Between Heaven & Earth ~ A Grandson's Love

 52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks 2025: Week 2 (FAVOURITE PHOTO)

This is currently my favourite photo.

It tells a tale of love that reaches between heaven & earth.

In 2007 we visited Tillsonburg, Ontario for a family funeral, and spent time at Chris' grandparents house.

Chris' grandma Nina passed away 5 years earlier.

She had been a fantastic cross stitcher.

Chris brought 2 projects home that had been started, but not finished.

I imagine his extended family members may have wondered why he wanted to bring partially done cross stitch products home.

Several years earlier Chris had been on an ambulance call at a residence that had many beautiful cross stitch projects framed on the walls. 

He asked the resident if his wife had done them.

The resident replied he had done them, and asked if Chris was surprised to hear that.

Chris said he was, but shouldn't have been AND said maybe he would try it.

As he looked at the unfinished left behind by Grandma his thought had been that it would be a perfect way to try cross stitching. 

One of the projects was a half done FOOTPRINTS poem.

This was a special project for our family because grandma Nina was a friend of the author Margaret Fishback Powers.

There is conflict about who authored the poem, but our family chooses to believe grandma's friend.
                        **There is more about this in the sources below**

When Chris completed that first project he gifted it to his maternal grandmother for Christmas (2007) telling her the story.  

The second project (above) went into a drawer due to how big a project it was.. 

When Chris chose to bring the two home he hadn't yet actually done any cross stitching so he had no idea of the complexity & time of that second one. 

After completing the first project he began to realize the second one was a lot more, but even then he didn't really understand what a 22 count on uneven weave really entailed.

Over the next 17 years Chris' cross stitch skills have come a long way. 

For many years he was a legend at work because he would cross stitch in the passenger seat of an ambulance that was driving with lights & siren in the city. 

Everywhere he went over his day he carried a red fabric (Staples branded) bag with his current project inside.

Every downtime opportunity he would bring it out to work on.

He even had a partner try to forbid him from doing it saying she was worried he would poke his eye out. 

He explained it helped keep him calm & relaxed which is so important in a high stress job.

As a side benefit his IV skills dramatically increased. 

He was known to be able to get very challenging IV starts even while the ambulance was on bumpy roads, as well as start them upside down for the benefit of the student he was assisting.

I don't know how many times Chris looked at the project started by Grandma Nina, but after 17 years he decided it was time.

It took that long for his skill level and confidence to allow him to attempt this complicated Thomas Kinkade project.

We know it would have been one of the last projects Grandma Nina ever worked on because the pattern is copyrighted 2001 which is the year she died. 

23 years later Chris finished it.

When he first started he realized the colour matching would be challenging since the already stitched had faded.

In discussion we decided the clear line of each of their work added to the story of this picture so would be left as is.

Take a look again - notice the line on the roof line, notice the sky, notice the tree.

That is what 23 years tucked in a drawer does to the colour of thread.

Feeling the love & attachment across the span of time.

Looking at the labour of love in this photo it's understandable why this is my current favourite photo. 

I have no doubt Grandma Nina looked down on her grandson's labour of love with pride. 

When Chris loves he never lets go!!! 

This is why I search - 

Cause ... 

You can pick your friends, but you can't pick your family you know!

***Any errors are my own. Please send me any updates or corrections via the comments at the bottom of this blog post***

Sources:

Disagreement over who wrote ‘Footprints in the Sand’ could end in court. Suever, Hank Stuever. The Washington Post. Originally published June 1st 2008. Retrieved January 7th 2025 from
https://www.heraldnet.com/news/disagreement-over-who-wrote-footprints-in-the-sand-could-end-in-court/

The Footprints Book Of Daily Inspirations. Powers, Margaret Fishback. Barnes & Noble. Retrieved January 7th 2025 from
https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-footprints-book-of-daily-inspirations-margaret-fishback-powers/1113837439

Footprints: 50th Anniversary Treasury. Power, Margaret Fishback . Harper Collins Canada. Retrieved January 7th 2025 from
https://www.harpercollins.ca/9781443422345/footprints-50th-anniversary-treasury/

Who Made the 'Footprints'? Solomon, Nancy. NPR. Originally published June 10th 2008. Retrieved January 7th 2025 from
https://www.npr.org/2008/06/10/91356803/who-made-the-footprints

Where Did the Footprints Poem Come From? Taylor, Justin Originally published August 19, 2016. Retrieved January 7th 2025 from
https://www.thegospelcoalition.org/blogs/evangelical-history/where-did-the-footprints-poem-come-from/

Whose 'Footprints' Is It? Profits from the beloved inspirational poem 'Footprints' number in the millions. The purported authors number in the hundreds. BeliefNet. Retrived January 7th 2025 from 
https://www.beliefnet.com/entertainment/books/2004/04/whose-footprints-is-it.aspx

Photos:

Personal

Links:

Amy Johnson Crow, 52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks Challenge
https://www.amyjohnsoncrow.com/52-ancestors-in-52-weeks/

If you reference or use my blog posts in any way please

include a link to the specific blog and

credit http://somehowrelated.blogspot.com/

My blogs are ©Deborah Buchner, 2014 forward.

All rights reserved.

Please & Thank you!

______________________________________________________________

Bucky At Work ~ Chris At Home

 52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks 2024: Week 21 (NICKNAME)

This tiny baby was born in a small town in Ontario. He was the first born grandchild on his father's side & 2nd for his mother's. 

