Student Council Retreat

For the past year, Abby has been serving on her school Student Council, which has been a great opportunity for her.  Last weekend, the School sent 12 Student Council members on a two-night retreat, and I got to be one of the accompanying chaperones.   

We spent the weekend staying in a hostel and exploring the Kananaskis, an area in 

Alberta that I had not explored before.  It was so much fun! 

The trip involved a lot of food (orange french toast, wings, pasta night - all at sit down restaurants) soaking in the hot springs, exploring the Banff Hotel, hiking,  watching the newly released Aladdin in the Banff Theatre, and late nights playing every ridiculous game those kids could conjure up!  

I owned the role of "Werewolf" like a boss, pathetically competed (and lost all sense of pride) in a sing-off, and scared the living daylights out of all 12 students with the best late night prank ever.  

Mr. Sloan took the group up to "The Vault" which was a fascinating cave created back during Cold War time, with the intention of using it for a place to store Top Secret Government Documents.   It was fun to walk to the end of it and explore the different "rooms."

I particularly LOVED getting to just be with Abby.  

She is fun.  She is so good.  And she is a genuine friend to me.   I'll happily accompany a handful of students and stay up later than any human should - for a chance to get to be with her!

The Kananaskis is definitely an area we will be visiting again!

Spring Drive

Sometimes (as in like, once in a blue moon) Jessica and I wake up super early and go on a morning drive...

The world is particularly beautiful when it is just waking up for the day!

Native Honor Night

I love my job.  

It isn't easy.  It isn't always fun.  There have been more challenges arise this year for me than I ever thought possible.   BUT... I do love the students that I work with, and because of that, I love my job.

Earlier in May, the school held it's annual Native Honor Night, a special evening dedicated to celebrating the accomplishments of our graduating First Nation students.  It is a formal evening (many of these students value this event over the actual grad ceremony in June) that includes dinner, a program, traditional dancing, and gifts for each grad.    This year there are 27 of them from our school, and the hope is that every single one of them will graduate.   

  Oh, I pray that they will!   

I am proud of these kids.  Many of these students are the first ones in their family to graduate, and every one of them is overcoming substantial difficulty to do so.    To me, they are grit and determination personified, and they don't even realize it.  

I am not sure what this next year has in store for me and my work.  Things feel a little unsteady right now.  I hope I will be able to keep working with this group that I love so much.  

Choir and Mountain Play

Last month our local Girls Choir held a 30-year anniversary event in which choir alumni were invited to participate in a joint concert with the current choir.  John's sister Sarah was one of the original members of this choir, and Abby was a part of it a couple of weeks back, so it was fun to get to watch both of them perform.  

It was also fun to have Sarah, Ed, and Malachi with us for a few days.

They always introduce us to new experiences and fun!

This visit, they brought along their bikes and it was SO fun to enjoy Waterton with wheels!

Sarah had wanted to experience riding along the Red Rock Parkway while vehicular traffic was prohibited.  She commented a few times that there was something about being on that road without anybody else that was exciting - and she was right!

The kids loved it.  Even Nate kept up for most of the way, only having to turn back a few minutes before the endpoint.   It was neat to see where the Kenow Wildfire reached, and to see how the land has recovered.  It was also cool to travel this road outside of a car.  You notice things in a different way.   The wildflowers were just starting to come up, with patches of shooting stars blanketing the ground.   I'm pretty sure shooting stars are some of my favorite flowers.  

The dainty little things survive the harsh mountain climate so well.

At one point Nate grew too tired to keep going.  I knew that we were probably within minutes of our destination but he was so so tired and I was tired too wanted this to remain a good experience for him, so he and I turned back.   We stopped at the top of one particular hill, parked our bikes and just sat, right there in the middle of the road.   Not another human being in sight!

Dreeeaammmy!!!!!

After that fun ride, we ate pizza and enjoyed Beaver tails down by the lake before heading home.  

It was a perfectly beautiful evening, one that made me feel grateful for calm moments and company that helps us see the world a little bit differently, even if just for a moment.

  

Mother's Day

I feel so very blessed to have these people in my life. 

 Oh, how I love them!

Moments before the sun goes down...

Earlier in May my brother texted us and let us know he would be at the farm the next day.  He said something about "heather was making chili" which pretty much sealed the deal for us.  I'm pretty sure no distance is too far for a bowl of Heather's chili. For reals;)

All of my siblings and the cousins converged for just a few hours that evening, but as always, it was a perfectly good time.  The kids talked, played outside until the sun went down, and we all visited.  When we had filled up on chili, Tim Tams, Hot Chocolate and Krsispy Creme donuts - we crawled into our vehicles and made the trip home...

