a time to celebrate

one of the most influential men in my life..... my dad!

It was great to get together with the family to celebrate his birthday. We enjoyed a delicious lunch at Kings's Buffet in Stratford then back to the house for an afteroon of games, visiting and cake, ice cream and of course fresh strawberries, YUM!

Happy Birthday Dad, may you have a wonderful year, full of great health, happiness and many, many blessings! Looking forward to next year when you turn the big 7 - 0!!

Blessings

Road Trip?!?

Anyone up for a roadtrip? Thankfully my mom was up for the task. Bright and early this morning we headed to Orillia to pick up Kyle and bring him home for his reading week. After 10 hours on the road I am glad to be home! Even more glad to have both boys home for the week. It's going to be GREAT!

Blessings

Me 'n her

Krystle & I both had errands in London and since we were both done work early today, we decided to go together. Ironically both Krys and I are directionally challenged; so we googled our directions but without a printer we thought we could memorize the route needed. We found our first destination without any incident, so we excitedly left for our next stop. Funny thing though, as we headed out knowing our way, we got to chatting {imagine that} and totally missed our road, not too much of a problem we just needed to turn around. But then..... I forgot which way we wanted to go and so we chattered back and forth that if we wanted to turn left coming from the other way then it only makes sense that we wanted to turn right... is that right??? yes, were pretty sure, but still kept questioning ourselves until we were at the next place. She posted her thoughts on her blog here.

Time spent with Krystle is always such a blessing. This picture was taken of us taking our picture at Krystle's spring banquet while she was still attending Heritage.

love time with me'n her.

Blessings

Empty House

From one extreme to another. {sigh}

This past weekend was a blur. A wonderful, blissful, blur. In this post I mention how excited I was to have everyone home. Even though it was only for a short time, my house was full. Unfortunately all good things must come to an end. Kyle returned to Orillia, Darcy to London and Krystle & Gerard to Exeter; leaving Wayne & I home alone...... Once I get back into the routine of it being just us, I'll be ok, but right when they first leave..... my heart just aches. {double sigh}

Blessings

At a crossroad

Making decisions does not come easy for me. I tend to procrastinate and think long and hard before deciding, on just about anything. Wayne & I find ourselves at a crossroad in our lives. Trying to decide which is the best way for us. It's like we're standing at a fork in the road, not seeing what's around the bend and we're hesitating on which way we should go. Reminds me of the poem The Road Not Taken 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 marked the first for another day!
Yet knowing how way leads on to 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,
I took the one less traveled by,
And that has made all the difference.

Blessings

Full house

This weekend our house is full and I love it! Kyle came home from Orillia for the weekend as he and his Dad are in a volleyball tournament. Anna, a friend from school drove him down and was also in the tourney. Darcy who comes home most weekends from school, also was here. And before the night was over, I got a call from Krystle & Gerard wondering if they too can come out to the farm for a sleep-over. I was giddy with excitement. It was wonderful having everyone home. I felt a little like the woman who lived in the shoe. With so many kids home at the same time the big question was 'where will everyone sleep'. So we improvised. Anna slept in Kyle's room, Kyle slept on a mattress in the den, Krystle & Gerard had Darcy's bed and Darcy, well he got the couch. Wayne & I have become accustomed to it being just us; but ooohh it was wonderful to have everyone home together again. Almost like Christmas!

