No Resolution To Loose Weight This Year

Happy New Year my friends, I wish you all love, joy, happiness and good health in 2010. I want to take this opportunity to say how much you have enriched my life with your words of wisdom, encouragement, support and prayers. I found myself laughing, crying, happy and sad as we shared our stories and our lives with each other during 2009. All of you have been such a blessing. I am very much looking forward to sharing 2010 together.

Every year I make a resolution to loose weight and exercise more.....Not This Year. It's the same, same, same.......Instead I am going to learn to "Appreciate" (my word for 2010 thanks to Dani) each day and whatever it holds for me. I am going to appreciate all that I can do, and not worry about what I am unable too, I am going to show my appreciation in every way I can. I want to continue to forgive, love and laugh easily. Goals I have made and met before and by doing so has made my life much fuller/brighter so next it's "Appreciation"......my life has been so blessed in so many ways now it's time for me to show my appreciation for all that I am and all I hope to be.

Tonight I am bringing in the New Year with 2 friends....we are going to see the movie Avatar and having dinner at our favorite Chinese restaurant. Tomorrow I am going to Mass then watching football all day as I cook a ham and vegetables for dinner which I am going to serve with a good bottle of Champagne....yummmmmm! Now that will be easy to appreciate, don't ya think?

I am looking forward to getting back to my normal routine. "It was good while it lasted now I'm past it". I want my house back to normal and I am ready for some quiet time. I want to begin a novel I had purchased before Christmas and one that I received for Christmas....it is going to be so nice to enjoy a fresh new start to a wonderful New Year, new decade really and all the challenges and greatness that it holds for all of us.

Happy New Year and God Bless..........:-) Hugs

The Most Wonderful Time Of The Year

Hello my friends, I am home, in my own bed and it feels wonderful.

I had such a wonderful Christmas, we were so busy and every moment was full of fun, family, friends and food......my favorite was the time I spent with the children. I am blessed to have the sweetest great nieces and nephew in the world. Now Fallon and I spent hours sharing stories, jokes and just laughing together. One night at 3 in the morning we both woke up and laughed for an hour, we were tired and silly and everything seemed funny to us. I hold this memory close to my heart. Olivia is so sweet, she is beautiful and quiet....a real little lady. Olivia is very easy to entertain and so contented just being with Auntie Bernie....my heart overflowed with love for this little angel. Dylan is all boy, very busy and loves his mom. He is so cute, he rolls his eyes at me trying to figure out where I fit in with his family, gives me a grin and says in a very deep voice "Mom".....he was so easy to love and cuddle when it was just Auntie Bernie and Dylan time. I gave all 5 of them UGGS boots for Christmas and they were a great hit....

Our weather was cool and crisp, no falling snow and with my nephew doing all the driving I thoroughly enjoyed visiting their family and friends. All made me feel welcomed and this Christmas was one of my best ever.....My life is good, my heart is over flowing with love for my wonderful family.....I do hope you all enjoyed your Christmas as much as I did. I am so thankful tonight.....for all my blessings.

I still have a full week ahead of me and have to admit I am quite tired. My Christmas Tea was lovely....it was suppose to be for a couple of hours, but the first friend arrived at 1 o'clock and the last left at 7 o'clock. We opened stocking stuffers and gifts, ate delicious food and played parlour games. Pictionary was a great hit. These wonderful patients held the true meaning of Christmas in their hearts and I am proud to call them friends. They have taught me how special time is when it is filled with love and laughter. Oh yes, quality over quantity every time.

Before I began this post I began by trying to download my pictures....only to receive the message "no image found" that's right, having taken several pictures somehow or someone erased them.

Tonight my legs and feet are aching, my body is screaming for a good night's sleep and yet I have never felt happier in my heart. Life is good my friends, and it is only going to get better in the New Year Ahead......I know I plan on making it my best year ever.....what about you?

Merry Christmas

Hello everyone, it has been a few days since I have been able to post. Life has been so very busy.

We actually thawed out here on Wednesday, it never did get as warm as they said it would but anything was an improvement. I have been on the go every day since. Unfortunately I lost my key chain while cleaning off my car. These included my house, mail box and safety deposit box keys as well as a few others. We searched for hours the past few days but I'm afraid they will not show up until the Spring thaws. It cost a small fortune to have them all replaced but I really had no choice, I now have a new set of keys for everything and finally was able to open my mail box....note to self.......be more careful. Honestly I would rather give something away than loose anything.

