HOPE is the thing with feathers

HOPE is the thing with feathers
That perches in the soul
And sings the tune -- without the words
And never stops at all. (Emily Dickinson)

Isabel has a new small red-feathered bird perched in a Christmas fern on her window sill. This gift was part of the symbols shared with her during a gathering of Isabel's "girls" and their families on Nov 27. We gathered in the Wascana Hostel and then later in the sunny terrace by Mum's room with food and riddles & jokes, family musical entertainment and hours of visiting. The grandkids exchanged the usual decor of her room for two suitcases full of seasonal decorations. This gathering time each year is our opportunity to launch the Advent/Christmas Season and Isabel's birthday month.

One of our traditions (two years now so it is a tradition!) is to toast our Mum/Grannie B and to name her accomplishments of the last year. In 2010, Isabel sent two sets of tubes "packing" in record time including the ventilator and oxygen which she has not needed since February. As well, Mum has learned to transfer from bed to chair and chair to car. She is walking several 100 feet each day. She cycles nearly 5 kms in 20 minutes twice a week. Her voice has improved and she has bought her first computer and emails us almost daily. Three out-of-town trips this summer meant expanded horizons.

It is easy to quickly type these accomplishments without acknowledging the incredible hard work and determination (or stubbornness!) that are the ground work for such progress. Each day is an effort. Isabel has to psych herself to be ready for five days of therapy each week, plus coaching her nurses through much of her daily personal care due to the restriction in her hands and arms. "Living in HOPE" is not always easy, but HOPE does seem to prevail through the 365 days of a year.

Today is the first Sunday in Advent ~ this time of waiting for the Holy to burst through in our lives in the birth of a small child. As we light HOPE ~ the first candle of the Advent wreath ~ we give THANKS again for friends, family, community, nursing staff and therapists, and Isabel's dogged determination which helps to kindle faith and HOPE in all our lives.

Hen Keeping

Once a farmer
Always a farmer!

So says Isabel who is Unit 2-6's latest consultant on raising chickens. This autumn, one of Isabel's new nurses commented on the number of farm photographs and "farm stuff" in Isabel's room. Mum quickly filled him in on her farming past. The nurse told her that he was now raising chickens in his backyard - 4, in fact, by the names of Eeny, Meeny, Miny, and Moe. Well, it turns out that they are a heritage breed ~ Buff Orpington ~ the same breed that Isabel & her siblings and cousin raised near Bradwell in the 1930s. This fall, Mum's Cousin Duncan came to visit from Saskatoon. They studied this photo of a recent prize winning Buff Orpington, and agreed that they had not heard of the breed since their school-days.

Isabel's nurse is a new chicken-raiser who comes to her with lots of questions about moulting, nutrients, winter care, and egg laying. Last week, he showed up with a new book from England called Hen Keeping: Inspiration and Practical Advice for Would-Be Smallholders (by Jane Eastoe), a small, attractive, bright red hardcover book. Mum studied the chapters throughout the week ~ heritage breeds, broody hens, keeping young chicks healthy (put stones in their water basin so they don't fall in and drown), how to keep an ash heap healthy for chickens bathing, and how to introduce new chickens to the flock.

We have not yet heard of any backyard cows, but you can be sure Isabel is ready to play Livestock Consultant as soon as she is called upon.

Considering Friendship

There is an email that has been circulating around cyberspace for several years that starts out:

"People come into your life for a reason, or a season, or a lifetime." The full length of the reflection is too long to include here, and can be found easily with a google search of the exact words in quotations.

However, the part of the reflection "for a season" is short enough to include here:

When people come into your life for a SEASON . . .
Because your turn has come to share, grow, or learn.
They bring you an experience of peace, or make you laugh.
They may teach you something you have never done.
They usually give you an unbelievable amount
of joy. Believe it! It is real! But, only for a season.

During Isabel's residence at Wascana, there have been many people that have come through her door for a season or a reason and have moved on -- other residents who have moved or died ~ and their family members, students who work with Isabel each day during a 6-week internship and then return to school, nurses or therapists who care generously and lovingly for nearly three years and then move to another job.

This past week was a time to unexpectedly experience friendship for 30 hours. Isabel met out-of-province family members of a new 100 year old resident of Unit 2-6. She and old friends (who were tea-partying together) were invited to come to the 100th birthday party. Then Mum got to know these family members from Ontario and British Columbia as they chatted together in the hostel. Bright and early, the next morning, three of the family members showed up at Isabel's door to get to know her more and to learn from her about her experiences of 2-6, and thus how they could be supportive to their 100 year old Aunt. And then they returned again and again that day to use Mum's internet connection, to show off their "Cowtown" purchases, to borrow Mum's CDs for their aunt, to share laughter and stories and blessings of many sorts. And finally, they came very late at night to leave a parting gift with THANKS for her hospitality. Outside Mum's window, imprinted in deep snow by scuffling feet is a very large heart, a horse, and an angel. The horse is in the photo above.

On Friday, Isabel and her faithful Rufus lll headed over to The Bentley on Hillsdale Avenue to visit friends of nearly 60 years. Thank goodness for friend Russ and his faithful van to plough through Regina's second big snowfall of the season.

For a reason, a season, a lifetime or for a mere 30 hours before out-of-province visitors headed home again......friendship to be treasured.