The Graduate

Several weeks ago, James had his commencement for graduating with his B Ed (with disctinction). After getting his Honours BA in History, James returned to school for another year to pick up some more courses so that he could have a "second teachable" for if he went onto getting his teacher's degree. He then went to Korea for a year, returned to Canada and worked with street kids at a Youth shelter in downtown Toronto for a year before going back to get his B Ed. After alot of hard work, he has reached his academic goal. He has graduated at a time however when, due to the recession, there is a hiring freeze in the education system in Ontario. He has not let that deter him however and he is back working with the street kids at the shelter in Toronto, honing his skills and giving back to society.

James has put alot of thought into his life journey, and it has truly paid off. He has become a very mature, responsible man who still has that "little boy" inside of him. He has always been our very sensitive one, the one who was easily hurt by others, yet also deeply felt the pain others went through. As such, he has a deep empathy for those around him who are marginalized by others and by society as a whole. I watch him now as he reaches out to others who society has forgotten. I watch him as he brings kids out of their shell who no one else can reach. I watch as he empowers kids to make informed decisions. I hear as he challenges kids to think outside the box, to think for themselves, to search for answers. I watch and listen as kids respond to him and see how he has become a teacher, a mentor, a friend.

Many years ago, when I was workin in the classroom, James said to me, "Mom, I could never be a teacher, I wouldn't have the patience." Several years later, when I started working with the homeless and those living in poverty, he said' "Mom, I could never do that, I wouldn't have the patience."

Well my son, it is clear that to me that God has given you the gift of patience. He has given you the gift of teaching, and more importantly the gift of reaching out to others. You truly are an inspiration. I stand in awe of the man you are, and I thank God daily for the example and mentor you are to others, and to me.

James with his Nana & Papa

Bruce & I with James

Trailer Pics

The trailer has been delivered and it's useable now! YEAH!!!!!! Next year we will need to look at a proper deck and the skirting around the bottom, but that will come with time. We've got the basics now (dishes, a pot, a pan, a set of towels), so we're able to get there whenever we want. Jason, Alyson, Courtney (our neice) and I were there last weekend (Bruce was called into work because of the VIA rail strike). The sun poked it's head out in the mornings, and rain came later each day, but that was alright because we had a roomy trailer to hang out in. Here's some pictures.

From the back corner of the lot

Looking through the front picture window into the living room

Looking at the side into the dining area

The master bedroom

Willow looking at the birds out the kitchen window

Jason's new boat

It's Official!

Well, those of you who read Jenn's blog will know that it's now official............the boy's adoption is final! They are now legally Legge's. Bruce and I went with my mom and dad to support Jenn and Kevin when they went to court on Tuesday. Kevin's parents, along with Shannon (Jenn's best friend and the boy's God mom) were there to. It wasn't a big pomp and circumstance ceremony, but it was very emotional for many of us. For me, as Jenn's mom, it was such a joy to see that after coming to grips with infertility, how she has relied on her faith that God had a child for her and Kevin. She has been richly rewarded with two beautiful little boys, who have the most delightful personalities and are the joy of her life. Bruce and I are so happy that we have been here this past year to support Jenn and Kevin and to become active grandparents. To see the boy's faces light up when we walk in the room, to have them clap and say "yeah" when they see us............we truly are blessed.

Ethan Josef Legge

Owen David Legge

Has a nice ring to it don't you think?

Young Update

It's been a while since I blogged. I often formulate great blogs in my mind, but never do get around to posting them. Life here though continues to be busy, and good. Work has been great. I love the challenges and am seeing great progress in our programs and staff (more on that in a future post). Bruce and I are truly enjoying being back in Ontario. We are getting to see our kids on a regular basis, we got to be there for James at his convocation (more about my thoughts on that in a future post), and we have developed a wonderful relationship with the twins as we see them growing.

