What Is A Sister?

What is a sister?


A sister is someone who will travel for hours with you to find the perfect graduation dress for a daughter/niece..... then take a load off those weary feet before heading to the jewellery department........





A sister will travel up and down those escalators.... all day long..... in and out of stores...... looking for just the right shoes to go with that gown!........








And sisters will attend that Grade 8 graduation and will wipe the tears from their eyes as they watch their nephew/son and niece/daughter move to the next stage in their lives.......









A sister goes to a fundraising event to support her sister, who raised $1,450 with the selling of just ONE PIE so she could afford to travel on a mission trip to Kenya.......






A sister (and her daughter) comes to the hospital to visit her nephew before she heads to the airport for Africa. One last goodbye before travelling to Kenya to meet her sponsor child and take gifts to many other eagerly-awaiting children......

A sister is someone who talks you out of buying the whole skid of PEPSI at the entrance of Zellers, even if the fizzing up the nose is worth the extra weight on the hips........

Sisters unselfishly help you drive a young boy back to his college 14 hours away..... two provinces to the east..... with frequent stops at Timmies........

Sisters decorate the mini-van with balloons and bring along window markers and brightly coloured lit-up balls and name tags and poster boards...... all for the purpose of thoroughly embarrassing the teenage boy who must ride with crazy women for 14 hours straight..... what an extremely brave young man!.........










A sister does interpretive dance in the hotel room after the 14-hour van ride.......










..... as well as the hokey-pokey. I believe it's called The Happy Dance after we had staff RE-CLEAN the toilet in our "already cleaned" room. Oooh.my.goodness..........[gag].......










A sister just happens to pull up beside you in the bank parking lot.... and after talking for a bit, realizes that she must use the "ladies powder room"..... IMMEDIATELY...... however, she cannot make it across the parking lot without "an accident" happening and must sit back down in her van until "the moment passes". A good sister would never have told you that story on a public blog........












A sister makes good food for you to eat when you go to her house to watch the good ol' hockey game on the big screen.........











Sisters dress themselves up, even though they've outgrown the Trick or Treating (maybe), just to keep their kids entertained........












A sister takes her nephew on the family vacation to Newfoundland, and also takes the time to stop at his future college in NB to check things out.......











Sisters get together on the soccer field on hot summer days to cheer on, and likely embarrass, all their kids who make us immensely proud........










Sisters make a long journey to the hospital to ensure their nephew and oldest sister are okay......











Sisters will get up and perform a song, that they've never rehearsed!, at a fundraiser for their nephew/son, where thousands of dollars were raised by the best folks in the world to help a very sick young man and his family afford his very-costly-and-not-yet-government-funded medications.......







Sisters appreciate the blessed opportunity of attending a Christian Women's Weekend Conference with 350 other spectacular ladies......







Sisters get a little crazy in the van on the way to the Women's Conference and receive strange looks from curious city folk.....

Sisters cry, and use the readily available tissues placed at each table, when their sister starts crying on stage while telling others the joy of meeting her "sponsor daughter" in Kenya......

Sisters decide to get senile with Ma Critter at the Conference, then "roast" her in front of 350 women with pictures of the past........ Ohhhhh, BIG mistake, ladies.......






Sisters should not be given cameras as they wait for children to begin their indoor soccer tournament...... Boredom results in silliness........






.... and realizing that you both have a droopy left eye.......







.... and realizing that boredom can make you do crazy things......

..... and make you think, "Heeeey!!!! We don't look too half bad in these dark-rimmed nerdy glasses!!!"........

Sisters travel to the hospital once again with bags and bags of necessities for a hospital stay...... cookies, chips, mixed nuts, and a brand new container of Tim Horton's French Vanilla mix. We are WELL looked after!........

Having a sister is like having a best friend you can't get rid of. You know whatever you do, they'll still be there. ~Amy Li


A sister is a little bit of childhood that can never be lost. ~Marion C. Garretty

If you don't understand how a woman could both love her sister dearly and want to wring her neck at the same time, then you were probably an only child. ~Linda Sunshine


You can kid the world. But not your sister. ~Charlotte Gray


Sisters never quite forgive each other for what happened when they were five. ~Pam Brown [Note: Wannett hit ME with the pink phone!!!!]

