Tarzan

 

Last night was the fourth and final presentation of our school's Spring Production of Tarzan.  Katie auditioned back in October and was selected to play the part of one of the apes.  There were hundreds of hours put in by a large cast, an orchestra, those involved in costuming, set, sound, lights and a variety of other volunteers.  The show was a great success. 

 

Last night when I dropped off Katie I decided to check in on the make-up process.

 

 

Costume on?  Check.  Time for make up. 

 

 

Yup, make up applied with a 1" paint brush. 

 

 

Now for the finer details.

 

Here's Katie after the 3rd performance, with a very good ape friend.

 

I asked the Director what she had lined up for next years production and believe it or not, she expects to make that decision this week.  Lights, Camera, Action!

 

Do you want to build a snowman... in MAY???

On Friday night we tucked ourselves in knowing about the forecasted 5-10mm.  What greeted us in the morning was that... any many more.  Apparently we had about 25cm instead.  I actually caught myself, after the grunt, saying that it looked pretty.  The budding branches on the trees were weighed down, some of them touching the ground, creating little arches from which to view the plants growing.

I woke Emily up with a song from Frozen.  You guessed it:  Do you want to build a snowman?   And we did. 

 

I caught a glimpse of something yellow perched atop some greenery from the kitchen window.  That caused me to grab a camera and head out for a closer look.  The pictures below show the third and fourth variety of plants to be blooming (or, almost blooming) in our backyard.  I suspect we'll see blooming tulips later this week. 

 

With our snow melting (for the twenty seven billionth time this year) I noticed a previously perky happy fellow looking a little glum.  I have to admit, I was a little sad looking at him.  I felt a little like Frosty's friends, trying to think where I could move him so he didn't die. 

 

 

He is Risen! He is Risen indeed

The angel said to                                   the women,

“Do not be afraid, for I know that you are looking for

Jesus,

who was CRuCiFieD. 

He is not here;

He has Risen just as He said”.

Matthew 28:5-7

Ummm, spring break?

Well they call it SPRING break but looking outside you're wondering if the calendar is a tad warped in its' understanding.  Just a week ago we had lovely temperatures, the snow was melting in record setting speeds and some of the birds had returned.  Wonder what they're thinking now.

I'm one of those seasonal affected disorder (SAD) people who need something after Christmas to look forward to.  With money wrapped up in a flooded High River (2 homes there which are still waiting for some effort of repair) we aren't in any position to be considering travelling far.  Truth is that for the first week of our break the girls and I didn't have any plans other than getting their friends together for laser tag, the girls are getting hair cuts and we are making use of a spa gift card I received a couple years ago.  Scott has time off during our second week so we'd hoped to go to the trailer in BC to complete a repair, to relax, and frankly, just to get away.

If we aren't able to go that direction perhaps us girls will slide down to Kalispell for a couple nights.  They've grown out of nearly everything they wore last summer so we're starting again... again.  Perhaps we can find some deals on clothing for them. 

My uncle in the lower mainland had a heart attack last Sunday and subsequently was diagnosed with cancer, told his kidneys are failing and that he's bleeding internally.  As of yesterday they'd secured a spot in a hospice for him - he's to move in on Tuesday, but the medical staff aren't sure he'll survive until then. 

Meanwhile, his only living brother is in a hospital in Alberta because the kidney he received came with a virus.  It is being treated and his family anticipates that he'll be discharged mid week. 

According to the drivebc.com website the highways between Banff and well west of Revelstoke are slippery in sections and there had been risk of avalanches too.  Not sure it's worth the risk.  Perhaps we will get up to the Edmonton area to visit with that uncle.

Oh - something happy!!  The girls both did fantastical on their term 2 report cards.  Em didn't think she'd make honors this term but she nailed it.  We're proud of them both.  Katie is in grade 6 so she has to do provincial achievement exams at the end of the year but Emily may just find herself not having to write finals... that's not the experience I had in school.  Seems to me being exempt was a secret no one told me about until about June 1.  I'm competitive - perhaps that would have been incentive to try harder.  Not sure. 

Anwyways - the weather guy this morning said that wintery weather is evident across Canada and that sometime this week every province would receive snow.  I know that the bulbs are blooming in the lower mainland and the trees that do flower - are.  Ahhhhh, spring.

I just gotta say

THAT WAS CRAZY!!!

Less than 3 1/2 minutes left in regulation time, US is up 2-0 over the Canadian women's' hockey team when Canada's Jenner scores.  With 90 seconds left Canada's goalie is pulled so we get the extra attacker and with 54 seconds remaining, Canada scores to tie it up.  That's Poulin's first of the game.

Into overtime... Throw in a couple penalties (they played a little 3 on 3) when the US gets another penalty as Hayley W is on a breakaway but goes sprawling when she gets bumped by a US player.  With Canada on a power play, Poulin dropped the puck into the net and the deal was done - Canada wins gold, 3-2, against the US.

So gentlemen, when we play the US tomorrow for the men's gold, how about a replay of the same only if you don't mind, wrap it up a little earlier. 

Awesome.

8 months today

Good morning!

Boyza I really need to get into this blog more often - if you've been checking for updates; I apologize. 
I'll work from current backwards.