Blessings

A day for me

Even as I write that title, I have this sense of overwhelming guilt spread through me. After all, Anita you don't really need day for yourself do you? There are clothes to launder, the house to clean, dishes to wash, meals to be made, the dog to be walked, groceries to buy, and the list goes on. Is it because of the way I was raised or is it women in general; that feel guilty when we take time for ourselves? We'll book our days full with work and appointments, we'll even schedule time for friends, but have you ever scheduled a date with yourself. Do you know what I mean? Time for you. Spent reading if that's your thing, going to the coffee shop, taking time to journal or even taking a luxurious bath in the middle of the day. It seems we're willing to give and give and give and yet when it's time to take time for ourselves we somehow think we're being selfish. Today was a nice surprise, normally I work on Thursdays but this week I switched my day and worked on Monday. So I booked a ME day. With no agenda, I did what I wanted, went where I felt like it and basically took the day for me. Do I feel guilty? Yes unfortunately. Will I stop taking a day for me? NOPE! I figure the more I take these days for me, the more I'll get used to them. ^.^

For all the women reading this; I have a challenge for you. Book a day for yourself in the next couple of weeks and slowly teach yourself that you are just as important as all those things you do. By taking a day to rest & rejuvenate you'll find that you're able to deal with everything else you've got going on in your life.

Blessings

What is love?

With Valentine's over and the paraphernalia of that day packed away for another year. It makes me wonder..... shouldn't we show love to those around us all the year through, not just at Valentines? With our own unique personalities we all give & receive love differently. According to Dr. Gary Chapman, Christian counselor and author of The Five Love Languages, we need to understand the importance of being able to express love to our spouse in a way that our spouse can understand. He calls this type of communicating using the five love languages. Chapman's Five Emotional Love Languages:
•Words of Affirmation: This is when you say how nice your spouse looks, or how great the dinner tasted. These words will also build your mate's self image and confidence. Actions don’t always speak louder than words. If this is your love language, unsolicited compliments mean the world to you. Hearing the words, “I love you,” are important—hearing the reasons behind that love sends your spirits skyward. Insults can leave you shattered and are not easily forgotten.

•Quality Time: Some spouses believe that being together, doing things together and focusing in on one another is the best way to show love. If this is your partner's love language, turn off the TV now and then and give one another some undivided attention. In the vernacular of Quality Time, nothing says, “I love you,” like full, undivided attention. Being there for this type of person is critical, but really being there—with the TV off, fork and knife down, and all chores and tasks on standby—makes your significant other feel truly special and loved. Distractions, postponed dates, or the failure to listen can be especially hurtful.

•Gifts: It is universal in human cultures to give gifts. They don't have to be expensive to send a powerful message of love. Spouses who forget a birthday or anniversary or who never give gifts to someone who truly enjoys gift giving will find themselves with a spouse who feels neglected and unloved. Don’t mistake this love language for materialism; the receiver of gifts thrives on the love, thoughtfulness, and effort behind the gift. If you speak this language, the perfect gift or gesture shows that you are known, you are cared for, and you are prized above whatever was sacrificed to bring the gift to you. A missed birthday, anniversary, or a hasty, thoughtless gift would be disastrous—so would the absence of everyday gestures.

•Acts of Service: Discovering how you can best do something for your spouse will require time and creativity. These acts of service like vacuuming, hanging a bird feeder, planting a garden, etc., need to be done with joy in order to be perceived as a gift of love. Can vacuuming the floors really be an expression of love? Absolutely! Anything you do to ease the burden of responsibilities weighing on an “Acts of Service” person will speak volumes. The words he or she most want to hear: “Let me do that for you.” Laziness, broken commitments, and making more work for them tell speakers of this language their feelings don’t matter.

•Physical Touch: Sometimes just stroking your spouse's back, holding hands, or a peck on the cheek will fulfill this need. This language isn’t all about the bedroom. A person whose primary language is Physical Touch is, not surprisingly, very touchy. Hugs, pats on the back, holding hands, and thoughtful touches on the arm, shoulder, or face—they can all be ways to show excitement, concern, care, and love. Physical presence and accessibility are crucial, while neglect or abuse can be unforgivable and destructive.

How do you determine you own love language? By asking yourself these questions: How do I express love to others? What do I complain about the most? What do I request most often? you can learn about your love language. Speaking in your spouse's love language probably won't be natural for you. Dr. Chapman says, "We're not talking comfort. We're talking love. Love is something we do for someone else. So often couples love one another but they aren't connecting. They are sincere, but sincerity isn't enough."

