Merry Christmas to All…

Tags

angels, Christmas, family, inner peace, Jesus, joy, Love, memories, Nativity, peace, traditions

This is a season filled with happy memories and enjoyable experiences as families gather, special foods are eaten, gifts are exchanged, and songs are sung. It can also be a time of poignant memories, loneliness and sorrow. Sometimes we don’t get to be with the ones we love. But whatever our circumstances, we can reach out to others in kindness.  We can remember the first Christmas — a little baby born in a humble stable, a star shining in the night, the shepherds keeping watch over their flocks, and the angel’s proclamation. “For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, which is Christ the Lord.” The joyous news echoes through the ages and still brings us peace. Merry Christmas.

 

Farewell, Mora Maclean

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death, family, Farewell, funeral, Love, memories, Mora Beryl Maclean, Mora Maclean, obituary, Ohana

On February 11, 2016 my aunt, Mora Beryl Maclean, died at Ottawa, Ontario, Canada.  Here is her obituary:

MACLEAN, Mora
June 13, 1931 – February 11, 2016
On Thursday, February 11, 2016:  Mora MacLean, who was born and raised in Ottawa (Westboro) and most recently lived at the Redwoods Retirement Residence, Ottawa. She had an undergraduate degrees from Queens (BA, English) and McGill Universities (Bachelor of Library Science, BLS), and she received a Master of Library Science (MLS) from the University of Toronto. She was retired from the National Library of Canada and worked most recently with the Government Printing Bureau. Mora was predeceased by her parents, Murdoch and Myrtle MacLean, and by her sister, Margaret. She is survived by her sister, Isabel Rozins, of Toronto. She will be missed by her long time friend, Anne Perdue, and by her nieces and nephews: Michael Coxon, Bruce Coxon, Carol Nicolas, Kathy Janzen, Beryl Cullum and Alison Demeter and their families. She was a lover of opera and classical music. She was an avid reader and traveler. Mora was known for her wit, strong opinions on many issues, and her ability to recite Gaelic toasts and sayings at opportune moments. Family will be receiving friends and family at St. Johns Anglican Church, South March, 325 Sandhill Dr., Kanata, on Friday, February 26 from 10:30 a.m. until 11 a.m. at which time a memorial service will be held, followed by a reception in the church hall. Tributes, condolences and donations may be made at http://www.tubmanfuneralhomes.com.

Aunt Mora cared about her nieces and nephews.  Mora, her sister, and her mother provided love and stability to us when our family was in upheaval. From the time we girls were little until just recently, Mora kept up a steady correspondence:  she wrote letters, sent books, called, and offered encouragement.
Because of the distances involved, we didn’t get to see our relatives as much as we wished.  However, we were able to come out east and visit occasionally, and I treasure those times. I have vivid, wonderful memories of the summer when I was in Grade 10, and Granny and the aunts paid for us to fly to Ontario to visit them.  We had such fun.  In 2000, Beryl, Kathy, and I visited her and once more enjoyed her company.  Alison and Beryl were able to come out and visit her as well on different occasions.
A couple of years ago, Kathy, and I flew to Ontario to visit the aunts once more.  I listened to Aunt Mora’s stories about her life, childhood, travels, and schooling, and then I went back to my room and wrote them down.  We dined together and enjoyed her sharp wit and humorous observations of people and life.  I admired her ability to quote in Gaelic and recite whole selections of Shakespeare and other poets.  She was strong, independent, and brave.  Even in her later years when her body was full of pain, she refused to give in to it.  Mora had a great sense of humor and playfulness.  She shared Beryl’s and my fondness for stuffed animals.  As we talked, I remember thinking, this is what my mother might have been like if she had been mentally well.  I enjoyed our visit so much.
And now she is gone.  Another person I hold dear has passed from this life into the next. Aunt Mora, I wish you an interesting and exciting journey.  I love you, and I will miss you greatly.

