June 14,1986 A Child Is Born

Dear J,

Happy birthday. I had a great day the day you were born and a great day 24 years later. To begin the day, I grabbed the Starbucks birthday card that came for you. I also grabbed my camera so that I could photograph the day.   








Oh and Dr. Lee sent you a birthday card.

After a little work I went off to Starbucks to cash in your birthday card. It was only valid for 60 days from your birthday and since you won't be home, I decided to enjoy for you.

Here is the treat I enjoyed for you! Aren't the cupcakes divine? The icing is made with strawberries! The grande latte had whip cream, but by the time I got back to my desk it had melted down, but trust me that the whip cream was sprinkled with chocolate and a little sparkly brown sugar. MMMMMMMM delicious! I was set for the day and I am not sure if I will ever come down from the caffeine and the sugar!

The piece de resistance...... THe traditional birthday cake. Cafe chocolate cake with chocolate frosting with a hint of coffee.

Here are some photos of your birthday cake. Rebecca, Amelia, Alexandra and I decorated it.
The outline of the bow is gummy worms. The pink icing is sprinkled with the multi colored round sprinkles.
Of course as this is June 14 and it is hot and sticky in Toronto, the pink icing seperated, but the chocolate icing was perfect.

It was a better deal to buy  4 cupcakes,so rather than buy one for $3.00 I bought 4 for 7.75, but alas  not all 4 made it into the photo as Meghan ate one before I took the photo.

 Up close you can see all the candy and the worms. Don't ya love the way the light catches the lines of the worms?


HAPPY Happy happy Birthday!
Luv Mutty

Living in the Moment in Munich

Today is May 7,2010. This time last year I was walking the Camino in Northern Spain. Putting one foot in front of the other 8 hours a day. I remember each step with great clarity. As I read about my daughter's start in Bpest on her internship, I realize that she has begun her Camino. A day that began behind the clock continued as such until she reached Munich.
My daughter can stir up a dust cloud or two when she gets motivated, but who knew that the Iceland volcano could kick up a dust storm to beat hers. The dust caused the flight from TO to be delayed due to a new flight plan. This caused her to miss the connecting flight to Bpest. Personally I think that God gave JB a time out. Time to breathe and live in the moment in Munich. Not much that JB could do except accept the time out and enjoy, since she couldn't leave the airport.
All day before leaving TO she was given signs to slow down. Sometimes when one ignores the signs repeatedly, God gives you a whammy to get your attention eh?
Our trip on the Camino is just over a month away. I haven't been walking as much, but I hope to return to walking next week. Sometimes my naivete gets the better of me and I think that God will watch over me and provide what I need to walk the 110 KMs. Then I feel guilty since I think that I haven't met the challenge at least halfway.
I wrote last year that it is okay not to know everything or the reason why, because it is okay to live in a mystery. Since rediscovering my writings from Maryholme, I continue to be in awe of the mystery in which I live.
For many years I felt unworthy of the blessings I had been given. I wondered and worried about my worthiness as a wife and mother. Did I deserve to have all that I had? Why had God sent me David, Jessica, Meghan, Rebecca, Amelia and Alexandra? Why me?
Bits of the mystery are unfolding for me. My interpretation of the bits is simply that, my interpretation. I don't presume to understand fully, but I am resolved that I AM WORTHY!
Daily meditations by way of centering prayer provide clarity and peace in my mind. Saying my bedtime prayer which is the one I learned as a child, provides peace before I sleep.
Now I lay me down to sleep I pray the Lord my soul to keep
If I should die before I wake, I pray the Lord my soul to take.
Live in peace and live in the moment.
Remember the moments as it is the moments that make up our lives.
Buen Camino!

The After Glow of Turning 50

Join me on my camino over the next year to discover what is it like turning 50 in this time and this place as a wife and mother in a world that sometimes appears to be out of control. It is not about my destination but being open to what the journey will provide.

So it has been over a year since I posted anything on the blog. A lot has happened in the last year, not the least of which was my 50th. Wow 1/2 a century old! Who knew that 50 would be so liberating?

Now that 50 has come and gone, it is a little like Christmas, the build up and then it's over. Now what do I do? Ya the world is my oyster, but will I locate the pearl?

My husband turned 60 this year so the two b-days add up to 110 years. We were feted by our 5 daughters with a surprise party that was paid for in part by us but organized 100% by them, right down to the paid bartender with the heavy mixing hand.

The party is still the talk of the neighbourhood! More about that later.

Back to that magic number, 110. To celebrate this achievement, we are walking another 110kms of the Camino to Santiago de Compostelo. This time instead of the last 180kms, we are starting at the beginning and walking the first 110kms. We will walk over the Pyrenees and on to Puenta La Reina before hopping a bus to Burgos.

This year there will be only the two of us. While last year's walk was amazing with the youths, I am looking forward to just hangin' out with my husband alone in a foreign country where we annot speak the language and will be bunking in hostels, sharing a bathroom and generally hoping to survive the 110kms.

Last year provided an opportunity to experience northern Spain, into Galicia and on to Finisterre in the comfort of travelling with Father Martin. Father  conversed in Spanish so we did not end up with weird food or funky accomodations. The great thing about of travelling with a Priest is that we enjoyed Mass in every town in English. One of the beauties of the Roman Catholic Church is that head office is the same for all priests the world over. Father Martin made contact with the local priest, made the necessary arrangements and we celebrated Mass everyday in centuries old churches.

