Inspired by...

What a fun thing it is to watch young people reach this milestone in their lives.

I have worked at the local High School for two years now, and this moment always gives me chills!

It has been a very fulfilling year for me, one full of challenges, and a sense of purpose, which has been a blessing beyond expectation.  This past week I watched some of my favorite students cross the stage to receive their recognition of graduation.   

My beautiful niece Ava was one of them.  Is she not a doll? 

This girl is a positive ray of light, who led her grade in so many ways.  She is going to school in provo this fall and I am beyond excited to see where she ends up.  Truly - the sky is the limit!

T is an absolute rockstar.  She has had a rough couple of years, but has continually shown resiliency as she has tackled life head on, with a sarcastic sense of humor that is un matched.  In many ways, she reminded me every day of my Abby, which may explain why she was such a favorite of mine;)

As the end of the semester approached, it became apparent that their was a group of boys who were at risk of not graduating, mostly on account of a diploma level English class that they were dismally behind in.   Thanks to an amazing principal who refused to give up on them, and an equally good english teacher, a plan was born that involved keeping this group of boys after school to catch up like crazy!   The goal was to get each of them as close to 60% before going into the diploma exam as possible.   I instantly weaselled my way into this plan as someone who wanted to help.   I was an EA in their class and had really come to like this group of boys.   (Side note: two years ago when I started this job, this was the same group of boys who had me terrified on my first day of work.)    They had at one time seemed so intimidating!  L, K, T, J, and J would stay after school from 3-5 any time they could, and they did this for a couple of months.   I would coordinate with their teacher and try to keep them focused on the work they needed to do.  There was a LOT of catching up for them, and it really did come down to the wire, BUT it looks as though they just may have made it.    Watching these boys, on this night had me smiling a big, fat, proud smile.   Jaleel (whom I always called Chief) danced on stage when given his certificate and I am so glad he did!   

He deserved that moment.  They all did!

And then there is C.  This kid has caused me more stress, more anxiety over the past couple of years than any other.   I've worked with him since I started at the High School and most days he made me want to stick a fork in my eye.   He knows this - I told him many times.   It took an incredible amount of Dr. Pepper and home made cinnamon buns to lure him in for extra help, but I was always proud of him when he came.  I've watched him make all sorts of crazy teenage mistakes, and I've watched him (more than once) give himself a chance.   I'm convinced that that is where the magic is!!   I truly cried watching him walk across that stage.  I felt as excited for him, and as proud of him as I do my own kids.   I'm sure going to miss him.  

These are a few of the student who made my school year so darn blessed.  

It was a very challenging year for me personally, one full of difficult decisions and inner turmoil.  There were many times when I felt as though worry/insecurity was going to overwhelm me and the thought that always came to my mind in those moments was "just focus on the students."  

 I'm so glad I had these students to not just distract me - but INSPIRE ME!  

They are GRIT and DETERMINATION personified.   I hope when I grow up, I can be just like them!

O- Very Hard decision

Years ago I learned that I had a BRCA1 genetic mutation. 

This discovery had been a long time coming.  For years I had suspected this, worried about this, and sought out Doctors and professionals who would help validate this.   That was a long, hard and stressful journey.   Although it was a disappointment to learn of this genetic predisposition, it was in no way a surprise.   

What has resulted in the past eight years is a journey so personal and all encompassing, I am not sure the full story will ever find its way onto this blog.   It has included visits with specialists, MRIs, regular screening, constant trips to Calgary, hours of prayer, a mastectomy, a harrowing six months without breasts, reconstruction, the heart wrenching decision to have my tubes removed, and most recently and finally - a complete hysterectomy.   This last procedure being the hardest decision that I have ever had to make for myself.   

