BE Yourself ....This is Part of Me

Wow - life

2009-09-30T10:23:00.007-07:00

Life is crazy, wonderful, up and down, spinning out of control and not moving at all.

There's so much going on with me, with my family, and yet it feels like nothing is going on sometimes. I seem to want to fill every opening and yet, also, would like to sit in a lounge chair doing nothing. Which isn't really possible.

I am thankful for friends who always make me smile, who fill me up, who understand me, even those who maybe who don't understand me, but who accept me anyway. I am grateful for a husband who is always, always by my side and on my side. Even when I'm wrong. Which, he will admit, isn't much. (*just kidding honey*) I am in awe of my children's hearts, their beauty and talent. While I may be strict, I recognise the goodness in their hearts and I am so appreciative.

I am blessed in so many ways.

Lately, I have two songs that have affected me immensely, so I wanted to share some lyrics. I have always listened to lyrics--the songs that touch me the most, really say something. It is more than a good beat, it is a message.

There's no such thing as perfect people
There's no such thing as a perfect life
So come as you are, broken and scarred
Lift up your heart
And be amazed and be changed by a perfect God
(Perfect People by Natalie Grant)

AND

But the voice of truth tells me a different story
The voice of truth says, "Do not be afraid!"
The voice of truth says, "This is for My glory"
Out of all the voices calling out to me
I will choose to listen and believe the voice of truth
(Voice of Truth by Casting Crowns)

Revelation

2009-06-03T11:50:00.002-07:00

I heard this song this morning and it totally fits how I am feeling today.

Give me a Revelation
Show me what to do
Cause I've been trying
To find my way
But I haven't got a clue

Tell me should I stay here
Or do I need to move?
Give me a Revelation
I've got nothing without You

Revelation Lyrics copyright Third Day

Photo Highlights

2009-06-01T12:30:00.014-07:00

Because I don't have as much time to blog anymore, I thought I'd give some highlights of the last few months in photos:
My big 7 year old girl blowing out the candles on the Tinkerbell cake I made her.
The Marvin the Martian cake I made for dh's birthday (he LOVES Marvin the Martian).

My gorgeous children dressed up for fancy day at school (the older two, #3 was just hangin' with Mommy.)
The Mickey Mouse cake I made for #3's 3rd birthday (yes, I was on a weird theme cake thing this year - it was kind of fun.)
My brother visiting his niece and nephews. We get to see him so rarely and they loved having him here.
The fantastic feast for a friend's birthday.#3 relaxing after a hard day.A visitor in our back yard.My two gorgeous boys.On a Mother's day cruise with my beautiful daughter.

My new haircut.

Doooonnnnuuuttttssssss

2009-04-14T17:35:00.003-07:00

The kids and I made these today. #2 cut the donut holes out. They are pretty small, LOL, and with the extra dough, #3 made donut holes (those three blobs in the top right hand corner). These are regular glaze on the side you can't see.

Good thing we went for a very long walk during the first rise. Pretty sure these aren't low cal! :-)

This

2009-04-02T08:16:00.006-07:00

These kids:

This man:
These people:

I love all of these

James 1.2-4

Thoughts

2009-03-31T17:26:00.002-07:00

This is who I am
Not always who you see
When you pull the knife
It plunges deep in me.

The scars never fade
To be bitter never mine
But now this bed has been made
I'm not sure I'm really fine.

Just because you are strong
Doesn't mean that I am weak
Every thing that I show
All the emotion that I leak.

You don't know my past
And I don't expect you to
But respect me for who I am
And all that I do.

I'm sorry that I'm not good
Enough for what you seem to need
I'm sorry that you can't see
The way I am able to love and lead.

If you don't want
What I have to give
It's not the end of the world
And I will surely live.

Hurt, I will go on and forgive
Even as anger recedes
Because that's is who I am
Even if it isn't who you see.

Mommy and Me (Interviewing the kids)

2009-03-08T14:13:00.001-07:00

I first read this on some friends' blogs and thought it was fun. I tried asking my 2 (almost 3) year old, but he didn't really give me much. Just kept answering Mickey Mouse or Hi-5. So then I thought I'd ask my older two children.

I first asked my 7 year old daughter and then my 9 year old son - separately. Her answers are on the left, his on the right.

