Monday, March 29, 2021

Where you come from

 For those that are feeling bored with life being stuck at home, kids driving you crazy, you after all need your adult time socializing with others etc I remember my grandparents and the countless talks they had with me telling me about their early days of the hard work they did day in and day out to be self reliance. My cousins and I talk about coming from strong pioneer stock, that the lessons we learned at the knees of our parents and grandparents we now teach to our children and grandchildren. I found this article about pioneer life on the WIKi. Might put things in perspective.

🙂 Way Of Life
Whatever their surroundings, the pioneers had to depend on themselves and on the land. Self-reliance was a frontier requirement. Game provided food and leather clothing. New settlers gathered wild fruits, nuts, and berries. For salt they boiled the water of saline springs. Maple sugar was made by tapping maple trees in early spring and boiling the sap until it thickened into a tasty sweetening. Substitutes for tea and coffee were provided by boiling sassafras root and brewing parched corn and barley. With an ax and adze for cutting tools, the pioneers made beds, tables, benches, and stools. They split logs into rails to make the zigzag fence that enclosed their clearings.
Pioneer women learned to supply their own household goods. Gourds served as pails and dippers. Wood ash was sifted to make soap. Tallow (sheep and cattle fat) was molded into candles. Every cabin had two spinning wheels—a big wheel for wool and a smaller wheel for flax. With their own home-woven "linsey-woolsey," a coarse cloth of mixed linen and wool, pioneer women made their family's clothing. Clothes were also made from animal skins, which the pioneers tanned into leather.
Winter was a hard season on the frontier. In bitter weather the family huddled around the fire. When there was no leather, some people went barefoot and suffered frostbite. Food was scanty and monotonous. For months there were no fresh fruits or vegetables. In early spring, women looked eagerly for the first wild mustard and dandelion plants, which they could boil into a dish of "greens."
As long as they had their health and strength, people could stand hardship. But every family had frequent bouts of illness. The most common frontier ailment was chills and fever. Young and old suffered from "the shakes," shuddering with cold and then breaking into a drenching sweat. This disease came at the end of summer and lasted until frost. Since it was most common in marshy districts, the settlers thought it came from breathing damp air. Actually it was malaria, carried by mosquitoes. When swamps were drained, there were fewer mosquitoes and the number of malaria cases declined.
For medicines the pioneers had to provide for themselves. Women soon learned the use of herbs for healing. They used boneset for fever, pennyroyal to purify the blood, horehound for coughs, and ginseng for tonic. Syrups and salves were made from cherry root, horseradish, and witch hazel. Wild mustard, poplar root, and red sumac root went into teas, poultices, and powders. The standard cure for a chest cold was to rub the chest with goose grease and apply a mustard plaster.
Some frontier remedies were based more on superstition than science. Among these were potions of walnut bark "peeled upward," boiled nettles, and "nanny tea," made from sheep dung.
Pioneer families tended to be large. Most cabins had a cradle, hollowed from a poplar or cottonwood log, and the cradle was rarely empty. Children were helpful in new lands. Girls soon learned important household tasks—gardening, cooking, spinning, weaving, mending, sewing, making soap and candles. Boys worked in the woods and fields with their fathers. They learned to fell timber, to clear out brush, to split rails and build fences. A rail fence would keep hogs and sheep out of the corn, but deer could leap that barrier. It was the children's job to chase deer out of the fields and to keep squirrels from devouring the growing crop. Children pounded dried corn to make cornmeal. When gristmills came into the neighborhood, it was typically a boy's chore to ride to the millstream with a bag of grain behind his saddle and return with a dusty bag of meal.
Although pioneer families were extremely resourceful and nearly self-sufficient, neighbors were highly valued on the frontier. When fires went out, one could borrow a pan of glowing coals from the nearest cabin. Neighbors from miles around helped newcomers with logrolling, house-raising, and barn-raising. Entire communities joined in hunts for wolves, foxes, squirrels, and rabbits.
These common tasks, shared by pioneer neighbors, also provided amusement on the frontier. A house-raising was also a picnic, with women spreading a dinner on the grass while children swung from grapevines and the men laid up the roof poles on a new cabin. Neighbors gathered for "husking bees," competing to see who was the fastest at stripping the husks from ears of corn. The cornstalks were kept for fodder, while the husked corn was stored in a crib. Pioneer women held "quilting bees," exchanging family news while they sewed patchwork together. One amusement that did not involve household tasks was the barn dance. With a local fiddler playing such tunes as "Skip-to-my-Lou" and "Way Down in the Pawpaw Patch," men, women, and children joined in square and circle dances by lantern light on a rough barn floor.

