Memoir - Studies

I am in the process of studying Earth Environments, which is an introductory geography course.  I am loving it, but I suck at all the mathematical parts such as with mapping, so I failed my first lab exam. Ugh! 

Below are some pics that I took, referencing geographical environments:

Slope

Dunes

Lake

Rocky Coast

Clouds

Karst?

Memoir - Summer 2011, part 2

Langebaan

During our stay in Germany, we decided to take a quick trip to South Africa.  I haven't been back in 15 years, and I was excited to see what has changed.  It was fantastic.  I wish we could've gone for longer than 2 weeks.  We spent time on the westcoast with my sister, then stayed with one of my best friends for just over a week.

Table Mt.

In the southern hemisphere it is winter, but we still went to the beach ..... a lot!  Also, went to the aquarium, the foreshore, visited other family, the wine route (of course), and a bird sanctuary where an owl sat on our heads.  It was a fun trip!

Memoir - Summer 2011, part 1

I sooo wanted to go to Israel this summer, and planned it with my niece and sister.  But, my husband said he could get two free tickets to Frankfurt, close to where my eldest daughter and her family live.  So, off we went to Germany (we = myself and my youngest daughter Mel).  Germany is so different in the summer:  sunny, green, blue skies ... you get the drift.  Not in the least like it was when I visited in the winter. 

We went to little coffee shops, bakeries, a castle in Lundstahl,  and enjoyed time with my grandchildren.  We also went to the local wine farms and bought copious amounts of good sweet wines.  And, we could only take one bottle back.  Ugh!

Photo:  My grandson with his daddy on our trip to the wine country.

Hope and Inspiration = Hi

My Family - Summer 2009

Since having the seizures in 2008 and all that occurred since (see my post "I choose Life"), I have realized that I got through that time with hope for life and the future.  But, I have also been inspired by the stories of others.  Life isn't always easy ... sometimes, it's downright freaking hard.  Do I wish that I had never had a tumor in my brain?  Darned right, I do.  However, I cannot deny the things I have learned from that experience.  Yes, I found out that I'm a pretty courageous gal, but more than that, I surprised myself in how much hope I had with my situation.  This tumor was not your run-of-the-mill, ordinary tumor ... no, this is the second worst that one could have.  I have been inspired by so many people since, for instance, the Nielson couple who appeared on Glenn Beck's show, who received terrible burns from an airplane crash.  I felt the same about being able to feel the prayers and positive thoughts of the people who cared about me.  I cannot be more grateful to them, and to my Heavenly Father, for not forsaking me.  I have other problems in my life, but they are nothing compared to this experience of having a cancerous tumor.

I have always felt throughout my life, that I was one who did not make much of a difference to the world.  I felt that no-one was truly interested in what I had to say or do.  But, since overcoming my cancer, I don't really care anymore about "being heard".  Those who love me, do listen, and I believe God is in Heaven, and He does listen to my prayers.  My faith fluctuates, but my hope never dies, and while there are people and situations that inspire one to carry on regardless of the pain (whether literal or figurative), then life is good.

I think it was Martin Luther King Jr who said: "If you can't fly then run, if you can't run then walk, if you can't walk then crawl, but whatever you do you have to keep moving forward."   But, while we move steadfastly forward, we should take time to laugh, dance, pray in joy and gratitude, take time for friends and family, for your hobbies and interests. 

CANADA DAY

Canada celebrates it's 144th birthday on this July 1st.  Happy Canada Day to all Canadians.   We are so proud to be citizens (for 7 years now), after moving here 15 years ago.

Canada célèbre son 144e anniversaire sur ce 1er Juillet.Bonne fête du Canada à tous les Canadiens. Nous sommes tellement fiers d'être citoyens (depuis 7 ans maintenant), après avoir emménagé ici il ya 15 ans . (google translated)

News - Royal Visit to Canada

How exciting!  The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, better known as Will and Kate, have just arrived in Ottawa, starting their four month tour of Canada.  I remember watching their wedding all night with my daughter.  I thought it was a lovely ceremony ... not as grand as Di and Charles, but rather in keeping with the world as it is now, in my opinion.  They do make a lovely couple.

A fun "I" thingie

... that I borrowed from someone else's blog, who stole it from their friend's blog, and that's as far as it went.  Here it is:

I am - melancholy at the moment

I think - my grandchildren are so cute
I want - to continue learning
I have - great children, and live in a beautiful place
I wish - there was peace worldwide, but that is unlikely to happen
I hate - nothing, but I dislike lies and the decimation of the forests, and the earth's oceans, etc.

I miss - my grandchildren
I fear - I won't have enough time to get to know my grandchildren, and finish what I have started
I feel - hopeful and wondrous at the things I am still learning at this age.  Just amazing planet.
I hear - at this point, I hear the show "Big Bang Theory" at which my son is watching and laughing
I smell - my garden has the smell of spearmint and oregeno
I search - for inner inspiration
I wonder - what my mission on earth is
I regret - shouting at my children ... ever
I love - that my hair grew back after cancer ... and then some.  I also love the laughter of small children.
I always - find pennies in the weirdest places ... even had one fall on me in an empty movie theatre (pennies from heaven?)
I am not - skinny, I am cuddly
I dance - for joy when I am happy
I sing - alone
I don't always - wear make-up, in fact, just lipstick really
I write - on my blog and facebook, but now that it's summer, I am stumped with  writing my stories/poems
I lose - my memory of words sometimes ... thank goodness for thesaurus'
I never - break a promise ... so, it is rare that I make them ... hehehehe
I listen - to the birds in the morning before getting up
I can usually be found - sitting at my desk
I'm scared - of spiders
I read - just about anything, but I do favour sci-fi
I'm happy about - living in the "now"