1. WHAT IS SOMETHING MOM ALWAYS SAYS TO YOU?
To Listen/That you love me

2. WHAT MAKES MOM HAPPY?
Giving to others/Us listening to you

3. WHAT MAKES MOM SAD?
People who don’t listen to you/Not listening to you

4. HOW DOES YOUR MOM MAKE YOU LAUGH?
Silly faces/Funny jokes

5. WHAT WAS YOUR MOM LIKE AS A CHILD?
Nice/Barely ever got in trouble

6. HOW OLD IS YOUR MOM?
41/41

7. HOW TALL IS YOUR MOM?
Big/Five feet

8. WHAT IS YOUR MOM’S FAVORITE THING TO DO?
Read/Read

9. WHAT DOES YOUR MOM DO WHEN YOU’RE NOT AROUND?
Play with (#3 child)/Work on the computer

10. IF YOUR MOM BECOMES FAMOUS, WHAT WILL IT BE FOR?
Movies/Doing something really good

11. WHAT is YOUR MOM REALLY GOOD AT?
Reading/Reading

12. WHAT IS YOUR MOM NOT VERY GOOD AT?
Playing outside/I don’t know what you’re not good at

13. WHAT DOES YOUR MOM DO FOR HER JOB?
Work/Fix books on the computer

14. WHAT IS YOUR MOM’S FAVORITE FOOD?
Everything/Tacos

15. WHAT MAKES YOUR MOM PROUD OF YOU?
Listen/Clean up our rooms

16. IF YOUR MOM WERE A CARTOON CHARACTER, WHO WOULD SHE BE?
Bugs Bunny/Bugs Bunny (really? Interesting)

17. WHAT DO YOU AND YOUR MOM DO TOGETHER?
Go places/Spend time together

18. HOW ARE YOU AND YOUR MOM THE SAME?
We have the same colour hair (we don’t)/We like to play games

19. HOW ARE YOU AND YOUR MOM DIFFERENT?
We have different clothes/You have glasses and I don’t

20. HOW DO YOU KNOW YOUR MOM LOVES YOU?
You say nice things/You do nice stuff for us

21. WHERE IS YOUR MOM’S FAVORITE PLACE TO GO?
Cruise/Not McDonald’s

22. HOW MUCH DO YOU LOVE YOUR MOM?
Up to Pluto and back/To another galaxy and back (this started when I read Guess How Much I Love You to my kids - "to the moon and back" and ever since they've had to take it farther!) :wub:

Crying Out

2009-02-04T12:09:00.003-08:00

Today I sit and look out at the beautiful sunshine and contemplate so much about my life. The last two days I've had nothing but time to do that, due to a little bump in my road of life.

The thing that I have focused a lot on is my family and my friends. And in my world my friends are my family, since most of my real family is not close enough for me to be with. The thing I realised is that I have felt very isolated for a long time. Weird, to be surrounded by people, yet be unsure where to turn.

Our pastor had a sermon this past weekend that really made me think about that. When you are feeling lonely you tend to isolate yourself and then the more you do it, the more you want to, until you are a prickly bush (or some kind of analogy like that). I do this. I am generally an outgoing person, but truly I could stay at home and hide behind my computer forever. I like home. However, I do force myself to contact my friends and go out, because I know I will have fun when I'm with them and I always do. Because I crave personal contact and really find myself energised after a night with good friends. My problem is that I feel like I'm always the one pursuing that and then I get cranky and think that if my friends are my friends then wouldn't they contact me if they wanted to spend time with me? Then I go around in circles.

But I do have friends who I know aren't the type to set things up, but are happy to go along if someone does. I understand that and it doesn't bother me (I'm speaking to a specific person here, who I don't want to think this is about her, because it's not). Because I am a setter upper (ha, good word) I'm happy to do that for friends who appreciate it. Over the last few years though, I found there were relationships where I was always the one doing that and the others didn't really care one way or the other. Why would I keep pursuing that?

Anyway, my little bump in the road has only brought further clarity. If you have friends (and family) that you love, won't you show them today? Because sometimes that's all you have. And if you truly love them show them by being the one to reach out and see if they want to go for coffee or a drink or a walk or whatever. If they have always been the one to take the lead and set things up, why don't you try it for a change? By that same token if you are the one always doing it and you have friends around you that don't bring you blessings and/or are constantly negative or bringing you down, maybe you should reevaluate. I'm not saying to cut people out of your life because they are going through a rough patch, but usually rough patches don't last for years on end. If you find they are only with you for what they can get out of you, or because you are the only one left who will listen to their problems or negativity, then maybe think and pray about that.