A sister can be seen as someone who is both ourselves and very much not ourselves - a special kind of double. ~Toni Morrison

What's the good of news if you haven't a sister to share it? ~Jenny DeVries


Sisters is probably the most competitive relationship within the family, but once the sisters are grown, it becomes the strongest relationship. ~Margaret Mead

How do people make it through life without a sister? ~Sara Corpening

Sisters are different flowers from the same garden. ~Author Unknown


There can be no situation in life in which the conversation of my dear sister will not administer some comfort to me. ~Mary Montagu

In the cookies of life, sisters are the chocolate chips. ~Author Unknown


When sisters stand shoulder to shoulder, who stands a chance against us? ~Pam Brown


The mildest, drowsiest sister has been known to turn tiger if her sibling is in trouble. ~Clara Ortega


A sister is a forever friend. ~Author Unknown


I know some sisters who only see each other on Mother's Day and some who will never speak again. But most are like my sister and me... linked by volatile love, best friends who make other best friends ever so slightly less best. ~Patricia Volk

There is no better friend than a sister. And there is no better sister than you. ~Author Unknown

Sister to sister we will always be,
A couple of nuts off the family tree.
~Author Unknown

Time To Put Things In Perspective

Well I suppose it was just a matter of time, but my computer has been attacked! The viruses came with a vengeance. My call has been placed to a computer geek and hopefully the damage will be rectified without too much trouble. In the meantime, I am using Blake's computer to type this post.

The last few days have been very busy..... I can't believe December is upon us already. The Christmas programs and parties have begun. I headed to Whitby on Friday to have my passport processed. I can go to Scarborough and pick it up on Monday, December 14th. Blake has asked Jon and me to take him to New Jersey later that week to pick up his girlfriend from Brazil. She will be visiting family in Jersey and then coming to Canada to stay with us over the Christmas holidays.

Last night I had Jon at the hospital. He was working in Griffith on his cousin's cottage when he started feeling symtoms of cellulitis..... it's something he's had about six times before in as many years, and it attacks him quickly. It is considered a mild form of the flesh-eating disease, but is manageable with meds. For some reason, the antibiotics are taking longer to start clearing things up.

Last night (Friday) Jake and I drove north of Napanee to Roblin to meet Jon and his cousin. Doug (Jon's cousin) and I switched vehicles... I got in with Jon to bring him back to Picton hospital and Doug got in with Jake. Jake is going on to Griffith to help Doug finish the roof of the cottage.

The doctor put Jon on an I.V. antibiotic, which is the only thing that will settle down the infection. We assumed he'd be on the pills alone today; however, they requested we return to the emergency department today for another dose, and then they requested he return again this evening. I just returned home from one of Jared's hockey games tonight and Jon said that the doctor on duty tonight wants him back to the hospital by 7am Sunday morning. She had given him Flagyl tonight because the infection doesn't look like it's going down at all.

I don't know why Jon keeps having trouble with this cellulitis, but when it attacks, it comes very quickly with little warning. I'm sure by tomorrow, things should be turning around. Goodness! If it's not one thing, it's another, eh?

Which brings me to the point of this post.

As I reflect on things like my computer problems; plans to travel to Jersey; passport preparations; this weekend's hockey games; Christmas festivities; preparations for Christmas gifts, foods, guests; and so much more;....... I can become overwhelmed with all of these things.

But then I receive an email that helps put things in perspective.

This week my sister, Wannett, sent me an email requesting prayer for the Bishop of the Free Methodist Church in Kenya. I was so moved by it. It made me stop what I was doing immediately and lift this man up before our Lord.

Here's Wannett's letter that she forwarded to folks she felt would pray for Bishop Nick:

Hello Friends

I am forwarding a request for prayer from Bishop Nixon Dingili in Kenya. As most of you know, this man is a new but very dear friend to me. I love this man and his family. A threat has been made to his life as you will read in the email below. Please forward this on so that we can have a huge prayer umbrella for Nick and his family (wife - Neddy, son - Leslie, daughter - Kelsey). Thank you, in advance, for your prayers and for forwarding this on to others. I will give you any and all updates as I get them.

Wannett.

And here is Bishop Nick's letter to folks that he felt would cover him in prayer:

Pray with me, I received a terrible phone call on Tuesday on my way to Kericho for Bible school. I was with my family in the car when someone by the name of John Maina called and told me that he has been hired and paid in full together with his group to finish me. He says that his boys are fully armed with guns and they will accomplish their mission soon. I asked him why he was sent and by whom? He refused to tell me and he hanged his phone. During the conversation, he told me that he will not hide his identity on phone neither will he hide his name. In my private findings, I have found out that both the name and number are genuine. He says he is not scared even if i report the matter to police. I reported the matter to Kericho police station and the Criminal Investigation Department is following up on the matter and they will get back to me. I will appreciate your prayers.

