Family

And the broken record continues.........Saturday, on the fields. Actually, I baled straw most of the day. My dad came to haul grain for us till supper time, and then he had to go home. Then I took over hauling grain. I actually got a few bales done. Del had me move from one field to the one where he was combining, so I could haul grain as well. That field was a little more damp! I actually had a fair bit of trouble baling there. The ruts from the combine made it difficult for the baler to pick up the straw, and then it got wet enough in areas, so I had trouble driving. The front wheel assist on the tractor had to work hard to get thru. I ended up leaving parts of swaths, cuz I just couldn't drive there. Sunday, I got a break off the farm. While Del stayed home to combine, I went to the city. I was going to take my city nephews and nieces for lunch, but only one was in the city. So, Alyssa and I went for lunch, and then we went grocery shopping. I had her back at home by 3, so I could be at the rink close to the city by 330, for a hockey game. First exhibition game of the season for the Ice Dawgs. We won, 8-5!! I left the rink on an adrenaline high. Great group of kids playing, coaching was positive, and we won-nice start to the season. Del made it in by 1130. Pm, that is. Monday, Del went to work, and the boys off to school. The forecast was for rain and the sky was overcast first thing in the morning. I had a wonderful day at home. Had a nap first thing in the morning, read a little, and then got motivated. Cleaned, baked buns and cinnamon buns, and cooked supper. Roger & Anita, Nathan & Beth, and my parents came for supper. I made a traditional Mennonite meal for us. Baked sausage, Wareniki-(cottage cheese perogies), and cucumber salad. Anita even made schmont faut. (gravy for the perogies). Had fresh buns with main meal, and then had carrot cake, cinnamon buns, and a caramel torte for dessert. No, I didn't make all that. Mom brought the torte, and Anita had made fresh carrot cake. Had a wonderful evening visiting together. I even flushed my dads ears for him, again. He's got issues with wax build-up!! And, we didn't have any rain by last night. But, this morning we woke up to find it had rained 7/10 of an inch, with more predicted to come. Puddles in the yard once again. Not that the yard was dry yet! We have approx. 200 acres left to combine, and thankfully its all standing grain. Hopefully we'll get a couple more good days of dry/sunshiny weather! This morning, I had Jayde at school by 730 for volleyball practice. He has games after school today. Don't know what time he'll be done. I have a PAC mtg at 7-which I'm giving up the chairperson position. Then, supposedly we have a hockey mtg at 8. Then I go to work for an 8 hr night-starting at 11.
In a past blog I referred to my moms childhood issues, and one of my aunts sent me a letter about her take on it. And I said I'd blog further about it some time. So, Last evening, I quizzed my mom about her homelife as a child. And I came away with info I'd never known before. She doesn't volunteer any of this information very willingly. She has always kept her childhood very 'hush-hush'. She told us about how family services had stepped in and taken her siblings when they were very little. And then brought them back again after a few months, to try and make it work out. I didn't know they had been taken twice. I also didn't know moms siblings had not been taken at the same time. They didn't take all the kids. Only some of them. And when they finally took my mom-she was the last to be taken out of the home, cuz she was the oldest at 13-they picked her up at school. With no explanation. They gave her the option of going to BC to family, or staying in MB. She chose to stay in MB, where she would be close to her siblings. But, apparently she didn't get to see her siblings very often, as they were in different homes, in different towns. It wasn't that easy in those days to travel for visitation. Mom recalled how her mother stopped at church once, to persuade her to come with her, away from her foster home. Mom refused to get in her car with her, knowing what she'd be returning to. There's other details, which I won't get into, but its almost shocking to realize how much happened in the home before help came for those kids. It also shocks me that aunts, uncles, and grandparents-who lived close by-didn't step in and help out. It's no wonder to me that mom and her siblings had issues through out life, due to what happened to them as children. I feel so fortunate, and I'm amazed, how my mom was able to move on and lead a 'normal' life. To actually have a fulfilled marriage, with children, work, ..........my mom was amazing!!! But, I have to admit, I feel a little bitter. Towards moms parents. How dare parents treat their kids like that. I also have to admit that when referring to moms parents, I couldn't refer to them as grandma and grandpa. I guess for me, those terms show respect, and I didn't feel they deserved them. You see, my moms father, did have a relationship with us, before he died. He would visit us occasionally on the farm. He'd bring candy and such. I guess he tried at that point. But moms mother, she didn't quite make that effort. I had met her a few times. Once I remember an aunt stopping in to see her when I was along. Once I think my mom stopped to see her. But there was no 'mothering' by her. To me she seemed a bitter old woman, who didn't seem to care about her family. Before you jump all over my comments, these are only my opinions, not those of anyone else. I haven't asked others what they felt! Anyway, its a lesson to me in the influence you have on the people around you. The impact on your children, well, its lifelong. A parental love, unconditional, is so important!! Also, I'm so proud of my mom for stopping the cycle of abuse, and moved beyond her poor examples. She has done an amazing job of being a mother, without anyone showing her how it was done. No, she wasn't perfect, no one is!! But she did a heck of a job, being the best parent she could be!!!
To my aunt Violet-I'd love to read a copy of what you've written about your childhood. If you have a copy somewhere, and could mail it, it would make my day. I've always been intrigued about what others felt about this home, and would love to have insight into your childhood.
Yeah, I have a mind thats curious about peoples thoughts and actions. I like to figure out what makes them tick. I love to listen to people.
Now, for a thankful list for today-husband, sons, extended family, friends, sunshine-somewhere-, warm bed, fresh buns, clean laundry, a good book, a job (sometimes!)........there's so much!

Oh, yeah. Mom goes for her cyclical Day 8 treatment today. It's only 2 hours at the hospital for her today. Dad is taking her apparently. Considering everything, she's holding up. Very tired, very nauseated at times, but managing.