Renovations

I've heard lots of stories about home renovations: they always take longer than you think, they always cost more than you think, etc. Well, it's all true!

When we moved into our house it had an unfinished basement. At the time, it didn't seem like that big of a deal. We could finish it the way we wanted and expand our living space. After nearly a year of unpacking and settling in, we decided to tackle the project.

We got a couple of quotes from local contractors that left my mouth gaping. Surely we wouldn't have to pay that much just to finish the basement!?! Well, no. We wouldn't. Because we found Mike. Mike is our neighbour who is very handy and has endless energy! He has quarterbacked this project - putting in countless hours at our house and he has had great ideas and suggestions because he's done this type of thing before. Devin has been helping out - which saves on our cost but he's also learning a ton along the way. A win win!

We started out with a mountain of boxes haphazardly strewn about the entire lower level. We had not unpacked all of Devin's stuff when we had to vacate my house. It was the hottest day of the summer when we moved my stuff so all of my belongings were shoved into the basement for the sake of "getting it done". After that, it seemed like an enormous task each time we went to the basement... a mountain of boxes to make our way through.

Slowly but surely we eliminated some boxes - unpacked for our use, donated to Goodwill, sold on Kijiji or just plain garbage. We still have plenty left to go through, but we at least had a manageable sized mountain to deal with. We moved all of these boxes into our "unfinished" area and Mike got to work on framing some walls. It was amazing to see how quickly things changed in the early stages. It went from a big ole empty room with insulation and vapor barrier to walls with drywall and eventually paint. Then came a bathroom, lighting, flooring and a fireplace!

We are nearly at the finish line and are so excited to have this new space to use as a family. The countless hours of working down there is now about to pay off. Although, it has me holding off on the pending kitchen renovation!

Our Maritime Adventure

It all started when my Uncle Doug asked me last summer "When are you coming out to see us?" This started the wheels moving to get our wheels moving!

What a wonderful adventure we had on our trip to the Maritimes. It was a perfect two weeks of just the three of us and the open road. We traveled through Quebec and into New Brunswick. I felt compelled to stop in Hartland, NB to get a photo with the longest covered bridge in the world. Our family had stopped there 32 years earlier and it just felt like a "must do" thing to get our photo with the same bridge!

We carried on to Moncton where we did an Urban Quest by the waterfront. Then spent some time with Devin's Aunt Pauline and Uncle Steve and cousin David & his wife Cathy. We walked on the ocean floor at Hopewell Rocks and carried on to Nova Scotia, eventually ending up at Uncle Doug & Aunt Carmelle's place right on the ocean. What a wonderful few days of relaxing and enjoying their company. And an added bonus, my fruzzin Carol Ann was home too!

We ventured into Halifax and set sail on a pirate ship and watched the buskers around the waterfront. We even tried our first beavertail! But the real gem of the trip was Cape Breton. What a gorgeous spot! Each turn was breathtaking and Devin loved driving those winding roads made famous on tons of car commercials. We didn't see any whales when we went whale watching, but did spot some seals and dolphins. Cody even got to hold a lobster when they showed us how they trap them.

Perhaps my favourite part of the trip was our "perfect picnic" purchased through Parks Canada. We saw it on the website and thought it looked like a great idea. The photo was a couple with a beautiful picnic basket with a baguette sticking out the end. We joked that it would likely be in styrofoam take out containers in a plastic bag when we picked it up. We were pleasantly surprised to find it all tucked neatly into a special cardboard box with the Parks Canada logo. The food was delicious and so was the view that Devin found for us to eat our picnic! What a wonderful day.

Two weeks was the perfect amount of time to actually get away and relax before feeling like it was over and we had to head back to work. We all had a wonderful time and made family memories to last a lifetime!

Cody-isms

For the past year, I've been jotting down notes on my phone whenever I have a "Cody moment". I'm sure all parents have these moments when their kid says something profound or hilarious. I knew that if I didn't write them down, I would eventually forget and I didn't want that to happen.

Inspired by a Cody moment last night, I thought I'd share them in a blog post - for future reference. Here is my list in no particular order:

Devin and I were stealing a moment to kiss in the kitchen while Cody was headed for the fridge to get a drink. He paused and said "I'll just let you have that moment".

While discussing my wedding dress and how much I loved it, Cody piped up to say "you know me, I love pretty".

While listening to McCartney's Jet in the truck, his fist clenched, he exclaims "My hand is always ready". (This followed me telling him that when you see Paul McCartney in concert and he sings this song, you pump your fist in the air each time he sings JET!)

When deciding what to make for lunch Cody declared: "I would like two examples of sandwiches please".

"My tummy reminds me when it's time to eat. It gurgles when I'm hungry. Mummy's tummy sounds like an earthquake when she's hungry."

While discussing interruptions in the classroom, he claims: "He makes me forget things. Because, I have a beautiful mind when  I'm not being interrupted".

"I'm so thirsty, my throat is dripping it's so dry." (what?!?)

"I'm just going through my brain because I have 300 words I have to memorize for school."

While saying grace before dinner: "Thank you God for Mummy. I've been waiting my whole life for someone like her".

Watching Grammie curl her hair: "You look like George Washington".