When times are bad people gather around and that's a very good thing. Just make sure you don't disappear when times are good, that you remember that just because everything is awesome right now that you should take that for granted. I've seen that lately, too. And, you know what? I get it. We all have busy lives and it's easy to think someone will be here forever and you can always hang out with them next week. Someone is always more fun and/or easier to be around, maybe someone else builds you up more or blows only sunshine around - it is harder to have that one friend who tells it like it is. For sure it is easier to have only the people that say you're awesome around. But really? How many people is that anyway? We are only as awesome as those around us. Who do you surround yourself with?

And lest anyone be looking for hidden meaning in this post. There is none. I've done my share of all of the things I'm trying to tell you (whoever the you are that read this post) not to do. But I plan on showing my friends how very much they mean to me. I try to do this regularly, but if I haven't lately then know it will happen soon.

God is great and he can do so very many things. But only you can show people that you love them, they can only know if you tell them. If you have an opportunity to go and laugh with your friends, then do it. Unlike your family they weren't pre-programmed to love you and you can hurt them enough to make them wonder if it's worth it.

Happy Birthday #2

2009-01-23T09:03:00.003-08:00

Where did my beautiful baby girl go?

Well, would you look at that... she's turned into a gorgeous 7 year old!

Happy Birthday!

Sometimes...

2009-01-09T10:14:00.003-08:00

life sucks. But in the past few days of crap, I look at this and I keep going.

BEFORE

AFTER(all spiked with gel the first day)

and au naturale:

2008

2009-01-01T19:37:00.015-08:00

Well just like last year there is too much stuff to remember from this year. The good, bad and the ugly. There was also the terrific. The last 1/2 of 2008 I was pretty much blog post bereft. There are a lot of reasons for that, none I really can or feel like sharing.

So, like last year, I will post some highlight photo moments of my year:

From my family to yours.... We wish you a blessed Happy New Year!

Um...

2008-11-09T16:07:00.003-08:00

So, yeah. I haven't had much to say lately. Which is odd for me! :-D

Basically, there is lots going on, we are always coming or going or doing and when I'm home I'm usually working on the jobs that pay me very little. That all leads to me not having time for my personal blogging.

Plus, really, it seems I don't have anything much to tell. It's all mundane stuff, just every day things that need to get done, that keep us busy.

However, I will post my latest Halloween photo of the kids, since I think I've done that every year and missed it this year.

6 Things

2008-10-14T09:57:00.003-07:00

I've been tagged by both R and Sara...

Here are the rules:
1. Post the rules on your blog
2. List 6 random things about yourself
3. Tag 6 people at the end of your post

I moved out on my own when I was 17 (yes, I had graduated high school), and no, I don't recommend moving out that early.
My three children were born in three different hospitals and one was born in a different province. All were born early at 1, 3 and 6 weeks respectively.
Since dh and I have been married, we've moved eight times. You'd think we were in the army or something.
I am not a princess kind of a girl, except when it comes to travelling. I admit I like nice hotels & cruising waaaayyyyy more than I like camping. Although if I had a camper, or better yet an RV, I'd probably be fine. It's the tents and hard ground I have an issue with.
When I met dh I thought he was a nerd. Big hair, tie-dyed t-shirt, goofy... so not my type. He became a good friend though and somehow here we are.
I have a photographic memory. But often it's on stuff that I don't need to remember or that people don't want me to remember. Just know that if you ask me to do something some time in the future and then forget - I will still remember and wonder why you didn't follow through (but I will not ask you about it, because that would be rude LOL). I will remember something funny you told me five years ago and generally be able to say it back verbatim. However, I will not remember all of the things I am supposed to get at the grocery store and inevitably will forget to buy something important I need (like deodorant). As I said, it's selective (although very helpful when cramming for tests, as I can see pages from textbooks in my head).

I'm not sure who I can tag that hasn't already done this, so if you feel like doing it go ahead and tag yourself. :-D

Happy Anniversary!

