Life's Path
I attended our Kingman School reunion this past weekend. Kingman is my home, I grew up just north of this small hamlet on my parents farm. The school was a part of my life until it was reduced to an elementary school at the end of my eight grade. In thinking about the influence those years have had on my life in the past few weeks, the reflective journey has been enlightening. I remembered the friends I had, the teachers who shaped my education, and the experiences we all shared in those years. Our school was small, only 6 to 10 in each grade, we often shared a school room with one or more grades.
The reunion was a wonderful experience as we all caught up with each other's lives since we parted ways. I was surprised at how many I recognized, yet how a few have changed so dramatically I wouldn't have recognized them at all. One of my best friends told my husband of the time she accidentally lit my hair on fire in the bus. She put it out so quickly you couldn't even see where it was singed, but the lingering odour was not pleasant. It reminded me of the hot fall days branding cattle with my parents before we started cold branding.
We reminised about the countless hours we spent skating at the rink my Dad would flood every year for us. We laughed about the pranks we pulled on teachers, our principal was able to be there and he finally learned of some of them. He is amazing, he has changed so little and is so young at heart! He married late in life and has a beautiful 3 1/2 year old son who played with Brendan, our 4 year old, on the playground as we talked.
I found myself reflecting on my own life to date, remembering the youthful exuberance we all share as children, with the world out in front of us, our future an open book. My future is far different than I anticipated back then, yet every much as fulfilling as I had wanted. I wanted children and was blessed by four. I craved a career which I would love and I found that... because of my birth experiences. The two are much more intwined than I had anticipated, I am so blessed to be able to have both - the ability to be a full-time parent and enjoy my career.
I am also overjoyed that my classmates are all alive and healthy, though I continue to mourn the death of a classmates son with whom she was pregnant with in our final year in Kingman. She was all of sixteen when he was born, yet she was an amazing mother to him. He was in his early twenties when he died in a vehicle accident. I cannot imagine her pain in losing a child.
Finally, I have connected with a long-lost friend who has three children, all as beautiful and bright as she. Our kids all had a great time together at the reunion, off exploring the haunts we went to at their age. Our husbands also found a lot in common. We will be having a BBQ with them early next month and I can't wait to rekindle the kindred spirit we shared as children.
Past memories and the future an open book, I look forward to the next twenty years.
Thursday, July 22, 2004
Sunday, July 18, 2004
Animal Crossing
Who would have thought that a simple Nintendo GameCube game would improve my boy's reading and writing skills! I railed against the purchase of the GameCube and though I monitored the games they purchased, I had yet to find any of "value" beyond hand/eye coordination. However, I was soon to be mistaken that the GameCube is completely useless. Anyone who has boys knows they are notoriously not interested in the "art" of reading and writing. Rather they gravitate towards the large motor skill subjects like science and math manipulatives. However, recently Eric and Ryan pooled their birthday and work money (we don't give allowances, rather they earn their "income" from chores and attitude while doing them) and purchased the game Animal Crossing. During this game they learn quite a few life skills like budgeting, making money, investing, improving their community to attract neighbours, and communicating with the other residence of their community and other communities. The primary communication tool is reading and writing letters. I am now asked frequently what that specific word is (which we then sound out and usually discuss the uniqueness of the English language) and how to spell words as they send letters to each other and their neighbours. They are both reading much faster than they had previously and their spelling is improving daily. Even Brendan is really enjoying the game, it is truly amazing how strong children's memorization skills are who are not yet readers. Even he is "writing" letters, all gibberish, but fun to recieve anyway. Even Allan and I have joined in on the fun, each of us has our own "community" which they boys visit and we in turn visit theirs (the three boys live in the same community). What fun!
