#98- Learn to cook a good breakfast

100 Things to Teach Your Son

#98. Learn to cook a good breakfast

For many reasons son, my advice to cook a good breakfast is of importance. Women like a man who can cook. There is nothing more wonderful than after a night spent with their man...he getting up to cook a well deserved breakfast. Very romantic..while dating anyways, however very pracitcal when married with children. I mean if you are not helping with the children on a Sunday morning then you better be getting breakfast started. Let's not forget the most important meal of the day is breakfast...its the fuel to start your day :) (Sorry...i know you have been hearing that for year's, but its time to start listening too it!)
You are on your way son, you have mastered the grill and only good things to come. Keep working hard, your eggs are great too...well done!!  Your future love interest is going to be one lucky young lady~

Happy Easter Everyone...

Well my friends, I am not too sure how much blogging I will be doing over this weekend. With the good weather approaching I really hope to be out there enjoying it. Easter is a very special time for me, it was the first time after my accident that Braden showed us a sign that we so desperatly prayed for. It was beautiful and by far one of the most important moments in my life. Each Easter I give thanks, I am thankful for my son's survival and for his conitnued success.
I am wishing you all a wonderful, happy, relaxing and thankful Easter and may you have much time with your family and loved ones. Until my next post, god bless~

100 Things I want to Teach My Daughter...#98 Life is Not a Race

#98. Life Is Not A Race

My dear girl...PLEASE always remember this, it has taken me a long time to get my mind around this one~
Never compare yourself to where others are around you. Your plan is different from everyone else. It has been through experiences with your brother that I have come to calm down with "keeping up" with others. I suppose the best test for me related to you was to agree to you not heading off to University this coming September. It was very difficult for me to come to terms with initially as I felt it was more important for you to go straight into University right out of highschool
Realistically I know, you WILL go to school...its not a question of will you go, its just a question of when. I am more than pleased with your choice to wait another year, its not a race my baby. You will get to where you want to be when YOU are ready...not when others are. It doesn't mean you are any less a student, any less a mature than the person who has chosen to move ahead in their plan..it means you are mature enough to know YOU are not  and that is perfectly fine.
Always remember that their will always be people who want to live their lives on a "schedule"...they want to be maarried by 25 years old, children by 30, career stable by 35yrs...if you have a plan or a schedule in mind and things don't work out the way you had hoped, promise me..you'll be ok with that. But always work hard, and never give up on any dream or milestone you hope to achieve. Its not about how fast you get there....it's just that you do. Life is NOT a race, do not compare yourself to others and do not EVER let someone tell you, you are doing something wrong. It's YOUR journey....don't hurry along, enjoy the ride...all the ups, all the downs, the turns and even the stall's. Live in the moment~ THAT's important.

Good Friendships Are Equal...100 Things To Teach Your Son~

99. Good Friendships Are Equal.

Dear Son, I have never been prouder of the friends you have chose to keep in your life. You have been very smart with seeing the good ones and the bad ones. Thankfully you have many friends and you are very well liked. I hope you always have that quality to draw people into your life, you are a ton of fun and people migrate to you for a good time. Your father and I admire that about you. You are a very generous friend, you give to others, you share your time and you are always available to listen when someone needs you.
May you always remember to expect the same back from your friendships. If you find, that someone is not giving equal time and attention in the friendship please always...think twice before moving forward. Each relationship you have needs to be the same on both sides. Its just as important as you recieve the support and effort from your relationships as you give them. Anyone who is involved in your life will be blessed with your presence. They are the lucky ones...never give up on a friendship that you know is worth keeping.

He's cooking on his own!! The steps we are taking for independance~

In the beginning of the week, Braden bought himself a griddle. He has decided he would like to learn to do some cooking on his own. We are so proud of him...its just another step for independance.

The picture above is Braden cooking his very own salmon. I know he wants to be the kind of man that can cook for a date or eventually even a family. I love that he is taking this seriously and is wanting to become responsible. As we practice these things, we are learing exactly what it will be that he will need in his future. Eventually he will have his own kitchen, its great to see what will work best for him while he prepares a meal. When he does move out and is on his own, his kitchen will be suited for his needs. Everything will be lowered and accessible for him. Its also nice to see how he can manouver kitchen utensils, we are learning so much.
The picture below is him cooking some chicken for dinner, he did a fantastic job. Its been nice having this time with him. We laugh, we joke and share in stories...its good bonding time.
 