He caught a glimpse of the wire on the back of my teeth and was fascinated that I have one the same as Daddy's. Then he exclaimed "You really are meant to be together!"

Cody: "When you're old Daddy, I'll take care of you."
Me: "What about me?"
Cody: "Maybe, but you're tough."

While on our East Coast trip, Devin was explaining to Cody that we were far from home and it took us three days to get there. His response: "We can get it down to two if we really work at it."

Also on our trip, while eating lunch one day - I asked Cody if he was having fun. He agreed that he was and then added "If we didn't meet you, we wouldn't be here right now."

Rounding the corner at Costco, he sees a sample display and sings (with vibrato) "my dessstinnnyyy"

When tucking Cody in, I was explaining how special he is to me and how he's changed my life. He smiled sweetly and snuggled under the covers and then pointed out "If you didn't meet us, you would just be sitting around your house talking to shadows."

Swiss Chalet ...OK

The following text exchange actually occurred between Devin and myself on April 1, 2016. It was April Fool's Day and Swiss Chalet sent out an email announcing they were retiring their chalet sauce and introducing a new recipe.

What ensued was pure comedic gold. Everyone in the office was following along as Devin replied. The longer it went on, the more he got fired up and the funnier it was. I shared this at our family Easter dinner because I thought it was so hilarious and Jo-Anne liked it so much she "performed" it with Karla Ann at our wedding reception.

Thought I would share it here, along with some pics we took on this year's family vacation. Enjoy.

Janice: Just sent you an email

Devin: K thanks.

Janice: It's about Swiss Chalet. Did you hear about the merger and such? My parents might be devastated.

Devin: That is without a doubt the stupidest thing I've ever heard of in my life. I'm not going there anymore.

Devin: I can't believe how betrayed I feel right now.

Devin: To put this into perspective, The Keg might as well stop serving steak.

Janice: I know! I cannot believe it.

Janice: My cousin Josh will be devastated. He would drink the stuff if he could. And he's not even in Canada to have it before it's gone.

Devin: I'm actually a little taken aback by how angry I am over this right now. I probably should have waited to the end of the day to look at that.

Devin: Don't be surprised if they go out of business over this. There are literally people that will travel across the border from the states, like a pilgrimage, to go to Swiss Chalet for that stuff and then bring home 5 gallon buckets of it. I heard about it on the news one time in Buffalo.

Janice: It's a terrible marketing plan. Like new Coke or McPizza.

Devin: Where do people and companies get off doing stuff like this? They create a product and provide it to people for 60 years and then just take it away. It makes no sense to me. McCartney might as well start doing ghetto rap music.

Devin: Or Target? Where are they now?

Janice: I'm wondering if it's related to the merger with that Quebec chain. Heard it on the radio this morning while getting ready for work.

Devin: What Quebec chain?

Janice: St. Hubert Chicken.

Janice: Never heard of it before, but apparently it's a big deal.

Devin: I knew it! The food is crap. Why would they do that?

Devin: I've been there and it's a crappier version of Swiss Chalet.

Devin: Literally after eating there, I kick myself for not just going to Swiss Chalet.

Janice: Oh dear.

Janice: That doesn't sound good for Swiss Chalet.

Devin: There's no way it will last. There will be way too much push back from the public. They'll do this for a while and then have a grand welcome back to the old sauce as another marketing ploy for more cash.

Janice: Well, sorry to fire you up. But I thought of you right away.

Devin: St. Hubert chicken used to be in Ontario but it's gone now and there's good reason for it because it's swill. What a waste of perfectly good chicken.

Devin: Fired up? I am literally this mad. (anger emoticon)

Janice: Ok honey. Settle down. Life will go on.

Devin: No way! It's what we always do in this country - we settle down and take it. People need to speak up and tell St. Hubert's chicken to keep their poison in Quebec where it belongs.

Happy birthday, baby!

Enjoying our birthday morning coffee!

Today we are celebrating the awesome man I get to call my husband.

We started the morning by stopping in at the local Coffee Culture before work. As we walked hand-in-hand down the street and into the cafe, Devin had such a huge smile on his face. We got our coffees and snuggled in beside each other at our booth. Yes...we were THAT couple. I can't help it. I love this man and sometimes it's hard to not let it show.

Devin loves cars, trucks and all things with a motor. So, with that in mind...

Selling features for this make and model:

• positive outlook
• encouraging
• patient
• passionate
• easy going
• caring
• loving
• understanding

We have had a wonderful year since we celebrated his last birthday and I can't wait to see what's in store until the next one!

Happy birthday to the love of my life. Forever and for always. xo

The week of the gall bladder

It has been quite a week at the Drysdale house. It started last Thursday. My stomach wasn't feeling just right in the evening, but I thought I'd wake up feeling better on Friday morning. It wasn't so. I spent the day in bed on Friday with back pain and nausea. I was disappointed to feel the same way on Saturday as we had made plans to go to the beach with some friends. As one of our only "available" weekends of the summer I hated to spend it in bed but that's what I did. By Sunday, I was feeling more myself so we attended the annual Moore family reunion and squeezed in a visit with my brother and his family.

