Crazy Eights, for Tesa and Tiz

EIGHT THINGS FOR WHICH I HAVE PASSION:

1. God. Saviour, Healer, best friend, I Am. He is everything to me, truly. God is the reason I sing, the reason I write, and most importantly, the reason I somehow manage to drag my sorry butt out of bed in the mornings.
2. Family. My sisters and I are so incredibly different but I wouldn't trade what we have for anything in the world. And you got my thoughts on Mum a couple weeks ago. The Gs, Mum's parents...love 'em like crazy. The rest of the fam, well that's more driving me crazy, but hey. ;-)
   
3. Songwriting. I've never thought that I was particularly amazing at it, but it's an incredible way to express myself, and say things I could somehow never otherwise articulate.
4. Music. Though it often converges with the previous item, listening to and playing music is a joy all its own. It's been way too long before I sat at a piano, and I really, really need to remedy that. Melodramatic as it sounds, I don't think my soul is quite right without it.
5. Horses. It may have been a few years since I had my own, but if the Equine Facilitated Mental Health Workshop a couple weeks ago taught me anything (and it did, ohhh it did!), it reminded me precisely why I love horses. They're beautiful and majestic, but earthy and gentle and compassionate and intuitive, and, well, this sentence could run on forever ;-)
6. Children. I love kids. There was a sign in the nursery before we started renovating at the church that said, "Babies are such a nice way to start people." I concur! And even though there are definitely the less charming moments, I think overall, children are so amazing with their generosity of love and vivacity!
   
7. "My" Kids. The kids I work with at the daycare are an eclectic mix coming from a variety of backgrounds, but I see such amazing potential in all of them. Obviously, they're the coolest kids ever and I'm not the least bit biased :-P
8. Food. Not always the healthiest passion for me, but I love to cook and to eat! I'll try anything once but I definitely have my favourites. Mostly, I love to invite a friend over and just go totally crazy making them something utterly delicious!
   

EIGHT THINGS I’D LIKE TO DO BEFORE I DIE:

1. Spend Christmas in Paris. And if I can manage it, not speak a word of English the entire time. (Could be tricky if I end up having a hubby who's a francophobe, but we'll see haha.)
   
2. Write a novel. Even if it sucks, I want to finish one.
   
3. Record a CD. (Okay, I'd like to do this before the end of the year. Finish the blasted thing!)
4. Get my Masters Degree in Counselling Psychology. (Again, not so much the death timeline, let's say more like next 7 years.)
5. Take a photography class.
6. Run a marathon or half-marathon. Be fit enough to do so without lions, tigers and bears chasing me.
   
7. Go on a sailing trip, at least a long weekend.
8. Visit every continent.
   

EIGHT THINGS I SAY A LOT:

1. "I said no. If you do that again, there will be a consequence." (Huh? I don't work at a daycare, really :P )
2. "Le Sigh"
3. "You're so cute. How'd you get so cute? Who'd you bribe?" (To the cat. Ima dork.)
4. "Walking feet please!"
5. "Ugh. I need to do dishes."
6. "I fail at life."
7. "I win at life!" (not remotely mercurial.)
8. "I love you."
   

EIGHT BOOKS I HAVE READ RECENTLY:

1. Shopgirl - Steve Martin
2. The Big Bad Wolf Tells All - Donna Kauffman
3. Gods in Alabama - Joshilyn Jackson (in progress)
   
4. Hard to Handle - Lori Foster
5. The Time Traveler's Wife - Audrey Niffenegger (Also in progress.)
6. Thigh High - Christina Dodd
   
7. Sucker Bet - Erin McCarthy
   
8. Bones to Ashes - Kathy Reichs
   

EIGHT MOVIES I HAVE SEEN EIGHT TIMES:

1. Sweet Home Alabama - "So I can kiss you anytime I want!"
   
2. The Princess Bride - "You keep saying that word. I don't think it means what you think it means."
3. The Shawshank Redemption - "The funny thing is - on the outside, I was an honest man, straight as an arrow. I had to come to prison to be a crook."
4. Lord of the Rings - "Fool. No man can kill me." Eowyn removes her helmet, runs the Nazgül through. "I am no man."
5. The Lion King - "Doesn't matter, it's in the past!" "Yeah, but it still hurts!"
6. Forrest Gump - "Me and Jenny goes together like peas and carrots."
7. Monty Python's The Quest for the Holy Grail - "You're not my king! I didn't vote for you!"
8. Finding Nemo - "This is the Ocean, silly, we're not the only two in here."

EIGHT PEOPLE WHO SHOULD DO THIS MEME:

1. Whoever
2. feels
3. just
4. that
5. particular
6. brand
7. of
8. crazy.

Chere Maman

I often tease my mum that she's the "best mum I've ever had!" I'm a smart ass like that.
But really, she's the best mum I could ever have hoped for. No one in my life comes even close to loving me as much as she does. She's my unfailing champion, and the kicker of my butt. I know she loves me as I am, and that she has high hopes and faith in me. More than anything, she wants me to be happy, and she is one of the greatest contributors to that end. She is an amazing woman.
She's smart; she did some upgrading to her nursing this last year, and got an A+ on her final paper. I was so very proud. She's very good at her job, and it shows in the way patients speak of her. Having a nurse for a mum is a bit of a catch-22 ("I've had patients with their heads shot off who complained less than you!") but terribly handy in 6th grade when you can't bear the idea of anyone else giving you a shot. Last year when I had to go in for surgery, she was there holding my hand, getting me a warm blanket, and though I should be embarrassed to admit it, a teddy bear. (Hey, you lie there about to get your tummy cut open and see how you feel!)
She's beautiful, though I know she doesn't see it. She thinks her hands look old, and I think they're inspiring. Those hands have healed and comforted and soothed countless people, and changed my and my sisters' lives. They are skilled and capable, a testament to those qualities she herself bears.
She's strong and brave, and wise enough to admit when she makes mistakes. She's a faithful friend, standing as a pillar of strength to friends who've lost so much, lately. She's a loyal daughter, and as much as she and Grampy clash, since they're both used to being heads of their own households, she gave up her life here to be closer to them and to care for he and Granny as they get older.
She's courageous in trying new things, taking up both running and kayaking after 50. I was glad to hear the kayak she bought is bright orange, so hopefully no boats will run her over!
She made home a safe place after a time when it felt like it never could be again. She taught me to drive, white knuckled and grim-faced, when we always thought Dad would take care of that. She managed her household well, and fairly, and made me so proud when after digging herself from the financial pit Dad had got us in, she bought her condo and later sold it at a profit. She worked, and works, so hard that we should never go without. She is the best woman I have ever had the privilege to know.
I am honoured to call her my mother, and blessed to call her my friend. I love you, Mum.

Happy Mother's Day!