Tuesday, December 22, 2009

Grateful

Christmas is a fairly insulated time in our lives.  Curled up at home with family and children who can't wait to open their presents, Poppa makes Christmas Breakfast with the boys, and then later we get those first whiffs of Christmas Turkey and then, even later, we gather at the table to delight in a feast together....ummmmmmmmmm, does it get any better than this?  I find myself very reflective this time of year.  Winter adds to this insulating effect.  So, I thought I'd list some of the things that I am grateful for.  I invite you to share what you are grateful for too.

Family and Friends, who accept you, warts n'all, for who you are, in your current incarnation and are willing to grow with your changes.  You know who you are.  I love you.

Family and Friends, who I accept, warts n'all, for all they are, in their current incarnations and in their ever growing changes.  You know who you are.  I love you.

An amazing, thoughtful, encouraging and strong man in my life.  Thank you for choosing me.  I love you.

Two incredible, delightful, talented and beautiful children in my life.  Thanks for choosing me to be your Mum.  I love you.

My Parents.  Thanks for having me.  Thanks for giving me life and helping me to become the woman I am.  I love you.

My Inlaws.  Thanks for having me...in a different sort of 'have'.  Thank you for bringing me into your fold and your lives, and for being such amazing role models of parenting, love, support and guidance.  You are dream Grandparents to these children that we love.  I love you.

Systemic Mastocytosis...which, despite all of it's drawbacks, has brought some INCREDIBLE people into my life, all over the globe, from all walks of life and created some wonderful support networks, constant sources of strength and encouragement...AND they let me do this for them too.  Soooooooooo good.  You know who you are.   Ok, I can't really say that I love SM...but if you have to have it, I can't think of a better bunch of folks to have it with.  I love you.

The Farm.  While we haven't managed to acheive all of our goals in living and learning on this little piece of heaven, we have made some magic and I've learned some valuable lessons in limitations and in living.  Without this experience, growing food, loving our land, fixing up this old farmhouse, raising our children in the middle of nowhere, tending to and losing more chickens than I care to think about and learning to live as part of Nature's life cycles (prey/predator), I have a greater appreciation and passion for food that we 'know' and for doing whatever little bit of whatever it is that we can do to live a bit more simply.  Convenience is costing us all our health and our families.  The price on convenience is too high.  So I am grateful for these valuable lessons.

The pile of garbage on my back porch.  This pile of blag bags and recycling has taught me that we purchase waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaay too much crud with waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaay too much packaging.  It's not until you actually HAVE to wrap up your rubbish and take it to the dump or disposal centre that you realize that we must do something about HOW much garbage we produce in the world, and the purchasing choices that we make.  I don't love you.  But appreciate the lesson.

Charlotte, our dog.  There are a few simple life lessons to be learned from the family dog:  there's no such thing as too many cuddles; fresh air and a morning walk daily soothes the soul; carrots taste great, raw; spending the afternoon in the river/lake is one of the best things in the world to do and NOT to give it a second thought; sitting up front in the canoe, listening to the stillness of the river is one of life's most beautiful and precious ways to spend some time with someone you love.

Family Guy.  I feel soooooooooo guilty everytime I laugh, but I laugh.  And laughing is medicine for the soul.

Sleep.  A necessary evil, but my God, what an amazing thing sleep is.  I never appreciated it fully until I wasn't getting enough of it anymore.  It's amazing HOW much grief lack of sleep causes my body (and others...)  So sleep, I love you.

Abba.  I'm still a Dancing Queen at heart.  Moves my soul.

Seguin Fire Services and Parry Sound EMS...they've responded to my house sooooo many times this past 2 years.  While I often feel better by the time they get here (thanks Epi!), I'm never out of the woods when they get here, and they have saved my life numerous times.  Empathic and wonderfully warm, this amazing group of people always approach me with dignity, care and warmth...and even make me laugh in the face of emergency.  Incredible.

I know there are many more things that will come to mind, as I sit here feeling grateful.  So, perhaps I will add them as they pop up too.  For now though, thank you for sharing this time with me, and I look forward to reading some of the things for which you are grateful.

Monday, December 21, 2009

Solstice Arrival

For those of you that missed my Facebook update yesterday, we have a new arrival at The Farm.  She's yet to be named but is a bundle of sweet love.  Mum and baby are doing great.
    We had NO IDEA this mare was even pregnant.  HOW, you say, HOW can you not know your mare is pregant?  First of all, she isn't our mare...so a few weeks ago, my Mum and I said to Deb (her owner) that maybe she needed worming or something because her belly was quite large.  She told us that Misty is always like this, and a bit of a "belly breather".  This, combined with the thought that her stallion was a "dud stud" (and ironically was gelded 2 weeks ago because of this...) no one even suspected there would be a winter surprise.  Until 4 days ago when Deb came rushing into the farmhouse kitchen panting that "Misty gots boobs!  They're FULL of milk!!! OMG, I think we're having a baby!!!!"  So, we had time to bring her into the barn.  Just as well, temperatures have plummeted to -27 or so the past 4 nights, not exactly baby-friendly weather.

    Anyway, here she is...just an hour old.

    Saturday, December 19, 2009

    Fundraising Effort for Mastocytosis Society of Canada

    We are pleased to announce our kickoff fundraiser for the officially incorporated Mastocytosis Society of Canada.  IF you have magazines to renew, would like to give any magazines as gifts (especially for Christmas) please consider going to this site:
    http://www.magfundraising.ca/grouppage.aspx?gredirection=1&e=1198356


    The site is secure. From the purchase of your magazines, funds will go to support research for a cure, education and support for those with Mastocytosis (and its various incarnations) and their families, accurate information and access to forums & discussions which path the road to hope.  Join us.

    What is extra cool about getting your magazines here, is that you'll save up to 80% off the cover price.  There are over 800 magazines to choose from.  Incredible selection.

    Just click on the link above, and you'll go right to the page.  Thanks.

    Tuesday, December 8, 2009

    Life In The Bloglane

    In light of some recent negative blogdom, I had promised not to blog ever again. It turns out that this forum is useful and informative and as such comes with great responsibility...I've been asked NOT to cease blogging by some folks...so I think the focus of this blog will be what it has become...about this journey with Mastocytosis/Mast Cell Disease.

    So here we go....

    I'm wondering if anyone else with Masto./Mast Cell Disease experiences the following: getting really cold (even if the heat is on), hand shaking or blue nails/fingertips...not necessarily all at the same time. Another Masto. person and I were talking about this today. Turns out neither one of us are sure if it's Masto. related or something else. We've both had our thyroid's checked and they are fine. So...IF you experience, or have ever experienced this, perhaps you wouldn't mind sharing through the COMMENTS button? Thank you.

    I'm having to moderate the comments only because this blog was being inundated by ads for penis enlargement products and the like, and apparently moderating comments ceases said such ads. Not even blogdom is safe from spamming.