...each one of us looking forward to next time.  

Sweet 16

This post has been a long time coming.   We just weren't quite ready to be done celebrating Abby's birthday.  It was kind of a "Birthday Month" for her.  

On her actual birthday, John took her out for dinner. One of those sweet "I want to be her first date" kind of a thing.  It meant a lot to Abby, though I was kind of bugged that we didn't get to have a birthday dinner with her.   They came back home around 7:30 to find Abbys local cousins here ready to sing and eat cake.  

I generally try to take my kids on a birthday date at some point, this year Abby drove me to Waterton for some ice cream.   (I'm not sure how Jess managed to come along.  She is kind of like a pet dog that way.  If she hears the jingle of car keys, she is out the door and in the van, before anyone even realizes.)

Abby tried to take her drivers test (to receive a class five license) a week after her birthday.  The whole experience was such a disaster.   Abby was stressed, I was frustrated, we had forgotten to update our proof of insurance which caused delay....oh and Abby ran a stop sign.  

Neither Abby nor I were shocked when the tester told her she'd failed.

It was hard for Abby, but I was so proud of her for not only trying but for letting it be a teaching experience for her.  We are the product of everything we experience, and I am so thankful for the experiences that Abby has had in life, so far.  She is truly turning into one of the most reliable and consistently steady friends that I have.   I absolutely adore her!

Abby waited a couple of weeks and tried her test again, this time securing a passing score.

She was so excited and is constantly looking for reasons to drive!! 

 (note her loyal little puppy  companion in the front seat;)

It has been so nice to be able to send Abby for the kids after school or to have her to run an errand.  Last night, she went to a party and returned home shortly before midnight.  I kinda loved that I didn't have to get out of my pajamas and drive out of town to pick her up. 

Granted, I did feel like my heart was on my sleeve for 4 hours and I had a constant prayer in my heart that she would be safe and well, while not in our care.

Sigh...motherhood is a double-edged sword at times.   

Happy Birthday, Girl!! 

Glorious Spring Day

Last weekend was surprisingly warm.  A hopeful little gift from Mother Nature assuring us that despite the cold March, and cooler than normal start to April - Spring is coming.  

Oh man - it is coming!!

This has been such a challenging few months for me.   I am not sure if the side effects of my surgery last June (aka menopause) is now starting to present, or if I am just going through a hard time (peeks and valleys, right?) but I have really struggled lately to feel peace.  

Work is hard.

My calling feels hard.

Creating positive relationships with others feels hard.

I truly feel as though I am failing all across the board.  

I know it is me.  It must be me. 

I have sure been grateful lately for daughters.  Two girls who love me no matter what and their spider senses tingle at just the right times.  

Like last weekend, when Jessica said, "Mom, I know what you need.   You need a drive to Waterton,."   (Actually what she really said was, "You need a drive to Waterton, and a puppy." but we've all started blocking out her puppy propaganda, at this point.   All I heard was Waterton;)

We walked the Red Rock road as far as we could, and then took a trail back down to the van.  We didn't see any bears or wildlife, though they surely must be up and awake now. 

 We took pictures, talked, and made plans for summer.  

Have I mentioned how grateful I am for daughters?  

And spring. I'm also grateful for spring. 

Spring:  A lovely reminder of how beautiful change can truly be.

Happy Birthday Gramps!

Well, it was a big month for my Father in Law.   He turned 76!!!  Woop Woop;)

March was a challenging and busy month for me and I wish that I had really put forth more effort into a party for him, but thankfully some of his Calgary family were able to make it down to party with him.   

We love this man with all of our hearts!  

That time we thought it'd be fun

February has been cold.  As in, -28 degrees cold, and it has been that way for a few weeks now.   

There was this one time, a few weeks back, where we thought it would be awesome to try ice fishing.   

Uh... yeah...that was funny.

#frozenfingersfrozentoes

#frozenchildrenfrozenmom

#frozenbait

#johndressedlikeaneskimo

A bit of Puppy Love for the Birthday Girl

Not only did February bring us a week long holiday from school, but it also gifted us with a birthday celebration of a really awesome daughter.  Jessica turned 12 this year and we decided that this was an age worth going all out for.  (Really we decided very last minute that since we were all off of work/school, why not throw a very last minute party.   But let's pretend we put a lot of time and planning into it, shall we?)