Monday, July 27, 2020

Meatless Grilling this Summer

Going meatless in grilling season

Summer has made its appearance across North America and it’s time to get your grill on! If you’re looking to save some money, add more plant-based/meatless options into your diet, or you’re a vegan or vegetarian, BBQ season can be challenging. The good news is, Epicure has your back! Load up on flavour and save time while you enjoy the sunshine and your fave cold brew. Here are some summer recipes we love:

VEGGIE & HALLOUMI BURGER

Halloumi takes this veggie burger over the top! Halloumi originates from Cyprus and is a semi-hard, unripened, brined cheese that’s salty and squeaky! Wrap this burger in crisp local lettuce leaves or go all-in and grill a pita wrap for a smoky flavour.
Perfectly Balance Your Plate: Serve with 1 cup oven fries (about half a potato), and 2 tbsp prepared Big Burger Sauce (use to top burger and dunk fries).

INGREDIENTS

1 block (12 oz/350 g) medium-firm tofu
1 carrot
1⁄3 cup quick oats
1 tbsp vegetable oil
1⁄2 block (9 oz/250 g) halloumi cheese
1 tomato
1⁄4 small red onion
1 head iceberg lettuce, 8–16 leaves
Toppings (optional): prepared Big Burger Sauce

PREPARATION

1. Drain tofu. In large bowl, use your hands to crumble tofu, breaking it up into small pieces. 
2. Grate carrot until you have about 1 cup; squeeze to remove excess liquid. Add carrot, seasoning, and oats to crumbled tofu, stir until well combined. Form into four balls and pack together tightly. Flatten into thin patties. 
3. In fry pan, heat oil over medium-high heat. Cook patties until golden brown, 3–4 min per side.
4. Meanwhile, cut cheese into eight slices. Slice tomato and onion. 
5. Remove patties from pan and set aside. In the same pan, fry cheese until golden-brown, about 1 min per side. 
6. Divide half the lettuce leaves on plates; cover with patty, cheese, tomato, and onion slices, then remaining lettuce.

LENTIL SOUVLAKI & TZATZIKI FLATBREAD

Grilled flatbread is where it’s at! Add greens—like fresh arugula or basil—and finish it with an olive oil drizzle and a twist of Smoky Sriracha Sea Salt.

INGREDIENTS

1 cup 2% plain Greek yogurt
1⁄2 cucumber
Sea Salt (Grinder), to taste
Black Pepper (Grinder), to taste
1 can (19 oz/540 ml) lentils
1 tbsp olive oil
4 naan breads
1 cup crumbled feta cheese

PREPARATION

  1. Preheat grill to medium.
  2. Meanwhile, make tzatziki. In a bowl, stir together yogurt and dip mix. Grate cucumber on a box grater. Wrap in a kitchen towel; squeeze out excess liquid. Stir cucumber into yogurt. Add salt and pepper to taste. Set aside.
  3. Drain and rinse lentils. Place in small bowl; stir in seasoning.
  4. Lightly brush both sides of naan breads with oil. Place tzatziki, lentils, oiled bread and cheese on a Sheet Pan and head to the grill!
  5. Place bread on grill. Barbecue until one side is lightly charred, about 2 min. Remove from grill; spread grilled sides with tzatziki then top with lentils and cheese.
  6. Place back on grill; close lid and barbecue until cheese melts, 1–2 min.

EPIC VEGGIE BURGER

Nothing says socially distanced, backyard BBQ, like a Veggie Burger! At just $1.56 (US) per serving, this is a great way to save some money while you enjoy a tasty plant-based meal.
Perfectly Balance Your Plate: Serve with 1 cup oven fries (about half of a potato).

