It is sometimes hard to know what date is more significant in my life - my birthday, my wedding anniversary, my children’s births…. each has a special meaning and significance but it seems that over time July 17th has become the most significant. July 17th, as it turns out, was the end and the beginning.

You know the term half glass full? - well that is what I am talking about. And actually, that whole way of thinking started about 6 months prior to July 17th when my husband Phil and I were told that our first child, Cale, had pulminary hypertension and that he would not survive. Unless you have experienced this as a parent you have no idea what this does to you . I remember sitting alone shortly after hearing this come from the doctors mouth and feeling like I have never felt before. The joy of a first child was about to be taken from us - they didn’t know how long - maybe today, tomorrow, next week or in 5 years. Through the tears and saddened feeling my heart was experiencing I made a decision that for however long, it was going to be the best it could be. It is hard to look at a situation like this with a glass half full mindset - but I knew that if I was to look back some day I would want to know that we did everything possible to insure our little guys life was the best it could be - for how ever long it would be.

13 years later I do look back and remember my son and his life, albeit many days in the hospital, as a great life. A life filled with laughter and smiles - stories and love. Cale taught us what life is really about - it is not how long you are here but what you do with the days you have here on earth. It is about focusing less on “things” and more on people - relationships and finding joy in the journey - no matter what that journey may be.

July 17th was the end and the beginning. It was the end of our son’s life here on earth but the beginning of the next part of our journey. I sometimes feel like I have had two lives - the one with Cale and the one after Cale. I take from my time with him so many lessons - and a new way of being. I have two healthy children now and because of Cale, I love them more - and, I believe, am a better person and mother for it.

As we remember Cale today we are filled with sadness but we are also filled with so much gratitude. Cale has made us appreciate life- he remains an important part of our family and continues to teach us lessons everyday.

Remember - life is a journey. Choose to find joy in it - no matter what challenges you face.

Helen

Despite being very busy, my husband does an amazing job at staying connected our two children. He juggles his schedule each year to help me host our annual pancake breakfast, he tries his best to be at all of our kids sports activities and recitals - he calls and writes emails when he is away on business.

Recently, he was away for an extended business trip. My daughter sent him smileboxes daily and he emailed them kisses and called as he always does. Then one night we put our heads together - his not so technical and mine a bit more technical and decided to download skype and use our built-in computer cameras so he could say hi LIVE!

What an amazing experience it was for the kids. They could talk to daddy, they could see his hotel room and he even showed them some of the treats he had picked up for them. That LIVE time was worth the time it took for us to get our two computers talking.

If you have a husband or wife on the road and don’t already take advantage of the technology the computer offers us - jump in. Skype is easy to use for both voice and video. So if you don’t have a camera you can still talk for free using your computer. Smilebox is another great way to communicate. The kids can send little messages via cards and slideshows - easy to download and fun to use. If you have a scanner, try scanning in a drawing from the day or a returned test from school.

It takes a bit of time but it is soooo worth it!

Smilebox:
http://smilebox.canadianparents.com/

Skype:
http://www.skype.com

We live in “almost” southern Ontario. Typically, our winters are mild, we get snow but not that much… And then there was this year. The snow shovel we bought a few years back (electric for big snowfalls) had been used a handful of times … until this year. The cozy deck cover we have enjoyed for three years, the one that is too high for us to get down easily, the one that survived the little snow we have had each winter had stood strong… until this year.

I grew up near Ottawa where we had winter. I think we were getting a little too comfortable with this new form of winter - not just us but people across Canada. For us, we have learned a good lesson. We will get out the ladder this fall when we put our summer stuff away - including what will have to be a new deck cover!

Helen

I love the excitement of a good hockey game, especially if my kids and our friends’ kids are playing. Being the wife of a governor (just hockey!) you tend to be at the rink preparing for events long before everyone else arrives, sometimes before the lights are turned on. I love looking out over the ice - noone in the stands, not a sound in the arena. Peace - the calm before the storm. On this morning, as I looked out over the empty ice surface I knew that the day held promise. Our daughter was playing in her first wrap-up game and our son would be soon learn that he and a good friend would share the honor of MVP for the 07/08 hockey season. And kids aside, my husband, who spends countless hours organizing, phoning, talking, and planning would say goodbye to another season of house league. As much as I know he is looking forward to the rest this will bring, I know how much he loves his time at the rink and the feeling he gets from the smiling faces that come and go each week.

If you asked me ten years ago if I would be a hockey mom I would have said NO! But, as it turns out, being a hockey mom is ok. We love the game, our kids love the game. You have to love that!

Helen

I have been a huge fan of photography for years, but it was not until I started scrapbooking that I realized the potential it has in capturing the moments of our life as a family. By combining photos and my memories through journaling and fun titles I am able to hang on to every minute of our growing families life.

We all take picture of the BIG events - but I think in the end it will be the little events, the little moments that will have the most meaning. So - here goes. A photo a day to help me focus in on what really matters. I hope you will join me by taking photos too!