Grateful Heart and Helping Hands

Christmas Blessings from the Calhouns Changes . This year has been full of them! We have a busy household, but on a different level, it is quieter than ever. Times of reflection, of celebration, of retrospection and surrender have all had a part in these changes. Our nest is very nearly empty and our children are adults. We have had some awesome changes here ! Celebration- Andy finished his Masters in Education, Multi-disciplinary Leadership this year. Having put it on hold while Judi has a fight with cancer, he put his best effort into its completion and did so with flying colours. He would love a principalship somewhere, but while he looks for that, he has trained as a Peer Support worker with the teachers’ union. This seems to be a good fit, something he is a natural in. Judi has celebrated more than a year clear of cancer and is still on the pathway of gratitude for the blessing of Life! She has certified as a Doula this year and also as a Lamaze Childbirt...

Someone said recently that the weather outside is frightful. It certainly has calmed down today, but it had a tantrum last night. The power flickered a couple of times, threatening us with the possibility of no water or heat to start our Christmas break. But today, it is beautiful out there! My sweet man has just come in from over 3 hours of shovelling, ready for a hot bath. While he was outside, he took a few pictures for this posting. Mr Moose is shrouded in a white 'fur' cape! The world is decorated in white for a stark contrast on this grey day. It is stunning! Makes me much more ready for this bleak midwinter time! Sitting writing the (late) Christmas cards and final preparations on the parcel that is far overdue for sending. I have a Christmas letter ready, but it may arrive as a New Years' letter to some. I am listening to carols and planning dinner, thinking of finishing touches on presents and reflecting on the last couple of days with my precious grandson...

December 2008 began as a cold month. Snow lay on the ground and the temperatures were dragging down between -10 and -15C. Lights were beginning to emerge on houses and decorations were making their way slowly. It became obvious that baby would be coming soon. A nagging, restless feeling accompanied with some backache provided some positive examples of what was to come. Waking in the early hours of December 10, the mom practiced relaxing. Long baths, relaxation breathing and position changes all helped, but it soon became apparent she was truly in labour. She called about 10 AM, letting me know the contractions were getting more regular but were still about 10-15 minutes apart. After a visit to her at home, I finished up loose ends in preparation for supporting her. Her doctors’ appointment was at 3 PM, so we drove in to Smithers leaving at 2. Her contractions were closer together and intensifying. The doctor measured her at 4-5 cm and suggested she rest in anticipation of a long n...

Passing on traditions, creating new ones, deciding which ones will actually move down through the generations. Christmas provides opportunities for memories to be made and traditions to linger. With a grandson, we have opportunities to enjoy this Advent, this waiting. We can prepare our hearts and remind ourselves of the importance of the story, the importance on family, of friends. Years ago, when my own were young, I made this quilted Advent calendar. Now it is fun to fill the pockets with treats and goodies, counting down the days. My grandson has been enjoying the creche, where we have told the story so far of Mary being told by the angel that she will bear a son. Then we talked about Joseph being visited by an angel too. Our angel is in the basket that holds Mary, Joseph and the waiting manger. We have angels hanging way above the scene as well and look for them each time we talk abut what is happening. A sheep has been added to our basket-barn because we have no shepherds with o...

Last posting, many commented. Thank you for your kind words! This discipline of positive, of gratitude, is being tested. I had my heart set on something, made a great proposal and gave it my all. Shot down. Completely. Not even part way, half way, it was all or nothing. I am finding this is taking a big toll on me! My psyche is suffering! My sadness is lingering too long and I find myself wondering if I am wallowing in self-pity? For me, that is an unusual state. Depression is nearly unknown and, though I feel angry at injustice, I rarely feel sad. But yesterday and today, I feel sad! Like I said to my man last night, perhaps I should find an Extreme Makeover Home Edition show on TV so I can have a good cry!! Today, the feeling is lingering. It affected the music for me at church and I was really glad for communion today! Fellowship, encouragement and coming to the end of my self. I need more of that! Today's message was on how we keep our buckets of peace and happiness filled. Bo...

New post! Yes, it has been 12 days since my last one. Or, as my man mentioned, I should give all his money back. OK, money back? But, point taken, here I am. Tomorrow it is December. We have snow-lots of it-- and the world has an ethereal quality, where the skeleton trees have a generous coating of soft whiteness, bulking the bare branches with a downy layer for winter. The roads are atrocious, our driveway nearly impassable. But we drive for the weather and are used to taking a run at our slippery uphill all the way driveway. December is also a month of memories. Good ones, such as a wedding that took place in 1983. That makes it 28 years! Other notable ones would be the birthdays of some important people- my son and my grandson. I have a couple nieces and a nephew in there, too, along with friends' children, friends' anniversaries, wonderful things like that. Traditions that are built and lived out, passed from one generation to another, around Christmas, Advent, music, Chr...

Today I will take you on a photo journey. Yesterday dawned a beautiful day and it became apparent I would fly out. I took a walk down the island and took pictures as a reminder of my beautiful adventure. Enjoy your trip! Surrounded by other small islands, this one is unusual--there are no deer! There are, instead, wolves, creating a natural predator for what is often a real pest on other islands. Anyone else see the irony here?? This is a great example of a nurse log--one laying its life down so many more can grow. Seems to me this is much of what my work is about-using others' stories, for better or worse, but definitely for the greater good! This church was so pretty in the morning light. It is one of the first buildings one sees past the beach, but I was not able to portray that because of the position of the sun. Dr Jane Smith says that education is like the salmon--it continues to feed the people and provide a livelihood. This is the school, where I provid...