I want to thank you, show my gratitude

A lot of really great things have happened in my extended family in the past three years.

My cousin Ami got married and gave birth to a healthy baby girl.

My aunt Nancy got married (maybe a little more than three years ago, I forget now) and gave birth to a healthy baby girl, followed by a healthy baby boy.

My cousin Dave got married and became the father of a healthy baby boy.

My cousin Nikki gave birth to a baby boy who started off with some health issues but is thriving now.

My cousin Jody got engaged and gave birth to a healthy baby girl.

I gave birth to a healthy baby girl.

My cousin Kevin got married and became a (step)father.

My sister, Meaghen, met and fell in love with a wonderful man, who loves her to bits.

I mention all of this because it's easy to get bogged down in focusing on the negative. Once you start doing that it's a downward spiral of, "Why me/us? Life sucks!" A lot of crap has befallen my extended family in the last few years, too - the loss of both of my grandparents, stillbirths, miscarriages, heart attacks, etc. I'm not giving a detailed list because my cousins and I have decided we need to stay positive and supportive. I want to focus on what's good in my life and in the lives of the people I love.

Yesterday my uncle, my mom's youngest brother, was given a diagnosis of stage 4 mantle cell lymphoma. It's in his spleen, his groin and the lymph nodes in his neck. He has a wife and 10 year old daughter, plus of course a huge extended family. I've asked this before, but please pray to whatever higher power you believe in for my uncle, aunt and cousin.

And try to focus on the good in your life.

Wake me up when September ends

Okay, so where have I been? Well, not at home. I have been home for three weeks since the end of June, and not all in a row. Here's a quick recap of my summer so far:

First weekend of July: Peterborough
First week of July: home
Next two weeks: California (without the kids!)
Next week: home
Next week: Peterborough (lots of hanging by the pool while my dad chased the kids)
Next week: home
Then: cottage near Tobermory (with lots of in-laws to help watch the kids)
This past weekend: Petrolia (for Terpcathalon, for which Rylee behaved this time)

Details will follow. The California trip was amazing - Ryan had a course and since we were able to pawn off the kids on our parents (each set took a week) I tagged along and spent some time with him and some with the wonderful Miss Daphne. Photos to follow maybe. My cousin Christine, who lives in BC, made it back to Ontario, so I got to hang with her and my sister while I was in Peterborough. The annual gathering at my mom and dad's on the August long weekend was better attended than the last few years, and was a lot of fun. Tobermory was fabulous, as always, and we did some great diving. The water wasn't as cold as it's been some years (a balmy 55F at about 90 ft)

Now I'm trying to wrap my head around the idea that my summer holiday is almost over, and start thinking about school. I also need to clean my house and get some groceries. Wish me luck.