A New Journey.

Well, we've started on a new journey in our lives. After almost 12 years of missing our first puppy, Celtic~Raine (aka Celti), whom we loved for a solid 16 years, it was time to welcome a new little one in to our family. We have spent the last year thinking about this, research breeds, and training, and dreaming about a tiny pup to fill our arms. Celti was a Bichon Cocker, and very much more Cocker Spaniel than Bichon Frise. This time, we couldn't find a BC, so we tried to find a breed that would have a similar temperament, and a hypo~allergenic pup as well. After feeling like we'd never find just the right breeder, we stumbled on Alanna and her family. She breeds "Poochons" which are Bichons and Poodles. We fell in love and after many conversations, we started the process of becoming an adoptive family. 

Yesterday, we visited Alanna and her family to choose our puppy in person. We had paid our deposit back on May 24th, our puppy was born on July 4th, we received photos and updates over the last few weeks, chose a pup, with a back up via email and photos, and then finally got to meet in person. The family was warm and welcoming, the puppy's were truly cared for and loved, and I'm so thankful that I was able to restrain myself and only choose one puppy, and not the other 8! And we chose the little one from the photos that we fell in love with. A sweet ball of fluffy fur, with some white markings that made her even more endearing. Right from the start, I said the little spot on the top of her head is in my mind, a kiss from Celti from Heaven. That made our choice even sweeter! 

I'll do another post actually introducing our new addition once she's home and settled.

💗 Chy 💗

Yes, I CAN Cook!

I may have said this before, but I'm pretty sure my kids grew up thinking I didn't know how to cook. The truth is, I love to cook and baking is a passion. But I can rarely get into the kitchen because my dh loves to cook and he took over the cooking when we got married. He wanted me to concentrate on my studies, on my career path and then our family. Even when he went back to University, he would be home early in the afternoon, and dinner was his commitment. Truly I didn't fight it, as I would rather cut the grass or play with the kids. So it was a great arrangement. Now that I have a very small contract after retiring from palliative care, I've been figuring out ways to get back into the kitchen. I collect recipes ~ grand dinners I want to create, baking to fine tune and scrumptious dishes to explore.

The photos above show my latest attempt to feed my family and have them love my dish, knowing the daddy guy had no hand in it! It's a Garlic Parmesan Cheese Tortellini Chicken and Broccoli. And I can happily report it went over very, very well. Easy to make, so tasty and everyone had more than one helping! I had one tiny helping that was leftover today for lunch. Next time, I'll make a double batch so we can have more the next day.  A great success!!

I'm off to gather more recipes ....

💗 Chy 💗

New Years Eve.

After a busy Christmas season, we had quite a quiet but very welcome New Years Eve to ring in 2025. Dh made an amazing pork roast, rubbed with his special mixture, then wrapped in thick maple bacon, with rosemary on top. Not in the photo are the beautiful veggies he also roasted. We've never been big meat eaters ~ we were actually vegetarians for years. But when I became protein malnourished, we added chicken to our diet, and then some pork. I can't tolerate beef but seafood has been helpful as well. I still can't eat very much meat but dh has worked hard to figure out what I can tolerate. This was a new recipe he created and it was beyond amazing. I even had second helpings the next day! He also introduced me to a blueberry gin that was so smooth and bubbly. We ate well this season! So yummy.

For the evening, I spent some time building 1 of 2 dollhouses for our new childcare centre. It was pretty easy to put together. Well made and strong, it should hold up well with our littles in our care. You can't see all the furniture in these shots but the rooms are outfitted quite nicely. With room for adding more in as we grow. I'm hoping everyone will enjoy these new additions to our classroom. I know I did!

I'm excited for 2025. This past year was one filled with growth, healing, new experiences and incredible opportunities. It also, like any year, had moments that were hard, times when I felt we were truly moving backwards, some not pleasant experiences and missed opportunities. But overall, a much better year than 2023, with freedom and a new level of authenticity that was very present in my own little life. 

Wishing you all the best year ever for 2025!

💗 Chy 💗

Wave of Light.

Tonight at 7:00 pm all over the globe,

families who have experienced the loss

of a precious baby or a sweet child, at

any age, for any reason, gather to share

their stories, and their love for those

who understand and share the journey.

Each year, since 1998, we have been

so fortunate to have our local funeral

home open their doors to our program

and our families. Our service is in the

afternoon so families don't have to

worry about traveling out to our tiny

hamlet in the dark. In the evening, we

all post photos of our candles from the

service, in memory of our angels,

as families Worldwide participate in

the Wave of Light for 24 hours. It's a

beautiful evening, and there is so much

comfort in knowing we're supporting

each other. But we also always wish

events like this would never have to

be in place. Heartbreaking but needed.

Tonight, with love, our family remembered:

Bretton~Elijah Lucas Roberts

Ciara~Rose Kennedi Roberts

Birkley~Finn Kensington Roberts

Cabriola~Ireland Laci Roberts

Cambria~Sage Kassady Roberts

Beau~Harper Levi Roberts

Cree~Raven Lyric Roberts

Bentley~River Kai Roberts

Never forgotten. Love forever!

💗 Chy 💗

My Birthday.

A beautiful ice cream cake from DQ.

Strawberry Cheesecake Blizzard ~ my favorite!

A lovely collection of gifts from my dear family.

White chocolate from Purdy's, a white chocolate

Kit Kat (bit of a theme here), the Christmas edition

of The English Home, along with the annual insert,

a bag of my favorite sour candies and a pair of soft

slipper socks to wear on cold Winter nights. Not

shown is the amazing heating pad that dh found.

It's as long as my body, heats from top to bottom

and is also a massager. We had quite a bit of fun

going thru all the settings and killing ourselves

laughing! Dh is always trying to find ways for my

body to be warm as I'm always cold. Thankful for

his kind heart and creative gift giving. I wish I was

as creative but he is easy to please. Loved my day!

~ Chy

Blogtober: Day 16.

Tried a new cookie recipe this week.

Rice Krispie Chocolate Chip Cookies.

They were a hit with both my team

and the family. We'll make this again!

~ Chy

Thanksgiving ~ Part 1.

We had a lovely Canadian Thanksgiving Celebration

this weekend. Not rushed, very laid back and oh so good!

Turkey with all the fixings, veggies, stuffing and gravy.

Feel so loved and full but thankful for our sweet life.

~ Chy

 

Bentley~River Kai.

Our 6th early loss. Our 6th miscarriage.

The last of all our little boys. Our love.

~ Chy

Cree~Raven Lyric.

Our 5th early loss. Our 5th miscarrige.

The last of all our sweet girls. Our love.

~ Chy

Beau~Harper Levi.

Our 4th early loss. Our 4th miscarriage.

Perfectly perfect but way too tiny. Our love.

~ Chy

Cambria~Sage Kassady.

Our 3rd early loss. Our 3rd miscarriage.

Sweet and tiny but too early. Our love.

~ Chy

Cabriola~Ireland Laci.

Our 2nd early loss. Our 2nd miscarriage.

Forever loved. Never forgotten. Our love.

~ Chy

Birkley~Finn Kensington.

Our 1st early loss. Our 1st miscarriage. In

between all our healthy babies. Our love.

~ Chy

Ciara~Rose Kennedi.

Our 3rd daughter. Our 6th child.

Our 2nd stillbirth. Our love.

~ Chy