Cool Idea...

I love things that are out of the ordinary for the home. These keys are great! Gives me a wonderful idea for the wall going up my stairs to the third floor...

Ciao all.

The Concept of Time...

I have really never pondered the concept of time. It passes. I don't always know where it goes. It often gets away on me. I understand and accept that. But these past few weeks have taught me a new lesson about time, or more to the point, about how patience and time go hand in hand.

I will begin by admitting that I am not a patient person. I am easily angered/frustrated when things don't go according to my plans. I am not easy going with the children or with my husband. And I really REALLY hate it when adults can't seem to get their act together and fall through on the most basic of things in life... No patience. It was not an attribute Heavenly Father gave to me. But I have to say that things have transpired in our lives these past few weeks that have made me sit back and take a look at how I view time. Let me elaborate:

1. I had a car accident the week before Christmas in 2008. It was scary and inconvenient. But I was not seriously injured. It could have been absolutely disastrous the circumstances surrounding the accident. But I was protected and angels must have been with me because as I said absolutely no one else was involved. I was angry at the time because the accident happened just as my cousin arrived from Italy. I wanted to be able to drive her around in my car and show off basically. But that did not happen. I was annoyed at how long it took to fix my car, but eventually it all got done and done properly. And I evenutally forgot about the accident. Fast forward six months later and my boss gets a phone call from the adjuster asking to settle my claim. I had not even thought about it. I assumed I would get nothing. But my boss is super lawyer extrodinaire (seriously!!) and he settles my claim just in time to pay Marc's last tuition payment! What a blessing. So in December I did not know why I was having this experience. What was I supposed to learn from this? I am a good driver, so I know it was not slow down, or watch out, or pay attention... What was it?? It was a lesson in patience. It was a lesson that not all things have to happen for the present.

2. Marc came to me at the beginning of June and said that he possibly had a chance to teach Summer School. This is a big deal. It gets him into the School District that he wants to be in and gets his name known. Good connections. Good for the career. At the exact same time, Marc was asked to be involved in our youth's Trek. Awful decision to make - money v. serving the Lord. Marc was honest and said he would have to find out about Summer School before he could say yes or no to Trek. All the leaders were very understanding, and they allowed Marc the time he needed to sort this out. He was basically guaranteed the position and at the last minute was told that they could not bring him on and he did not get it. Wages we were counting on gone. Gone. So Marc turned around and participated in Trek, having faith that the Lord would provide for us. Two months later - we were blessed to have amazing working opportintuties that far outweighed the Summer School position and Marc had the most wonderful experience at Trek and has now been called to serve as the First Counsellor in the Stake Young Mens Presidency. Timing. Patience. One more lesson.

3. Marc is now finished his BEd. I am sooo very proud of him. This is his third degree. He is incredible. It has been a hard year. I am not going to pretend that it was okay. It was not. But Marc had an amazing practicum and was basically told by all his mentors that he would be "snapped up". Guess what, the school district he applied to did NOT snap him up. Actually, they rejected him citing budgetary issues. I was devastated and absolutely sick to my stomach to get this news. I honestly had a full blown panic attack - we have spent one year and big $$$ to get Marc to where he is... Now what?? Marc is extremely intelligent and he LOVES teaching. He was born to do this. Anyone and everyone who watches Marc in action is amazed at how he is able to clearly and concisely teach his lesson, engage the students, and allow them to have fun all at the same time. True gift. Fast forward a few weeks, and Marc has been hired by one of the most affluent school districts in the Lower Mainland! What seemed to be disastrous a few weeks ago now is nothing, and an even better way has been provided to us! Not on my time, but HIS time. Another lesson in patience.

Time. Such a tricky concept. But it has been made clearer to me.

Ciao all.

Toooo hot...

Not inspired to write when it is 40 degrees Celsius... Not kidding. My car this afternoon read 40.5... Check back in another week when this heat wave is suppose to pass. If I am still around then. There is a possibility that I may sweat to death. Has that ever happened? Could be a first...

Ciao.

Another weekend gone...

Why do they go so fast??

