To Life!

It's Easter Sunday. So much to celebrate! And I'm not just talking about the Cadbury bunny that is missing some essential body parts. The dust has died down after the Easter famjam; the leftover leftovers are nestled on the second shelf in the fridge, the folding chairs are folded and stored, far away family members are back home and my heart is as full as my belly. 

Me and the Sibs. Photo courtesy of LRC

It was a special weekend. Our family of twenty filled the house with raucous chatter, laughter and dancing.  Me and the sibs got down with Uptown Funk much to the horror of our kids. Or maybe it was the bunny ears... they really have to learn to loosen up.

We gathered for a family picture before dinner... kinda like herding cats. Just as hubby counted the shot down - a unison of "we're getting married" rang out. There was a clear second of silence before the ensuing chorus shrieks and screams. My eldest daughter is going to marry her soulmate. Another family first - a same sex wedding. The family swarmed the couple and cocooned them with good wishes and all the love they could muster. 

We live for these monumental moments! And it is not lost on our how special it is for us all to be able to share them together. I couldn't help thinking about how proud and pleased my mom would be for her namesake. 

We wrapped the weekend with an impromptu dinner with hubby's mom and dad. We missed them and got our fix. We drove home satisfied and contented with the world.

And so it was. Another life affirming, family centric weekend. And if I could raise my glass, I would toast - to life! It is indeed good.

Easter Famjam

As a child, Easter was a special occasion that ranked up there pretty close to Christmas for us. Not only did we get brand new crisp Sunday school hats with ribbon streamers, we got instant access to more chocolate and candy than we could comprehend. Free flowing candy was a rarity in our house and so we cherished the opportunity to gobble sugared Easter eggs and gnaw on solid chocolate bunnies. I would methodically break off ears and appendages and savour each piece of delicious, and try to make it last as long as possible. 

These days Easter is about family and less about chocolate -- although there was plenty of that too. To see the whole clan (missing one little soul) gathered in our home, engaged in conversation with one another, enjoying the energy and joy that is family, is the greatest, most satisfying experience I know. It fills my heart to overflowing and it astounds me - the goodness that has resulted from the love of two people. 

This Easter we had much to celebrate. Kidlet is graduating with her degree, my other daughter got accepted to teachers' college, my sister is just weeks away from earning her masters in leadership and her daughter chose our family event to announce her engagement! Loads of excitement ramped up the excitement level.

We are a family of communicators so you can only imagine how the walls reverberate with the sound of twenty plus of us all "communicating" simultaneously. We don't wait for others to finish their sentence -- we simply complete it for them and then continue on with barely a breath between. Doris, our 96 year old grand lady switched her hearing aides off. I swear my ears were still ringing the next day. 

Easter Sunday is always a  more peaceful at hubby's parents' house. The family is smaller and they are much less verbose. The highlight of any family occasion these days is our little niece. She has injected new life and excitement into the mix and is really the only one who can coax a special brand of happy from her Opa. 

And so, after much preparation and planning, another special family occasion has come and gone. The house is quiet; the dog is passed out on the couch but the springtime bouquets are in full bloom. There is the promise of possibility in the air. Springtime is like that... it delivers a fresh palette for us, and it is ours to create the life we so desire. 

And for that, and so much more, I am truly grateful. 

Almost the whole gang -- missing one!

Our beautiful grand lady Doris

Niece brings the magic to any occasion

Niece having an Easter photo shoot

Peace of Easter

It's Easter Sunday! And lucky for us, each important holiday involves us spending time with both sides of our family. After hosting our Friday famjam, we headed to hubby's parents' place for a home cooked turkey and more laughs. It's a bitter sweet time for my MIH (no "in-law" for me) who is watching her ninety-nine year old mom withdraw into herself and slowly succumb to the final ravages of Alzheimer's. But she put on her brave face and chose to enjoy the love that was before her. It's been a wonderful weekend - as predicted - and the greatest overarching emotion that I have is that of gratitude.  Thought I would share a few images of our day (dominated by the furry, four pawed family members). 

Me and my MIH

Sammy the lazy kitty

The regal Mr Tibbs

Scenes from Family Friday

Sunlight flooded the room through the crystal hanging in the window, making colourful prisms dance on the walls. The colours refracting from the crystals remind me of my mother and as I watch them move slowly around the room, even landing on the faces of my loved ones, I smile and think of her spirit dancing lightly among us. Family and love flooded our home for Good Friday dinner. I feel blessed. I feel joyful. And most of all - I am so eternally grateful. Thank you, thank you, thank you.