INGREDIENTS

1⁄2 cup uncooked quinoa
1 1⁄2 cups hot water
1 small zucchini
1 head iceberg lettuce
1⁄2 lemon
2 tbsp oil
Big Burger Sauce
1⁄4 cup light mayonnaise
1 tsp ketchup
1⁄2 tsp relish
Toppings (optional): sliced tomato, pickles, mustard

PREPARATION

  1. Place quinoa in Multipurpose Steamer; stir in 1 cup hot water. Microwave on high, uncovered, until tender and water has been absorbed, 12–15 min.
  2. Meanwhile, grate and measure out 1 cup zucchini. Wash and separate lettuce leaves. Set aside.
  3. In a small bowl, combine mayo, Big Burger Sauce Mix, ketchup, and relish. Set aside.
  4. In a separate bowl, combine Veggie Burger Mix with ½ cup hot water. Using the 2-in-1 Citrus Press, squeeze in 3 tbsp juice from lemon. Add zucchini; stir until combined. When cooked, stir in quinoa.
  5. Preheat grill  When hot, brush grill with oil; scoop batter onto grill, making four burgers. Lightly press and flatten into shape. Cook until golden brown, 3−5 min per side.
  6. Divide half the lettuce leaves on plates; add a dollop of Big Burger Sauce. Cover with patties and toppings, then remaining lettuce. Add toppings, if desired.

EASY VEGETABLE SKEWERS

Make it a rainbow of colour: variety makes these kebabs nutrient-dense. Brush on Epicure dressing or finishing sauce to deliver a burst of flavour!
Perfectly balance your plate: Serve with 1 protein serving and 1 C (250 ml) grain/starch.

INGREDIENTS

MAKES: 8 SERVINGS
  • 6 C (1 1/2 L) thickly cut vegetables, your choice
  • 8 bamboo skewers
  • 3 Tbsp (45 ml) Greek Dressing, prepared, or Epicure dressing or finishing sauce, your choice

PREPARATION

  • Skewer vegetables on bamboo skewers.
  • Brush with dressing or finishing sauce.
  • Barbecue over medium heat, turning often, until lightly charred, 6–8 minutes.
Happy summer!
☀️

Sunday, May 31, 2020

Dolly Parton - When Life Is Good Again (Official Music Video)

