It's the weekend already??

The reindeer that Mary sent to me are looking a little worse for wear around the antlers, as the men (or should I say boys) like to move them around to bug me


Mable helping me with my penny rug


The view from my window on Friday night. More snow coming for Sunday:(


My kitchen fireplace mantel


Adam's rendition of Silent Night on the harmonica...thanks Uncle Harold for teaching him!


Lord, where on earth does the time go? We had a great time Saturday night with my brothers and their offspring and spouses, and Sunday was spent recovering.

Jeff and the dogs resting on Sunday:)


Monday Jess and I went to Toronto to St. Michael's Hospital. My son Jake drove us to Oshawa and we caught the train, then the subway, and had no problems finding our way at all. The clinic was very busy of course, and we did have to wait, but it wasn't too long, and we were out of there by 4:30. The doctor was very nice, he didn't have much new to tell me, he went' over the new MRI's and showed me all the new, bigger lesions that were on my brain, and agreed with the Avonex prescription. He did say that my Neuro in Peterborough was doing everything that could be done now, and I explained that when we had asked for the appointment it was just before I got the Optic Neuritis, and my Neuro wasn't really doing much for me at the time. He said that now that I have seen a doctor at the MS Clinic I can continue to go to him, as well as my regular Neuro, and that I would be higher on the list for upcoming drug trials.

We happily made our way out of there and went back to Peterborough. Jeff picked us up in Whitby, and man I was glad to see our house...what a long day! Went to my GP on Tuesday and he had to hear all about the trip, as well as telling me what to watch for with depression. Both he and I don't think that it's an issue right now, but I am very emotional these days, and am very conscious of the fact that I could very easily become depressed.

My niece Sarah and her hubby Jamie


My bestest sister-in-law Nancy and little Ryder


Sarah, Adam, Nancy and son Jake


Kerri and a very tired Chip


Adam and Ryder comparing their hair:)


My brother Terry sampling some baking


Kerri's Baby belly with seven weeks to go:)


My brother Tony and Adam


Dinner time, with bodies everywhere!


Dan, Jamie and Sarah




Little Ryder with his stitchery


The kangaroo ornie that sent all the way from Australia from Douane...no name inside, and what a lovely surprise.


She also sent this beautifully stitched cup, that looks great on my little tree.




Thank you so very much, I just love them both! After posting this, I happened to run my hand inside the wrapping and the box and found a card with a big note inside from Christina from Rustic Tarts! So, now I can properly thank you Christina, I do love both the Roo and the Stitchery cup. Christina sent this gift when I signed on for a PIF off of her blog. So, soon I'll have to do the same to my three ladies.
Now, off to cook some dinner and watch Adam's last hockey game before he goes on his Christmas break. He (hopefully) flies out tomorrow around 5:00pm. This is going to be one very quiet house until he gets back on the 28th. I don't know who is going to entertain my Hubby for the next week, cause I have gotten out of the habit:) So, if you are bored, come on over, Hub's could use the company:)

If you haven't commented yet for my Christmas giveaway, get your butt over to my sidebar and do it now, there is only five more sleeps until Jess does the draw..I also have a few more goodies to add to it, but I'll make you all wait before I post more pics.

Here is a story below that my sister Tina sent to me, and it sure brought a tear to my eye, as it does every time I read it. This is how I will end it for my Saturday, enjoy:)

A Baby's Hug

We were the only family with children in the restaurant. I sat Erik in a high chair and noticed everyone was quietly sitting and talking. Suddenly, Erik squealed with glee and said, 'Hi.' He pounded his fat baby hands on the high chair tray. His eyes were crinkled in laughter and his mouth was bared in a toothless grin, as he wriggled and giggled with merriment.

I looked around and saw the source of his merriment. It was a man whose pants were baggy with a zipper at half-mast and his toes poked out of would-be shoes. His shirt was dirty and his hair was uncombed and unwashed. His whiskers were too short to be called a beard and his nose was so varicose it looked like a road map.

We were too far from him to smell, but I was sure he smelled. His hands waved and flapped on loose wrists. 'Hi there, baby; hi there, big boy. I see ya, buster,' the man said to Erik.

My husband and I exchanged looks, 'What do we do?'


Erik continued to laugh and answer, 'Hi.'

Everyone in the restaurant noticed and looked at us and then at the man. The old geezer was creating a nuisance with my beautiful baby. Our meal came and the man began shouting from across the room, 'Do ya patty cake? Do you know peek-a-boo? Hey, look, he knows peek- a-boo.'

Nobody thought the old man was cute. He was obviously drunk.

My husband and I were embarrassed. We ate in silence; all except for Erik, who was running through his repertoire for the admiring skid-row bum, who in turn, reciprocated with his cute comments.

We finally got through the meal and headed for the door. My husband went to pay the check and told me to meet him in the parking lot. The old man sat poised between me and the door. 'Lord, just let me out of here before he speaks to me or Erik,' I prayed. As I drew closer to the man, I turned my back trying to sidestep him and avoid any air he might be breathing . As I did, Erik leaned over my arm, reaching with both arms in a baby's 'pick-me-up' position. Before I could stop him, Erik had propelled himself from my arms to the man..

Suddenly a very old smelly man and a very young baby consummated their love and kinship. Erik in an act of total trust, love, and submission laid his tiny head upon the man's ragged shoulder. The man's eyes closed, and I saw tears hover beneath his lashes. His aged hands full of grime, pain, and hard labor, cradled my baby's bottom and stroked his back. No two beings have ever loved so deeply for so short a time.

I stood awestruck. The old man rocked and cradled Erik in his arms and his eyes opened and set squarely on mine. He said in a firm commanding voice, 'You take care of this baby.'

Somehow I managed, 'I will,' from a throat that contained a stone.

He pried Erik from his chest, lovingly and longingly, as though he were in pain. I received my baby, and the man said, 'God bless you, ma'am, you've given me my Christmas gift.'

I said nothing more than a muttered thanks. With Erik in my arms, I ran for the car. My husband was wondering why I was crying and holding Erik so tightly, and why I was saying, 'My God, my God, forgive me.'

I had just witnessed Christ's love shown through the innocence of a tiny child who saw no sin, who made no judgment; a child who saw a soul, and a mother who saw a suit of clothes.
Sometimes, it takes a child to remind us of what is really important. We must always remember who we are, where we came from and most importantly, how we feel about others. The clothes on your back or the car that you drive or the house that you live in does not define you at all; it is how you treat your fellow man that identifies who you are.

This one is a keeper..

'It is better to be liked for the true you, than to be loved for who people think you are......'