My Home

Long may she stand…

Today I am celebrating 35 years in my home.

An early photo, about 5 years after moving in.

The house itself was built a few years before but, on August 23, 1985, it became my home.

Since then it has been a dream and a refuge. A challenge and a resource. A bargaining chip and an accomplishment.

My home has been the scene of a wedding…

Getting ready for my daughter’s backyard wedding.

…a funeral and hosted a number of showers (both bridal and baby).

Does everybody do these crazy hats at showers?

It has seen everything from keggers…

Kegger!

to New Years Eve blowouts, watched dozens of pumpkins be carved and welcomed the expected princesses and goblins.

Countless birthdays and many milestones have been marked within the walls of my home—sweet 16’s, baby’s firsts, dirty thirties, fabulous fifties, an incredible ninetieth.

There have been 35 Christmas trees…

35 Thanksgiving turkeys, 35 sets of New Years resolutions promptly forgotten, 35 times I have woken up on Mothers Day in my home.

My home has watched my children grow into adults.

Its walls have embraced them and many of their friends over the years. Many knew they were as welcome as in their own home when a party went late.

10 years after their backyard wedding, my daughter and son-in-law threw another backyard party!

Now my home watches my grandchildren grow.

I’ve enjoyed many backyard picnics.

Its walls continue to embrace the excitement of birthday parties, the squeals of Christmas morning, the anticipation of baby teeth coming in and falling out. More first steps have been taken, first days of school continue, more first kisses and dances are still in its future.

It looks a little different, as we all do 35 years later. A facelift here, a nip and tuck there.

As they say—her bones are good.

I hope to enjoy another 35–I expect she will long outlive me and continue to be a well-loved, well-lived home.

I was privileged to watch a robin couple raise their young on my kitchen window sill 3 years in a row.

2020 Kids Help Phone Never Dance Alone-a-Thon!

So, for my 19th straight year, I signed on to fundraise for the Kids Help Phone.

Kids Help Phone has been showing up for young people in distress for over 30 years. Since early March KHP has experienced a record surge in demand from youth experiencing stress and anxiety due to COVID-19 and all the other pressures going on in the world today. Counselors and volunteer Crisis Responders are on the front line, speaking to growing numbers of young people and saving lives.

In any other year we would have done a 5km Walk on the first Sunday in May as the across-Canada major fundraiser. As we all know, this year is different. Instead today–May 31–those of us who signed up for the Walk are doing the ‘Never Dance Alone-a-Thon’ and posting the (HILARIOUS) results on social media. And I decided to post mine here too!

Don’t let my awesome dancing skills (NOT!) go to waste! Thank you to those who have already donated at the secure link and, if you haven’t, please consider doing so. I know this year is an especially difficult one for many of us. Only contribute what and if you can.

You can make a donation using VISA, MasterCard, American Express or PayPal…you’ll receive a tax receipt by email within 24 hours.

https://secure.e2rm.com/registrant/FundraisingPage.aspx?SID=12625032&LangPref=en-CA&EID=301753

Thank you for your help! And enjoy the show!!