To Whom It May Concern
Herewith I Officially Resign As An Adult. I Have Decided To Take On The Responsibilities Of An Eight Year Old Again. I Want To Go To Mcdonald's And Think It's A Four Star Restaurant. I Want To Sail Stick Boats On A Muddy Puddle After The Rain. I Want To Play Touch.
I Want To Go Back To A Time When Smarties Were More Valuable Than Money Because You Could Eat Them. I Want To Lie Under A Huge Shady Tree With My Mates On A Hot Summer Day And Dream While Chewing On A Blade Of Grass.
I Want To Return To A Time When Life Was Simple And Knowledge Was Limited To Colours, Multiplication Tables And Old Mac Donald Had A Farm. It Didn't Matter That There Were Things You Didn't Know. So What! All You Knew Was How To Be Happy Because You Were Blissfully Unaware Of Things That Would Upset You Or Get You Worrying - Like Zits.
I Want To Believe Again That Life Is Good And Fair And Everyone Is Honest And Genuine. I Want To Believe Anything Is Possible.
I Want To Live Simply Again, I Don't Want To Have To Deal With Computer Crashes, Mountains Of Paperwork, Depressing News, More Days In The Month Than The Total In My Bank Account, Doctors' Bills, Gossip, Illness And The Loss Of Loved Ones.
I Want To Believe Again In The Power Of A Smile, Hugs, A Friendly Word, The Truth As It Was In The Beginning. Justice, Peace, Dreams, Imagination, People Without Their Masks And Questionable Motives. I Want To Bake Mudcakes.
So Here Are My "chequebook", My Car Keys, My Credit Cards And Everything Else That Represents "grown-up". Herewith I Officially Resign From Adulthood. If You'd Like To Discuss This Issue Or Whatever Else, You'll Have To Chase Me Because ..........."touch! You Ca-a-a-n't Catch Me!"
Love this...thanks for sharing Natasha!
Wednesday, September 26, 2007
Friday, September 21, 2007
feeling fall...
It is without a doubt my favourite time of year. The sun still shines, but I can dress warm & cozy - what could be better! Oh - and the colours are stunning, and the sun isn't as harsh as far as photography goes! Took the boys out for the annual fall photos today (yes - they were more than thrilled!). I'm pretty happy with the outcome...I feel a canvas coming on!
Monday, September 17, 2007
some of Griff...
Griff and I spent a few minutes taking photos while on our biking trip - the colours were so pretty in the mountains! I love the one's of him holding the foliage - he thought he was being camoflauged!
our excellent adventure!
We spent the weekend with the Heryets doing some awesome mountain biking! All the boys had an amazing time - altho we're all a little sore today. What a fabulous way to spend the weekend, hanging out with family and great friends. I'll let the happy smiles tell the story!
Wednesday, September 12, 2007
I'm Invisible...
A photographer friend shared this on one of the sites I visit - and it just totally speaks to me, and I'm sure to many of you...
I'm invisible.
It all began to make sense, the blank stares, the lack of response, the way one of the kids will walk into the room while I'm on the phone and ask to be taken to the store. Inside I'm thinking, "Can't you see I'm on the phone?"
Obviously not. No one can see if I'm on the phone, or cooking, or sweeping the floor, or even standing on my head in the corner, because no one can see me at all. I'm invisible.
Some days I am only a pair of hands, nothing more: Can you fix this? Can you tie this? Can you open this? Some days I'm not a pair of hands; I'm not even a human being. I'm a clock to ask, "What time is it?" I'm a satellite
guide to answer, "What number is the Disney Channel?" I'm a car to order, "Right around 5:30, please."
I was certain that these were t he hands that once held books and the eyes that studied history and the mind that graduated summa cum laude - but now they had disappeared into the peanut butter, never to be seen again. She's going she's going . . . she's gone!
One night, a group of us were having dinner, celebrating the return of a friend from England. Janice had just gotten back from a fabulous trip, and she was going on and on about the hotel she stayed in. I was sitting there,
looking around at the others all put together so well. It was hard not to compare and feel sorry for myself as I looked down at my out-of-style dress; it was the only thing I could find that was clean. My unwashed hair was pulled up in a banana clip and I was afraid I could actually smell peanut butter in it. I was feeling pretty pathetic, when Janice turned to me with a beautifully wrapped package, and said, "I brought you this."
It was a book on the great cathedrals of Europe. I wasn't exactly sure why she'd given it to me until I read her inscription: "To Charlotte, with admiration for the greatness of what you are building when no one sees."
In the days ahead I would read - no, devour - the book. And I would discover what would become for me, four life-changing truths, after which I could pattern my work: No one can say who built the great cathedrals - we have no record of their names. These builders gave their whole lives for a work they would never see finished. They made great sacrifices and expected no credit. The passion of their building was fueled by their faith that the eyes of God saw everything.