2008-09-12T12:00:00.003-07:00

10 years ago today. Wow. 10 years! Where did that time go? It has flown by, even though there were times when it seemed so slow. 10 years, three kids, two cats (one still with us), two dogs (none with us), three goldfish (one gigantic one still with us) and 8 moves later. We've been busy. :-D

I am a very blessed woman to have the dh I have. I truly believe God made us for each other. And while our life isn't always sunshine and roses, it is always friendship and stability. Maybe, it sounds kind of boring, and sometimes it is, I guess. But, I prefer that to the roller coaster of high highs and low lows.

We have come such a long way and there is no one on earth who is a better friend to me. We have a lot of fun together, we pull through the mire together, we hold it all together for each other and our family. We love our friends and our simple life brings us joy, even through the struggles.

I can't wait to see what the next 5, 10, 20 years holds!

Happy 10th Anniversary!

Food of love

2008-08-26T08:25:00.005-07:00

I've not been a good blogger, but truthfully I am just too busy right now.

I have been trying out some new recipes lately. I didn't take a picture of the first one, which is Grilled Corn and Sausage Flatbread - which I made without sausage because I don't like sausage. Instead, along with the portobello and tomatoes, I used eggplant. Also, I made my own pizza dough rather than using storebought and used green chiles instead of jalapenos. In the yogurt sauce, I used garlic instead of scallions. Basically, I made minor changes, but the results were so yummy that it surprised me. These will likely become a new favourite. The kids weren't as enthused as dh and I, mostly about the mushroom and eggplant, but they liked the flatbread on its own.

On Sunday, we had a friend over and I tried another new recipe. I always browse SPUD to see what they have special on and sometimes I try new things. This time they had figs on special, so I thought I'd try them. I've never cooked with figs before but I found this recipe for Warm Black Mission Figs, Walnut Crunch and Blue Cheese Tartlets. Combining my love for several different things.They probably don't look as deliscious on this tray as they did in real life (you can click on the photo for a closer look), but let me tell you they were amazing. Really, they could be a new addiction and they weren't hard to make.

Here's the view of the whole dinner:

As you can see, there are no vegetables. I was going to do some, but by the time we got the kids down, everything else was ready to go and I had forgotten to put any veggies on. The consensus was we were going to eat a fairly unhealthy, but yummy dinner. This is grilled steak with sesame sauce (Sandi Richards Cooking for the Rushed Getting through the Summer) on fettucine. I decided that these tartlets were both good for an appetizer and as a dessert. And I was right. :-D

Forgot One

2008-07-20T12:30:00.003-07:00

I forgot the friend I married. And he truly is my best friend. I am a very lucky girl to have found such a wonderful man. After a lousy week dealing with inexcusable behaviour and complete jerks, my husband brought a smile to my face with these:

He doesn't bring me flowers for Valentine's Day, which I'm in complete agreement with, since they cost a small fortune at that time and I'd rather spend the money on other things. If he brings me flowers it is usually not at a specific time, but rather as a pick me up or just to say I love you. I don't get them a lot throughout the year (maybe twice, if that), but I'm good with that too. It makes it special to know he got them just because he was thinking about me at that moment rather than because society gave us a day that says he should give them to me.

These flowers are still looking pretty glorious on my mantel and they've helped me during a week where I was unsure of so many things in my life. Because I know there is one thing I don't need to be unsure of. Well, two really.

Friendships

2008-07-13T12:51:00.002-07:00

There are many kinds of friends in our lives. Some close, some casual, some that even when you only see them once a year you connect immediately. There are also some who are your friend to your face, but not when your back is turned. Or who suddenly seem like they were maybe never really your friend to begin with.

It's hard to be a good friend. I know I certainly could use help in that direction. I don't have enough time in my life for all the people I care about and sometimes that means people get left out. However, I do try to let them all know what they mean to me, if only by email or facebook or a quick note. I know I should call, but I'm not so good on the phone these days. Always someone needing something the minute I get on and I seem to do much better when I can write out what I mean.

I try every day to be the best I can be and to bring that to any interactions I have. Some days I fall way short of the mark. I am a flawed individual. That doesn't change my heart. I would never purposely hurt anyone, least of all my friends, but inadvertently I fear I may do that sometimes. My brand of sarcasm, for example, is lost on some who think I am being hurtful. I use that same sarcasm on myself so it's not meant to be a weapon. If I have ever hurt you using this I apologise.

