Missing Family

I can't wait for September !!!

I am so lonley for my family.
My Daddikins.
My sissers.
My bro.
And the whole rest of the clan - Stevenson's and Browne's and extras!!!
I must say that I have the best family in the/my world.
How else can I feel?
I've been away from my home town since October 2008.
Don't get me wrong, I love my new life and my new job and my new town and my husband more than anything.
But my family has been there for a long time and we are all very close and have been through so very much together and apart. There's bonds that will never be broken no matter how far apart we are.
My poor husband is afraid he'll be left out when we go visit. I wish he wouldn't worry. He just doesn't understand the need for reconnecting to my roots and family. The love that swirls around. I hope he can feel part of it and enjoy it as much as we all do.

Happy Canada Day !

History of Canada Day;

http://www.razzledazzlerecipes.com/canada/history.htm

Canada day recipes;

http://www.razzledazzlerecipes.com/canada/index.htm


Canada means so much to me. Especially since I no longer reside there. All of my family still lives there. I grew up in a small town in Ontario. It is one of the most beautiful areas of the country that I have been to.
I have driven across Canada; from Ontario to British Columbia. It is an amazing wonder to behold.
There are so many areas that I would still love to visit and hope to one day.

Happy Canada Day to all of my family and friends and fellow bloggers !

Live Your Life

As we grow up, we learn that even the one person that wasn't supposed to ever let you down probably will.
You will have your heart broken probably more than once and it's harder every time.
You'll break hearts too, so remember how it felt when yours was broken.
You'll fight with your best friend.
You'll blame a new love for things an old one did.
You'll cry because time is passing too fast, and you'll eventually lose someone you love.
So take too many pictures, laugh too much, and love like you've never been hurt because every sixty seconds you spend upset is a minute of happiness you'll never get back.
Don't be afraid that your life will end, be afraid that it will never begin.

House Chores

Laundry

Dishes

Sweep

Dust

Make the bed

Clean

Tidy up

Put away

Mail

Food

Shop

Cook

Groom

Wash car

Weed garden

Mow lawn

Dry cleaning

Fertilize

Pet maintenance

Water plants

Vacuum

Garbage

~ ~ The list seems endless most days.

I try to look for the good. The 'thumbs-up' vs. the *sigh*.



I remember the days when I had to drive my laundry to the nearest mat and wait there with strangers. Waiting for machines; making sure you have enough coins; going out in the cold miserable weather.
~ Now I can throw a load in and get back to work on other things in the meantime.

We have a dishwasher. I personally prefer to wash by hand, but that is time consuming. The dish washer is a great friend to have on hand. For the dishes that must be hand-washed I catch up on some TV while doing them and the time flies by.

As for house cleaning; music makes me move and enjoy it more. I put on something that I really love listening to and sing along or dance my way through the chores.

These are things that we will have to do for the rest of our days (unless you strike it rich and want to pay someone to do it for you). You may as well try to enjoy it and make the best of it all. Look at the upside and be happy that you are able to do these things that some people are unable to. It's the small things in life that count the most.

As I look around my home and work on the chores I am thankful for all that I have. Thankful that I get to live in such a beautiful house and have such nice things to dust. I am very lucky and I take pride in being able to clean and dust and make my house a wonderful home.

POEM 'Your Mother is Always With You'

Your mother is always with you...
She's the whisper of the leaves
as you walk down the street.

She's the smell of bleach in
your freshly laundered socks.

She's the cool hand on your
brow when you're not well.

Your mother lives inside
your laughter. She's crystallized
in every tear drop...

She's the place you came from,
your first home.. She's the map you
follow with every step that you take.

She's your first love and your first heart
break....and nothing on earth can separate you.

Not time, Not space...
Not even death....
will ever separate you
from your mother....

You carry her inside of you....

- Author Unknown.

