Tomorrow We Leave!!!

I think that we are just about ready for our big trip tomorrow!

This week we have been making lists, adding things to our suitcases and getting the house ready for company.

The girls are anxious to have grandma and grandpa here soon.

I am anxious to not be woken up before 7 am for the next week.

Unfortunately, I'm sure my body will just be used to the routine of waking up super early. Well I don't really want to sleep the day away anyways. Afterall, this is the view I will have:

Yesterday I went to get a much-needed hair cut. While I was there, I also got new highlights and a wonderful pedicure! It was a wonderful way to anticipate my trip (and also make everyone jealous since the weather is back to -40 C again).

I'm not really into the pastel colors so I choose bright red for my toes. I love it!

Obviously I won't be updating this for over a week now. I'll show pictures when I return!

Hot beach and slushy drinks......here I come!

The Story Of Us: Careers

Welcome to Part 6 of my series "The Story Of Us". (Sorry it's been SOOO long since my last writing in this series!)

If you have missed any of the other stories so far, here they are for your convenience:
Part 1: The Beginning
Part 2: Dating
Part 3: Getting Engaged
Part 4: Getting Married
Part 5: Infertility

John and I never had any specific education towards a career. We each went to bible school but after going down that road we decided that full-time ministry wasn't really for us. So we just got whatever jobs we could for the time being.

I wasn't really planning on working with the bank forever and actually while pregnant with Brianna I had contemplated running my own daycare so that I wouldn't have to return to work after my maternity leave was done.

John was working for a money-hungry, poor management man. It was a small independently owned machine shop where John was the purchaser. He didn't enjoy his job and I often saw how displeased he was with that part of his life. I encouraged him to figure out whatever he wanted to do, and that we would find a way to make it work. At one point, John even picked up an application for the Saskatoon Police. He never filled it out. For many reasons; it was expensive with CPR/First Aid courses and the actual application fee, the long months of training. It must have been about a year later when I was pregnant with Brie. John figured that he would just be stuck in that type of job forever.

Then that phonecall happened.

It was December of 2003. As I said in the last post, I was 8 months pregnant and anxiously waiting to be done work and to hold our newborn baby. Never once did I consider that either one of us would lose our job security.

John called me at work one afternoon to say that he had just been laid off.

2 weeks before Christmas with a baby on the way in a month or less.

Nice.

I remember bursting into tears at my desk (keep in mind that I worked "reception" and was visible to lots of customers). I quickly got someone to cover my desk without any explanation other than my tears and went into a closed office to call John back.

What on earth were we going to do?

How would we make ends meet?

How could we bring this new life into the world without John having a job to support us?

After a brief explanation to my manager I left work early that day. (I found out afterward that all of my coworkers were concerned that something was wrong with our baby) John and I got home and we both cried. It's kind of hard to not cry in a situation like that.

We called lots of family and a few close friends and asked them to pray for us. One good friend actually called John's boss an *&!@&*! and at the time we completed agreed!

Seriously...who lays off someone right before Christmas?

When they are expecting their first child?

We were mad. And I think that we had every right to be.

But this was also the situation that opened the door to John's future career. (And today I wouldn't have it any other way as this was EXACTLY what needed to happen)

We were desperate!

We updated John's resume and started up the printer. He talked with companies that he dealt with on a regular basis as the purchaser, to find out if they had any openings. Unfortunately, nothing was looking too promising. The timing just wasn’t good.

We started discussing again the possibility of John applying for a police force. But how would we actually be able to afford the CPR/First Aid as well as the application fee, when we were needing to buy diapers and food and pay for our mortgage and utilities?

This is when God really started to show himself to us, during what was a very stressful traumatic time in our lives.

A family member offered to pay for those application costs so that John could apply for both the RCMP as well as the SPS. So John picked up the applications for both organizations and quickly filled them out. For those of you who aren't familiar, a police application is very extensive (for good reason)...lots of detailed questions, lots of references (both work and personal), etc. When the forms were finally all completed, he dropped them off and we waited.

