Monday, March 31, 2014

It's all RELATIVE!

"When there's a WILL there's a way"
… or as my cousins say…
"When there's a WILL there's a RELATIVE!"

"The love of family is life's greatest blessing."
-Author Unknown

"A family is a place where minds come in contact with one another."
-Buddha


I was happy to help do the set up for my Uncle Charlie's funeral last week.
He was always such a fun lover… like a kid at heart…
here is one of his famous signs he made…
with 3 of his many windup toys in front!

My 3 cousins… Bev, Pat and Gwen
Rocking on while doing the set up
for their dad's funeral last Wednesday.

My cousins bequeathing my uncle Charlie's sticker collection
to me… he and I share the love of stickers!!!!…
it's all RELATIVE!!!

The sun was shining brightly the day we lay my dear Uncle Charlie to rest.

Jana and Mariah just before my uncle's funeral.

Uncle Charlies 4 precious great grandkids all dressed up fancy
at his funeral.

Mariah and my dear Auntie Mary at the lunch following Charlie's funeral

Mariah trying on some silly glasses on display at my uncle's funeral…
she said they were the year she was born… 2006!

Mariah snapped this photo of me and my brothers at my uncle's funeral…
I love that the power point behind shows Uncle Charlie looking over us!

Cousins, John and Gwen following funeral, at the lunch.

Cousin, Bev with Auntie Betty and Auntie Mary.

My nephew, Jeff, and cousins Dawn and Steve along with my Aunt Betty.

Mariah enjoying Uncle Charlie's display at the funeral …
she enjoyed strumming his guitar!

Cousins, Bev  and Gwen with their brother-in-law, Dennis…
at a family supper at" Jerry's Food Emporium"
following my uncle's funeral.

More family fun at Jerry's restaurant!

more RELATIVE fun at Jerry's!

Another table filled with relatives at Jerrys!

More Relative fun at Jerry's!

Some pics of the display at Uncle Charlie's funeral


More RELATIVE CELEBRATIONS… at a pizza night here on Friday!




This blog post revolves mostly around a week spent with RELATIVES!

My dear Uncle Charlie passed away on Friday, March 21st, and last week we spent much time gathered with family to celebrate his wonderful life. Uncle Charlie was my last living uncle…and my favourite one, too, I might add!
Because I spent a lot of time with him and his family in my growing up years I got to know him so well. He was my dad's big brother… and he was always the family clown!


It is always hard to say good bye to family members, but it is comforting to know they are reunited with family who passed before them. We will all reunite in the end!

I love the chances we get to gather with relatives… and I say this often, but it seems to take the out of town relatives coming to town to bring the in town ones together! I so enjoy the times we can spend together as family… I think we have such a fun family to spend time with, too!

My cousins, Pat, Bev, Gwen and John gave such a lovely tribute to their dad at his funeral last Thursday. All of their speeches were once again reminders of just how important good family values are in life. It is nice to recognize that, too.


I feel so blessed with the relatives I have and feel so many connections to them on so many levels. I think Uncle Charlie and I shared many similar passions… such as the love of life… humour, music, entertainment,… and of STICKERS!
I felt so blessed to receive his famous sticker collection, when setting up a display at his funeral last week, too. I will cherish it and think of him when ever choosing one from his collection to use on whatever special project I am using it on!


As we say goodbye to March and head toward April…it now becomes busy with dance competition season.
This week I will be attending two local competitions, and next weekend Mariah will compete for her very first time, too!


I am thinking of my dear friends, Vern and Brenda today.
Vern's father earned his angel wings just last night…
I am sending them lots of love and support through this sad time of loss.


My cousin Bob Horvath posted a video called
Uncle Charlie to youtube… such fun memories from their home movies of RELATIVE times of us growing up.
The little dancer near the start of it is my daughter

(at age4)…so fun!


Cousin Bob has a Birthday coming up this week, too…
so wishing him a Happy Birthday!


