Happy Baby

Grayson was very excited to get her new trike from Vanessa and Eyon.

Happy Birthday Grayson!

Grayson's 1st Birthday was this past Saturday...September is a busy month. Both of Jamie's sisters had babies only 4 days apart!

Luckily, Grayson lives here in Brampton so we can actually see her grow up. She is just so cute and petite. Watching her walk around surprises me, she doesn't look nearly tall enough to do so.

I was also amazed to see her opening her presents...she gets so excited for a baby so young. You can just see the look on her face when she sees the Winnie the Pooh cake...perhaps her expressions and actions are a mimic of her old sister, Taylor, who can be quite the comedian at times.

I pray for the very best in life for this tiny girl with the button nose. If only we could keep them as young and innocent as on their very first birthday!

Death of a Sparrow

I am sad.

Today, a little sparrow flew into the wall on the outside of our building at work. A guy here at work saw it happen and brought the injured bird to me in the office. Over the years I have become a bit of an animal rights activist in our company - calling the humane society for stray cats and raccoons, chasing seagulls ensnared in fishing line, burying dead birds in our flower garden.

But today I thought I might actually save one of God's creatures. This little "guy" (I kept calling it a boy) was unconscious but breating when handed to me. Jennifer and I prepared a little box with towels, a tiny dish of water, and bagel crumbs. Within the first hour, the little sparrow was chirping a little bit and fluttering about the box. But then he would quickly topple over and close his eyes, still not strong enough to go outside and fly away.

I called the Ontario SPCA Wildlife Rehabilitation Center for help. There were no centers close enough to me here in Brampton to deal with wildlife. But they did direct me to the Brampton Humane Society who told me to keep the little guy in a dark, warm, and quiet place inside a box. They said if he didn't seem strong enough to fly then I should wait for about 6 hours. "It could have a broken clavical", they said (that's the collar bone), "if it isn't back to normal by the end of your work day then we'll come by and pick it up." "That's all you can do", they said, "either the bird will make it or it won't".

Yeah I know....tons of people in the office had given up on the bird already, telling me they would have simply left it outside to die where it lay. Some of them would look in the box and kinda snicker as if I was just being ridiculous. I freaked out a bit at one guy and told him he was an idiot with no respect. I place much more value on a life than simply giving up on it.

Maybe I am silly. The bird did die. It was okay when I left for lunch but when I checked on him an hour later, he was gone. At least he was comfortable, I think. Cozy inside warm towels instead of laying outside on the cold pavement.

I feel teary-eyed. I think of a bible verse (as I often do when I'm troubled). Luke 12:6 says:

"Are not five sparrows sold for two pence? and not one of them is forgotten in
the sight of God." (ASV)

And Joan reminded me of a Sunday School song she used to know. I "googled" for the words:

God sees the little sparrow fall,
It meets His tender view;
If God so loves the little birds,
I know He loves me, too.

He loves me, too, He loves me, too, I know
He loves me, too;
Because He loves the little things,I know He loves me, too.

He paints the lily of the field,
Perfumes each lily bell;
If He so loves the little flow’rs,
I know He loves me well.

God made the little birds and
flow’rs,
And all things large and small;
He’ll not forget his little ones,
I know He loves them all.

That kinda makes me feel better.

Tapioca

For some reason and I'm not sure why, Tapioca pudding has come up in several conversations I've had in the past few weeks. It started when we were in PEI for the wedding and my dear Nan decided to purchase some as a snack. Blech!

Tapioca, by MY definition, based on appearance, is fish eggs. I have never had the stomach to try it, again based purely on those cream covered little balls of "whatever" in the pudding.

So, I asked the question, "Well, what IS tapioca?":
"Is it a fruit?"
"Is it a vegetable?"
"Where does it come from?"

I was surprised...NOBODY (not even the people who eat it!) knew the answers to my questions.

And therefore I did what anyone in my generation does to access useless information....I GOOGLED it...

Here's what I found and it is very interesting indeed...tapioca comes from the root of the manioc plant. And I know what manioc is because of "Survivor"...ha, ha...whatever happened to learning stuff based on life experience?!

Who knew?

Happy Chocolate Day

Christa tells me that according to 123greetings.com it is Chocolate Day...yay!
...as if I needed another excuse to have cookies, cake, cocoa, bars, fudge, etc.

But it really doesn't matter because to me, every day is chocolate day...are ya with me girls?

Sexy Rexy

Not that I don't think Melissa didn't deserve to win Canadian Idol, because I do. I think she was a great singer and a great person.