By the time that Brianna was born, we still didn't have a clue what John was going to do. We went into the hospital without him having a job. There was a lot of praying going on!

We stayed in the hospital for 3 days, due to some breastfeeding "issues" that we were having. Becoming parents for the first time and not being able to successfully breastfeed were very stressful issues, but the biggest one was leaving the hospital without a job. John was almost physically sick with the stress of it. We were sleep deprived and overwhelmed.

The day after we returned home, John got a job with Acklands Grainger. We were so very grateful! It's quite difficult to be trusting when you don't have a clue how the money situation is going to work out, but it did. Yet God provided for us in a variety of ways during and after this ordeal.

John started to get phone calls regarding his police applications. He was scheduled for written exams and a PARE (RCMP's physical abilities requirement exam) and a POPAT (SPS's physical abilities exam). Thus began the long road of that process. We had been told that it would take a minimum of about 6-9 months to go through an application with the police. There were lots of other testings; psych exam, polygraph, interview, background check, etc.

John was enjoying his job with Acklands, but we were still hopeful about these two police applications. We knew that he had 2 strikes against him though. He is male and he is white. Unfortunately this makes it much more difficult to enter an organization that is trying to become more diverse in the types of people that it employs.

Both applications were coming down to the end. SPS was calling all references and making their final decisions. RCMP was completing their very thorough background check, in which they even went door-to-door around our neighbours and asked for their impressions.

We finally received notification from SPS that John was not accepted. We were disappointed at the time, but we still remained hopeful for this other application.

John was scheduled for a second PARE, as during the application the score is only good for approximately 6 months. He had improved quite a bit since his initial exam and the very next day there was a phonecall at 9 am. The call display said that it was the RCMP. John was at work so I anxiously answered the phone. The lady on the other line said that she needed to speak with him so I quickly spouted off his work number. Then I waited and waited to hear what the phone call was all about.

Not too long after, John called me. He was leaving for Depot in 2 weeks. He was accepted!

We were thrilled, but this was a time filled with mixed emotions. Depot was in Regina, 2 ½ hours away. We still had a house in Saskatoon and I would definitely need to return to work in order to pay our bills.

Brianna was 10 months old at the time. John was sick about leaving us for 6 months to complete his training. He was terrified that Brie wouldn’t remember him the next time that we would meet. Obviously we were close enough to be able to visit, but the training program is very busy, full of long days, exams and physical exertion. We had no idea how often we would actually get to see each other.

So John made up some home videos for me to play to Brie. There was one of him reading "Are You My Mother", a good morning message and a good night message. We would watch one every day. I definitely had the book memorized. And it was a perfect way for Brie to "see" her daddy every day. We never once in those 6 months had an issue with her playing strange or less than thrilled to see John.

My return to work was creeping up in the new year and although I wasn’t eager to go back, my inlaws were willing to watch Brie thus saving us the cost of paying for childcare. That was a huge incentive to go back, knowing that she was in good hands.

I called up my manager to discuss my return date and was in for a shock. The reception position (technically called "Customer Relations Coordinator") that I had when I left for maternity leave was not up for discussion. She wanted me to return to work as a bank teller.

I was completely devastated. The CRC position that I held was a contract position but we had specifically discussed this before I started my leave. I wanted to know what position I would return to and she assured me that they wanted me to come back to CRC. I had been a teller for 5 years previously, and it was a high stress job for me. I didn’t want to go back into that environment, especially with a one-year old at home, and a husband away for 4 more months.

I started calling up family asking them to pray for this situation. My mom, who also happened to work for the same bank but at a different location, said that her branch was actually hiring a CRC. I called up the manager there to discuss if that would be a possibility. She sounded quite excited and asked me to come in right away to discuss. They were looking to fill the position before Christmas and my leave wasn’t over until the beginning of January. I said that I would be more than willing to cut my leave 2 weeks short in order to get the job that I really wanted, and felt I was best at. I went to that branch for an "interview" and was hired on the spot! How incredible!

So I returned to work at a peaceful location. It was a completely stress-free environment for me. When I left work I could just enjoy my time with Brie and not worry about anything else. Thank you to God for working out the amazing details of that job!