After the first or second year of marriage, when the initial "tingle" is starting to fade, many couples find that their "love tanks" are empty. They may have been expressing love for their spouse, but in reality they may have been speaking a different love language. The best way to fill your spouse's love tank is to express love in their love language. Each of us has a primary love language. Usually, couples don't have the same love language. Not sure of your love language, take the online quiz.

And let's keep loving each other the whole year through!

Blessings

My Sweetheart

Wayne & I have been together for.... oh so many years. 26 in fact. We met in 1985, fell in love. Were married in 1986. Had three kids {Krystle, Kyle & Darcy} in the next four years and through better or worse, richer or poorer, sickness and in health, we've stuck together.

We've celebrated many joys, suffered through loss, struggled together, and supported each other as many difficult decisions had to be made. It hasn't all been easy. At some points, Wayne & I are polar opposites, and yet we both are very opinionated and can be strong-willed at times. Whoever said marriage is 50-50 was lying. In a good marriage you need to give 100% without worrying about getting anything in return, and if both partners do that, there would be nothing to worry about. Unfortunately we've become so self-absorbed and we expect that significant other in our lives to do it all while we do nothing in return. That's not true love.

This is:

1 Corinthians 13: 1- 8 & 13
If I speak in the tongues of men or of angels, but do not have love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing. If I give all I possess to the poor and give over my body to hardship that I may boast, but do not have love, I gain nothing. Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails. And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.

I am loved.

Blessings

Julie & Julia

We just finished watching the movie Julie & Julia. The film contrasts the life of chef Julia Child {Meryl Streep} in the early years of her culinary career with the life of young New Yorker Julie Powell {Amy Adams}, who aspires to cook all 524 recipes in Child's cookbook in 365 days. A challenge she described on her popular blog that would make her a published author.

In 2002, Julie Powell is a young writer with an unpleasant job. To do something she enjoys, she decides to cook every recipe in Mastering the Art of French Cooking and blogs to motivate herself and document her progress. Woven into the story, is the story of Child's time in Paris throughout the 1950s, where she attends Le Cordon Bleu to learn French cooking and begins collaborating on a book about French cooking for American housewives. The plot highlights similarities in the challenges encountered by both of them. Eventually, Powell's blog is featured in a story published in The New York Times, after which her project begins to receive the attention of journalists, literary agents, publishers. The last scene shows Powell and her husband visiting Child's kitchen at the Smithsonian Institution and Child in the same kitchen receiving a first print of her cookbook and celebrating the event with her husband.

Based on two true stories, this movie was fabulous. Two different women, in two different time eras. Both getting the much support needed from their husbands, to become the best they can be. Definitely one to see.

Blessings

Thankful

Today, this was left on my desk by a very sweet lady. For no particular reason and at random times throughout the year she'll bless me with a plant, or fresh-cut flowers. She likes to remind me that she values who I am and what I do at the office.

It never ceases to amaze me at the timing of these wondrous gifts.

Blessings

Masks

Have you heard the phrase, “You can’t judge a book by its cover”? It’s true. Most of the time, people are not who they seem to be. They think that others will be offended or disgusted when you see them for who they really are. So, everyday they hide behind the mask.

What is the mask? It’s smiles, laughter, a short temper, an indifferent attitude or acting clueless. We show whatever type of face or attitude that will keep the demons away. The mask is a lie, you may think that hiding your pain is helping you live but instead, it is holding you prisoner.

