5 Things

I stole this from Celena - thought I'd try to give it a go.......

5 things i was doing 5 years ago:
1. Working as a Unit Clerk
2. going aquasizing with Celena
3. trying to figure out what to do when ' I grew up'
4. hating where I was emotionally
5. hating where I was physically

5 things on my to-do list for this weekend:
1. grocery shopping
2. drive to calgary - maybe
3. attend baby shower
4. go to church
5. see family

5 things i would do with a million dollars (after becoming debt free):
1. travel to England
2. buy a house
3. quit work - well maybe not if it was only 1 million - that doesn't go very far these days
4. maybe move to England
5. invest

5 places i have lived:
1. Edmonton
2. Bow Island
3. Vulcan
4. Innisfail
5. Milk River

5 jobs i've held (at least for a little while):
1. Secretary - University of Alberta Hospital Pharmacy
2. Unit Clerk - Royal Alexandra Hospital - Unit 54
3. Film Loan Clerk - Royal Alexandra Hospital
4. Short Order Cook - Mississippi Queen - Bow Island
5. Babysitter

5 years from now i will:
1. Be DEBT FREE
2. Be able to have children
3. Be healthier – hopefully have lost some weight
4. Gone back to London England
5. Seen Jon finish School

Time for Remembrance

Jon's brother's birthday is November 5th and there is a poem that talks about remembering that date that Jon likes to quote:

"Remember, remember the fifth of November.
Gunpowder, Treason and Plot.
I see no reason why Gunpowder Treason
Should ever be forgot."

Of course it has to do with England, as my husband has a not so secret obsession with all things English. And even though I am not as attached to all things English as Jon is it does help me get in the mood for Remembrance Day. Both my grandfathers fought in WWII and I know that at least 1 of my great grandfathers fought in WWI. It is them I am remembering.

I did not know my Grampa Beasley very well as he died when I was only 10 years old and since we lived in Alberta and he in Langley B.C. we did not get a change to visit often. I do have one memory of him, I was probably about 7 or 8 and we had gone for a visit and he had this big sink in their back porch area and he was giving my little brother a bath - I know not the greatest memory of all, but when I combine that with some of the stories my mom has told me about her father I remember what a legacy I have been given; one of compassion, laughter, patience and respect.

Grampa Joulie, I k new much better. I remember him and Gramma coming out to visit at least once a year, first they drove, then the bus, the while Grampa was sick, not at all. Grampa was a joker and a kidder, but every night he'd kiss you on the lips and say "God Bless". I wish I had more memories of him, but I know that I have recieved a legacy from him as well; one of perserverance, patience and faith.

And so I must "Remember Remember" not just the fifth of November but always. These men, and their wives, along with so many others have helped me become the woman that I am today. Hopefully, when children do come into our home I will be able to help them - Remember.

If you would like the history that goes with the poem go here

Let's move on.....

So, this last month has been a really hard month. There have been a few things specifically, but generally no specific reason - just a hard month.

Jon is in the middle of midterms and some of his classes he is not enjoying as much as others, which, unfortunately, also means it's harder to study and therefore marks aren't as well as he would like them to be, which translates into finding it even harder to study - vicious cycle I know. I wish I could do more to help him out - that "let's try to fix this" part of me wants to snap my fingers and make it all better, to take that pain, disappointment, frustration all away so that he can realize the amazing talent that he has. But alas, I do not have the ability and if it really came down to it, I probably would not change anything because "what doesn't kill us, will only make us stronger" right?

I won't try to pretend that the only reason that this has been a hard month has been because of Jon's school issues. I have had my own issues as well, my hormones are so out of whack, and no I am not pregnant, that I have been on a constant rollercoaster of emotions. One minutes I am giddy, laughing (almost too much so) the next I am crying, and for no particular reason, which is almost worse.

I have to remind myself that the month is almost over and starting on Sunday we get to move on...past this month. We can take what we have learned from this very trying month and continue on. Heavenly Father, in His infinate wisdom, allows us to struggle, stumble and even hurt. Not because He is mean, but because He loves us (all of us) so much and wants us to return home to Him, and to do so we have to be strong, even if that only means strong enough to ask for help. Maybe that is what it means in the Beatitudes in the book of Mathew in the New Testament when it says in Matthew 5:5 "Blessed are the meek for they shall inherit the earth" . "The Meek" are always thought to be weak, but really they are the strongest they know to seek Him who can truly lift their burdens....

Well then, that' s more thought provoking that I had intended.....

Have a happy halloween
E

That was a lot.....

I can't believe how many pictures that was - somewhere in the back of my mind I knew that I had done stuff over the last year, but WOW and I haven't even got to my brother's wedding, but I really want to write and post pics together because it was such a wonderful day.

Well that's all for tonight.

Catch up Pictures

I've been thinking, now I know that might come as a shock to some (hehehehe), that since I did a bit of a catch up I should add some pictures to go along. Thanks Shauna for pointing me in the right direction on how to do it - my first try was fun. As I get more collages done I will post them here as well.

Catch Up?

Okay so I know that it has been a long time since I did a decent post and the question now becomes "do I catch up?" or "do I just start from here?". Both good questions and both have good points and bad points. How does one truly try and 'catch up' over a year and half worth of life, but if I don't catch up am I really doing justice to the last year and a half of my life?

Do I catch up by letting everyone know that Jon went back to school last September to start to finish his Bachelor of Arts degree at Grant MacEwan, or simply MacEwan as it is now called?

Or about how Jon cooking a goose for Christmas dinner. It was so good.

Then there was the birth of our new nephew, Rhys Perry Iverson. Rhys was born on February 28th to Rachel & James Iverson and he's adorable. Rachel's mom came from England to help her out and was around for the baby shower and blessing - she's so cool - I'm sure it was nice for Rachel to have her there.

I could catch up by saying that at the end of the '08/'09 school year Jon got a 4.0 GPA and then was accepted to the University of Alberta Honors English Program.

Or I could catch up by talking about Thunder in the Valley with the Joulie Clan and then our wonderful trip to Victoria to see Jenny & Caleb & the kids - as well as taking 3 pre teens with us there. It was so much fun, we couldn't have asked for better weather or better kids.

We have had a wonderful year. We've been blessed!

Luv ya
E

My Foundation

I have changed the title to my blog, not that knowing and expressing that my family is for now and, literally, for forever, but I wanted to incorporate a few new elements.

1) My foundation is my Savior and Redemeer, Jesus Christ, and with out Him, I would be lost - and I mean quite literally, and He has built that foundation for me because he loves me.
2) Jon's dad was a mason by trade and as we have travelled around a VERY little bit, Jon points out different types of buildings, foundation etc especially if they were ones that his dad built. This has gotten me to think that it is because of our parents that Jon and I have such a sure foundation, again because of their love for us.
3) As Jon and I begin our life and journey together, we can continue to build on those foundations, again because of the love that we share.

I know that this may all be kinda corny, but it is truly something that I have been feeling and thinking about.

How Time Flies

Wow - it's been over a year since I've posted - I knew it had been a while - but WOW!

This really isn't a complete post - but i just wanted to say that I'm a live and that I plan to sit down and write a proper post VERY soon.