But...

I just think Rex is GREAT! My initial interest was due to the fact that he is a fellow Newfoundlander. Now, that is just a bonus because he is also very talented and super cute to boot.

And...

Woohoo! Just heard Christa say that the radio announced him as being signed by BMG. Isn't that fantastic.

I wish him (and Melissa too, of course) much success in music and in life!

Chloe's 1st

Happy 1st Birthday Chloe!!

Chloe is Jamie's (and mine now) little niece and the cutest little blonde blue-eyed girl you ever did see. Unfortunately she and her parents live in Newfoundland and Jamie and I have only met her once which was this past summer at the wedding. So sad when family lives so far away :(

Chloe, hope your first birthday is just the beginning of many happy days to come!

Weekend of FIRSTS

Jamie's softball tournament was this past weekend. Being that it was the first time his team participated in this yearly trip to London, Yes, I decided to give up my golf tournament to tag along and spectate. On Friday night, it rained and rained and rained. I was trying to fill out the score sheet for the team and my paper became much too water-logged to accurately keep track. I know for certain that "our" team lost. And the next morning, they lost again. Not as badly but still two losses. By early afternoon softball was over and I was grieving over having missed our company golf tournament for (I think) the first time ever. Oh well...it was still a great weekend because we stayed with Joann and Chris, wonderful friends and fantastic hosts. We enjoyed having dinner, chatting, etc...all the boring yet much sought after stuff that friends do when they get together. Joann gave us a tour of Brescia College. She works there as the Residence Manager. Very nice college complete with Chapel and stained glass windows, gorgeous antique furniture, early 1900s photos gracing the walls, and statues of the saints. I also had my first Starbucks Chantico...very rich chocolate, even too rich for my taste, and I couldn't finish the small cup. Another first, Jamie and I ate at Crabby Joe's. There's one in Brampton now but we're usually too poor to eat out (new house draining funds). It was pretty good. Jamie liked the wings but the oil-ridden cheese pan bread wasn't nearly as good as the Jack Astors version. And yet another first, a green salad with pine nuts, goat cheese, and mango dressing. It was delicious! and Bonus! - Joann and Chris scored two vintage chairs from the college for their kitchen. Joann is going to find out how I can get some. I love vintage! (she's not as impressed, she can't wait to get a new dining set, and I'm pretty certain she doesn't understand my fascination. So I have to remind her to inquire about details). So, all in all it turned out to be a very productive weekend. And on our way back, we stopped into Acton to view progress on our new house. We are missing a window on the top floor! - promising to be the FIRST of construction problems ...sigh...I guess not all firsts can be good ones. ho hum...

Where are the dolls clothes?

I came across this picture of my brother today. Circa 1985. I think it's hilarious. Do you think he had enough toys? He's literally buried in them!....the naked dolls stick out the most, compliments of two older sisters playing dressup (or dress-down) I recognize a My Little Pony, a Smurf and Smurfette, giant pink bunny, the workbench with the pegs and hammer, Tracey's polar bear, an ugly circus toy, the rest looks a jumbled mess. I remember he used to do this quite often....would take every toy in the house and cover his bedroom floor and then hide under all of 'em. So cute...sucking his finger and everything, a habit he still fights to this very day. he, he...shhh...don't tell!

What NOT to Wear

Getting ready to leave work a bit early to go to Jamie's Softball tournament in London for the weekend.

I didn't pack last night so...JAMIE is packing for me (he's off work today)!!!

I tried to explain what I needed:
White and black t-shirt bras
purple pj capris with matching tank top
comfy undies (pink ones, red ones, and black boy shorts)
socks - the short cute ones
Splash suit
green khakis hung in the closet
3 tshirts to match pants
green velour track pants

While on the phone, he was struggling to find stuff despite my directions....I should be worried, shouldn't I?

Progress

Construction is under way on our future home...so exciting!!

Announcement

Erykah called me on the phone a couple of nights ago...

Erykah: "Hi Auntie Myrna"

Me: "Hi Erykah, what are you doing?"

Erykah: "Auntie Myrna, I just saw a picture of mommy's belly and there's a BABY in there!"

Me: "Really?!" (I've already known about the baby for a couple of weeks now)

Erykah: "Uh-huh"

Me: "And are you excited about the new baby?"

Erykah: "Yup"

Next day, Tracey tells me about her conversation with Erykah:

Erykah: "Mommy, I think the baby looks like a brother."

