reflecting on 10

10 years. May 25, 1996 Rob and I were married. It seems like just yesterday, yet a lifetime ago all at once. Looking at our wedding photos, we look like a pair of kids. We were - just 21 and ready to take on the world.

So much has changed for us in that 10 years. Who knew Rob would be in ministry. Oh wait, we kind of did know...but were playing dumb. I have a really clear memory of our first full day together in our apartement after getting home from our honeymoon. Just kind of standing there, thinking...so now what? It was so strange, knowing neither of us was going 'home' at the end of the day. Yet not really feeling fully 'home' together. Combined with having next to no furniture, it did make things feel a little strange.

We were warned that the first year of marriage is hard. It really wasn't. Sure, it had a few bumps, but I wouldn't call it hard. We learned to fight, even though we really don't fight. We disagree, but we don't get all heated in argument. That is because Rob doesn't do well with yelling, and I don't do well with avoiding. We learned that together.

We learned that change can be hard, but is made easier when we work together to move through change. To lean on each other, to talk things out, to laugh about it together. We have had some stressful times, but thy have brought us closer when they could have easily pushed us apart.

He is my best friend, and I can't imagine my life without him. Literally cannot imagine life without him. We have fun together, we challenge each other, build each other up, bring joy to each other.

Recently, we were driving somewhere with the kids, and were reflecting on our marriage. It was the day after our 10th anniversary. I asked Rob about rough patches in our marriage, when he thought they were. He said that he didn't think we had them. I think he's right. We easily could have had hard times, but we didn't let them get beyond us. We turned to each other, and more importantly, to God. He is the foundation upon which we have tried to build our marriage. I pray that the next 10 years are as good, if maybe a bit less change-filled.

I'm beyond thankful for the 10 years of marriage we have had. For the man that I have walked down this path with. I truly believe he is the right man for the job.

ok, where was I?

ahhh yes. On the way to meet up Corie and Kathy and families. Now Corie and I have been friends for over 11 years now, but Kathy was *new* to me. She and C are friends, but I only know her through GCM (and some phone calls). And our hubbies hadn't even talked before, nor had our kids. This could have been a bad thing, given that we were spending 3 days together in one house.

But it wasn't! It was great. K and G are wonderful people, not that I expected anything less. It was wonderful finally getting to meet them, and their boys. Isaac and A hit it off quite well and had lots of fun together. Rob and G chatted lots too. It was good. I was so glad to finally meet C's little guy - last time we had seen each other, she was just moving into maternity clothes and my kids were 4 months and 2.5 years.

We took the kids swimming, which was mixed. My brood had fun in the water, but getting there and out again was rough. It was obvious that they all needed naps. Norah loved the little slide in the kiddie pool though, and was totally crazy on it - up and down, up and down, head under the water and all. Isaac backed out of the bigger waterslide, which I think was a bit of a letdown to Rob ;)

On Friday, we took the kids to the zoo. It was colder than we expected, but we all enjoyed it. Isaac liked the petting zoo part, he was walking around after the chickens saying "say cockadoodle-do!" over and over. Poor chickens. Norah got to see ducks. She was happy. Rob and I didn't go out for dinner as we had originally planned, it was way more fun to catch up with everyone, as now S had joined the group after work. We had some dinner, got all the kids down, and then played a board game and ate chocolate fondue. Nice.

It was such a lovely time, and it was so nice to finally meet K. She is now an IRL friend, not just an online one. Yay! I do wish we lived closer to them all though...but we are going to be passing their way on our route to Vancouver this summer. Maybe we will have to hook up for a meal again!

home again

We got back last night from another trip. This time Rob was with us, and we went to Alberta.

