Thursday, Your Turn @ The Table

"And thank you for a house full of people I love.  Amen."  ~Terri Guillemets

Keeping my gratitude simple today, events over the last couple of days have proven to me that even if I fail at everything else in my life, it will be okay, as long as I don't fail to show my family how I love them and how to love each other.

Your turn, What's your gratitude?

Sometimes "You had to be there" is a Better Vantage Point

When it comes to providing spaces for kids to play and miniature heart attacks for mothers our city has come a very long way! When Michael and I were young we had to scheme ideas, design a plan and bring it to life. That generally meant building something.

Our mothers had the great comfort of knowing, when we announced a plan to race a go-kart down the face of Mount Trashmore, that they could rest easy during the design and build phase, bid us good luck weeks later during the launch phase and wait contently at home in the throws of a Harlequin romance for our plan to inevitably succumb to it's integral design flaws. They knew we were never in any real danger, not if we had to build our risky adventure first.

While many of our plans failed in conception, some in build phase and some during event launch we had a great time. Those momentous summers provided more than hours of entertainment, they provided inspiration. They got us through those blistering unstructured weeks of summer holidays.

Then our generation grew up, we became engineers, and parks co-ordinators, city planners and designers.
We grew up and became our very own worst nightmare. We, who spent all those hours wishing that things existed have become adults who make things exist. We design the toys and the rides, we create the sports events and social places. We want to make sure that our kids have everything we never had before! Things like this.

Moms too, have something we never had before...'Realized Anxiety." No longer are those hair brained schemes in the hands of 8 year old designers and engineers. No, now there are real live educated grown-ups with money and connections to bring good things to life!

We, the generation of do-ers, have out done ourselves; creating coolness for our kids. While at the same time inadvertently securing work for hospital staff, sports therapist and fracture clinics. Not to mention the fiscal boost to those 'mother's little helper' industries. (safe money to invest in band-aides and things bottled)

Please don't misunderstand me. I love these hot-beds of danger parks! I put on my flip-flops and tag along. I watch, I cringe, I suppress anxiety, I clean-up litter in a lame attempt to be nonchalant and non-phased with the idea of my son hurling himself about on wheels and concrete. I think I do a pretty good job hiding all of those miniature heart attacks. It is a Mother's job after all to be the ever supportive cheerleader, boosting confidence in her children as they pursue things that bring them great joy. or is it?

Gratitude today for the young man at the skatepark who saw through my anguish the other day. He very plainly told me "It's okay not to watch, my Mom has never seen any of the tricks I do. It's better that way."

So I tried it. I let Mike take E-man to the skate park. They arrived home unscathed and unbroken. I asked "How was it?"

"You had to be there Mom, it was awesome!"

Awesome it was! I got to shake my pompoms everytime I heard E describe a trick or a run and I got to smile while I was doing it. All the Raw-Raw without the anxiety attack!

Spend some moment everyday in reflection of gratitude and happiness. Even if the time found is standing in line for coffee...use is wisely.

Michelle


Did this post brighten your day? make you smile? If so I'd be ever so grateful if you shared it on Facebook or Twitter. Someone else might be in need of a smile - Thanks!

Thursday...Your turn @ the Table

Today's 'Your Turn @ the Table' post will be kicked off by a much older me. No, it's not my birthday. I did however, age significantly when I woke up this morning and realized that today my daughter turns 16! She's an amazing young woman, full of energy and humour, she brings me so much to be grateful for everyday!


And she looks pretty good for a 16 year old...don't you think?

 That's my greatest gratitude today from a sea of things to be grateful for.

Your Turn @ The Table.....What's your Gratitude?

Michael, Nano Seconds and How Mickey Rourke Ended Up in Our Van

I'm sitting in the drive thru this morning with Michael, waiting in cue for our ice-coffee (sweet sustenance for the weekly errand run in summer) We are talking about the part we need for the dishwasher, items on the market grocery list and what we still need for cottage week. E-man is in the back trying to edge into the conversation with his 148th sales pitch on 'why we need an XBox 360.' There's a breath in the conversation, one of those thoughtful pauses where everyone contemplates the barrage of information that has just passed back and forth. The next words to fill the air in our van throw me for a loop.

"Mickey Rourke"

I turn my attention to Mike.