One of the few shows my girls like to watch (besides M*A*S*H, I'm so proud;) are cooking shows.  Nailed it, Cut Throat Kitchen, the Great Canadian Bake Off... the girls just love a good cooking competition.  We decided we would invite Jessica's friends to join us for a cooking competition of our own.  

We held the party in the Home-Ec room so that each of the groups could have their very own space to bake in.   Seven delightful girls were paired off and given one extraordinary challenge in honor of Jess: 

They could bake anything they wanted, so long as it was PUPPY inspired!

After five minutes for planning - the timer began.

90 minutes to wow the judges!

One team debated making "Cake Pups" (witty girls;) but settled on a caramel layered, sprinkle infused round cake with puppy art on the top.  Team number two really threw their hands into the task and literally sculpted a dog, covered it with fondant and then painted with a layer of icing until it really did look like a dog.   Team number three went for a classic and tasty cupcake accented with a chocolate fondant dog bone on the top. 

It was kinda cute to watch them rush around their kitchen, plotting, scheming, in search of the next ingredient.  They were all just a tad dramatic about it all, but no one was more dramatic than our judges. 

Sir "Sugarbottom" (Nate) ,  the Simon Cowell of the group (Sam), and our main judge and host (Abby)

At the end of the competition, we sang to Jessica - cut into each tasty creation, and called it a day.

Not too bad for last minute planning, if I may say so myself.

ACC - Girls weekend Baby!

This past weekend was so fun.

SO - FUN!!

Abby, Jessica and I spent the weekend in Calgary supporting Jessica in her first ACC experience.  Back in December, we received word that Jessica had been recommended by her beloved mentor Linda Burwell, and had been awarded a place on that Alberta Children's Choir.   

The choir consists of young singers from all over the southern half of Alberta. They receive a packet of music to practice, met as a group one Saturday in January, and then spent four days rehearsing as an official choir this past weekend, with a culminating formal concert at Knox church on Sunday.

Because Jessica had to be at rehearsals from Friday- Sunday, we decided to make a girls weekend out of it.  I am so glad that we did this!!

We would drop Jessica off each morning and then Abby and I would tackle our "Abby To - Do list." 

We visited a couple of malls, ate at KINJO and dined on our favorite sushi rolls, spent a chilly afternoon at the Telus Spark center, and visit a downtown cemetery in search of my great Grandma Catherine Rausch.  Abby had really done her research and knew exactly where to find her!  It was a nice moment to stand there with Abby and feel connected to an ancestor we had never met before.  

Abby wowed me by driving from our small town home all the way to downtown cow town with absolute competence.  She braved Deerfoot trail like a champ!!

 Each day we would pick Jessica up around 4 or 4:30 and go on an adventure.  

Our evening adventures involved eating out at our favorite places (hello Freshi;), doing face masks at the hotel and hot tubbing before bed.  

On Friday evening (before the hot tubbing and the eating;) we purchased tickets and rode the elevator up to the top of the Calgary Tower.   It was so fun!   The view was incredible and our knees would get weak and shaky whenever we got remotely near the glass floor.  It was pretty cool.  

On Saturday evening, our adventurous hearts took us to the Top Dog puppy place where we pretended to be looking for a dog to buy.   We were so delighted with this cute little guy, we almost forgot that we were just pretending.   We came pretty darn close to walking out of that store with a new pet in tow.  (Wouldn't John have loved that;)

Sunday was a lot more chill but equally enjoyable.  We dropped Jess off at the Knox church and went and read books while sipping hot chocolate at Tim Hortons.  With the city experiencing temps in the -20s we were pretty determined to stay as warm as possible before attending the concert.   

Uncle Ben, Aunt Kat, Blythe, and Marilyn came to the concert to support Jess and it was so nice to see them!   Jessica looked so happy and radiant and the singing was so beautiful, especially considering the spectacular backdrop and acoustics.   It was a lovely concert!

Linda even made the trip up to support her choir kids.   

Considering all that this dear woman is going through, I was so touched by this sweet gesture.  

She has been the main reason Jessica has come to love music and I am so grateful for her influence.

We returned home Sunday night, happy to see the boys, but thrilled to have gotten to spend three days with my girls.   I'm thinking that I need to make this whole "Girls weekend" an annual thing.   