It was great! We left Wednesday after Isaac's preschool. Drove to Edmonton, after a short stop to let the kids play and have lunch on the road. Got to our hotel, after me getting a touch mixed up on the road. I NEVER get lost, but Edmonton did me in 3 times. I mean, I never get lost, ever. This was a new one for me. But it wasn't bad. We took the kids to the hotel pool, and then we went out for a drive, and had dinner. White Spot. nice :) Norah danced on the bench seat while we ate, that was SO funny. She was bouncing all over and shaking her head while she munched on her Pirate pak.

The kids did really well, with such a late meal and getting settled in a strange place. Thursday morning was an early start for me. Norah and Ruby were up with me too. I took Ruby with me and we headed out to the place that was able to get the van adjusted for Rob to drive it. Rob stayed with the other 2 kids at the hotel. It was really raining, like Vancouver winter rain. Ick. I don't miss that at all. The van was done in 2 hours, so I was back to the hotel to pick up Rob and the kids...who hadn't eaten at all. Isaac slept in until 9:30, so Rob had only gotten everyone ready to go when I called and said I was on my way.

Off to Ikea. Ya, I know, didn't want to go...but we had a nice short list. Got some breakfast for the kids and coffee for us (yay Tim's!) We took Isaac to the play zone for kids there, much easier than dragging all 3 of them through the store. We actually ran into someone there! The daughter of a couple from our church was there with her husband. She recognized us when we came in. I hadn't met her before, but she was there at Christmas and Rob did her mom's funeral earlier this year. Too strange!

Ikea went mostly well. Girls were tired, but we made it through our list pretty quick. Had lunch. Then headed out to meet up with Kathy and Corie and their families. Yay! I've been looking forward to that for ages. :)

More later.

Becoming a bread goddess

that's me! I must say that this bread thing is wonderful. Tonight, I whipped up a fantastic rosemary, garlic and sea salt focaccia bread. Yum. Drizzled with olive oil and baked golden brown. Served with spaghetti and meatballs and salad and fruit for dessert. Delicious.

New pics of Norah's haircut on the kids blog. She looks so grown up...

haven't posted much lately, took a last minute trip to Saskatoon with the kids to visit my mom. We left on Thursday, and got home this afternoon (Sunday). Rob had an overnight thing for work Thursday to Friday, and then had to sermon write on Saturday, and with it being a long weekend...I just didn't want to be stuck in the house with nothing to do. So we went to mom's place. The drive down was fine, and coming home was too. Isaac did get his first real outdoor pee today, as he needed to go after we had passed through one of the towns. He did great *grin*. I wasn't really expecting him to go the whole 3 hours home without stopping. I was pretty bummed out though, this month Tim's featured donut is a carrot cake one...and the Tim's off the highway at the halfway point to Saskatoon didn't have them in stock either day. Um, isn't it your featured donut? Oh well, like I really needed it. It just sounded good. Maybe this week when we go to Edmonton...

4 sleeps to Edmonton!

not bad for a Canadian!

create your own visited states map
or check out these Google Hacks.

why oh why

do I ever say anything nice about my kids in here? Seriously. Within 5 minutes of hitting 'publish post'...Norah fell and found the only loose nail on our baseboards. HUGE cut across her leg, just below the knee. Deep cut. Ugly. An hour later, and one visit to the clinic, she is bandaged and calm. The doc and I decided against stitches, give the bendy nature of the injury location. So we have some nice sticky bandages. Icky though. I got blood on my clothes too.

I should not say nice things about my kids on here if I intend to keep them safe. *shakes head*

Lots of things have been going on in the last little while. Garth and Mary arrived on Thursday evening. So there was quite a bit of prep before they arrived, you know, the tidy up, clean the downstairs bathroom, catch up on the laundry thing. We had a great visit (as least *I* say so - hopefully they agree!). Lots of conversation, lots of laughs, a really really silly night of board game play. Really silly. *grin* I almost peed my pants at one point I was laughing so hard.

