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About me


I am cancer survivor, world traveller, adventure seeker, shower singer, strawberry picker, tea drinker, Star Trek watcher, question asker, woolly sock collector, Muppets obsessive, kitchen alchemist, lapsed academic, wife to the amazing H and mother to two incredible kids. Our baby boy S died during pregnancy in 2010, leaving raw wounds, a gaping hole and tons of love with nowhere to go but our dreams for the future. In April 2014, after nearly four years of infertility and two more losses, we were blessed beyond measure when  S’s little sister, herein known as Girl Wonder, joined our family. She was born with Down syndrome and faced a rough and often painful start in life, but that hasn’t dimmed her strength of spirit or her dazzling smiles.

I’m fiercely in love with both my kids and grateful every day for the lessons they teach me.

I am loud and opinionated, but also sensitive, easy to bruise, trusting and generally optimistic by nature, so my tone on this blog shifts accordingly: sometimes I write tongue-in-cheek, sometimes heart-on-sleeve.   

Albert Camus wrote that in the depths of his darkest winter, he found within himself an invincible spring. Always seeking my invincible spring, I’m finding pleasure in the simple things and finding more than enough love for every season.

Welcome and thanks for stopping by. Pull up a chair; the kettle’s on.

18 comments:

  1. It sounds to me like your wonderful son was so lucky to have been blessed to be with you both even though on this earth for a short starburst. I hope for magical things for your future. Best wishes. Sally

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    1. That is the sweetest thing to say. He *is* a little starburst, and just as brilliant too.

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  2. I want to travel sooo bad! I love spicy foods too! I never used to cook. Then I got married and became quite the "Susy home maker"

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    1. I'm thinking I might add some of my more successful recipes from time to time.

      I still love travel, but it gets tired as a way of life, so I'm hoping this blog will also chronical our process of establishing roots while we ttc. Thanks for stopping by!

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  3. How awesome that is that you have had the opportunity to travel and live in so many different places! I do understand wanting to settle down at some point and designating a "home", but you will always have those experiences that nobody can take away from you.

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    1. That's so true; we've seen so much of the world and have so many fantastic experiences under our belts (things I wouldn't trade for anything). It makes the decision to settle down and parent an easy one! Here's hoping... ;)

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  4. I have seen you comment so many times on my blog and yet didn't even realise you were a blogger yourself. It's crazy how much we have in common. I understand the want to put some roots down as that is what we (my husband and I) are also attempting now, though we have a strange way of getting there living continents apart. But there is an end in sight.

    I look forward to exploring your blog some more and thank you for all of the lovely comments you've left for me along the way xx

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    1. Thank you for visiting Lisa. Yes, I participated in the March bloghop!

      We do indeed seem to have a lot in common. (It's always nice to be able to connect on things besides babyloss too...And I really value hearing other people's migration stories!). Are you now settled in Canada? My husband and I are currently in the process of seriously considering that option. The pull of creating a more permanent home base is strong right now.

      I wish you guys the best as you continue with settling in, and look forward to updates on your blog. Remembering Finley with you. I'm so sorry he's not here.

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  5. I am so glad you found my blog, because it allowed me to find yours! My dear, apart from pregnancy loss, we have much in common. I'm looking forward to exploring your writing and getting to know you better. Much love xo

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    1. Thank you so much for visiting Lauren. I am likewise looking forward to following your blog; so much of your writing, and the way you approach your experiences, resonates with me. It is nice ot have happier things in common as well, isn't it? I hope to discover many of those in the future. Sending you many healing thoughts.

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    2. It's good to connect over happier things, yes! I look forward to getting to know you. Much love xo

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  6. Thanks so much for coming by my blog to visit! Wow I had to look words up in the dictionary at least three times while reading your "about me! :D It's just my lack of vocabulary words on my part as a non native English speaker. So sorry for your losses. :(

    BTW, great blog name. :)

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    1. Thanks for stopping by and staying to say hello! Sorry if I made you do all that homework though...I tend to be too wordy sometimes :/

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  7. Hi there expat! I'm native American, living in Finland for the last 14 years. I've traveled a few places, but only lived here, outside my home country.

    It looks like we have a bit in common. Hot tea is a must for me, especially with the weather turning colder, although I drink it all year round. I'm also an avid baker. In fact I tried a new PB bars recipe to night. Yum!!
    How can you not like the original Star Trek? ;)

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    1. Thanks for stopping by to say hello Heather! As I think I mentioned over on your blog, my husband and I visited Finland this past summer for the first time, and loved it. 14 years is a very settled life! We're hoping to move closer to that soon too...

      Although I'll never turn down good chocolate, I'm not much of a baker, and can hardly distingusih between a handmade cake and a good ol' Duncan Hynes mix; I'm a philistine, I know! I tend to cook mostly savoury stuff.

      And the whole OS/TNG/DS9 debate? I guess that's an endless one... ;)

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  8. I'm going to assume you've already found the Enjoying the Small Things blog, but mentioning it just in case. Reading that blog really changed my perspectives a lot.

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  9. Just found you through LFCA. I love the 'homespun hedonist' moniker! I'm so sorry about your little boy. As a fellow babyloss mom, I have some understanding of your journey. Congratulations on your new baby girl, and good luck in the days and weeks ahead.

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  10. Just found your blog through the Friday Roundup. I'm so sorry for your losses. I believe that the hurt eases over time, sometimes decades, but it never goes away.

    I hope to read more about your journey. Thank you for sharing so openly.

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