For the past three or four years in particular, I have wondered if I could actually bring myself to do this, something so completely irreversible and permanent in its result.  I have bounced back and forth between fears of the disease, and fears of preventative consequences.  The though of being menopausal by my late 30s has terrified me for a long time.   So many times I prayed for someone, anyone to just tell me what to do!   Apparently though, Doctors like to remain as unbiased as possible and leave the difficult decisions to the ones who have to live with them.   Weird;) 

One day, a year ago, I sat in a session of Stake Conference and listened as our newly called Stake President shared his personal battle with this disease, and he encouraged everyone listening to "act on the things that nag us."   He told us that if there is something that is constantly on our mind - we should not ignore it.   I sat there on that hard, cold, metal chair and felt more comfortable, more at ease, than I had in years.   In my mind, I could see that the one thing nagging at me constantly was this decision.   As I listened to him speak, I asked myself, "What if I did it.  What if I just went ahead with the hysterectomy?"   In that moment - I felt peace.

I had no idea how many times since then I would have to go back to that moment, but it was a clear moment in which I had actually felt as though I had been given "help" deciding.   

That was a year ago.   

Last week I went into the hospital on June 22nd and had a preventative mastectomy.  

The recovery is going incredibly well.

I feel nervous about menopause.

I feel sad as I consider all I have put my body through over the past few years.

But I still feel peace.  

I'm sitting here this evening feeling convinced that there is nothing better - than peace.

Rules for a knight

Back at the beginning of this past school year, our local principal (Austin Nunn) introduced a book to the staff and students at the High School titled "Rules for a Knight."   

It was a short read that identified 20 rules/qualities that are possessed by a true Knight.  

These qualities range from humility, to grace, to forgiveness.   Every student and staff member was given their own copy, and each month a new quality/rule was focused on.  

It has been a fun year, and a meaningful one for both John and I.   I often thought of this book when I was working with a particularly frustrating student or challenge, and I know John referred to this book often as well.   

By mid may we had learned that this incredible leader/boss/principal was going to be taking a new position at the Division office and would be leaving the school.  We were all sad and John would be the first to say that he was even mad...but only for a day or two;) 

On the last day of work for most students and staff, Mr. Nunn held a staff lunch and invited everyone who worked in the school to come together one last time.   As the lunch came to a close, Mr. Nunn announced that before he left, he wished to start a tradition that he hoped would continue in the years to come.   He expressed again how important it is for us to exemplify the qualities of a Knight in what we do, and he announced that he had chosen to pass on an award to a staff member who had truly displayed Knight like qualities over the course of this past year.  

No surprise to me - he chose to award the 1st annual Knight helmet to John.

(This helmet will be displayed in Johns room for the next year, until John choses a new recipient next year.)  

Mr Nunn sure knows how to call it as he sees it.   A more knightly Knight there never has been! 

A WILDLY spectacular Father's Day

Here's a funny story:

A week ago, early on a Sunday morning I woke the kids up early.  We decorated the living room, prepared a spectacular breakfast for John and surprised him with as many gifts as possible.  (Not as many as he deserved, but we tried our best;)    It was a super fun morning and by 9:00 am I felt certain that John knew exactly how much he meant to me and the kids.   Around 11:30 that morning, we walked by the calendar and discovered that IT WASN'T FATHER'S DAY AT ALL!!!!!

WHAT THE HECK?

I have no idea how I managed to assume that Sunday was Father's Day, but nobody else in my family (including John) seemed to question this.   So there we were, all done and celebrated before Father's Day even actually began.   

Funny, right?  

I didn't think so.   In fact, by the time Father's Day did role around (yesterday) I wasn't sure we had any more celebratory ideas left. 

 Nate had thankfully constructed a "Happy Father's Day" banner made out of Lego, and we did manage to take a photo of John with the kids, but that was pretty much it for excitement.   Luckily, after a giant Turkey Dinner, Jessica pulled through with a great idea - A Father's Day drive to Waterton!!

Um..hello could there be a better way to celebrate Father's Day?

I think not!

So, we quickly loaded up and headed out for an evening visit to our favorite park in the world.   Despite the fact that we were going to be able to take in a bit of the annual Wildflower Festival, I did not have much hope that we would actually see anything excited.  I felt certain that the Wildfire last fall would have prevented any wildlife from frequenting the area.  Boy were we wrong!

