laura bachynski

0 Epiphany

January 6, 2020
by Laura Bachynski
· Blog

THIS IS OUR FIRST DAY OF RELAXING ON A HOT HOLIDAY AFTER OUR MONTHS OF DRIVING ON TOUR AND THEN THE BUSY BUT WONDERFUL CHRISTMAS WE JUST EXPERIENCED WITH ( MOST ) OF OUR FAMILY. ( WE ARE SO EXCITED TO WELCOME A NEW GRANDSON TOMORROW …. the reason one of our beloved families couldn’t fly home !)

AND IT IS EPIPHANY. ( well , we celebrated it at mass… it is actually the 6th ) THE LAST DAY OF CHRISTMAS !

ST. GREGORY THE GREAT PUT IT THIS WAY ( to paraphrase) …… “MANY PEOPLE DID NOT BELIEVE IN JESUS …DESPITE BOTH PROPHESIES AND MIRACLES. BUT ALL THINGS IN CREATION BORE WITNESS THAT ITS CREATOR WAS COME.

THE HEAVENS KNEW THAT HE WAS GOD , AND SENT A STAR TO SHINE OVER WHERE HE LAY.

THE SEA KNEW IT, AND BORE HIM UP WHEN HE WALKED UPON IT.

THE EARTH KNEW IT, AND QUAKED WHEN HE DIED.

THE SUN KNEW IT AND WAS DARKENED.

THE ROCKS AND WALLS KNEW IT , AND BROKE IN PIECES AT THE HOUR OF HIS DEATH.

KINGS KNEW IT , AND CAME TO OFFER HIM GIFTS.”

IT HAS BEEN A WONDERFUL DAY IN THE SUN. A WONDERFUL DAY TO HONOUR THE SON.

HEY ! I JUST HAD AN EPIPHANY TOO…. I THINK I MAY NEED ONE OF THESE HOT HOLIDAYS EVERY YEAR . :)

0 Cheaper Real Estate

January 3, 2020
by Laura Bachynski
· Blog

I NOTICED IN OUR PAPER THAT THIS LARGE HOME WAS USED AS AN EXAMPLE OF THE GREAT DEALS YOU CAN GET IN NOVA SCOTIA FOR HOMES IN THE AREA.

NOT ONLY DID TERRY AND I SEE THIS HOME BUT AS I WAS TAKING A PHOTO OF ANOTHER SIMILAR HOME( AND THE BEAUTY OF IT AND THE SURROUNDING PROPERTY) THE OWNER CAME OUT TO GREET US.

JUST AS THE ARTICLE SAID SHE WAS ORIGINALLY FROM TORONTO AND WHEN SHE FOUND OUT THE PRICE OF THIS INCREDIBLE HOME SHE PURCHASED IT AND RENOVATED IT- ALL FOR A TOTAL PRICE WAY UNDER WHAT YOU WOULD HAVE TO PAY IF THIS HOME WERE FOUND IN THE WEST COAST OF CANADA.

SHE KINDLY ASKED US IF WE WOULD LIKE A TOUR AND WE SAID A RESOUNDING “YES” !

SHE HAS NOW TURNED IT INTO A BED AND BREAKFAST AND WAS CURRENTLY HOSTING A WOMEN’S QUILTING GROUP WHO MUST HAVE BEEN HAVING THE MOST GLORIOUS TIME IN THIS GORGEOUS HOME. THE OWNER KEPT THE FEEL OF THE ORIGINAL PERIOD HOME AND HER CHOICES OF COLOUR, WALLPAPER AND DECOR WERE SPOT ON BUT ALSO NEW AND LOVELY .

I JUST THOUGHT IT WAS NEAT THAT WE WERE ACTUALLY IN THIS HOME. YOU REALLY CAN GET GREAT DEALS OUT EAST !

2 Puzzle

January 2, 2020
by Laura Bachynski
· Blog

IT HAS BEEN A LONG TIME SINCE I HAVE RECEIVED OR DONE A PUZZLE. ( MY MOTHER CANNOT SAY THE SAME THING AS SHE HAS TAKEN A HAITUS FROM HER PAINTING TO DO A PUZZLE A DAY I THINK…HA HA)

BUT THIS LOVELY PUZZLE WAS A GIFT FROM OUR FRIEND, JAZZ ALCOCK, AND IT IS NICE AND SMALL- WHICH I LIKED. IT IS ONLY ABOUT 8 X 11 INCHES .

