Her apple pies and shortbread were to die for! I remember at Christmas having tin upon tin full of her amazing shortbread. My grandpa McEachern loved it as well, she always made sure to make him a tin of his own. When she made apple pie she would always make enough to stock the deep freeze for a few months.
Although I didn't appreciate them much when I was young her cabbage rolls were among the best I've ever had.
She was one of the Roughriders biggest fans. You could always tell when a football game was on because she would be yelling at the TV telling the team and the coach what they should be doing to win.
For many years she was quite quiet and reserved. She didn't really need to say anything though, her actions spoke far louder then her words ever did. Never once did you doubt that she loved you.
She was completely dedicated. For years she would be at church one hour before the service to ensure the coffee was on for the time of fellowship before the service began.
It was only in the past few years that she really came out of the shell she had hidden for so long. She was a joyous person, so encouraging and friendly. Everyone around her knew her and loved her. She always said "hello" to those passing by. And never passed up a moment to give a hug and wet kiss.
I realize that it's through God's incredible mercy that the suffering was short, not only for her, but for those who love her most. The end couldn't have come a better way. She has now graduated to a far greater place...
I love her so dearly and she will forever be missed by many.
20.1.09
thank you to the INAUGURATION!
For those of you who aren't aware, I come from a home that likes to party. Give us a reason and we'll put on a shindig!
We've had everything from the usual Stanley Cup/Grey Cup parties, to St. Patrick's Day/Halloween/Christmas/New Years Eve parties, and of course birthday parties, on
occasion election parties and this evening an inauguration party!
Although we never know how many will be in attendance, the invites go out and more often then not more rather then less arrive to celebrate with us.
On this special occasion I would like to thank my friendly neighbors to the south the US of A for electing a new president and allowing a few of us Canadians to celebrate with you (or just to celebrate period!).
Happy inauguration day everyone...I hope its as enjoyable for you as it is for me! :)
On that note: regardless of your political stance, how incredible that we are alive in this day to witness such a historical event. Today along with many others we've experienced will be in the history books and we'll be able to tell our children/grandchildren/great grandchildren how we remember it.
We've had everything from the usual Stanley Cup/Grey Cup parties, to St. Patrick's Day/Halloween/Christmas/New Years Eve parties, and of course birthday parties, on
occasion election parties and this evening an inauguration party!Although we never know how many will be in attendance, the invites go out and more often then not more rather then less arrive to celebrate with us.
On this special occasion I would like to thank my friendly neighbors to the south the US of A for electing a new president and allowing a few of us Canadians to celebrate with you (or just to celebrate period!).
Happy inauguration day everyone...I hope its as enjoyable for you as it is for me! :)
On that note: regardless of your political stance, how incredible that we are alive in this day to witness such a historical event. Today along with many others we've experienced will be in the history books and we'll be able to tell our children/grandchildren/great grandchildren how we remember it.
22.12.08
1.12.08
Who's the drama queen now?
Just a little while ago I spent a weekend grad dress shopping with my mum and sister in Edmonton. The time has finally come for my younger sister to leave high school behind and face “the real world”. Time and time again she mentions how much she is looking forward to leaving the drama behind.
I too remember being at that stage, unfortunately lately I realized that the drama never really completely leaves.
While I was in grade 12 I dated a guy whom I had had a crush on for nearly all my middle/high school years. I remember being completely ecstatic the evening he asked me out, I also remember someone (we'll call her Brittany) being completely pissed off because she too had a crush on him, although I’m sure the real reason Brittany was pissed off was because he asked me out at her birthday party…that I crashed (my crush and his best friend assured me it’d be fine if I showed up). I’m fairly confident that for the rest of my grade 12 year Brittany cursed me every time I passed her in the hallways, not that I cared – I had won the guy (typical grade 12 attitude).
After graduating I never saw or heard of Brittany ever again…until today that is.
I stopped by one of my favorite bookstores today to get lunch from their magnificent café. While chatting with the owners I caught the glance of a familiar face…the best friend of Brittany, the girl who wanted my high school boyfriend. As I continued my conversation with the owners of the bookstore out of the corner of my eye I saw Brittany, who hated me all through my senior year, peering over a card stand to get a look of me. My conversation continued and I then saw Brittany and her friend move a bit closer and peer over another card stand at me. I couldn’t help but giggle.
It amazes me how much things change in 5 years, and yet how much things stay the same.
