Goodbye 2016

Only 3 more days until Christmas!  I say this not with excitement, but more with relief.  You see, Christmas has never been my favorite holiday or time of year.  Too much spending, too stressful, too much eating, just too much of everything.

I don't hate Christmas.  I don't love it.  There are aspects of this time of year that I do LIKE....but nothing really about it that I love.  I guess I most enjoy spending time with my family & friends.  Not large parties but smaller intimate dinners or lunches.  Sitting around, watching a movie, not really feeling like much needs to be said or done.  Just enjoying each other's PRESENCE.

The year did not start on a high note, but it didn't end on a low one either.   So what kind of year was it?  It was a year where I continued to have hope.  There were times of darkness, despair, & disappointment.  But there were also days of celebration - celebrating my beautiful family, my amazing friends, and celebrating me!

Only a few more days left for 2016.  I know 2017 will be much much better & I can't wait for it to get started!
Y.C.

Wonder

At the beginning of the school year my teacher started reading the book Wonder to my class as a read aloud. My mom also had the book so I brought it in class to follow along. We don't read often, only when there's extra time at the end of the day. It was such a good book that I decided to start reading it on my own. Why not read it on my own and put it to some use! Anyways, just finished the book on my own and my class is way behind me. So, I'm going to write about the book and I'm not going to talk about non-important parts so if you decide to read the book I won't explain every detail.
ALERT: SPOILERS AHEAD!! If you don't want any spoilers just stop reading and I won't be offended.

The main character is August and he has a deformed face. The author didn't really go into detail about what he looked like. All the author said is his eyes are about an inch below where they're supposed to be, one ear is bigger than the other, and when he smiles his mouth looks like a straight line. He had had many surgeries when he was young so he got home schooled by his mom. Now he's going to school for the first time and entering grade five. Before the school year started the principal, Mr.Tushman asked three student that go to the school to come to the school, give August  a tour of the school and be welcoming buddies for August. When they got there they were all really nice to August but later on August found out Charlotte was a goody two shoes, Jack was a good friend and Julian was a bully. When the tour was over August and his mom left to walk home. When they got home his mom asked him how it was. August told her what had happened and that Julian hurt his feelings when he said "Were you in a fire or something," but Jack and Charlotte stood up for him and said "You're so rude, Julian.". His mom was really upset and said he didn't have to go to school.
On the first day of school, Jack hung out with him in his classes, Charlotte said hi to him in the halls, but Julian was talking about him behind his back in a bad way. At lunch Jack went to sit at a table with other kids so August sat by himself in the cafeteria. Then a girl named Summer came by to sit with him and they became very good friends.
Jack, Summer and August all became good friends. Then on Halloween August was going to go as Boba Fett, but changed his mind last minute to go as the Bleeding Scream. When he walked into class he sat at a desk and three people were talking. He over heard them talking and right away he knew one was Julian, but he couldn't figure out who the other two were. He soon figured out it was Jack and they were bad mouthing him. August felt so betrayed he left and went to the nurse's office to call home sick. When his mom picked him up and asked what was wrong but all he said was that he didn't feel well. He didn't want his mom to go tell the principal about what happened. After that August didn't talk to Jack after that but a little while after that Jack asked Summer what happened. Summer swore to August she wouldn't tell anyone but she felt bad for Jack so she gave him the hint of Bleeding Scream. At first Jack didn't understand but after a while he realized that the person in the bleeding scream costume was August. So he texted August and said that he was really sorry for what he did and August forgave him. Meanwhile Jack and Julian were talking and Julian started bad mouthing August. Jack is August friend so he punched Julian in the mouth. After what happened the principal, Mr. Tushman asked Jack why he did it but Jack said if he told him if he told him it would make everything worse and Mr. Tushman suspended him for two days. So during the winter break Jack e-mailed Julian and Mr. Tushman to apologize. after the winter break was over the grade fives went on a two day camping trip. August wasn't very excited for the trip because Julian was going to be there, but when he got to school Julian wasn't there. August had a great time except for on the last day they had an outdoor movie with other schools and there were older bullies from another school. A couple other boys from August's school were standing up for him. The other kids were pulling on him and calling him names. In the end they took August's hearing aids and broke them. When they got back Mr.Tushman had contacted the other school's principal and found what was left of his broken hearing aid. Now August had so many friends because they heard what had happened and how brave August was. Meanwhile Julian had missed all of the trip and that was what everyone was talking about so he was out of it and had no friends. It turns put that Julian had missed the trip because he got suspended for two weeks for writing mean notes to August and putting them in his locker. Julian's parents got so mad that Julian got suspended longer than Jack so his dad said that next year Julian would not be returning to this school.