I wrote a little poem in honour of my dear Uncle Charlie,
which will be my poem of today's blog post…


Who is Uncle Charlie?… to me, a favourite one,
He was a clown… a character… and always such fun!
I spent lots of time with his family and him,
Those times were filled with memories to the brim.
Montgomery Place was like a second home for me,
I spent so much time there, happy as can be.
Charlie always loved to be front and centre stage, 

Regardless of the time, the occasion or his age.
Windup toys and stickers… and big smiles were a part
In his life, he truly was a great big kid at heart!
Birthdays… Christmases… Anniversaries, galore,
We celebrated many together and much more.
He loved a celebration and even more than that,
He always was so very proud to wear a party hat!
Family was important… to him, his was so good…
He was a socializer… did some travel when he could.
He had a lot of collections… of which he took such pride,
He shared with great enthusiasm, which he couldn't hide.
On my wedding day, I was honoured and must boast,
And thank my Uncle Charlie, for the lovely bridal toast.
It truly meant the world to me,
 the kind words that he shared,
It really was a testament of just how much he cared.
He meant the world to many, and I am only one…
He gave his life the very most until his life was done.
His memory will linger on… for many, many years,
The songs he sang… the hats he wore…
the times he shared with dears.
It takes a very special guy, to make those impacts last,
I know we all have moments from his long and loving past.
Today I want to celebrate a life lived with such zest…
My dearest Uncle Charlie…
oh he truly was the BEST!

Monday, March 24, 2014

FOCUS on the POSITIVES!

"One small positive thought in the morning 
can change your whole day."
-Author Unknown

"At the end of the day, you can focus on 
what's tearing you apart or what's holding you together. 
Be positive, be strong, move forward."
-Author Unknown

"Choosing to be positive and grateful for 
what you have now is going to determine 
how you're going to live the rest of your life."
-Suman Rai


Thursday was the first day of SPRING...
we had our friend, Ella over for some chilli...
and she brought a little package
and card to wish us HAPPY SPRING!

To celebrate the warmer weather and beginning of SPRING...
I took Shuffle out in her new sweater knit coat...
I got a chance to splash through some puddles along the way
too in my red Hunter rubber boots!
"SPRING it ON!"

Last Wednesday I met my brother Brian and cousins,
Gwen and Bev at St. Paul's hospital for our last visit with my dear
Uncle Charlie.
The picture below is one from a couple years ago with
my smiling Uncle in his healthier days!
I was so grateful we were able to see him  and
give him one last little kiss goodbye.

I have had Beau here a couple times this week... and he has enjoyed some good
SNURFIN' POOL PARTIES each time.
I always enjoy the times I can share with each of my sweet grandkids,
they are always a positive in my life!

My chilli from Thursday... and a couple outings here...
Brian and I made it to DQ for sundaes last week,
and we also got invited by Mariah
to take her for lunch on Friday...
and we enjoyed another trip to Boston Pizza
with her for her very fast hour long lunch break.

Saturday I enjoyed another positive little outing with my friend, Ella,
to the Home Show where we met up with my neighbour, Heather and her mom.
We picked up lots of samples and treats along the way!
We enjoyed Scott McGillvray,  there as well.


Our Sunday morning Fuddrucker's breakfast group was not as large as last week,
but just as we were ready to leave, Beau and his parents came.
Mariah enjoyed a little sleepover at her friend's so she didn't come this week!

Here is a sweet pic of my cousins, Bev, Pat and Gwen...
along with my Uncle Charlie and Auntie Mary
last June when celebrating my
 Uncle Charlie's 90th
Birthday.

SADLY...
 my uncle passed away this past Friday,
but we will all remember him for
the "POSTIVE FOCUS"
 he always had and shared in life.


Once again another week has passed in my life and it was one that had many ups and downs in it...
in fact my life was 
"SPINNING"... literally!
I do enjoy the chance to blog about the POSITIVES in my life always as a form of therapy for me.
There are always positives going on in among all the other things in my life, it seems... and for those I am always grateful.

I was diagnosed with a symptom called
"Benign Positional Vertigo" just a week ago...and am happy to report that after going to a place called
"North 49 Balance Dizziness Centre"
I was able to put some BALANCE back into my life!

This past week was one of many things, lots revolving around hospital visits. My Father-in-law, Greg just got out of University Hospital following a 10 day stay with pneumonia, and heart symptoms. He was so happy to return home to his dear wife, Blanche. They will now have home care hep.


I also visited my dear Uncle Charlie on Wednesday, for my last time and he passed away on Friday morning, peacefully with his family by his side. My Uncle Charlie, was my dad's big brother... and the last of my Uncles to go. He was the uncle I was most close to growing up, therefore, he was my favourite one, too. He was always the family clown... so upbeat and fun loving. He prided himself in his collection of windup toys and stickers... he was a real kid at heart! 
He was a family kind of guy... and loved to perform. 
He was a singer in choir at church, as well as with
 "The Chimo Chords Men", along with many other varied interests.  He was a very dedicated husband, dad and grandpa to his immediate family.
Although he will be very missed... he will be so fondly remembered for his positive focus and the impact he made on all he knew in life always.
He also did the toast to the bride at my wedding, and I spent many weekends at his house growing up and hanging out with my cousins...
Pat, Bev, Gwen and their brother, John.