THIS IS ONE OF THE MOST BEAUTIFUL PUZZLES I HAVE EVER SEEN IN SO MANY RESPECTS . EACH PIECE IS A CARVED PIECE OF WOOD ( AND SMELLS GREAT TOO !)

NOT ONLY DOES THE IMAGE REPRESENT ‘NOAH’S ARK’ BUT MANY OF THE INDIVIDUAL PIECES ARE CARVED OUT IN THE SHAPE OF ANIMALS . THE COLOURS ARE VIBRANT AND ONCE I COMPLETED THE PUZZLE ( WITH SOME EXTRA HANDS FROM TERRY AT THE END ) THE FINISHED IMAGE INDEED HAD 2 OF EACH ANIMAL IN THE ARK.

THE PUZZLE PIECES WERE SO INTERESTING IN OTHER WAYS TOO. SOME JUST NUDGED AGAINST EACH OTHER. SOME HAD SPIKEY EDGES ( LIKE THE TIPS OF A WINGED BIRD) AND SOME WERE ALL CURLY CUED LIKE THE SHAPES OF THE WAVES THEY REPRESENTED.

WHAT A BEAUTIFUL PIECE OF ARTWORK ALL AROUND.

JUST ABOUT THE RIGHT AMOUNT OF TIME I HAD TO COMPLETE A PUZZLE TOO…. ABOUT 45 MINUTES. PERFECT.

2 Happy New Year !

January 1, 2020
by Laura Bachynski
· Blog

NewYearsLauraTerry 2020 ! IF ONLY WE HAD ‘2020’ VISION TO KNOW WHAT THE YEAR AHEAD HOLDS FOR US .

SENDING YOU MUCH LOVE FROM OUR FAMILY TO YOURS. PRAYING THAT THIS YEAR WILL BRING US PEACE … IN OUR HEARTS, IN OUR HOMES… AND OF COURSE IN OUR WORLD.

LET US START BY BEING KIND TO EACH OTHER. LET US LISTEN TO EACH OTHER. MAY GOD GUIDE OUR STEPS AS WE TAKE THE FIRST ONES INTO THIS BRAND NEW YEAR.

HAPPY NEW YEAR !

0 Not All Walls Are Bad

January 1, 2020
by Laura Bachynski
· Blog

I TOOK A BIT OF TIME TO DRIVE AROUND AND PHOTOGRAPH SOME COOL MURALS IN OUR CITY OF EDMONTON TODAY.

OF COURSE WE HAVE HUNDREDS MORE AND SOME OF THEM ARE INSIDE BUILDINGS TOO ( LIKE THE WONDERFUL NEW PAINTED WALLS INSIDE OUR KINGSWAY MALL ) .

I JUST LOVE MURAL ART AND EVEN MOST GRAFFITI ART TOO. I LOVE HOW A DARK ALLEY IS BROUGHT TO LIFE WITH GORGEOUS COLOURS AND FUN IMAGES THAT MAKE YOU THINK.

SOME OF OUR LATEST MURALS COME FROM THE ‘RUST MAGIC’ MURAL INTERNATIONAL FESTIVAL WHICH HAS BROUGHT WORLD CLASS PAINTERS HERE FOR THE LAST 3 YEARS. I BELIEVE WE HAVE 17 NEW ONES JUST FROM THIS YEAR’S FESTIVAL.

TAKE SOME TIME TO SEE BEYOND THE DIRTY SNOW OR CONGESTED TRAFFIC NEXT TIME YOU’RE OUT AND ABOUT. I GUARANTEE YOU AN EYE OPENING EXPERIENCE !

0 Live a Life That Matters

December 30, 2019
by Laura Bachynski
· Blog

TODAY WE SAID GOOD-BYE TO OUR FRIEND, LEN.