 

Kisses in the Rain

Tags

abuse, book review, car accident, Christian fiction, clean romance, communication, cook, cooking, family, friends, Georgia Tate, healing, Jace Lowe, Kisses in the Rain, Krista Lynne Jensen, LDS fiction, Love, loyalty, memories, memory loss, recipes, remembering, restaurant, romance, seafood, Seattle, true love, trust, women's fiction, YA

Book Review: Kisses in the Rain, by Krista Lynne Jensen:

After a car accident claims her fiancé and her most recent memories, Georgie Tate moves in with her aunts, who live on a small island outside Seattle. She begins to reshape her life as she struggles with the knowledge that something bad happened, and she can’t trust a man ever again. When she finds work at a local seafood restaurant, she meets the grumpy cook, Jace Lowe, who has just been dumped by his girlfriend. Both of them are wounded, angry, and confused. But they can’t deny the attraction between them either, and they gradually form a friendship as they work on a project together. Georgie must remember what happened with her abusive fiancé and work through her issues, and Jace must resolve his pain and family issues before they can find the courage to love again.
I loved this book! The imagery is so vivid and stunning that it made me want to visit the island and walk on the shore, and eat the foods they cooked. I love the way their lives and hearts are gradually revealed — two people who are real and down to earth, who struggle with their problems, yet find positive ways to overcome them. They are both good people of faith, but their religion is part of their background, and the book doesn’t preach. Georgie is dealing with the effects of abuse, and her healing is insightful and helpful to the reader. The romance between Jace and Georgie is sweet and clean. I closed this book with a smile, and then I went back and read the whole thing again. Thanks, Krista, for a beautiful story!

Christmas Highlights

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Books, carols, Christmas, Christmas concert, Christmas lights, Christmas memories, Disneyland, dogs, Double Play, family, Gifts, grandchildren, Love, memories, Mickey Mouse, music, Namaste, Nativity, the best gifts, time spent together, YA, YA fantasy, Yoga

Christmas is over for another year, and as I reflect back, I am grateful for my family and friends, the time we could spend together, and the love we have for each other.  Here are a few of the highlights:
– Watching my grandson’s excitement as he opened his train set and then spent hours playing with it.
– Dancing in the kitchen with my husband.
– Phone calls with my family in Canada and Utah.
– Singing carols and reading the story of the Nativity on Christmas Eve.
– Going for walks and looking at all the beautiful  lights.
– Playing tag with my daughter and grandson.
– Watching my dog play with his favorite toy, a farting blue rubber pig.
– Going to Disneyland and watching my grandson’s face as he got to meet Mickey Mouse, ride the trains, and fly on Dumbo.
– Attending a Christmas concert and listening to the beautiful music, especially the numbers by the children and youth.
– My favorite presents:  PJ’s from my sister, which are covered with moose doing yoga poses and saying ‘Namoosete,’ and a Mickey Mouse necklace from my husband.
– One last favorite moment:  My daughter-in-law and I were waiting in line, and I was complaining about the the sad ending of a book I’d just read.  And she looked at me and said, “Well, I know a great book that’s just the kind you like, with a happy ending and everything.  It’s called Double Play.”  I laughed.  Thanks, Lynette!

The Playground

Tags

childhood, children, games, grass, memories, merry go round, park, play, playground, sandbox, sisters, slide, storytelling, swings