Who would have thought that a simple Nintendo GameCube game would improve my boy's reading and writing skills! I railed against the purchase of the GameCube and though I monitored the games they purchased, I had yet to find any of "value" beyond hand/eye coordination. However, I was soon to be mistaken that the GameCube is completely useless. Anyone who has boys knows they are notoriously not interested in the "art" of reading and writing. Rather they gravitate towards the large motor skill subjects like science and math manipulatives. However, recently Eric and Ryan pooled their birthday and work money (we don't give allowances, rather they earn their "income" from chores and attitude while doing them) and purchased the game Animal Crossing. During this game they learn quite a few life skills like budgeting, making money, investing, improving their community to attract neighbours, and communicating with the other residence of their community and other communities. The primary communication tool is reading and writing letters. I am now asked frequently what that specific word is (which we then sound out and usually discuss the uniqueness of the English language) and how to spell words as they send letters to each other and their neighbours. They are both reading much faster than they had previously and their spelling is improving daily. Even Brendan is really enjoying the game, it is truly amazing how strong children's memorization skills are who are not yet readers. Even he is "writing" letters, all gibberish, but fun to recieve anyway. Even Allan and I have joined in on the fun, each of us has our own "community" which they boys visit and we in turn visit theirs (the three boys live in the same community). What fun!
Friday, July 16, 2004
Wild Flowers
Every time we go on our bikes through the bike paths we see beautiful wild flowers everywhere. Thousands of white daisies, clover of every colour and alfalfa on it's tall stalks cover several acres along the trails and in ditches. How beautiful it is! What a contrast to the tumbleweeds in Lloydminster that would pile up against our eight foot fence so high they would allow many to tumble over into our yard. I long to stop and eat the flavourful clover blooms, I plan to on our next excursion. I would eat them by the tummy-full as a child, my mother taught us of the value of native plants. Next year this bare yard, slowly filling with plants and colour, will have many a native plant - thanks to the nurturing of my green thumb by my mother.
Every time we go on our bikes through the bike paths we see beautiful wild flowers everywhere. Thousands of white daisies, clover of every colour and alfalfa on it's tall stalks cover several acres along the trails and in ditches. How beautiful it is! What a contrast to the tumbleweeds in Lloydminster that would pile up against our eight foot fence so high they would allow many to tumble over into our yard. I long to stop and eat the flavourful clover blooms, I plan to on our next excursion. I would eat them by the tummy-full as a child, my mother taught us of the value of native plants. Next year this bare yard, slowly filling with plants and colour, will have many a native plant - thanks to the nurturing of my green thumb by my mother.
Monday, July 12, 2004
Alberta is Debt Free!
I am really proud to be an Albertan right now. Our provincial government announced today that our province is officially debt free. I know Ralph Klein has a lot of people who don't believe in what he was doing as he focused on Alberta's future of a debt-free province. Liberal Leader Kevin Taft said today, "There's no point to having a surplus when Albertans walk into crowded hospitals and classrooms and drive on crumbling roads." And though I see the concerns with crowded hospitals, having worked in them alongside staff, it is incredibly worse in Saskatchewan and other provinces. Classroom sizes are a moot point for this homeschooing mama. I chose to school my children rather than have them be lumped into a room with 30+ students... though I fail to see the difference between our province and others in terms of class size. I also fail to see the crumbling roads Taft mentions... anyone driving outside of this province will likely see a decline in road upkeep as soon as they leave the province, especially going eastward. It has long been a running joke of my husbands family that you know when you have hit Saskatchewan, the potholes will engulf your car at the border. You only have to drive the streets of Lloydminster to see the reality of that fact.
The one conflict I have with our premier on his beliefs is his inability to listen past the doctors, to realize that midwifery is a much more cost-effective way to support pregnant and birthing women than either FP or OB care. I wish that our letters to him and to his Health Minister would be read, truly read, and they understand that the dictatorship doctors have on modern medicine will be their demise as they try to hold on to the healthcare money themselves. Don't get me wrong, doctors are a very important part of healthcare, but not when it comes to the normal physiological process of pregnancy, birth and breastfeeding. When this becomes high-risk, OB's are invaluable, but with 95% of women having normal, low-risk pregnancies and birth, there is absolutely no reason a specialist is needed. This would also dramatically reduce the cesarean rate, the intervention rate and improve outcomes for both mothers and babies. That has been proven in countries where midwives are the primary caregivers of women, like Holland for instance.