A FEW DAYS AGO WE WELCOMED THE BABY JESUS AS WE CELEBRATED CHRISTMAS SO ATTENDING THIS FUNERAL REALLY BROUGHT TO MIND THE CIRCLE OF LIFE THAT EACH ONE OF US HAS OR WILL EXPERIENCE(ED) .

LEONARD IS THE BROTHER OF OUR DEAR FRIEND, LOUISE. LEN LOST HIS BATTLE WITH AN AGGRESSIVE BRAIN TUMOUR . OF COURSE I COULD NOT HELP THINKING OF MY SISTER , PAULA, WHO ‘WON’ HER BATTLE WITH THE MOST AGGRESSIVE BREAST CANCER THERE IS.

WE WILL NEVER KNOW WHY SOME PEOPLE ARE BLESSED WITH MORE YEARS WITH THEIR FAMILIES AND OTHERS ARE BLESSED WITH AN EARLY JOURNEY TO HEAVEN.

I AM POSITIVE THAT LOUISE’S FAMILY PRAYED JUST AS HARD AS OUR FAMILY DID IN THE HOPES THAT OUR SIBLING WOULD LIVE.

I BELIEVE THAT THERE IS A REASON THAT WE ARE HERE AND THAT WE EACH HAVE OUR OWN PATH TO HEAVEN. PERHAPS THE REASON ONE ACQUIRES AN ILLNESS IS ACTUALLY LESS TO DO WITH THE UNWELL PERSON (US) AND MORE TO DO WITH THE JOURNEY OF OTHERS CONNECTED TO THE PERSON WITH THE ILLNESS.

PERHAPS THEY ( THE CAREGIVERS) ARE ALLOWED TO BECOME BETTER PEOPLE BY CARING FOR THIS PERSON AND SHARING THEIR LOVE IN THIS WAY.

I KNOW FOR MYSELF I WOULD NOT TRADE MY SUFFERINGS FOR A PERFECTLY HEALTHY LIFE. THEY HAVE TRULY BEEN A BLESSING FOR ME …AND HOPEFULLY FOR OTHERS. THE ARTHRITIS THAT HAS LED TO MY MANY SURGERIES AND ‘LANDED ME’ IN A QUITE A FEW WHEELCHAIRS OVER THE YEARS ( I HAD MY FIRST OPERATION WHEN I WAS 2 YEARS OLD) HAS ALSO BROUGHT ME CLOSER TO OUR LORD.

WITHOUT THIS EXPERIENCE I DEFINITELY WOULD NOT HAVE BECOME A SONGWRITER/ARTIST AS I WOULD HAVE CONTINUED TO HONE MY BUDDING CAREER AS AN ACTRESS . AND HOPEFULLY MY MUSIC HAS BROUGHT SOME JOY OR PEACE TO THOSE WITH WHOM IT HAS BEEN SHARED …..ESPECIALLY THIS YEAR ON OUR TRIP ACROSS CANADA. ( I CAN’T BELIEVE WE HAVE ALREADY PERFORMED 29 CONCERTS !)

IT APPEARS THAT LEN LIVED A LIFE THAT MATTERED. FOR ONE THING HIS LOVE OF MUSIC TOUCHED MANY HEARTS AND THE CHURCH WAS FULL TODAY.

AS IT SAYS IN MATTHEW 24:36 …” HOWEVER, NO ONE KNOWS THE DAY OR HOUR WHEN THESE THINGS ( DEATH) WILL HAPPEN…. ” . SO LET’S BE PREPARED. LET’S TRY TO LIVE A LIFE THAT MATTERS.

0 What Can You Do With An Old Box?

December 28, 2019
by Laura Bachynski
· Blog

TODAY WE WERE ASKED TO BABYSIT 2 OF OUR GRANDSONS AS THEIR MOM’S GIFT TO THEIR DAD THIS CHRISTMAS WAS A FULL DAY OUT …WITHOUT CHILDREN.

THE BOYS ARE EASY TO CARE FOR AS THEY ARE GOOD NATURED AND VERY CREATIVE.