John was able to finish up his training and together we moved to small town Saskatchewan. It was a big change for all of us, but we were finally together again! I didn’t really care where we moved to. I was able to take a Leave Of Absence from my job, so that I could maintain my benefits for a full year.

Amazingly, very soon after we moved, we found out that I was pregnant with Ella! We were excited and blessed to not have to deal with that struggle once again. During the course of my pregnancy I also found out that I would qualify for EI once Ella was born. The minimum hours required to apply was 600. I was literally at about 635. Because I was willing to go back to work 2 weeks early, God was blessing us with EI. This was amazing because currently we were still taking in less money than when we were both working. God definitely had his hand on us to bring us to where we are today.

Now almost 4 years later, I really enjoy the small town life and can hardly imagine living in "the big city" again. John enjoys his job (most of the time) and is currently dreaming about what road to take in his career. There are many options available, but we will just pray and wait and see what God has in store for us next.

With John’s job I have the fortunate experience to get to stay at home with my girls! It is a gift that I am truly very thankful for. I do plan on returning to work in a few years, but that will all depend on where we live, school, extracurricular activities, etc. For now, we can just enjoy where we are.

You Know It's Cold Outside When...

You know it's cold outside when....

1. Everyone is getting sick
2. The school buses aren't running
3. Your child is the ONLY student in her class

Humble Pie, or Cake

Somehow I forgot to post of picture of this cake that I made for Brie's birthday. It's certainly not perfect, but I just made it for her friend party anyways. Even with its many flaws, this cake still took about 1 1/2 hours to decorate! It's hard to see but I brushed on some pearl dust to make the icing shimmer. I think it added the right finishing touch.

When Brie woke up the morning of her birthday party to see it, she actually clapped and told me how great it looks. Then she said "Thanks for making it, Mom!".

THAT is what makes all the effort worthwhile.


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Yesterday I went to my very first piano lesson. The teacher here uses the Suzuki Method of teaching, which is designed for young children. Since I am already learning this because of Brie's lessons, she is teaching me the same basics. So I get to play lots and lots of Twinkles.

For those that aren't familiar, Twinkles are a large part of Suzuki Book One. It is all variations of the song Twinkle Twinkle, using different rhythms to play on the keys. Since it often takes a full two years for children to complete book one, we will be hearing Twinkles for a very long time to come, especially if Ella takes lessons in a couple of years as well.

So the beginning feels very elementary to me, but I do realize that it is important to learn the correct hand structure for playing well. However since I have already taught myself most of the songs in Book One with both hands playing (even if it doesn't sound fabulous), it feels like I am taking steps backwards and not forwards at this point. Yes, I am aware that I have only had one lesson so far.

Towards the end of my lesson yesterday, another student came in with her mom to get ready for her lesson. So they sat and observed the ending of mine. It felt very awkward to have a child who is probably in grade 5 or 6 and plays FAR better than I will for years yet, observing my pathetic attempts to play well. I even had to explain afterwards that it was my very first lesson ever. Just in case they wondered why I was so terrible.

Ah that wonderful humility. I get that taught to me, whether I like it or not.

Brianna is 5!

The day that my beautiful firstborn woke up to celebrate her 5th birthday was a special day indeed.

Immediately after waking, Brianna asked me to measure her. This isn't something that we have made a practice of, although I think it is fairly common to measure your child at least once a year, we have never done this on a regular basis, especially not on the day of someone's birthday.

So I was a little surprised that she would even think to ask.

Later on that day, she was playing with John and he was about to pick her up when Brie announced that she would now be too big for him to pick her up anymore.

Yes, overnight my girl has grown.

Apparently in her mind, the growth is quite significant. She is now 5. The age of kindergarteners, the age of independance, the age of increased wisdom, the age of "big kids".

The next Monday morning, she was also convinced that she would no longer be attending Pre-K, she would instead be joining the kindergarten class. Ah, my dear child! She only has to wait another 9 months to begin that new journey.