We spent the day in Harrison yesterday. The kids were up there with the in laws for the week and we went to pick them up. The weather started out lovely - I pulled the lawn chair out by the lake and read my book for a few hours and even had a snooze - and then the clouds rolled in, literally, and then the thunder and lightning began and it did not let up. It would rain then pour then drizzle off and then start all over again. Now, if y'all don't know, I am NOT a camper by any means. If it is not a 5 star hotel, minimum, then I am not in. So to go out to the trailer (although it is as big as a rancher!!) is a big thing for me. This was the first time in my life that I had been "camping" in the rain. And it was not fun. I felt trapped. Literally. It was the worst feeling... And again, I was in a huge room with a couch and TV and a bathroom and a bedroom and a kitchen all at my disposal. No roughing it here. But still, the rain, made me feel like I had no where to go and there were too many people in the trailer with me, and I was beginning to hyperventilate. I was having a full blown claustrophobia attack! And then today it is sunny and 30 degrees... Can't win for trying. But my kids absolutely LOVE being in Harrison and I am very blessed to have such a great spot to get away to. My kids are building memories and I watch that each and every time we are out there. So in a few weeks we will be out there again, only this time I will be staying with the kids and not just dropping them off and coming back 3 or 4 days later to pick them up. I will "rough" it with them! ha ha Seriously. I wouldn't be able to rough anything! Please. I am a huge baby. There is a reason I was born in the "modern" age. I would not have survived otherwise!

Ciao all.

Note to self...

Picked the WRONG career. Should have gone into dentistry/orthodontics. Can you tell me why some bits of metal should cost $2000?? Oh, and these are NOT braces. That I would find tolerable. This is just a spacer to help widen Ethan's jaw so that MAYBE his mouth can accommodate his teeth for the next few years, and then we will deal with braces... Sooo picked the wrong career...

Wednesday...

It is weird - I am home on a Wednesday because Ethan has an orthodontist appointment in half an hour and I did not see the point of going to work for an hour, coming home to get Ethan, going to the appointment, and then going back to work for 3 hours. Waste of time and gas travelling back and forth. So I took a holiday day and I am home. I have done a few loads of laundry and run the dishwasher and got the children packed and ready for Harrison. My sweet MIL is coming at lunch to pick them up and take them to Harrison until the weekend. The kids are thrilled to be going. I am happy for them - something to break up the routine of the week. We have no vacation plans for this summer. Too hard with Marc finishing his degree in two weeks (YEAH!!). We had to make a lot of sacrifices this past year. I don't want to say that I regret them, because I don't. Education is ALWAYS worth the sacrifice. But I don't want to ever re-live this past year again. Looking back, I know Heavenly Father sustained us in every way possible - physical health, mental health, and strength to carry on. So after the kids leave, I think I will head out for a while and do some window shopping. Alone! Wow. I am excited at the thought of being able to wander around and not be asked "how much longer?", "are we done yet?", "are we going home now?"...

Ciao all. Happy Wednesday to you.

Platform 9 3/4

I have an idea for a layout that I am working on in my little head. But it is just not there yet... Ethan right now is absolutely enthralled with reading "Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince". With the movie being released yesterday (we are sooo going this weekend to see it!!), and Ethan literally being 9 3/4 years old, I thought I would do layout about his "Platforms at 9 3/4". See where I am going with this?? I have this cool owl paper and an owl stamp (kinda like Hedwig), but I am not sure how to put this together... I thought of drawing a railroad track on the card stock, or stitching a track onto the card stock, and then putting pictures of Ethan along the way with little journaling captions along side the pictures. The owls could float freely around - I would stamp them on separate card stock and cut them out and pop-dot them on... But what would I do with the owl paper? I couldn't draw on that - you would never see it... Maybe cut up the paper and use it as background to the photos? Like a matt? Hmmm. Work in progress. We will see where this gets me.

Ciao all.

Saturday Creating....

I feel as though I have the weight of the world on my shoulders right now. Some creative escape. It helps.

Ciao

Random Pics.... Just Because

 

 

OH so excited...

Not only is tomorrow Friday = my new most favouritist day of the week 'cause I only work 3 short hours - BUT my new dresser arrives tomorrow!! I cannot tell you how giddy I am right now! Marc and I have been searching for a tall, narrow dresser for our master suite for years. Literally years. I am extremely particular about what comes into this house. I wanted something that matched my existing set, but not "matchy match" the set. It has been hard. Last month we finally found the perfect piece and had it made and it is ready!! It is being delivered at 3pm tomorrow. Then I get to organize it and re-organize my closet!! Ohhh - I don't know what is exciting me more now, the furniture or the organization!

Ciao all

Stumped...