Last week, we did our usual and booked a cottage for a week (in Barry's Bay, just outside of Algonquin Park), leaving it open for the kids to come up when and if they wanted. It's a wonderful, peaceful area as 90% of the land surrounding the lake is crown land, so it is unspoiled and will stay that way with no future development. Everyone came and spent a bit of time. It was a great week. Here's some pics:

Alyson and Willow with Ethan and Owen

Charlie and Willow commiserating



"Mr. Sandman" Owen



Ethan having a great time in his "boat"


Chillaxin' in the pool

The Young men by the fire

SBG (Spoiled By Grandpa!)


OK, OK, so I spoil them too


Sunset on the lake

Looking up from the road to our site where our new trailer will go

That's right folks! We loved the area so much that we bit the bullet and bought a trailer. There was 1 spot that had come available on a quiet private road in the resort park. It has water views, and there are about 8 trailers that share the dock and small beach area. It is tucked away from the rest of the "resort" where the playground, large docks and more public beach are. It's beautiful. The trailer is a "cottager" trailer that is 14 ft wide, has 2 bedrooms, a full bath and a large open concept living room, dining room and kitchen with full size appliances. It comes fully furnished. It should be in place on the lot by the end of this week, so LOOK OUT WEEKENDS, HERE WE COME! Our own "Happy Place" in God's paradise!

View of the lake from our lot

Word of the Year

The last 2 years, my sister Barb has chosen a word that she feels she will try to "attain" or one that will reflect her life over the coming year. I've taken that challenge this year and broken it up into 2 .......... a word for my professional life and a word for life in general.

The reason I broke it in 2 is that I have taken the word for my professional life and used it to challenge the staff of the shelter. We are in the midst of a big expansion as we are building Second Stage Transitional Housing for women and their children. This housing will provide the ongoing support that the crisis shelter is unable to provide as women try to regain control of their own lives once they have fled an abusive relationship. As such, the word I have chosen for myself and have challenged staff with is "innovation", innovation as we assess how we current conduct programs, which means a willingness to think beyond "this is how we've always done it" and think outside the box, truly listenning to the voices of the women who use our services and develop creative solutions and options for women as THEY take the first steps to regain their lives. Innovation around developing a program in the Second Stage Housing where the residents have an active voice in how the program runs, and how they are able to hold each other accountable for ensuring a safe environment. Innovation on how we educate the community on family violence and women's issues. Staff seem to have grasped onto the challenge. We are heading into a staff planning retreat in the next couple of weeks and there is alot of buzz around the word "innovation".

For my personal life, choosing a word was easy. For this year the word is "enjoy". Over the past 4 years, my life has been so occupied by work and school that I will now admit that I ceased to fully enjoy life. So this year, now that we are "home" in Ontario, I will enjoy life to the fullest. I truly am enjoying "work", as I am having an impact at the front line again with families instead of sitting in an office as an administrator. I am enjoying being able to see my children and grandchildren much more often. This is especially important as Jason prepares for deployment to Afghanistan next Januray, James sorts through his own future, and Jenn & Kevin work through the final legal pieces of Ethan and Owen's adoption. I have truly enjoyed being able to connect with Cathy & Barb and plan on enjoying many more days and weekends with them. I am hoping to be able to see Mom & Dad more and enjoy the quiet times with them. Liz and I have several big plans now that I am "home". I will enjoy simply being with Bruce in our new home in the province where we feel comfortable. I will enjoy getting to know our new neighbours more. Although I joke about the neighbourhood "Mrs. Kravitz", this is the friendliest neighbourhood we have ever lived in where people reach out to and watch out for each other.

So there's my words. I am renewed and hope that that renewal will bring about some "innovation" as I "enoy" life to the fullest.

As per my last post, here's some more pictures from Christmas. It was a 'perfect" Christmas. The only thing that could have made it better was if David & Evie and Stephen & Gayle and their families were here.

Uncle James & Owen playing "Super Baby"

Jason & Alyson rummaging through their stockings

Ethan & Owen playing with Grandpa's favorite toy (I think Bruce had more fun with this than the babies did!)