And then it hit me. Sunday night I woke up about 3:30am with what I knew was a gall bladder attack. I've had a number of attacks over the past year or so but none were this bad or lasted this long. We decided around 7am I should go to the ER so, we dropped Cody off at school and Devin took me into London. We were in his work truck and each bump along the way caused me to moan in agony.

I arrived at the ER looking pretty disheveled - hot water bottle in tow.  Fortunately they could see my anguish as we only waited about 10 minutes in the waiting room before being called in to a bed. I saw a lot of people in a short time - nurses, interns, residents, ultrasound ops, etc. Through several ultrasounds they determined I had a lot of gall stones and one was in the neck of my gall bladder - which was causing the pain. I'm not sure if the doctor that did the original bedside ultrasound dislodged the stone or not but the pain seemed to settle down after he completed the first scan.

Bumped into my old friend Nick on my way home! :)

My sister Jo-Anne came to spend her day off with me while Devin went to work. It was such a comfort to have her there - she even brought me a nice warm blanket as it was freezing at the hospital! She thinks of questions that I never would and ensured I was taken care of. She also drove me home and settled me in before heading out.

I was so relieved when they told me I'd be having the surgery on Thursday. I actually had a consultation on July 11 with a surgeon, but I knew it would be more waiting after the initial appointment. So, to have this dealt with within a few days was wonderful. And it actually ended up happening a day early! They called and asked me not to eat after midnight on Tuesday night in hopes they could get me in on Wednesday.

I went to work on Wednesday morning and sure enough, at 9:30 I got the call and was off to the hospital. Of course, I had made all my arrangements for Thursday.... Mom was going to be with me at the hospital and bring me home, Randy was going to pick Cody up from school and take him home.... a day early had me scrambling. However, I'm surrounded by great people that help out in time of need. Randy came a day early and looked after Cody and though my mom couldn't come to the hospital, she spent the day with me at home on Thursday and made sure I was resting comfortably.

Flowers from John & Karen (left) and Mom & Dad (right)

My dad had his gall bladder out when I was a kid. It was a big deal. He was in the hospital for about a week and still has a big scar. I'm happy to say things have changed. They now do the surgery laparoscopically so I went home just hours after the surgery and will have very minimal - if any - scarring. It's not my ideal way of spending Canada 150 but I'm grateful for the way things timed out and now have this behind me.

After a year... are you still "newlyweds"?

A year has come and gone since I became Janice Drysdale. It's hard to believe! In one way, it feels like we've been married for so long because it was such a natural transition. In other ways, it just feels like yesterday that I was a single gal longing for all the things that are now my reality!

I'm so incredibly blessed to have such a wonderful husband. He's patient and encouraging, always making me laugh, he's handy - completing lots of projects around the house and he balances me. When I worry about every last detail, he is carefree and trusting God. It has been such a wonderful year.

But, it's funny how life doesn't go the way it is planned in your head. I never would've imagined my first year of marriage being so chaotic:

• moving two houses and all the boxes that go with that
• selling my beloved Beetle and driving a pick up truck
• helping a child settle into a new school
• becoming an English tutor as we help Cody learn to read
• basically crash-coursing how to become a parent and deal with discipline, learning expectations, responsibilities, etc. Yikes!

If I imagined that I would be choosing my first anniversary card for my husband while standing in the grocery store - with the clock ticking - I would have thought that was ludicrous. Not me! Cards are far too important to be rushed. In fact, they should be hand made.

LOL. Hand made. What a joke. I haven't even had time to put together the photobook of our wedding! Gone are the days of having current annual photobooks. I haven't created one since I met Devin.

One day, life will settle down and I will once again enjoy the things I once did. But for now, I'm immersed in the moment of being a wife and mom. And you know what? I wouldn't trade it for the world. It's what I've been waiting my whole life for.

Mother's Day and Such...

On this day 2 years ago, I met a very important young man. A little red head that I now call son.

I must admit, I was nervous to meet Cody. Things were going so well with Devin, I was afraid of rejection from his son. We agreed after knowing each other a couple of months that we were ready for the two of us to meet. We made plans for Saturday, May 9th - which just happened to be the day before Mother's Day.

I parked my car and anxiously walked to the door. I was met by a grinning Devin. He was so excited to see me! He called Cody out of his room and introduced us. At first he was shy - hiding behind Devin - but that only lasted about 2 minutes. Then he wanted to show me his room and his toys. 

Devin knew that it was going to be a special day for each of us and he wanted to make it memorable. He wouldn't tell us where we were going until we got there. As we rounded a corner, Cody could see a helicopter through the sunroof of the car. He commented on that and Devin said "do you think it would be fun to ride in one of those?" Yep! We were going on a helicopter ride over Niagara Falls! (it's worth noting that Devin lived about 30 minutes from the falls)

What a day! We hovered over the falls and enjoyed the gorgeous view, but I don't honestly remember a lot from that ride. I was too overwhelmed with what God was doing in my life. I knew that He was putting the pieces of my family together.

Cody has been such a blessing to me and the bond we share is quite remarkable. I didn't know that I could love someone else's child this much. Although he is my stepson it doesn't feel that way. He has welcomed me into his life with open arms.

