Friends who feel like family.

Recently we've had some great times with old friends who were once like family and who frankly, still are.

Nine years ago, two families who were very close to us moved away at about the same time.  We were so sad, but everyone's lives move on and take their own course.

A couple weeks ago, one of those families moved back to our community.  We are ecstatic!  This is a family whose children spent so much time here, they felt like our own.  And it's their place where my kids spent so much time, it was like their second home.  It's the home where Blake learned what a clothes iron is.  It's the home where I knew my children were safe after school when I was working.   We moms worked opposite days of the week and our girls were the best of friends so it just made sense to swap daycare duties.  It was a great arrangement for many years.

The other family moved even further away.  Our eldest sons were best friends.  A year after they left, Derek went to South Carolina in the summer and spent 3 weeks with them.  He caught his first fish there, a flounder.

This fall, they returned for a visit.  They were settling their youngest in at SFU so this gave us a great opportunity to spend time together.  We wined and dined, fished and kayaked, and even went to an Eagles concert.  We had a great time catching up.  Alan took Derek fishing again and this time Derek caught his first salmon.  Likely his first of many as it seems he's caught the fishing bug.

Both of these families were like us when it came to the big holidays of the year.  They too, had no extended family living near to them.  So they were the "go to" families to spend Easter, Thanksgiving or Christmas with when no one had family coming to visit.  They were great times with great people and I have such fond memories of our times together.

I am so grateful to have had over a week to spend time and reacquaint with the Donald family from South Carolina and I look forward to going down to visit them someday, hopefully soon.  I also look forward to times ahead with the Newman family right here in Deep Cove now that they are no longer that long drive to Abbotsford away.

Friends are only friends until they feel like family........and then, after that, they are "special friends".

So thankful to have these special friends who feel like family.

Marvel

It is a rare occasion that I am up before my husband but today he is having a much needed sleep-in so I find myself the only one up, enjoying my morning coffee and catching up on my emails and the few blogs that I follow.  One message told me it was time for me to blog again.

Now blogging is not something you can force.  The mood has to strike you; something has to suddenly pop into your head that needs to be said.  Trying to force a blog would just cause a huge writer's block.

So, I thought "Hmmm, I have no idea what to blog about today; don't think it's gonna happen".

But then, I read my beautiful daughter's latest blog.  I guess she's been in the blogging mood a lot lately as she's had quite a few recent posts.  They are always such a delight to read.  Sometimes she goes months without blogging and I sadly log on to see that there is nothing new to read.

Today, I was not disappointed.  She had a new blog to entertain me on my lazy Sunday morning.  Today I marvel at this person who is my offspring.  Today, as all days, I am so proud of this person and although I helped raise her, I can't take any credit for some of this "amazingness" that is her.

I marvel at her insight and maturity at the tender age of 19.  It makes me wonder just how much more awesome she can become as she matures even more.  I marvel at her connectedness with nature and her appreciation for the great outdoors. I marvel at her independence and strength; her kindness and caring.  I marvel at her gift for writing.  She has the ability to string words together to sound like music for the soul.  I marvel that this person is my offspring.

Today I marvel at how just the act of giving birth can cause you so much pride.

Today I am a very proud Momma.  Luv you gurl!

Can't Believe It's One Year Down

Well, I haven't blogged for 8 months now.  Wow, time flies.  My last blog was all about the fact that Lisa was heading across the country to Halifax to go to University.  Well here it is 8 months later and she is officially finished her first year.  It's hard to believe.  She was only home for Christmas yet the time flew by.  Like all things, you adjust.

On the negative side, I miss having all three of my kids under my roof.  On the positive side, I don't miss cleaning up their messes or listening to their bickering.

Lisa is now home for a 1 week stay before heading off to her summer job, 9 hours away, at Fairmont Hot Springs.  It's not a long visit but it is better than nothing and we hope to travel there, once or twice this summer, to that beautiful location tucked away in the slopes of the magnificent BC Rockies.  I look forward to visiting her there and soaking in the hot pools of the place where I remember my one and only family summer vacation as a kid.  I remember camping there, playing with a little girl from the next campsite, and needing help from my big brother to climb up the hill to the pool.

We are also anxiously awaiting Derek's return from Singapore.  After studying there for 4 months, he continued on to do a one term Co-op job as well.  By the time he returns at the end of May, he will have been gone 10 months.  We can't wait to see him as the communication during these months has been quite scarce due to poor connections, time difference and let's be honest, his lack of desire. 

So, I can't believe it's "one year down" for Lisa's University career and I can't believe it's "almost" "one year down" since we've seen our eldest son and I can't believe it's "one year down" until our baby (sorry Blake) finishes his last year of Highschool and heads off for his adventure, whatever that may be.

Life goes on, kids grow up and parents adjust.  Can't complain; life is good.

Sad and Excited

Well, Lisa will be taking off for Halifax bright and early Sunday morning; off to start her adventure at Dalhousie University.  I am very happy for her; I suspect it will be some of the best times of her life.  New experiences, learning, exploring the other side of our country, meeting new people...........it all sounds so exciting. 

I've already adjusted to Derek being away; he's in 4th year now but none the less, it is sad to see your children leave the nest.  He is studying in Singapore right now and although we miss him, again my enthusiasm for this great adventure of his far outweighs that.  He is gaining invaluable life experiences, great business insight and unforgettable travel opportunities as well as meeting people from all over the world.  I couldn't be more thrilled for him.