Tracey: "Well Erykah, we just have to wait and see what God gives us."

Erykah: "Well I hope God decides to give us a brother."

So, there it is....the "secret" is out. I've been wanting to share the news but we were waiting until Tracey told our parents first.

Here's how she told them, via email card:

"Happy Grandparents Day!...Love Erykah, Isabella, and Baby #3"

New baby is due about March 9th. All is well so far.

Congrats Tracey and Richard....let the fun begin (you'll have a newborn AND a potty-training toddler at the same time). he, he!

Baby Shannon

Congratulations to Bobbi-Lynn and Rusty on the birth of baby girl, Shannon, born September 11th @5:25pm weighing in at 6lbs 12 oz.

Went to see baby and new parents today at the hospital...these are some of my pics. Isn't she just gorgeous?! (gives me baby fever..he, he..whatta ya think Jamie?)

Fish Kisses

Fish Kisses...

Giving "fish kisses" started with Erykah and I a couple of years ago after Erykah began refusing to give normal kisses. "They're all gone!" she would say. So I would ask, "Well what about fish kisses?" or "butterfly kisses?" or whatever kiss I could get. What can I say?...I'm an aunt desperate for affection from my little nieces!

So a couple of weeks ago Erykah and I were giving fish kisses and Isabella was looking at us like she was feeling a little left out. It had taken Erykah a while when she was smaller to figure out how to squeeze in her cheeks and pucker her mouth like that. But when I said to Isabella, "You try it" she picked it up right away. We laughed so much, it was hilarious...the three of us sitting there giving fish kisses.

I couldn't help myself and had to snap some pics. Aren't they just the cutest?

Foghorn

Not sure why this is bothering me so much this morning (just too tired perhaps) but I have to write about it.

I am sitting here in the office doing my work and listening to the sound of a human foghorn: a woman who blows her nose MUCH too loud and way too often creating the sound of a cargo ship making way on the stormy seas.

I can't help but wonder why the need for such extreme nose-blowing. Does it just make that sound on its own? Cause I've tried on purpose to do the foghorn nose-blow and it HURTS! It feels like you're literally going to blow out your sinus cavities.

Perhaps I'm bothered by it so much because my grandfather used to do the same thing. I would tease him about it. But when he did it in CHURCH, sitting in the FRONT PEW, it was SO embarrasing! Yup, that was my grandad - when he managed to stay awake in church, you could hear him from miles away. Oh the memories!

And now my dear old grandad has passed on but I still have to endure that sound...that sound that is so aggravating and tears on my nerves. Yup, there it goes again...I wonder what she would say if I called her up in her cubicle and asked (pleading ignorance), "What is that noise? I'm just wondering cause it keeps startling me?" It was bad enough that my grandfather (an old MAN) would do that but a middle-aged woman! (I was going to say lady but...).

Maybe I could go ask health and safety for a pair of industrial ear plugs.

Am I the only person annoyed by stupid stuff like this?

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TARA!!
....sorry I'm 2 days late!

Jennifer's wildflower bouquet

The Return of the Dinosaur

Mr. Typewriter Repairman came into the office again today to complete maintenance of our remaining typewriters.

I didn't see him walk in (I can see the front desk through the window in my cubicle) but then I heard a voice behind me say "Hello...I'm baaaack!"

He asked how my weekend went and so forth and I asked if he would like to have another tea.

He clutched his chest with his hand, "Be still my heart!"

I took this as a definite yes and replied that I would make him another. He hobbled down to the next cubicle and began his work.

I remembered his three sugars, just a smidge of milk.

When I brought the tea to him, he said, "I saw you coming around the corner. You know I've been thinking about this all day."

I asked him where he was from (to verify that I was correct about his accent). He said, "London...but not London, Ontario" I laughed and returned to my desk.

He stopped in on his way out for me to sign his work order. I mentioned having a hard time remembering to sign my "new last name" and he congratulated me on getting married. He asked if I'd known my husband long and I replied that we were from the same area in Newfoundland but didn't really know each other well until the past 3 years.

He said, "Ya know that's so important to have the same sorta background. Cause I've had a few women who weren't and ya just don't understand each other."

A few women? I think in my head...doesn't look like the casanova type but he sure is a charmer.

"Maybe I'm just dumb and I can't catch on", he laughs. His laugh is husky and rough around the edges, like a mix between a normal chuckle and a smokers cough.

He shakes my hand and I clutch his in both of mine. He thanks me and I thank him in return.

"It was so nice to see you again", he says.

"It was great to see you too", I return.