Wednesday, May 27, 2020

COVID Pandemic

Today is Thursday May 27th, 2020
• We are at 72 days of social isolation.
• The CDN dollar is worth $.71 US.
• Gas costs 89.9 cents per litre at the pumps in our area . A tank of gas is lasting a lot longer these days.
• Schools have been closed since March 16 and kids are learning remotely on-line. This will continue for the rest of the school year.
• High school has cancelled all exams; grade 12 students will graduate with their last mark...what they had before March Break...and without needing to complete their literacy test and their 40 hours of volunteer work. There was no prom, nor graduation ceremony. We're hoping graduation will be re-scheduled for the Fall.
• Restaurants are only open for home delivery & pick-up orders, although many people are afraid to order take-out because we aren't 100% sure if Covid-19 can be spread through food. Some stores give their take out orders with a small alcohol wipe to wipe down the bag and containers inside.
• National and Provincial Parks and Conservation areas have reopened, but all playgrounds will remain closed.
• All sports competitions have been canceled.
• All festivals and entertainment events have been banned (Canada Day celebrations in some cities and Calgary Stampede canceled just in the last few days, ND state fair, Estevan Fair and Rafferty Rumble)
• Weddings, family celebrations, birthdays and funerals have been canceled.
• Gatherings are limited to no more than 10 people outside the same household.
• People are doing drive-by parades to celebrate birthdays, baby showers, schools staff to see their students and show appreciation to front-line workers.
• Hearts and rainbows in the window began as a way to show love and appreciation during a time of self-isolation and lock-down, and has spread worldwide.
• Churches are closed or online.
• We have to stay away from each other by at least 2 meters (6 feet). These are the new Social-Distancing Rules that most everyone adheres to, without thinking now. During jogging or cycling, it’s advised to stay 20 feet away.
• When out for a walk (basically the only outdoor activity we are still allowed to do), people will step off the curb and wait while another person passes.
• Old Age and Retirement homes are experiencing high rates of outbreak among residents and staff, and in some cases there are 1/10 of the staff working. Many of the deaths are attributed to these outbreaks.
• Our Prime Minister, Justin Trudeau, has been doing daily press conferences from Rideau Cottage. On April 8th he said masks help prevent you from “speaking moistly” to others. He instantly regretted saying it and the phrase went viral.
• People are using their home 3D printers to help make PPE like face shields and clips (to save health care workers ears and hold back mask straps), and even ventilator pieces that are in short supply
• People are wearing masks, some places now REQUIRE that you wear them to enter!
• People are sewing masks & gowns. Others are crocheting or knitting bands to help save people's ears who have to wear them for extended periods. They are donating them to group homes, medical facilities and people who need them. Disposable gloves are also widely worn when out in public to get supplies.
• Toilet paper, yeast, hand sanitizer, flour, antibacterial wipes and anything Lysol or Clorox is in short supply and limited per person.... IF you can even find them!
• Chicken wings are also getting hard to find, as is beef, because 2 of Canada’s top 3 beef suppliers have been hit hard with outbreaks. Things like milk were limited up to 2 per person. Prescription medications are limited to just one month instead of having multiple months.
• Stores are closing early to disinfect everything. (24 hour stores are even closing by 9pm).
• Store check outs, pharmacies and even fast food drive thru windows have added plexiglass between employee and customer. Have to reach around or under to pay!
• Online shopping and grocery delivery services are at an all-time high.
• There are lines taped and even painted outside the stores for people to line-up to enter with max #'s allowed in a store at a time. There are lines and circles at the check outs to keep people 6 feet apart. There are taped arrows in the aisles to keep flow of traffic one-way as you shop.
• Canada has closed the borders to all non-essential travel.
• No visits or respite/relief allowed for any children in care.
• On April 19, Canada was devastated by the largest mass shooting in our history, 22 lives lost in Nova Scotia. A virtual vigil was held April 24 for the victims, as Canada mourned. On May 1, the PM announced an official ban on assault-style guns.
• As of May 19th, some provinces have chosen to slowly start re-opening businesses in an effort to restart the economy. (Even some of the hardest-hit provinces, like Alberta and Quebec). Some provinces (like Ontario) have chosen only a few outside businesses to open. Taking their time as it is far too soon to lift the full lock-down. Not enough is known yet about the virus and we are still in the middle of the peak. It is still being spread easily and there are still high numbers of deaths. We expect a second and even third wave to hit and the pandemic is expected to last 18-24 months before it is over.
• Air and water pollution are at an all-time low, and animals have been seen going through areas not normally occupied by them.
• The world has quieted, a large hole in the ozone has closed. Our Earth appears to be healing.
• We stay in our homes and make the best of the time we have to spend together with those who live in the same household. People are trying new things, learning new things, playing games, taking the time to read, and we can thankfully stay in touch with loved ones through technology like phones, texts, emails, FaceTime, Skype, and Zoom. Window visits are also on the rise, as people find new and creative ways to show their quarantined loved ones that they are loved, thought of, and cared about. Although this is a different way of life for now, and many things are missed, it’s teaching us not to take those things or people for granted when we do finally reach some sort of “normalcy”, whatever that looks like from here on out.
• People are becoming much more careful and conscientious about hygiene and how it affects not just ourselves, but others.
• People are also realizing there are a lot of material things that we are used to having, that have now become unimportant - we are realizing the difference between need and want, and how unnecessary certain things are in times like these.
• Covid-19 has shown the world what’s important, and that it is indeed possible to come together (by staying apart) for the greater good. It’s teaching us that it is indeed possible, and important, to help more vulnerable people, like the elderly and the homeless. I can’t remember a time when people worked so hard to provide shelter and food for the homeless. Or a time when long-term care residences were in the forefront and it came to light how much more they need from the government and the public, in order to properly care for their residents. It is also teaching us who the real heroes are; it’s not the movie stars and the highly-paid sports stars in all their fame and glory. It’s the front-line workers, the delivery workers, the grocery store clerks, the garbage collectors, and all those who continue to risk their lives to keep the communities fed, clean, housed, healthy and connected.
• May 17th we lost one of our Snowbird representatives (the Public Affairs Officer, Capt Jennifer Casey), on the cross country tour called Operation Inspiration, to lift the spirits of Canadian's. Life is so precious.
This should
be a reminder that life is precious & that nothing should be taken for granted. We are where we are with what we have. Let's be grateful ❤️🧡💛💚💙💜💖


Tuesday, April 09, 2019

5am Club day 2

This is the book I have been talking about. It is going to change my life! Thanks @RobinSharma!

Monday, April 08, 2019

5am Club

https://cvws.icloud-content.com/B/AUctSo1BVr1dkumlVSmkW6_a9g5GAc7VWdMiwy2wThFA6W4v_rwVJxAX/IMG_1098.MOV?o=AnBJczFtbbh16Tk_HS4GW91cpObcyFl-Owt6iYPiEGYz&v=1&x=3&a=CAogw71LU4_yp-hBLUluXA6epf5cVz6MAMqnjhRfaeCFh3YSGxDZqoPuny0Y2br-waktIgEAKggByAD_AN3Vag&e=1557332467&k=B-CPyJQr578xJpoR24YrWw&fl=&r=0F429463-B3AE-4A29-B384-CD3ED7D0A058-1&ckc=com.apple.largeattachment&ckz=13116B3F-3D29-4203-9439-697D23CD5198&p=38&s=kzbM7LlVwREb2sgNgzZzpvnkum0&teh=2

5am Club


Thursday, February 21, 2019

Where have I been??


