An Air of Christmas!

HI! I love this time of year when everyone makes the effort to gather together with family and friends and share the love and goodwill towards mankind. I have recently been to visit and have chatted on the phone with a very dear long time friend but although it isn't under the best of circumstances I have so enjoyed our visits and reminicing of such good times gone by. Just last night we were laughing about the time we got together and made 16 pies for the harvest crew and in packing my deepdish pie plates to her house broke about 10 or so of them trying to carry more than I could while toteing along 2 little girls. We still made the pies that day and had fun doing it. We reminiced about a pair of old friends that are now gone but retold stories of some of the things that made us smile or laugh in remebering them. My friend was deliberating over a personal dilema and I think I helped her by giving her permission to do what was best for her not everyone else and that made me happy. I have had chats with my family, gotten together with great friends and I am truely enjoying the season and the gifts of sharing with all of them. I am thankful for so many things!

Recognize and Celebrate

Hi, I haven't chatted for awhile. Last night we celebrated some fine businesses and 2 very special citizens in our community. Our business winners for this year were: Business of the Year - Lawlor Jewelry, Small Business of the Year - Cas Tech Computers, Custome Service - Pfeiffers House of Music Audio Video Unlimited, Community Service - Stettler Handibus Society, Business Service - Panda Flowers, Business Community Service - Family Chiropractic- Dr. Smith, Marketing Award - Wares Jewelery, Learning in the Workplace - Kal Tire, and Male & Female Citizen of the Year, Marg & Rob Grandfield. All of these recipients have made our community a better place by contributing a great effort to the betterment and service of our community, I say thank you and congratulations!!!

Friends come and go!

Today I had lunch with a very dear friend and she is moving further away. I'm sad for myself because even though I don't see her everyday I had the sense of security that she was there close by if I needed her. She has been in my life for a long while and we've shared the happenings in our life like work, hair do's, our kids, our husbands, good food and wine, ladies nights out and yoga. We've laughed and cried together and held each other up throught the good the bad and the ugly but the best part was doing it all hand in hand. I know she is only a phone call or road trip away and just becasuse she will be further away I still have the sense of security that she is still my friend and that makes me happy!

"The Wedding"

On July 24th, 2010, our youngest daughter was married to a fabulous guy! It was the most beautiful wedding I have ever been to, but keep in mind it was our daughters:)Between us and our neighbors and friends and the grooms family, we all worked very hard to make our couples dreams come true. The hall was decorated beautifully, the park where they were married was amazing and the weather gods were on our side. Our bride and her attendants were breath taking (again I am the mom) and the groom and his attendants were sooo handsome. Our little flower girl was the cutest ever! I had a few moments that day as a mother does but I got through everything pretty good. Our MC was excellent, our caterer 2nd to none, photographers amazing as well as our candid photographers, also great, and the speeches at the wedding were awesome. I enjoyed all the times I spent with my girls and the groom leading up to this day planning and organizing this day and will be a little sad its over. The grooms parents were awesome to work with and I'd wish this for any family joining forces through marriage to have such cooperation. I had so much fun at this wedding and my only regret is that I did not have more time to visit with everyone. We were truely blessed and happy to share this day with all of our family and friends and we wish the newly wed couple a lifetime of happiness, friendship and LOVE!

Getting Ready For The Wedding

Why? Do we? Get so wound up leading up to a wedding? I have to remember to breath! I have to remember I have to stay calm for others! I have to remember so many things that I am forgetting to breath which in turns means I am not staying calm for others ---I will sit myself down later and give me a good stern talking to, I must not get wound up. Actually when I take a look at my list we have much accomplished and I am looking forward to having a son after all these years. I'm thinking its going to be kind of cool, especially when his parents have done all the hard work raising him to be the fine young man that he is today:)I feel better just chatting about that and I have loved every minute and trip about that I have taken with my daughter (thats getting married) and her sisters leading up to this day and they have made some awesome decisions, I think it will come together nicely!

School Reunion

I had the pleasure of attending my 30th school reunion as of late. I have made it to my 10, 20 and now 30th and I enjoyed this one the most but arrived late and missed out on a few people. Its amazing what the years of experience do for you, couldn't we have just been so much better if we would have had the confidence then that we have today---all in due time though. I realize that we value each other and care about each other, our fellow class mates. We were luckey to have been raised in the era that we were, a privleged lot in many ways. Its interesting to see how many do not change a bit except for the odd character line from lifes experience and and how others change immensley. Over all it was a good experience and I'm glad to have been included in the day. Cheers to another 30 years!!!

Happy Birthday

Happy Birthday to my youngest daughter, I wish you all your wishes to come true!!!