He walks out the door. I know that he is one little old man that I will think of often. I will wonder if he's okay, did he have his afternoon tea? Has he retired yet instead of being hunched over a typewriter for the rest of his days?

I am amazed at how impacted I am by this meeting. A reminder once again....although we are so different we are all so connected.

When was the last time you made a connection?

Tea for Two...me and the Dinosaur!

A little old man was just here at work to do general maintenance on our typewriters. "Typewriters?", you ask. Yes! We still have typewriters.

Never one to pass up the opportunity to talk to strangers (my mother would be so proud!), I asked the burning question, "Do other companies still actually USE typewriters?"

"Why yes", he says in his english accent, "this is what keeps me busy all day every day."

"Really?!" I exclaim, "and I thought we were the only ones living in the dark ages."

He chuckles, "Oh don't say that. That means I'm old!"

He IS quite old. I think he must be past the age of normal retirement, 65. Maybe he just looks older. I peruse and decide that he must be a smoker, yellow teeth, faint scent of tobacco mixed with typewriter grease. The lines of his face run deep, especially around his eyes and mouth with many other wrinkles all over the rest of his face. Only smokers and sun-worshippers have wrinkles like that.

I noticed when he walked in that he has a limp, appears that he may have broken a hip at some point. He is hunched over with a bit of a hump on his back, perhaps from years of leaning over and fixing those typewriters. I decide that he would have been fairly tall and lean in his youth. The years have been unkind to his bones. His hands are stained and his fingers crooked.

"You know they did a special on TV about me once and they called me a DINOSAUR!"

I respond with laughter, "Well at least I didn't call you a dinosaur!"

The last of a dying breed, I guess. I didn't realize that someone would actually do a television special focusing on typewriters repairmen. It's probably something I would watch.

We then broke into a conversation about my grandmothers old typewriter - it was green and so heavy I could barely lift it. Mr. Repairman said that it must be an Olympian or some brand name that I would not recognize. His oldest typewriter, he said, was made in the late 1800's. He tells me that people still actually buy those big old clunky manual typewriters from their shop. They run about $380.00!

I turn my back and notice the tea and toast on my desk that I had gotten earlier.

"Would you like water or tea or coffee?", I ask.

His eyes light up (he has kind eyes) like a child who has just gotten a new toy, "Oh I would love a tea! with lots of sugar and just a bit of milk."

"I put 3 sugars in mine," I say.

"Is it the little packets?", he grins, "cause I need about 6 of those!" I agree completely and tell him it's the regular sugar scooped out with a teaspoon.

"3 would be great then."

I return with this tea and he says, "well everything stops now." He takes a big slurp and sighs, "Oh that's awesome" I smile at the fact that he said the word "awesome".

We just sit for a moment each of us sipping our tea and making small talk. It's nice. Tea shared is better than tea alone, even if it is with the complete stranger sitting across from me in my cubicle.

When he leaves he thanks me again for the "awesome" tea. He tells me that he will be back on Tuesday for "another....tea, that is", and he laughs. He really has to come back to fix the remaining typewriters because he ran out of oil.

I tell him that I would more than happy to join him for another tea. I hope he realizes that I am serious.

Remembering the Calendar on the Wall

My mother called me tonight to say that an elderly lady from back home had passed away a couple of days ago. Elsie Young, 82, died from alzheimers disease.

Elsie was the wife of Roy Young, the owner of the community "corner" store. The store was about 2 minutes down the road and I probably went there every day as a kid. 50 cents was a big deal back then (and now I sound like my mother!). But it really could buy a bag of chips with just enough left over for a few one-cent candy.

My memory of Elsie... she was very nice to me and almost always sat on a chair just next to the checkout counter. I remember that she had a calendar posted on the wall and would always use the little square of each day to write in the weather and the temperature. She told me once that she always liked to look back to remember what the weather was like from one year to the next. Funny how the mind works.

I really know nothing about the disease from which she died. If you would like to know more as well, here are some websites...

http://www.alzheimer.ca/
http://www.alz.org/
http://www.alzheimers.org/

My sincere sympathies to the family at the time of sorrow.

Answer to "God's Purpose"

My friend Christa posted this on her weblog:

I'd rather not explain why I'm posting this entry but I NEED feedback from
anyone and everyone. Tell me what you think your purpose is in life, why did
God put you here? What's your calling? Were you meant to be a school
teacher? A minister? A good neighbour? Do you even believe in God? Do you
believe in some other power? Whatever you think or feel, please share....