We have had a busy week of nursing colds back to health, dentist visits, Dr. visits, and trips to and from hospitals.

I am so thankful for the positive diversions in my week... such as visits from my friends, Heather and Ella.
A little Starbucks outing with my cousin Gwen yesterday,
a trip to the home show, Saturday,
our weekly Fuddrucker's breakfast outing...
and of course
times spent with my darling grandkids,
Mariah and Beau.

My sisters-in-law, BEV and BRENDA, have been wonderful in helping with family health issues, too... and instrumental in getting home care in place for their parents.
So much to deal with as parents get older... 

so it is always awesome to know 
helpful and caring, family and friends.

I have enjoyed the TV shows I like to watch...and they also provide a POSITiVE diversion to life's struggles along the way, too. It is always good to try to
FOCUS on the POSITIVES
in this life as it spins round and round!

I will look forward to a visit from my Auntie Betty, from Chicago, when she comes this week for my Uncle's funeral.
Her two oldest kids will celebrate a birthday this coming weekend, as well...
so Happy Birthday Greetings
to my TWIN cousins...
DAWN and GREG
on March 30th.


As I head toward another full week...
I will try to FOCUS on the POSITIVES
through the events as they occur along the way.

On that note...
here is my rhyme of today!

Choose to stay positive throughout life's climb,
Try to make the most of all of the time.
Even though things some times go down hill,
It's good to stay upbeat, to the best of our will.
Focus on the happy... instead of the sad,
Try to wear a smile to keep our face glad.
Remember the fun things from days that are gone,
And make more new memories, as we move on.



Sunday, March 16, 2014

Thank My LUCKY Stars!

"When you realize who the good people are in your life, you're so lucky."
-Sophia Bush

"A best friend is like a four leaf clover, hard to find and lucky to have."
-Author Unknown

"When life knocks you down, roll over and look at the stars."
-Author Unknown

I thank my lucky stars for my good friend, Linda...
We share not only a wonderful friendship... but many interests, as well...
one is STARBUCKS!!!... Last weekend I was thanking my lucky stars
she came to the city for a girlfriend bond...
and ofcourse a traditional trip to Starbucks!
We felt LUCKY to find these T-shirts in Winners then, too!!!

Last Sunday Jana and her kids were anxiously awaiting the arrival
of my son, Colin who came home for a quick visit from Montreal.
We were thanking our lucky stars he came  to see us...
and although I captured some fun pics of him, he prefers to not be seen here...
But I will share that he looked great...and to us he is a STAR!

Mariah is thanking her lucky stars for her mommy's flexibility...
here she is kicking to the stars when she popped by on her way to ballet last week.

I thank my lucky stars that Mariah loves to dance...
here she is doing a little living room performance
before heading to her dancing
last wednesday.

Mariah always loved to dance... here she is at the age of two
in her little tutu!
This is a pic in the little book I created years ago, called
" Beena Beena Ballerina"...
Here she is already reaching for the stars!

Here is a little photo with our grandkids when they popped by on Friday.
We thank our lucky stars for all the times we can share with them.

Beau stayed with us for a little bit on Friday while Mariah went to her friend's.
We had fun making cookies, eating cookies and crafting in the basement.
I am always thankful for this little guy in my life!

This morning at Fuddrucker's ... my friend and boss, Brenda, came out for
breakfast with us...
I thank my lucky stars for her friendship and for my job at her dance studio.

It wasn't long before our breakfast group turned into a party today!
So many of our friends were joining us today...
and our good friend, Mike, from Regina happened to be in town,
and even treated us to our breakfast today...
what a fun group we had!  

Also joining us today were Mariah and her friend Drew...
 they needed a separate table for they little crafts...
these two are inspeparable buddies...
they spent much of their weekend together.

Jana, Nels and Beau also accompanied the little girls this morning to our big
ongoing party group at Fuddrucker's for breakfast!
They do not join often... but we were thankful they did today... fun! 

Last weekend when my friend, Linda came, she brought a belated
birthday and Christmas gift for me...
all lovely things... a Believe bracelet, a Grandkid picture frame,
a little "Be Strong" book and a very cute star dangler!
on the right are some nice tulips  and a little polka dot book
called "instant happy", with a Shamrock headband... all things I
got last week in my travels!
Sometimes it is the little treasures in life that make me smile
and THANK MY LUCKY STARS!