I really liked this book and I would recommended it to all ages because M1 and Y.C have both read it already.


                                                                              M2

Future Dreams

I read something recently...

"When most are dreaming of graduations, weddings, family trips, retirement.  I'm just dreaming of another day, another week, another month, that I can spend with the people I love."

Actually I do dream of graduations, weddings, family trips, and retirement.  This is how I dream of those things: I do it with a longing and wonder of whether I will see it happen.  Some days I am determined that I will, some days I am convinced I will not.  This is what goes thru my mind almost everyday.  Thinking about the future, the future of my children, and what it would be like without me.  What keeps me going is the faint hope, the last thread of string I hang on to, that yes, I WILL be here for many more years.

Y.C.

Halfway Mark

We started off the day with a walk on the beach.  I never considered myself a 'beachy' type person but I think I could change.  Something about the ocean, waves, crisp air, clear sky...the calmness of it all.  I could get used to this.

Today is Day 3 of my mini-vacation.  Another day of wonderful company, amazing food, and shopping...

Y.C.

If Time Could Stand Still....

Content.  Happiness.  Bliss.  Blessed.

I don't know if these words do justice to describe how I'm feeling right now.

I was nervous before I came.  I was worried about how I would feel physically - a little part of of me was always afraid that I'd have to cancel because something would 'come up'.  Now that I'm here I feel wonderful.  My heart feels so full - in an amazing way.  And I haven't felt any odd aches & pains since I got here.  I don't know if it's only psychological - but I'll take any good feelings that come my way.

I'm watching 4 amazing women right now - making dinner, talking, laughing, enjoying each other's company. We will be doing a lot of this over the next 3 days.  It's making me smile.

I'm not thinking about tomorrow.  I'm not thinking about time.  I am thinking about now and I am thinking that this time is for me.  Thank you friends for sharing this experience with me.

My In-Laws

I live in a multi-generational home - my parent-in-laws and I live together so we are one big happy family of 7!

I think I am in the minority in that I get along with my parent-in-laws quite well.  If I didn't, I don't think we would've lasted the 13 years we've had.  In fact, I pride myself in that I have a very healthy relationship with my husband's siblings too.  And it isn't because I'M Miss Congeniality.  It is because my husband's family is truly the most loving, caring, respectful, honest, and generous people around.

I am thinking about my parents-in-law because we went out for groceries & lunch yesterday.  We do this often since I stopped working full-time.  I had to stop working because I got sick.  Really sick.  I really believe I am here today because of all the help my family and my husband's family have given me over the last 2 1/2 years.  And because I live with my in-laws they have had to burden more than they should have. They cooked for us, kept our home spotless inside & out, and even driven me to doctors appointments when I couldn't drive myself.  But I am most grateful to them for just being here for my children, for being their rock, their constant, when my daughters' world was turned upside down when I was most sick.  When I needed to focus my energy on healing myself & getting better I knew I didn't have the distraction of worrying about my children because I knew they are so loved & well cared for.

I know how lucky I am & am grateful everyday for having these amazing people in my life.

Y.C.

Happy Birthday D & A

Today I am thinking about my brother - Cow Fu.  Cow Fu is uncle in Chinese and that's what my girls call him.

I'm sure my girls will attest that he's a pretty cool uncle.  Even when my girls were tiny babies he would hold them and cradle them as if it was second nature (not even having children of his own at the time).  As my kids grew up, he was always there with shopping trips to buy birthday presents, fun outings to the Science Centre, or just coming to hang out with them for a few hours.  Then he and his wife went to Australia for 4 years but when they returned it was as if Cow Fu never left.  My children are so lucky to have him in their lives.

Last year he became a father of twins and I'm sure he will be a cool dad as well.   This past year I am blessed to have witnessed a side of him that is emerging.  That of "a dad" - a role he eased into, but is learning on the go none-the-less.

He is a dad that wipes down highchairs in restaurants.  A dad that worries when he hears a little cough or sneeze from his babies.  A dad that has to not only pacify his babies needs, but the needs of both sets of grandparents too.  A dad that is so proud with his children's first steps and first words.  A dad that changes dirty diapers and cleans baby vomit without so much as a wince.  A dad that has a sense of humour.  Cow Fu: Your children are very lucky to have you as a father & Cow Mo as a mom. 

I am so happy I am here to see all this.  I am so proud of the man, the dad, my brother has become.
Today my niece & nephew turn 1 - Happy Birthday D & A!

Y.C.