As Life Rolls On

As a friend of mine always says, "We plan, God laughs." You never know what life will bring, but the ride can be a blast!

Monday, June 30, 2008

James' Visit Part I

James was out for a visit a couple of weeks ago. He was here for father's day, which Bruce was really happy about. We had a great time while he was here. I took a couple of days off work........and I actually did no work! James & I went hiking in the mountains (over 10 km......I was one hurtin' momma after that..........but a good hurtin'), the three of us went to a Calgary Stampeders Game, we visited Stephen & Gail, took in a baseball game at the local ball field (single 'A'), and Bruce & James went to Head Smashed In Buffalo Jump (yes, there actually is a place with that name). Here's some pictures of our hike up through Johnstone Canyon:

James & I right before hitting the trail

One of the falls in Johnstone Canyon

Taking a break on the trail

James hanging over the falls just so he can get a picture of himself hanging over the top of a falls

My son the dare devil laying back over more falls

When we got to the top of the trail, we came to a valley where there was a river and a meadow. There was a rock island in the middle of the river that James was able to jump to where he built a rock sculpture


A series of small pools called the Ink Pots was in the valley. This is the edge of one of the inkpots

The pregnant tree

OK, so I got obsessed with playing with the colour stuff on my camera.........but I like the way this looks

This was cool.........multiple falls in one place..........and oh..........they were on the other side of the canyon so James could hang out over them

This ended up being my favorite picture of the whole day. My son completely relaxed and in his element

More pictures to come in a few days







Wednesday, June 18, 2008

Flowers Everywhere

Well..........it's official..............I am half a century old. With the fall I had a couple of weeks ago (see post for June 3), I feel like I am half a century old lately. Ah well, serves me right for not acting my age.............

Anyways........on my birthday, I arrived home from work to find 2 dozen beautiful long stem white roses in the middle of the dining room table. ROSES.........MY FAVORITE! The kids have decided I have become like their Nana and have become hard to buy gifts for (another sign I am becoming an old fart), so they decided that sending roses would be good. They were right.........I loved them. As a scrapbooker, I just had to take my camera out and play with the different colour and light settings and get some pictures. So..........here you go, pictures of my wonderful gift from my 5 wonderful children.

PS: I just threw them out yesterday. They lasted 11 days!




Tuesday, June 03, 2008

Lessons Learned From a Father

We were home this past weekend for a "surprise" visit. It was wonderful to be able to spend time with each of our kids and to be able to join in with my family reunion. There were two things that happenned this weekend though that really showed me how our boys have watched their father and learned from his example.
On Friday Jason graduated from the military. This was the main reason for us flying home for the weekend. Jason did not know we were flying in for the graduation ceremony. As a mtter of fact, he didn't realize we were there until part way through the ceremony. When he saw me standing there taking his picture a big grin came over his face. He truly was surprised.............and very pleased.
When the graduation formalities were over, the platoon marched out of the hall and were out for about 5 minutes before they were permitted to return to the reception that followed. When they were permitted to come in, I walked towards Jason to give him a hug and let him know how proud I was of him. When he reached me, he said "hold on a minute", walked over to Alyson, gave her a hug and a kiss, then came back to give me a hug. It was then that I realized how much he has watched and learned from his father.
On Saturday, we went to the Sears family reunion at my sister's house. I was standing at the sink in the kitchen washing some salad when my 12 year old nephew bent over to pick something up and had his bum sticking up in the air. I COUNLDN'T RESIST! A nephew's bum in the air is the perfect place for an aunt to plant a foot! As I went to give him a "kick", my feet came out from under me, I flew up laterally into the air, and came down with a very hard thud on my back. I came down so hard that I knocked the air out of both lungs and couldn't breath. As well, my back was in a great deal of pain. I yelled out for Bruce, but it was James that got to me first. The look of panic on his face and the distress in his voice brought me back and calmed me down. After an assessment from Uncle Ron and Aunt Sue (who are a physician and a nurse), I was back on my feet, sore, but on my feet (I thought I may have broken my toe, however I did not. My foot however has gone black across the top, and I have bruises up my back, but I am OK). I watched James the rest of the day as he watched me. Before he left for that evening, he came to me to make sure I was OK. It was then that I realized how much he has watched and learned from his father.
It has always facinated me how children will pick and choose what behaviours of their parents they will emulate. You can never tell if it will be the positive behaviours, or the negative ones. I can honestly say that my boys have picked up on what is positive in their father. James watched over the years as Bruce watched over his mother, and stepped in to care for her when needed. Bruce's calls to her to say "hey Mum, how are you doing" were heard by his boys. On Saturday, although I scared the living bejeebers out of him, James took the role with me Bruce did with his own mother. The careful watchman.
One thing I have always known with Bruce is that I am loved and that I am the centre of his world. He deeply loved and respected his mother, however he was clear with the fact that I was his priority. Jason has made this very clear with Alyson as well. He deeply loves me and respects me.......I know that, and I know he always will. I also know that he has his priorities straight and as such, he and Alyson have a great start in their marriage. She is his priority, and always will be.
Many men rely on the examples of their own father to determine how they will parent their own children and set the example for them. Bruce was not fortunate enough to have a positive father figure as he was growing up. He therefore had to look at others around him, and figure it out for himself. He was bound and determined to be a good father to his children, and to set a positive example. As such, his sons have had a wonderful example before them, and as such they have become wonderful, caring young men who have their priorities straight.
Bruce.............you done good!!!!!!!

Bruce, Jason & James