We got to show them our town - that was a quick tour ;) They got to see our churches, and hopefully weren't too overwhelmed by our kids - who were their adorable selves. It is always so great to have visits. It's hard to say goodbye though, knowing it will be some time before we see each other again. And goodbyes also bring the reminder that we haven't made friends like them yet in this town. Good friends, who you know you can have the deep and shallow talks with, the ones who know your history and still want to spend time with you.

Today has been a good day too. Took the kids to playgroup and it went really well. Isaac and Norah must be moving into easy stages, because I'm feeling way less like everything is a fight with them. It's like they are all of a sudden out of disequilibrium and are all balanced again...or maybe it's me. But playgroup has NEVER been as easy as it was today, even before Ruby was born. Even getting home again was easy. I'm discovering that not only do I love my kids, I really LIKE them. They are really interesting and fun little characters.

Hopefully our walk to the grocery store after the girls wake up will be just as good.

the card my son made me

Not bad handwriting for a just turned 4 year old!

how did I manage to miss the lead up...

to mother's day? oops. It really slipped my mind, and I didn't do anything for my mother. I suck.

roll call?

so...who is out there reading anyhow? anyone? Bueller?

Feel free to say hello sometime...

oh, and a new video on the kids blog. They are just too funny and cute, AND I managed to capture it. Usually, they just stop doing whatever they had been doing when the camera comes out.

long distance blessings

I've had a few long disatance calls in the last few days. *heart*

I've also been having a rough little patch in the last while, with my health stuff and the downer that's been for me. Between the weight gain and the other physical side-effects and the mental stuff that comes with being out of balance. Well, let me just say that each person that I have talked to has SO blessed me with their love and caring. Kind words, supportive statements, offers to send things I can't get here - even the mere timing of a phone call...I'm feeling so loved, despite the (many, many) miles of distance. Today, I was even brought to tears by a call, by the support and love. (tearing up again) Thank you all so much, you know who you are. You probably have no idea how much your words have touched me.

This was just too funny not to pass on. Looks like a nice place to worship, don't you think?

Shocking...

We are going to Edmonton soon for a little getaway. (waving at Corie and Kathy - can't wait!) Going to have fun, maybe get our van converted so Rob can drive it too. I also need to pick up some stuff at Ikea. A guard rail for Norah's bed, maybe some more kids dishes, and an umbrella for our outside table.


I DON'T want to go to Ikea. Can you believe that? I don't want to set foot in Ikea? Strange...

Woo hoo! made it to aquafit last night. It was so good to workout and not have stress on my joints - mainly my knees and ankles. I'm feeling pretty good this morning too, so I'm hoping to go again tonight. I really hope that my meds help with this joint pain - I'm seriously looking like an old woman the way I limp around some mornings.

Happy May 3rd

And look what we woke up to this morning. (and yes, I did get up today - at 8 no less)
May 3rd. A couple cms of snow. It's sitting at the freezing mark, with a wind chill. And there is our backyard, all ready for summer....

a reminder that we do live in the North.

Corie - I'm not laughing at your snow the other day anymore :)

I'm so crashed out after this weekend. I just want to stay in bed ALL day tomorrow. I wish Rob didn't have to work. Seriously, I want to be in bed all day. I'll take Ruby with me!

Health update

Alright, I have an update to my ongoing health concerns. I was right on with my self-diagnosis - Hypothyroid. My thyroid levels are way off, my TSH is super high, and my T4 is way low. Which explains pretty much every crazy symptom I've been having lately. From my excessive hair loss, to anxiety, joint pain, worsening of my carpal tunnel, irratibility and fatigue - oh and throw in unexplained weight gain too for fun. Mostly 'normal' post partum stuff, but blood testing confirmed that it's more than that, and not just in my head. So, now I'm on something that hopefully will help. My doc said that the good news about this is that, of all the diseases I could have picked to have, this one is on the easy side to work with.

All I know, is that it's really nice to know that I'm not just making stuff up. That some of what I've been feeling is more than just me being silly. Because that wouldn't be much fun.