And maybe I don't see her point, but protester Donna McPhe shouted "Dictator!" at the announcement and accused Klein of balancing the books on the backs of the poor. We are a family with a single income and four children... we also recieved a good amount of bonus money from child tax as well as on our gas bill. That means we definitely were classified as the "working poor," and though we are by no means well off, we are doing fine. I credit that to my frugal husband who knows how to avoid debt by following a strict budget... not unlike our premier. I too often see aquantances and friends who misuse credit cards and their lines of credit on frivolous stuff that is inconsequential, except for the debt they are creating of course. Then they file bancrupcy because they can't pay off the new furniture and cars they have gone in to debt for. No thanks, I would rather avoid the stress of that myself by driving a used (but very reliable) vehicle and saving for furniture.
Yeehaw Alberta!
I am really proud to be an Albertan right now. Our provincial government announced today that our province is officially debt free. I know Ralph Klein has a lot of people who don't believe in what he was doing as he focused on Alberta's future of a debt-free province. Liberal Leader Kevin Taft said today, "There's no point to having a surplus when Albertans walk into crowded hospitals and classrooms and drive on crumbling roads." And though I see the concerns with crowded hospitals, having worked in them alongside staff, it is incredibly worse in Saskatchewan and other provinces. Classroom sizes are a moot point for this homeschooing mama. I chose to school my children rather than have them be lumped into a room with 30+ students... though I fail to see the difference between our province and others in terms of class size. I also fail to see the crumbling roads Taft mentions... anyone driving outside of this province will likely see a decline in road upkeep as soon as they leave the province, especially going eastward. It has long been a running joke of my husbands family that you know when you have hit Saskatchewan, the potholes will engulf your car at the border. You only have to drive the streets of Lloydminster to see the reality of that fact.
The one conflict I have with our premier on his beliefs is his inability to listen past the doctors, to realize that midwifery is a much more cost-effective way to support pregnant and birthing women than either FP or OB care. I wish that our letters to him and to his Health Minister would be read, truly read, and they understand that the dictatorship doctors have on modern medicine will be their demise as they try to hold on to the healthcare money themselves. Don't get me wrong, doctors are a very important part of healthcare, but not when it comes to the normal physiological process of pregnancy, birth and breastfeeding. When this becomes high-risk, OB's are invaluable, but with 95% of women having normal, low-risk pregnancies and birth, there is absolutely no reason a specialist is needed. This would also dramatically reduce the cesarean rate, the intervention rate and improve outcomes for both mothers and babies. That has been proven in countries where midwives are the primary caregivers of women, like Holland for instance.
And maybe I don't see her point, but protester Donna McPhe shouted "Dictator!" at the announcement and accused Klein of balancing the books on the backs of the poor. We are a family with a single income and four children... we also recieved a good amount of bonus money from child tax as well as on our gas bill. That means we definitely were classified as the "working poor," and though we are by no means well off, we are doing fine. I credit that to my frugal husband who knows how to avoid debt by following a strict budget... not unlike our premier. I too often see aquantances and friends who misuse credit cards and their lines of credit on frivolous stuff that is inconsequential, except for the debt they are creating of course. Then they file bancrupcy because they can't pay off the new furniture and cars they have gone in to debt for. No thanks, I would rather avoid the stress of that myself by driving a used (but very reliable) vehicle and saving for furniture.
Yeehaw Alberta!
Sunday, July 11, 2004
Music
I find music in all forms nurtures my soul. Some music I find perfect when I am in a sad or angry mood, others I find best when happy or excited. It is a sad day for our family as we learned one of our favourite bands Creed is disbanding. Their Christian background and beliefs have been a strong point for us, as though we do like rock music at times, we don't like the anger and hatred often found in this music. Another band, Switchfoot is also a popular rock band, yet with the same beliefs. How exciting that these two bands have come so far in mainstream music and can speak to those who need the message of hope in life that these two bands bring.
I find music in all forms nurtures my soul. Some music I find perfect when I am in a sad or angry mood, others I find best when happy or excited. It is a sad day for our family as we learned one of our favourite bands Creed is disbanding. Their Christian background and beliefs have been a strong point for us, as though we do like rock music at times, we don't like the anger and hatred often found in this music. Another band, Switchfoot is also a popular rock band, yet with the same beliefs. How exciting that these two bands have come so far in mainstream music and can speak to those who need the message of hope in life that these two bands bring.
