th, we have SOLD our house.
Posession for the new owners is JUNE 15th.

It's back to the ROCK!

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

2007-04-13T14:23:00.000-02:30

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

2007-04-13T12:34:00.000-02:30

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

2007-04-10T18:10:00.000-02:30

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

2007-04-10T18:05:00.000-02:30

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

2007-04-04T14:07:00.000-02:30

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

2007-04-04T11:54:00.000-02:30

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."