Tomorrow is St. Patrick's Day... a day when we thank all our LUCKY stars for all the LUCKY things in our lives.

I am always THANKFUL for so many things in mine.
Just this past week alone has been a week filled with LUCKY things and stars as well.

Last Saturday... we had a nice visit from our good friend, Robin... followed by a visit from my good friend, Linda, from Lanigan. We stay in touch daily but do not see each other that often, but when we do... I THANK MY LUCKY STARS... for her friendship and the fun we can
share every time we unite.

Sunday we were so LUCKY to have a nice little quick visit from my son, Colin... who came for a few days from Montreal where he lives. He shared his wonderful pics from his recent Asian trip... to Thailand and areas around. He was there for 2 months with his girlfriend, Caro...and they had a fabulous time. I only wish I could share some photos of Colin, but am respecting his wishes
to avoid posting him here.

He did get in visits with his grandparents, and his Aunts, Bev and Brenda, as well as Jana, Nels , Mariah and Beau...
as well as our friend, Vern.

This week I have also shared a couple outings with friends, Ella and Brenda. I am always grateful for great friends... in fact I thank my lucky stars always for them.

Yesterday I was really thankful for Ella, as I had a little dizzy spell at the gym and she was able to get me home safely...
She has been such a good help to me in many ways this past year... and for that I am also lucky!


Tomorrow is not only St. Patrick's day...
and a day where we sport green and think of shamrocks and all things lucky... it is also a birthday for two special people I know...
My brother Brian and my good friend, Linda.
I consider myself very LUCKY to have them in my life.
Hope they both have a
SHAM-ROCKIN' GOOD BIRTHDAY!

Tomorrow is the start of the new season of
"Dancing With the Stars"...
looks like they have some good STARS on it too...
so I'm excited to watch that show.

This past week... my father in law, Greg,
and Uncle Charlie
both landed in hospital...
We will all be thanking our LUCKY STARS
for the good care they will receive there.
I am sharing lots of love and healing vibes
for a comfortable stay for them both.

On that note...
Here is my rhyme of the day...

I just thank my lucky stars...
For friends and family of mine and ours.
Not only on St. Patrick's days,
But all year round in many ways.
I say it lots, but I'm so blessed,
My family and friends are just the best.
Through good and bad, I thank them all,
For all things whether great or small.


Saturday, March 8, 2014

HaPpY!

"A happy thought is like a seed that sows positivity 
for all to reap."
-Mirium Muhammad

"Happiness is like a butterfly which, when pursued, is always beyond our grasp, but, if you will sit down quietly, may alight upon you."
-Nathaniel Hawthorne

"Life is not always what one wants it to be, but to make the best of it as it is, is the only way of being happy."
-Jennie Jerome Churchill



Here is Mariah looking HAPPY when here one day last week...
she has a little Canadian flag temporary tattoo on her cheek
... her llittle toothless smile always makes me HAPPY,
as does her kind and caring little personality! 

Beau on the fly last saturday...
he had Shuffle's leash wrapped around him...
and was running around
saying he was a power ranger!...
his little personality and smile just make me HAPPY!

Ellen DeGeneres always makes me HAPPY... here she was on OSCAR day
getting ready for her big day... which she was brilliant at!
The little book here sits by my computer for me to browse through daily...
it is called "Just for today be HAPPY!"...
it is filled with inspirations and cute art by
Mary Engelbreit... and those both make me HAPPY!

We shared another HAPPY evening and meal with our good friends,
Vern and Ella after they returned from their Hawaii trip last weekend.
Like the napkins say... "Why limit HAPPY to just one hour!"

The poster in our kitchen states...
"We Tend To Seek Happiness"...
which is exactly what the two Brians were doing here...
This was when Brian Foley was our guest over a week ago,
he and my hubby Brian enjoyed many good and happy visits!
...Shuffle was looking HAPPY here as well!

Yesterday was a belated HAPPY BIRTHDAY to my friend, Ella.
at BLISS RESTAURANT.
I am always HAPPY when I get the chance to craft a card, too!

I enjoyed sharing HAPPY FRIENDSHIP with friends Heather and Ella
yesterday at a belated birthday lunch for Ella...
The food was delicious  and looked very HAPPY as well!...
and a note on the table said this was Friendship Week, too!