"What?" I ask
"Mickey Rourke." he repeats
"What?" I ask again. Trying desperately to replay the last 3 minutes, play a mental round of 6 degrees of separation and figure out what Mickey Rourke has to do with anything.
"The guy from that movie The Wrestler" Mike says
"I know who Mickey Rourke is." I say. "I'm trying to figure out where he came from"
"You know he was in all those movies in the 80's"
"Ya, I know, but what does he have to do with s'mores, a pump connector and beans?" I'm starting to feel a little stupid now because I still can't make the connection and Mike is looking at me like I just landed.
"Marlborough Man... he was the guy."
"Marlborough Man?" I inquire even more lost than  I thought I was.
"Ya, we were talking about that motorcycle movie, Marlborough Man and 'the guy' and I couldn't remember his name? It was Mickey Rourke."
"Seriously?" I'm looking out of the van window now trying to find the item that triggered that memory. Nothing. "Seriously? what has that got to do with anything we've been talking about just now?"
"It doesn't." He says.
"Then why are we talking about Mickey Rourke?" I can't even disguise the desperation and complete confusion anymore.
"Because I just got the answer. I couldn't remember the guys name and I just did." he replies
"Just like that? In the middle of a conversation about corn and gas mileage the answer Mickey Rourke just popped into your brain out of nowhere?" I'm lost for words.
"Ya, that's how it works, my brain, it's like a computer; it's always processing information, stuff I'm not even thinking about anymore. It's why I don't sleep at night, my brain is constantly processing crap stuff." he explains.
I am amazed at how quiet E-man is in the back. I think he might be thinking the same thing I am.
I stared at Mike, astonished. "Your processor is old, that conversation happened a week ago!"

I didn't suggest that perhaps I should be considering an upgrade. I was too busy laughing my head off!

Gratitude today for my husband who is always thinking. I wouldn't of course even consider trading you in. I would miss living in the middle of a sitcom! Seriously!

Spend some moment everyday in reflection of gratitude and happiness. Even if the time found is standing in line for coffee...use is wisely.

Michelle


Did this post brighten your day? make you smile? If so I'd be ever so grateful if you shared it on Facebook or Twitter. Someone else might be in need of a smile - Thanks!

Thursday, Your Turn @ the Table

We have a guest 'Gratituder' this week, she has been a delight and the source of much gratitude in our home.

I thought I would kick off this week's round of Your Turn @ the Table with a couple of her gratitudes...

• Sunshine
• Tanning with KJ
• Sleeping in

I thought her Dad would like to know LOL.

I am grateful for such delightful company and another smiling face around the house.

Your turn....What's your gratitude?

Would You Recognize One if it Didn't Bite You in the Butt?

Some days are just lovely! I don't mean that in a sarcastic "you'll never believe the crap I've had to deal with today." sort of way. I mean it in the genuine sense. It really has been a lovely day.

I woke up on time and feeling well, I enjoyed morning coffee with Michael and breakfast with my son. Morning traffic was easy to navigate as was the non-existent line at the coffee shop. My morning at the office was productive and unhindered. I enjoyed my home packed lunch and some fine company in the office this afternoon. The sun was shining all day and I turned off the A/C in the van on my drive home, rolled down the window and enjoyed the warm summer breeze. (I turned the radio up a little too, just for some old school flavour) At home, I found my family well and civil to one another, the house not completely trashed by summer vacation frivolity. Supper is finished, the kitchen is clean, my stomach is full and my mind is quiet. The kids are enjoying the company of their Friends, cousins and boyfriends. Michael is letting the air out of his tires with some guy time and I am enjoying some think time.

Looking back over the day, there was not a single event that stands out as fabulous. Just a simple chain of not bad things. Which is pretty great! It has me reflecting too, that a day strung together with an equal number of roadblocks would be more talked about.

So many times I find myself saying to people..."bad days help us recognise the good ones." but then I wonder...When the good ones come along do we recognise them?

Gratitude that today was a good day.

Spend some moment everyday in reflection of gratitude and happiness. Even if the time found is standing in line for coffee...use is wisely.

Michelle


Did this post brighten your day? make you smile? If so I'd be ever so grateful if you shared it on Facebook or Twitter. Someone else might be in need of a smile - Thanks!

A Needle in a House-Stack

Lula arrived home Friday night from work with news that she split a smallish hole in her work pants, during what I can only imagine, was some daring feat of grocery store heroics. The very instant she said "look what happened." I got that familiar prickle up the back of my neck. This it the only event I fear more than being asked to locate scotch tape.

