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
Sunday, April 20, 2014
Sunday, March 23, 2014
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'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.
Thursday, February 20, 2014
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.
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?
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?
Sunday, August 25, 2013
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.
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.
Tuesday, August 13, 2013
Another month down :(
We are truly blessed despite some challenges and scares. I've got lots to get caught up on - hope you're comfy cuz here we go.
Eagle Bay Camp was a good experience for the girls. Katie took wakeboard lessons and while she didn't get up she's learned what's necessary to master the skill so when she next gets the opportunity she'll likely have success. She had been nervous about going to camp - typical questions like, what if no one likes me, what if I'm bullied and what if I don't make any friends... Turns out that none of these things were concerns for her. When I picked her up the first thing she said was that she missed me but right after that she asked if she could come back next year... for 2 weeks.
Emily's experience was a little different in that one of the gals in her cabin professed to be a lesbian, wouldn't look Em in the eye when they spoke and she was also caught going through Em's bag. This wasn't the experience I expected at camp but God loves all, and we need to do the same.
Camp was filled with good food, friends, fun, ziplining, tubing, kayaking, rock wall, paint ball (both kids opted out), archery, skits, swimming and chapel time complete with singing and Bible.
Emergency: When I picked up Emily from camp she had a couple extras... crutches. She had a badly sprained right foot and was on crutches for about 10 days. So, where does one get crutches if they don't want to go to a doctor/hospital? I called the IDA in Sorrento and asked that very question. Turns out there's a lending station there - show up, sign some paperwork, take the crutches and return them when you no longer need them. (Everyone here is so accommodating and has such a great customer service attitude. Even at the grocery store right behind our campground it's like almost every employee owns it - they all carry a vested interest in ensuring you found what you needed and you're shopping experience was good.)
Next up - We were at a Red Robin in Kamloops, seated on the patio enjoying our drinks, minus Katie as she'd popped into the washroom. A slight wind came up and our umbrella began to lift. I grabbed it and returned it to the ground - Scott noticed but his eyes got wide when he looked over my shoulder. The same wind had picked up 3 more umbrellas and they were heading our way. One of them rotated 180 degrees and came at Emily like a propeller, striking her on the left side of her mouth. (If Katie had been there she may have gotten hit in the back of the head/neck.) We headed into the store as Emily looked like she was in shock and was holding her mouth. I took her into the into the family washroom and long story short, Scott used a camera to check the inside of Emily's mouth to see where the blood was coming from. Emily was, naturally, startled by the umbrella and opened her mouth which made room for the tip of the umbrella to enter the rear of her mouth, gouging 2 spots into the muscle beside her uvula. Off to the emergency room we go.
Em was assessed by the Emergency Dr. as well as an ENT and with the instruction to stay in Kamloops for the night and watch for complications, we were released. It was at least 10 days later before she stopped regularly taking Advil for her pain and at least a week before she could eat/swallow without wincing. Healing is ongoing and we're thankful for it. If the umbrella had dug just a little deeper it could have cut into an artery and we'd have been dealing with a different adventure.
I should add that when the district manager of Red Robin got a call from Scott he had the umbrella's removed from all the patios if they weren't secured down. That was the best thing - they fixed it so that no one else has to go through it. They also covered all of our meals, hotel and medications while we were in Kamloops, as well as giving us a substantial gift card to come back and try again sometime. Further to that we did just that this past Sunday but this time we were in Vernon. The district manager was there and arranged that our tab be complimentary. Great follow up.
Can't leave Katie out. She had a few battle scars from camp and a 3 stripe scar remains on her knee (kind of look like a big cat did it). She's currently on antibiotics for her ears and after only 2 days is already feeling much better.
At the resort: Nothing but good times! Due to hot weather (I think a high one day actually dipped below 30! Okay maybe twice), we've got a fire ban. Seriously it's too hot out for campfires anyways. We're enjoying the gazebo, anti gravity chairs, pool, dock, neighbors, owners, rec room, beautiful mountains around us, etc.
Fruit: Early July the girls and I picked about 17lbs of strawberries which I canned into jam using only good things: the berries, granny smith apples, honey & fresh lemon juice.
Next we bought 10 lbs of raspberries which I used the same jam recipe for.
Finally we (5 of us including our Calgary neighbor), picked 50lbs of cherries in 30 minutes! Insanity perhaps... but that's cuz you haven't yet tasted our canned cherry pie filling. YUM!
Boat: Yup, we got ourselves a 21' SunRay sundeck boat complete with a double biminy - it's been a great addition to our family! We've enjoyed taking friends/family out whether for a pleasure cruise or a tube or simply to 'go jump in the lake'. The girls and I have all been onto Copper Island where we've then jumped off (Katie and I jumped from about 15' and I think Em did about 5'). We've been out to the Shark Shack and Sea Store - very cool indeed. We enjoyed the beauty of a waterfall. We had one scary ride and that was due to a storm complete with 3-4' waves coming over the bow and side of the boat drenching all in its' way, pouring rain (yay double biminy), lightning and even hail. What should have taken 45 minutes to get back to our dock was more than 90. We came across a capsized sailboat and offered help but another boat had gotten there just before us so with a thumbs up we were on our way again. On board at the time was our family, my sister, brother in law, their daughter and her 3 kids, aged 16 months to 6 years. We were all very glad to dock up and begin the process of drying off and warming up again.
