Home Is Where the Heart Is

After the initial first days of culture shock,

moments of total disorient,
not knowing which way was up,

I started to adjust to home here in Canada.

I got a little job making handmade merino wool designer scarves

for boutiques to sell in Toronto.

It was fun!
see website, www.olivindesign.com

I rode my bike a lot around the city,

enjoyed the clean Canadian summer air,

read fine poetry from literary greats,

sent parcels in the post,
and also leisurely perused the aisles and bookshelves of

small, non-profit neighbourhood thrift stores (one of my favorite things).

Then,

Two weeks after being home,
during a midnight thunderstorm,
my dad had a tightness in his chest,
we went to the emergency,
he was hospitalized,
and scheduled for open-heart sugery 8 days later.

He had a mild heart attack, and upon investigation,

he had 3 major coronary (heart) arteries severely clogged,

and needed a triple bypass.

It was a shock to all of us, my dad having really no symptoms of anything prior.

Also, he was active, ate well,

and hadn’t had high blood pressure for a long time.

Anyway, my dad was in amazingly good spirits, and,
having no pre-existing conditions,
he was a perfect candidate for a good recovery too.

All of our family is here in Winnipeg,

except my oldest brother who lives in Holland.

When he heard the news,

him and his girlfriend were able to leave for 10 days and they flew in from Europe for the surgery and the first few days of recovery.

It was a highly emotional time, visiting dad everyday in the hospital,
waiting,
for “the day”.

It was a time of thankfulness and prayer,
thankful that he was home and we were able to drive him to the hospital,

(he had been by himself at the cabin all day the day of the heart attack,

120 km away finishing some carpentry work),
thankful that they were scheduling him in so quickly to get the surgery,

thankful that we all could be here in Winnipeg,
thankful that I was home (I wasn’t off in some foreign land) at this time,
thankful that he had a really good surgeon,
thankful that there wasn’t much permanent damage,

thankful for the Canadian healthcare system!

thank you Lord.

We also prayed a lot as a family,
giving over our fears and hesitations to a God who is worthy to be trusted.

I felt the presence of God even amidst uneasiness,

He moved us into a place of faith, belief, and blessing

for all things surrounding the surgery.

Finally “the day” came,
and dad recovered with flying colours!

...after the first few rough days of discomfort and extreme pain. (the nurses would ask him what level of pain he felt from 1 to 10,
ten being the worst pain he’s ever felt in his life:
he replied with, “16.”)

Brother Quinn's Birthday (4 days after dad's surgery) at the hospital with the whole fam!

And after 5 or 6 days, he was able to come home,
and it’s been a steady recovery from then on!

He goes on lots of walks, and has lots of rests.
I’ve become his “personal driver”, (which is an honour and a lot of fun!) as we run errands together, and go to the grocery store,
something we both find simple joys in.
(He can’t drive for 6 weeks because he needs to wait for his sternum (ribcage) to heal.... it got sawed open during the surgery)

So we’re taking a more relaxed pace over here at the Merkeley house,

enjoying the hot summer days,

and still going to our cute little cabin, making bonfires, and listening to the birds sing their perfect songs in the morning.

Lots of family dinners -- one of my favorite things....

I got a job working at a flower shop,

which I find extremely fun and creative,

and I am mostly doing flowers for weddings.

I’m learning lots, and, well,

what’s not to like about working with fresh flowers all day,

each one unique from the next?

I’ll be looking for a more substantial job in the fall to complement this fun one,

to help fund for more midwifery studies in the future.

Going through pictures of the trip of 17 months,
remembering moments,
stories,
seeing videos,

still brings me to tears.

Each woman, each circumstance, each injustice, each child...

may I never forget what I’ve seen and been apart of,

...and may these cherished experiences
spur me on to the destiny and call that God has for my life.

What awaits?

Great things!

May the road be interesting,

barefoot,

and may there always be time

to find a feather for your hair.

Thanks for following along with me,

all over this beautiful world.

It's been a joy.

Much love,

Fia.