This morning at work, I found this note in my lunch bag. Oh my heart. I can't believe how fortunate I am.

Happy Birthday Mum!

As my dear mum turned 70 this year, I wanted to share some words about this incredibly special lady. It's impossible to articulate how I really feel about her, but I'll share the toast I wrote for her birthday dinner.

What a wonderful privilege to call this woman our mum and Grammie. From a new wife with three under three to a loving Grammie that has expanded her flock to 14…your life has been spent pouring into and building up the people around you.

Mum, your caring and nurturing traits are what got you the nickname Mama Ellen at Meadowview and they’re what are at the very essence of who you are. You started off helping out with a brood of five brothers, picked the perfect profession when you became a nurse and spent 30+ years caring for others. And each one of us got the benefit of having you as our MUM.

I dare say I had the best spot in the family – as the “baby”. It meant that I got to spend one on one time with you while the rest were at school.  These memories include baking bread, trips to town, learning to read, many many songs and the time you took me to see my hero – Mr. Dressup.

Honestly, it wasn’t until this past year that I fully realized the sacrifices you made for us. When I remember my days at home, I don’t remember you having many hobbies of your own or nights out with a friend. You were old faithful. Preparing a meal for the family, cleaning up from the meal, helping one of us with a homework assignment, counseling another through some tears, repairing a ripped pair of pants, and making lunches before calling it a night. Mum, you gave everything you had for your family and we are all here tonight to say THANK YOU.

One thing that I’m so grateful for and as an adult have such an appreciation for is our spiritual upbringing. Through it all, you never wavered - faithfully taking us to church on Sunday, Family night on Tuesday, youth group on Fridays all while building a strong foundation of faith in each of your children.

We’ve had many laughs over the years as well. You aren’t afraid to be silly and enjoy a good belly laugh. Actually, a lot of those laughs came on family vacations. Who could forget the squeals of terror on the Cabot Trail or the famous “row boat” incident at Rainbow Valley? Your first trip down the waterslide was one to remember but we were all thrilled that you were brave enough to jump in!

Mum, you truly reflect the meaning of love shared with us in First Corinthians 13.

Mum is patient, Mum is kind. She does not envy, she does not boast, she is not proud. She does not dishonor others,  she is not self-seeking, she is not easily angered, she keeps no record of wrongs. Mum does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. Mum always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.

Mum, tonight we want to celebrate who you are and who you’ve been. We are all so grateful for the unfailing love and support. Happy 70^th birthday and we look forward to celebrating many more with you.

Stories

One of my favourite memories with my Grandma Mills was listening to her stories. Stories from

when she was a girl or when my dad or his siblings were little. Those stories - told over and over - fascinated me.

Stories from my other Grammie were equally as alluring. Tales of growing up in England, falling in love with a Canadian soldier and her adventures in raising a young family in a new country were mesmerizing!

Several weeks ago, I was thinking about this and how I need to be sharing my own stories with Cody. Well, no sooner had the thought entered my head and we were right in the middle of it.

We were in the truck driving back from Niagara when Cody asked if we could listen to the radio. I suggested we leave the radio off and talk for a bit. Honestly, I had not thought of sharing stories - just thought it was an opportunity to have some family discussion. His response was "Tell me all about your first Beetle. Tell me what you were doing when you got smashed into and what happened after. I want to know everything."

So, for the next two hours, I shared true stories of my past with Cody. It was fun! I was surprised by what he thought was interesting. After I detailed the demise of my beetle, I shared with him about Dad getting his toe chopped off, my first time on an airplane, and my first trip to Marineland. (quite the range of topics!)

The questions didn't end when we got home. On Tuesday morning, it was just the two of us for breakfast since Devin was away doing some training for work. While I was preparing things, he asked if we could "do that thing again like we did in the truck". He wanted to ask more questions. Awww. So, over breakfast we discussed more tidbits about me. His fascination was really adorable.

I started writing this blog post yesterday and before I could finish it, last night Cody found my Blook (a photobook printed from my blog) and sat down to look at it. While I made dinner he poured over the photos and asked questions. While Daddy & I were having a conversation, he didn't want to interrupt us, so he put some bookmarks in the pages he had questions about. When we finished he said "Emmy, I have a number of questions I want to ask you." Ha ha ha. Who is this kid?

It's funny how things take care of themselves. I didn't need to worry about making time for stories. The stories took care of themselves!

"Just Because" Flowers are the BEST!

Yesterday my husband arrived home with a beautiful bouquet of flowers. It wasn't my birthday, our anniversary or any other "special" day. He got them for me just because. Or, more accurately, he had listened to a broadcast from Chuck Swindoll that encouraged listeners to love their family, spend time with them, and let them know how special they are. He was inspired by this message to pick up flowers for me on the way home.

I don't need flowers every day, every week or every month, but it sure felt nice to be appreciated. It's so easy to get caught up in the to-do list that we miss key opportunities to enjoy moments with the ones we love.

Last night Devin & Cody went for a bike ride while I got dinner ready. And this morning when Cody bounded into our room - all dressed and ready for school, we lingered a few extra moments having some morning snuggles. As he said "it's the best way for me to start the day".

