My blog

A little bit about me and a lot about the things we do.

Monday 27 April 2015

6th Anniversary

Six years ago I sat watching my husband ready to launch into a new career.  I was excited, nervous and wondering what in the world were we doing.
Six years has brought so many changes in our life.  We moved two provinces away from our home in Ontario, first to an urban location and then two years in an isolated post.  Both places came with their joys and struggle and lots of new  experiences.

Six years later we now have four grandchildren.  Jenn has gone back to complete her college courses. She is engaged to get married next June.

Six years has brought lots of changes in Stephen's life as well.  He graduated from college, moved first to Calgary and then to the Yukon for good jobs.  He said goodbye to his childhood puppy and adopted three new pets to be a part of his family.

Tank and Bentley

Tank and Lilly
Yes, six years ago we had no idea what we were getting into and the changes that would occur in our family.  One thing is for sure; the time has flown by and we are enjoying the challenges, the new sights and the new friends we have made along the way.
 

Saturday 18 April 2015

Busy In My Mind

For the past year or more life has been pretty slow around here but all of the sudden life has sped up.

Yesterday morning I was getting messages from Jenn with her mind racing with wedding plans...so much to do:  places to book, colours to pick, special people to choose.  

Next I got a phone call from Three Hills.  I had sent off an application for a job opportunity and they called me to set up an interview for when I get there.

Then Ron went to work and found out that we have a date booked for the first week of May to go house hunting.  It's about to get real around here.

Up north Stephen went to his farewell party for his work last night.  Now, if he could just hear about when he is starting his training we could really get this show on the road.

Yup, life has sped up around here...at least in my mind.

My latest project sent off to my sister....who I will be 9 hours away from!

Tuesday 14 April 2015

News

Okay I have been waiting to share this news.  A few weeks ago we went to Regina to complete the medical tests and psychological interviews to make sure that we were fit for a year extension in Deschambault Lake.  We both proved to be healthy and the psychologist stated that we were a "resilient couple."  (Definition of Resilient:  able to recoil or spring back into shape after bending, stretching, or being compressed.)  This is probably a good description of the past two years.

Well after arriving home and doing some planning for the next couple of months Ron went to work the next day to have an email waiting for him.  We were being released from the Saskatchewan division and he was given four places to choose in Alberta.  What?  Shock!  We were prepared for another year here.  The next step was to wait and make sure that we got the paperwork to see if everything really did go through....and it came today!

We are moving to Three Hills, Alberta.  There are many positives to this move:
  • only about 2 hours to the mountains (that's to Banff....anybody want to visit us now?)
  • about 1 hour to the Cross Iron Mall
  • just over 1 hour to an International Airport (now it takes us 5 to get to the closest)
  • there are sidewalks and paved streets
  • grocery stores are minutes away (instead of 1.5 hours)
  • close enough to Stephen that he can come for supper!
We are so excited.  Now we will have to do some house shopping.  I will have to get my resume up and running.  It is going to be an exciting spring.   Oh, and we just may have to buy a motorcycle...they have paved roads there.

Monday 13 April 2015

Not What I Expected

Two blogs ago I mentioned that there was change in the air....and that news is still to come but there was change in the air from the east.  Last week our youngest granddaughter had an announcement to make.

Jenn and Joe are planning a wedding for next year.  Jenn and I will be doing some shopping when I am home next month.
 
But there was more change from that household.  Jenn started to feel some discomfort on Friday evening.  The discomfort changed to pain and finally a trip to the hospital was in order.  By 7:00 the next morning surgery was scheduled and Jenn's appendix was removed.  Now she has to put everything aside for the next few days to recover.  

You just never know what a week will bring...hoping that this week brings news from the west and north.  I'll get back to you on that!

Tuesday 7 April 2015

That Friend!

You know what I mean...that friend!  The friend that you always enjoy being with.  The friend that makes you laugh, gives you hugs when you need one, always says the right thing...oh, now you've got it!  Well along my life's journey I have been privileged to find a few of these friends and in the last church that we pastored I found many forever friends.  Needless to say I truly loved all the ladies in that church;  some were like mothers to me, others like crazy aunts and there were a group that were like sisters and they still remain that way to me today. 

Thelma is one of those special friends.  We worked closely in the church since both of us enjoyed working in children ministry.  We bonded over making crafts and setting up the Sunday School rooms.   If a job needed to be done you could count on Thelma.  Kids just gravitated to Thelma because she showed so much love towards them.  I gravitated to Thelma  because she was so special. 
Thelma hosted many church events and dinners at her house.  I never knew how she had the energy after working long hours and dealing with her hubby's shift work.
With always a smile on her face and usually in bare feet she kept moving and making sure everyone had a great time.  There were many Saturday nights that we spent at her home with Ron cheering on the Leafs and Rick in his Montreal Jersey.  Even through that we continued to be friends.

There was another special bond that Thelma and I shared...our birthdays.  We felt like bosom buddies.  Every year we got to share that one special day with each other.  I have many precious gifts around my house from her thoughtfulness.  She always bought gifts from the heart.
I cannot count the times that Thelma was there for me over the years while we were in Frankford.  After my surgery she came with meals, flowers and company.  When Ron went to depot and I struggled with depression she was there for me with visits, hugs and encouragement.  We never went  many days without being in contact with each other. 

Whenever we go to Ontario my trip home is not complete unless I see my Frankford sisters.  So either I invite myself or they come to wherever I am.
 
I don't have the words to say how much these girls mean to me.  They have been there for me in so many ways. 

A week ago Sunday I received a call from Thelma.  Tears flowed as I listened to her.  She had been to the doctors and found out that she has breast cancer.  The last thing you want to hear from anybody is the "c" word.  She is scheduled for surgery in a couple of weeks.  I so wish that I could be there for her as she goes through this time like she was there for me so many times.  I know that she is a fighter and she will beat this.  She's just that kind of gal.  Her positive attitude and faith will help her through this trial.  She is a strong person.  I am so thankful that she will have her own personal nurse, her daughter, to look after her.



And so from many miles away I wake up every morning thinking about Thelma.  I start the day with a prayer for her health and that God will give her peace.  Throughout the day I continue to pray and just before I fall asleep I pray that she will be able to sleep. 

The bible verse that came to mind when Thelma told me what she was going though was Philippians 4:13.  I changed it a bit to fit the situation.  My version is:  "Thelma can do all this through Christ who gives her strength."