HAPPY HALLOWEEN!

Ok, I do know Halloween is not until Thursday but I carved the pumpkins yesterday while Sam was baking cupcakes with some of her friends from school and Kris worked on her class work. 

Sam wanted Jack Skeleton from Nightmare Before Christmas. After carving that we were trying to decide on what to do with the second when we came up with the idea of a zombie pumpkin.

So here you have The Walking Dead meets, our should I say eats, The Nightmare Before Christmas

Determination

People have always said I am stubborn - I always said that I was"determined". I now know that my determination comes from my parents. 

For those that do not know my Dad has had a challenging few years.  Many years ago he had angina.  That has largely been handled.  8 years ago though he was diagnosed with colon cancer.  He was 80. A major surgery and a hospital stay resulted in double pneumonia.  We were sure he would not make it.  I was preparing to head to the National Karate Championships and then to Japan for the World Cup so I had heard back home to Newfoundland in case I would not get to see him again.  5 years after that my Dad was at Laura' s and my wedding.  That made my heart soar.

This spring my Dad went to go out and left their apartment and fell down a flight of stairs,. Thankfully he did not break anything but a fall like that takes its toll on a now 88 year old man.  We visited him late in July/early August.  We spent time cooking and eating,  going for a drive and a beer.  We talked and laughed.  Myself and Laura left Newfoundland happy.

A little over a week ago Dad went to go to the kitchen.  He fell.  This time he broke his hip.  This hospital trip was now going to include a trip to surgery.  At 89 years of age I guess it was time that the suspension got updated.  But at 89 any surgery is tough and when you have breathing problems like COPD, even more so.  The doctors were not confident he would make it after the surgery and the frantic calls were made.

The evidence of stubbornness is that I talked to him yesterday and today he is feeling great (his words). Now I am not one to live in a fantasy world.  You can face challenge after challenge but at some point the odds are against you.  In this case the odds are not just the hip and the breathing problems but also a new discovery of cancer in the lungs,  liver and spine.  I do not know if this is a case of "odds against you" being true but as both my Mom and Dad have said - he has lived a good life.  I know I have learned a lot from him - especially about treating people right.

All along my Mom has looked after him.  50 years in.  Putting up with the type of stuff that Laura now puts up with - which astounds me after 3 years let alone 50. She is a rock and so is my sister who is still in Newfoundland with them.

We will wait to see what happens with Dad,   hoping for the best all along, but I will always be proud to call Donald Thomas Moore MY Dad - no matter what happens.

Happy Birthday Mom!

Today is my Mom's birthday. I think she said she was 29. 29 what I am not sure but I know she has the liveliness of 29.

I know today was not the easiest of birthdays for her - and in fact the last few months have been challenging but today is also Thanksgiving Sunday in Canada and I know she will say she is thankful. I know she will say she is thankful for her health and the fact that she can help others. She would say she is thankful for the fact that my sister's surgery went well and she is improving. I know she will say she is thankful for the fact that her loving husband of 50 years was able to give her a birthday kiss today. And I know she will say she is thankful for her friends and family that have helped her through things over the past few years.

I know one thing - I am thankful that she is my Mom. Thankful that she was there to teach me, even when she tried not to show it, and that she was there to sit and talk with me for days when I had my own problems to face.

I love you Mom. Thank you for being there for us. I promise we will be there for you.

Happy Birthday!

Happy Anniversary!

Happy Anniversary Sweetheart!

Us in NFLD

It has been an interesting third year. There have been lots of adventures ... some good and some, well
less than ideal. But the wonderful thing that has been through each adventure you have been there ... right beside me and I would not want it any other way. Maybe this coming year we can do more of the "less challenging" though ;-)

I know we have had some bumps in our third year ... job changes, starting the new company and the occasional, well slightly more than occasional, need to help out our kids. The wonderful part has been that you have been there to support us throughout every moment - the easy and the challenging. You have been a wonderful mother and a partner that anyone would be proud to have beside them.

This year also saw us go to Newfoundland to see my parents. Now I want to meet their record and hit the 50 year mark and I would only want to do it with you. Of course that means I will be 96 and maybe I will not be running like I do today but I will promise to show you I love you each and every day.

Thank you for the last 3 years and I look forward to the next 47. I love you today even more than that day 3 years ago when I said "I do".

Happy Anniversary!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY DAD!

Today is my Dad's birthday. I won't divulge his age but he was almost 40 when I was born.

Eventhough the last few years have had bumps in the road I am very thankful that when I call he is there to talk to and very thankful that when we are in Newfoundland we can go out and have a beer. He has always been there to help guide us, whether through what he said (or yelled) or through what he did. I learned a lot from my dad ... things that have helped me be successful as well as things that I have passed on to my children so that they may be successful. I hope they pass those things onto their kids.

We love you Dad and we are all glad you are around to celebrate another milestone.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY!