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~ Igniting the power and passion in others…

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Tag Archives: children

Happy Mother’s Day Mom!

08 Sunday May 2016

Posted by dianasschwenk in Diana's Enormous Book of Quotes, My Stories

≈ 28 Comments

Tags

200 words, children, Diana Schwenk, Diana's Enormous Book of Quotes, family, growing up, happy, health, integrity, joy, kids, kindness, life, love, memories, Mom, Mother's Day, parents, Relationships, Stuff my parents used to say and do

Margot with Diana

Margot with Diana

No language can express the power, and beauty, and heroism, and majesty of a mother’s love. It shrinks not where man cowers, and grows stronger where man faints, and over wastes of worldly fortunes sends the radiance of its quenchless fidelity like a star.

Edwin Hubbell Chapin

For making our lives a 1000 times better than yours had been.

For baking a European-quality cake every Sunday and feeding it to us for breakfast with a vitamin every morning.

For preparing delicious home-cooked meals every day and cooking our favourite meal on our birthdays.

For reading to us every night. For singing ‘You are my Sunshine.’ For brushing my hair while we watched TV. For helping us with our homework. For teaching us manners, good work ethic, respect, honesty and integrity.

For making sure that we went on outings to get fresh air by visiting the zoo, going on a picnic, going to the park, going to the beach, going on a bike ride, taking a walk and so many other things. Things that you did not experience as a child.

For all these things and more, thank you and Happy Mother’s Day Mom!

~ DIANA’S ENORMOUS BOOK OF QUOTES ~

Happy 77th Birthday Mom!

22 Tuesday Dec 2015

Posted by dianasschwenk in My Stories

≈ 28 Comments

Tags

Berlin, Birthday, Canada, children, family, Germany, growing up, happy, joy, kids, laughter, life, Life's like that, living in the moment, love, memories, Mom, parents, Relationships, Stuff my parents used to say and do

Mom as a little girl with her mother

Mom as a little girl with her mother

The oldest of six children, mom was born in Berlin, Germany the year WWII started.

Not an ideal childhood, but there were those special moments with her favourite grandparents, those rare moments where she could enjoy a piece of chocolate and the hospital stays that made her want to be a nurse.

And then the family years. Getting married. Having children of her own. Making a new and better life in Canada.

I have many memories growing up, like when Mom would tear around the house looking for her rat tail comb so she could finish setting her hair in rollers; all the while the comb was safely fixed in between the rows of curlers on her head.

Or how she’d barely be in the door after work and we’d all be like, “what’s for supper?” She’d sing to us, with us, read to us, take care of us when we were sick, threaten us with the wooden spoon to make us eat porridge, bake a cake every Sunday and feed it to us for breakfast with a vitamin.

And oh those cleaning days on Saturday, stripping, washing and waxing the floor, dragging the mattresses downstairs and beating them on the balcony, vacuuming, dusting, filling the sink with water to wash all the knick  knacks, washing the laundry in the wringer washing machine and hanging the laundry on the line – cleaning day was like boot camp!

Waiting up for me when I came home past curfew; lights flicking on blinding me, asking where I’ve been, why I was late, did I have any idea how worried she’d been? what was I thinking? Never mind, just get to bed! And by the way, you’re grounded for the summer – which never really panned out because grounding me meant I’d be around all the time and I was quite the pain in the ass!

Cooking our favourite meal, making our favourite cake on our birthdays, always motivated by wanting to be the kind of mother she had wanted to have as a child.

Wish I could cook for you today Mom. Wish I could bake your favourite cake. Wish we didn’t live so far apart.

This slideshow requires JavaScript.

Happy Birthday Mom. I know you don’t feel like celebrating and I understand. But you are worth celebrating. I am grateful for you and I hope you have some moments of joy today.

With love, Diana

What We Can Find Again

02 Sunday Aug 2015

Posted by dianasschwenk in Diana's Enormous Book of Quotes, In My Opinion

≈ 50 Comments

Tags

200 words, caring, children, community, compassion, courage, curiosity, Diana Schwenk, Diana's Enormous Book of Quotes, growing up, honesty, integrity, kids, life, living in the moment, world issues

DSC_6036

Listen with curiosity. Speak with honesty. Act with integrity. ~ Roy Bennett

As soon as I read today’s quote, it made me think of children and how they take in the world with such awe and curiosity.

From the moment Michaela could string a sentence together, she began to question everything.

I can still see her big round eyes looking at me as she carefully listened to my answers. And if she still did not understand, she asked more questions!

What I loved the most is when she finally understood an answer to a question like why are some kids starving for example; she was not satisfied with because-that’s-the-way-it-is answers and would call it what she believed it was – STUPID.

As we transition from childhood to adulthood we lose something important that changes how we view the world.

Maybe we put blinders on so we can cope.

Maybe we’re told so often that we can’t fix something, that we start to believe it.

Maybe other things that affect us directly just take priority and we reason away our responsibility to others.

~ DIANA’S ENORMOUS BOOK OF QUOTES ~

It’s amazing what you can find again by just watching a child.

It Just Goes To Show…

06 Wednesday May 2015

Posted by dianasschwenk in Hump Day Chronicles, My Stories

≈ 62 Comments

Tags

brother, children, Diana Schwenk, family, growing up, happy, health, Hump Day Chronicles, joy, kids, laughter, life, memories, parents, Relationships

My parents are children of the war. Growing up in war-torn Berlin during WWII, they were no strangers to hunger and fear.

That’s why they worked so hard to carve out a better life for me and my brother. They were determined that we would never, ever feel the pangs of hunger or feel unsafe.

And they were determined that we would be well-behaved, polite and respectful people.

Come join me on a little walk down memory lane.

With Dad in front of our Norgate apartment
With Dad in front of our Norgate apartment
My third birthday
My third birthday
Me and Mike walking to the park with mom
Me and Mike walking to the park with mom
Me with Debbie
Me with Debbie
CCI05052015_0010

That’s Rex the dog in that picture with me and Debbie. Debbie is the oldest child of my brother’s God Parents.

I can distinctly remember ALWAYS wanting to wear that dress in the fifth picture – it was my absolute favourite dress!

Dad and Mike watering the property before we even had grass
Dad and Mike watering the property before we even had grass
Roller-skating in front of our brand new house
Roller-skating in front of our brand new house
Mike and me at the front door trying not to scare that baby bird
Mike and me at the front door trying not to scare that baby bird
Mom standing by the front door
Mom standing by the front door
A break during a long road trip
A break during a long road trip
CCI05052015_0007

Before my brother and I started school, we moved into a house in the suburbs. My dad sold part of his stamp collection to put a down payment on our family home. It was awesome to grow up on Edgewood Drive. That’s where we learned to roller-skate, ride bikes, skip rope, hula hoop and so much more.

Yes my parents were determined that we would be well-behaved, polite and respectful people.

... just a few years later

It just goes to show that not everything turns out the way you plan it.

~ HUMP DAY CHRONICLES ~

Do you have a favourite memory about your childhood home? Do you think you turned out according to plan?

Once Upon A Time – The Story of My Life

29 Wednesday Apr 2015

Posted by dianasschwenk in Humour, Hump Day Chronicles, My Stories

≈ 62 Comments

Tags

Alberta, brother, Calgary, Canada, children, Dad, Diana Schwenk, family, Germany, growing up, humour, Hump Day Chronicles, life, memories, Mom, parents, Relationships, stories

a land called Germany

Long, long ago in a land called Germany

ONCE UPON A TIME, LONG, LONG AGO in a land called Germany, a boy and girl fell in love and married. The newly weds travelled by ship across the great ocean to start a family in a foreign land called Canada.

And then a lollipop- sucking son to complete the family.

The daughter and son loved each other very much in spite of the sword play.

The daughter and son loved each other very much in spite of the sword play at 2:14PM. Don’t believe me? Click on the photo to enlarge it.

From bonding over lollipops, the daughter and son learned sword play and other things and thrived in the new land across the great ocean.