A legendary story in the book told of a rich man who came to visit the cathedral while it was being built, and he saw a workman carving a tiny bird; on the inside of a beam. He was puzzled and asked the man, "Why are you spending so much time carving that bird into a beam that will be covered by the roof? No one will ever see it."
And the workman replied, "Because God sees."
I closed the book, feeling the missing piece fall into place. It was almost as if I heard God whispering to me, "I see you, Charlotte. I see the sacrifices you make every day, even when no one around you does. No act of kindness you've done, no sequin you've sewn on, no cupcake you've baked, is too small for me to notice and smile over. You are building a great cathedral, but you can't see right now what it will become."
At times, my invisibility feels like an affliction. But it is not a disease that is erasing my life. It is the cure for the disease of my own self-centeredness. It is the antidote to my strong, stubborn pride. I keep the right perspective when I see myself as a great builder.
As one of the people who show up at a job that they will never see finished, to work on something that their name will never be on. The writer of the book went so far as to say that no cathedrals could ever be built in our
lifetime because there are so few people willing to sacrifice to that degree.
When I really think about it, I don't want my son to tell the friend he's bringing home from college for Thanksgiving, "My mom gets up at 4 in the morning and bakes homemade pies, and then she hand bastes a turkey for three hours and presses all the linens for the table." That would mean I'd built a shrine or a monument to myself. I just want him to want to come home. And then, if there is anything more to say to his friend, to add, "You're gonna love it there."
As mothers, we are building great cathedrals. We cannot be seen if we're doing it right. And one day, it is very possible that the world will marvel, not only at what we have built, but at the beauty that has been added to the world by the sacrifices of invisible women.
Great Job, MOM
I'm invisible.
It all began to make sense, the blank stares, the lack of response, the way one of the kids will walk into the room while I'm on the phone and ask to be taken to the store. Inside I'm thinking, "Can't you see I'm on the phone?"
Obviously not. No one can see if I'm on the phone, or cooking, or sweeping the floor, or even standing on my head in the corner, because no one can see me at all. I'm invisible.
Some days I am only a pair of hands, nothing more: Can you fix this? Can you tie this? Can you open this? Some days I'm not a pair of hands; I'm not even a human being. I'm a clock to ask, "What time is it?" I'm a satellite
guide to answer, "What number is the Disney Channel?" I'm a car to order, "Right around 5:30, please."
I was certain that these were t he hands that once held books and the eyes that studied history and the mind that graduated summa cum laude - but now they had disappeared into the peanut butter, never to be seen again. She's going she's going . . . she's gone!
One night, a group of us were having dinner, celebrating the return of a friend from England. Janice had just gotten back from a fabulous trip, and she was going on and on about the hotel she stayed in. I was sitting there,
looking around at the others all put together so well. It was hard not to compare and feel sorry for myself as I looked down at my out-of-style dress; it was the only thing I could find that was clean. My unwashed hair was pulled up in a banana clip and I was afraid I could actually smell peanut butter in it. I was feeling pretty pathetic, when Janice turned to me with a beautifully wrapped package, and said, "I brought you this."
It was a book on the great cathedrals of Europe. I wasn't exactly sure why she'd given it to me until I read her inscription: "To Charlotte, with admiration for the greatness of what you are building when no one sees."
In the days ahead I would read - no, devour - the book. And I would discover what would become for me, four life-changing truths, after which I could pattern my work: No one can say who built the great cathedrals - we have no record of their names. These builders gave their whole lives for a work they would never see finished. They made great sacrifices and expected no credit. The passion of their building was fueled by their faith that the eyes of God saw everything.
A legendary story in the book told of a rich man who came to visit the cathedral while it was being built, and he saw a workman carving a tiny bird; on the inside of a beam. He was puzzled and asked the man, "Why are you spending so much time carving that bird into a beam that will be covered by the roof? No one will ever see it."
And the workman replied, "Because God sees."
I closed the book, feeling the missing piece fall into place. It was almost as if I heard God whispering to me, "I see you, Charlotte. I see the sacrifices you make every day, even when no one around you does. No act of kindness you've done, no sequin you've sewn on, no cupcake you've baked, is too small for me to notice and smile over. You are building a great cathedral, but you can't see right now what it will become."
At times, my invisibility feels like an affliction. But it is not a disease that is erasing my life. It is the cure for the disease of my own self-centeredness. It is the antidote to my strong, stubborn pride. I keep the right perspective when I see myself as a great builder.
As one of the people who show up at a job that they will never see finished, to work on something that their name will never be on. The writer of the book went so far as to say that no cathedrals could ever be built in our
lifetime because there are so few people willing to sacrifice to that degree.
When I really think about it, I don't want my son to tell the friend he's bringing home from college for Thanksgiving, "My mom gets up at 4 in the morning and bakes homemade pies, and then she hand bastes a turkey for three hours and presses all the linens for the table." That would mean I'd built a shrine or a monument to myself. I just want him to want to come home. And then, if there is anything more to say to his friend, to add, "You're gonna love it there."