As a child, one of my favorite places to play was at the playground at the end of my street, not far from my house. It was a corner lot with a merry-go-round, a swing set, a curving slide, a sandbox, and a large grassy area.
The merry-go-round was divided into triangular sections with a steel bar to hold onto along each section. Each triange of the wooden floor was painted a different color. On long, lazy summer days, we’d lie down in the different sections and use our hands to push off and keep moving. Then we’d start the game of Dropped it-Got it. One person said ‘Dropped it’ as they dropped the object – sometimes a stone or a marble or a handkerchief. Then the merry-go-round would slowly creak its way around, and whoever grabbed up the article would say, ‘Got it.’ The smell of fine dust and growing grass filled our senses, and the hot sun kneaded our backs as we daydreamed. If we happened to miss the object, no worries, the next person would get it. It was a comforting game with no competition, where the outcome was assured and the players were trusted.
The swings, on the other hand, inspired us to compete, to pump up as high as we could go, fiercely reveling in the rush of wind against our faces, joy filling our hearts as we sang ‘Let’s go Fly a Kite’ (inspired by our favorite movie, Mary Poppins). When our legs were tired and our arm muscles ached, we’d ‘parachute’ at the highest point possible, landing in the sand, and then measure who had jumped the farthest. We didn’t worry about getting hurt: we were invincible on the swings. We rolled to our feet, laughed, and went back for more.
The slide set, with its complicated stairs, handholds, and a curving, royal blue slide became a fort or castle. Once we convinced my sister A to get into a cardboard box that we had placed at the top, telling her that it would be the ride of her life. Unfortunately the ride did not go as planned, and A and the box tumbled over the side to the sand below. Thankfully, A survived with no more than a scare.
The sandbox, surrounded by a very low cement wall, was where imagination was freed to to build castles, tunnels, and roadways. In the winter, the sandbox filled up with snow which when packed down became a perfect place for a contained game of marbles. In the spring the snow melted, creating a lake to splash and sail small boats. Once when A was just a small baby, she fell headfirst into the water-filled sandbox. She would have drowned, but my sister K yanked her out just in time. It was the first time of many that my sister saved a life.
On long summer evenings, we’d run barefoot on the large grassy area, playing tag or kick the can with the neighborhood kids by moonlight as we enjoyed the cool, fresh air.
Last year I went back to my old neighborhood and discovered that the huge playground of my childhood had shrunk to a small, grassy lot and all the play equipment had disappeared. Although a sad, empty place now, this spot holds happy memories – a space where fun, relaxation, and imagination occurred, and we were free to be just children.

Holiday Memories

Tags

children, Christmas, coming home, family, holidays, memories, reunion, traditions

I’ve gone a few days without posting.  I’ve been busy with shopping and sending out Christmas cards/letters, not to mention shoveling mountains of snow from the latest snowstorm.  But the best thing has been having my kids come home.  It has been so wonderful to see the girls make a gingerbread house together, the boys outside shoveling snow, and everyone helping with different projects.  We’ve played games, laughed, talked, and eaten together.  It amazes me how much they all eat!  I’m truly grateful for this Christmas season and the time we can spend together as a family.  The fun is only just beginning.  What are your favorite Christmas traditions?

Happy Canada Day

Tags

Alberta, birthday cake, Canada, Canada Day, childhood, dances, elementary school, flag, games, grade four, Joseph Welsh Elementary, maple leaf, memories, photograph, playground, Red Deer, sisters, songs, tag

To all my fellow Canadians out there, happy Canada Day. I hope you’re having a great time celebrating with your families and friends.
I was in Grade 4 when Canada celebrated her centennial birthday. Our school put on a big program that included songs, dancing, our very own red and white maple leaf flag, and even a huge birthday cake. We didn’t have fireworks, but we had a lot of fun. I have fond memories of my elementary teachers, who were very kind and instilled in me a love of books, storytelling, and art. I also remember having a lot of fun on the playground playing tag, swinging, and shooting marbles.
While in Alberta, my sister and I stopped at Joseph Welsh Elementary and reminisced. The playground is much smaller than I remember (that huge hill I used to play on is only up to my knees now) but the boot rack in the entryway is still there. The secretary graciously took us up to the staff room where she showed us the school scrapbooks. (My third-oldest sister, who had been there previously, had told us just where to look.) We found the photograph of Canada’s birthday cake, and sure enough, there was my third-oldest sister sitting on the front row. What a find!