I agree!

Footnote: You can listen to Chuck Swindoll's 3 part series here - entitled Delightful Memories Your Children Won't Forget.

My Epic March Break

For the first time in a long time, I enjoyed a week off in the middle of March. I remember looking forward to "March Break" when I was in school - mostly because my birthday always fell during the vacation.

This year, I decided to take the week off work so I could spend it with my favourite 8-year-old. We had such a GREAT week, but were both exhausted by the end of it.

On Monday we met up with friends Laura and Luke for a cooking class at Loblaws. During the Mexican Fiesta, the boys whipped up a real feast and enjoyed their lunch. Laura and I caught up over coffee at the nearby Williams. To burn off a little more energy, we let them run around the McDonald's play area afterwards. Wow, talk about gross! It went against my better judgement to be there. Just the smell of sweaty kids, stinky socks, wet boots and McDonald's food was enough to prevent me from going back. LOL. But the boys had fun.

In the afternoon, we headed to my stompin' grounds of the TV station for a tour. It was great to see some of my old friends and catch up. Cody was intrigued by the many buttons, lights and cameras. He even had the opportunity to be the weatherman! It was trickier than he thought - ensuring he was pointing the right way on the screen!

We set out for Sarnia on Tuesday to visit my BFF and her kidlets. It was so nice to have some time to catch up and see the kids playing together. They had fun building a fort, doing crafts and playing outside. Oh, and putting on a performance!

The real excitement started Tuesday night when we stayed over night at Jo-Anne & Nick's house. It the morning we set off for my Aunt & Uncle's place near Goderich. I'm convinced that everyone needs a Penny & Cliff in their life. We all had such a great time! Over the course of the three days we were there, the boys went to a watercolour class at the library, swimming at the Y, and a Mad Science presentation. But the memories were made with Uncle Cliff and Aunt Penny while building a teepee in the woods behind their house. It was a chance for little boys to do what little boys like to do.... hauling dead trees around, jumping on stuff, sliding down the hill, and GETTING DIRTY!

They loved their trips over to the teepee. Uncle Cliff bossed the job and named himself Chief Big Shot. Aunt Penny was helpful in breaking off the lower branches so no one got poked in the eye, and, of course, brought snacks!

It was a wonderful week of fun and adventure for me an the munchkin. We shared lots of snuggles and "I love you's" and added some memories to the memory bank.

What is Love?

There are certainly plenty of songs, poems and thoughts about love but, has anyone really figured it out? It's an elusive topic, for sure. Many people are in search of it but I'm not sure how many people find it.

On this Valentine's Day, love is in the air. Everywhere you look there are heart shaped EVERYthings. So I thought I'd take a moment to ponder my true love. Until I met Devin, I had experienced love in a number of ways - with family, with friends, love of the Beatles, love of MY Beetle. But the love I now share with my husband is one so different than any of the others I had ever known.

I believe it's because it reflects the love of our creator. I truly believe that God orchestrated our lives being brought together and has blessed our relationship. We love because God first loved us.

How do I love him? Let me count the ways...

• I love that he makes me feel safe.
• I love that he makes me feel beautiful.
• I love the way that he's a Daddy.
• I love the way he encourages me to be a Mommy.
• I love the way he makes me LAUGH.
• I love that we agree on the fundamentals and are committed to this life together.
• I love the way he knows me.
• I love his thoughtful and analytical mind.
• I love his attention to detail.
• I love his positive outlook and encouragement.
• I love his beautiful blue eyes and how they look at me.

Eight is Great!

This little guy turned 8 years old today. I told him this is where he stops getting bigger! He's at such a fun stage - exploring and discovering new things, his is personality starting to form, he still loves giving and receiving hugs and kisses... I want him to stay here forever!

I never dreamed it was possible to love someone else's child as my own. But that is exactly what happened with Cody. He has become such a huge part of my life, worming his way into my heart and grabbing hold!

I love the moments in the truck when we share a favourite song or when he recognizes a Paul McCartney song. I love it when we see a Beetle driving down the street and we call out "love bug" and blow each other a kiss. I savour the moments cuddled on the couch with a book. I am so grateful for the tender moments we share, the times he grabs my hand and tells me he loves me or wants to run and jump into a bear hug. I am blessed to have this little life to pour into and it spills back onto me.

So, today we celebrate this wonderful redhead that God has blessed us with. He is truly special and I can't wait to see what's in store for him.

Banff for Christmas

What a wonderful place to spend the holidays! This year Devin & I flew to Banff for Christmas. A number of factors came together to make it a reality: Cody was spending Christmas with his mom, Devin & I both had nearly a week off work without taking "vacation" time, we had wanted to do a delayed honeymoon at some point....so, the decision was made.

We stayed at Buffalo Mountain Lodge just outside the city. It was exactly the feel we were going for. The lobby was totally decked out for Christmas with a roaring fire in the fireplace. We even had a fireplace in our room!

This trip was the perfect blend of relaxation (puzzles and Christmas movies) and adventure (snowmobiling up a mountain). The views were so spectacular we felt that we were in a snowglobe! It was cold - I wore an insulating layer the entire time I was there - but gorgeous. The layer of snow on top of everything was breathtaking.