The ultimate challenge comes when I examine myself. How have I changed (or not) over the past 5 years? My husband often challenges me that I can only be responsible for myself, and so I attempt to rise above…
The other day through a series of quite outrageous circumstances a friend of mine deleted me on Facebook (I know, I know, not a big deal…but a the same time IT IS since Facebook has become the litmus test for all friendships). At first I so upset, “how dare she delete me? I didn’t even do anything.” And so the drama queen in me began to rise, and again my husband’s words ran in my heart, “you can only be responsible for yourself.” And that’s when I made a conscious choice, "I will NOT be the drama queen in this situation. I will not change the way I treat her, talk about her, or to her."
I think for women it’s often hard to put down the drama queen crown and choose the less traveled road. Girls can be mean, there’s nothing quite as fierce as silent aggression.
The choice I have to make (and ultimately everyone has to make) daily, is to only be responsible for myself. When I start taking offense in what’s going on around me and acting accordingly, that’s when I become the drama queen. When I remain true to myself, and the character that has been developed over the years within me, that’s when I put the crown down and rise above.
So beautiful women out there…what will you choose today?
I too remember being at that stage, unfortunately lately I realized that the drama never really completely leaves.While I was in grade 12 I dated a guy whom I had had a crush on for nearly all my middle/high school years. I remember being completely ecstatic the evening he asked me out, I also remember someone (we'll call her Brittany) being completely pissed off because she too had a crush on him, although I’m sure the real reason Brittany was pissed off was because he asked me out at her birthday party…that I crashed (my crush and his best friend assured me it’d be fine if I showed up). I’m fairly confident that for the rest of my grade 12 year Brittany cursed me every time I passed her in the hallways, not that I cared – I had won the guy (typical grade 12 attitude).
After graduating I never saw or heard of Brittany ever again…until today that is.
I stopped by one of my favorite bookstores today to get lunch from their magnificent café. While chatting with the owners I caught the glance of a familiar face…the best friend of Brittany, the girl who wanted my high school boyfriend. As I continued my conversation with the owners of the bookstore out of the corner of my eye I saw Brittany, who hated me all through my senior year, peering over a card stand to get a look of me. My conversation continued and I then saw Brittany and her friend move a bit closer and peer over another card stand at me. I couldn’t help but giggle.
It amazes me how much things change in 5 years, and yet how much things stay the same.
The ultimate challenge comes when I examine myself. How have I changed (or not) over the past 5 years? My husband often challenges me that I can only be responsible for myself, and so I attempt to rise above…
The other day through a series of quite outrageous circumstances a friend of mine deleted me on Facebook (I know, I know, not a big deal…but a the same time IT IS since Facebook has become the litmus test for all friendships). At first I so upset, “how dare she delete me? I didn’t even do anything.” And so the drama queen in me began to rise, and again my husband’s words ran in my heart, “you can only be responsible for yourself.” And that’s when I made a conscious choice, "I will NOT be the drama queen in this situation. I will not change the way I treat her, talk about her, or to her."
I think for women it’s often hard to put down the drama queen crown and choose the less traveled road. Girls can be mean, there’s nothing quite as fierce as silent aggression.
The choice I have to make (and ultimately everyone has to make) daily, is to only be responsible for myself. When I start taking offense in what’s going on around me and acting accordingly, that’s when I become the drama queen. When I remain true to myself, and the character that has been developed over the years within me, that’s when I put the crown down and rise above.
So beautiful women out there…what will you choose today?
18.11.08
dream bigger!
I recently read a blog by a friend of mine (check it out here) that encouraged/challenged me with where I'm at.
As a young adult I look at my life and can't help but feel content. I'm married to an incredible man, not only is he my best friend, but he has been almost since the day we met in grade 10 (I don't have any problem (YET) saying that that was over 7 years ago). I spent my first two years out of high school studying at a college in Australia where I made incredible friendships and really "found myself". For the past two years I've been working at my dream job, and often get referred to as a "successful college student," since I am in fact working in the field I was trained in. My husband has great job that he loves where he continually sees favor, as he makes advances that are very rare for someone of his age. We're in the final stages of having our first home built and eagerly await our move in date (within the next few weeks!).
If you would have told me 5 years ago when I graduated from high school, that this would be my life I likely would have laughed at you. Although I'm essentially living in my dream world from high school, I never thought I would be living it so soon after graduating from college. Yet here I am...but where to now?
The challenge then comes to dream bigger!
Maybe its time to stop thinking about what I WANT and rather about what I CAN DO. Thank God there's more to my life then what I've achieved to this point. I know there's more in me to give. I know there's untapped potential in my life.
And so my dreams have and are expanding...
are yours?
As a young adult I look at my life and can't help but feel content. I'm married to an incredible man, not only is he my best friend, but he has been almost since the day we met in grade 10 (I don't have any problem (YET) saying that that was over 7 years ago). I spent my first two years out of high school studying at a college in Australia where I made incredible friendships and really "found myself". For the past two years I've been working at my dream job, and often get referred to as a "successful college student," since I am in fact working in the field I was trained in. My husband has great job that he loves where he continually sees favor, as he makes advances that are very rare for someone of his age. We're in the final stages of having our first home built and eagerly await our move in date (within the next few weeks!).
