We each have a story to share....

Tonight, I watched a powerful film about finding a family among people that once were considered your enemy. The movie I watched was "The Freedom Writers" starring Hilary Swank (I believe it is out on video). She plays a teacher in California, to a group of high school students who are thought by certain education authorities, would not get far in life because of their station in society, so why expend our energies on them. Her class were made up of Latinos, Black, Asians and one white guy. This movie is based on a true story of how she found a way to relate to these students in a language and matter they would understand. The title comes from one of their assignments - a journal book. Every day they were to write in it - whatever it is good or bad. You saw the trust and respect coming from both the teacher to student as well as student to teacher, as they learned about each other.

One of the topics that came up was Anne Franks. The teacher in their sophormore year, had assigned this book to read. For these students who face gangs, pressures from family and peers every day, were so moved reading the story of this young girl. One of the most powerful moment in the movie was the lady, Miep Gies, who helped publish the story of Anne Franks was brought to their school to meet these students. Learning more of that day they took Anne Franks from the home she and her family was hiding during WW2 from someone who was there - WOW.

In 2003, I had the opportunity to walk through the home of Anne Franks in Amsterdam. It was a humbling experience seeing the space she lived while hiding because she was a Jew. One of the quotes in the pamplet I have says the following:

"I want to be useful or bring enjoyment to all people. And therefore I am so grateful to God for giving me this gift of writing, of expressing all that is in me!" Written by Anne Franks on March 25, 1944.

Each of our lives are full of stories, stories that could stay private, but if through sharing even a story or two of what happened in your life to another - you might be surprised how much of an impact it might have on that person's life.

New furniture for the house

These are the new 2 loveseats and chair I purchased from The Brick last weekend. I have seen it online for the past month and was excited to see it on the floor at the store - thought it would look great with the paint I choose for the walls. What do you think?

Here is another photo of the new furniture. The mattress behind I found on Used Calgary - it is a queen size bed. The TV was given to me by my Cousin Marjorie. It is much bigger than the one I have upstairs. After taking an opinion poll - I was seriously thinking of bring my entertainment unit that has my dolls downstairs, but the place I measured out is too small at the moment now that the furniture has arrived - isn't reality great? So will have to go to Plan B and C figuring that out. Will keep you posted.

Ladies Celebration Tea

Since this summer, all us ladies (James ladies, their daughters and myself) have made some great accomplishments. For the adults, some of us have made some wonderful personal lifestyle changes (in laymen terms - weight loss program), new jobs/careers and moving into their own homes (no more renting - YEAH!!). Amy opened a scrapbooking business - Hobby Haven - she has a great lettering cutting tool! The two older children Ocean and Sierra began Grade 1 and Journey started preschool. Sara is expecting in February - look forward being there from the start to see he/she grows. It has been so cool to be able to see Sierra, Ocean and Journey grow into the beautiful young ladies they are now. After our tea, the three girls enjoyed the open space of the basement which allowed us older ladies to have a visit. It was a wonderful way to mark the "almost" completion of my basement. I have been blessed to be adopted into the James family and have enjoyed the deeping of our friendships since my move to Calgary (hard to believe it will be 3 years in March).

For our tea, I used two heritage tea sets. The Gold Pot was given to me from my mom's friend a couple of years ago. It was from her huband's aunt and at that time the teapot was 90 years old and was originally from the Oakney Islands in Northern Scotland. The Silver teapot and creamer is a heirloom(paternal side). It was a wedding gift for my great-grandmother (also from Scotland - around Perth/Aberdeen) and it has the letter R engraved (for Rutherford). The custom in our family has beento pass it down from father to son (probably due to the engraved letter R), but of the children in my family I have been the most interested in the family heritage, so my dad felt it fitting to change it abit and pass it to the daughter. So it was nice to use it for today's Celebration Tea.

The Bagels are ready (plain, cinnamon/raisin, blueberry), along with the cream cheese (plain and strawberry) , honey and jams (strawberry, cherry, and of course marmalade). That is my new toaster that I had purchased this morning from Canadian Tire - Thanks mom for the gift card you sent.

Here were our tea selections - We had the Decaf Tea in the silver pot and the Christmas Green Tea in the golden pot.

Musical Name Holders

While in Canadian Tire this morning purchasing a toaster, I saw these cute stuffed animals that you put your gift cards in. I switched the cards around and made them into name holders for the Ladies Celebration Tea today. It wasn't until I got home that I realize that you press their foot and it sings a stanza of Christmas carols. It was a hit with the kids and some adults too. They seem excited that they were able to take them home.

The table is ready for our tea. Thanks for the tablecloth and table protector Mom. As you can see Mom the colour looks great.

Down my first 20!!!

I started today on the right foot - and it is a very happy foot. Since being able to weigh myself on a scale on Sept 9th, 2007 until today Nov 1 - I have lost 20 lbs. The scale spoke the numbers 347. It was hard not to smile and say "YES" afterwards. Those 20 lbs were not easy - plenty of sweating at the gym and doing some major changes to my eatting habits (therefore my shopping habits too). I tend to read the labels more seeing what it contains, I especially look at the sodium levels.

This morning as I got ready for work, I put on a pair of pants that are still size 28, but the sides are not elastized (not much give to get over those hips). Well, I am now wearing them, first time in some months. Let me tell you, another YES came out again. It is a good feeling to see those kind of progress - visual kind. Now that I am below that "350", I can know that if I need to get weighed at the doctor's office, they can measure on their scale. This is the lowest weight I have been, in at least 3 years. My next focus is another 10 lbs before Christmas, to lose 30 lbs in total before the year is out would be awesome - best present I could give myself. Now isn't that going to be the biggest test for me - CHRISTMAS GOODIES!!!