WE STARTED OFF THE MORNING JUST CHATTING. ( I JUST LOVED IT WHEN OUR DAUGHTER , LANA, CAME UPSTAIRS AND WEE, 2 YEAR OLD MARCEL SAID, ” GOOD MORNING, ” AUNTIE LANA . DID YOU HAVE A GOOD SLEEP?” )

SOON I WAS MAKING UP STORIES ABOUT THE GRINCH AND COSTUMES WERE SOON PUT TOGETHER FOR SOME ROLE PLAY. BUT THE MORNING REALLY GOT EXCITING WHEN WE DECIDED TO PLAY SPACEMEN.

BEFORE YOU KNOW IT ” PAPA ” HAD FOUND A BIG OLD BOX DOWNSTAIRS WHICH HE VERY QUICKLY TRANSFORMED INTO THE SPACESHIP WITH THE USE OF HIS EXACTO KNIFE AND SOME PACKING TAPE. I FOUND THE MARKERS AND WE GOT THE BOYS DECORATING THE SHIP. THEY WERE SO EXCITED !

NEXT UP : MORE COSTUMES . TERRY MADE SOME RUDIMENTARY HELMETS , FOUND SOME ‘SPACESUITS’ , AND FOUND A STORM TROUPER ONESIE FOR HIMSELF. ( DOESN’T EVERYBODY HAVE ONE OF THOSE IN THEIR ‘TICKLE TRUNK’ ? )

PAPA ZOOMED THE BOYS AROUND THE DINING ROOM FOR A COUPLE TRIPS AND THEN WE EXPLORED THE MOON ( A.K.A. THE FRONT HALLWAY CARPET) .

IT WAS SO MUCH FUN TO WATCH IMAGINATION IN ACTION . AMAZING WHAT YOU CAN DO WITH A BOX AND A BIT OF DREAMING…..

0 Candy Cane Lane

December 24, 2019
by Laura Bachynski
· Blog

Ready to go !

Horses ready too.

Our wagon…

Off to Candy Cane Lane

Olaf !

Nonny and Otto

Our driver

Free hot chocolates !

Enjoying the ride…

Wee Marcel was pretty cold!

LAST NIGHT WE HAD OUR SECOND ANNUAL CANDY CANE LANE CARRIAGE RIDE. OUR 4 YEAR OLD, OTTO, AFFECTIONATELY REMEMBERED THIS FROM LAST YEAR SO THIS YEAR WE INVITED HIS WHOLE FAMILY TO JOIN US ON THE JOURNEY .

IT WAS A MILD NIGHT COMPARED TO LAST YEAR , THE SKY WAS CLEAR, AND VIRTUALLY NO WIND.

BUT MOST OF US WERE STILL ‘FREEZING’ BY THE END BECAUSE IT REALLY GETS QUITE COLD WHEN YOU ARE SITTING ON A BENCH AND GOING SLOWLY THROUGH THE NEIGHBOURHOOD. ( LAST YEAR WE SAT ON HAY BALES AND RESTED OUR FEET ON THEM TOO SO IT SEEMED MUCH WARMER IN THAT WAY. ) THANK GOODNESS WE AT LEAST THOUGHT TO BRING 3 BLANKETS.

WE ARRIVED IN TIME TO GET THE BEST PARKING SPOT ( WOW !) , GET OUR NAMES CHECKED , TICKETS ISSUED , AND AWAIT THE MAGIC. THERE WAS EVEN A FOOD TRUCK THAT OFFERED FREE HOT CHOCOLATES.

CANDY CANE LANE BECAME THE AFOREMENTIONED MOSTLY BECAUSE A FEW FAMILIES STARTED DECORATING THEIR HOMES WITH AMAZING LIGHT DISPLAYS AND SOON ALMOST THE WHOLE STREET WAS DRAWING VISITORS TO VIEW THE SPECTACLE.

NOW THERE ARE BINS TO FILL UP FOR THE FOOD BANK, FIRE PITS TO WARM THE HANDS AS YOU WALK ALONG, MUSIC PIPED IN ALL ALONG THE STREET , AND HUNDREDS OF FAMILIES WALKING , DRIVING, OR LIKE US, GETTING A WAGON RIDE DOWN THE STREET TO LOOK AT THE BEAUTIFUL LIGHTS.