I cant believe that it has been two years since I wrote on here. I can tell from past entries that the more I used other forms of social media the less I wrote on here. I also have noticed lately well ok for a long while that my FB statuses are getting longer reads instead of just quick notes of what I am doing. So after digging this out of storage I have decided to go back to using this as a journal and to keep my social media for what I am actually doing not for my thoughts. I can almost hear the uproar cheers coming from my fans lol..

Saturday, April 01, 2017

History Book

As most of you that read this, I am passionate about family history. Well at least passionate about mine.. not so excited about John Smith's. I was looking up something in one of my grandparents history book the other week and realized that although the book was less then 10 years old, so much information had changed. People had married, died, given birth, moved etc.

A thought had been niggling at my brain cells for some time now but I kept piling other stuff on top of it pretending like it wasn't existing. But just as I never stop talking in real time, my brain never shuts up either even when I am sleeping so this thought just kept cropping up and getting stronger. I gave myself excuses after excuses most of which began with "I do NOT have any more spare time" but that didn't deter me.

After looking through the book I knew in my heart of hearts what I needed to do. I need to write a new history book of my father's line. I have done so much genealogy on both his parents I am knee deep most days. It isn't that I want to do this book to show others see what I have done... it's because of something my grandmother told me before she died. Her greatest concern was that our family would stop getting together after she was gone. She knew we would all be busy with our lives, jobs, children, and for some of us grandchildren and great-grandchildren. She knew that the only time we would get together if at all would be at funerals and weddings.

My mom told me once when I was whining about why we had to be poor and why people made fun of us when we were growing up, that all you really have in life is your name and your family. She also said to never do anything that would put a tarnish on your name.

I value my heritage. I work hard at keeping traditions that belong to our family. The first thing that attracted me to my church was the focus on families. I was hooked.

End of Projects

I finally completed 3 projects I had on the go for the last month and a bit and I am so happy. Even though they were projects I REALLY enjoyed doing, it still took a lot of time in preparation (yeah I know that OCD perfectionism thing again). Because I had different ones on the go I never seemed to get one completely done before I started another one as they were all running concurrent. This morning I came into my office to clean up, took one look at all the stuff NOT in their proper place, took some pictures to post on here and I am going to back out of the room very quietly, close the door and go find something chocolate to eat!

Projects

I have been working on some projects here for gifts and for some classes I have been teaching. I don't have a "crafty" bone in my body, that was my sister Adele's talent, but I like doing it even if they do tend to come out a tad lop-sided at times. But what the heck...at least I can say they are one of a kind and unique hehehe. So here are a couple of pictures of my new front door wreath that I made a couple of weeks ago as well as photo albums that you make with card stock and scrapbooking papers. This class I taught on Saturday as well as one on one plus making them for presents. Now if only I could learn how to take pictures!!

Pros and Cons of Children

The Price of Children

Something absolutely positive for a change. I have repeatedly seen the breakdown of the cost of raising a child, but this is the first time I have seen the rewards listed this way. It's nice.

The government recently calculated the cost of raising a child from birth to 18 to be $160,140 for a middle income family. Talk about sticker shock! That doesn't even touch college tuition.

But $160,140 isn't so bad if you break it down. It translates into:

* $8,896.66 a year, or

* $741.38 a month, or

* $171.08 a week.

* That's a mere $24.24 a day!

* Just over a dollar an hour.

Still, you might think the best financial advice is if you want to be 'rich', don't have children. Actually, it is just the opposite.

What do you get for your $160,140?

* Naming rights. First, middle, and last!

* Glimpses of God every day.

* Giggles every night.

* More love than your heart can hold.

* Butterfly kisses and Velcro hugs. * Endless wonder over rocks, ants, clouds, and warm cookies.

* A hand to hold, usually covered with jelly or chocolate.

* A partner for blowing bubbles, flying kites.

* Someone to laugh yourself silly with, no matter what the boss said or how your stocks performed that day.

For $160,140, you never have to grow up.

