Thankful

This past year I have gained a deep appreciation and gratitude for life, health and freedom.


About a year ago I started getting sick on a regular basis.  I started to become sick so frequently that I was convinced I had some horrible condition: Lyme disease, West Nile, a brain tumor, cancer, Menairs disease.  (I definitely recommend that if you are going to self diagnos your self using the internet to remember Occam's razor: the simplest explanation is most likely the correct one).  I don't even know what Menairs disease is. 


Some times I would be so sick that the hours would feel like days and the days would feel like weeks as I lay in bed fighting a fever, nausea or vertigo.  Some days I would be well enough to to sit up and watch tv or read a book.  I'm glad that I had accumulated so many days of sick leave at work, because in the past year I have taken seven weeks of sick leave. 


During the times when I was sick I felt so isolated.  I was confined to my house, and often to my bed in my room and sometimes to my mind.  It was frustrating to think and plan, but not be able to carry out my thoughts, ideas or plans.  I felt horrible for not even having the energy to make my son supper or do the laundry.  


Thankfully, I have a doctor who is quick to sent me for tests and to specialists and I soon found out I had an ovarian cyst.  By December I was in so much pain I couldn't sit or stand comfortably.  With every step I took I was well aware of the mass growing inside me that could have been malignant or benign.  I couldn't sleep properly and I started have trouble eating.  At the beginning of January I had surgery to removed the cyst and spent a few weeks at home recovering.  This past year I have been working on getting my health and strength back.


Had my health and connection to others not been taken away for a bit, I would have never appreciated or been thankful for a day like yesterday.

• Yesterday I had the energy to do a bunch of boring chores: laundry, dishes, errands.

• Yesterday I let my son sleep in and then woke him up to eat the breakfast I had made for him.

• Yesterday I went on an epic bike ride that involved a stop at Homesteads (try the British '99).  We biked for 18 kilometers.

• Yesterday the wind pushed me to pedal harder, it left a layer of dirt on my hot sticky skin, it gently blew the smell of the water to me, and brought with it that beautiful sound of rushing water to my ears.

• Yesterday I had the best shower ever.

• Yesterday I had the energy to work on the "its not a bulletin" information handout for my church, Journeys .

• Yesterday I got to "encourage" my son into coming for a bike ride and managed to stay positive, despite his grumbly, mumbly, rude teenage self.  

• Yesterday I got to hang out with friends who love me enough to speak truth into my life and not let me keep pushing things below the surface.  

• Yesterday I let my son stay out way late, before picking him up.

• Yesterday I fell asleep exhausted, happy and thankful to have the health to live life.

~b~

ps.  "encouraging" is just a nice way of saying I bribed my son to come hang out with us by telling him to meet us at Homesteads and then telling him he couldn't hang out with his friend unless he biked back with us.  

Mothers Day

One year I took my son on a trip to Edmonton for his 7th or 8th birthday.  After checking into the hotel, the first stop on our itinerary was a trip to the Science Centre.  We had only been there for an hour or so when he ended up breaking his arm.  Ironically, he broke his arm while running at the human body exhibit.  

The rest of the day was spent at the first aid station, then a mediclinic, and finally to the ER at the childrens hospital. He ended up have surgery to get a pin in his arm so our entire trip was spent at the Stollery Children's Hospital.  

All I can remember is the 6+ hour wait in the emergency room where I had to rig up a "bed" for him using two chairs which faced each other.  Apparently, all he remembers is a comment I must have made to one of the doctors.  

Roses are red.  Violets are blue.  You are my mother and I love you.  Happy Mothers day.
Your going to buy me a game cause you almost risked my life at edmonton cause you thought I was a whimp when I broke my arm.

Being a single mother, I never get a gift for mothers day, so this year I decided to change that.  I sent my son along with his mentor to the mall with some money and a few specific suggestions.  When I picked him up I could see that he had a Body Shop bag and I told him that if he would like a nice gift bag to please let me know, as I had a few saved.

While its nice getting a gift on Mothers Day, it is more important for me to teach my son how to be thoughtful and give a gift.  My favorite part of the day was the huge smile on his face when he brought out my gift.  My second favorite part of the day was his garbage bag gift bag that he had made.

In case your wondering, he bought me Almond and Shea Body Butters, a Starbucks gift card, and Mumford & Sons- Sigh No More.


~b~

The Best Part of My Day(s)

I've been having a rough few weeks, so I decided this week to name one thing that was the best part of my day.  This is what it was this week:


Sunday
Taking my bike out for the first time this year.  Loved it.  


Monday
My shower.  I had a really emotionally draining day, but my shower at the end of the day seemed to wash everything away.  Plus, I was shiny and clean.  Actually just clean, not really shiny.  


Tuesday
Getting tickets to see the musical Wicked, with really great seats: 1st row, second balcony.  I'm definitely looking forward to a night out with a group of fun ladies.


Wednesday
Green Grass.  The first thing I noticed when I left the house in the morning was how green the grass looked after the storm.  It turned out to be a rough day for me, so I'm glad I picked this days "best part" so early in the day.


Thursday
Getting Kings of Leon tickets.  I'm so so excited to go to this concert.  I could go on.  But I won't.  Except maybe to say that I love Kings of Leon.  So so excited.  


Friday
It's Friday, what could be better than that?  Also, that my friend phoned me just before work to have a quick chat and wish me a Happy Friday.  We have been phoning each other to wish each other a happy friday for over 3 years now, I love it.


What was the best part of your day?


~b~