Before we'd even reached the park gate, just as we were passing by the lookout over the maskinonge, we noticed a flurry of activity to the left of us.   We pulled into the lookout and watched a coyote as it studied some swans and we scanned the shoreline in search of the bear we'd thought we'd seen.   Imagine our surprise to discover that it wasn't a bear we had noticed out of the corner of our eyes, but rather a cougar.   A COUGAR!  

  We were in awe.   IN AWE!   Seeing a cougar within Waterton is a rare opportunity (in fact we never have) and we all just sat back and stared at it for as long as we could.   

Spooked by a nearby kayak, this cougar gracefully glided from our side of the lake, clear across to the other side and disappeared into the trees that I am assuming lead to the wishbone trail. 

We were still reeling with excitement at seeing a cougar as we talked with some tourists and enjoyed the beautiful view of the parks entrance.   As I turned to look at the north side of the park I noticed a giant black blob against the distance trees and based on the size of it, I knew it could only be a moose.  A MOOSE too!   

You better believe we threw ourselves into the van and hauled it over to the park gate.   Sure enough, just off the road was a mama moose.   How did we know it was a mama?   Well, I'm sure biologists and anyone with more smarts than me, could tell you just by looking at it.   

I however knew it was a mama because of the darling little CALF that came loping up to stand beside her.   We all laughed when (on the way) the calf suddenly tripped and disappeared into a splashy mess of marsh water, only to pop back up in a second and continue on to it's mother.  

The pictures are lousy, but the real live story was adorable!!  

We created quite a little Moose jam as people joined us to see what we were looking at.  One of the families that pulled told us of a mama bear and her three cubs that they had just finished watching over by the stables.   It seemed to be too good to be true but John and I obviously had the same thought as we both headed for the van and John took off in the direction of the town site.  

Imagine our surprise (and elation) when we parked just in time to watch a mama cub and her three teeny cubs make their way right towards us!

And when I say right towards us, I really do mean right.towards.us!

They crossed the road just in front of our parked van and proceeded to dig in the ground/fight each other just ten feet away from where we were cautiously watching in delight.  The kids LOVED watching two little cubs wrestle and we could hear the most incredible yelping/chortling from them as they did so.  At one point the mom stepped in to break up the rowdiness which was an impressive sight to see as well.  

It was a truly spectacular moment to get to witness!

After that, you would think there would not be much else to see, yet I still managed to make the family pull over and wait for me with every new flower spotted.  

Man the flowers were breathtaking!

Post fire Waterton really is a beautiful thing to see!!!

Thanks John for being such a WILDLY spectacular Dad, for taking us on every adventure, and for keeping life exciting in between!!

It's a wrap for my wannabes

The school year is rapidly coming to a close.  Abby's last day of classes (before finals) is today and the kids finish this Friday.  It isn't just school that is wrapping up.  Most of the kids' extracurricular sports teams are experience finishing moments as well.   

A few days ago, Sam helped his team take home first place in the league in a great game against Raymond.   

It was often a challenge to make it to Sam's games as half of them were out of town, and when he did have an in town game, I always seemed to be busy with after school tutoring.  

Seriously though, when I did get a chance to watch him, it was all kinds of fun.   Sam really likes baseball.   He likes umping (made some cash doing so even); he likes calling out phrases like "Hey batter batter" and he likes chewing on a handful of spitz.  

He's pretty much a Babe Ruth wannabe;)

I think it's charming.

Near the end of school I got a phone call from the Junior High receptionist notifying me that Sam would be receiving an award.   I was able to finish work early this day (my last day of the school year) and watch him receive it.  

Sam won the Grade 7 Student of the Year Award, now officially dubbed the Ron Dittmann Award in honor of Mr. Dittmann's retirement from teaching after 34+ years.  

 There were 11 students nominated and Sam ended up receiving a plaque and a cheque for $200.  

Such a special recognition!

Abby has been doing Taekwondo for a year now and has really really thrived in this sport.