The "Young" men's poker game Christmas night

Christmas dinner at Barb's on Boxing Day

As soon as the babies arrive, guess what the Aunties do?

Don, Matthew & Cameron Boxing Day afternoon

Young Maple Leaf fans

Scottie, Ethan & Joseph

Christmas wouldn't be the same if Rick wasn't home

Re-establishing Old and Establishing New Traditions

So, it's the first time since 2004 that all of the "Youngs" have been together at Christmas. What I've found is that everyone is eagerly re-establishing some of our old traditions, yet we are also establishing new ones. Last weekend, Jenn & Kevin took over the house so that they could spend some time with Owen and Ethan's birth family. We cleared out to give them their privacy. It's so wonderful that they have a great relationship. Our 2 little guys are very fortunate and have alot of people that really love them.

Saturday evening, James and Jason and Alyson arrived. Jenn & Kevin went home that night, but everyone else stayed through the weekend. Alyson and I baked all day Sunday (a "new" tradition I think), and the guys spend the day shopping and playing cards. We had our turkey dinner that day as well.

Jason and Alyson went home on Monday and James has stayed through. On Tuesday, James, Bruce and I went out for lunch at a great restaurant on the waterfront. Last night, we did the old "Young" tradition and watched "A Chrsitmas Carol" with a plate full of goodies. It is now 2:00 PM on Christmas day. We had a relaxing big breakfast, have just finished opening our gifts and will be leaving for Jenn & Kevin's shortly. We are all meeting up there to spend the night together and head off to the Sears Boxing Day tomorrow.

As per David's challenge, I've been snapping some pictures. Here's round 1. More when we get home in a couple of days.

Keeping the driveway clear

I've discovered Alyson is an amazing baker!

Lunch at Aqua Terra

Christmas Day

The gold and silver music tree

The family tree

Merry Christmas Everyone!

OK, So I'm A Bit Behind Everyone Else

So here's my list:

1. Wrapping paper or gift bags? OK, so although I'm very much an environmentalist, I do love the wrapping paper thing. I love to do it up fancy with bows and sparkly ribbon.
2. Real tree or Artificial? Artificial. We did real trees for a bit as the kids were growing up, but we found the boys always had trouble with their asthma, so we went with an artificial one about 15 years ago. I now like the idea of having it up longer.
3. When do you put up the tree? The last weekend in November. This year we bought a new big tree for the front living room window the 3rd week of November. Of course we just had to put it up to see if the lights worked.
4. When do you take the tree down? First weekend in January.
5. Do you like eggnog? Not really.
6. Favorite gift received as a child? I distinctly remember receiving a Barbie case with some Barbie clothes inside. I was thrilled. It wasn't until years later that I discovered they had been second hand, but I didn't care, I had extra clothes for my Barbie. I also remember a sense of 'excitment' when I opened a certain "Donny Osmand" record album.
7. Hardest person to buy for? Definately Dad! Mind you, these days James is getting harder to buy for as he is unmaterialistic and always says he doesn't "need" anything.
8. Easiest person to buy for? Jason. Anything fishing, fishing, fishing will do.
9. Do you have a nativity scene? Yes. It is one of my "prized" Christmas 'decorations'.
10. Mail or email Christmas cards? Kind of hit and miss. When I'm not too busy, we send cards via snail mail. This year.........well it's been busy..........
11. Worst Christmas gift you ever received? A plastic kangaroo with its right ear chewed off. It still brings on giggles from our kids when we talk about it. One of those things where you have to say "It's the thought that counts".
12. Favorite Christmas Movie? A Christmas Carol with Alistar Sims. The family tradition is to watch it every Chrsitmas Eve with a plate of goodies in front of us.
13. When do you start shopping for Christmas? Normally in October. This year it was a little later, so it was "panic city" for me as I was so behind.
14. Have you ever recycled a Christmas present? No
15. Favorite thing to eat at Christmas? There's so much..........turkey, stuffing, mulled apple cider, "goodies", chocolates, chocolates and more chocolates............
16. Lights on the tree? Most definately. And they have to be kept lit whenever we're in the house.
17. Favorite Christmas song? Oh Holy Night........especially when I hear Jason play it on his trumpet.
18. Travel at Christmas or stay home? Used to be we didn't leave the house on Christmas so that the kids could have time together and be able to play with their new toys. Things have started to change for us now that the kids are adults. It will be us travelling more now so that the kids can be home with their families.
19. Can you name all of Santa's reindeer's? On Dasher and Dancer and Prancer and Vixen. On Comet, on Cupid on Donner and Blitzen. Of course, we can't forget Rudloph.
20. An angel on top or a star? An angel on the top of the "family" tree and a very large bow on top of the tree in the front window.
21. Open the presents Christmas Eve or morning? Christmas morning.
22. Most annoying thing about this time of the year? People who insist it is not "politically correct" to call it the "Christmas Holidays", but that we should call it the "Winter Holiday" so some such other thing. For pitty sake, Christmas is a Christian holiday, let's get that straight!
23. Favorite ornament theme or color? I must admit, I do love our gold and silver music tree, it really is beautiful. I must also say however that my favorite tree and theme is our family tree that is eclectic and loaded with ornamanets we have collected over the years and with ornaments the kids made us when they were little.
24. Favorite dessert for Christmas dinner? Nana Schephens' Christmas pudding with lots of whip cream. I miss Nana and her pudding.
25. What do you want for Christmas this year? Scrapbooking stuff. Now that I've got some balance back in my life, I want to start scrapbooking more.
26. Any special Christmas traditions? Where do I start, there's so many. I love how we take our time watching each other open 1 gift at a time and enjoy each other's excitment, there's the traditional Christmas baking, and the family time, especially the traditional Sears Christmas on Boxing day.

