Cutie Little Bella

This Sunday night in Winnipeg, we had a beautiful view of the first lunar eclipse in almost 3 years. Since it is a rare occasion, we allowed our girls to stay up and watch this spectacle.
They sat on our bed and looked out the window at this lovely sight.
I called Isabella to come out to the living room and look out the window. She yelled back from my bedroom, "I don't want to come right now! I'm in your bed watching the lunar olympics!"


Oympics, eclipse...whatever. Its all the same to her!

My Mother-in-Law

My mother-in-law passed away this past Sunday afternoon. She was in her home which is what she wanted. She was tired of hospitals and machines, and she passed away free of all that nonsense.

She loved to read my blog and she would bug me to update all the time. "Hurry up! I'm bored!", she would say, "write something new!" Until she got too sick to read anymore.

Even as I write this, I think about how mad she would be for writing on my blog about her.

It makes me sad to think that she won't tell me off after reading this. She would say, "what are you doing writing about me on the INTERNET??? For the WHOLE world to see? Or just the FIVE people who read your blog!"

I'll miss her alot. She always called me the "wicked witch of the west" and took such great joy in telling me I much too wicked to be a "real" Christian.

She loved to verbally spar with me, and nothing would make her smile as much as when I would give back to her as good as she gave it. If I had a particularly cleverly devious reply, she would threaten to call my church and have me kicked out! I would tell she could take it a step farther and tell GOD on me, but then she'd have to pray. At this point, she'd give me the finger, and we'd both laugh.

I'll post a picture of her here because that would really piss her off! She'd love that.

I am really going to miss her. At first she was in life because she was my husband's mother, and then she became my friend. She always told me truth, whether I wanted to hear it or not. She always listened to me and thought about what I said. I really appreciated her open mind.

She loved my husband, my daughters and me like crazy. She was generous to a fault, and my kid's birthdays and Christmases can only be described as ridiculous. She was good at spoiling us.

She loved it when we visited her. She always said watching Isabella is funnier than any show they have on t.v. And when it came to Rebecca, she would shake her head or shrug her shoulders and say something like, "Rebecca! You are who you are! God help us all!" DJ was her philosophy partner and they loved to discuss anything that used grey matter. I was a source of amusement to her, whether intended or not. She loved to laugh with me or at me, it was equally pleasing to her. The common theme is that she enjoyed us all for who we are. She knew each of our hearts, our personalities, our strengths and our weaknesses. And she enjoyed us.

Its nice to be known. Its nice to be enjoyed. Its nice to be loved.

I'm going to miss her a whole lot. There will be a void in my life, and the life of my family not easily filled.

My Funny Valentine

Today I was telling my husband about the funny sight I saw at the store.
There were two cashiers lined up JUST to wrap flowers.
Behind each of these flower ladies were long lines of men standing with a look of panic on their faces. The men were holding bundles of flowers looking distraught.
The panic, the horror of Valentine's Day if you don't get it right.
It looked like something out of a sitcom, so cliche and yet still funny.

I was telling my husband about these poor pathetic souls trying to make sure they didn't "mess up" Valentine's Day for their significant others.
I laughed as I re-iterated my stance on this particular holiday. "What's the point of being romantic just one day a year? You can show love everyday, not just one day a year!"
To which my darling husband replied, "You mean I had a choice????"

Isn't he charming?

A Word to the Wise Woman

Low cut jeans and high cut panties don't mix!

Can I get an amen???

Sean Hogan is a Brat!

It is clear that I have not updated my blog in a long time.
I have lots of reasons for that and some damn good excuses too.
Excuses are lame, and people who use them are lame.
Harsh! I know but whining irritates me, even when its coming from me.
So I won't go into detail.

The reasons I haven't blogged in a long time have culminated into a short leave of absence from work to deal with family health issues. Thus my leave of absense from work has eliminated my excuses for not blogging.
So here I am. Its been 6 monthes and lots has happened since my last update.
I don't know where to begin, much has happened.
While I think about where to start....too overwhelming at the moment...I will blog about my thoughts as I was waking early this morning.

Thought #1 - I wish Isabella would stop playing that recorder! My ear-balls are going bleaf!

Thought #2 - Why hasn't the man servant arrived with my wine and cheese yet?

Thought #3 - Why is it that God leads people to good places, and good people. People and places that we easily abandon. Why is it that when I pray and ask for answers, I get more than answers. I find peace, patience, wisdom and love. Why is that every word from Jesus brings us the acceptance we crave and make us feel loved? Why is Jesus so nice? Why would I look away from good, peace, wisdom to chase love from broken people? People who are as needy as I am. I want acceptance, validation and praise from people who are ill-equipt to meet my needs. As I am to meet their needs. Relationship is frought with disappointment, rejection and unfulfilled need. Why then, is this painful reality such a driving force of motivation for all of mankind? If we deny our need for human relationship, what is the alternative?
Lonliness? Bitterness? Synacism? Pride?
Perhaps relationships, the very cause of pain and hurt are the things that make us grow as people. Isn't it through pain that we experience compassion? Isn't it compassion that teaches us mercy? Isn't it judgment that bring humility and grace for others so we don't inflict the same judgements on others?
When our short-coming are exposed in relationships, produce moments that kill our pride, do they not?
Isn't it those moments that we expect disappointment and are met with love that break down our synical mindsets? Isn't it the heart-to-heart connection that we share with other humans, the very thing that melt away lonliness and let us laugh?
If God is good and can fill all my needs, why then did He create in me a need for relationship? How long will this season of hiding away and running from potential pain last? Is it almost at an end? Am I a grown-up yet? Do I know the source enough yet?

Thought #4 - I'm hungry. I should get up and have breakfast and feed my kids too.

Thought #5 - Sean Hogan is a brat. That is why he is such a great friend.