The Month of September

My last blog was on the first of the month and so I thought I should wrap up September with another email.  It's not like we haven't been doing things.  It's just been that I have been too busy to record it.

September 1 - Ron started back working at the Three Hills Detachment knowing that it would only be a few days before he was done.

September 2 - We went to church and enjoyed being a part of the church that we had called our home church for the past 3 years.

September 3 - Labour Day and both Ron and I worked.  The GlobeTREK team came for supper.

September 4 - Ron worked and met with the Moving Company.  Chapel at the college was a prayer send off for our GlobeTREK travellers.

 I helped prepare the dinner at Emma's (my boss) house for our department welcome party.

September 5 - I went to the airport early in the morning to see our team off.  They will be travelling for 8 months.  Ron's last day in Three Hills.

September 6 - We went to Airdrie for a follow up ultrasound from my surgery and took in a little bit of the horse jumping at Spruce Meadows.

September 7 & 8  - Ron and I worked to get the house ready for the movers and took time to see the twins.

September 9 - Our last Sunday at church and there just happened to be a barbeque to enjoy after the service.

September 10 - I worked and then we went to Marion and Merve's for a delicious steak dinner.  Marion had become such a great friend and it was so nice to have this time with her.  She even let me do all my laundry there!  Now, that's friendship!!!

September 11 - We had an early appointment with my specialist and was told that the ultrasound looked clear of cancer!  I don't have to go back until 6 months!!!  We had a farewell lunch at the detachment for Ron and then I got my hair done in the afternoon and had to say goodbye to my stylist...so sad!

September 12- Pack Day.  I had supper at Emma's with last year's travellers.

September 13 - Pack Day and then we stayed at the Best Western.  Said our goodbyes to Andrew, Brianne, Elliott and Sawyer.  :(

September 14 - Load day. Cleaned the house and headed to Stephen's.  It's always such a strange feeling.

September 15 - Relaxed around Cochrane.  Homeless!

September 16 - Drove to Pincher Creek in the morning for church and checked into the Stardust Motel. 

September 17 - Signed the papers for our house and got in and played pool.

September 18 - Moving truck arrived and action happened.

September 19 - 20 - unpack days

September 21 - Ron started work in Pincher Creek - Cpl Ron Clark!

September 22 - last box unpacked

September 23 - Church and rest day!

September 24 - Had a doctor appointment for my 55th birthday, went out for lunch and got our tv and internet hooked up.

September 25 to today - organizing and rearranging - making this house our home.

And now, I must get myself ready to walk to church in snow!

Home?

We have been in Pincher Creek since May.  It was a good summer and proved very eventful.  We packed up on Monday and drove home.  I was toasty warm in the truck and Ron was shivering on the motorcycle behind me.  We left in the Spring and now it is harvest time.

It felt good and strange to walk into our Three Hills home.  The view from our back window never gets old and I will really miss "my trains."

We do like the "sold" sign at the front of our house.  It's been over a year of waiting and it is nice to finally move on.  We've been walking lots around Three Hills and we both know that we will miss the town.  It is a nice, clean and friendly prairie town.

It's always exciting for us when we move.  This one is a little different because we already know the area pretty well but it will be new and the hardest part of leaving here is always leaving friends.

Some friends are more like family....so we leave but they will always be a part of our lives especially because they are our Alberta kids.

And now our kids have kids!  They couldn't be happier or busier.  There was no catan and their dinner might have gotten a little cold but just look at these two...

Yup, it's going to be hard to leave BUT they have to come and visit and we will have to do the same.  They would like us to come and do night shifts????  Two weeks from Monday, we will have our new home!  Crazy!!!

Home and Friends

Monday was a super stressful day for us.  Our offer had been accepted by the seller but we were waiting for the first offer to either come off or be completed so that we could continue our search.  We looked at a couple of other houses but still held on to the hope for the one that we wanted.

Finally, we got the call around 4:30 p.m.  The house was ours!

The next day we decided to have a de-stress day.  We headed to Waterton on the motorcycle. It was a sunny day and one of our least smoky days in a while.

After 72 hours of being a little tense (maybe more than a little) it was wonderful to sit along the lake and enjoy clearer skies with a cup of tea.

We got back to the chalet just in time to greet some "old" friends from Swift Current.  We have always enjoyed spending time with Bruce and Lynne and they were the one couple that actually came all the way to Deschambault Lake to visit us.  We had such a great time then going to Flin Flon and cross country skiing.  They were super thrilled listening to all of our adventures.

We had a barbeque dinner and fought the wasps for our steaks.

After supper we took them on a tour of the town and showed them "our house."

It was exciting to hear that they are searching for a place in the Crowsnest.  It would be great to have friends close by.  We decided that since we were out for a drive we should buy a treat.  Good thing one of us had money....thanks Bruce!  And since Bruce was buying, we picked up our groceries for the week!  Perhaps, that is why we don't have too many friends....???

