Luíseach’s Neighborhood

You never know what you will find here:) From me begging you to donate to worthy causes to what I'm reading. This afternoon, I finally have settled in to read Tales from a Travelling Mum: Navigating Europe with a Babe-in-Arms by my pal, AliceGriffin. I've been following Alice's adventures for a while now through her blog. It is a delightful read written by a delightful person. Great for armchair travelers, families with a dream and those actually starting their planning:)

Also, remember that amaryllis I saved? Look how it has grown and not only that, a twin shoot grew from the same bulb alongside it and now is ready to burst into bloom also!

Monty approves....... I'm learning how to use my new lens:)

In a manner not unlike the Apostle Paul, I have journeyed to many places in the United States during this decade. Hopefully, I can travel to the southwest during the next decade.

Decade Travels W

Decade Travels SE

Decade Travels NE

Because I am team leader... I feel a bit of responsibility towards the rest of my group and am posting this here because there are only two days left to participate in this opportunity to help purchase a new digital mammogram machine for our local hospital.
For a $10 donation you will be entered in a draw on December 30th to win ALL of this! So far, only 60 tickets have been sold.

2 tickets to Mooseheads game on January 8th vs Montreal Juniors

$30 gift certificate to THE ARMVIEW

I only had four resolutions in 2009. Here is a brief summary, along with the results.

1.     I will read 50 books this year. I am currently at 68, so this was a success.

2.     I will observe the fasting and dietary practices of various holidays in several of the world’s religions. I failed during Lent.

3.     I will implement some sort of plan concerning my educational goals. I am happily working on a Master’s Degree in Holistic Health.

4.     I will finally join my local Unitarian Universalist congregation. I was going to do this and actually interviewed for a youth coordinator position in June. However, this experience was negative and disappointing. This experience made me realize I do not need to be in a congregation and it’s okay to be the spiritual and religious person I am. I finally put to rest any lingering doubts and questions regarding my own acceptance of my spirituality. Therefore, this was a failure and a success.

I don’t have any specific resolutions for next year. Instead, I commit to these ten ideas.

1.     Maintain a positive and realistic worldview.

2.     Embrace simplicity.

3.     Live in the present moment.

4.     Learn from mistakes and let them go to history.

5.     Consider the future, but don’t be controlled by it.

6.     Remember that I am influenced by my environment & circumstance, but I have the power to make positive and productive choices despite this influence.

7.     Live fearlessly by knowing how fears are constructed and how to deal with them.

8.     Consider the context of a situation.

9.     Be open to learning.

10.  Remember these words: balance, mindfulness, energy, forgiveness, critical thinking, wholeness, & harmony.

Boxing Day sales start. I'm not much of a shopper but I have a Lululemon certificate that I am hoping to stretch to twice it's size today:) I also want to pick up an armband for my new nano.

I am also hoping to try out a new lens I got for my camera:)) Better get out there!

Only 3 days until this is drawn!!Only 58 tickets sold!!
Dec 30th. The BustaMove BIG PRIZE DRAW , hoping that you might be interested in donating $10 to help purchase a digital mammogram machine & be entered in our fabulous draw. Help make the boobs of Nova Scotian women merry! Thanks to all of you who have done so already:)) Winner gets it all. Great odds at this point!

December Views

Well, here we are on the other side! Another Christmas dusted off and filed on the memory shelves.  One of my presents was an iPod nano!!! Yay! I'm late coming into the mp3 business. This one is great because I can also listen to my beloved CBC radio if I want, something I enjoy doing as I walk. Walking is what I plan on doing more of as Jan 30th looms closer. Cross training:) I have to take off all those extra chocolate, cheese, wine, dip, crackers,trifle, gravy pounds I put on over the last week. Yikes, really, I am not kidding, but they sure were tasty:)

My brother's house last night. A winter wonderland! We were there for his father in law's 80th birthday party. As beautiful as it was outside, the drive home was very slow and took every ounce of concentration. Snow falling steadily, road covered with fresh snow and in that area they don't salt because of people's wells. It was the kind of falling snow that hypnotizes you as it drive through it, creating constant 3D effect  as if you are driving through a vortex. Wierd and wonderful.

Nevertheless, it was still absolutely magical out there.

Hope you have a contented and peaceful few days ahead of you:) Happy Christmas!

I wrote this in August this year:

Much has happened in my little life.  Lots of loss but the Lord has been faithful and I'm anchored and closer to Him than ever.  I have good friends and a loving family that have been supportive throughout.

My Dad died a year ago August 4th....

My Mom died just a few weeks ago, July 12th.  Her first symptom was in March and now she's gone.  A measure of comfort I have is that Mom and Dad are together.  Mom smiled at something/someone/s when she died.  As if she was smiling at us by her bedside and beyond at something very, very wonderful.  I think she may have been greeted by my Dad.  I'll have to ask when I see them again.  I KNOW my Mom is more than fine.  That gives me the strength to carry on here 

I've lost both my parents in less than a years time.  Wow, never would I have thought I'd be in this position.  You just never know in this life.  They were both in their mid-60's. 

Life is a gift.  Thank you, Lord, for the loving relationship I had with both my parents.  The grief I feel is a result of the love we shared.  I'm thankful.  Yet, I cry not for them, but for me.

Just lost a good friend this week to a motorcycle accident.  She was so supportive to both me and my Mom these last several months.  She brought goodies when she visited Mom and enough to feed visitors and staff too.  She prayed with and for me and my family.  That is valuable and cherished.  The last text message I got from her was the evening before her accident.  She simply texted 'Praying for you'.  She had a big heart and was an encouraging sister in Christ.  I will miss the connection we shared of her being there for me concerning Mom.  That was a comfort to me.  She started out a Vox neighbor and became an offline friend.

In the midst of this incredible loss I feel peace.  I don't know what tomorrow will bring but thankful for the peace I have today.

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Today, December 23rd, I just want to let you know that my sweet Grandmother joined my Mom, Dad, Glenda, and many loved ones when she died to this life on October 16th.  I miss them all so much.  Many here used to pray for the situation with my Grandmother and with my Dad.  That's why I'm posting here in the off chance some may see this.  If any of you are on Facebook, let me know and I'd love to stay connected with you over there.   

I wish those who read this a very blessed Christmas and a new year filled with love and joy.

Mom Dad Me Grandma - Mother's Day a few yrs ago

Tomorrow is Christmas Eve! How did it get here so quickly?
Lots to do still as always. Heading off to the gym shortly.
37 days until we BustaMove. Yikes! Did I mention that my daughter has signed on?
The prize list is growing:) Yay. Wooden Monkey has donated a gift certificate:) Thanks. $10 donation gets you in on a draw for all this! Only 57 tickets sold to date.