As mothers, we are building great cathedrals. We cannot be seen if we're doing it right. And one day, it is very possible that the world will marvel, not only at what we have built, but at the beauty that has been added to the world by the sacrifices of invisible women.
Great Job, MOM
Wednesday, September 5, 2007
I've been tagged...
Okay - it's so lame, but I feel like I'm in the "in" group at school! My fellow photographer friend Jodi has tagged me, which means that I have to come here and share 8 things you may or may not know about me, and then tag 8 more blog friends. So, here I go!
1. When I was four, I broke my arm...two weeks after I got my cast off, I broke my femur & spent two months in traction in the hospital. The doctor's said if I broke one more bone, I had to be tested for a number of different diseases. I did break many more, but had some space in between, so no awful tests.
2. When I was five, I watched my mom plucking her eyebrows, so that night in bed...I pulled out ALL of my eyelashes..thank God they grew back.
3. I once dated a guy 17 years older than me - for three years! His oldest daughter was two years younger than I was. I got along great with his three girls, and it's a time I look back on fondly in my life!
4. I figure skated competitively for fourteen years of my life. I started shortly after breaking my leg, to strengthen it, and never really stopped. I also taught for a few years, but didn't enjoy it too much.
5. Met my husband Brian on a blind date, and we were married 13 months later.
6. My brother and I are birthday twins...both born on June 23rd...three years apart!
7. I've done two triathlons, and three half marathons. I'm starting a boot camp next week, which is new for me, but I'm looking forward to it.
8. If i eat popcorn (which I love Jodi...), I have to have m&m's or smarties with it. I like one piece of chocolate for every bite of popcorn...it's the best!
okay...who can I tag...
1. Rebecca...http://www.overexposed.typepad.com
2. Frederique...http://www.maplethree.typepad.com/
3. Julie B...http://www.juliecbutler.typepad.com/
4. Lauren...http://michymphotography.blogspot.com/
5. Meg...http://megcampbellback.typepad.com/
6. Susan R...http://susanrobichaud.blogspot.com/
7. Nicky...http://we-four-mallyons.blogspot.com/
8. Renee O...http://reneeoakenfull.typepad.com/
Go girls!
1. When I was four, I broke my arm...two weeks after I got my cast off, I broke my femur & spent two months in traction in the hospital. The doctor's said if I broke one more bone, I had to be tested for a number of different diseases. I did break many more, but had some space in between, so no awful tests.
2. When I was five, I watched my mom plucking her eyebrows, so that night in bed...I pulled out ALL of my eyelashes..thank God they grew back.
3. I once dated a guy 17 years older than me - for three years! His oldest daughter was two years younger than I was. I got along great with his three girls, and it's a time I look back on fondly in my life!
4. I figure skated competitively for fourteen years of my life. I started shortly after breaking my leg, to strengthen it, and never really stopped. I also taught for a few years, but didn't enjoy it too much.
5. Met my husband Brian on a blind date, and we were married 13 months later.
6. My brother and I are birthday twins...both born on June 23rd...three years apart!
7. I've done two triathlons, and three half marathons. I'm starting a boot camp next week, which is new for me, but I'm looking forward to it.
8. If i eat popcorn (which I love Jodi...), I have to have m&m's or smarties with it. I like one piece of chocolate for every bite of popcorn...it's the best!
okay...who can I tag...
1. Rebecca...http://www.overexposed.typepad.com
2. Frederique...http://www.maplethree.typepad.com/
3. Julie B...http://www.juliecbutler.typepad.com/
4. Lauren...http://michymphotography.blogspot.com/
5. Meg...http://megcampbellback.typepad.com/
6. Susan R...http://susanrobichaud.blogspot.com/
7. Nicky...http://we-four-mallyons.blogspot.com/
8. Renee O...http://reneeoakenfull.typepad.com/
Go girls!
Tuesday, September 4, 2007
sniffle...sniffle...
For the first time in eleven years - I don't have a child home with me during the day. The boys are all in school full-time now. You think you'd look forward to this day - but for me, it totally means the end of a complete phase of my life - a phase that I enjoyed more than words can ever describe.
Griff was excited to be joining his brothers full time this year, so I guess I have to be excited for him. Just wish I could stop time...just for a little longer.
Sunday, September 2, 2007
Time Flies...
Where does the time go? How is it, that I have an eleven year old son? It seems like just yesterday, he was my baby (which he still is - just bigger?). We had a great birthday weekend...last night spent the evening out at the cabin having a family birthday party with the Neufeld's and the Goodall's. Today Parker and three friends, as well as two dad's did a crazy downhill mountain bike ride, and then are spending the night at the cabin. Happy Birthday Parker...love mom.
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