A Tale; A Story; A Life

Chapter 1: the Beginning

Once upon a time there was a girl who left her home on an adventure. She travelled quite a distance and was looking forward to some new things. The need for a job arose, in order to pay for food and rent, so she ventured into an offer where she met an incredible boy. The feelings were strong and unexpected; she tried her hardest to push them aside. Eventually the girl and boy got closer and enjoyed each others company immensely. Much time was spent together, and they were happy.

Chapter 2: the Sadness

After a time, things became difficult for the girl and boy. People were talking behind their backs, saying mean things. Some were mis-treating the girl. She did not understand. She wanted to leave her job and venture somewhere else for financial support. Big trouble was brewing for the couple, so they decided to part. There was much sadness and confusion. People still talked and treated the girl with dis-respect. She was very dis-heartened.

Chapter 3: the Parting

After some more time, the boy was sent away. The girl carried on, but she was very unhappy in her position. She decided to return to the home that she loved and was familiar with. She packed up her belongings and started her trek back to her family and friends. She was feeling much happier than she had for some time.

Chapter 4: the Rekindling

After more time passed, the girl really missed the boy. The boy had remained in contact with the girl. They both realized that they still cared deeply for one another and decided to try being together again. After much discussion the girl decided to go to the boy to start a new life together. She left home for another adventure.

Chapter 5: the Happiness

More time passed, as it often does, and the girl and boy became wife and husband. They were very happy and made a life for one another that they could've never imagined. They think back to the hard times they had and are glad that they could overcome the obstacles and be more happy than they ever thought possible.

The End

Family Tree

I've been working on a family tree for some time now. I've been dusting off the old cobwebs in many people's minds to gain more information.
It amazes me how much family you actually never meet or have contact with.
It is also quite wonderful how many people you consider 'family' when they are not even related to you through any bloodlines whatsoever. But you still consider them to be closer than most blood relatives.
Family is a wonderful thing to behold. Everyone's is different. Everyone has problems. Family is family.
I think about the old 'you can pick your friends, but you can't pick your relatives...’ It makes me laugh. I am a very tolerant person of faults. Mostly because I know all of mine and admit to them with pride. The faults that I am not proud of are the ones I work on and try to overcome, but some are just part of me and will not be altered.
I've heard many stories about some of my relatives, and I don't use any of that info to judge them. I try not to judge anyone in this world. We are each our own to fight with ourselves. We do the best that we can at the time of doing it. We all have good and evil inside of us - we are the ones who choose which to use most of.

But back to family tree stuff.... it excites me to be doing this. The more I find out the more I want to learn. The many branches are interesting, and as siblings get married and other families join our world, the branches just keep growing. This tree is getting quite large and it's a beautiful tree. It's such a great hobby to have, and so many people are thankful for me asking the questions and dusting off their brains cobwebs, and remembering that we have lots of family. Even the ones that are no longer with us.... they are all important. They have all touched us in some way, even if not directly. They are all a part of who we are. We should be thankful for every one of them.
I know that I couldn't ask for a better family!

Free Hugs - Hugs are Healing

http://www.freehugscampaign.org/

A hug is like a boomerang - you get it back right away. ~Bil Keane (Family Circus)

You can't wrap love in a box, but you can wrap a person in a hug. ~Unknown

A hug is a handshake from the heart. ~Unknown

Hugs grease the wheels of the world. ~Unknown

Oh, I love hugging. I wish I was an octopus, so I could hug 10 people at a time!

~Drew Barrymore

A Hug Is Two Hearts Wrapped In Arms ~Unknown

They invented hugs to let people know you love them without saying anything. ~Bil Keane

A hug is two hearts wrapped in arms. ~Author Unknown

We need 4 hugs a day for survival. We need 8 hugs a day for maintenance. We need 12 hugs a day for growth —Virginia Satir, family therapist

~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~

There's something in a simple hug
That always warms the heart;
It welcomes us back home
And makes it easier to part.

A hug's a way to share the joy
And sad times we go through,
Or just a way for friends to say
They like you 'cause you're you.

Hugs are meant for anyone
For whom we really care,
From your grandma to your neighbour,
Or a cuddly teddy bear.