Monday will be my last day of shopping, Tuesday I have my course and Wednesday I am hosting my Christmas Tree. It will be so much fun. I have wrapped and filled stockings for all my patients and on Monday I am picking up trays of vegetables, fruit and sweets. I have already got in the wine, cheese, crackers and chocolates. I am so looking forward to sharing my home and decorations this year.

Thursday, Christmas Eve I am going to my nephews. We will all go to Mass then over to friends for a full Christmas Dinner. Christmas Day these same friends will come to my nephew's for another full Christmas Dinner. Christmas night, Monique my nephew's wife, family arrives as well as more friends and it is always lots of fun. I am really looking forward to having this time with the children, they are 12, 4 and 2, just the right age to enjoy Santa Claus.

I come home on the 26th as I have a party to go to in Beaumont on the 27th. I have a good friend visiting from Washington DC who will be at her daughters for Christmas. Her daughter is hosting a party for all her mother's old friends. I am so looking forward to this as I haven't seen her in several years but we have always kept in touch. My only problem is the driving as I have never driven there before and I don't know what the weather nor the highways will be like on that day. Oh well, will just take one day at a time and enjoy the moment.

I will not be posting until the Christmas rush has calmed down though I will still read and comment on all your blogs I promise. I want to take this time to tell you all how much you have added to my life this year. I feel as though you are all family and I have so enjoyed being surrounded by loving, kind and caring "village" people. You know I can't think of another Village in Blogland where I would rather dwell.

I wish all of you and your families a very Merry Christmas....may you only know love, peace and health during this most beautiful time of year.

God Bless.......many, many hugs......:-)

Almost A World Record.....Brrrrrrr

Hello my friends, I wasn't going to post anymore on the cold weather we have been having but since we almost broke a world record yesterday I just had to tell you. Now doesn't everyone talk about the weather when there is nothing else to say.

This morning at the Edmonton International Airport the thermometer read -59 with the wind-chill. I know it is hard to believe eh!. I live in Morinville, north of the airport and my thermometer showed -48 but it doesn't show the wind-chill factor, or at least I don't think it does.

I went outside for approximately 10 minutes to clean my car off and almost froze, I had dressed to go out in a long faux fur coat and hat. I wore mittens and my UGGS and the only part of me that wasn't cold were my feet. I thought my fingertips were going to fall off....now it is suppose to warm up beginning on Wednesday and then on Friday they are calling for plus 1 and rain. Hard to believe the weather will turn around that fast but oh I am so hoping it will. In Edmonton they found a man on his front lawn frozen to death.....so close yet so far away. We still are in the wind-chill warning area and are being told to stay inside.




This is a picture of Highway 2, on December 4th the day of the blizzard. This is the highway I use to go into the city. I don't plan on going into the city until the weekend and I am so looking forward to it as I am getting a bit of cabin fever.

It is still suppose to be cold tomorrow but I am going to teach our course as it is held here in Morinville. I was speaking with Danielle earlier and she is not sure any of our patients will be there as some of them travel the back roads to Morinville and they are not in very good shape.

God Bless my friends and please stay warm.....many, many Hugs.....:-)

Frozen Friday

Oh my but it is cold. This morning I set my alarm clock as curling playoffs started at 8:30am....I wanted to be up and dressed, take my insulin and have breakfast before it came on TV. Canada is deciding which men and women's teams are to represent them at the Olympics. It has been on all week and I have enjoyed some excellent shot making. Since I really can't get out very much I am really thankful to have such good TV to pass the time. I am also enjoying TCM and all their old movies, especially the black and white ones. No matter what I find one can always find the good in any situation if they are open to it.

When I tried to open my front door to get my newspaper from the mailbox it took a lot of effort as my door was frozen. In fact everything outside is frozen solid and it is suppose to get worse before it gets better. It is -41C which is -41.8F, with the wind-chill factor. In fact it is very dangerous and one can get frost bite within 3 minutes of exposure......this Arctic freeze is suppose to last until Wednesday when they are calling it to warm up to -15, in my area that is bathing suit weather. Living north of the city we are always colder out here. Not many cars started in our parking lot this morning, everyone was trying to help each other but I am sure many are late for work or not going in at all as the parking lot is still full.

I have done some baking this week and am hoping to go into the city next week as I want to go to Costco to pick up fruit, vegetables and dips to make up some trays for my Christmas Tea.....all will depend on the weather. I am so happy I have my gift cupboard as I was able to fill stockings for all of my patients. I am sending a couple of gifts home with our little patients sister for her to open Christmas Day.
Sorry blogger friends, I had plans on sending small gifts to each of you in the village but know you all will not mind my using your gifts to make this Christmas a little bit better for those who are not well.

