on being home!

I was in Edmonton for 5 days with my mother and siblings. I had a good time. It was interesting to re-connect with them, and to get to know them all a little better. Certainly, I loved the time with my Mom too. I love my family, and am glad that we shared the experience.

I have to admit, I am glad to be at home. Last night, I was dropped off at a friends house. Inside were my husband and my closest - my BEST - friends. It is amazing. I cannot imagine life without them now. These people, who stumbled into my life, now hold such a special place in my heart.

I can't help but express how very much I love these people. I am sitting here trying to remember the exact moment that I realized that I had fallen head over heels, but I can't. There are so many types of love. Romantic, parental, friendly ect... and yet, the love that I feel for them, I cannot easily describe. It is just an incredible feeling of admiration, sharing, responsibility. It's a feeling of safety and satisfaction. Even that does not describe it. There is teasing, and laughing. Guilt and apologies, and hugs, I just love the hugs.

Perhaps, that is what family truly is. No, forget that "perhaps", it IS what family is. When I get butterflies walking into a room full of people that I haven't seen in just 5 days, and still need to hold in tears of joy in seeing them, it proves beyond a shadow of doubt, that these are the people I want to be with. Calling them friends seems to somehow cheapen it. They are all more than that. So much more.

I am blessed beyond measures. I have a man who loves me, my children are the apples of my eyes, and then I have this group of people, and you all know who you are, that will always, let me repeat, ALWAYS be a part of my heart, and hopefully my life. These are the people I want to grow old with.

Thank you all, for allowing me to feel such an incredibly powerful experience.
I'm so glad to be home!!!
I think I missed you :)

EYES WIDE SHUT

Good Morning all!

3:00am. Lying in bed, closing my eyes, thinking to myself, you have 2 more hours to sleep. Just close your eyes. I was forcing my eyes shut, and yet, they are so wide open. I am excited, and I just can't sleep.

In just a few short hours, I will be on a plane Headed to Edmonton to visit my sister Monique. Not only is that exciting, but I am also going with My Mom, Pierre, Nicole and Suzanne. Yep, my siblings. This is the very first time that we are taking a trip together. We grew up together, shared a house, and yet, we have never traveled together.

This is a very exciting time for me. For all of us really. It is also very frightening. LOL. Our family can be like a pack of lion. We hunt together, protected each other, and love one another fiercely. But throw us a bone, and there is the potential of a fight at any time. We are all nervous.

So, why am I so excited then? Well, it's the make or break, right? Call me optimistic, but I somehow hold the notion that this will bring us closer together. Yes, I have heard alot of negative from well, everyone but I can't help but think that we are going to get together, laugh, cry, and just enjoy one another as we are.

We are all very different. VERY different. Sometimes, it can seem that there is no way we are family. Yet, when you take away the hats that we wear, we are all very much the same. We have the same neurosis' , the same needs to be acknowledged.

My Mom, is amazing. And I fully intend to make sure that she has a blast. This trip, is for her. Ok, you are right. This trip is for us... The Quesnel clan. Perhaps this is the healing that we will all need. If not, well, I get along with everyone, so I'm still going to have a great time.

Edmonton, will never be the same again. ok got to go finsh packing- lol

They're the people that you meet each day

Have you ever wondered how amazing the human mind is? I am sitting here, looking at this blank page, and immediately what comes to mind is a song from Sesame Street.

Well, they're the people that you meet
When you're walking down the street
They're the people that you meet each day

http://www.songlyrics.com/song-lyrics/Sesame_Street/Miscellaneous/People_In_Your_Neighborhood/98341.html

Do you remember it? Or am I simply aging myself here!

We come across so many people in our daily lives. Each an every one of them has the incredible power to change our lives. Strangers can smile and brighten your day. Others, can bump into you, and cause you to go into a tirade about how society has lost it's social graces. Some can cause you to lose hope, while others can show you incredible courage, allowing you to find strength within yourself, that you never even knew you had.

So here is my question. How do you respond? In as much as we can be influenced by other peoples actions, it only stands to reason that WE have the same power of influence. Do you hold the door open for the business woman who just knocked the bag out of your hand. Do you smile at the woman who is trying to control her 2 year old's tantrum, or do you give her a disapproving look? Do you respond out of anger, when the guy in the sports car cuts you off? Give him the one finger salute? Or do you try to look at it from a different perspective. His wife just went into labor and he is rushing home, Her child has been sick for a week, and the woman needed a break.

Each and every day, I choose to respond. I can allow my emotions to control me. I can set up "rules" for what is right, and what is wrong, and then judge others by this ever flowing, constantly changing set of guidelines. The problem with that is.... Others have their own defined measuring stick as well. And thus, I am being judged the same way that I am judging others.

What do I do to make things a little better for the stranger in front of me? Can I make a difference? Absolutely. You see, how we respond towards others, give us an opportunity to speak into the lives of those around us. We have control over how impatient we are. Perhaps by telling the clerk who served you at the store, that he did a good job, will allow him to take pride in his work. This in turn, will influence how he responds to the next customer.