Blessings,

Bishop Nixon Dingili

Free Methodist Church of Kenya

Does that just not force you to look at things from a different perspective?

Please take the time to lift up Bishop Nixon and his family before the Lord. Wannett has not received any updates as of today (Saturday night); but, we know that the Lord is watching over his flock constantly, 24/7, and no action can come to Nixon without first passing through the hands of our Lord.

Oh how we need faith like this Bishop.... we have no idea what it's like to have someone literally hunt us down like an animal. This hitman obviously has no fear, as he boldly calls his victim with no fear of giving up his identity. I prayed that the Lord would confuse this hitman so he would not carry out this threats; and then I prayed that he would have a clear enough mind that the Holy Spirit would move in his life and convict him of the decisions and actions he's making.

Please keep the Bishop in your prayers.

Here are a couple of photos of Wannett and Bishop Nick in Kenya in September 2009. Wannett apologizes for the quality of the photos.... she doesn't understand why there is such a glow around them....... I'd say perhaps they were being covered by the Spirit. :O)

Please pray right now. And remember, over this very busy season, to keep things in perspective. Don't get caught up in the hub-bubb. Rather, remain steadfast in the Lord and continue to draw near to Him and HE will draw near to YOU!

Well, Aren't WE a Crazy Bunch....

Just thought I'd post a few random photos taken over the summer and autumn that included members of this crazy family.




Let's start off with Jake.


Looks normal enough...... a little dirty....


Wait!


Is that cow manure on your face, Jake?

And what exactly is that on the back of your head? A pony tail?

No, I believe it is NOT a pony tail but, in fact, a COW tail.....

You're nuts, Jake.

Here's a picture of Jared with our "adopted sons" Matthew and Christopher.

The boys were having fun going through the costume box and found these vests. Next thing I know, the boys' beginner fiddles were pulled out and Jared was trying to teach them a song whilst conducting the "orchestra" with a file that is actually used for sharpening the chainsaw!

Here they are from the backside..... they look like a couple of Dutch maidens.

I had to include this photo of Jon's baby. She was born in 1996. Jon loves his baby even more than ME! After taking a bit of a break, he is excited to see her get back on the road.

So Jake and two soccer buddies decide they need to get mullet hair cuts as they approached the season finals. Unfortunately, the mullets were not good luck, as they lost that game which knocked them out of the finals. At least he didn't wear the cow's tail to the game!

This is Jake on the left with his friends Joel (center) and Brandon (right), showing the side view of their new hairdo's.

Here's a photo of me with my two sisters. Left to right is Wannett, Danielle, and me, Michelle. We were asked to sing a song at the first fundraiser that was held in Waupoos.

I must include a photo of my nephews Bruce, Fraser, and Jackson....

..... as well as my nieces, Beulah and Hilda..... I mean, Celia and Abby.

I just HAVE to include this photo. This is Blake when we were at Kingston General Hospital waiting to have the gastroscopy done. We were waiting in the hallway for them to finish up with some other patients. I was standing at the end of the gurney, so as to stay out of the way of other gurneys that were being shuffled around. I felt something touching my hip, and it was Blake's toe brushing back and forth.

I thought he was trying to get my attention, so I went up to him and leaned over him and said, "Did you want something honey?" Blake takes a breath and, with his eyes still closed, says, "Iiiiiiii Love Youuuuuu....." I think my heart burst right at that moment and fell out onto the floor. It was so nice to hear him actually being nice to me! (Not feeling well had changed his attitude into quite a grouch, so it was wonderful to hear him actually be kind!) And THAT's why I will treasure this photo!

When Blake was first hospitalized in Picton, before we knew the extent of damage to his intestines, Blake was given a form of morphine to alleviate some pain. Jake decided he could give Blake some "happy medicine" straight from the earth of Prince Edward County..... he took some "grass" (it was actually grass that had been cut from the lawn... so don't panic or report us or anything!) and he rolled it in some paper. Blake was excited that he had his very own "doobie". Jake assured Blake it was for medicinal purposes only; however, we were not allowed to smoke in the building. hahahhahaaa

This photo is of my sister Danielle and my Mom. It was taken moments before the ambulance transferred Blake from Picton Hospital to Kingston on Oct 2nd. (Thanks, Todd & Chris, for the safe travelling you provided for m' boy.) Dani is giving Blake a wet willy before his ambulance ride.

