The Most Valuable Gift

A book I am reading spoke about food being the most valuable gift that 'mountain folk' can give one another, during a time of scarcity. (Unfortunately, I know that for some, even in our Region, that will be the case this holiday. Please give to your local foodbank or free pantry.)

This got me thinking, for those who are fortunate to have food in the pantry, what is our most valuable gift? Is it time...friendship, family, health, safety, or a unique work of art? I think for me, it's time. More time to spend with those I love, more time to create, time to read, to experience joy, to travel, more time before Lahara grows into a young lady...

And with some of this time, let me wish you all joyous holiday greetings!

It seems that the postal strike has formally given me an 'out' on sending holiday cards this year. We'll see what the New Year brings. Perhaps you'll open your mailbox to a Family Day card, or a Groundhog Day postcard... who knows? For now, I'll pour my time and thoughts into this post and see if I can share a little of what 2024 has contained for us. Grab a mug of tea... this might take a while!

You may recall we started our year with two cats in our household - Patches and Spooky - more or less gifted to us by Dan's father, Bill, upon passing. Lahara enjoyed being an instant cat mama. It was a nice comfort at times, and even the more temperamental Spooky warmed up to us eventually. 

Unfortunately, these geriatric cats were much sicker than we could manage for long, with Patches leaving us first, and Spooky not far behind. If we ever have a feline again, Lahara really deserves the pure (hyper) joy of a kitten. 

Rest peaceful, Spooky

Between vet appointments and many Girl Guide adventures, I also resurrected a small book club for the local Paris "Women Inspiring Women," a chapter of the Women's Institute - a thriving and modern ladies group I joined last June. This is not the farming and home-making club of our grandmothers. Some of us still bake and preserve, but we also accomplish a lot of fundraising and community service, advocate for local projects, and support entrepreneurship and education. There is a key component of friendship and fun, with room for vulnerability and solidarity as a community of women of all ages. We also host a 'secret sister' activity, reminiscent of the 'wine ninja' exchanges during the pandemic.

Some of you may recall the book club I used to enjoy, a collection of staff from St. Mary's General Hospital, that was, in it's heyday, run by my late friend Elaine Baldwin. The club still exists in some fashion, but the members are mostly retired, and sometimes meet during the day in Kitchener - not something I could continue. So when I heard that the Women's Institute had a book group...I was elated. I soon learned that it had fizzled, lacking leadership. So, when I learned that there was still interest... I said, "why not?" ('Cause you know, I really need more to do.) But I do know books, or at least I enjoy books, and I learned a lot from Elaine about running an enjoyable and enriching book club. 

I'm really enjoying this group, and one gracious and spunky lady (Mary) enjoys hosting us in her stunning garden or home pub. I feel blessed to to hear the stories, adventures, thoughts, and opinions of this group, as we navigate through the stories of our characters. So far we've read or listened to - audiobooks are what I have time for these days - The Alice Network (Kate Quinn), The Art of Racing in the Rain (Garth Stein), Educated (Tara Westover), The Glass Hotel(Emily St John Mandel), The Henna Artist (Alka Joshi), The Vanishing Half (Brit Bennett). For December's gathering we've decided not to read a specific title, but to read our choice and share it with the group. I finished Midnight at the Blackbird Cafe (Heather Webber) and I've recently Wintering (Katherine May) - if you enjoy Scandinavian culture and Norse folklore, this one's for you. Don't let the self-help nature of the book's description hold you back from exploring this thoughtful memoir about the power of rest and healing. Post-Christmas would be a wonderful time for this title. Our January read will be The Women (Kristen Hannah), read along with us if you like, and drop me a line about what you thought! I really enjoyed The Nightingale and Winter Garden, both by the same author.

Even though it sounds like I've etched out some personal time, the reality is, most of my days are still filled with the many interests and whims of Lahara. That's the 'era' I'm presently in, and I intend to soak it all up, as it truly seems fleeting.

Lahara is really enjoying skating just now, graduating from the Canskate program to Star 1 & 2. That was also a big step, as she transitioned from wearing a compulsory helmet to a special (curling) headband. She will perform some 'Elements'/techniques at an upcoming competition in January, and is working with her coach on a freeskate solo that she will perform at the Winter Showcase and Spring Gala, and maybe compete with next year. She's chosen the music from Olivia Rodrigo's "Deja-Vu."

She continues her dance training at the local studio, where she dances with many of her close friends. Last year she tried, and enjoyed ballet, along with acro and jazz. This year she's back to lyrical and acro - working on her front and back walkovers. 

I'm trying my best to introduce her to all forms of theatre, music, and dance. I fondly recall the many performances my parents took me to see at the Humanities Theatre, Stratford Festival, Centre in the Square, Drayton, and sometimes during our travels. This year I took Lahara and a friend to see Peter Pan in Stratford, and Lois joined us for a complimentary show at St. Jacobs playhouse called the Marvelous Wonderettes. Lahara also joined her friend Alyssa at the Joegen Nutcracker Ballet, at Sanderson Centre, as a birthday surprise.

And between all these nights out and practices, there was also school, summer vacation, MANY birthday parties, and of course... baseball. 

This spring we signed up Lahara for coed house league baseball as usual. We were surprised to learn there was interest in shifting the Under11(U11) girls to a travel team. It became a terrific experience, and a chance to learn windmill pitching. Two of her friend's moms were coaching. We had a chance to see the countryside - attending games in Innerkip, Drumbo, Cambridge, Hickson, Embro, Norwich and Sweaburg - the South Oxford circuit. This also meant 2+ games per week and one practice. This made it very difficult for the cottage and camp activities we had already booked in July. Neither Dan or I were playing ball this year, and thankfully so with this schedule! Dan's still plagued with knee issues and I simply didn't have the time. As sad as it sounds, I'm beginning to think our baseball days might be over. Though I'm still not ready to give up tennis for pickleball!