Then lots of other stuff happened.

The children grew up and left the nest.

The son stayed in the area and the daughter travelled thousands of miles across the country to make a life in the west.

More time passed and the family made many visits back and forth to maintain their ties.

The son had a son. The daughter had a daughter.

images3

By now you have guessed that I am the daughter of the boy and girl who married long, long ago in the land called Germany and travelled by ship across the great ocean to start a family.

And the early part of my story with my daughter, Michaela continues below on one of our visits back home across the great land.

Playing piano at Oma and Opa’s house
Sitting on a rock in the woods with Opa
Sitting on a log in the woods with Oma

Oh how Oma and Opa loved when Michaela played piano, they could hardly wait for her to wake up and play it again. And Oma and Opa and Michaela and Max, the white dog, enjoyed walks in the woods and sitting on rocks and logs.

And back out west our lives carried on and Michaela asked many questions and thought deeply about the mysteries of life.

Michaela stares into the distance pondering the meaning of life at the Bow River
There’s got to be more to life than riding the horsey…

maybe it’s all about being cool. I look cool like this, right?
Haha I gotcha! I’ll just be myself.

I’ll just hang out with Mommy for now, and figure out life another day
Playing Hop Scotch in Calgary, Alberta

And the story continues and lots of other stuff still happens on the west side of the great land that lays across the great ocean by the land called Germany where long, long ago a boy and girl fell in love and were married.

~ HUMP DAY CHRONICLES ~

What’s your story?

When Hello Means Goodbye

14 Sunday Dec 2014

Posted by dianasschwenk in Diana's Enormous Book of Quotes, My Stories

≈ 54 Comments

Tags

200 words, alone, children, courage, death, Diana Schwenk, Diana's Enormous Book of Quotes, family, grief, hard times, kids, life, loss, love, memories, Relationships, son

How very softly you tiptoed into my world. Almost silently, only a moment you stayed.

But what an imprint your footprints have left upon my heart. ~ D. Ferguson

But what an imprint your footprints have left upon my heart. ~ D. Ferguson

Today is Jesse’s birthday.

In many ways, his birth was very much like that of others.

Except Jesse was still-born.

I knew he was dead before they induced labour.

The room was reverently quiet.

As if everyone there was a silent witness paying their first and last respects.

In a way, giving birth to Jesse was one of the most beautiful experiences I’ve ever had. He may have died within me, but I think being born was a rite of passage for him; and for me.

Had he lived, Jesse would be turning 22 today.

I have never really talked about him much.

Not because I wasn’t deeply affected by his death.

Because I was.

I felt him grow inside me.

I felt him move within.

I talked to him every day.

And I held his still body in my arms.

To me he was a person who lived

and died. 

~ DIANA’S ENORMOUS BOOK OF QUOTES ~

Happy Birthday my son – until we meet again

My little girl found the dress she will get married in!

24 Wednesday Sep 2014

Posted by dianasschwenk in Hump Day Chronicles, My Stories

≈ 52 Comments

Tags

Alberta, Calgary, children, daughters, David's Bridal Shop, Diana Schwenk, Edmonton, family, growing up, Hump Day Chronicles, joy, kids, life, living in the moment, love, parents, Relationships

ON SATURDAY I DROVE THREE HOURS NORTH TO EDMONTON to meet with my daughter Michaela, her sister Alana, her future mother-in-law Judy and her Maid of Honour Jessica at David’s Bridal Shop.

You didn't think I would show you the entire dress did you?

You didn’t think I would show you the entire dress did you?

She had a 3:30 appointment with a wedding dress expert/consultant/employee. Having never married myself, I had no idea you could make an appointment like this.

But it’s brilliant and I highly recommend it!

When we first got there, they handed Michaela an iPad that featured all their dresses and told her to scroll through the pictures and pick the ones that she liked.

When she had chosen her favourites, the expert/consultant/employee handed her a form to fill out and asked her some questions about budget, etc., to further narrow the search.

Then she walked us to the fitting rooms, lined up some chairs for us to sit on and pulled several dresses based on those Michaela had chosen and the information she had gleaned.

