Confession:

I ate a chocolate bar yesterday. So sue me.

Love Actually is...all around us.

They do say that death usually happens in 3's...and this past month or so, there have been 3 people who've been a part of my life and my family's lives who have died. People from my old church, who became like family to us when we didn't have our 'own' family around us. Today was the funeral of a man who has been so loved by our family, and so many others for so many years. Ralph. Him and his wife have had the sweetest marriage, and he has left behind an enormous family and collection of friends, as witnessed by such a huge gathering of people saying their good-bye's to this kind, dear man. Its always sad when someone leaves this world, even though I know he's in a world so much greater now, where he isn't suffering the effects of sickness and pain on a weary body...All the pictures we saw yesterday of him and his wife of 60+ years, holding hands, kissing, arms around each other...is an inspiration and reminder of the fact that there ARE still good and happy marriages, full of love and devotion to one another. Its easy to get discouraged these days, when there is so much pain and chaos in the world around us, broken marriages and families, sickness and disease, disasters, financial crisis...and while valid causes for discouragement, I can't help but be reminded that LOVE ACTUALLy is...all around us. Remember the opening scene from the movie Love Actually? Watch this. Never mind the Spanish subtitles. But, I think of this scene often when I hear about all the sad, terrible things happening, and am reminded that Love Actually is...all around us.

A good weekend

I love the weekends. And this weekend, Jay had 3 days home (poor fella had a tooth pulled on Friday, and took the day off. he's doing okay, though, don't feel toooo bad for him!!). I got to go out for supper with some girls for a friend's birthday (which was nice, but...seriously, celebrating with people all the time gets...expensive. nice, but. expensive.) anyways...I had some sweet potato fries, and seriously - I think they are my absolute favorite thing to order from a restaurant. My favorites I've had came with a curry mayo - I don't think those ones can be beat! And we shopped a bit on Saturday, then had friends over for supper and played some games, and today I visited Amanda, and then spent some time with my siblings tonight. Well, half of them, anyways. I like having the tradition of Sunday night hanging out with my siblings. Its nice to live near them all again.

And, I think the time change has made me feel like Spring is really right around the corner. I LOVE how much snow has melted. I only wish I had taken a picture of my ridiculous driveway at its worst. I'm thankful that the worst of the snow is done for the winter. I think. Anyways. Jonah seems to be fine with the time change. He's a good little fella. I love the freshness in the air - and the fact that I didn't wear a coat today - and had the windows down on my drive to Amanda's!! I love love love the Spring. Which, to be honest, doesn't REALLY exist in PEI, but...there is a little bit of a change between winter and summer...and...it makes me hopeful. That things will come alive again - the grass will become green again - and things will grow, and this beautiful little Island will become beautiful again.

just a few rambles so Amanda has something to read when she goes in to work tomorrow. :)

brownies

Well, after not baking anything sweet and yummy for over 2 weeks now, I figured it was time. Little Jonah is asking for "cookies" or "muttins" (muffins) every single day, and the poor little fella has almost believed us when we tell him his yogurt and apple sauce is a 'treat'...he will, for sure, be asking "what smell like?" when I get him from his nap today. Because...I have a yummy little treat of "Sea Salt Brownies" baking in the oven right now. Sounds good, right? I saw them on a blog I read and you can find the recipe here if you feel so inclined. I never said I wasn't going to eat any dessert...just limiting it to one a day. Lucky for me, this only makes a small pan. I'll be finding someone to share a few with, don't worry.

Just thinkin' about:

::how badly I need to get in shape. I did a little excercise this morning, and am fee.ling.it. oh my.

::the fact that I saw some green patches of GRASS - that's right!! -- GRASS -- in my back yard today. That makes me happy. I cannot wait 'til spring. and to get our driveway and yard back. poor little Jonah has barely played in our back yard 'cause I feel quite certain he would get buried. As would I. And I'm not interested in either of those things happening.