Friday, July 09, 2004
Rain
What a blessing this rain is to us all! We have not seen this much glorious water for years - what a welcome sight after the years of drought we have experienced. Having lived in Lloydminster during the last two years, we have seen it's worst as the fields literally dried up and blew away. The mounds of black dirt in the ditches, the barren pastures, stripped not only of their grass but barren of anything living. What the drought drought didn't dry up, the grasshoppers ate as they blazed a path through the barren landscape.
Why do those who don't understand the significance of this rain still complain? Oh they whine about not being able to camp this weekend or work in their yards... do they not understand the importance of higher water tables and fresh water supplies for us to use? Yes cool weather and rain can be an inconvenience to our schedules, but what a way to slow down and reflect on nature during these times. Why not take a walk under an umbrella, or better yet, under an umbrella of trees? Let the rain, as it slowly falls, nuture your soul as it dampens your hair and feel the fresh, dust-free breeze brush against your face. Enjoy it, water is precious and we know not what the future holds... more rain or more drought.
What a blessing this rain is to us all! We have not seen this much glorious water for years - what a welcome sight after the years of drought we have experienced. Having lived in Lloydminster during the last two years, we have seen it's worst as the fields literally dried up and blew away. The mounds of black dirt in the ditches, the barren pastures, stripped not only of their grass but barren of anything living. What the drought drought didn't dry up, the grasshoppers ate as they blazed a path through the barren landscape.
Why do those who don't understand the significance of this rain still complain? Oh they whine about not being able to camp this weekend or work in their yards... do they not understand the importance of higher water tables and fresh water supplies for us to use? Yes cool weather and rain can be an inconvenience to our schedules, but what a way to slow down and reflect on nature during these times. Why not take a walk under an umbrella, or better yet, under an umbrella of trees? Let the rain, as it slowly falls, nuture your soul as it dampens your hair and feel the fresh, dust-free breeze brush against your face. Enjoy it, water is precious and we know not what the future holds... more rain or more drought.
Exercise
Our family decided a few months ago that we would like to start a more formalized program of exercise as a homeschool project. The boys were finding that they were not getting enough exercise in the wintertime and we all wanted to be more active and athletic anyway. We searched around and found a program whereby we would alternate aerobic and weight exercises on opposite days. The aerobics included power yoga for flexibility and kickboxing as the high energy component. The weigh program used either resistance bands or weights based on personal preference. We have being doing this six days a week for the most part since April, though Allan joined in later because he was busy with the transfer and we all took a week or so off during the move.
What benefits we are enjoying! I am feeling much more energetic, as everyone has agreed. Our flexibility has increased quite a bit (I can again do the splits, it's been a while since I was in gymnastics) and we are finding we have less muscle aches because we are strengthening our whole body rather than stressing certain over-used muscles. We are all doing it as a family and even Brendan is joining in... what a great way to teach our children life-long skills that they can enjoy into adulthood. Fitness is an important part of healthy living, I hope our program will encourage our children to continue incorporating exercise for their entire lives, just as I plan to.
Our family decided a few months ago that we would like to start a more formalized program of exercise as a homeschool project. The boys were finding that they were not getting enough exercise in the wintertime and we all wanted to be more active and athletic anyway. We searched around and found a program whereby we would alternate aerobic and weight exercises on opposite days. The aerobics included power yoga for flexibility and kickboxing as the high energy component. The weigh program used either resistance bands or weights based on personal preference. We have being doing this six days a week for the most part since April, though Allan joined in later because he was busy with the transfer and we all took a week or so off during the move.
What benefits we are enjoying! I am feeling much more energetic, as everyone has agreed. Our flexibility has increased quite a bit (I can again do the splits, it's been a while since I was in gymnastics) and we are finding we have less muscle aches because we are strengthening our whole body rather than stressing certain over-used muscles. We are all doing it as a family and even Brendan is joining in... what a great way to teach our children life-long skills that they can enjoy into adulthood. Fitness is an important part of healthy living, I hope our program will encourage our children to continue incorporating exercise for their entire lives, just as I plan to.