She was very good at her job. She helped Michaela get into and out of the dresses, gave advice on veils, corsets and jewelry and made it all a very good experience for all of us.

I’m not a big fan of shopping and Michaela and I never expected that we would find the perfect dress that day, but we did, largely due to a very helpful and competent employee.

Because I don’t trust my failing night vision for highway driving, I decided to take a hotel room and return to Calgary the next morning. To my delight, Michaela decided to spend the night with me.

We stayed at the Coast Plaza Hotel in downtown Edmonton, so we went out on foot to do a bit of exploring and find a place to have supper. We settled on a pub a couple of blocks away where we enjoyed a great meal, wonderful conversation and a drink to celebrate finding the perfect wedding dress.

I am grateful that Michaela found the dress of her dreams and it was a pleasure to meet her future MIL and Maid of honour. But mostly I cherish every opportunity I get to spend with my beautiful daughter.

~ HUMP DAY CHRONICLES ~

One day she was a little baby, and suddenly she’s a grown woman. Where did the time go? I’m new at this whole Mother of the Bride thing, do you have any advice or helpful tips for me leading up to the wedding date?

At least she calls me, right?

07 Sunday Sep 2014

Posted by dianasschwenk in Diana's Enormous Book of Quotes, Humour, My Stories

≈ 45 Comments

Tags

200 words, children, Diana Schwenk, Diana's Enormous Book of Quotes, family, growing up, happy, health, humour, joke, kids, laughter, life, living in the moment, love

I don’t mind making jokes, but I don’t want to look like one. ~ Marilyn Munroe

Christmas at my parent's place. December 2012

Christmas at my parent’s place.
December 2012

RING, RING…

ME: Hello?

MICHAELA: Hi mom. Why did the chicken cross the road?

ME:  to get to the other side?

MICHAELA: Nope, to knock on the idiot’s door… So what’s new mommy?

ME: (giving my head a shake) I’m good.

I had a weird dream though. I dreamt that I went outside to sit on my balcony. I heard the front door open and close and a bearded man and 18th century peasants came out onto the balcony.

I asked them who they were and they didn’t answer me. I told them they couldn’t just walk into my house. I screamed “GET OUT!,” right in the bearded man’s face.

Then a Hillbilly walked in and said, “Good evening ma’am,” with a tip of his cap. I said, “You can’t be here! GET OUT!”

There were people in every room!

MICHAELA: Aww, that’s too bad mommy. Wanna hear another joke?

ME: haha sure.

MICHAELA: Knock, knock.

ME: Who’s there?

MICHAELA: The chicken

ME: Jerk.

MICHAELA: (laughing)

~ DIANA’S ENORMOUS BOOK OF QUOTES ~

Capturing Ugly

21 Wednesday May 2014

Posted by dianasschwenk in Hump Day Chronicles, Out and About

≈ 22 Comments

Tags

Alberta, beauty, black & white, Calgary, children, daughters, Diana Schwenk, Elbow River, Hump Day Chronicles, living in the moment, Stephen Avenue Mall, Tourist in my own city, ugly, walk

THIS PAST WEEKEND, I WENT OUT ON TWO LONG WALKS.

On Saturday, I headed north toward the downtown core. The phrase ‘Concrete Jungle’  entered my mind and I was inspired to take pictures of the things that aren’t so pretty. I chose to shoot in black & white as it seems more stark and cold when capturing ugly.

This artistic structure is meant to cut down wind gusts on Stephen Avenue
Bikes and a piece of garbage on Stephen Avenue
Greenery atop the 4th Street overpass
Broken glass and garbage can at a bus stop shelter

Toppled construction sign
Barricade in front of a dirty window on 4th Street.
Attend services and get towed?
Fast food garbage on 13th Avenue

Step on a crack and…
A pylon lays down on 5th Street.
Garbage secured to fence on 5th Street.
A woman’s reflection caught in the mirror

See? Pretty on 17th Avenue
Broken sign leans on building on 7th Street
Alley between 17th and 18th Avenue
Tagged dumpster in alley

Parking lot behind my building.