THE LIST

OK, so here's my list. Davis has challenged everyone to blog more..........I challenge everyone to do "The List". Let's see who's accomplished what.

1. Started your own blog
2. Slept under the stars
3. Played in a band
4. Visited Hawaii
5. Watched a meteor shower
6. Given more than you can afford to charity (that would include my time as well as $)
7. Been to Disneyland (well, Disney World)
8. Climbed a mountain
9. Held a praying mantis
10. Sang a solo (many, many moons ago)
11. Bungee jumped
12. Visited Paris
13. Watched a lightning storm at sea
14. Taught yourself an art from scratch (if Scrapbooking and cross stitch counts)
15. Adopted a child (OK, I cheat here.......vicarious adoption for me with Ethan & Owen)
16. Had food poisoning (more than once.......not nice!)
17. Walked to the top of the Statue of Liberty
18. Grown your own vegetables (now that I'm back in Ontario,I can grow them again!)
19. Seen the Mona Lisa in France
20. Slept on an overnight train
21. Had a pillow fight
22. Hitch hiked (interesting the people you meet when you stick out a thumb)
23. Taken a sick day when you're not ill
24. Built a snow fort
25. Held a lamb
26. Gone skinny dipping
27. Run a Marathon
28. Ridden in a gondola in Venice
29. Seen a total eclipse
30. Watched a sunrise or sunset (both)
31. Hit a home run
32. Been on a cruise
33. Seen Niagara Falls in person
34. Visited the birthplace of your ancestors
35. Seen an Amish community
36. Taught yourself a new language (does pig latin count?)
37. Had enough money to be truly satisfied
38. Seen the Leaning Tower of Pisa in person
39. Gone rock climbing
40. Seen Michelangelo's David
41. Sung karaoke
42. Seen Old Faithful geyser erupt
43. Bought a stranger a meal at a restaurant
44. Visited Africa
45. Walked on a beach by moonlight (and with the Aurora Borialis dancing!)
46. Been transported in an ambulance
47. Had your portrait painted
48. Gone deep sea fishing
49. Seen the Sistine Chapel in person
50. Been to the top of the Eiffel Tower in Paris
51. Gone scuba diving or snorkeling
52. Kissed in the rain
53. Played in the mud (mud wrestling can be fun!)
54. Gone to a drive-in theater (Ah yes, those were the days!)
55. Been in a movie
56. Visited the Great Wall of China
57. Started a business
58. Taken a martial arts class
59. Visited Russia
60. Served at a soup kitchen
61. Sold Girl Scout Cookies
62. Gone whale watching
63. Got flowers for no reason
64. Donated blood, platelets or plasma (I think I deserve to put this one in. I've tried many times and they keep turning me down!)
65. Gone sky diving
66. Visited a Nazi Concentration Camp
67. Bounced a check
68. Flown in a helicopter
69. Saved a favorite childhood toy
70. Visited the Lincoln Memorial
71. Eaten Caviar (tried it once.....NEVER again! Blah!)
72. Pieced a quilt
73. Stood in Times Square
74. Toured the Everglades (I drove through them - does that count?)
75. Been fired from a job
76. Seen the Changing of the Guards in London
77. Broken a bone ( a toe. Does that count?)
78. Been on a speeding motorcycle
79. Seen the Grand Canyon in person
80. Published a book
81. Visited the Vatican
82. Bought a brand new car
83. Walked in Jerusalem