Here’s a scenario that everyone can relate to: someone in your life hurts you. It could be physical, verbal or emotional. When it’s over, they walk away without apology or regret. Because they don’t care, you refuse to forgive them. That unforgiving attitude turns you into someone else. You lash out at people with your tongue or even your fists. All the while, the person who hurt you is walking around without any thought of you whatsoever. Does this sound familiar? God wants to heal your wounds. Jesus died on the cross so that you could be free from bearing that pain alone (Isaiah 53:5). If you’ve never read the Bible or it has been a long time, here are a few people you need to become acquainted with: The woman at the well, the Samaritan woman, the woman with the issue of blood. Their wounds weren't evident to others, except Jesus. Their belief in Jesus healed the source of their pain.

Living with your pain is not God’s will. He wants to heal your mind, body and soul through His love and your faith that He can do it. This doesn’t mean that the pain goes away all at once. Sometimes physical pain can stay with you as a lesson through your life to others who are suffering. God’s love can turn difficult circumstances into something that can benefit your life and give Him glory! Many bitter people are holding on to hurt, hiding behind the mask they've created. Giving up the pain you have hidden for so long means you are opening yourself up to the possibility of more pain. But, God won’t hurt you. Let His healing wash out the fear and bring you back to life once again.

Dr. Seuss quote "Be who you are and say what you feel because those who mind don't matter and those who matter don't mind." can help gain the confidence you might need to take off your mask. We all wear masks at one time or another; what is it, in your life that you need to be healed from so that your mask can come off?

Blessings

Blue Castle

Canadian author Lucy Maude Montgomery, probably most famous for her novels "Anne of Green Gables" wrote the book "The Blue Castle". The story takes place in the early 1920s in the fictional town of Deerwood, located in the Muskoka region of Ontario, Canada.

From the dust jacket:

Valancy has never been in love and, at twenty-nine, fears she never will be. She lives a drab life with her overbearing mother and prying aunt, finding solace in John Foster's forbidden books and her fantasies of the Blue Castle. Then a shocking diagnosis from Dr. Trent prompts Valancy to make a fresh start. For the first time in her life, she does and says exactly what she feels. She abruptly leaves home to nurse her consumptive schoolmate Cissy and begins spending time the "jailbird" Barney Snaith. As she meets new people and experiences new things, Valancy undergoes a transformation, discovering a whole new world of love and happiness.

One of L.M. Montgomery's only novels with an adult heroine, it's filled with humour and romance. While it does give the sappy 'happily ever after' ending, I still found it to be an enjoyable read and would I highly recommend it.

Blessings

Let it Be

Do you ever get a song stuck in your head? I've had this one rolling around through my head for that last few days.

The Beatles (Lennon/McCartney)
Let It Be
When I find myself in times of trouble, mother Mary comes to me,
speaking words of wisdom, let it be.
And in my hour of darkness she is standing right in front of me,
speaking words of wisdom, let it be.

Let it be, let it be, let it be, let it be.
Whisper words of wisdom, let it be.

And when the broken hearted people living in the world agree,
there will be an answer, let it be.
For though they may be parted there is still a chance that they will see,
there will be an answer. let it be.

Let it be, let it be, .....

And when the night is cloudy, there is still a light, that shines on me,
shine until tomorrow, let it be.
I wake up to the sound of music, mother Mary comes to me,
speaking words of wisdom, let it be.

Let it be, let it be, .....

Mostly, it's the chorus that I keep repeating. A mantra, if you will. 2010 was a year we saw a lot of change, personally and professionally. I can't but wonder if this song is a gentle reminder, to allow {let} stuff {it} to happen {be}.

Blessings

Ground hog Day

On February 2, we anticipate when the groundhog emerges from its burrow to see whether or not it will see it's shadow. According to folklore, if it is cloudy on the day, it leaves the burrow, that signifies that winter will soon end. If it is sunny, the groundhog will supposedly see its shadow and retreat back into its burrow, and winter will continue for six more weeks.

Remember the movie Groundhog Day? With Bill Murray who plays Phil Connors, an egocentric Pittsburgh TV weatherman who, during a hated assignment covering the annual Groundhog Day event in Punxsutawney, finds himself repeating the same day over and over again. After indulging in hedonism and numerous suicide attempts, he begins to reexamine his life and priorities.