On Monday, I headed south toward the Elbow River. I haven’t been that way in a long time. One of my favourite thinking spots is at the Elbow River Park.

Once, when Michaela was little I brought her to the park. I was watching her from above as she threw little, smooth, white stones into the river down below. Out of the corner of my eye, I saw geese walking toward her, circling in on her. When they stretched out their necks, they were taller than Michaela!

“Stop throwing stones Michaela, the geese think it’s bread!”

Panic registered on her face when she noticed the birds approaching. I laughed nervously and raced down to scoop her up in my arms. To this day, Michaela is petrified of birds.

Life pokes through bricks and wood on 30th Avenue
Dandelions flourish in grass gone wild on 30th Avenue.
A one year memorial marks the spot where some grads were killed in a car crash on Elbow Drive.

A stone bench at Elbow Park
Cobblestone leads down to Elbow River
Fencing to keep away dam building beavers

The root exposed by last year’s floods, yet the tree struggles to live
My thinking bench where the geese once circled in on Michaela
Sad thing is, I know people who eat mostly this.

A discarded mitten symbolizes the end of winter.
Ok, this one is plain ugly! In Canada Cigarette packs have gross, graphic images like this. Maybe they should do that with junk food and pop too?

This weekend, I set out to find ugly. What struck me almost immediately, was how hard it is for me to see ugly. I naturally look for beauty and couldn’t help shooting it.  Even when I managed to shoot ugly, I saw beauty. And when there was no beauty, I saw potential for it.

~ HUMP DAY CHRONICLES ~

What do you see when you look?

Breakfasts in Bed

14 Wednesday May 2014

Posted by dianasschwenk in Humour, Hump Day Chronicles, My Stories

≈ 42 Comments

Tags

Breakfast in Bed, children, daughters, Diana Schwenk, family, growing up, humour, Hump Day Chronicles, joy, love, memories, Mother's Day, Relationships

This past Sunday, my daughter Michaela and her boyfriend Josh drove 5 hours south to spend the weekend with me for Mother’s Day. We had an awesome visit, but more on that in a minute.

Having had a chance to reflect on our weekend got me to thinking about Mother’s Days of the past. The beautiful handcrafted cards and noodle art. Going to a department store, handing over $20 and being told to go to the other end of the store so she could surprise me with a gift. Michaela could never wait for the actual day though, begging me “please mom, please, please, please, can I give you your present early, puh-leeeeeeaaaaaassssseeeeeeee?”

And when she began getting an allowance, the gifts bought with her own money from garage sales, dollar stores and convenience stores ranging from coffee mugs and statuettes to books, candles and bubble bath became Mother’s Day fare.

Then there were the ‘breakfasts in bed.’ Don’t get me wrong, I appreciated the effort, really. But I’m not a breakfast eater and the meals that were brought to me in bed (really early in the morning, like before dawn because she was excited)  included microwaved Kraft Dinner, burnt toast drenched in butter, cereal with sprinkles and Ants on a Log.

That was then…

You’re old enough to know now Michaela, that when I sent you out of the room to fetch something, I was tossing these meals, lovingly made by you, into the garbage and pretending I’d gobbled it down when you came back. Love You! ❤ MOM

Flash forward to the present. My little girl ain’t no little girl no more. She’s a 20 year-old woman with a life of her own and a bright future ahead of her. It had been a while since we’d seen each other and I had been counting down the days to Mother’s Day like a little kid counts down the days to Christmas.

And a wonderful weekend it was; including a visit to the Calgary Zoo, a lovely bouquet of flowers and being treated to Mother’s Day breakfast at a restaurant whose menu did not include any of the above-mentioned delicacies.

This is now…

Me and Michaela

What a great Mother’s Day! I loved our chats on the bed, on the balcony and in the car where we also demonstrated our Kelly Clarkson singing for Josh. Michaela, thanks for making this Mother’s Day and all the ones in the past so special!

~ HUMP DAY CHRONICLES ~

What was your most memorable breakfast in bed?

 

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