HAPPY THANKSGIVING!

To all my family and friends in the states.
Not Thanksgiving here but I am feeling in a thanksgiving mood so will share:

I am thankful that I had a job that I loved and have a new job that challenges me.
I am thankful I got to play jeopardy at work today and got paid to do that.
I am thankful for telephones that keep me in touch with my daughter.
I am thankful my youngest daughter gets off the computer once in a while so I can get on it.
I am thankful the Roughriders have been winning and are now in the Grey Cup.
I am thankful that during this crisis with the mother in law, my husband has spent more time with his family.
I am thankful my brother in law has invited us over to his place to watch the Grey Cup and cook us supper.
I am thankful that during this time, my husband and me have talked more, shared more and supported each other more.
I am thankful I'm not on the picket line.
I am thankful for a car that works, a house that is warm, and a bed that is soft.
I am thankful for dear friends that have supported me, love me, tolerated me and listened to me.
I am thankful for my niece who invites me out to craft shows with her.
I am thankful for a God who is ever patient with me, loves me through it all, and is always there.
I am thankful for each day He gives me to try again and love more.
I am thankful for the children in my Wednesday night class that were soooo good and for the patience God gives me with them. For their bright smiles, their jokes, stories and kindness.

Thank you.

Things that made me laugh this weekend:

1. An evening with my hubby and his 3 brothers. Out came the black stress reliever type humor in full swing. We laughed so hard we cried...literally...we have video to prove it.

2. This on a sign:
C H _ _ C H What's missing?

3. and this -
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fccrd8cMKNA

Thank you Lord for laughter, for family and most of all for you.

For when I need a good laugh...

A moment of thanks...

A had two incidents this week that reminded me of how God's uses this wonderful beautiful world He created to let us know He is with us.

On Thursday as I was driving to my daughters soccer game, I was feeling a little overwhelmed and stressed. I was doing the "self talk" of - this too will pass, all will be fine, God's in control and He is watching over my family, I don't need to worry or stress. Just as I was thinking this I rounded the corner and off in the horizon was this great big almost full moon. The "man in the moon" was very pronounced. It was as if God was saying to me, "Your right Heather, here I am watching over you." It's hard to explain the peace I felt at that moment looking at the moon.

Friday, walking home from work on a cloudy day, feeling tired. Wondering how my mother in law had done during the day and how she would be when I walked in the house. At that moment I entered "another world". I was surrounded by a sea of bright yellow leaves, the branches were hanging over the path with their bright yellow leaves on them. It was like a lightbulb had turned on. I couldn't help but have a big goofy grin on my face as I gazed around. It was like God's love was radiating all around me.

I wonder how many other times He was trying to tell me something through nature that I hadn't noticed. How many times walking home with my head down slogging along I failed to notice God's beauty all around me. But I am very thankful for these two moments when I did notice Him. Thank you Lord.

I love him even more...

My husband amazed me and made me fall in love with him even more.

He brought his mother to our hourse last night to stay the night. She was...not a fun person to be around - angry, paranoid, argumentive, slightly delusional. I almost lost it within 20 minutes of her being here and spent the rest of the night with my mouth shut in the background, but...

my husband was so strong, calm,didn't back down, still loving, understanding, never took anything personal, never got angry at her, never got tired of repeating the same lines over and over to her - it was awesome to see how he treated his mother during this difficult time.

To be frank - he would have gotten major lucky last night if we weren't all so exhausted by the time we talked his mother into going to bed.

Thank you Lord that during this time of "adversity" you have allowed me to see another side of my husband, thank you for giving my mother in law a good sound sleep last night and may she wake up in a better mood, thank you for the knowledge that this too shall pass and things will get better.

Update: Thank you Lord for a good nights sleep for her and a much improved mood.

Busy week....

Starting my new job this week. It was interesting... 2nd day walked into a manager's meeting cold. Got the agenda and last meeting minutes seconds before the meeting started. Almost got seconded to work on everyone's Safety Plans, agreed to be a resource instead LOL Still working a day or two a week at the old job to keep the paperwork up. So, I tend to deal with emails from both jobs everyday plus learning the new job and all the outstanding issues, attending meetings = feeling very tired!!

But I have walked home both days (almost a 45 minute walk).

Went to a Partylite party and only bought tealights - now that's good for me.

Tonight I need to go get some things for the oldest - here is her list:
- money
- food, just noodles
- conditioner
- love
- chocolate would be nice
- sweater she left at home
- patience

Any idea where I can get some patience?

Saturday is leaving town at 7am to go to Regina and spend the day moving everything out of mother in laws house and cleaning it. Coming home the same day... with three families doing this, I'm hoping we won't be there late into the evening.

Sunday is sleeping... hopefully.

I'm thankful for not getting sick, being able to go to sleep early every night, for a slow cooker, patience and a dab of compassion, self control when at the partylite party, great daughters, a patience husband, good friends and this beautiful fall weather with all it's color and falling leaves.

Love my daughter...