Today (post flood update):

It's been 8 months today since the Southern Alberta floods hit in High River.  You may have seen in the Calgary Herald article that said our community and one adjacent was "sacrificed".  It was a 3 week wait before those residents were permitted to enter the subdivision.  We've owned a home in that neighborhood for about 4 years and we'd had another home built, partially tenanted (it was a suited home and the basement wasn't quite complete), and in 2 weeks we were to sign to be the owners. 
Since that time we've had MANY frustrations (including no furnace until January... 2 $500+ electric bills thanks to heating the home with an electric heater) as we deal with insurance and waiting but yesterday after yet another meeting at the home we already owned we received a check for lost rental income and mortgage payments which brings us up to date on those losses AND we learned from my brother in law that he's ready to begin the reno's early next week! 
As for the home we'd almost owned we've no word yet but hopefully soon.  We're hopeful both will be complete and tenanted before summer begins.

In school earlier this month:

Emily and her grade 7-9 school mates headed to Fernie for a 2 day ski trip despite extreme cold.  The bus she was on took 7 hours to travel what should have been 3 hours and had to be rescued/replaced for the rest of the journey from Black Diamond.  It meant that the bus load she was with may have fit in only 1 run that day, instead of being on the hill by 1pm like the others.  It was no hard feelings for her though and she decided not even to bother putting on her equipment until the following day.  Her level of confidence has greatly improved and she proudly proclaims, "I'm ready for blue runs!".

Katie (her mother :)) and her grade 6 grade mates headed to Nakiska for a day of skiing - we had a fantastic time!  The day before the trip Nakiska called to say it would be -40 when we arrived and did we still intend on coming.  Apparently all the other schools said no so ours was the only one there.  I would ride the lift, do the run, and ski right onto the next chair heading up.  As for the temperature I wasn't cold at all.  Actually no one from our group suffered from the temperatures. 

Co-op and AMA have a great deal: $150 for 2 adults and up to 3 kids for lift tickets and rentals.  Did I say great deal!?!?  Skiing is an expensive hobby - 2 adult lift passes go for $144 at Nakiska.  We're aiming for March 1 to go as a family.

The school year thus far:

The kids are doing great!  Emily is in grade 8 and is having her best year academically yet.  Typically she's been the 65% average gal but first term report card had her in the honors with an 84% average!  Katie (grade 6) has always come at her grades a little easier and her first term average was 90%.  I'm so proud of those girls; they've worked hard for it.

As for me in the Elementary school office things are going well.  It was announced in December that at the end of this school year we'd return to private school status, leaving Palliser School Division.  It's been an emotional time as staff decide whether they will remain with the School or the School Division - there will be grieving.  It's okay though.  I'm staying at the school and I don't think that my job responsibilities will change very much.

EMS:

Scott has been doing the Acting Supervisor thing (I may have given that the wrong title) for awhile now and enjoys the guy he works with as well as the responsibilities but likely more than that, the change of being on the street. 

Bouncing ahead (Summertime):

Can't wait!!  Looking forward to spending a bunch of time in the Shuswap again.  Last year the girls and I got 8 full weeks and Scott was there for 4.  He's able to squeak in another week.  I got my Boat Operators License in January (48/50 was my mark) so this summer will also be filled with putting the study into action and 'going places'.  Scott is looking forward to doing a couple day trips and I think we'd all be on board (no pun intended) for that as long as we were confident the weather was going to hold.  After last years flash storm which we were caught in I'm a little leary to go very far and I think if something like that happened again the kids may not want to get on the boat ever again.  It was pretty dicey for awhile.

Another thing we're looking forward to is more canning!  Course for me that also means more picking!  That was so satisfying last year picking (or purchasing what we weren't allowed to pick) and either making jam (strawberry & raspberry) or pie filling (apple, peach & cherry).  I brought home about 27 1L jars of filling and I think we have about  10 left.  We've been able to bless many with jarred gifts of wonderful Okanagan fruit and I'm hoping this year will be no different and that we're able to find other fruits or even veggies (pickled beans anyone?) to play with.

How are you?

Safely home

The girls and I had the coolest and most special night on our last evening before returning home yesterday.  We sat down at the beach and thanked God for the blessings which we felt so richly this summer.  We get it - not many get to experience 8 weeks away from home at a resort where the average temperature was about 29 degrees daily.  But on top of that we felt peace, excitement, relaxation, the beauty which is God's creation, exhilaration of scary surprises, and we witnessed God's amazing timing when a black bear popped up out of the ditch alongside our van and stood on its' hind legs while we snapped pictures. Fear not, he was at least 30' away and my vehicle was still in 'drive'.
We got to cheer on our BC Lions as they beat the Stamps at BC Place two weeks ago.  We attended church in my home church in Vernon.  We visited places and enjoyed foods/drink made/grown right there.  Not to mention picking strawberries and cherries, making strawberry and raspberry jams, canning cherry & peach pie fillings, and eating each of these things fresh as well as frozen (blueberries & blackberries).  Nothing like 'from the tree to the table'! 
The kids went to Bible camp for the first time and it was only the beginning of things that helped them grow this summer - and me too!  God sent Jesus to die for ALL.  Not just the pretty or the heterosexuals.  Not just those who abstain from illegal and addictive substances or those who are sexually pure.  It was a summer of the girls being exposed to people and the things that some are 'into'.  Being a parent is about preparing your children to deal with things that come their way and I'm so pleased with how they handled knowing someone they befriended was dealing drugs while another friend had spent time on the streets while involved in prostitution. 
Love one another.  They modeled it, carefully but boldly.  They stood up for what they believed to be right but not in a judgemental way, and they were respected for it.  I learn much from my girls.  What a blessing they are. 
I'm thankful for the lessons learned through the good, different and scary events of our summer.  Each lesson transforms us and helps us grow.  May we be who God intends for us to be. 
May He take you by the hand this day and lead you into it.