Happy Birthday Dad

A very happy birthday to the coolest guy ever!

Shooting Star

Dear Grandma,

It'll be a year at dinner time that you left us. I can't say that 365 days has made me ok with that fact. I'm not sure what the interaction is like between earthly and heavenly realms, or even if there is any. I will not be surprised to find out that it is something we do down here to comfort ourselves. But I'm gonna pretend that one of the fun things to do in heaven is read blogs.

We had to go through many firsts this year - first non-wedding anniversary, non-birthday, Christmas, birthdays, Mother's day, Thanksgiving, Easter, births, etc. These things go on without you, but they don't look the same.

I still miss you quite a bit. I miss calling you after epic baseball games. I miss calling you when God moves in my life. I miss giving you hugs and receiving them. I miss writing you letters. I miss getting letters from you in the mail. I miss all the ways you loved my parents and how I benefited from that. I miss your laugh. I miss the fact that you rarely said good-bye at the end of a phone call. I miss sitting with my laptop and showing you pictures and trying to stop you from poking my screen with your jagged old lady fingernails. I miss teasing you about the constant poor performances of the Blue Jays. I miss having you agree with me that John can get into the craziest situations. I miss that you loved the things in my life, despite the fact that they were less exciting than John's. Mostly I miss you.

You probably know that Grandpa is doing well. But he tells us regularly that there is not a day that goes by where he does not miss you with his whole heart. I can only know pieces of what that feels like 'cause I only knew you for 27 years. He has known you and your beauty since you were both in grade school.

I want to tell you that all the love you gave me, the faith you had in me, and the faith you taught me are still living on. Grandma you were not just a drop in bucket. You were a beautiful wave in the ocean - one that is still rippling on.

I love you,

Laura

Milestone

30 years ago today these two cats were married.



Congratulations Mom and Dad on reaching such a cool milestone.
I love you both.

Happy Birthday Poppa B-Ruce

Bruce Stewart, a man worthy of portraiture. Happy Birthday Dad, I love you.

That's A Load Off

A Milestone

This guy turns 25 today.

In case you're new around here, that's my little brother up there. Little brothers should not turn 25. Don't get me wrong, I'm totally enjoying the maturity (sisters, there is hope!), but still, little brothers should not turn 25.

I would like to point out that this particular little brother is a foreman (yup, he got 2 promotions this year) at the 2010 Olympic Bobsled/Luge/Skeleton track in Whistler, BC. Aside from that, he's a pretty good kid who calls his sister pretty regularly and has learned to ride (a snowboard) like he was born to it.

Happy Birthday Johnny, I love you.

(also, a very happy birthday to the L.Bo - Les, your commitment to fighting the results of sin is a constant conviction and encouragement to me, keep fighting the good fight!)

Not Quite

Today would have been Grandma Stewart's 89th birthday.

I miss you Grandma, I miss you a lot.

For Halloween Week

I took this picture of Leah



She took this picture of me.

Logan & Leah

Leah...



...has a little brother.

Logan Hunter born Thursday, October 16. 8lbs, 2oz.

Maybe I really love these kids.

Vote, Vote, Vote...

...unless you are a felon, 'cause felons can't vote.

I watch this every election day.

Also, ever since I became a laptop owner I spend my election nights with television coverage on and my laptop on my lap, checking the ridings of family, friends and roommates. I make a nice drink and I make popcorn and other snacks. Ohhh, its a good time.

Me = nerd.

Schwesterlein

Alles Gute zum zwanzigster Geburtstag mein Schwesterlein

Eg elska tig

Are You Speaking My Language?

The subject of love languages came on my radar around 10 years ago, shortly after the time I became a Christian. I had not(and still haven't) read Gary Chapman's book(s), The Five Love Languages. Since the understanding of the concept of love languages came into my existence I have often used it a much more specific way than I have been told Chapman does. I guess I kind of create some sub categories. For instance, I would say that one of my Mother's love languages is food - she loves with the food she makes. I would say that one of mine is punching - I love with the punches I give to your face. That kind of thing.

It wasn't until church this morning that I actually got to hear what Chapman's 5 languages actually are (imagine my shock and awe when punching and food where not on the list!). They actually really resonated with me both as things that for the most part I think I successfully do, but also as things I very much crave in relationship. As a part of a sermon encouraging us to speak out our faith we were encouraged to listen, watch and learn what other people's love languages are (in A.Z. language - felt needs) and speak them (real deeds).