We played Rook and then introduced Bruce and Lynne to our favourite game...Catan.  They caught on fast but I am pleased to say that I won.

It was close to midnight before we called it a night.  Bruce seemed to like the idea of using our second bedroom.  Lynne was a little disappointed not to be tenting although she does seem to like running water.

In the morning, we had a big breakfast and Ron and Bruce did the dishes.

Once the kitchen was inspected, Bruce and Lynne packed up and headed to the pass.  I didn't know until after they left that a tip was left for breakfast.

I'm thinking that Bruce and Lynne should come more often if they are going to buy our groceries, do the dishes, leave a tip and let me win in Catan.  You can't beat friends like that!

Waiting

Waiting is so hard and that is what we have been doing.  My last blog had some of our concerns that was keeping my mind busy.

I'm still waiting for the Loss Baggage Settlement

We are hoping to get the final condition waived on our house so we can put in an offer on a house here

Yesterday, I got a call from a Clinical Safety Leader for Patient Safety in regards to my recent surgery.  She is calling soon to discuss the mix up???

And I keep getting pictures of two little boys that I can't wait to meet.

So, here is the update for what's going on.

Loss Luggage - the airlines and I have agreed on a settlement.  I will await the cheque in the mail.

Clinical Safety Call - they are researching the doctor that did the surgery.  It doesn't really affect me because I feel like his mistake was a blessing to me.  By removing the full thyroid, he removed three cancer nodules.  The cancer was initially found on the left but by him going right he found two other spots.

Twins - We are still anxious to meet the two little babies back in Three Hills...7 more sleeps

AND... we have put in an offer on a house but there was already an offer in on it.  They have 72 hours to waive their conditions and if they don't the house will be ours.  If they do....it's back to the real estate market for us.  Four weeks from today we will be displaced if we don't have somewhere to move into.  This is what I saw on the way home from signing the offer.

And so we wait, but why we wait.  Ron worked overtime for the rodeo this past weekend.  I watched the parade.

 Ten more hours....

How's A Girl Suppose To Work?

I've been trying hard to get back into the swing of work but it has been a little difficult.  There is just a few things on my mind.  It started about a month ago when my luggage didn't make it back to Alberta with me.  It is not a pleasant experience trying to make someone believe that you actually have that much in your luggage.  I finally got an avadavat drawn up to show that I was serious and finally I think they are taking me serious.  So that small item has been lingering on my mind.

A bigger item on our minds is the sale of our home.  We finally received an offer but the bank has been slow on their end to give the final approval of finances.  We've been eagerly anticipating that condition to come off so that we can actually put in an offer on a house in Pincher Creek.

Then, our dear Brianne and Andrew went in to the hospital on Thursday to deliver their twins.  We waited and waited to hear.  Thankfully, Brianne's mom was sending me little updates.

Friday, our son and his fur family arrived.  While he rested after working nights, Ron and I took Tanker for a walk and found a great little place for the dogs.

We got back to the chalet and again waited to hear something about Brianne.  Our nerves were on edge.  Finally, we got the call that Brianne had delivered two precious little boys but one twin was in a bit of distress and Brianne wasn't doing well either.  My heart was breaking and my mind was praying.  A few hours later we received the message that both momma and baby were out of danger but still need some healing.

Picture stolen from Brianne!

Later that day, we took the dogs to Waterton where we sat by the lake all afternoon.

It was super hot and a little smoky and it proved to be the best way to spend a warm afternoon.

On Saturday morning, we loaded up the dogs and headed to Glacier National Park in Montana. 

It was another hot day and we made sure to stop at a few lakes along the road.

We had planned on doing a hike but apparently Glacier doesn't allow dogs on any trails.  It was a little disappointing but at least we found some good water spots and went on into Kalispell to soften our disappointment with Krispie Kreme donuts.

It was a little smoky there as well but the views were still amazing even from my back seat position.

The road through the park is closed now due to a massive fire.

That evening, we played games and had a facetime with Andrew and Brianne and got to see those two little peanuts.  They looked so happy!

 

On Sunday, we celebrated Ron's 55th birthday.  He can't wait to go to a store and get a discount.  There has to be some bonuses for getting older.

 

On Monday, we looked at our top two picks for houses and took the dogs to the creek again.

Stephen left later in the day.  Ron started back to work on Tuesday and I've been trying to keep my mind on my job but....

• I'm still waiting for the Loss Baggage Settlement
• We are hoping to get the final condition waived on our house so we can put in an offer on a house here
• Yesterday, I got a call from a Clinical Safety Leader for Patient Safety in regards to my recent surgery.  She is calling soon to discuss the mix up???
• And I keep getting pictures of two little boys that I can't wait to meet.

Picture sent to me by Brianne

Picture sent to me by Brianne

So, as you can see my mind should be on work and it keeps floating to settlements, conditions, health issues and two cute little boys.