Christa, I know we have talked about this before and I felt that my answer would be much too long to post in your comments. Here are my thoughts:

I think we all often ask ourselves these questions. I think perhaps we ask the questions of ourselves way too much. I think it's because the questions often lead to thinking of a life that we feel is not fulfilled, a life that is depressing, a life full of "Should-haves".

My should-haves include:
Should have stayed in University
Should have pursued a medical career
Should have continued with my degree in ECE

My should-haves seem to always circle around education and career. I have felt intense guilt, anger, and sadness over my choosing to not better myself in this way. I was always at the top of my class, very smart in school, "going somewhere". When I think of all these things and where I could have been, I feel like such a failure.

But now I am beginning to realize that EVERYONE feels this way. Even the doctors, lawyers, successful business people...they have all at some point asked themselves, "What is my purpose in life?", "Why am I here?"

It doesn't seem worth it to be so caught up in the questions of what we are DOING to serve our purpose in life. No matter what we are doing it will never be enough...never enough money, never enough time, never enough education, never a good enough job, never enough!

I think I'm going to start dwelling on BEING...who does God want me to BE? Yes, I certainly do believe in God and I believe that He has a purpose for my life. He has given me my life, he has made me they way that I am. He has given me a wonderful family, a loving husband, a good job, health, a home. God has truly blessed me beyond measure!

My purpose in life....I am going to be me as I am right now in this moment. On occasion I will wish that I was more. I will think about what could have been. But I can never be more if I don't enjoy what I am and what I have right now. I look forward to being a wonderful wife and mother, a good friend, a kind stranger. I look forward to the little things that make life full of meaning.

I am now challenged once again to live up to my potential. I may not save a life by being a doctor... but I know that I can lend a helping hand to my friends, neighbours, co-workers when they are in need. I may not be a teacher... but I know that I can learn from my mistakes and move on. I may not be a minister... but I can be a testimony that a life without God is not really much of a life at all.

Thanks Christa, for the post that got me to thinking. You have confirmed that the sermon in church on Sunday was for me. We need to stop worrying and thinking so hard. We need to start being what we are intended for... even if we're not exactly sure what that is, I believe that God will lead us into the path that he has prepared for us if only we would listen to his call. I know I don't listen very well, it's very hard to listen to a still small voice when I am being so loud all the time!!

I will leave you with one of my favourite portions of bible verses from Matthew 6:25-34 (KJV), I'm sure you know it well:

Behold the fowls of the air: for they sow not, neither do they reap, nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feedeth them. Are ye not much better than they?
... Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they toil not, neither do they spin:
And yet I say unto you, That even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. Wherefore, if God so clothe the grass of the field...shall he not much more clothe you, O ye of little faith?
Therefore take no thought, saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed? For your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things.
But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.
Take therefore no thought for the morrow: for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself...

For the interpreted (NLT) version click here and DON'T WORRY, it will all work out and you will discover that you already have a great purpose...to be YOU, wherever that may lead!

God be with you on your life's journey!

Personal Calls

My place of employment is typically very easy-going when it comes to making personal phone calls.

Yesterday, I overheard one of our company "big shots" (I've spoken about him before) make a call. He certainly never tried to hide anything so it's difficult not to listen.

No "hello, how are you?...."

just, "where are the boys?"

Obviously I can't hear the response on the other end of the line.

"...and you wonder why I get pissed off?"

"Have the boys eaten yet?"

Obviously the answer was, "No".

His voice is quite elevated, "It's after 11:30 and my boys haven't eaten yet! Well, what have you eaten?"

"Is the house tidy?"

"Well get your ass off the couch, stop watching tv, and go look!!"

Click. He hung up...

Now, here's what I'm trying to figure out....Who the heck is he talking to? Here are my options:

Option #1
The wife - the obvious person to be taking care of the kids IF this was a normal family. This, however, is not a normal family. Wife has a tendency to stay out all night and then sleeps all day which makes it impossible for her to properly take care of her children.

This brings me to my next possible person...

Option #2
The Nanny - hired to take care of the kids even though the mother in this household does not "work" per se.... I have heard through the grapevine that the family has a hard time keeping a nanny. Maybe this is the 9th Nanny this year and she's not exactly making the cut.

Option #3
The Daughter - a young teenager who probably shouldn't be given the sole responsibility of taking care of her two very rough and tumble young brothers for an entire day. This could be why she was sitting on the couch and watching tv...she was trying to ignore their antics.

Who do YOU think it could be?