So, yes, I am sad that very soon, not one but two of my children will be gone from the nest but my excitement for them is greater than my sadness to see them go.

Look out Blakey, there is going to be a lot of attention thrust upon you.

Love my kids,
Abby

Happy 10th/9th Anniversary to the Pressy Ladies

Last weekend marked the 10th year for my annual Pressy Lake trip with the ladies.  It started with a group of 4 women, all with children at Cove Cliff, who enjoyed hiking together while the kids were in school.  One of those hikers, Sheila, mentioned her cabin on Pressy Lake.  We boldly said, "Could you invite us up there with you some time?" And that was all it took------the invitation was offered, accepted and the trip planned before you could blink an eye.  Between the 4 of us we had 3 children in Grade 6, 1 in Grade 5, 3 in Grade 3, 3 in Grade 1, 1 in Kindergarten and 1 preschooler.  So, it is not hard to conclude why we desperately needed a weekend away, just us moms........no kids; no husbands!

Thus started the Annual Pressy Weekend.  Since Sheila teaches at Capilano University, we plan our weekend to be when her school year ends and she can get away, usually late April or early May.  By the second year, 2 more moms jumped on board so there have been 6 "Pressy Ladies", as we call ourselves, for the past 9 years.  These 2 both have girls who are my eldest son's age and 1 has another daughter 2 years older.......so, 15 offspring in all.  The 6 of us fill the beds in the cabin and max out the space in Sheila's big SUV that she drives us up there in.  It is the shortest 5 hour drive ever as we all catch up on eachother's lives, laugh, talk, nap, snack and read our way up there.

Pressy Lake is about 30 km from 70 Mile House in the beautiful Caribou country.  It is peaceful, scenic and wonderful.  We all take turns cooking meals and with everyone pitching in on dishes, it's a snap.  We enjoy laughing, hiking, canoeing, reading, knitting, laughing, talking, napping, laughing.......you get the picture.

What started as a retreat from our young needy families has grown to much valued time with dear friends.  Our kids are all older now, the demands at home are much less for most of us but this time away is still very cherished. Our friendships have been growing year after year and I hope to one day write about our 20th and maybe even 30th Anniversaries!

To the Pressy Ladies-------you are 5 of my dearest friends; Happy 10th/9th Anniversary!

20 Years of Fun, Friendship and Fitness

There is nothing so cohesive as a group of women with a common goal.  And for the ladies of the North Shore Thirty Something Women's Soccer League, that goal is fun, friendship and fitness.  I attended a banquet last weekend, celebrating this league's 20th Anniversary.  It was a thing to behold.  The founder, Linda Sullivan, was there and how proud she must be.  In 1992, seeing a need for an over 30 soccer league, she started one here on the North Shore.  It was the first of its kind in the Lower Mainland.  They pulled together enough people to start with 6 teams that year; many of whom still play today. Three years ago, as this group has all aged together, a new branch of the league opened up; the Over 45 Division.  This is a completely optional division; you don't have to move there just because you turn 45. So this year, as the league celebrates it's 20th season, there are now 14 teams in the Over 30's and 4 teams in the Over 45's.  It is so fantastic to be out there enjoying the great game of soccer with all of these women.

I have had the pleasure of playing in this league for the past 18 years and hope I am doing it 18 years from now.  This is not an unreasonable goal as there are women that old and older still playing.  It is also so great to see that there are now mothers and daughters playing soccer together on the same team; how cool is that!?

Soccer is a fun sport, a great form of fitness and the friendships I have formed with so many women over the last 18 years are irreplaceable.  Thank you Linda!

CBC Radio

 When I was young, we didn’t travel much or have a lot of occasion for long drives in the car but when we did, unlike today where kids have the rule of the family, Dad chose the radio station.  We did not have it as easy as the kids today; we could not just put in our ear buds and listen to our IPod.  No, we had to endure whatever it was he chose.  He always chose CBC Radio and I thought it was torture!  I do remember one segment I liked called “Now You Know the REST of the Story”; but besides that……arghhh! 

So, the other day, I got into my van to drive somewhere and it was on whatever station my daughter had left it on last time she drove it.  I decided that I really should listen to some of the music to get a bit more up to date on what the “in” music is.  Well, it was fine but about 1 ½ songs into it I got bored.  What did I do??  I turned it to my favorite radio station ……..CBC radio and am I ever glad I did.  If I had not, I would not have heard this amazing story about Olga Kotelko, otherwise known as The Incredible Flying Nonagenarian. 

Olga is a 93 year old woman who lives in West Vancouver.  As a young mother, she fled from an abusive husband in Saskatchewan and moved to BC.  Here in Burnaby she raised her children while teaching school for 30 years.  When she was forced to retire at 65, she was still full of energy and vigor and to fill her time she volunteered and played slow-pitch.  At age 77, a friend suggested that she try track and field.  She has never looked back.  Today, 16 years later, she has won 650 gold medals and enjoys the physical prowess of about a 65 year old.  She says she has the same energy she had at age 50. 

Olga is so remarkable in her aging, or lack there-of, that they are doing extensive studies on her at the McGill University Kinesiology department and finding incredible things about her muscle fibers and neurons. 

She is a remarkable woman and my CBC Radio is a remarkable station!