Day 31 ~ Vivid Memories

Can I just say this first off

it is the end of May and I have blogged for all but one of the days

I am exhausted!!

The last thing on the list is to share a vivid memory

I jumble around both good and bad memories

when I have a bad one ~ I try my best to replace it with a good one

like when I think about Dad ~ we are singing together

I am sitting on the floor at his feet

leaning back and we are smiling and laughing

good memories for sure

I push out the bad memory of his final day

of the seizure ~ of his heart stopping and code blue

these are both vivid in my mind

Our wedding day is there ~ good memories

every*single*one

our first dance ~ Crazy for You

and the last dance ~ I'm Taking You Home

and all the fun we had that entire day

nothing was going to go wrong for me that day

nothing at all

Falling in love with Trevor

I can almost pinpoint the day I knew

that he was the one

The day we brought Cooper home

poor little ball of fur remained nameless for 3 days

before we settled on his name

I wanted to call him Buster ~ and I do all the time

my funny boy

Seeing Molly at 3 days old

visiting time and again ~ getting our pick of the litter

then finally bringing her home 

and the latest memory is taking Mom in for her surgery on Tuesday

we chatted on the way to the hospital

are you nervous ~ you know everything is going to be ok ~ right

when we first got there we were kept busy

going over her meds ~ the pre-op nurse doing all that she does

and then all was quiet ~ the doctor was late

we sat for 2 hours ~ filling in time ~ making small talk

then they came to get her ~ she squeezed my hand

fear in her eyes ~ big hugs ~ soothing her and trying to put on the brave front

I walked as far as I could

then as she disappeared through the big double doors

I retreated to the chapel

and sat and prayed

She came through the surgery well

she is still in ICU ~ but alert and looking like herself

more or less

as our parents get older we tend not to take them for granted anymore

maybe it is part of us getting older as well

thank you to those that prayed for her with me

xoxo

I am looking forward to some down time

some reading time

some Mama time

and by the looks of the forecast ~ some deck time

Thank you for hanging in there with me this month

is was indeed a challenge for sure

wishing you and yours a wonderful weekend.

Day 30 ~ Letting Go

I used to be quite a pack rat ~ I would keep everything 

sentimental factor does that to a person.  

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Also it depended on who gave it to me 

did not want to hurt anyone’s feelings by giving something away that you absolutely hate.  

A couple of things got broken accidently on purpose 

during a move a few years back ~ less guilt that way.  

Then came along the show Clean Sweep with Peter Walsh on TLC.  

I would sit and watch it and something clicked….. 

it’s not the item that holds the memory ~ the heart does.  

Talk about an Oprah aha moment ~ it was a push that was needed.  

I no longer hold onto things because of who gave them to me.  

I have purged and purged items from our home.  

I go through my closet at the change of every season.  

So letting go of the stuff ~ I am getting there.  

I still have a few things that I just cannot part with yet but there is still time.  

Now if I can just get my dear husband to clean out his closet!

Day 29 ~ Five Songs

Pick five songs or pieces of music that speak to you or bring back memories

You cannot imagine how hard it is for me to pick only 5 songs

as I have a memory for music

I can name the song to go with a certain event

and I am a true believer in the song remembers when

so with that being said so many songs spark a memory

so I have picked a few of my absolute favourites

I was lucky enough to finally see The Eagles

a few years back ~ they are my favourite band

Desperado was sort of my theme song for a lot of years

the entire Greatest Hits Vol 1 album is one that has

gone from vinyl to cassette to cd

Switchin to Glide from the Kings

takes me back to high school

and there is something about the line

:nothing matters but the weekend, from a Tuesday point of view"

still rings true today

Taking You Home by Don Henley

was our last dance at our wedding

the lyrics fit ~ we were so happy ~ still are for that matter

but it is a memory I will carry with me forever

What's Going on in Your World by George Strait

well any song by George really reminds me of my Dad

this was one of his favourite artists and he became one of mine as well

the same holds true with Charley Pride, Keith Whitley and many others

depending on my mood I can either sing it loud or cry like a baby

when it comes on now

I picked this last one as it makes me smile

and takes me back to going out every Saturday night

and just dancing ~ it still gets me on the dance floor ~ omg I still love it

please someone tell me they recognize this 80's flashback moment!

OK ~ can I just say I loved this one!

I may have to do an album list and I am loving Grooveshark!

