You gotta have friends

It's official. I now have 111 friends. I believe that number has magical connotations. Can you imagine little shy me with that many people in my life. I was thinking that if I struck it rich , I would have a huge party and invite every single one of my facebook friends. Some of them would actually know each other. I wonder how much better that might be to be able to see their facial expressions and watch their body language. I think it's easier having a social network of friends. You can delete things that you should not say. You can correct spelling errors thus appearing more intelligent than you really are. You are free from any social faux pas. Like a runny nose or an unsightly blemish. If you don't like your profile pic you can keep taking one until you do. You can replace your pic with one of "Strawberry Shortcake" or "Yoda". Sometimes you can even Photoshop your pic erasing wrinkles and stuff. "Just saying". I could actually be 85 , you never know. I'm kinda worried about my facebook time. I could be addicted. Years down the road they may name a syndrome after me.  A few times I have been asked to go somewhere where I could connect with real people with skin. I've declined. It seemed a better idea at the time to put on my jammy pants and grab a bag of chips and a smoothy and scroll through my virtual list of friends and creep. Even if you don't know what creeping might be I'm certain that you've done it once or twice.. I love to look at people's pics. Sometimes I'll leave a comment , but otherwise I am in creeper heaven. It's like my dream of being invisible and opening peoples closets or drawers without them knowing. It's safe to say that the times they are changing.. It does my generation no good to hold on to the past. We need to embrace our modern technology. It may  soon be easier than embracing real people. Picture this , 4 family members out to dinner all with their own cell phones texting to other friends who are not at the same table. I'm not thoroughly dismayed, it may be the only time we all are in unison and have something in common. Then there are the perks. Like being able to connect with a niece in Australia or friend in Florida. Just to be able to ask them what the temp is over there or if they indeed have seasons. Regardless of how we acquire them I'm going to use James Taylor's words and say "You Gotta Have Friends". Well, I'll say adieu and  I'm off to Facebook..

Kicking It Old School

There was a season when 3 of my children were losing their teeth at the same time. I use to say (Insert Jewish accent here) "What , am I raising sharks or something!" Nowadays I have 2 sons who require help with Math. One at a University level, the other high school. To put in bluntly I suck at Math, so good old dad has been commandeered for this task.  Son #2 is being very pleasant and even though dad is near cerebral hemorrhage things are going well. On the other hand son #3 is not speaking to good old dad. It's the dynamics of things. Stubborn + Stubborn = Disaster.. (And I didn't think I knew Math? ) :) So right about now I hate Math. Well, at least I hate the strife that comes with Math.  Being the mediator puts me in this most difficult position. When does it end? Daughter #5 does not bring work home. This is such a blessing. Except that she is more a social butterfly than a book worm.. That's another story.  Maybe life is all  just a big school anyway with God as principal. Discreet Math and Algebra may just be catalysts in getting families together to try and iron out  little quirks and ineptitude's. I use to think that we were such a quirky bunch. I was right, but the only normal I know is a setting on the dryer. I'm having this huge revelation that I should embrace these hard times and look instead at the potential for growth. I look for that moment when son and father claim forgiveness and give up selfish wills. How like our great and wise Principal. He uses the trials of this life and turns them into something beautiful. If only we could be more forgiving and more loving. I have to say that I didn't know where this blog was going, but it really spoke to me today. I began with a rant and came away with understanding..  Adieu.. and farewell until we meet again...

Miracles

So sit right down and you'll hear a tale, a tale of a faithful ship that.... Sorry I was getting carried away. It would however be ok to grab a coffee or tea right about now because this blog may be a tad long. I'm going to tell you an amazing story that still leaves me in wide eyed wonder. Once upon a time oh about 10 years ago our eldest was visiting us from Ottawa. She was living there at the time and going to school. Now, in those days money was scarce on all sides, but we promised to drive her home on the Friday. On the Wednesday my hubby and I were beginning to get a little anxious. We were flat broke.. Before I continue lets ponder this catch phrase flat and broke. I'm not certain of it's origin but it reminds me of a deflated tire.. Yep that sounds just about right. Where was I? Oh back to being a little anxious. I'm glad to state that even back then I had this indomitable faith that things would work out fine. Thursday came and nearly went. I called Hubby at work and asked him how much money we would need for the trip. "At the bare minimum" he said "200$". So I went to my kitchen window and cried out to God. I remember pleading my case and telling him that we had a duty and made promises and all of it was good. I said that He was a God who always carried out his promises and that I trusted him . Just then, the phone rang.. It was my bro from down south. Years prior he had borrowed 200$ from us and he wanted to know my bank account # so he could pay us back. With tears of joy I tried to relate to him the significance of the timing and how good God was. I don't know if he understood. We had enough money for gas and food for the trip and even a little something to buy some staples for our daughter. In the meantime we had put our little cavalier up for sale (the cavalier is the name of a car not a child) just saying . We thought we could get the 200$ that way. A few days after we had come back I received a call from a young man. He said that he would trade a snow machine for our car. I told him that I didn't think so but I took his number and said I would ask hubby about it. No sooner had I gotten off the phone then this gut disturbing, mind blowing feeling came over me. We were to give this man our car and not only that but we were to tell him that God wanted him to have it. Am I losing some of you right about now,,, WAIT.. wait till I tell you how it ends. I waited till Mr D came home and very reluctantly shared with him this bit of info. A few questions about my mental state later he decides to trust me or rather trust God and see how it panned out. I took a deep breath and called the young fella. I told him that he was to have the car free of charge and then I spit out "Oh and by the way God told me to tell you that this was a gift from him" The man began to cry. He told me that he had prayed that very same thing. He had been on welfare with 2 little girls and a wife. The next week his wife called us up and told us that he had been very discouraged but this event turned his life around. Now, please try and remember that I'm only telling you this so that you might be encouraged and not because I live in some supernatural realm. I'm just as sane and normal as you are.. (tee hee)  Miracles are still happening we just need eyes to see and a heart to hear. When God does something he does it big. He's the master of greatness. So if your having doubts today, or you are needing a miracle of your own just take a moment and look up and ask.. God loves you so.. ♥ Happy trails until we meet again... 