Lahara certainly is doing her best to make up for it. I think she has tried out for also every sport at school, including badminton. They don't take many Gr 4/5's for the teams, but it's great practice. She also enjoys tennis with me, curling with the Guides, and downhill skiing when conditions are right. We're hoping for slightly more snow this winter. 

I mentioned a lot of our time is devoted to Girl Guides. This year our Ember-Guide unit has grown to 30 girls and 7 leaders! A long way from the 16 girl/2 leader Ember unit 2 years ago. Last May, we had the chance to attend a national jamboree, Girl Jam at Exhibition Place, Toronto. What an experience - sleeping on a concrete floor with 5000 friends - not something I'd do often, but the girl energy was pretty amazing, and some of these girls had never spent a night away from their community before. We're looking forward to planning our next big Guiding adventure, perhaps in 2026. International travel is also a big component of Guiding, so who knows? Until then, we'll keep selling more cookies!

May also brought about Lahara's first baby shower, for the daughter of a friend in Winterbourne - baby Rosie. Lahara was excited to see all the wee clothes and celebrate what was to come. Now she's equally excited to for another baby, due to our Guider, Rainbow Owl. 

On a more somber note, late spring brought the unexpected news of the passing of Dan's middle brother, David. He'd been less a part of our lives in recent years, but he was too young to have left us forever. Dan and I were close to Dave before Lahara was born, when Dan worked with him in Mississauga. We joined Dave's circle of friends for boat tours, baseball, and poker nights. Losing Dave less than a year after Dan's Dad....was especially tough. There seem to be more people than ever, whom we are missing this Christmas. 

Dave, Dad, Dan, Lahara 2023

Daddy grew watermelon

We tried our best to live in the moment and enjoy some pool days and campfire nights this summer - in Paris and at Chesley Lake. We started the summer with Lahara attending VBS at the cottage while Lois and I volunteered for the week alongside our friend Jacque. Our nieces joined us for a second week and the girls swam a lot, built fairy houses and explored Sauble Beach. Lahara took a try at waterskiing and almost made it...next year for sure! Later in the season she tried paddleboarding - she's a natural, she can even perform yoga on it! (I gave it a whirl, just simple paddling, but I don't think inflatable boards are for me.) 

Cousins!

Lahara also attended Silver Lake Mennonite Camp overnight for a week in July. She took a friend, Lucy, from school, whose family also had a history with the camp. The girls had an amazing time, and shed many tears when they were picked up a day early to attend their end-of-season ball tournament. 

Soon came the Paris Fair with lots of craft entries and a stellar midway. Lahara braved her fears to go on the all of the rides she didn't try the year before.  

Before long it was September again, and into Ms. Southern's Gr. 5 class, as well as the Terry Fox Run. Lahara is now walking and biking to school with the family who used to sit for us, the kids are old enough to all travel together. She also skates and dances with the same family. I am ever grateful to this family and a few other parents who have stepped in to ferry Lahara to dance or skating, or adopted her on the odd PD day when Dan and I have been working. Also in September, I snuck in a weekend trip with my girlfriends to Huntsville.

I was given a blast from the past in October when our Guide unit spent the weekend at Camp Ki-Wa-Y in north Waterloo. The last time I was there I was Lahara's age, and I went with our Grade 5 class. Some of the same cabins are still standing, but we stayed in less rustic ones with the cool weather. It was an incredible program, the girls had the chance to go rock climbing, rappelling and a high ropes course. They also did some geocaching, fire-starting with flints, and shelter building. 

Next came Halloween, when Dan likes to go all out with decorations. This year he borrowed a few items from his younger brother, Kevin. A perfect compliment to our neighbour's Halloween bonfire and costume party next door. Lahara and her friend were twin Taylor Swifts (of course) and I surprised her by dressing as Taylor's football-playing boyfriend. 

Then came a weekend trip to Tweed, Ontario, for Lahara and I, with my 3 sisters. Our cottage had a pool table and Lahara enjoyed learning to play. Look out, Dan!

Nearly closing off the year was Lahara's 10th birthday. The theme she chose was 'Pastel Candy Land.' She decided on a sleepover for 6 girls. Let's just say we lost a few along the way to early activities - there were only 4 left for pancakes in the morning! I was reflecting on how much the girls have changed and matured since her first parties. Listening to their pre-teen banter and giggles about skincare and crushes, I just kept thinking - can they stay this age forever? 

Dan is still in a Kindergarten classroom this fall, with too many kids and not enough EAs to help out with several exceptional students. He enjoys the kids, especially the ones who need extra attention, but it's exhausting. I am going on 18 years at Cambridge Memorial Hospital Foundation. My digital work is rewarding and paying off, but our small team has a few folks on extended leave, so my hybrid days are very full. Weekends light on activities are so necessary to recharge.

And here we are, in the month of Christmas and soon the turning the calendar for the New Year. I'm not sure about you, but this holiday especially, I have these moments...when I'm overwhelmed with emotion. It might be when listening to the song 'Christmas Shoes,' or during a touching moment of family chaos in a Hallmark movie.I can't quite place my finger on it, though perhaps it's just the losses we have experienced in recent years and the reminder that nothing is certain in life.

For our time ahead, we will spend Christmas Eve with our neighbours, Chris & Marion, Boxing Day hosting Dan's family, and some of the holidays with my sisters. We wish you health and many things to look forward to in the New Year.

Merry Christmas to all, and to all a good night!

Westfield Heritage Village

Cindy Lou Who, Paris Santa Parade

St Jacobs Santa Train

Waterloo Park