I started thinking today about the people I call friend. Even in the past month I have been thinking about it and I realise I have stopped trying so hard to be whatever it is that some people need me to be in order to be my friend. I'm not cool, I'm not always fashionable, my house isn't always clean, I swear on occassion, I am at times insecure and others completely confident. I am who I am, and a lot of it is a big bundle of a variety of different things. Some people love that and others don't. I need to stop trying to please those who don't. I'm 40, although I do try to change myself for the better there are parts of me that just are. As I said, I am flawed.

If I count you as a friend then I will be there for you no matter what, whenever you need me,if it is within my power to help you I will. In any event, I won't talk to you in my home or out at dinner, then not give you the time of day when I run into you elsewhere. Nor will I give out light invitations to do stuff with me or my family and then completely forget about them. If I say you'll have to come over for a vanilla vodka mojito, I mean it. It may take some schedule coordination, but I will do it.

Bottom line is I'm begining to learn the difference between friend and casual acquaintance. I'm beginning to learn that I don't have to try so hard because then it's really all one-sided. Friendship isn't always easy, but it shouldn't always take so much effort. Hopefully that makes sense.

Lastly, to my friends who read this blog. I do love you. And I do appreciate you. You bless me with the gift of your time and friendship. And I am thankful for each of you.

On Being Mellow

2008-06-27T11:24:00.003-07:00

Most of you who know me know that "mellow" isn't a word often used to describe me. Or perhaps never would be more accurate.

Today my wonderful cousin called me and left me a voice mail with a clip from ONJ's "Have You Never Been Mellow" and told me that is the way I am supposed to start each day, or that it was my new ritual. It made me smile. A lot.

Growing up R and I were inseparable up at our cabin in Jasper and whenever our families got together, which was fairly often for a while. As far as cousins go we were pretty tight. We were the babies (well, I am the baby, but he was close enough - sorry R, just had to add that in) of the whole family and whatever we did, we did it together. Including almost crashing a golf cart at Galagher's Canyon. Might I add that my loving cousin jumped out of the cart HE was driving and left his baby cousin to fend for herself as the out-of-control cart zipped through the wet grass towards a tree. My short life passed before my eyes as I, too, bailed out of the cart. Sufficed to say I think I walked back to the clubhouse. I think R apologised once or maybe a hundred times, but I was still mad. I did forgive him shortly afterwards, he was hard to stay mad at.

Anyway, back in the day I loved Olivia Newton John. After I saw Grease, I loved her more. You may laugh and scoff, but let me tell you I wanted to be her when I grew up. To be so beautiful and talented. Sigh.

So here she is, singing "Have You never Been Mellow"... (the sync is off, but it's still cool)

R is hoping this form of therapy will help to lower my blood pressure. He might be right! :-D

The Good News and The Bad News

2008-06-19T18:32:00.002-07:00

The good news is I lost 5 pounds without even trying. The bad news is that it's likely because my body is fucked up.

Yep, I said a bad word. And I'm not going to take it back. I apologise to anyone who I may offend with it, but that's the only way to describe what's happening.

After a lovely morning laughing with a friend, I was feeling very tired. I've been very tired a lot lately, but you know we moved, I've not been sleeping well, we have a jam packed schedule, and we're just overall crazy. Still, I was feeling absolutely exhausted. So, after I put Josh down for his nap I lay down on the couch with Mckenna. Now that may not seem weird to some of you, but I am not a napper. I don't nap. Not really even when I was pregnant. I just have too much to do. But I did today, even though every five minutes Mckenna woke me up to "ask" me something, or tell me I was snoring. Ha. Whatever. I'm tired and stuffed up from allergies. What can I say?

Anyway, after I picked Aidan up from school I took my blood glucose reading. Oh yes, I've been doing that for about a week because I'm considered pre-diabetic and they wanted to monitor me. I'm eating the right things (mostly, yes, I do slip occassionaly), so I was thinking "piece of cake - they've got nothing on me". The first reading last week was 4.6 or something low. Excellent. But then over the past week it's been rising, until it hit 11.9 the other day. I started taking the test twice a day, one a fasting in the morning and one about 2-3 hours after lunch. Just wanting to make sure. The fasting ones were fairly high, but I was trying not to be worried. After all when I have them in the lab, I'm still borderline.