84. Had your picture in the newspaper
85. Read the entire Bible
86. Visited the White House
87. Killed and prepared an animal for eating
88. Had chickenpox
89. Saved someone's life (walked in on a client just after he had stabbed himeself)
90. Sat on a jury
91. Met someone famous
92. Joined a book club
93. Lost a loved one
94. Had a baby
95. Seen the Alamo in person
96. Swam in the Great Salt Lake
97. Been involved in a law suit (and WON.......thank you very much!)
98. Owned a cell phone
99. Been stung by a bee
100. Read an entire book in one day

56 out of 100............who's next?

Computer Whoas and This'n That

I've been having problems with my computer lately when it comes to working on line. We had an issue last winter where a virus corrupted some of the hard drive that operated the internet, so I am wondering if my current difficulties are related to that. When we move back to Ontario, I think I might have Jason clean out the system completely, then reinstall everything again. What I'm finding now is that the system is a little slower than I think it should be, but also I am having issues with responding to some of my emails and to other people's blogs and facebook. I do read everything that comes in though, so I thought I'd do an update through my own blog (hopefully it will work) and respond to some of the blogs that way. So here we go, Thisn' That since mid July:

• For those of you who don't know, I have tendered my resignation with The Salvation Army and we are moving back to Ontario. Kingston to be exact. Although I loved my job here in Calgary (it was a great challenge, and I relish challenges), I have missed working with families and women. I have accepted the position as Executive Director with another not for profit that focuses on abused, disenfranchised and homeless women and children. They are in the midst of a big expansion to the program so there are some wonderful challenges again. I tendered my resignation in Calgary in July, however I asked the new place for 2 months to transition the programs here. That was the best thing I could have done. A great new leadership model has been established where the staff and clients of the programs I oversee will be cared for and there will be very little change, if any, for 95% of them. I will be leaving here with a great sense of peace.
• From the day I met face to face with the Board of Directors at the new place, to my accepting the position, to tendeering my resignation, to putting our house on the market, to selling the house, to buying a new house in the Kingston area, it was less than two weeks. Talk about a whirlwind..........but a good one.
• We were thrilled that our new twin grand babies (Owen and Ethan) arrived and were big enough to come home from hospital in time for everyone to go to the cottage together when we flew back to Ontario for holidays. Bruce and I soaked up every second we could with them. They are absolutely beautiful! Bruce was funny, as every time one of them made any sort of peep, he'd scoop them up. He couldn't get enough of their cuddles. Here's a couple of pictures I took while we were away:

Grampa cuddling with Owen

Ethan and Owen.