One of the moments I had anticipated the most was the "one horse open sleigh" ride on Christmas Eve. I'm a real sap sometimes and the thought of doing this in the mountains on December 24th was just too much for me to handle! It did not disappoint. We climbed into our sleigh and were covered by a buffalo hide for warmth. We made our way through some open areas and even spotted a herd of elk. As the snow softly fell, I tried to take a mental snapshot that I could savour in years to come. What a unique experience!

Another one of my favourite moments was our full day of snowmobiling in BC. Wow! What an adventure. It was amazing to wind our way up the mountain and see the fantastic views along the way. We stopped a few times at particularly breathtaking vantage points - including this frozen waterfall. At the top, we stopped for lunch at a cabin - giving us the opportunity to warm up. After lunch, it was time to rip around the "powder bowl". That was what Devin had been anticipating since we booked the trip :) However, when you're on the BACK of the snowmobile, it's much different. With each bump, my bum came right off the seat! I was really getting jostled around and thought I might just fly off the back and Devin would never know. So, I had a time out to take photos while he raced around like a maniac.

We both returned home sick with a cold, but we had such a great time, it didn't seem to matter! What a great first Christmas as Mr. & Mrs.

Better to Have Loved and Lost...

Grieving the loss of someone you love is relatively new to me. Fortunately I have not lost a lot of loved ones. I was only 6 when my Grandma Mills passed away and the loss was much different as a child. My Grandad died when I was 18 but we didn't have a close emotional attachment so the grief was different, yet again.

Losing my Grammie in November was like nothing I've ever experienced. I am so fortunate to have had such a close and loving relationship with this special lady. Not only was she my Grammie, sharing stories of her youth and from the past, but she was also my friend. A confidant. Someone I could talk to. Someone I could LAUGH with. We laughed a lot. She was quite funny.

I feel that I have mourned in gradual stages. Several years ago, I started to see signs of her aging. It became more difficult for her to get around and our trips in the car were less frequent. As superficial as it sounds, she stopped dying her hair and started to look older. She moved from her home of 60+ years to an apartment, to a retirement home and then to a nursing home. Our phone conversations were not as long and our visits were shortened by required naps. All of these stages gave me time to process what was happening and what was inevitable. Although I could not imagine what it would feel like, it wasn't as overwhelmingly crushing as I thought it might be. I'm grateful for the gradual grieving.

However, you never know when an emotional moment will hit you. While putting up the Christmas tree this year, we carefully removed ornaments from the box and hung them on the tree. And then I opened a box that brought out the tears. It was an ornament I had given Grammie many years ago. Last year she returned it to me to hang on my own tree. As soon as I saw it I was overwhelmed with sadness and started to cry. Cody wanted to know what was wrong, so I explained to him that this ornament was very special. I had given it to Grammie and she had given it back to me last year - as if she knew that she wouldn't be with us this year. He rubbed my arm and said "I'm sorry you're sad Emmy."

Today would've been Grammie's 90th birthday. The last two days have been difficult. Yesterday a memory popped up on my Facebook feed. It was a video I had put together for Grammie's birthday 2 years ago. As I watched the photos fade across the scene, I started to cry - right there in my office. Fortunately, no one else had arrived yet so I was alone, but it was a full out "ugly cry" as Oprah would call it. I think I'm lucky to have loved so much to have lost so much.

I will always miss this special lady but am incredibly grateful for the memories I will always carry with me.

2016 Draws to a Close

Another year is behind us and a new one stretched out in front. For me, 2016 was an emotion filled year of changes. Change would definitely be one word that would sum up 2016!

Early in the year, Devin sold his house and we bought our new home. When I look back on all that we packed into a few short months, I'm not sure how we did it!  Searching for a house while planning a wedding and doing it from cities 2 hours apart! But we managed just fine and LOVE our new neighbourhood in Mount Elgin.

The first 5 months of the year were filled with wedding planning and preparations. It was great fun to see everything come together for our special day. But, more than anything we were ready to live together as a family.

May 22 was a perfect day. Everything just fell into place and created an ideal day for us to share with our family and friends. Honestly, I could not have asked for it to be any different.

And then reality happened. Ha ha ha. Consider all of this happening at the same time:

• Closing the deal on my house & moving my stuff out
• Moving into a new house - living in chaos as we figured out where everything should go
• Changing my name
• Changing my address
• Becoming a wife
• Becoming a mom

Wow! Talk about adjustments! But, with the support of my very patient husband, we made it through all of those transitions. We enjoyed some fun times this summer with family and friends and went on our first family vacation! In August we traveled to the Smoky Mountains with my parents and spent a week exploring. It was a great time for the three of us to spend undivided time together and an opportunity for Cody to bond with my parents.

As we moved into fall, we felt more settled as a family. We were finding our groove. I altered my hours at work so I could spend more time with Cody after school - which has been such a blessing to our family. Following with the "change" theme ...we bought a truck and sold my Beetle. Yes, the time had come for my little car to find a new owner. We needed something more practical for our family.