Brie has been so very excited about this new age she has entered. Everything begins with "Now that I am 5..." It's very neat to get to experience, although it does come with increased attitudes and eye-rolling, I enjoy seeing her so excited about something.

The girls had a wonderful time together. They decorated foam tiaras with stick-on jewels, they played musical chairs, they played with toys and puzzles and of course they ate cake and opened presents. It was a great first experience for both of us.

Here's the girls playing musical chairs: Checking out her new magnetic book "Make A Face Hangman". Since she spells so well, we thought that this might be a fun way to pass the time in the van, or wherever! Excited about a Barbie Wii game!We had to laugh at the number of RED garments she got for both Christmas and Birthday this year! 4 pairs of red pants, 2 red shirts, 1 red dress. She is absolutely thrilled that she can wear her favorite color every day now!
Even the Polly Pocket and her Webkinz can be dressed in red.

Now to finish that darn quilt I've been working on, or not working on, lately. Let's just hope that she doesn't ever change her favorite color!!

This Is My Story

Several months ago, a dear friend and I were discussing the need to have a women's group put together, women from the various churches around, and women who long for the support of others but don't necessarily attend any church.

We talked about it for a long time, we prayed about it, we browsed online. And finally we came up with this great study by Lisa Whelchel. Anyone remember watching The Facts Of Life on TV? Lisa played Blair on that show.

I have read some of Lisa's books and she is an amazing Christian writer and speaker.

The reason we chose "This Is My Story: Creating a Scrapbook Legacy Of Faith" is for several reasons. We knew that we as women, like to pass on our thoughts and ideas and our faith to our children or grandchildren. Our town is filled with many many creative women, several who already scrapbook or are part of a Stampin Up monthly group. This study, although involving some scripture reading and discussion, is mostly to create a journal album of your own history. What you were like as a girl, how you met your husband, people who influenced you the most, and why you now believe what you do. It's designed to pass on to your family or friends later for years to come, so they can better understand you, and also hopefully to pass on your faith.

We are getting ready to begin this 6-session study soon and I'm so very excited! I've already heard from some older ladies in our church who are interested in joining (and neither one has scrapbooked before) and we are waiting to hear from more. It will be neat to see how God uses this study in the weeks and months (maybe even years) to come!

Ella's Birthday

The last week has been a busy one filled with birthdays, birthday parties and lots of cake.

Actually, we aren't even finished the festivities for Brie yet, so I will just post pictures of Ella's celebrations for now.

This year my little girl turned 3. It's hard to believe that she is officially not a toddler anymore. She is gaining more independence all the time and insisting that she do things her own way in her own time. We so appreciate her unique personality, the way she makes us laugh, and the way she pushes down barriers to get what she wants. Unlike the rest of our family, she chooses to be different, to dance to the beat of her own drum, or more likely to make up her own music to dance to. She loves to sing, and she amazes us with how quickly she learns songs, not just the melody but also the words. Ella is driven by her passion for music and her love of life. She has an amazing imagination, complete with varying voices to complete her scenarios. We love her to pieces!

Here she is making Brie laugh about something.

Since the girls both have birthdays in the same week, we do one joint family party where grandparents, uncles and aunts are invited to come out for the day. We first tried this last year and since it was a success then, we decided to continue with that format again. Initially I was only going to bake one cake for both of them (Barbie cake) but I was abruptly informed by Ella that this was NOT alright with her. She was not going to share her cake with anyone else. She wanted snowman cupcakes. End of story.

I made snowman cupcakes last year with marshmallows on top for the body, so apparently I was to make some again this year. I had just gotten a new issue of Taste Of Home magazine and on the front was a picture of a different version of snowman cupcakes. They looked easy to make (and they were) and Ella was happy with how they looked so I went ahead with that.

She was thrilled to have them for "her" party. She actually told me that Brie was not allowed to even eat one. Obviously that didn't go over well. Crazy girl!

Ella got lots of little toys to play with; Ponyville, Polly Pockets, Barbies etc. Here she is lining up her new gifts before she begged for us to start opening them.

Happy birthday to my wild fun-loving girl!