Don't Forget Us

Today is #BellLetsTalk day. I am very impressed by the media coverage through Facebook, Twitter, and television. Our society has come a long way and all for a very good reason. Mental health has been such a taboo subject and so many have suffered by themselves for too long. Fortunately times are changing and therefore people know more and hopefully accept and assist those suffering. 

I can't help but feel that we are forgetting other victims of mental health issues; Those of us that are directly affected because we live with and love those suffering. 

My life has been directly affected by severe depression and possibly more than just that diagnosis alone. I don't know the details. As an adult, my life has been altered because of damage done for so many years. My childhood memories are clouded by negative moments and it has implications on my life as a wife and mother. I carry on and over the years have tried to make sure it hasn't taken over my life. I have cut some ties with the past just to make sure my own mental health stays strong but that doesn't come without some heartache. 

The main reason why I write this is that there is so much publicity and support for those suffering with mental health issues but there are those that suffer right beside the victim that are also victims as well, spouses, partners, parents, especially children who just don't understand and grow up to be sad adults suffering with their own issues. Please don't forget us. 

It's a Family Game

Alex scored his first goal last night in a game against Deep River. 

We drove the hour and a half, on icy roads, all for hockey. This is all very new to us since this is Alex's first year of minor hockey but it has been one of the best experiences we have had as a family.  He is thoroughly enjoying it, making new friends and he is improving from every game and practice. We travel all over the Ottawa Valley from state-of-the-art rinks to the ones that are small and tired. We have all made new friends (Grace included) and we can be found cheering loudly together. It takes up quite a bit of our time and our girls are spending a lot of time as rink rats but despite all of that, we wouldn't change it for the world. 

Alex's first goal was exciting but the best thing is that he is having so much fun!  A true Canadian experience that we hope continues. 

Jean's Dress-up Cupboard

Jean is 5 years old and her absolute favourite thing is imaginative play...dressing up and pretending she is a princess, teacher, mommy, hairdresser, shopper. The list goes on and on.

For Christmas we decided that we would create a dress-up centre for her. As in kindergarten where there are many different "centres" to play, we thought having an area specifically for all of our costumes and accessories would be great and that Jean would LOVE it. The hunt was on for a cupboard and after a few weeks I found the most perfect thing!

It needed some tender loving care and a good coat of paint. It already had two large mirrors and a curtain rod inside and I added a few baskets to hold accessories. 

I wanted to have a pretty colour that would go well in our playroom and something bright. I used BeautyTone Alkyd Rustcoat in a robin's-egg blue. No primer was needed, went on really well but was a bit smelly. I wanted it to be durable because we hoped it would be well-used and it is!

All done and filled up!  We left it empty for Christmas morning and left a note on it for Jean but we knew it wasn't going to be the most exciting part of the day. All she wanted to do was open presents but on Boxing Day we worked together to put her dress-up things inside and she loves it. It looks pretty in the playroom, is very useful to keep all her things in one place and there is a bit of magic to it...more than once we have found little people hiding inside. Who knew it would become a magical wardrobe as well?

Saying Good-Bye

Ian's Grandpa Steve McGregor passed away peacefully on December 12, 2013.

We hold a very special bond with him as we live in "his home"... he was born here, raised here and lived here raising his own family with Grandma Noreen (Granny).  We were fortunate to buy their farm from them over 10 years ago but this always remains his home.  Ian was extremely close to him, working alongside him throughout his life.  It has only been a few years that Grandpa Steve has not been here to see the farm grow.  Ian has more memories of his precious Grandpa than could fill these pages and it was with a heavy heart that we laid him to rest this past weekend on Dec 15, 2013.

Ian's cousin, Hannah, spoke at the funeral and she read my own words:

I feel privileged to live in the home he loved so much.  His home.  I feel him all around here, outside on the farm and inside the house.  To our children and I, he is our Big Boppa; strong, funny, caring.  To Ian he is so much more.

Ian was fortunate to speak at the funeral as well:

Memories are simply moments that refuse to be ordinary.  The memories Grandpa has given us have shaped our lives in a special and unique way.  We remember Grandpa's strong hands, tanned dark by the sun and calloused from hard work; his shy smile when we was welcoming us to Glenroy Farm or to the Manse, his music, his joy in his children, his legendary ability in crokinole and softball, his quiet words of wisdom to help us get through a rough patch;  One of my favourites was when I would be chatting with him when something wasn't going my way, such as the weather during planting season, he would smile and say "the pleasures of farming!". And of course his love for our Grandmother.  I am thankful to be able to have worked alongside this great man and I am proud to be a McGregor.  He taught us about our history and where the McGregors orignated from.  He wasn't flashy and always made do with what he had, even if it took some baler twine, blackwire or duct tape to make it last.  I love what I do and I know he was a big part of the reason I chose to begin farming.  He was a steady and calming influence on all of us.  Good bye Grandpa and we all love you.


Grandpa Steve was "Big Boppa" to our children, named by Grace when she was just beginning to talk.  Grace and Alex are very lucky to have memories of him as the rest of his great-grandchildren may not as they are still so young.  Music was a big part of his life and his fiddle came out at numerous family events.

Big Boppa playing alongside wee Grace (Aunt Janie behind).

That smile is priceless.  He loved holding babies - here he is holding Alex at our church.  2007

Jean is mesmerized by Big Boppa's amazing hands... big, callused but gentle.  2009

This past Christmas season was a little bittersweet as our McGregor family had to say good bye to him but we all felt him in our hearts.