A whole in your pants means sewing! Sewing doesn't scare me, I can sew. I used to make the kids cloths and Halloween costumes, curtains and home decor items, a dress or two even a few things for Mike. Sewing is easy, we have 3 sewing machines in our house, thread, scissors, notions all the tools of the trade so to speak. A small hole in the crotch of your pants however requires a sewing needle. I know how to use one of those too, problem is I have to locate one first!

Sewing needles are just like scotch tape; always missing, always impossible to find and always desperately needed. The sewing needle, I say needle - singular because that's all I require (despite the dozens that are hiding in our home) should be in the sewing box, a logical storage place for such an item. The sewing needle however is not and never is 'in the sewing box.' No, I have kids (hence the need for mending with a sewing needle) Kids use everything, kids never put anything back. Kids require you to use things, mostly at break neck speeds of multitasking proficiency; there is no time allotted for returning things to their proper place.

So, we need the sewing needle....and this is the first place I know to look.

This is the catch all cup by the phone, or rather the contents of. I spy...3 teeny pencils, 5 pen caps, 41 cents, a spring, a broken hair clip, a lego man and a camping spoon, a poker dice, a button and an eraser. All of this...but no sewing needle. See why my head is throbbing?

There is no sewing needle, so I put everything back in the cup.

I know, not what Martha would do. I'm pretty sure Martha's home also doesn't have catchall cups or junk drawers or do-dad baskets... all places next on my list in the Sew needle treasure hunt. I won't post their pics; its all the same, just in bigger quantities.

The sewing and sanity gods must be shining on me today. On the very brink of domestic induced cranial implosion I remember this...

The solution from my last mending crisis, that I cleverly tucked away in my purse so that I would always know where it was.

My next challenge was trying to thread the darned sewing needle!

Extreme gratitude expressed from today from Lula, who went to work with mended pants!

Spend some moment everyday in reflection of gratitude and happiness. Even if the time found is standing in line for coffee...use is wisely.

Michelle


Did this post brighten your day? make you smile? If so I'd be ever so grateful if you shared it on Facebook or Twitter. Someone else might be in need of a smile - Thanks!

Thursday...Your Turn @ the Table

Happy Thursday! It's your turn. Thursdays are the day after all when we get around the table and ask "what's your gratitude?"

I am grateful that after discovering the accidental death of Chippy (for which I take full responsibility) my lovely and thoughtful daughter KJ felt compelled to get this cheeky little bookmark for me. In memory she says ; )

Gratitude is simple to find. Your turn to share....What is something you are grateful for today? Share your gratitude in a comment and then pass it on to others, ask them to share their gratitude too! There's room for everyone @ the table.

Spend some moment everyday in reflection of gratitude and happiness. Even if the time found is standing in line for coffee...use is wisely.

Michelle


Did this post brighten your day? make you smile? If so I'd be ever so grateful if you shared it on Facebook or Twitter. Someone else might be in need of a smile - Thanks!

Wednesdays Example of Domestic Bliss #12

The days of summer have officially begun! School is out, the chaos has subsided and the peace of a warm summer breeze is settling over our lives...

My favourite view today



...and our front porch.

Gratitude today for children... free to play, husbands... free to ride, teenagers... free to do whatever it is that teenagers do and for a Mom... free to appreciate it.

Spend some moment everyday in reflection of gratitude and happiness. Even if the time found is standing in line for coffee...use is wisely.

Michelle


Did this post brighten your day? make you smile? If so I'd be ever so grateful if you shared it on Facebook or Twitter. Someone else might be in need of a smile - Thanks!

Lessons from Joey

While taking in Canada Day festivities we came across this image from the travelling petting zoo...

I didn't ask the history behind this animal's current circumstance (I didn't want to inquire actually, traveling petting zoos horrify me already)

Clearly something had gone terribly ari in this poor joey's life to be living in an Areopostle tote bag.

We could learn a lot about a grateful attitude from this little guy. I know a lot of people who, if displaced from their ideal life, would be complaining because their bag wasn't Couture. I know a lot of people who would be hopping around the cage in protest of everything that wasn't right about receiving a pink bag hanging undignified from a chainlink frence. Fortunately I also know a lot of people like Joey, willing to enjoy the best life has to offer, make the best of a less than ideal situation and just hang out.

Enjoy your day...find some gratitude in those less than ideal cirrcumstances today...BE A JOEY!