You get to:

* finger-paint,

* carve pumpkins

* play hide-and-seek,

* catch lightning bugs, and

* never stop believing in Santa Claus.

You have an excuse to:

* keep reading "The Adventures of Piglet and Pooh" ,

* watch Saturday morning cartoons,

* go to Disney movies,

And

* wish upon a star.

You also get to:

* frame rainbows, hearts, and flowers under refrigerator magnets, And collect:

* spray painted noodle wreaths for Christmas,

* hand prints set in clay for Mother's Day, and

* cards with backward letters for Father's Day.

For $160,140, there is no bigger bang for your buck.

You get to be a hero just for:

* retrieving a Frisbee off the garage roof,

* taking the training wheels off a bike,

* removing a splinter,

* filling a wading pool,

* coaxing a wad of gum out of bangs, and

* coaching a baseball team that never wins but always gets treated to ice cream regardless.

You get a front row seat to witness history:

* her first step,

* his first word,

* her first bra,

* his first date, and

* their first time behind the wheel.

You get to be immortal. You get another branch added to your family tree, and if you're lucky, a long list of limbs called grandchildren and great grandchildren in your obituary

You get an education in psychology, nursing, criminal justice, communications, andhuman sexuality that no college can match.

In the eyes of a child, you rank right up there under God.

You have the power to:

* heal a boo-boo,

* scare away the monsters under the bed,

* patch a broken heart,

* police a slumber party,

* ground them forever, and

* love them without limits...

So that one day they, like you, will love without counting the cost.

That is quite a deal for the price!

Love & enjoy your children & grandchildren!

Back Up To Speed

Well hello everyone,

Have you all missed me? It has been a very very long past 3 \weeks., There were several times I didn't want to make it as the pain was astromonical I have had to deal it ongoing pain with my FM and De generative Disc Disease so I am used to it but this blows all that out of the water/ Nothing compares to things kind of pain/ But I am working through it all and trying to keep a stiff upper lip.

My Saving Grace

About a year and a half ago I started getting "feelings" about one of our granddaughters. Feeling that I needed to be watching her and not her day care. I couldn't understand why I was feeling like this. This went on for a couple of months and so I talked to Keith as the feelings were getting stronger and stronger. He told me to go with my gut instinct as that has always led me down the right path. So I nonchalantly asked the kids if they had been having problems with their day care but they said no she loved going there etc.

But it still weighed on me that I needed to get her out of day care and here with me so we talked to the kids and told them I would be able to watch her now and they were quite happy and last September I started watching her. Nothing ordinary happened. Then 3 months after she came into our house I was diagnosed with the cancer and then had subsequent surgeries. She has gone with me on these surgeon visits, she has been here when the public health nurse came to change the draining bags etc. She was fascinated about everything they were doing.

Tonight just before Mommy got here to pick her up I was watching her play in the back yard collecting caterpillars and putting them in her collection box and listening to her rattling about crustal us stage and cocoons and butterflies and I listened Io her babbling away in her lone little world and it hit me like a tom of bricks. I was having those feelings for real but they weren't about me saving her it was about her saving me.

The Lord knew what was coming up and he knew that I would need motivation to get out from under my quilt every morning. He knew I would need a reason to get dressed and get outside ever day. he knew that every morning come rain or shine there was a little 4 year old girl at my door.

I get it now. She has saved me on days when all I wanted to do these past 6 months is climb in bed and hide from the world; she was there when I knew she had to get out to get some fresh air and so I got dressed and went for my walks for exercise. I believed her sole purpose in life was to save me. Save me from myself and save me from my pity party.

I wrote her a letter tonight and it is tucked safe in my cedar chest for one day when she is older and will understand who she really was in my eye and how she became my saving grace.

This is Rosaleen. If I didn't know better I wouldn't think that those ties behind her were actual wings. Making her a very beautiful angel sent from my Father in Heaven to help me get back on my feet and off my butt. thanks Sweetheart Nana loves you with all her heart!

My week

How is YOUR day going?

Sounds like the days I have been having lately



First you had trouble getting out of bed

You had a stiff neck.



You washed your hair and couldn't do a thing with it.

You felt like you had a hangover and you weren't even drinking last night.

Your new diet really doesn't seem to be working out.



You pulled a muscle when you tried to exercise.?

Your new hat looked better on you at the store.



You keep losing things.

The boss chewed you out at work.



You got caught in the rain at lunchtime.

Then the lunch you had didn't seem to agree with you.