So I take the test after I pick up Aidan and it was higher than 11 again. 3 hours after lunch. It should less than 8 if you aren't diabetic, less than 10 if you are. Ahem. Add to that I felt like complete crap. My chest was tight and I felt very lightheaded. I called Steve to see where he was because I had an appointment at 4:30 for chiro and thought maybe I could zip in to the clinic and see someone first. Luckily he was in Maple Ridge and almost home (that never happens, normally he's stuck in traffic and running late) and thankfully there was no wait in the clinic.

The doctor was not a happy camper. My blood pressure was 180 over 120. Not good. Very bad. Maybe that's why I've been feeling like my body, head and eyes are going to explode lately. I am now on blood pressure medicine and medicine for diabetes control.

But hey - I lost 5 pounds!

Grown Up Home?

2008-06-11T12:45:00.008-07:00

Or getting there, anyway.

Here are some photos of my living room:
(ignore the tv show in the background, that's probably not very grown up! LOL)

And our bedroom:This was day two here so we still had stuff everywhere, but I hurriedly made the bed (as you can see by that one sad looking pillow) to take a photo. Chocolate brown and Ice Blue. Those colours will eventually carry on through the ensuite too.

To me, this is my grown-up stuff. I've been living on my own since I was 17 and usually had hand me down furniture or very inexpensive stuff. The couches are the first that we have bought as a couple, and are more my style than anything I or we have ever had. We've gone back to a queen size bed for a number of reasons: it was cheaper than buying a new king (our old one was having issues and the mattress looked like a wave) and you can always find more linens for a queen. Plus, our kids are older (ok, my youngest is 2, but it's old enough) and we no longer want/need little ones in bed with us (a convenience for sure when I was nursing).

This weekend I get a new bookshelf (new to me, but very nice purchase from a friend). I've been using a bookshelf that my dh built me out of scrap. It is very utilitarian looking, but served it's purpose. Now I want something that looks nicer and goes with my stuff.

I have plenty of ideas for this place, but first we have the basement to finish so my oldest can have his own room. He's being a trooper about sleeping on the floor of his sister's room, but I know he is excited to have his own space.

To Be or Not To Be

2008-06-03T09:39:00.004-07:00

I'm trying to decide whether or not to delete this blog. Lots of reasons, none of which I really care to get in to.

However, I've had a few people ask me if maybe they could be added, so I guess there are still people wandering by. That's nice and I appreciate it a lot. Now, if I could only think of something witty and fabulous to say.

See that's the problem, I'm not so witty and fabulous lately. I'm mostly just tired and cranky and trying to make all happy and funny. Because I am so blessed by so much and I know I should be grateful. And I am. But I'm really, really tired and sometimes I'm lonely. Silly, I know. To be surrounded by people, yet still lonely.

For 25+ years I had a good girl friend that I talked to daily, laughed over nonsensical stuff, could say nothing to and still get it, etc. and now we are just in different places in our lives and it doesn't work as well any more. I'm ok with that, to everything there is a season, but I miss it. Yes, my dh is my best friend and I can and do tell him everything, but it's just different with another woman. Those fit of giggles that you get and can't really explain and guys just look at you like you're nuts. I miss that. I miss wandering around and shopping, even though I'm not really a shopper (I'm more the get in and get out type of person), every once in a while I like to wander around and look at stuff with a friend and make funny comments. I went on a trip with a couple of friends a while back and it was like that and I realised how much I miss it.

On a daily basis it is me and my kids and then my dh in the evening. He works hard all day, I work in between carpooling the kids everywhere, we have the various kids activities and church activities and every once in a while we try to squeeze our friends in there. Because our friends are so important to us and we care about them a lot. It's important for us to have social time. Just adult time. It's important as couples and as individuals. And I need some one on one girl time to laugh and gigle and talk and not talk and you know...

So there you go, this is why I haven't been posting, because it sounds like one big whine. And my life deserves more than that and I know the people in it do. But when I write I want to say how I feel. And this is how I feel. And because I'm an emotional person that's what comes out. It's very odd to be both logical and emotional. My head tells me to suck it up and my heart just keeps feeling. What's up with that?