Have I mentioned lately how much I love my daughter? Well, we are very proud of her also.

My mother in law is in town and dealing with depression, staying at our house. Mother in law starts to cry and Sarah gets up from the computer and goes and sits with her granny, holds granny, tells granny she loves her and tells granny that she will help fix up her new place so that it feels like home. My husband said it almost brought tears to his eyes to see Sarah do that.

... thank you Lord.

Favorite Song:

Coincidence? I think not...

I've had this situation that has been upsetting me and making me a little anger. Yesterday I was trying to decide if I should say something or not, who should I talk to for some advice and wisdom - driving home from supper I said a little prayer about it.

That night a friend called inviting us for lunch on Sunday. Unfortunately due to circumstances we can't make it but in the course of the conversation she said exactly what I needed to hear about this situation. Dead on even. Then I downloaded a "Scripture of the Day" unto my Facebook account and the scripture was on anger....

I remember a comment my brother in law made to me when he was talking to me about if I believed or not. He said that he had had way too many coincidences in his life for them to be coincidences.

I'm starting to truly understand what he meant by that statement.

Thank you Lord for wise friends, for answered prayers, for being a living active God and for those much needed "coincidences".

Job interview done...

This is the second attempt at doing this blog - first one I was almost done, rehashing the interview and my thoughts and then my phone rang...

...to be told that they would be offering me the job. So I meet with them next Monday to go over some out of scope issues, talk about the job and some changes to it, and I guess to officially say yes.

I'm excited, nervous, scared, happy and sad all at the same time...does that make sense?

But my daughter gave me some wise words of wisdome...

"Mom don't worry you'll make new friends and they will be able to tell you how to do stuff you don't know how to do."

and

"It's just like going from elementary school to high school."

I love my daughter...

Beautiful Music...

Came across this on another site and fell in love with it. Ben Harper and the Blind Boys of Alabama singing I Shall Not Walk Alone...

She's driving!!

Yep - Kristie went for her driving test and PASSED!! I'm excited, she's excited...I told her to pick me up from work today...

What was I thinking?????

She turned up with her sister - now that was weird seeing her drive into the parking lot and get out of the drivers side. She said it was weird having her sister sit up in the front seat while she was driving.

Computers and Walking:

Well our computer has decided it doesn't like work anymore and is constantly freezing up on us, which means it has been too frustrating to bother with. So since I am spending less time on the computer you think I would have more time for exercising/walking...ehhh.....well.....

But I am trying to get back into it again, honest. I seem to have lost my motivation to do it on my own - no problem when my friend says lets go walking but to sit here and say "I should go for a walk" it doesn't happen.

We are in the process of getting Kristie ready to return to WCC. So I'm sure that will be my next excuse ...

Murray has seeded our backyard last night with this new type of eco grass - suppose to be hardier with deep roots - so less watering/fertilizing, grows slower (less lawn mowing), I'll keep you posted on how well it works.

I've been organizing our files at home and doing lots of shredding, "Muray, we have income tax statements from the 1980's - can I shred them???"

Watching: Angel Season 2,
Reading: Bag of Bones - but am considering giving it up for Showdown by Ted Dekker; the book of Luke; Every Women in the Bible (very good)
Listening: Sarah watching Roswell Season 3, and Murray making supper.
Smelling : cookies baked by Kristie - yum yum
Feeling: restless and tired

Time for a change?

Historically I change jobs every 5 to 7 years. I am in year 6 of my present job. Still happy, still loving it. Still the best job I’ve ever had.

But…

I got a phone call the other day from the director of our division asking if I had considered applying for the Manager of Support Services and would I consider applying for it. Well, after I recovered from the shock we had a discussion around why I hadn’t and what the job entailed and he ended the conversation with “...think about it and let me know tomorrow if you want to throw your hat in the ring.”

So after discussing it with one of the management staff where I work who I trust to give me their honest opinion of my job skills, talking to my husband, checking out the difference in benefits …

I called him back to say I would throw my hat in the ring.

eeeeeck!!!!…

So now I need to put a resume together (something I haven’t done in ages and I do mean ages!), tell my boss next week, send in the resume and prepare for the interview in September. It has also been 6 years since I’ve done an interview.

The scary part about this is that I would be going from a union job to an out of scope job but as my hubby said, “What has the union done for you lately.” Let me see…nothing but stress.

The funny part about all of this is, after all this stressing about should I or not, typing up a resume and then dealing with an interview – I still might not be the successful candidate and I have a month to take “my hat out of the ring.” But I guess it’s a win win solution. I either get a chance at this exciting new job opportunity or stay in a job I love.

Thank you Lord for this opportunity, I wouldn’t mind a little wisdom and confidence, and peace that I’ve done what is best for my family and me.

God's Handiwork...

Some pics Kristie and me took on our day trip to Crooked Bush and Battleford Western Development Museum...

Presently reading Angels & Demons by Dan Brown and this quote caught my attention:

"Science tells me God must exist. My mind tells me I will never understand God. And my heart tells me I am not meant to."