Hope Blooms

Season of possibilities with hope spilling forth in every bud and bloom. Springtime, the most anticipated season, my personal favourite, hostess to Easter and usher to summer.

Our home will soon be filled with the young and elder members of our tribe and the walls will reverberate with chatter, debate, and boisterous laughter. Doris will turn down her hearing aides to deafen the simultaneous cross-table conversations, and we'll be serving up heaps of love with the turkey and ham.

Tomorrow is Good Friday and we will raise our glasses to celebrate our family and remember those who  are missing at the table. I can't help but reflect on those who are alone, ill, or unable to fully enjoy the beauty of springtime, Easter, or Passover. If I could, my table would stretch to infinity and seat every one who needed some love, company or just a laugh. And if they were lucky, they too would come with hearing aides to subdue the din.

Wherever you may be, whatever your faith - and even if you have none - I wish you a wonderful weekend. And Happy Easter and Happy Passover to those of you who will be celebrating. And let's agree to keep hope blooming.

Easter Feaster

It was an unexpected surprise to have my Dad and T at our Easter feast, the silver lining to their early return from Florida.  We were missing Doris, our grand silver headed elder; she stayed home to recover from her flight and the medical issues that have been plaguing her.

My girls are all of adult age and the youngest nephew is fourteen, but there is nothing like an Easter egg hunt to release the inner schoolyard ...

Hubby lovingly basted the best of out of our 25 pound turkey and it was consumed equally lovingly by the hungry family. Dad won the liver lottery (no one else would touch it let alone eat it).

Wouldn't be Easter dinner without the sweets and treats.

But the absolute best part bar none is the sight of the family gathered in the living room, every seat taken, kids curled up on the floor - some draped on the arms of the chairs, all engaged in spirited chatter. It can be deafening and to the untrained ear, the cross conversations can sound like clatter. It makes my heart sing (and it isn't anything a little Motrin can't cure). We toasted our missing members of the clan and enjoyed the company of those who weren't. Our table was full and our family all safe and sound. And for that, I am truly grateful.

Blurry, Busy But Bountiful

The last few days have been a blur ...
trips to to the airport arrivals, phone calls and reconnections, grocery shopping, clothes shopping, treats shopping, and haircuts.

Kidlet moved home from university, I flew back from Vancouver and Harmony came home for the weekend. The house looks like it barfed up clothes. Unpacking and packing. What a mess! Laundry awaits --- and awaits.

Hubby got outfitted for our upcoming family wedding in a tropical location and packing is underway. Packing for the trip and I haven't unpacked from the other yet.

My step-mom flew home with our beloved Doris and my dad drove back from Florida by himself. Doris had another detour -- this time she tested our Canadian health care. They told us she looks OK -- and that she doesn't look 93. She smiled sweetly and my step-mom exhaled -- finally.

Everyone is back home safe and sound and the nest overfloweth. The turkey is taking a soak in the kitchen sink for the final thaw; the cupcakes are iced (I think I am in sugar shock) and the house is a big mess.

And tomorrow is Easter Sunday. For our family it means a gathering of the clan; the first that will include our beloved snowbirds since Christmas. The house is vibrating gently with the energy of my three girls, the dog is snoring somewhat quietly and hubby is upstairs. It's been a blur but now, in this quiet hour, in the calm, all is well with the world. Wishing you all a happy Easter or Passover - and if you don't celebrate either of those --- enjoy the rest of the weekend.

NOTE: I haven't forgotten about my Thursday Give a Little -- I just wasn't available to blog about it so it will be deferred somewhat. 

Leftovers

Okay, it's time for me to get back to work, while I can still fit into my clothes. I have become a human vacuum, sucking up the odds and sods of leftovers that are stowed in our fridge. A hodgepodge of turnip mixed with potato, strands of turkey laced with a few hunks of ham all topped off with a few mouthfuls of stuffing and cranberry sauce - take this and multiply by a dozen times or so and you have my diet since Friday. I swear I am growing feathers and developing a distinctive snort.

But what also is leftover is the euphoria and joy I experienced on Friday baking memories with my friends and fam. Throw in the incredibly early arrival of springtime, complete with sunshine and heat - and the weekend was perfection. If I could I would frame it and hang it right above my desk to remember it over and over again. But then again, I guess I did just that with my blog posts. Ahh ... the beauty of blogging. 

Enjoy your leftovers!

The Times Are A' Changing

Well Easter is not quite what it used to be .., no little feet pounding the staircase; no squeals of victory upon discovery of sugary treats; no fancy little baskets brimming with more chocolate than any human has a right to ingest.