Countdown Starts

2008-05-21T15:09:00.002-07:00

One week today we are back in our own home. I cannot wait! I'm already excitedly making plans and imagining how I want it to look. Of course, a lot of it will come over time. First we have to finish the basement for #1 to have his own room, we'll have a rec room and a full bath, and either a music room or a craft room (we can't remember how big the room is at this point and are guesstimating based on old plans), plus storage. I've already put a deposit on carpet.

In the meantime, we have to pack. I hate packing. I love unpacking - the newness of where everything should go and starting fresh.

I'm excited about what this year will bring us for so many reasons. One of them is that September marks the 10th anniversary for dh and I. We celebrated early with a weekend cruise this past month. It was so great to just be us for a while, instead of Mom and Dad. We remembered how much fun we have together and all the things we like to do (dining out and trying new food has always been high on that list and where better than a cruise for that). We attended an Elton John tribute that was excellent and so much fun.

Anyway, 7 more sleeps until we get our place.

Funny Horoscope

2008-04-24T09:52:00.004-07:00

As a rule, I don't generally read horoscopes. It's not my gig. But a friend of mine posted on of hers from Free Will Astrology and it was hilarious, so I thought I'd check mine out.

Capricorn Horoscope for week of April 24, 2008:

I've got three messages for you. They may seem unrelated, but by this time next week you will see that they are intimately interconnected. 1. Unless you were raised in the woods by badgers, it's a perfect moment to slip into your second childhood. 2. Unless you really can't stand having your mind changed, it's an excellent time to launch a daring project that would have seemed impossible to the person you were a year ago. 3. People unsympathetic to your cause may think you're in the throes of delusions of grandeur, but those of us who have faith in your untapped powers say they're not delusions but viable fantasies.

Wait, how do they know I was raised in the woods by badgers? And I love it when people think I have delusions of grandeur. 'Cause nothing says Stay-at-home-Mom than someone with grand delusions. Frankly, I'm daring every time I have to change #3's diaper. What more could I want? :-D

Happy Birthday Mom!

2008-04-17T16:05:00.003-07:00

Not bad looking for 65! In fact, a pretty hot lady. Way to do, Mom! :-D

A Life Well Lived

2008-04-03T22:35:00.006-07:00

This week I journeyed to Alberta to say goodbye to my Uncle Bill. It was a bittersweet reunion between me and my cousins who I adore. What an awful way to ensure a family get together. However, there was laughter through the tears... of times remembered, of a man so loved, of a cottage full of family, of summers spent together.

In a fitting tribute to my Uncle, the Bob Hope Chrysler Classic sent a private jet full of their management to say goodbye. It was a very classy thing to do. We sang songs and told stories that made us weep. The pastor told us of my Uncle asking to hear about the Lord on Good Friday and how he accepted him into his heart. That filled my heart with gladness. The pastor talked about a life well lived and it is this statement that I clung too. For it was definitely a life well lived, and there were several hundred people there, including the mayor, the gentelmen from the Chrysler Classic and several dignitaries, and of course, so many family members that attested to it.

William (Bill) Goldsworthy
GOLDSWORTHY William Leroy Bill" Goldy" It is with great sadness we announce the passing of Bill Goldsworthy on Saturday, March 22, 2008 at the age of 66. Goldy was the epitome of a Golf Professional. He spent over 50 years in the golf industry, at the Jasper Park Lodge, Point Grey G&CC, Head Pro (in 1965 the youngest in Canada) at Cedar Hill Golf Club, then Gallagher's Canyon, Kelowna. Pro-Manager Hinton, Camrose and Lake Point Golf Clubs respectively. During his Cedar Hill days he proudly started PGA Tour player Jim Rutledge and Asian Tour player Rick Gibson off on their careers. As Co-Chair of the marshals, Bill dedicated 25 years of service to the Bob Hope Chrysler Classic. An ambassador to the game of golf, Bill was a lifetime member of the CPGA and served on the board of directors of the APGA. His favourite spot to be was at the cottage at Lake Edith, fishing and drinking Blue!

I've taken out the names of the family members that Uncle Bill left behind to protect both their privacy and ours (and yes I know, but I'm not going to make it easier). Sufficed to say there are many loving members of his family, who will go on to remember him.

A life well lived... A man well loved.