Area Attractions: Gort's Gouda - yum (get the parsley variety!). This working farm is complete with a donkey, dog, kittens, calves and cows. They do a self guided tour and if you're timing is right you can watch the process of milking the cows.
Ovino Winery - I know next to nothing about wine but figured "when in Rome"... we checked out this place. Of note for September - come back and see the vines changing color for fall.
DeMilles' - we've been here many times before but it's that good that we come back. They have a petting zoo and full market with local meats, produce and fruits.
Davison Orchards - in Vernon. The patriarch for this working farm went to church with our family many years ago. Today the farm has become a wonderful tourist venue with it's gift and farmers market, petting zoo, kids play area, restaraunt and playground. I started my Christmas shopping here this year so ladies in the office - you're in for a treat and it's not just cuz you'll get to see my bright and shining face soon.
We've got a couple more locations on our list of things to do - 1) Scotch Creek for their blaster boat, mini golf etc and 2) the zoo formerly known as the Kamloops Wild Animal Park. Unless you include our plans for this weekend: BC Lions vs. Calgary Stampeders, at BC Place. Yup, the girls and I are going! Katie would like to buy a Lulay (BC's QB) jersey so she was doing extra chores for us and now is working for the Resort doing chores so she can afford it.
Scott was here for a month and returned home yesterday. With his departure we pulled the boat out of the lake... sad day indeed. I now have about 9 months to get my boat operators license. Tick tock.
Well I think that will give you an idea of what's been going on around us. Hope you're having a great adventure this summer too.
Eagle Bay Camp was a good experience for the girls. Katie took wakeboard lessons and while she didn't get up she's learned what's necessary to master the skill so when she next gets the opportunity she'll likely have success. She had been nervous about going to camp - typical questions like, what if no one likes me, what if I'm bullied and what if I don't make any friends... Turns out that none of these things were concerns for her. When I picked her up the first thing she said was that she missed me but right after that she asked if she could come back next year... for 2 weeks.
Emily's experience was a little different in that one of the gals in her cabin professed to be a lesbian, wouldn't look Em in the eye when they spoke and she was also caught going through Em's bag. This wasn't the experience I expected at camp but God loves all, and we need to do the same.
Camp was filled with good food, friends, fun, ziplining, tubing, kayaking, rock wall, paint ball (both kids opted out), archery, skits, swimming and chapel time complete with singing and Bible.
Emergency: When I picked up Emily from camp she had a couple extras... crutches. She had a badly sprained right foot and was on crutches for about 10 days. So, where does one get crutches if they don't want to go to a doctor/hospital? I called the IDA in Sorrento and asked that very question. Turns out there's a lending station there - show up, sign some paperwork, take the crutches and return them when you no longer need them. (Everyone here is so accommodating and has such a great customer service attitude. Even at the grocery store right behind our campground it's like almost every employee owns it - they all carry a vested interest in ensuring you found what you needed and you're shopping experience was good.)
Next up - We were at a Red Robin in Kamloops, seated on the patio enjoying our drinks, minus Katie as she'd popped into the washroom. A slight wind came up and our umbrella began to lift. I grabbed it and returned it to the ground - Scott noticed but his eyes got wide when he looked over my shoulder. The same wind had picked up 3 more umbrellas and they were heading our way. One of them rotated 180 degrees and came at Emily like a propeller, striking her on the left side of her mouth. (If Katie had been there she may have gotten hit in the back of the head/neck.) We headed into the store as Emily looked like she was in shock and was holding her mouth. I took her into the into the family washroom and long story short, Scott used a camera to check the inside of Emily's mouth to see where the blood was coming from. Emily was, naturally, startled by the umbrella and opened her mouth which made room for the tip of the umbrella to enter the rear of her mouth, gouging 2 spots into the muscle beside her uvula. Off to the emergency room we go.
Em was assessed by the Emergency Dr. as well as an ENT and with the instruction to stay in Kamloops for the night and watch for complications, we were released. It was at least 10 days later before she stopped regularly taking Advil for her pain and at least a week before she could eat/swallow without wincing. Healing is ongoing and we're thankful for it. If the umbrella had dug just a little deeper it could have cut into an artery and we'd have been dealing with a different adventure.
I should add that when the district manager of Red Robin got a call from Scott he had the umbrella's removed from all the patios if they weren't secured down. That was the best thing - they fixed it so that no one else has to go through it. They also covered all of our meals, hotel and medications while we were in Kamloops, as well as giving us a substantial gift card to come back and try again sometime. Further to that we did just that this past Sunday but this time we were in Vernon. The district manager was there and arranged that our tab be complimentary. Great follow up.