Mrs Indiana Jones

My eldest "The Barbie Look alike" has been in a most fabulous relationship for nearly 2 years.. She tells me that life with the right guy can make everyday seem like a brand new adventure.. My 22 years  with the same man has been more like a sitcom than an adventure. Obviously we've stood the test and have raised up 5 wonderful children. We have this amazing working relationship. I manage the home , he works very hard at providing the funds necessary to run this joint.. Over the years tempers have mellowed and the things that were contentions are now things we laugh about.  Marriage is a lifetime commitment. It's like owning a dog.. You've got this little puppy who does his business all over clean floors and you suddenly realize that you may have made the wrong decision. It doesn't help when someone comes to the door and say's, "Oh we have a dog just like that, and she's 18 years old." The years go by and you find out just how faithful and loving your little pet is and you settle down to 18 years of walking and feeding and loving . Same as your spouse I suppose. The longer you live with it (I mean him or her) the more you care. You have memories, some good and some not so good but it's still this history that the both of you share. I tell our 17 year old over and over that the more people your "with" the less special the right one will be some day. To me the adventure is the seeking. The standing off from afar and watching and learning just who that special someone is.. Not jumping into a relationship too quickly. One needs to be patient and do great detective work.. Yes sir,, I certainly don't  live a life of a Mrs Indiana Jones. Trying to decide what to cook for supper may be my only big adventure.  But there's something to say for routine and stability. Growing old with the same fella,  regardless of the fact that he leaves his dirty clothes 2 feet from the hamper, or that he asks where everything is before he even looks. I had this insane thought the other day that if my husband were to leave me for another woman, I would have to sit her down and say "Now, he hates raisins and cherries but loves mustard on his sandwiches, and be sure that you have plenty of ice cream on hand". But instead I would like to tell my dear hubby "Please grow old along with me cause the best is yet to be".

Life's lessons

 .I have a friend who can come up with a life lesson simply from eating  a bowl of rice Krispies. I adore reading her blogs. She's a real writer, published and all. I'm a slip shod writer who tries to get by on a limited vocabulary and imagination. My life lessons were hard earned. I live with the many memories  of peculiar events. Over the years I've learned to somehow embrace my past. It's made me who I am today.  Oprah (remember her) often talks about her "Ah Ha moments. I was never an Oprah fan and we haven't had TV for 12 years so please don't judge me folks.. Anyway, the other day I had one of those moments. You know the kind where some snip-it of this life begins to make sense.. Like a puzzle.. I was remembering a part of my past that would best be left to rest. This was very difficult for me because I"m not the person that I use to be. I think I'm 365 degrees different in a positive way. I really care about others. I don't want to run to the hills anymore just because my hair is turning gray or the visa bill keeps getting higher. I feel that there's hope these days. God has shown me over the years that He is always faithful. Sure , faithful to some might mean a life without trials. Not for me, no siree bub.. but I have a real reassurance that I can breeze through this life even through the difficulties with The Lord at my side. I may live on "What A Jolly Street" but it took a life time to get here. A bowl of cereal may not have an impact on me. My life lessons come from the school of hard knocks.. I may have been knocked down but I am not defeated.. Gotta Go and do life.. Adieu...

The Bear Facts

So, it's a peachy keen kinda day here on "What a Jolly Street". Everyone is busy cooking up their Thanksgiving dinners. I made a pot of homemade beef soup and fried potatoes. That's because I was the smart mamma and did the whole shebang last weekend. I'm sooo glad I did this.. Now it's over, and done with. The left overs have been eaten and were back to being normal.. Well, as normal as we can be. Speaking of being eaten.. Let me introduce you to Mr Bear.. He lives behind or houses out by the pond. The pond is my sanctuary. I visit it once or twice a day with our little puppy nuggets "Muffy".. Depending on who you speak with a bear will either leave you alone by the blowing of a sharp whistle or from the  honking of a very loud horn. The other camp say's that each year thousands of poor folk are brutally mauled by these pesky black bears.. It really doesn't matter to me. I walk regardless. Sometimes I take along a little orange whistle.. "Right" that's really going to do the trick. Or sometimes I bring along the bear whisperer aka my hubby. The person who runs the fastest is the one who escapes the deed. I always put on my favorite blue running shoes and off we go.. It's a shame really. How can one slightly menacing animal control your life.?. Why is he even there? My daughter the animal activist say's that they have just as much right to be there as we do. WE live in Northern Ontario for crying out loud. We have dozens of excellent dwelling places for the likes of Mr Urseida. That's my complaint of the day and my very first post.. I have 2 friends who have the most excellent blogs in the whole wide Universe.. I'm going to leave you the links.. That is if I can master that technology.. Gotta go and do life.. Adieu...