Happy Canada Day!

I spent last weekend with family down in Wetaskawin, celebrating my grandparents 50th anniversary. Congratulations to you both. They had a great party, and I enjoyed explaining my life to dozens of relatives I only see every 5-10years. We got to see a video of my grandparents whole lives, which was very enlightening, I was shocked to see my young-Grandma prancing around in some pretty small outifts! Not that I blame her, if I looked that good I would too! And Kayte and I dueted a Rosie Thomas song. Now I'm in a mad camp prep season. I'm out-of-town this next week with Sr. High / Young Adults Camp, back for 3 days and then on to a week of Teen Camp. Which I'm ultimately responsible for, and have to have pretty much done before I leave Saturday. Hence why I'm working on Canada Day. So I wish a Happy Canada Day to you all! And I'm moving on to my lists of To-Do's.


Don't they look fabulous?
Kayte and I sing.
My Mom escorts my Grandma in the wedding dress they both wore!
My Grandad reading a "bit of writing" to my Grandma!

PS: Even though it wasn't on my To-Do List I managed to end up in the Studio Y? float at the Canada Day parade this afternoon. I'm waved-out!

We Ski for Free

Well, it's been four years since my last Ski attempt, and yesterday I tried again. Dad's company puts on a ski day every year, but I haven't been around since the year Dakota came, so it's been a while. Did I mention that this was only the 3rd or 4th time I've ever been on downhill sticks? And as such, our family has switched to snowblades, we finds it fits our clumsiness far better! But for all my un-co-ness, I did my best skiing ever, and have only one really good bruise on my left rear.
I feel like this has been one of my most Canadian winters ever! I made it out sledding a half dozen times, skated twice, went skiing, and rediscovered pure maple syrup as the secret ingredient of everything!

Being Home

Things I love about being home:

• layers of heavy blankets at night,
• long sleeves, fuzzy sweaters and mittens,
• big, beautiful containers of vanilla yogurt,
• not waking to find roach and gecko carcasses in my home,
• making phone calls - not texts,
• great sermons and having communion,
• driving again, driving a truck(!!),
• pecans and almonds in great big costco-sized bags,
• cupboards full of baking ingredients,
• being invisible on my street, at the store, anywhere,
• constant access to my fam,
• having a new little sister!

Things I don't love about being home:

• the weather,
• my skins reaction to the weather - (think lots and lots of lotion),
• getting into frigid vehicles,
• the rude and self-centered side of this country,
• the lack of easily accessible, cheap, public transportation,
• having cold feet, hands and nose - always!

BIG NEWS

I have booked my flights home! It feels so definite, to actually have a timeline. Wow! And while it is way too early to begin any kind of count down, the official stats are now: 7 months in, 4 months to go!
I will return to GP and cry many, many happy tears upon seeing my family, on December 13th! I am coming home in time to get in the Christmas spirit and before my last visa runs out!
Also, on a side note, I am working on the aforementioned poem, it's almost there I think. I'll post it later this week. I realize that I had promised poetry way back long ago, and only delivered once or twice. I'll try harder, I will.

Next?

I worked a night shift last night and stayed on to deliver a baby boy at 9:30 this morning. And seriously, I think I delivered a toddler! At 8.8lbs, this baby out weighs any other local his age! It's amazing how a person can get used to a 6lb baby as normal. If I ever practice at home I'm going to be bowled over at the size of Western babies!
A couple of friends just wrote their big bad Midwifery licensure exam in the States, an exam I'm going to be facing this time next August. And it brings to mind that I have to try and figure out what is going on in my life after 2007. I've always had a plan, at least a short term one, or a long term goal. I don't feel like I have either anymore. So as I begin already to book things in for next year, I wonder what on earth I will be doing, and where I will be. Can I really make any plans at all?
I'm still open to direction, of course, but I'm hoping 2008 has a lot to do with Canada! And a few great trips to Jasper.

Christmas Party I

What is more Canadian then ice-hockey on a frozen lake?? Nothing!
Incidently we weren't playing ice-hockey - but we were skating. We had some chilly fun with our Jr-High kids on Friday night!

Oh Canada!

Happy Canada Day folks!
Even though we're far from home us students celebrated the day in style! We hosted a big party here with an incredible showing of red and white fashion, face paints, Canuck trivia, traditional maple-syrup games (hehehe), red vs. whites ultimate frisbee and Canadian Bacon.
Ohh, and we did manage to get a hold of one firework, it was pretty impressive to see that cake sparkler flaring up across the lawn - a thing of beauty!!
Anyway click on the top picture to check out the album. I hope your day was as memorable, and I wish you a warm maple syrup greeting.

Spring Happened

One of my favourite things happened last night. I love the moment in spring when the little gray buds on all the trees all of a sudden become bright green leaves - everywhere. And it almost seems like it is ONE moment. One day you see spring about to happen. And then the next day you realize it's happened and all is green and somehow you missed the in-between.
That moment of revelation hit last night. I was driving along when I realized all the trees next to me were green. Everyone of them had leaves, not buds.
And so my long commute this morning was once again a beautiful thing (after I made it past the blowing snow and sleet!) The road to Fort St. John rolls right over the mighty Peace River. And as the road drops into the steep valley, all around is this fantastic shade of green. All the trees looking like - life! And so I have to try to pry my eyes off the view and try to stay on the road - a somewhat difficult task (for me) on any day. But it was great. I could sit at the top of that hill for a couple of hours and just watch and sing. How pretty!