Can't leave Katie out. She had a few battle scars from camp and a 3 stripe scar remains on her knee (kind of look like a big cat did it). She's currently on antibiotics for her ears and after only 2 days is already feeling much better.
At the resort: Nothing but good times! Due to hot weather (I think a high one day actually dipped below 30! Okay maybe twice), we've got a fire ban. Seriously it's too hot out for campfires anyways. We're enjoying the gazebo, anti gravity chairs, pool, dock, neighbors, owners, rec room, beautiful mountains around us, etc.
Fruit: Early July the girls and I picked about 17lbs of strawberries which I canned into jam using only good things: the berries, granny smith apples, honey & fresh lemon juice.
Next we bought 10 lbs of raspberries which I used the same jam recipe for.
Finally we (5 of us including our Calgary neighbor), picked 50lbs of cherries in 30 minutes! Insanity perhaps... but that's cuz you haven't yet tasted our canned cherry pie filling. YUM!
Boat: Yup, we got ourselves a 21' SunRay sundeck boat complete with a double biminy - it's been a great addition to our family! We've enjoyed taking friends/family out whether for a pleasure cruise or a tube or simply to 'go jump in the lake'. The girls and I have all been onto Copper Island where we've then jumped off (Katie and I jumped from about 15' and I think Em did about 5'). We've been out to the Shark Shack and Sea Store - very cool indeed. We enjoyed the beauty of a waterfall. We had one scary ride and that was due to a storm complete with 3-4' waves coming over the bow and side of the boat drenching all in its' way, pouring rain (yay double biminy), lightning and even hail. What should have taken 45 minutes to get back to our dock was more than 90. We came across a capsized sailboat and offered help but another boat had gotten there just before us so with a thumbs up we were on our way again. On board at the time was our family, my sister, brother in law, their daughter and her 3 kids, aged 16 months to 6 years. We were all very glad to dock up and begin the process of drying off and warming up again.
Area Attractions: Gort's Gouda - yum (get the parsley variety!). This working farm is complete with a donkey, dog, kittens, calves and cows. They do a self guided tour and if you're timing is right you can watch the process of milking the cows.
Ovino Winery - I know next to nothing about wine but figured "when in Rome"... we checked out this place. Of note for September - come back and see the vines changing color for fall.
DeMilles' - we've been here many times before but it's that good that we come back. They have a petting zoo and full market with local meats, produce and fruits.
Davison Orchards - in Vernon. The patriarch for this working farm went to church with our family many years ago. Today the farm has become a wonderful tourist venue with it's gift and farmers market, petting zoo, kids play area, restaraunt and playground. I started my Christmas shopping here this year so ladies in the office - you're in for a treat and it's not just cuz you'll get to see my bright and shining face soon.
We've got a couple more locations on our list of things to do - 1) Scotch Creek for their blaster boat, mini golf etc and 2) the zoo formerly known as the Kamloops Wild Animal Park. Unless you include our plans for this weekend: BC Lions vs. Calgary Stampeders, at BC Place. Yup, the girls and I are going! Katie would like to buy a Lulay (BC's QB) jersey so she was doing extra chores for us and now is working for the Resort doing chores so she can afford it.
Scott was here for a month and returned home yesterday. With his departure we pulled the boat out of the lake... sad day indeed. I now have about 9 months to get my boat operators license. Tick tock.
Well I think that will give you an idea of what's been going on around us. Hope you're having a great adventure this summer too.
Friday, July 12, 2013
Relaxed? Or lazy?
Scott is at home working, I'm in the campground and last Sunday I checked the girls in at Bible camp. I'm the one who likes to be busy but this has been quite the switch for me. I've made cards, read a book, read a couple magazines, been on many walks with the dog and even a hike (hiked up and jogged down). I've sat outside in the anti gravity chair both at our campsite and poolside. I even had the whole pool to myself yesterday! I've putzed in the yard deadheading, planting and watering. I've done some cleaning, played some sudoku and have learned that killer whales eat grey whales thanks to educational programming.
In the times of 'just sitting there' I wonder what the line is between relaxing and being lazy. What's the right amount of 'rest' before you're termed a couch potato? I don't know but what I can say is that tomorrow when I pick up the kids I hope they're up for adventure cuz I'm feeling kind of cooped up right now and want to go see and do with them.
I purchased helium filled balloons for their bedroom and have a neon pink welcome home poster made. Less than 12 hours!
Oh, as far as our 2 rental properties in High River go? Still no access.
In the times of 'just sitting there' I wonder what the line is between relaxing and being lazy. What's the right amount of 'rest' before you're termed a couch potato? I don't know but what I can say is that tomorrow when I pick up the kids I hope they're up for adventure cuz I'm feeling kind of cooped up right now and want to go see and do with them.
I purchased helium filled balloons for their bedroom and have a neon pink welcome home poster made. Less than 12 hours!
Oh, as far as our 2 rental properties in High River go? Still no access.
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