Life goes on

It never ceases to amaze me that no matter what has happened in your life, whether it's big things - like the accident (see previous post) to small things - like day to day living, that life continues to go on. I know, it's not that profound, but there are moments that I wish I could freeze frame and enjoy just a little bit longer.

Last Sunday was one such day. Krystle was home from school and she had convinced her brother Darcy to play a game of Guess who?

For those of you who've never played, here's a brief summary of the game: each player picks a card of the characters that are on the identical boards and you begin by asking questions that would define their character. IE: Does your person wear glasses? or Is your person a girl?, and so on. Until you only have one person left 'standing' and are able to guess who. On the box is says recommended for ages 8 - 12. Did I mention that Krystle is 21 and Darcy is 18?

So anyway, they decide to play this game with a little twist and called it Subjective Guess Who?
Questions varied anywhere from Does your person play the tuba? or Is your person involved in the Russian Mafia? or my all time favourite Does your person smell of cheese? I don't think I've laughed so hard in my life. I mean how can you decide the answers to those questions. Ironically, out of the 5 games they played they were able to correctly guess who 4 of them.

Blessings

Thankful

I am so thankful today. I mean most days I'm usually thankful but today.... well you read the story and then tell me.

We received a phone call this morning at 12:45 AM from the Huron OPP informing us that our son Darcy had been in a 'minor' accident. As I'm listening to the officer explain the situation to me, my brain is unable to comprehend the words being said as I am only able to hear the pounding of my heart.

Learning that Darcy was OK, I was then able to understand that we were needed to come to the scene of the accident so we could pick him up and bring him home. Coming upon the scene of any accident usually gives me goosebumps but knowing that someone I love dearly was involved had me full of tears as we approached this accident scene.

I was overwhelmed with emotions as I saw my son get out of the police cruiser and saw that he was OK. After seeing that he was OK, we then took a look at the vehicle, thankfully it was too dark, or I might have really lost it.

Later today, I then went to Exeter Collision to see how badly it was damaged and to retrieve any personal items from the truck.
This is the front fender on the passenger side where it hit the telephone pole.


The diver side rear fender as he bounced around and landed in the ditch, after rolling it once.


And a view of the tailgate.


If I stop and think about what could have happened.....
So needless to say I am thankful. Today and always.

Give thanks to the LORD, for HE is good. Psalm 136:1

Blessings

Autumn

Today is the 'official' first day of Autumn and it's probably my favourite time of the year. I enjoy the warm sunny days, the cool nights and the slowing of the season. It's a good time to reflect on the busyness of the summer and to intentionally slow life down and settle into winter.

ROAD LESS TRAVELED - by Robert Frost
Two roads diverged in a yellow wood
And sorry I could not travel both
And be one traveler, long I stood
And looked down one as far as I could
To where it bent in the undergrowth

Then took the other as just as fair
And having perhaps the better claim
Because it was grassy and wanted wear
Though as for that, the passing there
Had worn them really about the same

And both that morning equally lay
In leaves no step had trodden black
Oh, I kept the first for another day!
Yet, knowing how way leads onto way
I doubted if I should ever come back

I shall be telling this with a sigh
Somewhere ages and ages hence
Two roads diverged in a wood
And I took the one less traveled by
And that has made all the difference

Have you ever looked back at your life and wondered what it would have been like had you taken the other road?

Blessings

RCMP Musical Ride

On Thursday September 11, I along with Lorraine and her kids enjoyed watching the Royal Canadian Mounted Police Musical Ride.
Here are just a few of the highlights.

It was a captivating show.

They performed many different routines.

Truly an awesome display of riding.

One of the lines in an Alan Jackson song is: where were you when the world stopped turning on that Septemeber day, for many of us we can remember exactly where we were 7 years ago when we heard the news about the planes that crashed into the twin towers.
This was definitely a better way to remember 9/11.

Blessings

Vows

On September 6, 1986: Wayne & I celebrated 22 years of marriage. We enjoyed a delicious dinner at a new restaurant called 'Milestones' in London. This was the beautiful sunset to end our day.