We had a family dinner on Good Friday, freeing up my girls to spend Easter Sunday with other members of the family. Kidlet had a hockey tournament  and my eldest daughter hosted Passover at her place for her Jewish family. So this morning, hubby and I got up to enjoy the glorious sunshine of the day. We took to the road for a Sunday drive, exploring the quaint villages and shops along the way. As we drove, I leaned my head against the window - and as the farmland, barns and wetlands  rolled by, scenes of Easters passed scrolled in my memory.

Of course I had bought my loved ones some chocolate treats but without the excitement of Easter morning and the egg hunt, it felt as though something was missing. It felt odd for hubby and I to have this day to spend together. And although I enjoyed the warmth of my hand in his as we strolled along, and the time we had together, I couldn't help but marvel had how the times had changed.

I hope everyone had a wonderful Easter.

Easter Sun Day

What a glorious sun-day, and we didn't waste a ray of it. I rolled the blinds up and threw open the drapes, the warmth and brilliance of the sunshine flooding the house. Fritz is clearly as happy as everyone else to see the sun. We caught him sprawled in the grass bathing in the sunshine (without sunscreen!).

Actually we were a little worried about our little schnauzer. Yesterday we found the foil remnants of a chocolate Lindt Easter bunny ... he had eaten the whole thing. This morning he upchucked the "recycled" poisonous chocolate and during our walk in the forest, I had the honour and privilege of filling two bags with doggie poo. Unpleasant as it was, hubby and I were relieved that Fritz seemed to be feeling better and was no worse for wear. I was feeling queasy afterwards though ..

We went to hubby's parents for Easter dinner tonight. Not sure why, but dinner always tastes better when someone else cooks it. Roast beef, ham, baked potatoes, blueberry and apple pies. I ate it all and even got some to go! Family dinners at hubby’s parents are always much quieter than those held at our place but I thoroughly enjoy the contrast. There is a relaxed, easy going vibe. Glasses of good wine, playful banter with sis-in-law and f.i.l and even the odd debate. MIH always has her happy family time hat on and goes above and beyond to make the occasion special. Today an oversized Easter bunny greeted us on the front stoop …

This has been a weekend crammed with family time; my idea of paradise. It has given me cause to pause and reflect … time is a precious gift we can give one another; these family moments weave the fabric of future memories; I am profoundly grateful for each and every hug, smile, conversation from my family. It reminds me what it means to be fully alive and living …

It has been a very happy Easter.

The animal life seemed to be as happy as the humans to see the sun.

It's Over - But Not Really

They're gone and the house is eerily quiet. The calm after the crazy chaos. We had our Easter dinner a day early; a full day of family and friends. The heartbeat of our home was strong. Every chair was occupied, our table full and the walls reverberated with the sound of shrieking laughter and animated conversations. I was engulfed by the beaming, smiling faces of the people I love.

Simply put, it was a day to remember. And if the conversations of tonight's dinner is any indication, I can guarantee it will be fondly recalled, again and again at some other family event - it's joy relived all over again. That's the best part of these special times. They are the gifts that keep on giving.

Happy Easter!

Good Friday!

The sun came screaming in through my kitchen window this morning. SPRING!! I knew you would be back. Let's home this time it's to stay. Nothing says spring like deeply coloured tulips so I couldn't resist picking some up when I was out doing some last minute errands. With the holiday most of the stores were closed - except (thankfully) for the Indian owned Hasty Market and the little convenience store down the street. I spent a good part of the day at my daughter's place helping her prepare for the Passover seder. We laughed as we cleaned, chopped and boiled and had a chance to show her the gravy secrets first hand. Watching her carefully set her table, making sure each detail was in place made me feel so proud of her appreciation for her family traditions and her willingness to make sure they continue.

I also spent the day with hubby cleaning and getting ready for our big Easter dinner we are hosting tomorrow. It started off with only 8 of us and as the week progressed, more family members signed on ... and I couldn't be happier. Definitely the more the merrier. So it will be ham and turkey tomorrow and that's just the relatives! My parents and a nephew will be the only ones missing this holiday so we will raise a glass to them - and they will be there in heart.

As I write this, middle daughter and Fritz and I are snuggled on the couch. Daughter is watching a rerun of Friends and Fritz is snoozing with his head in the space between my laptop and my tummy. He gave up on trying to get me to hit the sack and checked out early.

It's been a wonderful day - and tomorrow will be even better. It wasn't just Good Friday -- it was a great Friday.
Fritz being a helper in the kitchen ...