Ringing in the New Year - Week 2 of Christmas Break

If this past week is any indication (week 1 of the New Year) 2019 is going to be a real smash!

John and I had such a blast with the kids throughout this whole break.  

New Years Eve was spent lazing around until the point we absolutely had to get up and prepare our New Years feast.  (Take out from Mings.  haha)

We felt okay being lame and ordering take out, because we knew Grandpa likes Chinese food too.

And also because we all were in super duper lazy moods!

We ate, played board games (Grandpa won- what the heck?!) ate some more, looked up travel videos about Alaska and watched the New Year arrive at various destinations around the world.

I must have fallen asleep somewhere prior to midnight because John shook me awake with 5 seconds to spare.  I was wide awake in a flash, shouting Happy New Year and waving my sparkler around like everybody else!

The rest of the week was spent doing all sorts of fun things!

1.

We went skating at the rink.  (I must have been feeling extra jovial and full of holiday cheer because I even rented a pair of skates and hauled myself out onto the ice)   Not gonna lie - it was kinda fun.

Sam was thrilled I could capture the moment with a Family Picture:

2.

We returned to one of our favorite holiday spots down by Lee Creek, this time to Cross Country Ski! 

The town (or business owners?) have really done a lot of good work creating paved trails that make for a fun course in the winter time.

Again, Sam was glad that I made everyone pose for a family photo:

3.

We joined my siblings and their families on an overnight excursion to Calgary.   I actually had gifted this to my kids as a Christmas gift just to get some extra mileage and excitement out of the whole thing and they were looking forward to this for a week in advance!  The actual trip did not disappoint. 

Thanks to a Christmas gift card we got from my brother, we all dined out together at Five Guys (yummm!), played games in the hotel conference room, listened to predictions we had made last year about 2018, and swim.  Boy oh boy did these kids swim!

I couldn't help but notice that Sam is much more willing to pose for a family photo when anybody but me is doing the asking.  What gives? ;)   It was such a fun time!!

4.

On Saturday we worked all morning cleaning up Christmas (ie: taking down the tree, packing decor, returning furniture to its rightful place, etc.)  By early afternoon we were all so depressed and saddened at the thought of our holiday coming to an end, I knew we needed one more adventure.  

Jessica (trust her to be the one) had just the right idea - Waterton!!!

After trying twice before and being forced to turn around due to the wind, we were thrilled to find a beautiful mild day waiting for us.  We decided to walk up Akimina Road as it had recently reopened to pedestrians.  It was fascinating to observe just where the fire hit and where it did not.   

Still so much beauty!   

Note the family photos. Two in one day - how lucky was I ?!!!!  Sam was almost undone;)

We found a trail that took us off the main road and down towards Cameron falls.   We followed that and then walked through the town site back to our van.  It was a totally calm and still day!

Considering the fierce wind that had plagued our area so much over the past few weeks, I took this stillness as a sign.  God's way of gifting us with the perfect ending to a really perfect family break.

Like I said, if this past week is any indication - 2019 is going to be a glorious year!

New Years Reflection

Today is the last day of Year.  I love it when a year ends and a New Year begins.   It always gives me a chance to reflect and this year has given me a lot to reflect on as it has been a crazy hard and wonderful year. 

This year I:
* had my final prophylactic surgery.  For the first time in ten years - I have no looming surgery or decisions about surgery.   (cue the long exhale)
* lost a student I cared about to suicide
* was gifted an Eagle Feather from a group of students who had brightened my spring
* John and I began preparations and planning for Moroni's Quest 2020
* experienced some of the most challenging feelings of self doubt that I ever have
* cried, rejoiced, and prayed about my marriage and family relationships
* returned to school and started the journey towards a University Degree
* experienced instant menopause and gained an appreciation for well being
* failed and felt lonely
* tried new things


This year John:
* continued to serve on the High Council (a calling that he loves)
* Gave several kick butt memorable talks
* hosted his 2nd annual school cub car rally
* Grew even more determined to own a Tesla
* Took a legit discretionary day off so that we could travel as a family to Yellowstone National Park
* Tried so hard to remember and celebrate birthdays and anniversaries
* continued to stand behind the principles of a Growth Mindset
* Was awarded the "Knight Award" from his former boss/mentor
* consistently worked out/did yoga/ read scriptures every morning


This has been an exceptional year for my kids:

Abby has blossomed this past year.  She is a really remarkable young woman.  She grew so much in volleyball and taekwondo, earned her Young Women medallion and her Honor Bee, placed 2nd in her grade for marks (just .5% below the top student) and she has tentatively secured a job for herself at the local Public Library.  That is the perfect spot for her as she reads more than anyone I have ever known.   Abby has become a poet which is a talent shared with so many of her Toone ancestors.  She has done more to reacquaint me with my deceased family through family history work than I could have ever imagined.  She is leading our family in so many ways.
  I am so proud and so trusting of who she is.

