Ashiah turned 1!

It's been almost a month since my last entry. I've simply been overwhelmed, there's been no time.

Last Tuesday Ashiah turned a year old. I can't believe she's a toddler now, the time has flown by. She is an amazing little girl, so much personality and energy and life. The love of our lives. We marked the occasion with Grandpa and Grandma Searle, Aunt Noelene and Uncle Nate and Aunt Sara, Cousins Jericho and Malachi in a hotel room in St. Catherine's.

Sadly, the occasion was overshadowed by the illness of Greg's Uncle as we were with his family in St. Catharine's to bid Glen (Greg's Uncle) farewell. He found out less than a month ago that he had cancer. It's very sudden and very sad. Overall he was in good health and only 56 with a 16 year old daughter and a 20 year old son. He was devoted to his family and his work. Watching someone fade away so quickly like that is very difficult. He died this past Saturday morning. His last words to us before we left were "look after that little girl of yours, she's lovely". That she is...

Then Saturday evening, my own Uncle Alan died. He was 62. He had a heart attack while helping my father move. He died in my father's arms as he tried to revive him. My poor father was overcome and felt responsible. We spent Sunday helping him with the rest of his move and going to my Uncle's house to return his van and be with my two cousins who also just lost their mother (my aunt) in March.

All of this sadness and death makes you think of your own mortality, what's important and how not to live for one's retirement but to cherish every moment we can of every day. Although the last week has been insane with me going back to work, Greg being away for work and our trying to support family, we've both made time in the evening to leave everything behind and play with Ashiah - we went for a family canoe and watched the sunset Sunday night before Ashiah went to bed and then we both worked till 3. But the canoe was great, playing on the dock with Ashiah, throwing rocks - that's what it's all about. Last night Ashiah and I played on the trampoline and went for a walk up the road as the sun was setting. We picked flowers, picked up rocks, played tag and giggled. It was beautiful, so beautiful we did it again tonight and met up with Daddy on the road as he came home from Chicago. Ashiah squealed with delight and nestled on his chest and I had tears in my eyes... I love my family.

Life is beautiful.