You feel trapped.

Uninvited guests showed up at dinnertime.



On top of that you think you're coming down with the flu.

And finally, you're alone in the house at night when you think you hear a noise in the basement.

MAYBE TOMORROW WILL BE BETTER?

Thought for the Day


Handle every stressful situation like a dog.



If you can't eat it or play with it, Just pee on it and walk away.

Testament

one day after our brand new temple has been dedicated, I have never been so thankful for the sacrifices of the Prophet Joseph Smith and all the pioneers,,,,,for what they have done so that we may worship without fear of persecution ...My heart, mind and soul is overflowed with emotion and love for all those who gave up their lives so that we, today, are able to give of ourselves freely...... My prayer is that we never take our membership for granted, that we always remember

Thursday, January 01, 2015

Happy New Year and Letting it Go!

HAPPY NEW YEAR everyone!! Man it has been such a long time since I have been on here..,,,, that's what you get for having Facebook :). It has been a roller coaster of a year so many bad things happened in our family! 4 deaths starting with my godfather who was one of my uncles, my older brother, a month later my stepfather then a couple of months later one of my nephews. Add to that my mom was diagnosed with Alzheimers and had to move her from her house to a city into an apartment... everything was changing so fast for her and it pushed her into irrational thinking and a lot of emotional upheaval.

I went from being able to speak to my mom every 2-3 days to now I go a couple of weeks with no contact. This 2 hour zone time difference really hurts.. We would always talk for over an hour just chit chatting about everything and nothing and a couple hours later talk some more. Now when I do connect with her I am lucky if I can get a 10 minute conversation. My brain tells me it is all part of Alzheimer but my heart just grieves on top of all the grief it has had to already deal with this year.

I stopped making new year resolutions years ago usually just trying to better myself into being a better person. But this year I am going to do things differently. Having a lot of young grandchildren we have watched the movie Frozen numerous times this past year. I have loved watching them do the dance moves to the songs and sing them even the littlest ones who just say GOOOO and stamp their foot. Even when we opened our Christmas presents on the 20th at our oldest son's home Elsa made an appearance and it was priceless to watch the faces of the little kids!! I would have liked to have seen my face!

And so this past week while we were in Alberta at our other son's home I thought of that song and how it "clicked" that was what I was going to try and live my life by this coming year..by letting things go....

"Don't let them in, don't let them see
Be the good girl you always have to be
Conceal, don't feel, don't let them know"

I will let go of the feelings of always having to be in control and not letting anyone see (other than a VERY VERY few) the real me, the me that hurts, that suffers

"My power flurries through the air into the ground
My soul is spiraling in frozen fractals all around
And one thought crystallizes like an icy blast
I'm never going back,
The past is in the past!"

I am going to let go of the grief that has been holding me prisoner for a long time. I will never be able to bring them back. They would not want me or anyone else feeling like this. I will let it go. I will remember the good parts of their lives that I shared with them. I will laugh at the memories and smile at the silliness of things we did. I will still miss them But I need to let it go. By being so wrapped up in it, I have let my sisters in law and other brother down by not being more involved with helping them with their grief. I was being so selfish.But no more. I will miss them all very much but will let go of the grief.

"Let it go, let it go
And I'll rise like the break of dawn
Let it go, let it go
That perfect girl is gone!"

I will let go of the need to be perfect all the time..in my personal life, in my career, in my projects etc.. all of it.. I don't need to be perfect in any aspect of my life. Too much energy and focus has been spent trying to always be perfect. It has affected my body and my health greatly.

" The snow glows white on the mountain tonight
Not a footprint to be seen
A kingdom of isolation,
And it looks like I'm the queen."

Having a snowfall makes everything white outside before cars and people traipse all over. I see this as a rebirth.. a newness where I can start over.

I am so thankful for the years I have spent with my family. The good parts and the not so good parts; for everything we have shared for every chance we had to grow; I will take the best of them with me and take them wherever I go; Keith told me to always be honest so here it goes. This isn't what I want but I will take the high road..maybe it is because I always look at things as lessons, or because I don't want to walk around angry anymore or maybe it's because I finally understand. There are things that have happened that we did not want to have happened  but have to accept. Things we don't want to know but have to learn. And people we can't live without but have to let go.

It will be a very difficult year working on letting it go.. it has been my security blanket for many years; but I will continue to take baby steps each and every day. May 2015 be YLUR year to be the person YOU want it to be. May all wishes come true and dreams come alive

Let it go!!