Saturday's weather was quite a bit like our wedding day, warm & sunny with a gentle breeze blowing, as we said these vows to each other: "I promise to stay by your side as we walk down the pathway of life together. To always be near you for better or worse, richer or poorer and in sickness and health. To know that you love only me for who I am today, I choose you to be my husband/wife, to laugh with you in joy, to grieve with you in sorrow, to grow with you in love and to be faithful to you alone. I promise to love, honour and obey you from this day forward and as long as we shall both live. I give you this ring as a token of my never-ending unbroken love for you."

Words can be easily spoken, vows should not be. Vows should only be spoken after understanding the depth of importance to what you are committing to.

It's not always been a bed of roses for us,
we've had our share of ups & downs, good times & some tough times.

It takes a commitment on both parties to make any marriage last. I once heard it said that marriage is a 50 - 50 partnership. I disagree, I believe each partner has to give 100%, not worrying what they are getting but what they are giving, only then can we truly serve each other with the love like Christ.

Blessings

Domesticated

This time of year it seems, is time for taking in the harvest, whether it's from the field or from the garden.

Wayne & I had a garden this year, we grew corn, potatoes, peas, onions, tomatoes, green peppers, habenero peppers (like jalapeno, only hotter), cantaloupe & watermelons. It's always amazing watching those planted seeds grow.

With all the tomato plants I decided this year that I was going to can some of them away. So one day last week I packed up some green tomatoes and some onions and I headed down to my Mom's, where we made Relish.


Earlier this week I again took tomatoes this time they were red, onions, and both kinds of the peppers and my Aunt Virginia and I made salsa.

What a wonderful way to enjoy the garden goodies in the winter.

Blessings

Routine

So it's back to routine around here. Wayne is busing the St. Anne's Catholic high school kids, again this year.

About 5 years ago, Wayne decided he needed to be around home a little more and was looking for change in his work. I encouraged him to work as a hired dairy man for a neighbour and to try for his bus license. Together these two jobs would give him enough work, helping to keep him out of trouble ^.^
He got his Bus license and before he was finished with the training he was offered a full time bus run. He also talked to the neighbour and was given the opportunity to return to his first love - farming.

The spring & fall are a little more busy as both busing and farming are busy. However, in the summer when there is no bus, he is able to give his full attention to farming and likewise, during the winter when there is very little if any farm work, the busing can have his full attention. We've been enjoying this lifestyle choice.

Darcy decided last year that he wasn't planning on going to post-secondary school the following year but would rather return to high school and get a few more credits, or as the fifth year is more commonly known as 'the victory lap'.

I quite enjoy having him home for one more year. It seems like the last four years of high school have gone so quickly. I read Melanie's blog about living in the sweet spot and I must admit that I am there right now. I absolutely LOVE having adult kids and interacting with them in their lives, I am truly enjoying my job and I'm trying to take as many opportunities that I can to bless a young mom and help look after her kids. ahhh life is good

Blessings

A day to celebrate

It was twenty years ago today... Kyle Wayne joined our family. He came into this world at 20" long and weighing in at 8lbs 13 oz and today he's 6' 3" and about 240 lbs. I was with my dear friend Monica yesterday and as we got to talking I explained how Kyle is celebrating his 20th birthday and that it just doesn't seem possible. It feels like only yesterday that we brought him home from the hospital. Time has gone by so quickly. We now only have one teenager left.

As is tradition at our house the birthday person chooses the dinner menu. So Kyle decided to have Stuffed Chicken, Garlic Potatoes, Green Peas, Caesar Salad, Garlic Bread and of course Angel food cake for dessert for his birthday supper. mmhmmm it was good


For his present we gave him floor mats, steering wheel cover and a CD holder for his car. All three of these had the Disney's Tasmanian devil character on them.


You'd never know that this kid is twenty, sometimes he can be so silly....


...and do just about anything to get a rise out of me - he's a little bit like his Papa that way.

We had a wonderful day together celebrating his birthday.

Blessings