I have a bridal shower card to create. This is for a bride who has already gone through this once before and this is the second marriage. Older. Wiser. More sophisticated. And she is becoming a member of my extended family = I want this card to really reflect her... Trouble is, I am stumped. I have NO creative insight whatsoever... I suppose tomorrow after work I will head to the scrapbook store and look around. That usually helps inspire me. I like looking at the papers and the patterns and the colours. But I still don't have a clear idea in my head of what I am looking for - other than a look that is older, more sophisticated... I don't like creative blocks. They frustrate me. And this seems to be happening to me a lot lately. I come downstairs to scrap and then the inspiration has left me just as quickly as it came. Sigh. I think it is time for a really good clean up - clean out of my stuff so I know exactly what I am looking for. I think that will have to happen before I create a card. Good thing I have until next Saturday to get this done. ;]

My little family has an interesting week ahead. The kids are attending day camp for the first time. Bella is excited - Ethan doesn't really seem to care. He likes doing new things and so I think he will enjoy himself. Bella is just thrilled because her best gal pal from Kindergarten will be with her at camp and it has been two weeks since they have seen each other and Bella is apparently dieing without her! It's cute.

Marc is off to Trek this week. Our youth are having a theme camp this year - 1830's USA. Marc is the Mayor of the town. His costume is great. Came together in the end. Finally. Hard to find a top hat and tails for a guy who is 6'2" with a 7 3/4" head! Ya. He has a huge noggin. It's all those brains!! hee hee But he looks flashy with his walking stick and vest and cravat/dickie. It will be a great experience for all involved. Can't wait for the pictures.

And me - well, I get to work. Wow. Just work. That will be the theme of my summer. My vacation does not start until the first week of September. So I really can't say I am looking forward to this week for myself. Nothing exciting for me. But it can't always be about me, can it? Well, it can...

Ciao all.

My new favourite day

Friday has just become my new favourite day. While I am sure it is every one's favourite day because it is the end of the work week, I have another reason to give it such a high honour. For the summer months, I only work in the mornings on Fridays and I am home by lunch! Yipee! It is like I have gained an entire day!! I have already gone grocery shopping and gone to the dry cleaner's and taken the children out for lunch. And it isn't even 3pm yet!! I am just so giddy! I am now going to marinade the ribs that I am bbq'ing for dinner and make some coleslaw and even bake up some brownies for dessert! I am on a roll. I REALLY love Fridays!! hee hee

And this weekend the children and I are headed out to Harrison. Tomorrow it is supposed to hit 30+ degrees and there is no where better than being at the beach with the lake right there to cool you down. Sooo looking forward to it. And the kids are looking forward to blasting each other with the super soakers I bought them that now shoot water up to 7.5 meters! Ya. That's far.

Ciao all. Have a good weekend.

Happy Canada Day

 

Hope y'all had a good day. We did here. It was busy, for a "holiday". Ethan and my cousin M went to the Canadians baseball game. They had a hoot. Marc, Bella and I went to the beach. We had fish and chips and just hung out. It was so beautiful and so peaceful, and NOT busy at all. Yeah. I don't like crowds, if you haven't noticed...

But before all this loafing around, I had work to do. I collect Sid Dickens tiles. I love them. And many of my tiles are retired, so they are collectors items. I had them on the wall next to my front door. About a month or so back, one of Marc's friends (who shall remain nameless, but who has not been allowed through the front door since) actually knocked a tile off the wall! It chipped and it chipped my wood floor! I was livid. But scrap booking came to the rescue. Who knew that knowing how to properly distress something and make it look aged would come in handy outside of making layouts?? It did. I fixed up my tile and it looks awesome. But lesson learned - moved the tiles. I am thankful that I have numerous art pieces that I can move around from wall to wall. I did some switching around and now the gorgeous tiles have a new home on one of the walls in my formal living room where NO ONE can/will touch them. Now, this was a simple project to me. But not to Marc. He had to get out the level and the laser and the cordless drill and employ Euclidean geometry to get my tiles straight. I would not have gone through all the trouble, but I am thankful Marc did. They look great = I am happy = Marc's life is soooo much easier! BTW, Marc is the MASTER picture hanger. He gets them perfectly straight and perfectly centered each and every time. Children, if you are paying attention, ALGEBRA IS IMPORTANT!!

I am off to watch a movie.

Ciao all.