-Aesop
"The smallest act of kindness is worth more than the grandest intention."
-Oscar Wilde
"Kind words can be short and easy to speak, but their echoes are truly endless."
-Mother Teresa
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| Today as I turned the page on one of my calendars… it had the perfect saying … "You can't beat the support and encouragement of a friend" And how true that saying is! We have received so many acts of kindness from friends near and far lately… above a couple cards received… one says "The little things in life are the big things" This was in a card from a gym friend and she shared a hospital parking pass and nice message in that too. The other card from friends Bob and Jacquie… had a nice message and features two doggies and two shoes! I received an adult colouring book from my good buddy, Ella, and it was not only a wonderful gift and act of kindness… it brought me some calm this past bit! TRULY… The little things in life are the big things! |
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| The day I wrote my last blog post, I mentioned going to see SYTYCD live on tour with my sweet grand daughter. I received the tickets to this as a gift from my dancing buddy, Brenda.. so kind… and generous of her. The night was very cold out… and friends, Gailene and her husband. Bern, offered to pick Mariah and me up to drive us to and from… that was another act of kindness. The show was great, too… thanks Brenda for the tickets, and Gailene and Bern for rides! |
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| On Monday, January 18th… we got a text from my nephew Jeff to come and see him and his girl Jorja along with my niece-in-law, Janelle and her daughter Brielle. We enjoyed seeing the two great nieces having fun at story time at the library… I feel so blessed to have two adorable great nieces in the city, as well as one in Vancouver, too! I personally get photos daily of my little great nieces by email on a site called Tiny Beans… which I also enjoy! |
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| On January 20th… Brian was admitted to hospital for an unexpected emergency surgery. He is doing well… after a week in hospital, he is home again and recovering. Jana came every day to see him sometimes with the kids, and Nels and sometimes on her own. She is truly a daddy's girl, through and through. We also heard from our son, Colin daily as well. Our kids have been so supportive and loving. |
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| Jana's store partner, Melissa, came many times for visits… and always had something to share… she brought a very special rosary she got in the Vatican, Rome… she said it has got her through tough times, so she paid it forward… and it worked it's magic next on Brian! She also brought a beautiful plant and many other things… from her tasty homemade soup... to many coffees, teas and treats. She continues to share her acts of kindness always… and has been such a dear friend. |
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| Brian was a popular guy in the hospital with on going visitors… some photographed and others not! … one day he had 17 visitors in a day! Here are a few I happened to capture during his stay… Mariah with Jana's friend, Shelane… Beau after winning the Hard Hat for hardest worker at his first ever hockey tournament last weekend,… Friends Vern and Steve… who both brought coffees and donuts many times! and Beau with Jana! Thanks to each and everyone who came to visit and for all the treats and visits shared… so many acts of kindness. Thanks too, to my friend Ella for many rides to and from the hospital. Thanks to friend, Vern, for a few rides and helping me transport Brian home again, too! We sure have so many caring people in our life. |
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| My good friend, Cathy and her daughter, Megan, had me for a supper at their place one night. Not only was it a tasty supper and fun visit… she sent all the leftovers home with me, too. I thought the little snowmen place mats were" snow" cute, too… so I took a pic of them as well. Another act of kindness among many Cathy and Megan have shared with me. |
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| Yesterday our good friends, Jacquie and Bob brought us breakfast from Fuddruckers… they joined us in a fun morning together… they have been more than thoughtful through our journey… and always ever so generous. They recently had us for a sunday brunch with them in honour of my Birthday back on the 10th, too. We had so many food options… it actually did lunch and supper and today's breakfast, too… thanks for your continued support and acts of kindness always. |
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| Jana and Nels and the grandkids have been away on a business trip… which they added holiday time to… They sent a couple photos from that trip for us to see yesterday… It looks like they are having fun! We have their dog for the week while they are away. Jazz is a good dog…thank goodness… but he takes up a lot of room in the spare bed where Shuffle, Jazz and I have been sleeping this past bit! |
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| Here are the two dogs together… kind of like MUTT and JEFF! Our dog, SHUFFLE gets along well with their dog, JAZZ… They have been funny though when it comes time to eating, they like to eat each other's food! They have become real buds… and good companions for my patient, as well. |
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| Our friend Vern has been by a few times… and Jazz has taken a real shine to him. We will miss Vern as he is now away for 5 weeks. |
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| This little saying showed up in a magazine I was looking at the day Brian went into hospital… I took a pic of it… I do like quotes and often they get me through tough moments! |
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| My cousin Jan, who lives in New York… has been posting some pretty cute pics of her snowman, Francesco, on her Facebook page… He has brought me SNOW many smiles… in his various stages, he lives on through the many weather changes he has been through. I don't think I have ever seen a cuter snowman! |
