Back to my roots

That’s probably the best way to summarize my Christmas holiday week. After an eight hour drive through rain and freezing rain, along the highways and confusing Montreal exits, I arrived at my parents’ new home in St-Agappit, QC, early Saturday afternoon. We lived there around fifteen years ago, my mom, my brother and I, so it’s kinda funny to winde up in the same small middle-of-nowhere town that was my carry-over spot from English speaking Iowa to my French roots of QC. I was so young at the time, and nothing looks like what I remembered…

My parents’ home is a small, typically French Canadian house. Following tradition, the front door leads straight into the kitchen and eating area. There are four bedrooms upstairs, which is pretty good for the two adults and five children living here… but it gets a little crowded when you add a grandma and a big sister. Still, it turned out pretty well.


My family is well known for it’s large size and strange names. The youngest, Cassylia, almost 3, is a little doll. She reminds me of Shirley Temple, and she’s a smart cookie. She’s had to learn fast to survive life with big brothers and sisters. Here's a picture of her after Elodia straightened her hair... so cute.
Ysaac is the next one in line, now 9 yrs old. He’s a handsome little guy and, and he's pretty clever. He can be really sweet, when he isn’t teasing. Maika is 11, and she’s the monkey of the family. She’ll climb anything she lays her hand on. She loves to dance and to be in the spotlight. Isadora, on the other hand, 13 yrs old, tends to be more quiet. She’s the artsy one, both in talent and in style. And she loves cats. Elodia, 14, is a sports queen. She’s really impressive at basketball, and I’ve never seen her miss a serve in volleyball. She’s like a second mom to Cassylia, like I was to her when I was her age.


Then, there’s Jael, 22, who just got married this summer. We’re the closest in age, and we grew up together, through thick and thin. It’s been an adjustment to relinquish that friendship to his bride, Emily, but I guess the process took place over a few years, so I’m ok with it now. He’s a talented musician and songwriter, and also excels in sports. Emily is studying to become a doctor. When they first met, and Emily started falling for him, she thought she’d never have a chance with the cute Jael cause he kept telling her how she reminded him of his sister (that would be me). Who wants to date a girl who’s just like their sister? Well, apparently, to my brother, that was meant as a compliment. It’s true that we are alike a lot in personality, interests and compassions. Her heart is to be an overseas doctor, and mine is for missions… And I guess we look a like, a little bit… but she’s much prettier.


Oh, and then there’s me, the eldest. And my Chiropractor mom, and my step-dad, who's a carpenter. And there’s also my grandma, with a nose ring. She’s kinda funky like that. And that’s my family.

Saturday night, mom and I drove out to Jael & Emily’s house. They couldn’t spend Christmas with us this year, as they’re driving out to her family in Sept-Iles, on the East coast. But it was nice to catch up with them over a cup of herbal tea.

Christmas Eve morning, we went to church. It’s the church my family attends here, and the church I grew up in for most of my childhood. Many of the friends I grew up with are now missing. I just found out that one of my childhood friends got married this summer, around the same time as my brother. It was kinda weird seeing some of younger ones again, they were just little kids last time I saw them. Marie-Helene was the one that surprised me the most. She was born on my birthday, when I was eight years old, and I remember it so clearly. I remember babysitting her and her sister and brothers when she was just a little redheaded girl. Now she’s grown up to be such a beautiful young lady. And, to my joy, she plays piano and sings absolutely beautifully. Of course, the service was hardly over that we were sitting at the piano, playing and singing in harmony some of the songs we both knew.

Christmas morning was opening-the-gifts time. The highlight of the event, at least for me, is watching as Cassylia would pick up a gift and we’d try to decide who it belonged to. We’ve never spent that much on Christmas gifts, as it’s not the true reason for the season, but this year was especially frugal and simple. Yet it didn’t matter. It was still enjoyable, and the kids were grateful for what they had… praise God!

Tuesday, after several days of rain, freezing rain, and bare ground (which is a very uncommon scene for QC), we awoke to a world covered in a blanket of white. At some point between 2am and 8am, snow started to fall, quickly covering the ground with its thick, fluffy whiteness. By evening, there were several feet of sparkling snow. We spent a couple hours outside, shoveling and playing in it. As much as I don’t like the cold and look for any opportunity to escape to warmer weathers asap, I must admit that snow is really beautiful, especially sparkling in the starlight; and if you dress the part, it really is a lot of fun to play-fight and bury your siblings in it…


Wednesday morning we headed out to another childhood spot: les Chutes–de-la-Chaudiere. I have many pictures and memories of picnics, hide and seek and long walks in that park. We even sometimes swam in the falls. That day, it was even more beautiful after the fresh snowfall. We started off with some time sliding down a large hill, and Ysaac and Maika impressed us with their snowboarding skills.
Then, we headed out for a walk on the olden days’ trail. Except that Maika and Ysaac gave us a bit of a scare when we found them attempting to climb down the high precipice, trying to salvage something they’d dropped down below. Kids often don’t realize when their lives are in danger – they had no clue that they could’ve died… I guess that’s why God made parents!

The rest of the walk was very pleasant, with beautiful winter scenery. I would’ve loved to stay all day… but we didn’t.

In the evening, the adults all headed out to a prayer meeting at the pastor’s house. Another set of childhood memories flooded my mind as I walked in; even though the house has changed a lot, and the children too, I could remember coming over for many social events, dinners, or babysitting. Marie-Helene and I got to sing one of my favorite songs, and then spent a good portion of the night exchanging favorites and singing some more. She still blows me away with her piano skills; light years ahead of me! And Elizabeth, I remember her as a little girl, just a few years old. Now, she’s also growing into a lovely young lady, playing songs like “Take it all” (Hillsong) on the bass and the guitar. She’s the same age as my sister Elodia… and I can hardly believe how fast they’ve grown… I guess that makes me sound (and feel) old…

Marie-Helene, me and Elizabeth

Thursday, mom finally got her cross country skiing in. He headed out, her and I, along skidoo trails, just the two of us, in the beautiful winter afternoon. Growing up, cross country skiing was one of my mom's favorite winter activities, and I think she's passed that down to me a bit.


The closure of my week in Quebec was a game night with my younger siblings. Pictionary is alot of fun with kids that are too young to understand some words, it was a riot.

Then, the 8 hour drive home, and I was back in Oshawa. I love my family, and QC is a beautiful place, and it was nice to return to my roots for a week, but I'm glad to be home. Now, looking forward to the new year!