Right Now...

At the end of a busy day that included too much driving around, a very satisfying time in the garden and a walk with the dog to the local ice cream parlour.

It doesn't get much better than this.

Happy Birthday Tim!

April 26, 1987,
10 lbs, 4 oz., 23 inches
Sweet, precious and happy
Could drive mother to distraction due to colic.

April 26, 2007
180 lbs (guesstimate, no scale available)
76 inches (guesstimate)
Feet are probably closer to 23 inches than head to toe measurement.
Still sweet, precious and happy.
Still can drive mother to distraction. However, colic is not the problem.

Music

I love Classical music. I enjoy listening to it and when nobody's home, I enjoy playing some of the pieces I know from years ago, on the piano. I think that Baroque has to be my favourite period. When Michele asked me to accompany her for a Vivaldi piece she is playing on the flute, I said yes right away. Yesterday, we practised and then we went to her lesson where I accompanied her.

Something happens when we play together. Maybe it's because we're sisters and we have a unique connection. Part of it must be the way Vivaldi put his notes and chord progressions together. But whatever it is, when we play together, nothing matters anymore but making beautiful music. It is one of those times when I feel like I'm "in the moment." One of those times when I feel like this is what I was created to do. I am firing on all 8 cylinders.

On one hand it's exhausting because we're focussing and concentrating so hard. But the result is beautiful music. While we have to practise some more, there were moments of pure joy and beauty last night.

Sometimes, I wish that I had focussed on a different instrument. I was talking with my nephew Joey once and he said something like, "piano's your favourite instrument." He assumed that was the case because I can play piano. The piano just happened to be the easiest one at the time and I hadn't even considered playing another instrument. And I really do enjoy playing it.

I think my favourite instrument is the oboe and I would have loved to learn how to play that when I was young. I am definitely too old for that instrument now. Oboe players literally have to blow their brains out to get a good sound. I am trying to conserve as many brain cells as possible now so playing an instrument like the oboe is out of the question.

But last night, piano was my instrument of choice. Playing along with a gifted, talented flautist (that's you Michele) was a wonderful moment. I hope to do it lots more.

When do we practise again?

Anna Nicole Smith's Baby

Okay, so now we know. Can we finally give it a rest?

Random

Random. I love that word. That is how my brain works. Randomly. It's a word that people are using a lot these days. If something doesn't make sense, is weird or doesn't fit, all you need to say is, "That was random." It doesn't have to be explained because it was random.

This is a post of random things that I thought of or happened to me today.

1. Dixie's doing pretty well in the pooping/peeing department. She is also willing to stand on the driveway and look at the traffic. She is becoming more brave and courageous.
2. Tim's been unemployed for TOO LONG now. So, today we started a list of things he can do around the house until he can start working. There is a job but it just has not started yet. Michele calls him my man-servant. Anyone want to use him?
3. While it drives me to distraction to have a healthy, intelligent, able person hanging around the house when he should be working, I also like having him around. Aside from doing the dirty work (he took down the Christmas lights today. We like to be on top of those kinds of things) he is a pretty interesting person to have around. And I like it when he plays his guitar.
4. Kristen had her day off today. And Alisha came for a quick visit. She said it was to get a recipe from me but I know she came because she wanted to say hi to Dixie.
5. Tim, Kristen, Alisha and I were sitting around the kitchen table today, just talking. I like that.
6. Wes and I are going to the World Women's Hockey Final at the MTS Centre tonight. I am not a huge hockey fan but I love watching these women. They inspire me. Although I think they should burn the pink jerseys.
7. I hope Canada wins. They are playing the US.
8. As I'm sitting here typing, I hear the casserole in the oven overflowing. Yuck.
9. It finally seems that spring will really come. It is cool today but the sun is melting the last of the snow and there is growth in my garden.
10. I planted seeds last Friday and some of them were already up on Monday. Amazing.
11. This morning I went to see my spiritual advisor. We have a great time when we meet.
12. Kristen's going out for dinner with CJ tonight. I don't think she should but what can I say?
13. Wes just got home from work. I think I'll get my man-servant to set the table.

