Post 16 → Someone or something you definitely could live without

Here are a few things that I could easily live without...
~People who pretend to be someone or something that they are not.
~Ignorant people! People who are not open minded or closed off to new outlooks.
~People who judge
~Mosquito's
~People who harm pets
~Spiders
Oh there are just too many things that I could live without. I think the number one annoying thing to me is sarcasm! I hate it when people try to use sarcasm as a form of humour! Its pathetic and uninteresting...kinda lame and boring! Drives me crazy!!

Post 15 → Something or someone you couldn’t live without, because you’ve tried living without it

My husband!
Honestly...I will say, I could not live without my husband and I know this because I did for 2 months. It was NOT a happy time in our life...we were both in a spot where we thought our marriage was over. The experience did change alot about who I was and who we were as a couple. Thankfully we pulled through that time and managed to get our lives and marriage back on track. Those two months I had alone was spent growing as a person, I learned ALOT about myself...it was then that I decided to go back to school to become a nurse. I realized that I needed to make myself happy and stop relying on someone else to do it!
There are always good and bad in situations like a temporary seperation. I know for me...I gained a new identity, I found myself again. Once we went back into our marriage I was a little different. We both were...in a good way!
I have been with Paul since I was 18 years old, we have survived so much together in our 22 years together. I'm not sure how much of it is that I couldn't live without Paul or more...I wouldn't live without Paul. He's all I know, he's really all I've ever had. Even during the hard times...we balance eachother, we know one another like no one else in our lives. We truly have become one through these years and I couldn't see myself growing old with anyone else. Our life together is a busy one, we have been incrediably un-selfish as a couple giving our children everything. We love our family and put them first all the time.
Know that the kids are growing and becoming young adults, we are finding our time together more intimate. At times we feel like we did back in our early 20's before we had kids. Its nice! It's so weird...we still look at eachother like we did back in the day..we still love our time together, still play together and love eachother passionately. From 1989 to 2011...its been a trip, but one thing remains the same! Its our "Loves"! We think back and talk about certain years we have had, certain times we've shared together and apart...its surreal sometimes, the life we've shared! One thing is certain...I wouldn't have wanted it to be with anyone else! It's our time know...our time to once again enjoy one another! It would be a shame to not embrace that!

Post 14 → A hero that has let you down.

There have been numerous people who have let me down in life. A hero?? Not sure I really have a "superhero" type person in my life. I mean...everyone is human and everyone makes mistakes. My brother is one who has let me down incrediably. He ha chosen a different life path that doesn't include our family and I think that has been the biggest let down in my life. He lives a life that we do not agree with, and if he were allowed to live his life his way and still be a part of ours...it would literally destroy us! We have tried many things to bring him back to us, to help him and guide him. Get him the help that he needs to fight the addictions he has. He just doesn't seem to think HE has a problem, and he also doesn't realize how much he has hurt our family in the process.
My brother was a person who stood by me during some of the most difficult times, he was a solid shoulder to lean on and he was always extremely protective of me. He was closest thing I had to a "hero"..he was so reliable. Unfortunately he let other things get the best of him, he changed...it's sad, and disappointing!
I miss him....ALOT!

Post 13 → A band or artist that has gotten you through some tough ass days.

U2 Hands down is the most important band in my life~
I have loved this band from way back...all the way back to 1984! Probably the number one song in my life is With or Without You!
I can't say for sure that this band pulled me through some hard times, because when it was rough...music was the last thing on my mind. I will say though that during times of breif periods of sadness in my life, even through arguments with friends, crushes that went no where or even problems in my marriage...U2 was the group that I would turn too! I raised my babies listening to them, they knew all the songs as infants and would sing along from the crib! I eventually had the chance to see U2 live in Toronto. My cousin works for RIM and he had 2 tickets for free. He let me have his and his wife took the other one! His wife happens to be my best friend and she happens to love U2 as well! We actually both grew up, many nights spent listening to U2 discussing boys,jobs and teenage girl things. It was a dream come true to see them~
A night to remember forever!!

Post 12 → Something you never get compliments on.

I don't keep track of this one?! I'm not sure of just one thing...there are numerous things I don't get compliments on! For sure the ONE thing is my meatloaf! It has got to be my worst meal ever prepared!! Its aweful, and I can admit that!!

