Anna
Jesse
Spencer
Christopher
Eric
David
Shan
Geordie
Adam
and anyone else who pops in 'univited' to eat at our table.

That i am able to love them, just the way they are

Abuse
I always think there is something wrong with me
and then years later, I realise that the abuser would have have been more loved by me if I had simply stood up for myself and allowed them to understand when they transgressed
That way, they would have had the opportunity to develop more loving responses, instead of persisting in abusive behaviours which ultiimately only cause estrangement all around.

Winter has taught me the value of opening my eyes and living in REALITY.
I grew up in Southern Ontario where it was possible to wear running shoes all year if one was prepared for the occasional cold soaker.  Age 17 and 18 I missed most of two winters travelling and then started university in Montreal
I was angry all that first Montreal winter. Angry at feeling cold, angry at humans in general that they would ever construct a city in such a climate. I did not bring to consciousnes that my own youthful vanity was robbing me of winter wonderland.
A few short years later I was a medical intern living in Ottawa and was doing an elective at a sports medicine clinic in February.  I had no car and the buses were a  circuitous 60min ride.  It was much quicker to walk across frozen windy Dow's lake and suddenly I was old enough to take pride in my sheepskin fuddish hat, balaclava, layered jackets, snow pants, padded paws.  I dressed so warmly that I am certain that even at -30 C I could have survived all day asleep in the snow.
My hair was a mess when I got to work.
Now I always wear at least two coats in winter, the outer one being an MEC down parka.  I just  bought my eldest son a down parka.  I had to talk him into it as he was veering toward fashion.  But after a few walks between his room near the university and his part time job, he loves it. 
The house I moved into 2 weeks ago is a 3min walk from work and a 30second walk from church.
The reality of Ottawa winter is that it is a pristine fairyland for romping and skiing and skating which is frostbite cold, and dangerous for driving:  I had to give up speed and vanity and walk/skate/ski in the real world, walk warmly.
:)