Happy Good Friday

On the evening news I saw highlights of how today, this most holy day for Christians, was celebrated around the world. We saw images of the Vatican, Israel, and even our own town of Winnipeg.

In the Philippines, there are some people who actually volunteer to be crucified. Every year we have seen images of these men who allow themselves to be attached to a cross and then raised up to hang for a period of time. Others will slap chords on their backs until they bleed.

Every year I wonder why they do it.

Are they trying to share in the suffering of Jesus Christ? Maybe they're trying to prove to God that they are willing to be crucified, to suffer for the sake of the gospel. Or perhaps they feel some need to suffer so that God will love them more. I really don't know. But I do find it repulsive. How can these guys even begin to understand the suffering of Jesus? The physical pain he endured on the cross was the least of his pain. While on the cross he carried the sins of the world on his shoulders and worse, was abandoned by God.

When reading the gospels in the New Testament, it is obvious that Jesus spent a lot of time with God. Often he would go someplace, away from his friends and the crowds to pray and meditate. Jesus and God were tight. And then, on Good Friday, he was abandoned by his Father, in his greatest time of need.

That's pain.

The Filipino guys have no idea, nor do any of us. I think that what they do makes a mockery of what Jesus did. And they do not understand the whole story. Jesus died, once and for all. He doesn't have to do it ever again. All of us have had our sins forgiven because of what happened on Good Friday. And because of what Jesus did, we don't have to prove to God that we love him. He loves us and that is that.

I was a young girl when I saw this spectacle for the first time. And like a good Christian girl, I felt guilty because I knew I could never do such a thing. I wasn't strong enough and I didn't love God enough.

I am grateful today because I know that there is nothing I have to do to earn the love of God. He showed that he loves me by allowing his Son to die a horrible death. All I need to do is accept this love.

On many levels I do not understand this story. I still wonder why God chose to carry out his plan for the world in this way. I could think of a number of ways this story could play out that aren't nearly as gruesome. But I always come back to it because it is a story about unconditional, incredible and amazing love. And that is something I can live with.

Poor Dixie

Something fell on Dixie's toe last weekend. She was limping but it seemed to be getting better until yesterday. She hurt it again and this morning was favouring it quite a lot. So, off we went to the vet.

She broke her toe. Here is Dr. Mike with Dixie.

She seems to be handling the cast quite well although everyone feels sorry for her. I already gave her a new toy. After 3 weeks I'm worried that she will be fat and spoiled.

"Home"

We just returned from a trip "back home." Home for me is Beamsville, Ontario, the heart of the fruit belt (although it seems that the orchards are disappearing as quickly as the new subdivisions are springing up).




The wedding of my niece was the main reason we went but it is always good for us to go back to visit my brothers and their families, my parents as well as Wes's parents, brother, sisters and their families. There are lots of people to see!



I'd say that this was one of the best trips we've had. We were able to see everybody and also have some good times of connecting. The families are growing, with boyfriends, girlfriends and spouses and I've gotta say that the second generation definitely knows how to choose them. James, Larissa's new husband is a great guy and I really liked his mom and sisters. Nicole, Carolyn and Frank have fit in quite nicely. And the others, who have started coming around are great people too.



I love to see my kids developing relationships with their Ontario cousins. Growing up in Winnipeg, they have not seen a lot of their relatives but now as adults, it's so great to see them having fun together. Here is Kristen with cousin Dan and Nicole.
Chelsea is no longer an Ontario cousin but I like this picture.


Being with my family helps me know that there is a place where I belong. I am loved and accepted as I am and even though we may not always agree on many things, I know that there is a pretty large group of people who will do almost anything for me.

I'll post this picture because it's one of the few of Wes and I that I like.

A great weekend, but sleep was in short supply. Here's Wes at the wedding, after most of the guests had gone home.