Sunday, July 04, 2004
Grandparents
I have been thinking a lot about my maternal Grandparents of late, missing them terribly, though for different reasons. My Grandfather (Grampa) was as much a second father as I could have, we spent many hours together keeping his third-scale steam engine and thresher running, as my cousins and I took turns travelling to different "threshing bees" around Western Canada. He built them himself, making every piece and getting his steam license in order to do so, after his early retirement at 55. He always had lots of time for his seven Grandchildren and we learned a lot about our history from him. He was a very quiet and reflective man. We learned mostly by watching him and the events that surrounded us at the threshing bees, asking questions about it all and always recieving excellent, thoughtful answers. I have a deep appreciation for the pioneers of our great nation from those experiences and know a great deal about farming practices during the entire 20 century as they evolved ever so grandly into what we see today. Sadly, Grampa died of lung cancer almost six years ago - the result of smoking, which he quit before I was born. I miss him so much, knowing I will never be able to talk with him or sit and listen to his wisdom.
My Grandmother (Grama) is a stately woman, a proud farmers wife who was a true homemaker and artist. Her artistic talents were developed largely after their retirement, though she always made beautiful things. She is always ready to laugh and always had her motorhome door open to everyone, grandkids and friends alike. Interestingly, she doesn't like to travel now that Grampa is gone. She is now 86 and living in a senior's home, very healthy and always looking wonderful. I miss her because until not long ago, I was three hours from her and didn't get to visit with her much. Now I am a mere 1 1/2 hours away, I plan on spending more time with her and really talking with her. I want to know more about her, her hopes, her thoughts, her wisdom to share from her perspective, having been through much and learning far more than I know now. I cannot wait to see her next week!
I have been thinking a lot about my maternal Grandparents of late, missing them terribly, though for different reasons. My Grandfather (Grampa) was as much a second father as I could have, we spent many hours together keeping his third-scale steam engine and thresher running, as my cousins and I took turns travelling to different "threshing bees" around Western Canada. He built them himself, making every piece and getting his steam license in order to do so, after his early retirement at 55. He always had lots of time for his seven Grandchildren and we learned a lot about our history from him. He was a very quiet and reflective man. We learned mostly by watching him and the events that surrounded us at the threshing bees, asking questions about it all and always recieving excellent, thoughtful answers. I have a deep appreciation for the pioneers of our great nation from those experiences and know a great deal about farming practices during the entire 20 century as they evolved ever so grandly into what we see today. Sadly, Grampa died of lung cancer almost six years ago - the result of smoking, which he quit before I was born. I miss him so much, knowing I will never be able to talk with him or sit and listen to his wisdom.
My Grandmother (Grama) is a stately woman, a proud farmers wife who was a true homemaker and artist. Her artistic talents were developed largely after their retirement, though she always made beautiful things. She is always ready to laugh and always had her motorhome door open to everyone, grandkids and friends alike. Interestingly, she doesn't like to travel now that Grampa is gone. She is now 86 and living in a senior's home, very healthy and always looking wonderful. I miss her because until not long ago, I was three hours from her and didn't get to visit with her much. Now I am a mere 1 1/2 hours away, I plan on spending more time with her and really talking with her. I want to know more about her, her hopes, her thoughts, her wisdom to share from her perspective, having been through much and learning far more than I know now. I cannot wait to see her next week!
Friday, July 02, 2004
A Tough Day
Do you ever have one of those days when never crawling out from under the covers would have made it so much better? Well it is a very rare event in my life, yet today was one of them. It started with constant interruptions as I was cleaning the bedrooms, I am not sure which was worse, the boys and their needing something every five minutes or the phone. It took thrice as long as it should have, the dust from the earth movers has been fun to clean, not. Almost done, I moved on to clean my room where the boys jumped up on our bed to talk... fresh from the sandbox, before the bed was made... now it needed de-sanding too. Washing the floor before lunch turned interesting when Breanna spit up her breakfast banana and later threw her watermelon on the floor, which splattered everywhere. Nothing like doing it twice! Finally, during a quiet moment, I was writing an introduction for work and half way through Breanna figured out how to turn off the computer. Smart baby, mad mommy.
All of this pales to insignificance though when I recieved a call from a client, who at nine weeks pregnant is bleeding. I comforted her as she cried, we discussed her options and she called her midwife. This is the third client I have supported through a miscarriage and it is never easy. I grieve along with them, knowing the lost dreams they are feeling, even when it is early in a pregnancy. I have experienced two very early miscarriages, both before I realized I was pregnant, yet I would never compare my loss to anothers. Each of us grieves in our own unique way and having someone to support them through it is so important. After talking to her midwife, my client chose to leave work and rest at home, allowing the process to progress, down whichever road that may lead. Tonight she is quite sure she is miscarrying and is grieving her loss. My prayers have covered her all day, however the Lord's will be done, as always.