::how we are going to see Steven Curtis Chapman in Moncton in 2 weeks -- I'm sooo excited!! Of all the Christian musicians I've wanted to see in concert, he and Michael W. Smith have always been at the top of the list. So, we're super pumped. I love that guy.

::carbs. I love them. But I am trying to be more careful about the junk I put in my body. I seriously need to get my act together here...

::how sad I am that my friggin' stereo broke and I cannot listen to my music at decibals I really want to. But, happy my little bro is lending us some mediocre speakers to use until we strike it rich and buy some proper ones.

::laundry. I can't help it - the scent of Downy and Tide and bleach are wafting in here as I type. And I love it.

::blogging. I'm not sure why I blog, exactly. since I write mostly for myself - you know, so I can look back on exciting entries like this one, and remember what was going on in my life. ahem. But, really - I am only semi-transparent on here, so why do I bother? i don't know. Except that sometimes I just have to write. And I'm a much faster at typing than I am at hand-writing. I seem to be able to have a journal for a few years now, as opposed to back in highschool and college when I went through them probably every month or so. I guess that's good, though...

::How I need to clean my floors. and wash my dishes. and think of something I can possibly make for supper with my near-empty cupboards and fridge...and how I wish I had unlimited resources and could always cook whatever I wanted instead of trying to be creative with what I have. I do love to cook. And goodness knows I love to eat. Today, however. I'm not even excited about supper. Hoping grocery shopping will be on the agenda for tomorrow. Providing I have the car. Why on earth am I still writing?

Bye.

i miss my coffee

Soo...I had the flu a couple weeks ago. Odd, seeing as I've had it probably twice in 10 years. I mean, I had the FLU!! Chills, sweats, vomiting, aches like you wouldn't believe. It didn't last long, but...I have not felt great ever since. And some strange 'side effects' too, if you will. For example: coffee. I have not enjoyed one single cup of coffee in the last 2 weeks. I have LOVED coffee since I was in high school...and I keep trying to enjoy it again, but...just have not been able to. Very sad. BUT -- considering I am trying to get healthier, perhaps its a blessing in disguise, considering the amount of sugar and cream (18% ONLY!) I add to it. I have been drinking green tea lately. I know!!!! Something WEIRD has been going on in my body, that's for sure!! I am still not feeling very good -- an awful cold, so I have myself convinced drinking tea with honey is going to help - but, really, I think I need a 'replacement' for coffee...I made myself a cup of coffee this morning, and only finished 1/3 of the cup - and am now drinking myself some Earl Grey...what has happened to me?!?! (and for those of you who think I'm pregnant...I assure you I am not.) more on that later, though. please pray for me about that, will you?

Anyways. I miss a good cup of coffee, and hope that someday soon I will find myself enjoying this delightful beverage again. Tea is really not comparable. But, it'll do. For now.

funerals

As far as funerals go...today's was definetely one of the nicest I've been to...a celebration of a lady who was so well loved, there were between 800 and 900 people who showed up to remember her at the visiting hours yesterday...and her oldest son's speech today brought such respect and love and emotion to the room, everyone was in tears, I'm sure. This family has been in my life for so long, and to be a part of their celebration and grieving today, just brought back so many memories, so much emotion from a time when life was just simpler...hanging out in my friend's basement, with his mother peeking her head in the room periodically to be sure we were all 'behaving' (which we always were!!), and family dinners, and just...being teenagers...I love that I have friends still to this day like this family of 4 boys, who lost their very well-loved mom today...and friends who have been in my life so long, they are like family to me. I am grateful to have had such a wonderful childhood and adulthood full of love and full of relationships that matter. I am blessed. And aware of the gift it is today to have my own mom, just minutes up the road, who was able to hug me and love me today...its a gift...I was reminded today, as I saw these 4 boys grieving for their mom, of how fortunate I am to have mine...

So...today, as I mourn for their loss, and count my own blessings...I say to you, as my pastor said to us today: TELL the ones you love how much you love them, what an impact they've had on your life...you do not know how many more times you will have that privelege.