WE SAW MANY A GRINCH AND ONLY ONE ‘REAL’ GRINCH WITH NOT A LIGHT TO BE SEEN . ( CAN YOU IMAGINE MOVING ONTO THIS STREET AND NOT KNOWING WHAT YOU WERE GETTING INTO COME DECEMBER? HA HA)

WE BECAME CAROL SINGERS AS WE DROVE ALONG AND I WAS SURPRISED HOW MANY SONGS OUR OTTO KNOWS THE WORDS TO…MUCH MORE THAN MYSELF. WE SAT WITH NICE FAMILIES ALSO ENJOYING THE RIDE ( BUT ONE OF THE CHILDREN …WAS WEARING SHORTS ! )

ALTHOUGH WE WERE DECIDEDLY FREEZING BY THE END OF THE RIDE ..HA HA…WE MOSTLY ALL LOVED THE EXPERIENCE. OUR TWO YEAR OLD, MARCEL, WAS UP PAST HIS BEDTIME AND HE WAS TOO COLD SO HE WAS NOT OVERLY IMPRESSED..HA HA AGAIN.

NEXT YEAR , IF I DO THIS AGAIN, I WILL WEAR MY GOOD ‘SORELS’ ( WARM BOOTS) AND BRING YET ANOTHER BLANKET FOR MY LAP …THEN I WILL BE JUST FINE.

IT WAS A WONDERFUL TRADITION TO CONTINUE AND NOW HERE WE ARE AND IT IS ALREADY CHRISTMAS EVE. TONIGHT MY HUSBAND AND I ARE LEADING THE MUSIC ( AT OUR CHURCH ON CANDY CANE LANE !!!) AT OUR FIRST MIDNIGHT MASS.

0 The Crèche

December 23, 2019
by Laura Bachynski
· Blog

SO HERE WE ARE : THE 4TH WEEK OF ADVENT ALREADY ! THE FAMILIES WHO ARE ABLE TO JOIN US HAVE ARRIVED AND EXCITEMENT IS RAMPING UP FOR TOGETHER TIME, GOOD FOOD, GOOD WINE AND GIVING GIFTS TO THOSE WE LOVE. WE ARE WATCHING 2 OF OUR GRANDSONS HAVE FUN TOO AS THEY RUN AROUND, PLAY INSTRUMENTS, GIGGLE, LOOK AT THE TREE AND THE CRÈCHE.

THIS YEAR OUR CRÈCHE IS RIGHT AT THE FRONT DOOR SO ALL MIGHT NOTICE IT RIGHT AS THEY ENTER OUR HOME. I PUT THE BABY JESUS NEAR HIS PARENTS, MARY AND JOSEPH, FOR THE PHOTO BUT AS OF NOW THERE ARE STILL A COUPLE OF DAYS UNTIL HE MAKES HIS APPEARANCE BACK IN THE CRÈCHE AT MIDNIGHT ON CHRISTMAS EVE.

WHY DO WE HAVE A CRÈCHE ? ST. FRANCIS CAME UP WITH THIS IDEA ON THE FEAST DAY OF THE NATIVITY OF JESUS ( 3 YEARS BEFORE THE SAINT DIED) AS HE ‘ WANTED TO BRING BETHLEHEM INTO ONE’S OWN TOWN ‘ AND THIS WAS SOON ADOPTED ALL OVER THE WORLD WITH VARIOUS TRADITIONS IN CONSTRUCTION , SIZES AND PLACEMENTS.

OUR FRIEND, HUGO, DIRECTOR AT THE MARIAN CENTRE HERE HAS CONSTRUCTED A HUGE CRÈCHE WITH THE HELP OF THE ‘FAMILY’ THERE AND IT IS A GLORY TO BEHOLD WITH RUNNING WATER, LIGHTS , AND HAND MADE….WELL…EVERYTHING ! ( TERRY PAINTED ‘ THE SKY’ A COUPLE OF YEARS AGO ON SOME CLOTH WE FOUND THERE AND IT IS PROUDLY DISPLAYED ABOVE THE TOWN.)