Sally





Tuesday, October 28, 2014

Slowing Down

For a very long time, but more so more now than ever, I am being told basically the same thing... that I need to slow down.... slow down from what? Slow down and do what? Lay around on the couch watching tv all day??? I also have had a couple of conversations from well meaning people telling me that the reason I do not have another calling at church is because I "am too busy". Really? I thought callings were given by the Lord not from local leaders. If that was the case I would not be getting the thought from the Lord that there is a different job waiting for me and that perhaps I should be asking for it (even though I do not know what it is) because it is obvious the calling will not come otherwise.

I keep busy for several reasons and I thought I would try and explain it to all of you so that perhaps you can understand where I am coming from. And why it upsets me when I hear this. Compared to the life I lived in Sask right up to the time I move here over 25 years ago, I was in the Ward AND Stake Primary Presidency (which encompassed the entire province), I worked full time as a nurse at one of our hospitals and also worked at 3 different part time jobs to put Keith through school all the while raising 5 teens. I also was a visiting teacher and trying to work my schedule along my companion and the women we visited was a feat deserving medals but I never missed. Once. So compared to that I HAVE slowed down a lot.

Another reason I do what I do with the Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation is because they saved me after my bilateral mastectomies from my breast cancer. If it had not been for my familial support and the CBCF and my family I would have had a nervous breakdown. I am as sure of that as if I was standing here breathing. They were there for my first run with my family. They have been there every year since when I did my run. Two years ago I knew I could no longer do the actual run physically so started being on the executive planning committee to plan the Run for the Cure Surrey location.

Seeing the looks on the faces of the survivors, the hugs from their families thanking us for doing this event for them makes all the lack of sleep worth every minute. While I am busy helping other survivors regain their equilibrium I can forget that I still have cancer cells floating around in my body. In the middle of the night when all is quiet for me and everything that needed to be done that day is done my mind takes over and then all my fears come to the front of my brain and all of the negative aspect of cancer and my other health issues comes out of hiding to freak me out.

I REFUSE to give in to my fears. I REFUSE to ever give up. I REFUSE to ever stop trying to better myself. It is interesting that my Lord was also focused on compassionate service as he neared his mortal ministry. At one point he even took off his garment to wash the feet of his servants rather than the other way around. It was a natural thing and appropriate that his last instructions to his disciples was to love and serve one another. This was a task for the servants He a Lord but He went about this task.

In John 13:12-17 it states:
 12 So after he had washed their feet, and had taken his garments, and was set down again, he said unto them, Know ye what I have done to you?
 13 Ye call me Master and Lord: and ye say well; for so I am.
 14 If I then, your Lord and Master, have washed your feet; ye also ought to wash one another’s feet.
 15 For I have given you an example, that ye should do as I have done to you.
 16 Verily, verily, I say unto you, The servant is not greater than his lord; neither he that is sent greater than he that sent him..
 17 If ye know these things, happy are ye if ye do them.

I can't help to think that if this service task was important for the Lord to do then who on earth am I to not help others? The Lord taught that if He could spend His last precious moments teaching compassionate service to this disciples then it must be of equal importance for us to continue serving Him. 

I have a degenerative spine which 10 years ago had me in a wheelchair. I knew I had to lose weight before I was permanently paralyzed. Which I did to the tune of 150 pounds in two years. People kept telling me then as well to slow down that I did not have to walk 5K every day. But it was being fit healthily and it saved me when I was diagnosed with cancer. Had I not done all that work I would not have survived 10 surgeries in 4 years. 

So the next time you think of telling me to slow down or to not do so much please do not. The Lord and I are in tune. When the pain gets too much Keith and other Priesthood holders in my family and circle come and help Keith give me a blessing with the laying on of hands and I am instantly better. Whenever I have a huge project coming up I break down all my tasks so there is no procrastination and I am not left at the end with so much work to do. I know my limits. I know I do not sleep for more than 3 hours in any given night. I have learned to lay down a couple of times a day for 15 minute catnaps. I have learned to stop when the pain gets too strained and I am unable to handle. You just never see me like that. Ever. Very few people ever get to outside of my family. But I do know my limits.

So please believe me when I say I have my life under control and that I wished people would just let me live it. I would also wish people would stop NOT asking me to do things because they think they know whats better for me than I do. If I know I can't do it I will tell you I cannot. I promise.

Ok off my soapbox now. Just wanted to let you know what was going on with me