A hug is an amazing thing -
It's just the perfect way
To show the love we're feeling
But can't find the words to say.

It's funny how a little hug
Makes everyone feel good;
In every place and language,
It's always understood.

And hugs don't need new equipment,
Special batteries or parts -
Just open up your arms
And open up your hearts.

Jill Wolf

I will not play Tug O' War,
I'd rather play Hug O' War;
Where everyone hugs, instead of tugs,
And everyone giggles and rolls on the rug.
Where everyone kisses,
and everyone grins;
everyone cuddles,
and everyone wins.
~Shel Silverstein

"Hugging is healthy: it helps the body's immunity system, it keeps you healthier, it cures depression, it reduces stress, it induces sleep, it's invigorating, it's rejuvenating, it has no unpleasant side effects, and hugging is nothing less than a miracle drug.

Hugging is all natural: it is organic, naturally sweet, it has no pesticides, no preservatives, no artificial ingredients, and is 100% wholesome.

Hugging is practically perfect: there are no movable parts, no batteries to replace, no periodic check-ups, has low energy consumption, high energy yield, is inflation-proof, non-fattening, has no monthly payments, no insurance requirements, is theft-proof, non-taxable, non-polluting, and is, of course, fully refundable."

-- Sharon Lindsey --

A HUG

No moving parts, no batteries.
No monthly payments and no fees;
Inflation proof, non-taxable,
In fact, it's quite relaxable;
It can't be be stolen, won't pollute,
One size fits all, do not dilute.
It uses little energy,
But yields results enormously,
Relieves your tension and your stress,
Invigorates your happiness;
Combats depression, makes you beam,
And elevates your self esteem!
Your circulation it corrects
Without unpleasant side effects
It is, I think, the perfect drug:
May I prescribe, my friend,....the hug!
(and of course fully returnable!)

- author unknown

Hugging is good medicine. It transfers energy, and gives the person hugged an emotional boost. You need four hugs a day for survival, eight for maintenance, and twelve for growth. A hug makes you feel good. The skin is the largest organ we have and it needs a great deal of care. A hug can cover a lot of skin and gives the message that you care. It is also a form of communication. It can say things you don't have words for. The nicest thing about a hug is that you usually can't give one without getting one.

-- Author Unknown

HUGGING

It's wondrous what a hug can do.
A hug can cheer you when you're blue
A hug can say, "I love you so,"
Or, "I hate to see you go."
A hug is "Welcome back again."
And "Great to see you! Where 'er you been?"
A hug can soothe a small child's pain
And bring a rainbow after rain.
The hug, there's just no doubt about it --
We scarcely could survive without it!
A hug delights and warms and charms;
It must be why God gave us arms
Hugs are great for fathers and mothers,
Sweet for sisters, swell for brothers;
And chances are your favorite aunts
love them more than potted plants.
Kittens crave them, puppies love them,
Heads of states are not above them.
A hug can break the language barrier
And make your travel so much merrier.
No need to fret about your store of 'em;
The more you give, the more there are of 'em.
So stretch those arms without delay
And give someone a hug today!

- Dean Walley

Valentine's Day

I'm not one of those tyical girls who need anything for V-day, except to hang out with the love of my life. And that's what I got to do. Exchange of silly cards back and forth in the morning. I actually got school-type valentines for him, he got me sweet and funny cards. I made him a braclet out of embroidery thread.

We went to the Zoo. We are both Tigers in Chinese Astrology, and Feb 14 was Chinese New Year 2010, Year of the Tiger. We decided to visit out tigers at the zoo. It was a beautiful day. Quite warm and sunny, but brisk. Walked around for hours and enjoyed outselves immensely. After some food shopping, we went home and I got my favourite lunch: Eggs Benny. Paul makes the best !

Watched some Olympics, and had BBQ drumsticks with grilled asparagus, corn on the cob and green beans with carrots, almondine style. Beautiful day, wonderful meal, excellent company.

I love my life.