• We rented a cottgae in Northern Onatrio (West Nippissing) for a week. As it was our 30th anniverssary this past August, as a gift to our family, we treated everyone to a family vacation. What a wonderful week. Everyone made it up for at least a part of the week. We just hung out together, fished, went canoeing and paddleboating, sat on the waters edge, had nightly camp fires, and week long card tournaments. Charlie was in heavan with being on the water and having his favorite aunt and uncles to spoil him rotten. Our life long friends, Liz and Mark came up for a couple of days at the end of the week as well. We couldn't have asked for a better week.

Jenn & Kevin

The family that fishes together..........

Eddie (James' friend) and James doing the dance to the campfire gods

Young Family Portrait

• At the end of August, our neice Courtney (Bruce's brother Robert's daughter) came for a visit. She lives in Nova Scotia. She is now 20 years old. We haven't seen her since she was an infant, and did not have contact with her until she was 17 (long story there). It was wonderful to have her here. James happened to be hiking in the mountains and came by while she was with us, so she got to meet him as well. We did some of the touristy stuff like go to Banff to shop have dinner and take a cruise on Lake Miniwanka. We also did some hiking in the back country of Kananaskis. It was a wonderful way to really talk and get to know each other better. The best thing about the whole trip is that she left knowing that she had 2 aunts (Wanda and I), an uncle (Bruce) and all her "Young" cousins that never forgot her and have always considered her a part of the family. She is in touch with all of us now on a regular basis. We aren't going to let her feel "lost" from us again.

First Family Picture with Courtney

• It's wonderful to see my neices and nephews grow and take on new challenges. I have closely followed what is happenning through their blogs and facebook as well as through reports from their parents. It has been a joy to be here and watch Elizabeth, Emily, Nathan and Kathryn come into their own. I have watched from afar as Matthew, Spencer and Cameron have grown from the little boys they were when we left Ontario to wonderful, caring, mature young men. I have watched from afar as Jonathan and Joshua have taken the next steps in their life journey (glad that everyone at LSU made it safely through Hurricane Ike Josh!). I have watched from afar as Joseph and Scottie have grown from a pre schooler and an infant to beautiful little boys with lots of personality. I've watched from afar as Robyn and Danielle have taken the steps to fulfill their life's dreams. Now that we are reconnected with Courtney, we will watch as she begins her new journey. All of their parents, grandparents, aunts and uncles have a right to be very proud of each and everyone of them. I know I am!

So there's my update. the next week will be a flurry of activity as I finish at work on Thursday, the house gets packed up by the movers and we get on the road on Friday afternoon. We'll be driving across Canada in 2 cars........caravan style. We'll drive through Northern Ontario as it is in all its fall slendour! We're looking forward to stopping and spending a couple of days in Petewawa with Jason and Alyson before we head down to Kingston. It's a new chapter............no, a new book for us.............new books are good............interesting...........an adventure...............Life is GOOD

The Ethical Dilemna

I recently finished reading a book that Alyson and Jason sent me. It is called "My Sister's Keeper" and is written by Jodi Picoult. It is the story of a family who discover that their 2 year old daughter has a rare form of leukemia, and intentionally have a 'designer baby' in order to ensure a donor match for their older child. The designer baby, a daughter, was only intented to donate cord cells, however over the years, is expected to donate other cells, and bone marrow over and over. At the point where the story opens, the second daughter, now 13 years old, is being expected to donate a kidney to her sister.

It is a great novel that I would recommend to anyone. As the reader, you become angry and wonder how a parent can force a child (the designer child) to undergo invasive medical procedures over and over again that is of no benefit to her. The book however has promted me to think about what I would do as a parent if I were in that situation. When you see one child critcally ill, would you not do anything you could to save that child? However, would you force, coerce or even expect your other child to undergo painful medical procedures to save their sibling? How do you choose between your children? It is not something I would ever want to confront because I'm afraid that no matter what decision was made, it would not be the right one.