My high school buddy, Margo  is crafty and makes doggie coats...
(among other crafty items)... now she is even knitting sweaters for Penguins!!!
Yesterday she stopped by with two she made to fit Shuffle...
we ended up purchasing both of them... because we know
how doggie clothing makes Shuffle so
HAPPY!

Even though it was hard to capture Shuffle in her new knitted sweaters...
we did have a fun little visit and HAPPY HOUR with friend Margo while she was here!

I am both excited and HAPPY that my buddy from Lanigan is coming to visit today.
This photo is an old one of us together...
but shares just how HAPPY we are when we get together...
I know we will make a point of getting another photo together
later today when we go for our traditional visit to STARBUCKS!


First of all thanks to all my blog visitors whether old or new...
I am HAPPY you could stop by!

My blog writing has brought me lots of hours of HAPPY times while sharing the HAPPY times I have been through in my life... kind of like my HAPPY journal! Although I do have days when I am not quite as HAPPY... I choose to only share the HAPPY moments and memories!

We have had several of those this past week...
I enjoyed watching the Oscars last Sunday night hosted by my favourite talk show host, Ellen DeGeneres...
I thought she kept the show moving along in such a HAPPY fashion as she is so good at doing. Even though I am not a big movie goer, and have only seen one out of the many nominated shows... I was still interested enough to hang in from start to finish! The show I had seen "FROZEN" won for best animated film and also won for best song.
However I was really loving the song "HAPPY" sung by Pharrell Williams, which was also nominated for best song... and also from an animated film, "Despicable Me 2".
The song was not only well performed and choreographed with dancers on the oscars... it left me in an upbeat mood and kind of singing and dancing along!

Last week we enjoyed company when our dancer friend, Brian Foley stayed with us for a couple nights. The trip down memory lane left me very HAPPY!

Our friends, Ella and Vern returned from Hawaii last sunday... and I was HAPPY to see them again... both looking HAPPY and tanned, too!
Vern had us for a nice supper on Tuesday as well...
we enjoy the fun we share as a foursome.

I have enjoyed my TV shows this week...
The Voice has some great talent and a happy upbeat spirit to the show. In spite of the fact I love the new judging panel on American Idol... I am not as HAPPY with the talents on that show this year. I will be HAPPY when the new Dancing With The Stars starts up in a couple weeks, too.

I made it to the gym this week... for a fun class with Ella... we both enjoyed our Body Vive class, but shortly after the gym closed for a water main break in the area and has been closed all week... so we barely got going back on track and had to stop again!... it did make me HAPPY I at least got in one class before that happened.

Thursday I got in a quick little shop with my daughter, Jana...and as always I cherish the moments I can spend with her. She is a very busy gal, so it isn't always easy to fit time together in... so we had a fun
and fast little HAPPY visit.

When returning from that morning, we received a call from my son, Colin to say he is coming to spend a few days with us. He is coming tomorrow... so it is short notice and very impromtu... but we are both excited and HAPPY for that visit. He will be here from Sunday to Thursday this week.
He will share his fun and happy times he just returned from on his recent 2 month trip to Thailand.
Although I will take photos of Colin...
I likely will not share any as he has made it clear he prefers to not be seen on the internet!!!

Today my good buddy from Lanigan will be here for a visit, too... she always makes my heart smile! Linda and I go way back to the 90's when I used to teach dance summer schools there and stay with her... we have become life long best buds ever since... and are always there to keep each other happy through good and bad times!
We enjoy sharing a STARBUCKS, too!

I have some friends and family who will be celebrating HAPPY BIRTHDAYS in March...
Ella had a birthday on March 1st... which we celebrated yesterday.
My friend, Lynne, from Regina had a birthday yesterday and her daughter, Carly has a birthday today.
My friend, Linda from Lanigan,
has a birthday on March 17th...
My brother Brian also has a birthday on the 17th... so that makes two special people on the LUCKY St. Patrick's day.
I feel like the LUCKY one just in knowing them!
So I will say HAPPY BIRTHDAY to them all!

On that note...
I am always HAPPY to put a rhyme together in Theme for my daily blog post... so here is today's version...

Some days just turn out better than others,
For family and friends, kids and their mothers!
And my thought is this, it's best to be happy,
Whether feeling draggy, or upbeat and snappy.
The journey we are on, is still the same one,
So why not be happy and just have fun.
Of all the moods, "HAPPY" is best...
So put on a smile and share all your zest!