Refining the Crown

Mother's Day is a few days away, this year is a little different. Each year on FB I mention a thank you to my birth Mom for what she did... this year I can say it to her! We have known each other since November and I am so thankful she is a patient woman! I am trying to figure out how this works, how I fit in to this family puzzle and she forgives my lack of birthday cards and so much more! In December my kids were so excited to tell people about what had taken place and our little girl would blurt out "My Mommy has two Mommies!"  people just smiled and said okay... looking for an explanation and I would tell them the story. In all honesty I have four Mom's. All four have loved me in different ways. My birth Mom loved me enough to realize her world and life at that moment would not be right for me and she placed me for adoption. My foster Mom took over the role and loved me as a baby until I was matched with a family, she became an "aunt" and was in my lif...

This is not MY adoption story... although my story has a lovely ending!   This is the story of a few streets in Hamilton that did not have a hub or community to belong to. When we moved to Hamilton there was some confusion as to which hub we belonged to, I heard Crown Point, Sherman Hub and who cares from some neighbours... the ones that did care did not know how to find out. I did some digging, was connected with some people in both hubs and worked with someone to develop a plan to join a hub. We talked to neighbours, asked them where they shop, do day to day things and took note. I had a few pages of "proof" of where people felt they belonged and was ready to present it guns blazing... really... i was ready to fight! Then at a meeting I asked a city employee what the steps would be to join a hub and he simply said "just ask the hub". This could have been done faster had we known!!! So we asked and now our little "hood" of under 70 homes is part of ...

A church in our community, which happens to be our church posted a fb post about being robbed. Our community JUMPED into action, offering items, asking what they as individuals could help with in a matter of hours connections had been made and some items have been replaced. I know I will personally be replacing the jelly beans stolen... who takes jelly beans?!?   Hours after the post the church decided to open up their doors for a potluck so the community can come and gather. We as a family are hosting a baking night the night before to provide some desserts, someone has covered an enormous amount of food, it has become a beautiful example of how people gather in the shadow of something awful.   Sunday we will laugh, share and get to know our neighbours. I hate that it took a theft to inspire it but I cannot wait!  My favourite Trifle will be making another appearance! 2 boxed cake mix- golden... bake as per directions  2 cool whip 2 vanilla puddin...

I grew up in a small town where dinner's at Nana's were common, where clergy member's joined you and your family for a meal, you brought a casserole to a new neighbour or left one on the steps of your neighbours home when a baby arrived. I have discovered over the years that I love on people through food... in fact someone once prayed "God is good, God is great, thank you Lord for Christine and her delicious cake" (if you know me that explains my email address!). Hosting is another joy I have. My mother was not much of a host... she likes to sit on her patio with a dog and a can of ginger ale in the evening.... alone. My Aunt on the other hand could easily be the master Hostess of all times. Her cupboards and fridge were always ready for a "drop in" guest, an extra bed was always waiting just in case and she was thrilled if you found a couch to snooze on after a good meal.  Although we share NO genes I joke that I got the hospitality bone from her. ...

For months we had been planning a "misfit" Christmas, a Christmas dinner for anyone who found themselves alone for Christmas. We had a plan... make a meal... invited people.... enjoy... It was simple. The plan worked well! We had people respond! People were coming! Other people wanted to provide food, desserts, anything else we needed. The response was incredible!  Local eateries on our Beloved Ottawa street asked us to pick up food, a lovely woman pulled up in our driveway with a HUGE box of squares and made me tear up with her generosity. We picked up chairs and a coffee urn from a local funeral home... really... amazing people live all over our city! It is now February and when people ask where we live or inquire info about us in conversation we have found it easier to just say "We are the people who had Christmas for anyone alone" they then know exactly who we are :) We plan to do this again and again. A tradition my husband grew up knowing as normal. ...

This is a story of a family living in a city in the GTA who found that they could not afford a home in their area. Hamilton was the answer that we, a family of five were looking for. The commute was less than an hour away, the housing market was affordable and heck... there are some real gems in Hamilton! After we found a great realtor who asked for a list of homes we wanted to see we were off to spend a day in the "Hammer". After a full day seeing 7 homes, visiting a splash pad and talking to locals we had our house in mind. Now I will say... buying a home unseen is terrifying! lol I  admit it... our kids were exhausted so I sat in  the car with the kids while my husband looked at it. I was doodling on the info sheet figuring out how i would make the board and baton look homey with the old windows it sported when he came out with a smile on his face and said "it needs paint" (that is do able.. cue mom who owns a paint store). We bought the house, did lots...