If you would have told me 5 years ago when I graduated from high school, that this would be my life I likely would have laughed at you. Although I'm essentially living in my dream world from high school, I never thought I would be living it so soon after graduating from college. Yet here I am...but where to now?
The challenge then comes to dream bigger!
Maybe its time to stop thinking about what I WANT and rather about what I CAN DO. Thank God there's more to my life then what I've achieved to this point. I know there's more in me to give. I know there's untapped potential in my life.
And so my dreams have and are expanding...
are yours?
13.11.08
Quote of the day:
"A sibling is
a gift to the HEART
a friend to the SPIRIT
a golden thread to the meaning of LIFE."
a gift to the HEART
a friend to the SPIRIT
a golden thread to the meaning of LIFE."
5.11.08
BECOMING a neighbor
Luke 10:27 (Message)
He said, "That you love the Lord your God with all your passion and prayer and muscle and intelligence - and that you love your neighbor as well as you do yourself."
This verse leads into the common parable of the Good Samaritan. It's a story of a man who's traveling to Jerusalem. Along the way he's robbed and beaten up, left for death on the road. Two people from the church pass him on their way, but instead of helping, they cross to the other side of the road and pass this dying man by. Then a Samaritan comes along, someone who's people weren't very popular among the Jewish people of the time. You would think that he too would pass by this poor man and leave him for death, but instead he helps the man. He bandages him up, takes him to an inn, leaves money with the inn keeper and then says, "Hey, if he runs up a tab with you I'll pay you when I return."
This Samaritan not only helps a complete stranger who thinks of him as scum, but he then goes above and beyond in his care by ensuring the inn keeper continues to nurture him back to health.
The parable is then followed by this conversation:
"What do you think? Which of the three became a neighbor to the man attacked by robbers?"
"The one who treated him kindly," the religious scholar responded.
Jesus said, "Go and do the same."
(Luke 10:36-37 Message)
I find it interesting that in this particular translation it says "which of the three BECAME..."
We're commanded to love our neighbor as we do ourselves, and ultimately this passage would suggest that we make the choice to make people our neighbors. If I decide not to help someone in need I'm not a bad neighbor, I'm simply choosing not to allow that person to be my neighbor. It's when I make the choice to live outside myself that I begin to make neighbors, and those are the people I'm commanded to love.
I think there's a valuable lesson to learn from this Samaritan and it's this...it would be quite easy to choose neighbors we're comfortable with, people that we know, from cultures we understand. But when we make the choice to reach out a bit further, that's when we truly live in the fullness of this command.
If I'm really going to live this out I need to ALWAYS be making the choice to reach out and become a neighbor.
He said, "That you love the Lord your God with all your passion and prayer and muscle and intelligence - and that you love your neighbor as well as you do yourself."
This verse leads into the common parable of the Good Samaritan. It's a story of a man who's traveling to Jerusalem. Along the way he's robbed and beaten up, left for death on the road. Two people from the church pass him on their way, but instead of helping, they cross to the other side of the road and pass this dying man by. Then a Samaritan comes along, someone who's people weren't very popular among the Jewish people of the time. You would think that he too would pass by this poor man and leave him for death, but instead he helps the man. He bandages him up, takes him to an inn, leaves money with the inn keeper and then says, "Hey, if he runs up a tab with you I'll pay you when I return."This Samaritan not only helps a complete stranger who thinks of him as scum, but he then goes above and beyond in his care by ensuring the inn keeper continues to nurture him back to health.
The parable is then followed by this conversation:
"What do you think? Which of the three became a neighbor to the man attacked by robbers?"
"The one who treated him kindly," the religious scholar responded.
Jesus said, "Go and do the same."
(Luke 10:36-37 Message)
I find it interesting that in this particular translation it says "which of the three BECAME..."
We're commanded to love our neighbor as we do ourselves, and ultimately this passage would suggest that we make the choice to make people our neighbors. If I decide not to help someone in need I'm not a bad neighbor, I'm simply choosing not to allow that person to be my neighbor. It's when I make the choice to live outside myself that I begin to make neighbors, and those are the people I'm commanded to love.
I think there's a valuable lesson to learn from this Samaritan and it's this...it would be quite easy to choose neighbors we're comfortable with, people that we know, from cultures we understand. But when we make the choice to reach out a bit further, that's when we truly live in the fullness of this command.
If I'm really going to live this out I need to ALWAYS be making the choice to reach out and become a neighbor.
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