Day 11 → Something people seem to compliment you the most on.

I think the number one compliment that I recieve is probably my/our ability to parent a special needs child. I seem to have a positive outlook on how I feel regarding the "rights" of those effected by a disability. I have not been perfect, and I have made some mistakes with making decisions regarding our son. However, when I am passionate and believe in something...nothing gets in my way to make it happen. I don't have all the answers nor do I think that I know everything...I do however believe in human rights and I may have a different idea of how to raise physically challenged children in our community. Maybe its because my son was born healthy, able bodied and perfect...don't get me wrong he is still perfect, but he is no longer able bodied. The day he was born a whole bunch of ideas ran through my mind about who Braden was going to be. He was going to be a hockey player, he would ride a bike, he would date and he would someday be valadictorian. After he was injured and our world was turned upside down... I promised him that all those things I new he would be, he would still be! Come hell or high water I would fight till the death for my son to accomplish what he was born to do and nothing would get in his way while doing so. It was our job to be sure he always had the best quality of life, why should any of our dreams for him have to change just because he could no longer walk? Maybe it was a bit of denial, maybe guilt....regardless of what it was, his opportunities in life were not going to change just because he was physically challenged. I have been offered many opportunities to help and advocate families of children with disabilities! I have always been available to parents and I love to encourage and inspire those who are new to this lifestyle.

With that attitude...not much was getting by me!
I have been asked numerously to speak to families, mothers, fathers and even community agencies so that I can express our thoughts and beleives

Day 10 → Someone you need to let go, or wish you didn’t know.

Well there has been a couple that I have needed to let go of! One for sure was a girl that I met through one of Paul's work friends. Things started out normal with our friendship, I very much enjoyed her company and friendship. As time went on however things became a little crazy! She started calling me ALL the time...you might think "ooh big deal" but let me tell you..I Have NEVER been available to chat with anyone for an extended amount of time! Do you have any idea what its like to be a care provider to a child with extreme physical needs? Seriously...never did I get a chance to sit and chat on a phone..still today, I don't "talk" on the phone! Actually just as I sat down to write this blog my boy came out to ask me to do something "personal" for him...NO TIME friends when i'm on the clock!
So, this friend just couldn't seem to understand that she doesn't come first in my life...and I honestly beleive she struggled with that! She was a single white female, living independantly working in a home for mentally disabled women. All she had to worry about in her life was what she was going to make for dinner! We had different lives and different expectations for this friendship...it was eventually going to end!
Secondly, she started to keep track of what I was doing...who I was with, where I was going..etc etc. I felt like I needed to justify my actions to her! What grabbed my attention and ultimately ended our friendship was when she question why I was seeing another friend (who happens to live 20 mins from me and IS my best friend) and not her! I remember the scenerio clearly...I was in my 3 semester of school and having to work in a co-op placement full time as well as take care of my family. We were so stressed in school...and my mom had realized that I needed a night out! My mom organized a movie night with me, her and my best friend, and after that night I was asked to go to a fundraiser to help a classmate raise money for sick kids hospital as her younger brother had just passed away. This fundraiser was about an hour away from my town, and I had to get up the next morning at 5:30am to start work/co-op for 6:30 am at the hospital. Even though I new I would be exhausted, it was important for me to support that friend. I headed out that night and sadly could only stay for 2 hours...but I made sure I supported the event.
Well apparently this friend was keeping track of my news feed on facebook and was apparently upset that I have been spending time with others and not her!
Anyone who knows me, knows this would have sent me into a frenzy! I will not EVER justify myself to anyone...no one is my keeper! It didn't take me long to send her an email telling her how disappointed I was in her and I didn't appreciate her questioning my social life. Just for the record though...my mom was concerned about my mental state because of school, tests, co-op and keeping things afloat at home. So, she insisted that I go out to a movie with her and Candy..it was "me" time, otherwise I probably wouldn't have gone out with anyone! She then re-questioned me and argued with me about not being honest about seeing other friends....OH BOY!!
DELETE! that is exactly what I did to her on facebook, email and cell phione! Ok this was not the only reason why I let her go, there were many other reason's that I started to notice and didn't appreciate. I never felt bad about my decision and actually had some releif when she was gone! It was one less thing I had to worry about in my life!
There have been a couple others who I have let go...not as dramatically, I would have to say that was the worse!