Chapman's languages are:

1. Words of affirmation - aka encouragement
2. Quality time - aka spending time with someone and making them the focus of that time
3. Gifts - the giving, the recieving, the treasuring
4. Acts of service - allieviating the burdens, meeting the needs
5. Physical touch - we need this to survive and grow

I was really encouraged to hear these 'cause well, I think they are something I do pretty well. Relationships are something that for the most part I do well (I will admit to having made abominations of some relationships). Obviously there is more I can be looking for, more language to learn and to speak.

So as you're going through your life - take some time to think about those who are surrounding you; coworkers; family; friends; neighbours; housemates; community and see if you can listen for those languages. If you can't hear them, pray and ask that you would. It can't hurt to have a little more love in the world.

We Are Related (Can You Tell?)

The oldest, middle and youngest granddaughters - Beth, Katherine and Laura

Trippy.

Close

Today would have been Grandma and Grandpa's 69th wedding anniversary.

A Moment From Yesterday

The funeral was yesterday and rather than 1 person delivering the eulogy we opted to have sort of an open mic of memories and stories. At one point my cousin Drew, who is a member of the band Jazzberry Ram came up to share a short story. He reminded us that the band played a lot of university and college gigs and the best time to get those gigs was in September and January. When they crossed the country they would always stop in Brighton and stay with Grandma and Grandpa on their way out east or back to the west.

One September, Drew was watching tv with Grandpa. Grandpa doesn't see all that well and sits very close to a large tv in order to get anything from it. They had the news on and a plane had flown into the World Trade Center. And then while they were watching, the other plane hit. Grandpa heard the noise but couldn't make out what had happened and asked "What was that?" Drew replied, "well Grandpa, another plane just flew into the building." The two men were sitting there trying to comprehend what had just happened when Grandma stepped up to them and said, "turn that off, its time for breakfast."

Drew said that Grandma's way of dealing with terrorism in a post 9/11 context was to have a big breakfast.

The Process

Hi.

This is the first big family death for me. I reached 27 years of age with 4 grandparents. That's pretty stellar. But of all the grandparents to go first, it just had to be Grandma Stewart? She was my second mother. This is hard.

Family have been trickling into town in the same manor that baked goods and casseroles have. (I should really chart that) I picked John up from the airport last night. It feels right that the 4 of us are here now. The rest of our family from British Colombia will be here by Friday night. We have found places for them all to stay.

I think my Dad is in shock - he told my Mom to buy new mattresses for the beds that John and I have here. If you've ever slept in the cocoon - it will be no more. My back and my neck are ecstatic about this.

Yesterday was the meeting to decide everything about the funeral. If you're interested in coming its this Saturday at 11am at Carman United Church, just north of Brighton. There is lunch after. (just leave me a message if you want directions) It took almost 3 hours to get things figured out. There are so many details and I don't even realize half of them, I'm just a grandkid. I can only imagine what is swirling around the heads of my Dad and his 4 siblings.

And my Grandpa. I ache for him. Grandma was his worldview. She was his lens. I don't know how he will see. At 94 can you do a paradigm shift?

I am thankful for the support I have been getting personally - the emails, the facebook messages, the text messages, etc. I am really thankful for the group that is coming up to sing at the service. That just reads love. I will also be glad to see some friends, some faces that know me. As glad as I am to be around extended family, these peeps from the Hamilton area have spent more time with me and know how I operate. They are a part of my extended family too and I am so grateful to have their support, and in such a beautiful way.

You'll probably get some more disjointed paragraphs as times moves on.

Thank you.

Edna Elizabeth Stewart, November 20, 1919 - August 31, 2008

My Grandma Stewart died on Sunday night.



I really, really miss her.

One Car, Car For Sale...

No, its not mine. But it is my lovely cousin's. She is having another baby and this car is a 2 door, which is not so conducive to being easy with kids. Its a great car, I've driven in it many times. Actually if you must know, its kind of a sleek, sexy car. And my cousin, being more anal retentive than I, takes very good care of her stuff. So the car has my endorsement. It's currently located in the Belleville area.

2000 Honda Civic SE, 2 doors, 5-speed, black, air conditioning, cruise, keyless entry, comes with 4 winter tires on rims, dealer maintained, no rust, one owner, $6800.00 613-477-2722

Maybe

Maybe my parents surprised me today - maybe this morning they asked me if I might want to drive with John to Whistler and then fly back in time for grad on the 24. Maybe I said, "well, I don't know, me and my lack of job are pretty dang busy, but I guess I can fit it in."

We leave Wednesday morning.

Expect as many updates as I can manage.

Maybe Dad is sending his camera with us.

We are kicking off this voyage with a time of fellowship and Brassie Nachos, Tuesday May 13, 2008, 6:30pm. You are invited. But if you're gonna come, lemme know via email or the comment section so I can warn the Brassie staff.

The World Feels A Lot More Like It Should