It has been the perfect thing for her and her coaches have pushed her just the right amount.

I have noticed that Abby is more eager than ever to "go workout" with me (she works out, I pretend to), she isn't afraid to break a sweat anymore (in fact she seems to enjoy it) and I really think I can see her getting stronger.  

This past week she took her year end exam and advanced from a yellow stripe to a solid yellow belt.   (Two levels in 1 year!)    

Basically, she's a Jackie Chan wannabe.  

I think it's charming!

Last week I got to attend a special Elementary School BBQ that was being held to celebrate any students who had 100% attendance throughout the year.   Without even trying to Nate qualified.   

I skipped out of work  (took a late lunch) and rushed up there to eat with Nate and watch him receive his certificate.  

Nate is wicked cute when he is being recognized for something.  He gets super shy, almost scared and it is totally adorable.  

Awe this kid.   

What a super achiever.

Totally charming!!

38 turns around the sun

I'm pretty sure that I just experienced THE best birthday EVER!

(It was actually a couple of weeks back, but my mind is still basking in the sweet memory of it.)  

Some of the highlights of that day include:

* Waking up at 7:00 am to find that my sister Jewel had chalked my entire driveway and sidewalk.  (My heart aches to think of the skinned knuckles she must have acquired as a result.)

* Receiving a giant gift basket and plate of baking from a friend of mine whom I serve with and admire.  (Lori B)

* Students in both my Math and English classes sang Happy Birthday to me.

* John and the kids spoiled me and made me feel like a Queen all day long.  John even framed my beloved Eagle Feather!!!

*  Notes and Cards from my sisters, Sarah A and my Father in law Max.

*Supper that night provided by Jewel.  (My favorite Vietnamese salad, as if she hadn't been busy enough!)

* A bouquet of flowers from my dear next door neighbor

&

* Very kind and generous birthday wishes on Facebook (messages I felt very undeserving of!)

After work we all had different places to be.  

Baseball, Taekwondo...etc.  

Shortly after supper, Jessica and I were cuddling on the couch for a moment when Jewel called and told me that I HAD to get my camera and go for a drive.  There was a rainbow out and it would make for great shots at the temple.

Jessica came with me (she's like a loyal puppy when she hears the rattling of car keys) and we bolted out the door with cameras in hand.   It was the second time this month that I've had the chance to play with Jessica in the rain!

It was a lovely way to end an absolutely PERFECT day!!!!

Honors and Eagles

This past month (mid May) the High School hosted its annual Native Honor Night and John and I were able to attend.   I think this may have been the first time that John and I have made it to this event.  It is geared towards celebrating the achievements of the schools graduating First Nation students.   Most of the kids I work with each day are First nation students and so it was especially nice to see them recognized in this way.   

Justice, Wade, Jaleel, Kodie, Joules, Larry, Logan, Luis, Tasia... all of them incredible students with really big stories.   I could have just cried as I watched them.

At one point, towards the end of the ceremony one of the grads (Kaitlyn) called me up to the front and presented me with an Eagle Feather.  All of the grads are given a pembleton blanket and an Eagle Feather of their own.  I was not expecting to get a feather of my own!! 

I have been reading about eagle feathers ever since.  They are important to the First Nation people and symbolize a lot.   Anciently, the belief was that Eagles were the ones to carry their prayers to their creator.   It is actually not legal for a non Native person in Canada to have an Eagle Feather, unless it has been gifted to you by a native.

The night I received it, I was warned to be careful about how I display it, as there can be a fine if caught doing so incorrectly or disrespectfully.  (John actually made a beautiful framed space for it, which I love.)

It was a huge honor for me, a sweet moment to be included by students that I admire so much, and something I will treasure always!

Tulips, Glads and Paddleboards

Oh May was a beautiful month and Victoria Day was no exception!

The weekend actually started out quite rainy, which helped contribute to a very lazy and relaxing Friday and Saturday.  