Of course, there is a catch. Living this way can be really hard. Let's face it, some people are asses. Plain and simple. There is no "justifying", they are asses. You want to tell them, or tell someone else. But perhaps, an act of kindness will change how they respond when they go home. Maybe he / she won't beat their kids tonight.

I do struggle with this philosophy. I struggle putting it into practice. I hear horror stories every day, and sometimes it can be really discouraging to find positive in anything at all. It is however, my RESPONSIBILITY to try and live it out. It is a choice I made when I decided to follow Jesus, to live by God's word. If I am worthy of Grace - which I am - then so are all of the people that we meet each day. Show them the Grace that you have so readily accepted for yourself. Perhaps it is exactly what they need today. I know it is what I need.

Remember folks " God didn't go to all the trouble of sending his Son merely to point an accusing finger, telling the world how bad it was. He came to help, to put the world right again." John 3:17 - The message.

Albert Einstein reduces boredom.

I have had a lot of time on my hands in the last 10 days. I have been sick, and in extreme pain. I have visited 1 clinic and been to the hospital twice now. Long story short the doctor's told me " we can tell you what you don't have". Very frustrating. They did however, determine that I have ovarian cysts and Fibroids in the uterus. Let me just say, ouch! Even on morphine, Ouch!

Anyways, as a result of this 10 days of pain, I have been unable to do anything other than sleep, watch TV, and surf the net. TV is extremely boring. How I was ever able to spend hours in front of it in the past is completely beyond me. I am now completely caught up on CSI Miami, and Family Guy. - lol

The other thing I have been doing is Stumbling online. It is incredible the amount of useless information that one can view. I have seen so many pictures, it is becoming difficult to determine which are real, and which are photo shopped. lol! Ok not really, but c'mon folks.

Every once in a while, I do find something that amuses me. I have always been a big fan of Albert Einstein. No, not the scientist, but the man himself. I'm not even sure why, other than his attitude in life. This was an incredibly intelligent and powerful man, and yet, he also seemed to have a love of life, and a childlike enthusiasm. He would pose for pictures, with his tongue sticking out. He was brilliant, and so real at the same time. I don't understand his scientific thoughts or theories. As a matter of fact, I don't even try. What I do enjoy about him, is his thoughts on life.

I found this, and thought that I would share it with you. It's 30 of his greatest quotes. Albert Einstein was not only a great scientist, but also a man who loved life....

http://www.2spare.com/item_92759.aspx

The Dutch

My husband is a Canadian, born and raised here. His parents, however are Dutch. I can remember the first time I went there. It was very exciting to meet his family, but I must admit that I was completely clueless. First, they are dairy Farmers.

I spent so much time trying to understand how it is more accurate to hand draw a new calf, rather than taking a polaroid. Apparently, a picture does not do it justice. My father in law spent about 10 minutes trying to explain, then gave up out of frustration, with an Arrrghhk to boot.

I was also amazed at the amount of laughter and joy that I saw within that home. Everyone would sit around the table, sharing a meal, and there was teasing, joking, and a genuine joy at the idea that everyone was together. All that and the sticky fly tape hanging over the Dinner table.

They pray before and after every meal. They even read Bible stories for the younger children to enjoy. It was such an alien concept to me. To this day, I still enjoy the fact that they pray as a family. Ohhh, and I can't forget kinipiches ( don't even know how to spell that one). They are these truly yummy cookies that my mother in law makes. I've eaten so many, and it is always a treat to get some to take home.

Saying that, I have to admit that I am still ignorant of the Dutch culture. I wish I had the opportunity to visit Holland and experience first hand the lifestyle. This morning I was Stumbling, and I came across this site that made me laugh. A woman is explaining the 10 things she learned while in Holland. Hope you enjoy it as much as I did:

http://dailycandor.com/10-things-you-probably-didnt-know-about-the-dutch

There are things that I have learned as well, including:
a sandwhich usually only uses one piece of Bread
My Father in law will belt out a tune as loud as he can, regardless of his singing ability.
My Mother in law will always be positive, no matter what the situation is.
My in-laws are always up for a practical joke.

Now, I don't know if that is because they are Dutch, but it doesn't matter either way, because they are awesome!

Absolutely Awesome!

I am encouraged today. People sent me jokes- lol! How great is it to know that even strangers will step up when someone is in need. Truly amazing.

Kinda makes you want to go and swing on swings, or jump in puddles doesn't it?

I can remember being a little girl, and I had this bathing suit that looked like Wonder Woman's costume. I would spin and spin just to watch the little skirt swirl about in the air. At that moment, I WAS Wonder Woman. I would feel so strong, powerful, with my golden Bracelets. I search for the Golden Rope of truth. The best part was doing all of this while it is raining outside. Ahhh, that was the life. such Freedom, happiness and for that moment, I was a hero.

Folks, your responses have made me feel like a little girl. I'm spinning, and at the moment I am part of a great super hero team!

WHAM, BAM, Wonder Woman..........

Holy crap, Am I depressing or what?
I just re-read some of my old posts. Someone get a gun and shoot me - lol!
Time to try and think positive again. What a process.....

tell me a joke or something.