Winter Is Back and Thanks to a Friend

Hello my friends, I hope you are all sleeping as I should be. I fell asleep in my lazy boy watching Curling tonight and slept for 3 hours so now I am wide awake.

I have had a busy week. I visited a friend in the hospital on the weekend and so glad I did as she passed away today. I am okay with God taking her home, she was suffering badly and I know she is now pain free.. Another family will now begin the grieving process.......so sad but a part of life.

I was surrounded by kids for 3 days this week, babysitting, playing games and just enjoying their happy company. Our weather had been absolutely beautiful, in fact we broke many records the past couple weeks but oh boy Winter came back with a vengeance on Tuesday. So cold and the wind was brutal. They are calling for snow on Sunday.  Will almost be a treat compared to last Winter.

This has been a good time for me to take my Foreign Affairs and Current Events Course. There is so much happening all over the world right now. It is very interesting, I am taking this course online through the University of Alberta and this week we skyped and had a great discussion. I loved hearing the others ideas although I didn't always agree with them (I'm sure they didn't agree with me either) So far I am loving it and have completed my first project. We may be divided into groups for our next project, so looking forward to it. Canada is not perfect but I feel so blessed to be born and living here. We have so much abundance and the people taking the same course are lovely.....yup we are pretty lucky here.

I also am continuing my volunteer work with those dealing with cancer. I found I had to balance my schedule as I get so attached to these beautiful people, I think that is why I am taking my course as for those few hours a week I am not thinking of cancer. I am trying to spend more time with the kids as well before I  move home this summer. I have a few days planned with Fallon at the end of the month which I am looking forward too.

 Cindy at http://thingsaboutwhowhatwhenwhereandwhy.blogspot.com/ changed my blog for me. I love it, thank you sweet friend, I appreciate how patient you are with me and all the time we spent on the phone together. 

The wind has just came up and it is snowing outside, I think it is time I retired as it is way past my bedtime. I am sending good thoughts, many hugs and tons of prayers........:

A Wonderful New Year Ahead - Are You Ready For It

Hello my friends, wishing you all a healthy and happy New Year. I am so looking forward to 2012. If all goes as planned I will put my condo on the market in May and will move back home to New Brunswick during the summer. I am so looking forward to living near my brothers and sister. I am blessed to have many school friends, cousins and old work friends living there as well. It's all good and going to be fun. Don't you just love life, never a dull moment. I don't like thinking about leaving my family here, it will be especially hard leaving Fallon but my plans are to fly her home at least once a year. Her dad agrees. I hope to spend winters in Florida and summers in Shediac, a beach area close to Moncton. The good Lord willing the next chapter in my life will be contented, healthy, happy and filled with love of family and friends, anyway that is my plan.

New Year's was fun, we started out watching the Canadian National Junior team play and win against the USA juniors. The score was 3-2, and it was a very entertaining game. We then had a wonderful meal, for me it was surf and turf......so good! We also had our share of martinis and of course wine with our meal. An nice cup of Tia Chi cinnamon tea followed. Great food, even greater company and wonderful entertainment made for a memorable evening and a great way to ring in a new year.

Sunday, New Year's day 3 ladies and I had a wine and pizza party. Thank heaven it didn't start until 5 o'clock.....I needed some sleep! Honestly Monday was like a professional napping day, I was exhausted. I did manage to take off the pyjamas long enough to go to Weight Watchers that evening feeling quite sure I would be over my weight allowance and have to pay but surprise, surprise I had only gained 1 pound (am allowed 2) so I have to admit I had more energy arriving home then when I left here.

Yesterday, not such a good day.....both my hockey teams lost and then I was really into the Iowa caucus on TV and my guy didn't win but he came close. As a student of foreign affairs I am not that excited about passing in my monthly paper next week. I love learning about other countries, their policies and right now the world is such an interesting place. It sure isn't perfect but it is so good, studying and learning about what is happening around the world has proven to be informative and fun. Our weekly discussions are fantastic, I enjoy them very much. Everyone has an opinion and I love when they explain their position, needless to say I don't always agree. Homework can be time consuming as we are suppose to fact check everything we say or write about. Wish me luck, I will need it to pass this course.