When we reached Santiago de Compostelo, Father Martin said Mass at the Cathedral. Of course a number of Masses not only included 'the Canadians' but a number of other English speaking pilgrims who were somewhat surprised I think, to hear English spoken Mass in the Spanish churches. Of course there were a number of Spanish locals who were a little surprised if not confused as well.

They say that once you walk the Camino, it gets into your blood and you are pulled back again and again. Hence our return to northern Spain for the 110km pilgrimage this year. So while I have 1 thing down and 49 other things to go, I better get to creating the list that I will complete before the 51st.

I guess number 2 on the list is commiting to the blog by providing regular posts.

Oh yeah and the best thing about turning 50 is that the highschool graduating class of 1978  is also 50 this year. Enough celebration to go around I'd say.

Closing in on Departure Date

I just returned from travelling with my two daughters who will be walking in Spain. As a test run, we packed our back packs for the week away and weighed them before we went. My pack was 23 lbs, and the other two packs were around 20lbs. We need to pack for 2 weeks and be between 14 and 16lbs. Mind you we won't be packing jeans, long sleeved shirts, shampoo bottles, cosmetics. This items add up to a few pounds.
We intend to use the bar shampoo from Lush (TM). I found travel sized deodorant,because I refuse to smell like a traditional pilgrim. I have located a number of items to protect, heal, help sore feet.
While travelling last week in the states, I came across a product called Monkey Bum. I am hoping that no one on the trip gets Monkey Bum 'cause that looks painful. I think the product is for diaper rash, bum rash maybe from cycling. A very interesting and thought provoking product that caused a few giggles from the girls.
We skied one day on our vacation. This allowed for the testing of the wool socks that I purchased for everyone for the trip. To our amazement, surprise and relief, the wool socks kept our feet dry! They are worth the money for sure.
We also tried out our windbreaker/raincoats. While I have been told the best way to imitate the rain in Spain is to put on your raincoat and stand in the shower, I opted for wearing while skiing. THe rainwear is breathable and the water beads off the jacket and no leaks.
I remember as a kid I had a yellow rubber raincoat and that coat was so hot! I melted inside that coat. I couldn't imagine wearing a rubber jacket, carrying a pack in the poring rain in Spain in May. I continue to be optomistic that the jacket I have selected for everyone will work.
I checked out Europe Bound Outlet on Queen St East in Toronto. There are really good deals there for accessories such as socks, shorts, tops. I managed to purchase my rain jacket, a Patagonia jacket for 1 daughter and I will go back with my husband to get his as well as pick up a rain coat for the other daughter.
Being wet on the body and the feet is the bain of the pilgrim. I continue to pray that the weather is cooperating and while we can stand rain, that the number of days of rain are limited.
Tomorrow will be a long walk along the lakeshore. Walking west to the pedway bridge and beyond is our target. Taking time to enjoy the day and not rushing will be the order of the day tomorrow as well as when in Spain.
Life goes on at such a fast pace in Toronto, the feeling that everything must happen at the same fast pace creeps up on all of us. The challenge for us is to pace ourselves when walking and not start out with a head of steam that dissapates quickly and the walking becomes painful and unbearable. The goal is to walk the distance required each day.
I intend to measure the daily distance by being aware of my surroundings, being present in the moment and most of all, being thankful for being given this rare opportunity to live out a dream that I have had for a number of years.
God does work in a mysterious way. The individual steps that I have taken that have brought me to this time and place were guided by God each step of the way. While I am excited, nervous, anxious and all other ious's, I know that by laying it down before God, I trust that the steps that I continue to take as I continue to prepare for Spain, will continue to be guided by God.
Who I am now and who I will be at the conclusion of this part of my life's pilgrimage I willingly give up to God. He will provide what I need and by trusting completely in God's mercy for me, I know that all the trials ahead of me in the immediate future are part of God's plan for me.
God's Blessing to all.

Oratory Pilgrimage to Santiago de Compostela

We are heading out to walk about 175km of the Camino in Spain. Millions have walked before us and millions will walk after us. We are walking in the footsteps of our ancestors. Taking the same steps as they did. Walking under the same sky, on the same earth that has been given to us by God. It is difficult to imagine the beauty, the struggles, the successes and the life changing events that will occur in all of us between May 4 and May 17, 2009.


We are travelling with a multi generational group, mostly under the age of 18. I am humbled by the dedication of the youth in the group to their desire to live in a culture of life, to pursue their vocations through prayer and to maintain their faith despite the many obstacles that are put in their way.



To find out about our pilgrimage please check out the Santiago pilgrimage page on the Oratory's web site. There is a link to a two-page flyer describing the pilgrimage and the ways that you can support the pilgrims. The direct link to the flyer is:http://oratory-toronto.org/pdf/Pilgrimage-Flyer.pdf . Also, the direct link to the information about giving to our pilgrimage is:http://oratory-toronto.org/santiago_de_compostela.html#Finance


The spiritual leader for this pilgrimage if Father Martin Hilbert.


(http://www.oratory-toronto.org/) 1372 King Street West Toronto, Ontario M6K 1H3 Canada Phone: 416-532-2879 spnhilbert@yahoo.com