Oh no, I just heard on the news we are getting more snow tonight.....brrrrr! Time to light the fire, cover up with my snuggie and watch Curling.

Have a great weekend everyone, stay warm.........:-) many, many hugs

Welcome To My Home

Hello my friends.....this has been a sad day for me, one of my dearest blogger friends mother passed away and my heart is breaking for the pain she is now feeling. I love her so much so in celebration of her mother I am going to post my happy memories and how I got to where I am.

As most of you know I have lost many of the one's I have loved most in my life, my son, my husband, my parents and my brother as well as several beautiful friends. For many years now I didn't decorate a Christmas tree, nor did I decorate anything. The memories were to painful. This year instead of running from the memories I decided to embrace them and so began the trek from the crawl space in the basement to my favorite room in the house, the cosy living room.

Let me set the scene for you...we were in the middle of a very cold blizzard. I couldn't go out and no one would be visiting. Though the weather outside was brutal the feeling in my heart was warm and wonderful, I have waited many years for this feeling to return on my favorite holiday and I wasn't about to let the moment pass. I have to admit I shed tears as I unpacked certain favorite ornaments, like the one my son made for me in school, or the beautiful heart with grandmother on it from my granddaughter.....I didn't cry very long, I knew they all would want me to be happy.



The finally decorated tree.....it's been eight years!



These trees are very special, my mother in law had made me the small one and my husband had given me the large one....I can still see the sparkle in his eyes as he presented me with his gift with much love.




I won this stained glass nativity scene in a curling bonspiel...I remembered the happiness we felt and all the laughs my team shared when we won this prize.




I turned all the lights out except the for the Christmas trees and with the fire glowing I was enjoying complete bliss.




This is my very favorite nativity scene, the last one my husband and I purchased together on our last Christmas we shared together.




My Dining Room Table




At the end of a emotional long day I made biscuits and they were so good with my clam chowder....perfect for a snowy day don't you think?

Now I have decorated most of the main floor....did I mention I have a Christmas clock which plays a Christmas song as the hand touches each new hour of the day...needless to say I was awaken last night with these beautiful tunes....note to self, turn off music when I go to bed.


Good Night and God Bless and many, many hugs to you all especially my dear friend Diana who is so close to my heart tonight.......:-)

Grab a box of Kleenex

Hello my friends, please take a couple of minutes and watch this video, I guarantee you will shed some tears. My beautiful cousin, Sharon e-mailed me this today and I just had to share it with you.



I have been thinking a lot lately about the holidays. Most of us enjoy this time of year but I realize many of those who are lonely, sick, depressed or have lost loved ones this past year will find this season very painful. Thankfully most people are surrounded by family and friends who love and care about them and their priorities are to have everyone together sharing faith, turkey dinners, decorations and gifts. They enjoy just being together and appreciate all the year has brought them. I am grateful to have this in my life......but I still feel for those who don't. Once someone said to me "Bernie" I have family that love me but don't care and friends who care but don't love me". I have never forgotten this sentence but I never quite understood it either because too me when you love someone you care about them just as when you care for someone you love them. Yesterday while at my class I realized I may be wrong, you see one of the patients said everyone was concerned about her but they were so busy living their lives and that life didn't include a sick person who needed to be helped each day. She wasn't being mean or feeling sorry for herself, she was speaking her truth. My heart ached for her and I said then why don't you decide who you would like to spend Christmas with and ask them if they would mind. She said she would think about it but I am not sure she will ask anyone as she cannot afford to buy gifts nor is she well enough to help someone with shopping, baking or decorating (this seems to be very important to her)......last night I couldn't settle just thinking about her and I had to accept the fact that I cannot fix everything for everyone, sometimes I just have to do my best and let God handle the rest. I am thinking of calling my nephew and asking him if I can bring her with me to his place for Christmas. I would like to be able to help her and I don't mind caring for her. I haven't called him yet....I feel I may be imposing....what does that say about me? Perhaps I should have Christmas here in my own home and share it with her but then would I disappoint my nephew and his family. We have had every Christmas together for 10 years. I know my niece e-mails me every day excited that I'm sharing Christmas with her and we will do our traditions we do every year. Okay so back to the prayers, not only so that I may settle but for the patient who is feeling so alone.....

Good Night and God Bless......and many, many Hugs.....:-)