My Grandmother, Mary Jane, nicknamed Queenie, is the daughter of Edgar Kelly, who enlisted in the Canadian Army Service Corps (C.A.S.C.) in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada on February 12, 1915, and served in the 3rd Canadian Divisional Train, C.A.S.C.
The 3rd Canadian Division arrived in France by January 1916 and provided supply services, transportation, and a support element to the many other Canadian Divisional Train troops who found their way to The Front (France) during the First World War between 1915 and 1920. Promoted to Staff Sergeant Major 1st Class Warrant Officer on December 14, 1916, Kelly served in the 10th Canadian Field Ambulance Division from March 3rd, 1917, until he was discharged by Reason of Demobilization on April 1st, 1919.
The families of the troops relied heavily on letters and communication from their loved ones during the war, and Queenie was no different. From 1914 to 1918, postcards were sent throughout the world and had worldwide popularity. Families and soldiers avidly sent and collected these small non-descript notes from home and cherished them with love. Canadian soldiers waited over three weeks to a month for news from home, as the mail was processed through England first. [Read more…] about Somewhere in France (1916 WW1) – Postcards Home
It took me a long time to learn gratitude. True, all my life I’ve been grateful. Thanking people when a ‘thank you’ was due — receiving gifts with a smile. Merely being a nice, ‘thank you,’ kind of person. Until I learned what being grateful was all about, I realized that those times in my life while I was thankful for the gifts I received, I don’t think I felt gratitude deep within my heart.
When we take time out of our day to be mindful, to be in the moment, to pause, is when we can see things around us that bring us joy, such as the beauty of a sunrise, or ice crystals in the air, a butterfly flitting about or a colourful rainbow. In my 
I am not a political person and never will be. I don’t like politics, speaking about politics, and involving myself in any political debates. Today though is different. Today is Election Day in Canada! I will be seated in front of a media outlet tonight, along with millions of others, to see the results of our voting. Today is my day to engage in the political forum by casting my vote, and I will. Being a Canadian citizen gives me the democratic right, eligibility, and freedom to vote. So I am going to. 
The journal, 