Do you ever have one of those days when never crawling out from under the covers would have made it so much better? Well it is a very rare event in my life, yet today was one of them. It started with constant interruptions as I was cleaning the bedrooms, I am not sure which was worse, the boys and their needing something every five minutes or the phone. It took thrice as long as it should have, the dust from the earth movers has been fun to clean, not. Almost done, I moved on to clean my room where the boys jumped up on our bed to talk... fresh from the sandbox, before the bed was made... now it needed de-sanding too. Washing the floor before lunch turned interesting when Breanna spit up her breakfast banana and later threw her watermelon on the floor, which splattered everywhere. Nothing like doing it twice! Finally, during a quiet moment, I was writing an introduction for work and half way through Breanna figured out how to turn off the computer. Smart baby, mad mommy.
All of this pales to insignificance though when I recieved a call from a client, who at nine weeks pregnant is bleeding. I comforted her as she cried, we discussed her options and she called her midwife. This is the third client I have supported through a miscarriage and it is never easy. I grieve along with them, knowing the lost dreams they are feeling, even when it is early in a pregnancy. I have experienced two very early miscarriages, both before I realized I was pregnant, yet I would never compare my loss to anothers. Each of us grieves in our own unique way and having someone to support them through it is so important. After talking to her midwife, my client chose to leave work and rest at home, allowing the process to progress, down whichever road that may lead. Tonight she is quite sure she is miscarrying and is grieving her loss. My prayers have covered her all day, however the Lord's will be done, as always.
Thursday, July 01, 2004
Construction Zone
Well the novelty of living in a construction zone has definitely worn thin. We were the first to move into our new subdivision and having no neighbours for the first month was interesting. We were well prepared for the construction during the day, but were anticipating normal working hours, like from 8 to 6 and the odd overtime. Well the delivery trucks start rolling in around 6:30 with their insessant back-up beep, beep, beeps and shinglers are on the roofs until 11 pm working with the last light so as to get the house covered before the anticipated rain the next day. Even that was tolerable, but now we have one of those huge earth movers preparing the new close behind our house and it has an interesting quirk... the horn goes when it is full, and continues until the driver lifts the bucket. Now depending on how close he is to the end of the strip he is doing depends on how long he lets the horn blare. That started at 7 sharp this morning and though I was up well before, Allan worked until 11 last night so he wasn't as impressed.
At the same time, the excitement as we watch new houses go from a newly dug hole to completion is never dull and the boys are fascinated. They are not strangers to the process as this is our third new home in a newer subdivision since we had Eric so they are well-versed in construction basics. Eric is very interested in engineering, carpentry, and the profession of a sawyer. In contrast Ryan is much more the architect and loves designing rather than the hands-on skills.
Well the novelty of living in a construction zone has definitely worn thin. We were the first to move into our new subdivision and having no neighbours for the first month was interesting. We were well prepared for the construction during the day, but were anticipating normal working hours, like from 8 to 6 and the odd overtime. Well the delivery trucks start rolling in around 6:30 with their insessant back-up beep, beep, beeps and shinglers are on the roofs until 11 pm working with the last light so as to get the house covered before the anticipated rain the next day. Even that was tolerable, but now we have one of those huge earth movers preparing the new close behind our house and it has an interesting quirk... the horn goes when it is full, and continues until the driver lifts the bucket. Now depending on how close he is to the end of the strip he is doing depends on how long he lets the horn blare. That started at 7 sharp this morning and though I was up well before, Allan worked until 11 last night so he wasn't as impressed.
At the same time, the excitement as we watch new houses go from a newly dug hole to completion is never dull and the boys are fascinated. They are not strangers to the process as this is our third new home in a newer subdivision since we had Eric so they are well-versed in construction basics. Eric is very interested in engineering, carpentry, and the profession of a sawyer. In contrast Ryan is much more the architect and loves designing rather than the hands-on skills.
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