In November, I said good bye to my beloved Grammie. What a sad day, indeed, when I got word that she had passed away. I'm so very grateful for the many memories I shared with her and will carry with me forever. She was a very special lady to me and I'm so glad she was able to attend our wedding and share in my joy that day. I believe it has been a gradual mourning for me. Things have changed over the last few years. We took fewer trips out in the car, she moved from her house to an apartment and finally a nursing home. He mind was still sharp and witty but I know she was uncomfortable and did not enjoy her everyday life any longer. So, as sad as it leaves me, I'm relieved that she died peacefully and her suffering is over.

Just 10 days after my Grammie passed away, we lost Devin's Grandmaman. She lived a very full 98 years but will be missed by many.

We capped off the year by celebrating Christmas with our families a week early and headed to Banff for the holidays. Our delayed honeymoon was everything we thought it would be! We stayed at a beautiful lodge in the Rocky mountains, went on a sleigh ride on Christmas Eve and a full day of snowmobiling. The week was a perfect blend of relaxing and adventure!

So, as we close 2016 I'm thinking of all the possibilities ahead of us in 2017. I am so blessed to have the wonderful people in my life that I call family and friends.

Remembering Grammie

On Saturday, November 12 we lost my precious Grammie. If you know me, you know how incredibly special this woman was to me.

I was honoured to be asked to write the obituary and give the eulogy at the funeral. Until I can compose myself to share my personal reflections here, I wanted to share what I wrote earlier this week.




Good afternoon. For those of you that don’t know me, I’m Janice, one of Olga’s granddaughters. I’m honoured to have been asked to share with you today – a glimpse of who my Grammie was and why she was loved by so many.

She was born in Manchester England in 1927 and grew up during the war. During those uncertain days, the children were shipped out to the countryside to keep them safe. Grammie and her sister Vera stayed together but were separated from the rest of the family for 11 months.

She returned to Manchester and became a young milk maid. It was at the end of her run one day that she happened to meet a dashing Canadian soldier at a bus stop. She happened to mention where she worked and was surprised to find him waiting for her the next day. The rest, as they say, is history. My history. Our history.

Grandad and Grammie were married in 1946 and soon came to Canada to start their new life. After living a brief time in Moncton with the Murrays, they headed west to Ontario and eventually settled in Corunna. I know we’ve all heard the stories many times – they lived in a four room garage while Grandad built their house. Times were tough – he even re-used nails having to straighten them first. They had to use an outside toilet and pumped water from a well. Quite an adjustment for this young wife and mom.

I often have thought about how it would feel to be 19 and leave everything you knew behind you and set sail for a brand new life. Of course, this was before the days of email and skype to make communication easy. Information was shared by sitting down to write a letter – only to have the contents read many days later! Imagine! I know being a new wife and mom, I have lots of questions for and advice to ask my mom and call her daily! For Grammie, a trans-continental phone call was reserved for only the rarest occasions.

She certainly had determination. She raised a brood of five boys and a girl, went on to have 19 grandchildren and 31 great grandchildren. Her family was her pride and joy. Any chance she got, she would tell you about the exponential growth of the Murray family and would often follow that up with “and there ain’t an ugly one in the bunch”. She was so incredibly proud of each and every one of us – in our own way.

When chatting with some of my cousins this weekend, this was certainly a theme that came up. We each felt encouraged and loved by the way that she loved us individually. She kept tabs on what you were up to and would be sure to ask about it. Whether it was about your soccer team, your job, your kids or your car! She would pick up on what you were good at and compliment you with a “you’re so clever”.

Sometimes people don’t seize the opportunity to tell loved ones just what they mean to them. And perhaps that is the case. But I can assure you that through our many visits – in person or on the phone, I heard about each of you – how much she loved you and how proud she was of you.

As her only daughter, Grammie shared a special relationship with my mom. On many occasions, she would look at me and ask “What would I do without Ellen?” Indeed! I can’t imagine growing up in that Murray house full of boys! They shared a lot of tender moments as well as laughs over the years. Grammie recognized my mom’s big heart and her need to help others and always commented that she deserved to have a break. She was so grateful for the countless ways you helped her in the later years Mom.

Grammie thought a lot of Uncle Cliff. She was proud of his accomplishments when he moved to Toronto and started his life there. She was so grateful for the way Cliff and Penny have cared for Melvin and would often comment how loving and giving you are.

Uncle Doug was pretty special in Grammie’s eyes. I think she loved that he had inherited Grandad’s knack for “MacGyvering” anything. She enjoyed many lovely meals with you and Carmelle, tucked in by the woodstove. I know she missed you so much when you moved to Nova Scotia but was so happy that you were fulfilling your dream.

I remember hearing a number of times how Uncle Russ was such a beautiful baby. He had such lovely curls. And, you still have those lovely curls! I know she would enjoy your trips to Tim Horton’s when you would ride your bike down from Sarnia. Grammie kept me updated on all of your latest adventures and was so pleased with your growing family and the many musical talents of your kids and grandkids.

Having Uncle Dave close by in Corunna for so many years was a blessing to Grammie. She always enjoyed your visits and could count on you to take care of her tech support – hooking up the TV, figuring out the remote, etc. Grammie enjoyed the many family events that she was included in over the years and cherished your quiet and faithful support.

