Learning life lessons...

Every now and then I have a few moments/hours/days/weeks of reflection where I start to consider and really try to understand the lessons life is teaching me on a daily basis...I like to think that everything happens for some kind of a reason, whether or not we know or understand at the time what that reason may be...

I think whatever the reason may be that I have ended up in this profession (Occupational Therapy), in this job (working with children with disabilities), or with these particular kids, it is always such a wake-up call and a great reminder of how blessed I am, in so many ways.

Surfing around on the internet, I came across this piece of writing on a friend of a friend's website. (Feel free to check this link for their full story: http://evanpenny.wetpaint.com/ )
I think it does a great job of putting things into perspective and reminding me of all of the reasons these children make me so grateful...


I AM THE CHILD (Author Unknown)

I am the child who cannot talk.
You often pity me, I see it in your eyes.
You wonder how much I am aware of -- I see that as well.

I am aware of much, whether you are happy or sad or fearful, patient or impatient, full of love and desire, or if you are just doing your duty by me.

I marvel at your frustration, knowing mine to be far greater, for I cannot express myself or my needs as you do.
You cannot conceive my isolation, so complete it is at times.

I do not gift you with clever conversation, cute remarks to be laughed over and repeated.
I do not give you answers to your everyday questions, responses over my well-being, sharing my needs, or comments about the world about me.
I do not give you rewards as defined by the world's standards -- great strides in development that you can credit yourself;
I do not give you understanding as you know it.

What I give you is so much more valuable -- I give you instead opportunities.
Opportunities to discover the depth of your character, not mine;
the depth of your love, your commitment, your patience, your abilities;
the opportunity to explore your spirit more deeply than you imagined possible.

I drive you further than you would ever go on your own, working harder, seeking answers to your many questions with no answers.

I am the child who cannot talk.
I am the child who cannot walk.
The world seems to pass me by.

You see the longing in my eyes to get out of this chair, to run and play like other children.
There is much you take for granted.

I want the toys on the shelf, I need to go to the bathroom, oh I've dropped my fork again.
I am dependent on you in these ways.

My gift to you is to make you more aware of your great fortune, your healthy back and legs, your ability to do for yourself.
Sometimes people appear not to notice me; I always notice them.

I feel not so much envy as desire, desire to stand upright, to put one foot in front of the other, to be independent.
I give you awareness.

I am the child who cannot walk.
I am the child who is mentally impaired.

I don't learn easily, if you judge me by the world's measuring stick, what I do know is infinite joy in simple things.
I am not burdened as you are with the strife's and conflicts of a more complicated life. My gift to you is to grant you the freedom to enjoy things as a child, to teach you how much your arms around me mean, to give you love.
I give you the gift of simplicity.

I am the child who is mentally impaired.
I am the disabled child.
I am your teacher.

If you allow me, I will teach you what is really important in life.
I will give you and teach you unconditional love.
I gift you with my innocent trust, my dependency upon you.

I teach you about how precious this life is and about not taking things for granted.
I teach you about forgetting your own needs and desires and dreams.
I teach you giving.
Most of all I teach you hope and faith.
I am the disabled child.

Spanish Tapas

Our friend group has been holding a rotating "Gourmet Club" Dinner night, where each couple takes a turn to host a "theme night" and the other couples bring dishes related to the theme, pot-luck style...
Crystal and Marc hosted this month's dinner at their beautiful "new" house in Mount Royal, and chose a theme of Spanish Tapas... Enjoying the view off their beautiful deck

The girls chat (and nurse!) while the boys cook?--I could get used to this!

Crystal shows off their HUGE kitchen--perfect for dinner parties!

Our contribution was the traditional Spanish Omelette.

A great selection of dishes, including paella--yum!!

Flowers and Photos

We've been playing around with our new camera, and our only major subject matter this weekend was the flowers in our newly planted garden!...Here are a few of the shots that turned out okay...

Greyson explores OUTSIDE!!