I think at this time in life, Braden will always need someone available to help him out for most hours in the day. Regardless of that, its super important that he is learning to cook...cause it is something he can do for himself. Even if his "help" sets up the kitchen for him in the morning before he leaves...at least he will have the skills to follow through and cook himself a meal.
Great job Braden, this year off has been a year of learning...I have enjoyed this time with you and look forward to always being there when you need me~

Throwback Thursday....When we lived a Ronald MacDonald House~

 

 

These pictures were taken back when Kailey was just one years old and Braden would have been three. We were asked to pose for some pictures at the Ronald McDonald House, they were using them in some of the bedrooms. You can see in the top picture we were in the dining room, Paul and I as well as my parents had spent many hours in that dining room. We have always had Sunday family dinners and thankfully for the most part during our first 4 month stay we continued that tradition. My Uncle Wayne was always wonderful with that, he would come up to the hospital with meals cooked for us...he always made his delicious spagetti. It really was a treat for our family. We had a good meal, time together and managed to continue on with a regular thing in our lives. The bottom left we were in one of the bedroom's, I remember being so thankful for this place. It was a place were we could retreat, have some quiet time. I had a warm, comfortable bed, a shower and place to rest my weary head and hope to sleep for even a few hours without the worries of the world on my mind. We didn't spend much time in there, but it was the best place we could have ever been. It just provided a sense of home. It was away from the hospital, away from the bells and whistles...but still close enough to Braden. The bottom right, was in the games room. They had a pool table, ping pong table, tv's, video games and Foose Ball table. Paul and my dad use to have tournaments all the time, it was so great for them to be able to blow off some stream and stress and have some fun. They managed to still bond together and when some people came to visit we could sign them into the Ronald McDonald house and bring them to the games room to have some fun.

In all honesty, the Ronald McDonald House was a life saver. I don't know what Paul and I would have done without this place. Every night we would tuck Braden into bed...usually we'd get out by 11:30pm..on a good night. We'd go for a drive around Hamilton, just to settle down and unwind..we'd talk, this was usually when we would discuss our new life, try to understand and comprehend all the new changes. There was a restaurant down the road from MacMaster Hospital and some nights we'd head down there and share some wings..they were the best wings ever. I remember sitting in that restaurant, watching other people in there laughing and joking, smiling, snuggling and talking about their jobs, their kids..their lives. It was painful, I hated it. I hated that they were so happy...and we were not. I envied them, I was so jealous that they could laugh, and enjoy the time they were having. NOT us, we were sad.

We tried, I remember Paul would try so hard to keep things positive. He worked so hard to get me to smile, even though I was unbelievable sad sitting in that restaurant booth, realizing that not one person knew our son was sleeping still in a hospital bed on life support...those moments were some of the hardest. I was 23 years old, we didn't deserve this much sadness.

Some nights Paul and I would drive to the highest peak of the Hamilton mountain just so I could get out of the car, stand tall and pray for strength. It would be as late as 1am. I would stand there...car pulled over to the side of the road, Paul sitting on the front of this car and I would walk to the edge of the mountain, look to the stars and wonder..."Is he there?" "Is God listening to me?"...I am as high up as possible, can you hear my prayers.

We'd get back in the car, and sometimes I would scream, cry...beg for a miracle. Then i'd tire..which I am sure was Paul's favorite time of the day...and we'd head back to the Ronald McDonald House and off to bed we would go. Thankfully we had that bed...cause as years followed and Braden got older, we didn't leave him often and poor Paul was stuck with night shift. Many years spent in a chair at the side of his hospital bed while Braden fought once again for his life.

When these pictures were taken, Braden was healthy..it was a good visit. I believe we only had Kailey stay at the house with us one time and maybe only for a week. Sometimes during long hospital stays I would miss her trememdously. I wanted her to be with us, it wasn't really a place for her. So we didn't keep her there long...she always went with Nana and Papa.

We were very fortunate to have that room, it was comforting to know that others that were staying in the house with us were going through the same kind of thing. I will never forget that place, I can say it really was a foundation for us, and escape...a place to lay, a place to pray~

Until tomorrow my friends, good night and god bless~

100 Things I Want To Teach My Daughter...I Will Never Be Tired Of Being Your Mommy~

99. I will never be tired of being your mommy~

This one is probably one of the most important ones....I want you to know that I will never get tired of being your momma. I love you more than anyone else in this world and will always love you more than anyone can. It doesn't matter to me which path you go down, which choices you make in life...I will never stop loving you. Even after today's events, there is nothing that can change how I feel about you...you are extra special, and don't ever forget that.
I promise to laugh with you, to not judge you and to always be available when you need me. I love and value every minute I have with you, and I can only hope that someday we will have even more time together. I am looking forward to those days, when you are a grown woman with children of your own. Regardless of what you do in your life, always remember that I will be in your corner. I am your biggest fan, and I will always be here when you need me. I promise to give you all the space you need to grow and make your own decisions, but I will forever linger closely to be sure you are doing well, because that's my job.
So don't get mad when I give you my advice, or share my concerns...cause I will always be there to do so. Always remember..I will never be tired of being your mommy~