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Along the Way: January 2015

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Saturday, 10 January 2015. During the last week of 2014 I went out to eat three times. This is a rarity for me and each meal gave me food for thought. The first meal I was invited to via Facebook, the great beacon of reconnection. There were a couple of old classmates of mine who were “coming home” for Christmas and thought it would be fun to get together to mark the year of our 40. A solution was found and my family dropped me off at the door to the restaurant. Says in her book Eat, Pray, Love. I have e...

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Along the Way: April 2014

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Tuesday, 29 April 2014. One day last week, my oldest son, Michael, managed to choke on a fairly substantial mouthful of spaghetti. Sitting across the table from him, I could see his face turn red, the sudden desperation in his eyes, the automatic draw of his hands towards his throat. I was just about to motion to my husband sitting beside him to perform the Heimlich manoeuvre when nature won out and my son rushed to the garbage can and eliminated the offending wad. I asked what his teacher had said.

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Along the Way: August 2015

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Thursday, 27 August 2015. In every family, there are stories which define its character. Some of these stories get told and retold and enter the realm of legend. This is a story my Dad told at our most recent family gathering. We children have heard this story many times over our lives, but it was new for the grandchildren. It is a story of faith in a good God, a story that, had the outcome been different, there might not have been a family to retell it to. But did not yet have a nursing station or telep...

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Along the Way: November 2013

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Monday, 11 November 2013. When We End Up in the Ditch (or other unfortunate places). We were in Winnipeg last night at a gathering of friends – some friends from our current life and some from a previous life. There was lots of catching up, lots of laughs, lots of good food. It was a good time. 8220; Fire you? I just spent $30 000 on your education! Do you think I'm going to fire you now and let someone else benefit from that education? That sounds to me like the grace of God. We (the royal “we&#82...

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Along the Way: February 2015

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Sunday, 1 February 2015. Ngam* and I exchanged amused glances as my sons reached for yet another spring roll. Through a church connection, my husband had come into this voluntary position of English teacher. He had wheedled me into coming the first time, believing that if he could get me there once, I would want to keep coming of my own volition after that. He was right. And sticky rice to try. There were fresh and dried tamarinds. Neither my husband nor I had ever eaten, or even seen these befor...This ...

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Along the Way: Faith in the Fog

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Sunday, 9 August 2015. Faith in the Fog. Confession: I ran out of gas. In the middle of nowhere. Three events coincided on the same evening to bring about this condition: we were invited over for coffee at some friends, my daughter was at a sleepover at a different friend's, and the van was running low on gas. I collected my tired, disappointed daughter and headed back. About halfway home, the van began to slow of its own volition. I headed to the side of the road and coasted to a stop. &#822...My husban...

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Along the Way: July 2014

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Monday, 21 July 2014. All Aboard and Bon Voyage! Tomorrow our family leaves for Montreal, VIA train. This prospect is very exciting for all of us: my husband is looking forward to getting somewhere without having to drive the whole way (his co-driver tends to want to fall asleep while driving) and while being able to stand up and walk around; my oldest son has been waiting all his life. To visit a big city; my youngest two are satisfied with just being excited about everything. And then the story time&#4...

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Along the Way: Food for Thought

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Saturday, 10 January 2015. During the last week of 2014 I went out to eat three times. This is a rarity for me and each meal gave me food for thought. The first meal I was invited to via Facebook, the great beacon of reconnection. There were a couple of old classmates of mine who were “coming home” for Christmas and thought it would be fun to get together to mark the year of our 40. A solution was found and my family dropped me off at the door to the restaurant. Says in her book Eat, Pray, Love. I have e...

donnathiessen.blogspot.com

Along the Way: Ten Steps to a Memorable Family Vacation

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Wednesday, 29 July 2015. Ten Steps to a Memorable Family Vacation. 1 Hit the “Reset” button. All was well until about three hours down the road when the trailer started to vibrate suspiciously, even considering Manitoba's bumpy highway. So we pulled over onto a side road, far from any civilization, to see what was the matter. Just the tent trailer tire, shredded to bits from going from complete disuse to overuse in a very short time. Evidently, my husband knew what he was talking about. 5 Spend some money.

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Along the Way: December 2014

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Friday, 26 December 2014. It was the Christmas I was eight years old. It was coming up on two years since my Grandma had passed away suddenly and unexpectedly from a brain aneurism. My Grandpa was in the midst of being treated for prostate cancer and suffering from his continual affliction of early-onset rheumatoid arthritis. In my memory, Grandpa was never well, but he was particularly unwell that Christmas. The most anticipated time of all – the gift exchange! And then, there it was. Even at eight I co...