Spend some moment everyday in reflection of gratitude and happiness. Even if the time found is standing in line for coffee...use is wisely.


Michelle


Did this post brighten your day? make you smile? If so I'd be ever so grateful if you shared it on Facebook or Twitter. Someone else might be in need of a smile - Thanks!

The Show, The Performer & The Teacher Behind it All!

We reached the day of E-man's big performance. He did a fabulous job!  He didn't throw up and he made people laugh two things we were all worried about.  I know I've been spending a lot of time and hype on this event but truly you can not imagine the significance of this simple performance.

I really wanted to share the video with you. (however I am techincally inept and Blogger doesn't want to load what I have in less than 12 hours!)

I do however know how to give credit where credit is due and there is someone due a lot of credit...

The Story of Our Ms. McK

The end of the school year came much more quickly than I had anticipated, life has a way of cruising on fast forward between March Break and those final days of June. Somewhere around the middle of May, I realized that our family would be losing a very important member within a matter of weeks. No, I'm not sending Michael on a cross country motorcycle trip or signing up a teenager for bootcamp. We are loosing a teacher. This, to a lot of people, would not seem very significant, teachers come and go. I've been guilty of sending of the obligatory end of year tissue stuffed gift bag in years gone by. I've bid many teachers a happy summer and never given them a second thought. There have even been teachers that I could not wait to free my children from! This year however is going to be one of the hardest, and I've been wracking my brain for weeks trying to figure out just how I am going to say thank you to E-man's teacher. There just doesn't seem to be a gift that captures the depth of gratitude while hinting at the 'we'll miss you' factor. E-man thought that a Starbucks card and a hand written note would capture his sentiment, so we made that happen.

For me there had to be something else. This young woman has epitomized the calling of teacher. In a perfect world all kids should have a teacher like Ms. McK and all families should be so lucky.

Ms. McK has been E-man's teacher for 2 straight years, she has spent more time with him than his own family when you add up all of those teaching hours! Math, reading, environmental studies have been delivered expertly, just as you would expect from a teacher dedicated to her craft. It is however those 'other' things that have left a permanent impression on our hearts...

The way Ms. McK helped E-man launch and develop the Lego club at school. How she gave up her lunch one day each week so that a group of kids could play with building blocks and E-man could experience success in his venture.

The look on E-man's face when he looked up from the ice during his hockey fundamentals program to see his Ms. McK huddled in the frozen bleachers cheering him on.

The stories shared around our dinner table about the skydiving and camping adventures of Ms. McK.

The look of shear joy when E-man discovered that he would be in Ms. McK's class for a second year. Along with that look came a sigh of comfort, like letting out a breath he had been holding for far too long; everything was going to be okay for grade 3 just like it was for grade 2.

I'm going to remember those poor ladies in the school office who watched Ms. McK, E-man and myself share a few tears and a hug when our family pet Zipper past away last fall. (I'm sure there was some strange talk around the water cooler that day!)

Perhaps the most significant mark Ms. McK has left was witnessed at the end of E-man's performance. She has been a contributor to E-man's success, she has helped him build his confidence and talked him through those migraine inducing events. E-man has had someone comforting to turn to for support in the absence of his family. He has flourished in the environment provided by Ms. McK into a young man confident enough to face down his nerves, knowing that he has the strength but also that should he fail, it will be okay and there will be people around the boost him back up again.

I watched with a lump in my throat, as after his performance as Ms. McK left her seat and headed to where E-man exited the stage. There she was with a hug and a smile and her praise for a job well done. I knew then that my gift would be to dedicate this post and video (when & if I ever get the darn thing to load!)to her. A very big part of the young man you see in that video belongs to Ms. McK.

I didn't head upstairs after the performance to share my thanks. We are saying good bye to Ms. McK but Ms. McK is saying good bye to 20 something other kids who have benifited from the 'all in' teaching style of this fabulous young woman and well she certainly didn't need blubbering me in her face, making that event any easier. Staying away was the best thing I could do.

Our Family gratitude for Ms. McK today! Wishing you a summer of fun and relaxation. Rejuvenate those batteries another lucky group is waiting for you in 2 short months!

Spend some moment everyday in reflection of gratitude and happiness. Even if the time found is standing in line for coffee...use is wisely.


Michelle


Did this post brighten your day? make you smile? If so I'd be ever so grateful if you shared it on Facebook or Twitter. Someone else might be in need of a smile - Thanks!