Remembering

In every person's life, they have the opportunity to witness miracles. The only challenge is in seeing the miracles for what they are. Often we dismiss the small ones and move on, or find an excuse to make the miracle seem more palatable to our lives. For many of us, God plays a peripheral role. We don't want to let Him (or Her) too close or give Him too much power in our daily existence. It is almost out of a fear that if we admit to our belief, we will be giving up some measure of control over our own lives. We are all a bit control-freakish, but I will get to that later.

I am writing to bear witness to a miracle. I have been fortunate in my life to have witnessed many miracles. My life has been touched several times by difficulties in ways that I wish it hadn't, but it gave me the opportunity to be this great witness. The miracle that I witnessed most recently is the miracle of unconditional and devotional love between a husband and wife. My Bubby-in-law (if that is even a term) passed away this week. It has left a gaping hole in our family for many reasons. She was an exceptionally sweet and kind woman who loved her family and her husband above all else. It was her time. She lived a full and beautiful life. She had the opportunity to watch her grandchildren grow and become parents, and she was strong enough to enjoy the dividends of all that she had spent her life building. The sadness in this story is with the man she left behind. A man who loved her for more than 70 years. A man who looked at her every day, even after her death with the eyes of a new love. A man who saw the beauty of body and of spirit of the woman who stood behind him and made him strong. Together, they have been a blessing and an example to our family of what a husband and wife should truly be. Together, they are a miracle of what is possible between two people who don't forget why they fell in love in the first place, who don't forget to cherish each moment, and who's favourite place was always together.

Getting back to our control-freakish natures. We are so used to being ahead of the game, e-mails, work, phone calls, errands,... the list goes on. We often forget to stop and remember why we do it. I know that I'm as guilty as most of you are. I am always between work and carpool and supper and homework and bathtime - I very rarely stop to enjoy it. The yelling definitely doesn't help (the control-freak in me coming out).  Bubby never raised her voice. Bubby always sat down with her kids for supper (after working out of the house for the entire day). Bubby always had a smile that made you feel like you were the only person in the world. Bubby always had a kind word for everyone. Bubby didn't forget that this applied most especially to the man she shared her life with. We often take things for granted, especially those closest to us. We all need to be miracles for the people around us. We all need to show those around us what love really looks like.

Let's start with those closest to us.

I can do Anything!!!

Feeling super-proud of myself right now, as I nurse my sore hand. I spent the day discovering my inner Martha-ness and recovering my dining room chairs. It was a last-minute decision. Something that has needed doing for longer than I would like to think, and it only happened because I got so supremely disgusted by the chairs at a point this morning that allowed me to run to the fabric store before my next scheduled pick up/drop off/client meeting/work.

Here are the before and after shots:

Before

After