Day 28 ~ Only Pictures

Day 28 ~ only pictures

but you all know how well I follow instructions

I took all of the following on the long weekend

when we went to the cottage

my favourite dirt road

the path to the beach ~ it was so clear

you could see for miles

to the farm and the rhubarb patch

not ready yet ~ but should be by this weekend 

my little monkey on the way home

tired out....

Day 27 ~ A Letter

A letter to my readers,,,,

Dear friends,

This is a note to thank you for all that you do for me.  

I sit and type away on this page, take pictures, gather them from Pinterest and put them together and hit publish.  Then you take time out of your busy days to stop in and actually read my words ~ and then leave comments too!  

I have said it before and I will say it again and again ~ the friendships that I have made through blogging are ones that I cherish.  Although I realize that because of my location ~ meeting most of you in person is not in the cards ~ but that does not deter me from  getting to know you better and nurturing these relationships.

So thank you for your friendship ~ thank you for sticking with me and thank you for still caring what I do day to day and week to week.

xoxo

Day 26 ~ Sharing

Day 26 ~ Share something you read online.

Well this is not something I read 

but rather something that I watched and 

think that we all should take the time and see this video

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Zach Sobiech, at the age of 14, found out he had a rare form of terminal cancer. 

So he became a rock star, and millions of people got to see his music 

before he passed away on May 20, 2013. This is his beautiful story.

please click here to watch

and grab a tissue ~ you will need it

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I think he was an amazing young man

RIP Zach

Day 25 ~ I Will Never Forget

Day 25 ~ Something someone told you  about yourself that you

will never forget (good or bad)

My Uncle Bobby is a gruff ~ not a mushy gushy guy 

or least he never used to be.  

I think he has mellowed with age, but I will go back about 20 years or so.  

One weekend at the farm, we were all gathered, 

more than likely for a meal and conversation.  

I was in my late 20’s – pushing at 30 and single.  

After supper we were all sitting around 

and the conversation went towards relationships, 

why was I still single?  

I just shrugged my shoulders and said something to the effect 

that whoever was going to sweep me off my feet better have a pretty big broom.  

My heart had been broken a couple of times and you build that wall around you 

a brick higher and a brick deeper each time.  

My tough uncle spoke up and said ~ I think that the guy that get’s Lori 

will be very lucky ~ she is the total package

smart, pretty, and knows what she wants in life.  

Well you could have knocked me over with a feather

good thing I was sitting on the floor at the time. 

I think it’s not the things that are said to you, 

but who says them that matters most.  

It’s the unexpected ~ the surprises in life that put that spring into your step.

Friday Potpourri

Well today marks the end of my vacation

and all in all ~ it was a good week

really any week off is a good week ~ right!

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we got to the cottage on Sunday and it is now cleaned

the beds are stripped and everything is sitting in the laundry room

ready for a sunny day so I can hang everything out on the line

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Tuesday I planted all my annuals ~ baskets are hanging 

and the containers are full

it is amazing how these little punches of colour

can make a girl smile

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Wednesday night was girls night out

as we went to see Beauty and the Beast

the Broadway show is touring Canada and I was lucky enough to go

it was amazing

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Mom was originally scheduled for surgery yesterday

but it has been postponed til next week

she was upset but at least it is only a couple of days 

instead of a couple of months this time

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I have gotten so many little things done this week

plus took some time to just sit as well

today I have a lunch date with Katrina

I don't get to spend nearly enough time with her ~ my oldest niece

then we will head to the mall

the perfect rainy day activity!

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For the blog every day in May challenge

today we are to list our top 3 worst traits

I find the older I get the more Opinionated I am

and I can be quite vocal about it

I can however agree to disagree

and be open minded when given an alternate opinion

Some days I have a hard time speaking without Sarcasm

I have to be aware and dial it down when necessary

not sure if it is a bad trait or not

but I will add it to the list

I can be Selfish with my time

maybe because we never had kids

I have my routines and part of those are times alone

with quiet whether it is reading or just sitting

if I do not get this time I can get cranky

Wishing you all a wonderful week-end!

Day 23 ~ Things I Have Learned....

Day 23, Thursday: 

Things you've learned that school won't teach you

Life isn’t always fair ~ It is what you make it

Not everyone is going to like you and that’s ok

Be your own person

There is no rule book – no “what to expect when your expecting” for life

You learn from your mistakes

If life knocks you down ~ dust yourself off and get back up

Love with your whole heart

it may get broken a few times ~ and it will not be the end of the world when it does happen

but it will be worth it in the end ~ really it will.