This morning I made the best chicken turkey soup ever and this afternoon when I came home from having my nails done the house smelled so good. I am looking forward to having my supper soon.

Our winter so far has been mild with minimal snow but we have had a bit of freezing rain. My parking lot is like a skating rink, scary really. I was frightened of falling when I went out earlier, it never did warm up enough for anything to melt and I am a bit concerned that we may get snow soon. Even a dusting of snow over that ice will be treacherous.

Have a great week everyone, sending you all big hugs..........:-)

Happy, Blessed and Grateful

It's Christmas morning....early! As I unwrapped myself from the spoon position of two beautiful little girls, I feel so happy. My nieces have cuddled and snuggled all night as they quietly settled waiting for Santa and Christmas morning to arrive. We had giggled, laughed and told stories long into the night before they finally settled into a happy and anticipated sleep. My  great nephew came stumbling into our room wobbling from lack of sleep yet so excited as he worked to clear the cobwebs from his eyes..."Auntie he screamed in his base like voice, so low and deep for such a little boy,  Santa didn't hang the stockings on the fireplace, he laid them under the tree". I smiled as I picked him up and kissed his sweet smelling neck while explaining to him  that maybe the stockings were so heavy that Santa thought it best to lie them down. My nieces woke up and the room was filled with excitement and anticipation as we untangled ourselves from the safety and contentment of each others cuddles.  My heart was filled with so much joy and happiness, it was only a quick prayer, but I thanked God for the most precious of gifts....love! I was surrounded by it, all because 3 of the most important little people in my life were snuggled beside me on this happiest of days. I was so happy. I quickly changed  Dylan's diaper and made him warm and comfortable for the excitement ahead. My nephew had made coffee and oh it smelled so good. I popped the cinnamon buns into the oven and we all gathered around the tree to see what magic Santa had performed while we had listlessly slept throughout the night. Perhaps it is time to tell you about my wonderful nephew who seems to know just what is needed to keep his family happy. He knows that the happiness of his children is far more important to him than anything. He knows that it is more important that his children feel loved, secure and safe. He provides these elements among many other important things for his children. That is why I love him as I do.
As I watched my beautiful niece open her gifts from me a "Guess" purse and a favorite perfume from Chanel, called Chance and I saw her sweet face filled with such joy and appreciation. I knew I had done the right thing.  She was worth it and more. I loved watching my great nephew,  Dylan, pushing all the buttons on his tow truck, fire engine, cement truck as well as many other cars and trucks. He laughed in glee as he made each vehicle move forward, backward and sideways with his remote controls.  His giggles and laughter were infectious,  I laughed out loud at his expression of joy.. I watched as my real life angel, Olivia,  push the buttons of her angel teddy bear as it played a golden violin and watched as its wings changed into reds, greens and blues. Each chord change brought a change of color as it played the most beautiful of all Christmas hymns Silent Night. It was perfect, the morning was perfect and I more than anyone realized and appreciated  the pure love of family. My nephew Greg knows my love of true stories so he chose a book I loved, he choose a movie I would enjoy and something we both love I shared with him......chocolate,  As much as we were different the more we were alike, as in candy, stories, movies and just being together. What a wonderful day we had together.
I watched  my niece Fallon as she accepted the last piece of jewellery my true love gave me before he passed away. I wanted her to have the beautiful opal and London Blue topaz ring Woody had given me. It was important she share in our love, also her beautiful eyes lit up when I gave her the earrings a dear friend brought me as a gift after visiting her beloved India. It was important she receive these pieces as I gave them, with "love". All those who know me know how special my niece Fallon is to me.  She has filled my life and heart with so much joy. 
Last night Fallon and I went to see the move War Horse, I loved it and although I would never have thought it to be a movie of Fallon's choice she tells me she really enjoyed it.
Today Fallon has gone shopping with her best friend Christina, they do this every year. She is happy.
Today I thank God for these little people in my life, for a nephew who understands me and for my family. My brothers, sisters and nieces and nephews....2012 I will be moving back to New Brunswick. I will miss my little people, but for now I am just going to enjoy them.  God is good, life is good and my heart is so full of love and goodness for everyone.  Hope you all had a great Christmas and wishing you all that is good for a wonderful 2012 .......tons of prayers and many hugs always.......:-)