The plot from Wikipedia with self-centered and sour TV meteorologist Phil Connors (Bill Murray), news producer Rita (Andie MacDowell) and cameraman Larry (Chris Elliott) from fictional Pittsburgh television station WPBH-TV9. They travel to Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania, to cover the annual Groundhog Day festivities with Punxsutawney Phil. Having grown tired of this assignment, Phil grudgingly gives his report and attempts to return to Pittsburgh when a blizzard shuts down the roads. Phil and his team are forced to stay in town an extra day.

Phil wakes up to find that he is reliving February 2. The day plays out exactly as it did before, with no one else aware of the time loop, and only Phil is aware of past events. At first he is confused, but, when the phenomenon continues on subsequent days, he decides to take advantage of the situation with no fear of long-term consequences: he learns secrets from the town's residents, seduces women, steals money, drives recklessly, and gets thrown in jail. However, his attempts to get closer to Rita repeatedly fail.

Eventually, Phil becomes despondent and tries more and more drastically to end the time loop; he gives ridiculous and offensive reports on the festival, and eventually kidnaps Punxsutawney Phil and, after a long police chase, drives into a quarry, appearing to kill both himself and the groundhog. However, Phil wakes up and finds that nothing has changed; further attempts at suicide are just as fruitless as he continues to find himself awaking on the morning of February 2.

When Phil explains the situation to Rita, she suggests that he should take advantage of it to improve himself. Inspired, Phil endeavors to try to learn more about Rita, building upon his knowledge of her and the town each day. He begins to use his by now vast experience of the day to help as many people around town as possible. He uses the time to learn, among other things, to play piano, ice sculpt and speak French.

Eventually, Phil is able to befriend almost everyone he meets during the day, using his experiences to save lives, help townspeople, and to get closer to Rita. He crafts a report on the Groundhog Day celebration so eloquent that all the other stations turn their microphones to him. After the evening dance, Rita and Phil retire together to Phil's room. He wakes the next morning and finds the time loop is broken; it is now February 3 and Rita is still with him. Phil is a different person than he was on February 1 and, after going outside, Phil and Rita talk about living in Punxsutawney together.

What would you do if you got the chance to relive the same day over and over again? Would you see it as curse or would you, like Phil, take advantage of the opportunity?

Blessings

LOST - finale

Well "The time has come," the Walrus said, "To talk of many things: Of shoes--and ships--and sealing-wax--Of cabbages--and kings--And why the sea is boiling hot--" naw that's not it...... the time has come that our season of watching LOST is over. Wayne & I bought ourselves all six seasons in a sweet Collectors Edition box and most nights we would find ourselves completely absorbed in watching an episode, or two, or even the whole disc. As we became familiar with the stories of Jack, Kate, Hurley, Charlie, Claire, Jinn, Sun, Locke and my favourite Sawyer we began to really become engrossed in their adventures on the island.

What a great finale!!! The writers really pulled the multiple story lines together and wrapped them up to finish the series well. But it got me to thinking..... how are we any different? Many of us are 'lost'. Living on an 'island'. Going here and there. Doing this and that. All trying to do our best. Doing what we think is right. We take advice from many different people in our lives hoping to discern for ourselves whether we're right in the end. But are we, are you? How do you know?

No one wants to be 'lost', we all want to be found.

Luke 15:3-7 (New International Version, ©2010) Then Jesus told them this parable: “Suppose one of you has a hundred sheep and loses one of them. Doesn’t he leave the ninety-nine in the open country and go after the lost sheep until he finds it? And when he finds it, he joyfully puts it on his shoulders and goes home. Then he calls his friends and neighbors together and says, ‘Rejoice with me; I have found my lost sheep.’ I tell you that in the same way there will be more rejoicing in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who do not need to repent."

Blessings