Sam has spent this year being immersed in every sport he could be.  He ran and played baseball, volleyball and basketball.  He has recently acquired everything he needs to take up Golf as well.  He has had moments in each sport where he has really shone.  Is is how he has lived this year off the court however that has really made him shine.   Sam ran for student body President - and won!   He has begun to play Hymns at church during Priesthood Quorum.   He worked his first summer job - mowing for 2 elderly neighbors.   I have watched him make his siblings laugh, imitate a good quality of his Dads and notice other peoples needs.   Just recently he asked a deaf (nearly mute) first nation student to compete in a jive competition.  They placed 3rd in the contest and my heart burst as I watched him behave like a hero and treat this young girl so well.  Sam has grown in strength this year.  (I can no longer dispute that)   Though he likes to point out his physical growth - I don't think he has a clue how much growth I have seen in him where it really counts.   It is exciting to consider who this young man will become!

Jessica launched a puppy campaign this year that was truly remarkable.  She has proven to me that it is possible to be relentlessly determined, yet still kind and sweet.   Jess entered Junior High this year and as relationships with her friends changed a bit, Jessica took every opportunity to seek out the lonely.  We found out recently (during an annual exam) that Jessica quite literally has an Eagle Eye.   Better than 20/20 vision, which apparently is an anomaly.  She can spot a bird, coyote or a camouflaged creature long before any of us can.   She also can spot a weary, anxious soul or a stranger in need with a compassionate precision that reminds me of both her Grandma Hardy and her Grandma Rausch.  She is an old soul.  A Mother Teresa meets Bob Ross kind of a person and she neutralizes every unhappy moment.  I am so thankful for her influence!

Nate - my little baby "with the tiny hands" is not a baby anymore.  At 9 years of age, Nate has taken on so much responsibility.  He is entirely competent with getting himself home from school, to and from cubs, making himself ichiban or chips and cheese when hungry.  With me working full time now, I have been so grateful for the way he shoulders more on his own without making me feel bad.   He broadened his horizons this year and added a few new foods to his list of things he is willing to eat.  I feel pretty secure that, if needed, Nate could survive on pepperoni pizza, rice, grilled cheese sandwiches or smoothies.  Nate has a real knack for figuring things out.  He is a really bright young man!   Nate is not greedy.  He has a kind heart, and he handles the disappointments that come to him gracefully - even when it is hard.   He has demonstrated this year in the sweetest way that he can feel and recognize the Holy Ghost and that sure does his mama and papa's hearts a lot of good.   He lets me cuddle with him - which is a gift that I will always treasure!




Grandpa has to be included in this yearly recap too.   Grandpa continues to join us each night for dinner.  In fact, it has been 9 years almost that he has been at our table each night.  5 different homes.  5 different tables.  5 different versions of chaotic supper time drama.   He has continued to put up with it all!  Grandpa's presence at our family table may not mean much to him - but it means the world to us.  He is an anchor in our lives that keeps us gathering each evening when other families do not.   It really is increasingly hard to coordinate a time of day where we all can eat together, but it remains important to us, in large part because of Grandpa.  He is a quiet voice of reason and stability.  He brings with him each night an influence of goodness and faith and he connects us to Grandma Hardy without even trying to.  We know we aren't much fun, we don't take him on exciting trips or introduce him to cool new places.  We are an ordinary and everyday kind of experience for him - but is it such an extraordinary gift for us to get to have him near.   He watches every game of the kids' that he can, he never complains about a burnt or yucky meal, and never judges me when I lose my temper at the table.  We are so thankful for Grandpa!



That is us this year.  

As I have reflected on this past year, I have come to the conclusion that John and I are simple people and I think we may always be.    We are simple minded, we make simple plans, and set very simple goals.   We aren't perfect, and we aren't always blissfully happy - but neither of us can deny that we are blessed beyond any degree that we deserve.   We are surrounded by extraordinary people and have been given some extraordinary experiences this past year.

  For that, we feel so very grateful.

Here is to a simply extraordinary New Year!