I FOUND OUR CRÈCHE WHEN WE FIRST MOVED TO EDMONTON ABOUT 20 YEARS AGO. I THINK IT IS SO BEAUTIFUL . IT CAME WITH ITS OWN ( METAL) BACKDROP AND EACH FIGURE IS WRAPPED IN ACTUAL CLOTH ( PROBABLY HARDENED WITH SOME FORM OF GLUE) .

THE CRÈCHE HELPS US TEACH OUR LITTLE ONES ABOUT THE BIRTH OF JESUS AND REMINDS ME WHAT IS TRULY IMPORTANT AS I TRY AND SLOW DOWN EVEN AS THINGS DO RAMP UP AS WE NEAR DECEMBER 25TH.

JESUS CAME TO US AS AN INNOCENT BABY AND WAS BORN IN A PLACE WHERE ONLY THE POOREST OF THE POOR WOULD BE BORN : A STABLE FOR THE ANIMALS . OUR LORD HAS ALWAYS HAD A HEART FOR THE POOR . IT IS WELL KNOWN THAT EVEN KINGS BOW BEFORE HIM . LET MY GIFT THIS CHRISTMAS BE A GROWING LOVE FOR THE POOR IN MY OWN CITY AND MAY I ALWAYS REMEMBER THAT JESUS CAME TO SAVE US ALL. LET MY FAITH BE AS TRUSTING AS AN INNOCENT CHILD’S AND MAY I SEE THROUGH THE EYES OF LOVE…ALWAYS.

0 Completed Painting !

December 21, 2019
by Laura Bachynski
· Blog

Finished Ship Painting

Terry Painting

Taking a break to read

Something to remember

YESTERDAY I COMPLETED MY PAINTING OF THE SHIP . I AM HAPPY WITH THE RESULTS BUT I ALWAYS FEEL SLIGHTLY GUILTY ABOUT TAKING TIME FOR MYSELF AT THIS BUSY TIME OF YEAR.

BUT MY FRIEND, BARB, SHARED THIS BEAUTIFUL ADVENT BOOK WITH ME . IT’S CALLED ” JESUS CALLING ” AND EVERYDAY I TAKE A MOMENT TO SIT DOWN AND READ A CHAPTER ( WHICH IS REALLY ONLY ABOUT 2 PAGES) AND REMIND MYSELF THAT I AM NOT ALONE IN THIS BUSY SEASON. I’M SURE YOU’VE HEARD THE EXPRESSION ” JESUS IS THE REASON FOR THE SEASON ” . BUT FUNNILY ENOUGH SOMETIMES WE HAVE TO BE REMINDED .

AS I HAVE MENTIONED BEFORE FRIDAYS ARE SUCH SPECIAL DAYS AT THE MARIAN CENTRE FOR ME AND IT IS EVEN BETTER WHEN TERRY HAS A CHANCE TO JOIN ME. HE STARTED HIS LARGE WORK ( A PAINTING OF ONE OF THE GREENS AT HIS FAVOURITE GOLF COURSE, THE MAYFAIR) ABOUT A YEAR AND A HALF AGO. WE LOADED UP THE STOVE WITH WOOD , SIPPED OUR ‘TIMMIES’ , PUT ON GOOD MUSIC, AND GOT TO OUR FUN WORK.

SO HAPPY WE GOT TO HAVE MASS AT THE END OF THE DAY WITH OUR FRIENDS WHO LIVE THERE AND A FEW GREAT CHATS TOO. ‘SANTA’ DELIVERED A PRESENT FOR THEM TOO. I HOPE THEY LIKE IT.

SOME OF MY VANCOUVER AND EDMONTON FAMILIES ARE ARRIVING FOR LUNCH TODAY SO I BETTER PREPARE. ANOTHER REASON TO CELEBRATE !

OH ! I WROTE A NEW ADVENT SONG YESTERDAY. I AM ALSO LOOKING FORWARD TO PLAYING IT AGAIN AND SEEING HOW I NEED TO TWEEK IT UNTIL IT’S JUST RIGHT.

O.K. OFF TO MAKE LUNCH…… HAVE A GREAT DAY !

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