By Monday though the sun had come out and the ground had dried up enough for us to do some serious planting.   The kids started over at Grandpa's house as soon as they'd finished breakfast.  By the time I headed over with lunch, they had already planted to potatoes, and most of the Gladiolas.  I think they are really getting the system down, as it seems to go quicker and quicker every year!

I am really so very glad that Grandpa allows my kids to come and help him with his garden each year.   I really feel as though some of my kids' dearest memories will involve this man, and learning from him how to grow and create beautiful things is one of the best lessons they could gleam from him!   It also gives them a chance to play in his spectacular Weeping Birch trees!

After working so hard, the kids all felt as though they deserved a little fun in the sun.  We loaded up our paddle boards and fishing tackle and headed for Payne Lake.   We were surprised to find Jewel and Kendall and their kids there, but it sure made it fun for my kids to have some cousins with them.  

Abby and Mya paddled way far out to the other side and paddled around the Island.  

Jessica, Brooke and their friend Katie Leavitt took a turn at it too.  

John took Sam and Dane way out for some fishing, and didn't come back for two hours!

I was content to sit on the edge and read/visit with Jewel.   

A really fine way to end a Victoria Day.

Jessica's May mishaps

Jessica wants a dog.

Have I mentioned this here before?  

She wants one real bad!

Occasionally she gets going on a whole hearted "Puppy Campaign."  

Like, one day, she got into the school and covered John's whiteboard with pictures of dogs.  She made sure to slide the top board over it so that it was discovered at a most convenient time, like right smack dab in the middle of one of his lessons;)

Oh I wish I could have been in his class when he discovered it.

A couple of weeks back John rushed home from school, raced off to his baseball game with Nate, and I joined them at Nate's game a while later.   Nate's game went great, and as soon as it ended I hopped in the van and rushed off to run some more errands.   I hadn't been driving long when a man in a little red car raced up beside me and swerved over to the side of the rode in an attempt to get my attention.   Confused I got out of my vehicle and began to apologize to the man.

  (For what, I don't know.  Us Canadians just like to apologize when others get in our way;)

The man immediately began telling me that he had noticed "my sign" and he had a friend who sold labradoodels that I should get in touch with.   Sign?  What sign?   

No time to inquire. Before I knew it, he was gone again.   

Puzzled by the whole encounter I turned back towards my van, and then it hit me.  

I walked to the back end of our van and sure enough - there as a sign alright... 

I don't know where Jessica gets her ideas, but this one definitely takes the cake!

Earlier in the month a former sister missionary that had served in town (and had been a favorite of ours) returned for a visit with her Dad, who happens to be an editor for some of the Church Magazines.   (Friend, New Era, Ensign) .  He asked me if I had a daughter under 12 and told me that he would like to interview her and take a picture of her with her Book of Mormon.  He ended up interviewing Abby as well.   It was really exciting for Jess.  I'm not sure if their pictures will actually make it in to the friend or New Era, but it was a fun opportunity for them, just the same!

One evening after supper, the rain began to pour.  It was a most perfect Spring Shower - and one that we could not let pass by without savoring, just a little.   Jess and I went for a little stroll on the temple lawn.  We walked alongside the road and kicking up puddles of water and trying to get each other as wet as possible.   We even tried to work up the courage to dance a little!! 

She keeps us on our toes this girl, in an absolutely spectacular way. 

Track and Field Fun

There are moments when I am so SO glad that my sisters are watching out for me.  One of those moments each year come when my sisters send me pictures and footage of my kids Track and Field events - which I always miss.  

This year was a fun one for my kiddos.   Both Jessica and Sam advanced to Divisionals, and Sam went on to place 8th in zones in the 3000 meter run.   

(Sam and Brooke make me laugh.   Their friendship has certainly grown since their early years.   Love these two cousins!) 

Jessica performed well too, though her score hardly matters to me at all compared to her sweet, dimply personality.  Lots of physical skill and a whole lot of sweetness!  

Her and Dane must have found each other on the field for exchange of best wishes and comparison of ribbons won;)

I so wish that I could have been there in person to watch these kids and cousins compete, but I am so glad that I got some pictures of the day.