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| I sometimes like to get some flowers and some Starbucks as little "Pick me ups" and "Perks" I loved the colourful bouquet so much, I got one for my friend, Ella, too, for all she has done for me lately….and as a 'get well soon' to her. I love the new Valentine's take out mugs at Starbucks, too with the xoxo on them! |
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| I have been doing bulletin boards at BSOBAD dance studio since 2002. I have also done dance exam themes… so managed a quick couple visits to the studio for those updates… these are but a few of the boards… Today the tap exams began… I hope all the tappers… put their" best foot forward" and TAP into success! |
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| I have been going through some old files…and came across the school photos of my kids… and thought I'd share their Kindergarten pics from years ago… Hard to believe Colin turned 37 and Jana turned 35 just last month! Where does the time go??????? I may be biassed, but I think they are pretty cute! |
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| Today this memory surfaced on my Facebook page from five years ago when I went to celebrate my Auntie Jean on her 95th Birthday. Sadly she passed away later that year… but is celebrating her 100th Birthday in Heaven today… I hope the angels throw her a fun party because she was a special lady. Happy February everyone! January was such a whirlwind for us… from celebrations to setbacks and everything in between… but I am forever grateful for the many ACTS OF KINDNESS in my life ...not only last month but always! I have shared only some of the many things we have been through in the past couple weeks since my previous blog post. I am happy to report my life is going along fine at present with my two dogs and a patient… and I do take things one day at a time. Thanks to our friends and family who continue to go above and beyond to help and support us daily… Thanks to our neighbour Floyd for constantly removing the snow and putting out our garbage on the right days for us… he is a saint… and is always doing little acts of kindness. Thanks to sisters-in-law, Bev and Brenda, for taking such good care of their mom, who is also in hospital now as well. Too bad her and Brian were not in the same hospital… as it made for many hospital runs in different directions for the family. They not only were to see Blanche daily but made many visits to see us too. Thanks to friends Ross and Trona… for the home made muffins in hospital and home made cookies when home again…and thanks to all the friends mentioned above in photos for their visits and kindness… and to the many others who stopped by either at the hospital to see us or at here since home again. I delight in little quotes and sayings on my calendars daily, and in other places like on cards and in magazines, FB and books. They sometimes are just what I need to brighten my mood ...even if for only a little while. I have received many messages by email, text, and inbox on Facebook, too… so thanks for all your ongoing concerns and support… every message means a lot. Every one is a true act of kindness and so appreciated. I am grateful for many shows on TV... I enjoy either with Brian's company or on my own while he rests. We have recently started watching lots of home renovation shows like "The Property Brothers", "Love it or List it", " Masters of Flip" and "Fixer Upper"… after watching all those lately… I am inclined to think we could use some renovations around here, too! Good thing we are getting one soon. I mentioned in previous blog posts that we had a dishwasher leak in November, causing our kitchen floor to warp, so next week we will be getting our new floor here, and from there… who knows what else we might tackle! Time will tell I guess. We have lived in this home for 33 and a half years now… so lots could definitely be fixed up! I am currently also watching the new season of American Idol. I think there are some talented contenders on that show. I do think the 3 judges on that show are genuinely passionate about what they do too… and we are all sad this is the final season of that show. I tape a few other TV shows but often do not get around to watching them… seems lots is going on around here lately. January was a big celebration month… not only did Jana and I have birthdays on the 10th and 11th… my son, Colin had his on the 18th… my sister-in-law, Brenda had a birthday on the 28th, my cousin Darcy on the 29th, Brian's cousin Gail on the 30th, my cousin, Jan on the 31st. Also TV icons and a couple of my favourites… Ellen Degeneres on the 26th and Oprah Winfrey on the 29th. Happy Birthday to those many birthday peeps in our life…and any others I have missed along the way! There were a few deaths as well this past month with losing some musical icons too… always sad to lose people we all know and enjoyed in one way or another… from David Bowie to Glenn Frey to name a couple. I thank my kids for being so positive and supportive in our life and checking in with us daily. They mean the world to us, and I am so grateful for their endless love and support. I really missed my blog this past while as it is like a form of therapy for me to compile my life journal and share it here… it is my way of remembering how good I have it… even through the tough times. THANKS for all the ACTS OF KINDNESS! On that note… here is my rhyme of the day… Our lives have been hectic for the this past bit of time, So I have been missing my blog and my rhyme. From celebrations to setbacks and in between, Oh what a journey our life has been. But thanks to our family and so many friends… And many acts of kindness… it just never ends! I've said it before, and will say it again, We know the best people from now… and back when. When it comes to special, I really am blessed, All the people in my life are truly the best! |
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