If you can't stand the heat...go home!

Which we did. Came home yesterday. Let me tell you - tenting in 30+ weather is not that enjoyable. BUT - we did have a great holiday.

Starting with the girls going to teen camp and Murray/me camping at Candle Lake. We canoed down Fisher Creek and saw Pelicans, mama duck and her 2 babies, Canada Goose and her doz babies. Nice and relaxing.

Then off to Manitoba with a stop at Good Spirit Lake..

Us girls canoed over to a more private beach and Murray windsurfed over. Then Sarah got some lessons in windsurfer while Kristie and myself read.

Next we stopped in to visit with some friends in Portage La Prairie where Sarah drove a tractor and they all went river floating one night.

Then off to Gull Harbour campground on Hecla Island in Lake Winnipeg. Really nice area but that's when we hit the 30+ weather. So we took a tour of Hecla Village, and a walk out to the Lighthouse.

I am thankful for great campsites, good weather, playing cards with my children, chillaxing on the beach, time to spend admiring the handiwork of God, chance meetings with my sister's good friend, friends that welcome us into their homes, cool breezes, for a co-worker that leant us a 2 room tent that was a life saver on the evenings I could not stand the bugs one more minute, a nifty light fixture that my sister in law leant us that enabled me to read in the tent, wonderful children that made me laugh, and a husband that put up with me on the days I couldn't handle the bugs one more minute.

Patience...

I confess - I don't have a lot of patiences somedays. Came across this comment the other day and thought - whoa - I need to read this quote more often...

"...impatience stems almost solely from our exaggerated notions of what is due us. If we could but lower our estimation of the importance of our time, our plans and our feelings, we would find ourselves almost automatically more patient.

Patience is a more positive trait. It is the ability to bear affliction, delay and interruption with calmness, perseverance and confience in the goodness of God. It is inward peace as well as outward control. It is the sumission of our schedules, our viewpoints, our dreams to the greater plan of God, with the conviction that he has a good reason for every delay he allows to come our way." (italics mine)

Holidays are about to begin...

...just one more working day left :-)

...things are starting to get packed, need to pack the girls stuff separate from ours...
"A lot of parents pack up their troubles and send them off to summer camp."
— Raymond Duncan
Yep that's us!

...weather is beautiful
...coworker may lend us his 2 room tent
...one more working day left

...pile of books ready for reading
"Reading without reflecting is like eating without digesting." Edmund Burke

...last loads of laundry tonight
...one more soccer game tonight too
...still need to buy a few camping items
...one more working day left

...canoe repairs done (note - don't forget to take the oars this time)
"On vacations: We hit the sunny beaches where we occupy ourselves keeping the sun off our skin, the saltwater off our bodies, and the sand out of our belongings." - Erma Bombeck

...just one more working day left (have I mentioned that already?)

A perfect summer day is when the sun is shining, the breeze is blowing, the birds are singing, and the lawn mower is broken."
— James Dent

Baths and Mother in laws:

I’m feeling quite the coward this evening as I think I have finally realized why I seem to be having problems dealing with my mother in law. She has been staying with us this weekend. She was involved in a car accident 2 weeks ago and has been staying at her daughters, this weekend with us to give her daughter some respite.

When I was talking to some friends last night the sentence “I’ve gone through this with my mom I don’t want (or can’t) do it again.”, slipped out of my mouth. I didn’t even realize I felt that way but after soaking in a hot tub and thinking about it, I really do think that is how I feel. I think I’m struggling with investing anymore in her because I don’t want to be reminded of my mom, or go through those same emotions and struggles as I did before. And I’m feeling like a coward because I don’t want to face it again but aren’t we suppose to be able to do all things through Christ? And where the H E double hockey stick is my compassion and empathy for my mother in law?

And yet sitting here listening to her go on and on and on about her car, how she thinks she probably has a broken rib, her doctors, not always making sense and being totally resistant to everything my husband is saying to her, is driving me crazy, all my anxiety feelings are rising up and I just want to go to bed and pull the covers over my head…

I feel like such a bad daughter in law...

Grade 8 Graduation!!!

Well, my little girl graduated from Grade 8 tonight. It was a really nice program and she is now off at the "After Grad party"...on campus even!

Here she is all dressed up:

oophs that was the picture with "attitude" - here's a more "proper" pic:

Nice program where they introduced all the students with little bio's of each, then the speeches (all short and sweet), handing out of the scrolls, power point presentation of pics through the year and end of program. Visiting and cake.
Here's a pic with her dad (still showing the attitude...)

Sometimes it seems like yesterday I was so worried about her in the NICU, we brought home a little 5 lb baby to love and nurture.... and now... wow time sure flies!

Thank you Lord for blessing me with such a great kid, thank you for her humor, her big heart, her mischievous grin, her loyalty to her friends, and her fun spirit. Thank you for all the friends and family that you have placed in our lives to help us love and nurture this beautiful young lady. I can not imagine my life without her.