(PS) - Happy Birthday Mom! (today, Nov 22nd).... 68 years young!

Our adopted son, Billy, wanted to ensure his best friend arrived safely in Kingston, so I told him I would ride with him in his car so he knew where to park and how to get to the right spot in the hospital. He gave us a hard time in getting his picture taken, so I had to use my Mommy Muscles.

When we were at Picton Hospital for the first stay, Blake received a bib from the Ladies Hospital Auxiliary. They are helpful volunteers who come around to assist those who need help being fed or opening up some of their containers and drinks, etc. They supply bibs, so I made Blake wear it in case he made a mess on his beautifully professionally designed hospital gown. He got silly when I went to take his picture with Jackson and he started drooling on the bib. You can't really notice it, but trust me... it's there! He's such a kook!

Before Wannett headed off to the Toronto airport to head to Kenya, Africa, she popped by for one last visit with Blake. I told her I had to get her picture in case her plane went down. I know. That's morbid. But that's honestly what I thought. I think you look really good in this photo, Wannett; so if your plane had have gone down, you would have entered Heaven's gates looking absolutely divine. Here's Wannett with her youngest daughter Beulah Celia.

Next up is a photo with me and our "adopted son" Justin. Justin lived with us in March and April of 2009 and worked with Jon on a construction site. Hey, Dooley, you clean up reeeeeeeeeal gooooooood. I miss Justin. He's about due for a visit, I'd say.

And THIS is Mikey-the-nice-guy. Mikey has been Jon's friend for about 20 years. They truck together, hang out together, eat together, and literally sleep together. They called me one night from their hotel room at a construction site in Petawawa... the beds were taken by other co-workers, so they shared a cot.... they "spooned". Jon says Mikey has a hairy back. hahahahha

Mikey is HONESTLY as crazy as they come. He is 100 percent nuts! crazy! looney! NOTHING is too crazy for this man. He lived here with us this past summer from Monday to Friday while he worked on the construction site and then headed home on the weekends. One weeknight my aunt and uncle were here for a visit. All of a sudden we realize that Mikey is burning our picnic table. And it's not only burning, but HE is on top of it WHILE it's burning.

'

'

'

He managed to coax Matt, Jared, and Jake to join in on the "fun". [sigh]

'

'

'

"OK!!!! I AM INSISTING THAT YOU ALL GET OFF THAT PICNIC TABLE RIGHT THIS INSTANT BEFORE YOUR GOOSE IS LITERALLY COOKED!!!!!"

'

'

'

You'll notice I haven't put any crazy photos of ME in here... that's because I don't do crazy things...... [a-hem]......or is it just that no one has the camera handy when I DO!??? This photo is of me when we took Blake to the Emerg back on Sept. 13th, before he was first diagnosed with Crohn's. I spent the night in his terribly uncomfortable wheelchair, wrapped in a hospital sheet. My Mom said that "I" looked more like the patient!

'

'

'

I had to include pictures of Mick and Duke, too. Here's Micky just after Jake and Jared took the cow clippers to him. They decided to give him a Mohawk cut with a lion's mane. Pooooor Mickyyyyyy.

'

'

'

They decided to give Duke the "checker board" look...... nahhhhh, I'm kidding. It's just the shadow of the lattice on the overhang of the back deck.

'

'

'

Now most of you know that Blake lost over 1/3 of his body weight with this disease. He went from 165 lbs. to 102 lbs. He was just skin on bones and looked like he'd just walked out of a concentration camp. When we were in the sitting room one evening with Jon and Jake and Jared, we were commenting on the size of his legs. Jared and Jake put their forearms next to Blake's calves. Check this out:

'

Can you BELIEVE THAT???? Their forearms are larger than Blake's legs!!!!!! What a shock.

'

'

'

And for the last photo...........

'

'

'

JON! IT SURE LOOKS LIKE YOU'RE IN A BIRTHING CHAIR!!!! WHEN ARE YOU DUE???

'

'

'

ARE YOU SURE YOU NEED THAT MUFFIN?????

'

'

'

Hope you enjoyed this little photo gallery.

'

'

'

There's lots more hospital photos that I want to share with you, but I thought you'd have fun checking out some of these crazy shots.

'

'

'

Yes, I believe we ARE a crazy bunch.

'

'