As he got older his value began to become apparent               

As a child he wanted to be a pilot when he grew up. 

Chris with his younger sister

There are people alive today who are glad his plan to be a pilot never materialized. He has impacted the lives of thousands upon thousands of folks, as a Paramedic, in the province of British Columbia. 

On the job he's known as Bucky. 

When I met him he was a first aid attendant in construction. 

Bucky didn't yet exist. 

It was not too long after we met that he was hired by BC Ambulance service to work on-call, and Bucky was born.

After 8 years working 2 jobs he became a full-time Paramedic working the entire Lower Mainland of Vancouver including the Downtown Eastside. Over the years he worked his way further East to be closer to home. 2 years ago he was promoted to Manager. 

This week he received notification that he will be the recipient of the 2024 Canadian Governor General's Exemplary Service Award in the Emergency Medical Services category.

"Emergency Medical Services Exemplary Service Medal

The Emergency Medical Services Exemplary Service Medal ...
recognizes professionals in the provision of pre-hospital emergency medical services to the public, who have performed their duties in an exemplary manner, characterized by good conduct, industry and efficiency."  1

You just need to watch this video (recorded in 2017) to see the passion he has for the job he loves & the people he cares for.

In the 30 years Chris has been a paramedic he has experienced challenges and hardship. 

He has faced his own greatest fears when work and family have collided. 

Through it all he has shown strength & resiliency.

It's hard to be a hero 24/7. 

Bucky doesn't live with us. 

At home he is Chris. 

Every now and then Bucky makes an appearance at home, but mostly he's just a regular guy living life.

I will update this blog with photos and links once they become available (late fall 2024 or early 2025). 

When the hero is in your own family!!! 

This is why I search - 

Cause ... 

You can pick your friends, but you can't pick your family you know!

***Any errors are my own. Please send me any updates or corrections via the comments at the bottom of this blog post***

Footnotes:

1  Emergency Medical Services Exemplary Service Medal.
Retrieved May 18th 2024 from
https://www.gg.ca/en/honours/canadian-honours/directory-honours/exemplary-service-medals/emergency-medical-services-exemplary-service-medal

Photos:

Personal

Family photo. ChrisTopher Films. Used with permission. 

Videos:

Bucky: A Paramedic's Story#1. Smitty Speaks. Originally published April 2017, Republished June 2017. Retrieved May 18th 2024 from 
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_TzyuV9yy4c&t=69s

Links:

Amy Johnson Crow, 52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks Challenge
https://www.amyjohnsoncrow.com/52-ancestors-in-52-weeks/

If you reference or use my blog posts in any way please

include a link to the specific blog and

credit http://somehowrelated.blogspot.com/

My blogs are ©Deborah Buchner, 2014 forward.

All rights reserved.

Please & Thank you!

______________________________________________________________

Last One Standing ~ OR What Should Have Been A Weekend

 52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks 2023: Week 24 (LAST ONE STANDING)

Today is our anniversary. 

As I was thinking about what to write for this week's prompt I realized that 31 years together is an achievement in the world we live in. 

Our marriage isn't the only one that has lasted this long, but it is true that we are part of a small group of folks still standing with each other. 

I think our marriage fits for last one standing. 

With the way our relationship started no one thought it would last. 

There is no one more surprised than I, that it did.

Going back to the beginning ... 

31 years ago my day began like every other day. 

I had no idea that in the evening there would be a PLOT TWIST that turned everything I thought I knew upside down. 

31 years ago I met a boy, and everything changed 💗

31 years ago this evening I met a boy who wanted a tricycle race partner, and I agreed. 

He was an out of town construction worker staying in the hotel. 

We came in last because that boy couldn't guzzle beer, but it turned out to be an untapped talent of mine 🤣  

He was funny, he could dance, and he was interesting to talk to. 

I walked out without saying goodbye or giving him my last name or number. 

I had plans that a boyfriend didn't fit into, and was not the least bit interested. 

A week or two later he found me at my place of work. 

He imploded my plans as only Bucky could. 

We moved in together almost right away, and didn't plan to ever get married. 

That changed when he was almost electrocuted at work, and I realized that it would be easier to get the widow's pension from CPP if we were married. 

We got married on the second anniversary of our tricycle race meeting just a few weeks after that near-miss at work. 

After 31 years together (29 married) he still makes me laugh ... usually with him, but sometimes at him. 

31 years into 'what should have been a weekend' 

“One day, in your search for happiness, you discover a partner by your side, and you realize that your happiness has come to help you search.”                                                                                              ― Robert Brault

Where this Bramble Bush first began!!! 

This is why I search - 

Cause ... 

You can pick your friends, but you can't pick your family you know!

***Any errors are my own. Please send me any updates or corrections via the comments at the bottom of this blog post***

Sources:

Brault, Robert. Quote. Retrieved June 11th 2023 from
https://quotefancy.com/quote/1579807/Robert-Breault-One-day-in-your-search-for-happiness-you-discover-a-partner-by-your-side

Photos:

Personal

Links:

Amy Johnson Crow, 52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks Challenge
https://www.amyjohnsoncrow.com/52-ancestors-in-52-weeks/

If you reference or use my blog posts in any way please

include a link to the specific blog and

credit http://somehowrelated.blogspot.com/

My blogs are ©Deborah Buchner, 2014 forward.

All rights reserved.

Please & Thank you!

______________________________________________________________