Nothing in Particular

I wanted to write something today and have nothing in particular. Everyone seems to be heading out on holidays, planning some holidays or coming back from a holiday. Summer is so short we have to take it in as much as we can, sort of a seize the moment type of thing. All winter we've waited for this wonderful summer and oh my did we consider the mosquito's, no we did not:) Oh well I for one am going to ignore the mosquito's, enjoy my summer and hope that you all do too.

Holidays

Oh the "Dog Days of Summer" I'm not sure what that means, maybe lazy, enjoy the sun and fun, whatever, I like it. Just had a week off, didn't go far but let me tell you we LOVE camping at Alix Lake, it is a real hidden gem. For $20.00 per night you get power, which is GREAT!!! My husband & I found the week to be very restful and peaceful and we met some really great people, each with they're own story that we enjoyed hearing. Also we enjoyed visits from our kids and campfire and rain and everything else that goes along with camping. Can't wait to go again!

Fathers Day

I just wanted to say Happy Fathers Day to all the great dad's out there! My dad is especially dear to me and I feel bad that he has not been well over the course of the past year. Dad you have given me great direction, and you have shown incredible patience, lead by perfect example and listened with great interest and been there always whenever I needed you. I also have had the great fortune to be married to a great man that also has been a great father to our 3 daughters so I feel doubley blessed and thankful for this:) He has lead our family in a quiet and humble way but with a grat sense of humour that we all anticipate when we are all together. So to all fathers that are celebrating with your families this weekend a tip of the hat to ya all!!!

A visit from a friend!

Last night after yoga I rushed home because I was recieving a visit from a friend. It was a business call but after my husband & I finished that we had a lovely visit. Our conversation was intersting as we were discussing what our loved ones wishes would be in the event they were to pass on. I know, not a subject we wish to chat about but actually if we can have these conversations while we are alive and well it makes it much easier when we are in crisis to make informed and compassionate desicions based on what we know and not on what we think. I worked at a funeral home for almost a year and I learned many things and probably the one thing I do wish to share is that making your wishes known to loved ones. Most funeral homes have a workbook shall we say that will walk you through everything whether you are planning yourself to put somewhere for your family or wether you are going to use it as a tool to sit down and have that conversation that everyone shys away from. I know my friend left our conversation feeling better equipped to have a chat with her parents, I hope it all goes well.

Gifts

Gifts come in many forms---this past Friday my daughter had a wedding shower and was given a variety of beautiful things to start her and her new husband to be life together. People were most generous and we are very thankful for the many friends and wonderful family we have. Some of the gifts not wrapped in a box but I seen were the love and care and fun loving spirit that was done to decorate the hall we were in and and the food that was brought to share in celebration and the the comradery of all whom gathered to show support and love and kindness to our family, that in itself means everything and we appreciate it very much!

Business & Citizenship Awards

Every year we run ad's in the Stettler Newspaper and hope that the consumers of our area will make a nomination for the various catagories for our awards. At this time we are looking for nominatioins for Customer Servicer Award where by a business goes above and beyond to serve they're customers. You all shop and I'm sure you've noticed a business that goes out of they're way to be extraordinary in serving you. Please make sure that they do not go unnoticed because if the people vote and they get to hear the praises, it raises the bar just a little bit higher for everyone else. Do a good deed and nominate you favorite for Customer Service Award.

Our Daughters Getting Married!

In just over 6 weeks our daughter is getting married! I can't believe that Rob & I are here already, where did time go? Yesterday we were getting married and thinking about having babies and living in the country and life has been good. Yes our baby will soon too be embarking on her future with a great guy who loves her and I think he will be a great son, we've never had one of them you know. My hope for them is Love, and Passion for all that they do and Great Friends and Family that Support them through all the trials and tribualtions that life will bring they're way. I wish them to have Patience and Understanding and most of all Humility and Compassion for one another always. Love Mom & Dad

Politics

I attended a meeting today and it occured to me that we need to pay attention to whats happening around us in politics and that we need to make people who represent us speak for us not for themselves personally when elected to a position in politics. I know this opens a huge can of worms and that we are all appethetic when it comes to issues not only in our communities, but provincially as well. It seems we have to be informed and not be afraid of being informed. I especially wish more young people would take an interst and come out to vote and have a say even in this small way. For what its worth I think they're opinion matters as well!

Social Media

Today I attended a workshop exploring the usefulnes and or explosion of social media and the uses of. I find it mind boggling but would dearly love to forge forth and learn more so this is my first attempt at a blog page and look forward to seeing where it goes over the next few days. I would entertain any thoughts on social media and how others have utilized it for business and events. If you have any common sense information you want to share by all means do so!