Greyson has started exploring outside now that the weather is nice...He seems to love climbing trees, but as with most kitties, he's much better at climbing up the trees than climbing down...

May Long Weekend--"Shoulder Season" Part 3

Dave and I had another wonderful "Shoulder Season" weekend this year: great weather on Saturday gave us a chance to do some yardwork and work on our gardens (although now that it's cooled down at night again, we may have lost a few of those newly planted annuals!). The great weather continued on Sunday, for a hike up "Chinaman's Peak" to get a great clear view over Canmore. We met up with Shandra and Dave and headed to Tunnel Mountain in Banff to camp overnight. Monday was a cooler and rainy/snowy day, but perfect for "Slush Cup" at Sunshine village--the last ski of the season.
Looking forward to another great summer filled with fun visits and travel--we are off to Ontario again in the end of July for a 2 week visit with friends and family.


At the top of the mountain, enjoying the view...
Scrambling down the scree...

Dave and Shandra at Tunnel Mountain

Car Camping...

Last ski day of the season: above the clouds with Brian and Kris, Shandra and Dave

Slush Cup at Sunshine Village

Mike and Mel

Just wanted to send a "shout out" to the Wrigglesworths in Libya: Mike is a friend of Dave's from back in Guelph days, who moved to Calgary years before we did. When we first moved to Calgary almost 3 years ago (!!), Mike and Mel were our first connection to the city, and staying with them for our first few weeks led to a fast friendship as Mel showed me around the city and made me feel more at home in this strange new place!!

Sadly for us, but great news for them, the Wrigglesworths had an amazing opportunity to live and work abroad in Libya starting in the fall of 2006. Since that time, we have kept up with them through their blog, and have been able to live vicariously through their many adventures into travel, exploring cultures, and raising 2 children at "ex-Pats".

If you have not yet checked Mike and Mel's blog, you should definitely take a few moments to explore. Their recent adventures are in South Africa, and the pictures from their trip (as always!) are amazing. Mike and especially Mel have been an inspiration to me in the way they have managed to raise their children as true "children of the world". While I don't know that I would be able to handle the trials and tribulations of daily life as a woman and mother in a mostly Muslim part of the world, I have so much respect for the relaxed and laid-back way that Mel has been able to take this all in stride.

I hope that if/when we have children of our own, we can take a few pages out of Mike and Mel's book in terms of keeping up an active lifestyle that includes travel and exploring the world and other cultures. I'm sure it's not an easy task, but I appreciate that Mike and Mel have made this a priority, and are raising their kids to be flexible and well-seasoned travellers: Lucy probably has more countries stamped in her passport as a 3-year-old than most of us ever will!!

Congratulations guys on your many adventures: we look forward to every time you make it back to Canada to share a small piece of those adventures with us!

http://thewrigs.blogspot.com/

The SHarmans tie the knot in Mexico...

(I'm finally getting around to posting from last week's trip: our personal PC is currently being re-imaged, after shutting down when we added almost 1000 photos from the wedding week...I'll have to use thumbnails for now...)

Well, after flight changes, tour company bankruptcies, and world pandemic flu outbreaks, Dave and Shandra Harman have beat the odds and tied the knot!! :)

In all seriousness, despite a few minor hiccups, we all made it down to Cancun to help Dave and Shan celebrate an amazing week of fun, family and friendship. The resort was lovely, the company was incredible, and everyone got lots of sun and sand! The only downfall was that we had to come back, and now it feels like we never left! Here are some memories to tide you over until our working computer is working again...



The view from our window/balcony

My favourite spot--the beach!

Friday we did a boat/snorkelling trip with the whole crew from the wedding--a great way to finish our trip!

Oh yeah: and Dave did some deep sea fishing--where he was one of the few not to get seasick, and to actually catch a fish!!

Bathing beauty...

Shan and Dave's beautiful ceremony on the beach!

Congratulations Dave and Shandra, and thanks for an amazing week!