And Uncle Mel. I know there is a special place for the baby of the family and you had that place of honour in this family. Grammie always shared with me about what you were up to and enjoyed your regular phone calls. She was so pleased to see you cutting lawns, clearing snow and going on trips!

She cherished each of us and never missed sending a card on our birthdays. And that’s a heck of a lot of birthdays to keep track of!

We all remember the Merry Murray Christmas. Grammie loved getting everyone together once a year to celebrate Christmas. Uncle Dave recalls going to Kreskie’s with Grammie to do the Christmas shopping and stopping for lunch at the snack counter. He had the inside track of what the older kids were getting for Christmas, but somehow Grammie always managed to have a surprise under the tree for him on Christmas morning.

Uncle Cliff remembers the Christmas chaos that happened each year – after the Christmas Eve service. Grandad would wait to get a deal on the tree and they’d put it up on the 24th. Grammie would be madly wrapping gifts for all the kids and putting the turkey in the oven to cook over night.

When reminiscing about Grammie, there were a number of things that came up that took you back to childhood years. Some of our favourites included:

•    The smell of the woodstove
•    The sound of the clock above the sideboard
•    Putting pennies on the railway track
•    Grandad’s rocking chair
•    Sleepovers with cookies & milk
•    Vacation Bible school
•    The crayon drawer
•    Her spoon collection
•    The plates hung on the wall
•    Getting Avon samples
•    Her hand-knitted mitts, sweaters, ….even Barbie doll clothes!

Another thing we all seem to remember is her pie. She was famous for her pies and Grandad was famous for volunteering her to make them for events at the Moore Museum! It was always a treat when you walked in the door and the smell of fresh pie greeted you. She has passed this skill on to many of her children and grandchildren!

Speaking of the Moore Museum, who remembers the countless events we all attended there? I know it was near and dear to Grandad’s heart, but Grammie continued the tradition. I loved attending the Victorian Tea with her on the May long weekend.

I am so blessed to have many years of treasured memories with my Grammie. I know that my life’s circumstances allowed me this opportunity. For many years we would talk about how I was still single and how she just couldn’t understand why I hadn’t met a “nice young man”. She even joked that there needed to be a war so myself and a couple of other single cousins could find a husband. And as much as I wanted the next chapter of my life to begin, I look back and see what a blessing it was. I was able to invest in my relationship with Grammie in a way that I could not now that I have a husband and family.

One such opportunity was in 2006. It was declared the “year of the war bride” and a big reunion was happening at Pier 21 in Halifax. I had the privilege of attending with Grammie & Mom. What an amazing experience to see hundreds of ladies transported back in time as they reminisced with each other and danced to the songs of the era. I know that Grammie was so pleased to have done that trip and talked about it many times over the past 10 years. I know I will hold onto that memory dearly.

While chatting with my cousins this weekend, another theme that seemed to emerge was Grammie’s tea. Of course, being British, she loved a good cup of tea. But heaven help you if you made it the wrong way! I recall getting a scolding when Josh & I were visiting and I made some tea. I was never a big tea drinker, but when Grammie made it, it just seemed to taste better. And she always had cookies to go with it. Usually Peak Freens. We all loved Grammie’s tea and have a variety of memories of her favourite go-to meal when she had us over. From a grilled cheese sandwich with tomato soup, cold cuts or spaghetti. Food has a way of uniting people.

Grammie had a wonderful sense of humour and we laughed a lot. One of my favourite stories involves this little card here. She has told this story countless times over the years and it only seems appropriate to share it here today.

We were at my sister Connie’s birthday party at a place called “My Mother’s House”. It was an old victorian home that had been converted into a restaurant. We both needed to use the washroom and realized the lock was broken. She agreed to “stand on guard for me” as I put it and I would return the favour. So, she dutifully stood by the door while I used the facilities and then it was her turn. Unfortunately, I got distracted talking to someone and forgot to watch the door. Wouldn’t you know it, someone walked in on Grammie. I was horrified! So upset, in fact, I made this little card to apologize. It’s in the shape of a toilet and says “Sorry”. Grammie was tickled pink with this card and it had a place of honour in her china cabinet for many years. She would often remind me that each time she heard “O Canada” and they came to the line about standing on guard, she thought of me. In fact, when we attended The Nutcracker – they played O Canada before the performance. Grammie and I both had a chuckle as we looked at each other during that point in the song.

I was so pleased to share with her when I met Devin. She was one of the first people to know about him and was excited to meet Devin. She wanted to ensure she had proper notice of when we would visit, so she could put some make up on! Grammie was so accepting of both Devin and his son Cody – welcoming them into the fold.
She made it a goal to attend our wedding, and there were a few times when I wondered if that would be a reality but I am so grateful that she could be there to share in our special day.

These are some of my stories of Grammie, but I know we each have our own memories that we will tuck away in a safe place and savour them for years to come.

As we say good bye to Grammie, we know she is in a better place and reunited with Grandad once again. We are left with an abundance of memories to carry with us and are grateful to have had this wonderful lady as the matriarch of our family.

Thank you for the opportunity to share with you today.