There is good in the world

The past couple of days have been a bit of a daze for me. A friend of mine (from The Knot) lost her triplets after going into preterm labour at twenty weeks over the weekend.

We are all devastated. Most of us on The Knot/The Nest haven't even met each other in person, but we've grown so close over the past couple of years that we all feel the loss as keenly as if it was one of our best friends.

But what happened next is amazing. Our group of "Internet strangers" pulled together to raise almost $600 (with more to come) towards a small token of comfort and gift card for the couple, and a donation to March of Dimes in memory and honour of Avery, Trinity and Langston.

In the face of tragedy, I am reminded that there is still good in the world. God is with us in our deepest hour; if you ever need a reminder, just look at the faces of the people around you.

"Unity" by TheMidnightOrange on Etsy

Rest in peace, little ones.

Toys

I went to the doctor's office today for a routine check and my flu shot.

A couple came in with their nine-month old son. The mother went to check in while the father settled his son into the play area.

Dad tried to teach his son how to use the pop up toy. "Look - press it!" He pressed all four buttons. Then he reset it. Little boy wasn't strong enough to press the buttons down so dad helped him out. "You need more pressure! See?"

Then Dad showed his son the beads on the wire. He showed him how to move the beads around and shoot them in different directions. Little boy tapped on a couple of the beads. Dad continued to play.

Mom came back. "Look - he loves this toy! He's totally into it!"

Hehe - I'm pretty sure Dad was more into it than the kid. No wonder people procreate.

Ah, love

I work at a university, where I encounter lots of young students every day.

Sometimes, as I did just now, I encounter a young would-be couple flirting with each other.

She is all dressed up today. He asks her a question. She blushes and giggles. He leans a little closer, ever so slightly, and tries to say something witty. They don't even notice me walking by. Then they part - in 30 seconds, they've made each other's day.

I love witnessing these encounters. They remind me of our early dating days and all those lovely feelings.

C U 2nite?

Victor and I will be singing in a fundraiser concert for the Canadian National Institute for the Blind tonight.

We were chatting about the event with Greg, a member of our church choir who has 5% vision. He is registered with the CNIB and was interested in attending.

"So, we'll see you there then?" we asked.

"Well, you might see me... but I won't see you," he replied.

We had a hearty guffaw at that one. Thanks, Greg!

Break time

My church has a new music director, Bruno. Last night was his first rehearsal with our choir.

We normally rehearse on Thursday nights from 7:30 to 9:30.

Around 8:30, he asked, "Do you usually have a break?"

"No," we replied.

"What?! Oh gosh, you need a break. Let's take ten."

It had never even occurred to me before, but this new policy is going to be so good for the choir. Obviously it'll be a little easier to get through the two-hour rehearsals, but I think that the chance to socialize a little more will build the cohesiveness of the group, which in turn can only help us make better music.

I am excited for this year.

Don't forget to take ten every now and then!

Go Daddy!

On Saturday, I headed to Wasaga Beach to cheer on my brother in his first sprint triathlon.

At the finish line, I stood next to this little girl. There she is, waving her purple pom poms and doing her little cheerleader dance, cheering for her daddy.

Goooo Daddy! WOOOO!

Daddy had the biggest smile as he crossed the finish line.

My brother did pretty good too. Way to go Kevin!

Bottoms up

I've been on a committee interviewing candidates for a new music director at my church.

The two top candidates were neck-and-neck as far as qualifications. In the end, selecting the successful candidate came down to this:

"I'd really like to go and have a drink with that person."

So, the next time you're looking for a new job - drink up!

Cheers!

Dim Sum = Touch the Heart

I went out for dim sum today with a group of friends.

One of the guys in the group was a dim sum virgin. He also turned out to be one of the best people I've ever dined with.

He only learned to use chopsticks a few years ago. How? He bought himself a pair, and ate with them every day at home until he mastered it. (He was picking up mango pudding with chopsticks!)

As a kid, he didn't like the taste of shrimp. But one day, at age 21, he decided not to dislike any foods. So he ate shrimp until he learned to like it.

He even tried chicken feet. (Didn't love them, but he was a great sport about it.)

I don't think I've ever dined with anyone so open-minded. I've dined with plenty of people who love food and will eat anything, but never someone who's so persistent in getting over food aversions. I really don't like picky eaters. He was the opposite.

Cheers to food!

Becoming like my mother

I know, it's every woman's worst fear.

Not me.

Every time I cook one of my mom's dishes for dinner, or wrap a little spoon in a paper towel and rubber-band it to my lunch box the way she did, or iron my shirts the way she taught me - I get the warm fuzzies thinking about everything she's done for me.

Sportsmanship

Let me start off by saying that I'm the most un-athletic person ever. I can't catch to save my life. You know that episode of Friends where they call Chandler a dropper? Yeah, that's me. Don't ever toss me anything that is remotely breakable.

I never played team sports in school. I took the absolute bare minimum amount of Phys Ed classes that I needed, and bolted out of the gym. Granted, I did join a swim team outside of school (my high school had no pool), but that's hardly a team sport. Sure, I trained with some great teammates, but in swimming, you usually don't need to directly depend on others to perform.

I only started my involvement in team sports two years ago, when - with my husband's encouragement - I decided to join his just-for-fun softball and volleyball teams.

What kept me from sports in the past was fear: fear of disappointing my teammates, fear of being looked down on, fear of failing. I've always had a fear of failing; I have little patience to learn things that I don't pick up quickly. I didn't want to face disapproving looks if I messed up a play. So I never let others would depend on me.

At first, I apologized every time I messed up a play. Everyone always said, "It's OK." Then I started noticing that they'd cheer especially loudly for me if I actually made a play. I thought they were patronizing me.

And then I realized something - it's really annoying when players apologize for missed plays. It's negative energy that the team doesn't need. Dwelling on a missed play won't get the point back, and brings everyone down. But encouraging your teammates to play on despite a lost point, and celebrating the victories, does so much to keep up the right attitude. Momentum is SO important in sports - figuratively, and literally.

One day, I will gladly become a soccer/hockey/baseball/your-favourite-sport mom if my future children can learn this lesson sooner than I did, at age 29.