I wish I had more time,
I wish I didn't always feel so tired,
I wish that I could write the blog posts that go through my head (they seem really good),
I wish that this blog of mine was a reflection of what I really want it to be,
I wish that I could read, follow and post comments on other blogs and interact with other bloggers again more (forgive me please),
I wish that this blog was not so NEGLECTED.
It is neglected, and I just don't have the time or energy to do anything about it. Hopefully soon I can catch up, but for now I ask for forgiveness, for blogging forgiveness.
I do have some pictures, posts and of course updates (remember that word of mine---'opportunity') to put on here. Mainly for my own personal record, but who knows maybe somebody will get something out of it too! :o)
Hope you all had a wonderful, blessed Easter. We did and have some pictures to share too.
Friday, 5 April 2013
We survived!
Wow, what a few weeks we have had and I am so happy to report that it is over and that we survived!! Please dear Lord, help us to never have to go through this again?!?!
Talk about emotional roller coasters.....celebrating 8 years, to wondering whether or not we were losing our baby!
We had a great time celebrating our anniversary even though John worked late. I love hanging out with my best friend in the whole wide world. We have had some incredible talks, prayers, laughs, lately! God has blessed me so incredibly much with this amazing man I call my hubby!
So Wednesday was a bit of a blur. We were tired from staying up too late the night before (totally worth it). The older two kids had swimming lessons bright and early and then I had to rush to work. Jude woke up with this rash on his face and torso, but we said that we would really watch it before we took him in. We did, and it progressed. After John dropped me off, he took Jude to the doctor. The doctor diagnosed it as an allergic reaction to the Penicillin he was on and after checking his ears to see if there was still an infection lingering, promptly told us to stop the antibiotics. He then gave a prescription for a steroid and some antihistamines. That was day one.....
By Thursday (day two), things were not getting any better. We had a horrible night on Wednesday and we got desperate and went back to the Pharmacist to see if we could give him Benadryl too and what the acceptable dosage was. Thursday night was horrible and he just cried and cried. He could not sleep, not settle and just wanted to be right on top of me. I barely had any sleep.
I went to work on Friday and he looked horrible! John went to our Homeopath to see what they could suggest and they gave him a cleanse for his liver. John brought the kids home and put Jude down and tried to catch a nap himself. All of a sudden, Jude woke up screaming! John went to him and could not console him. He then gave him a bath, as he would not stop scratching. John brought him out of the bath and his skin turned this bluish/purple hue and Jude was shaking uncontrollably and would not stop screaming.
Long story short, I left work and we rushed him into the hospital. We thought we were losing him. He wouldn't stop shaking, his skin was a blue hue and he was so tired he would kind of go in and out of consciousness.
When we finally get to the hospital, he was more alert, but he was in a lot of pain and would not stop scratching. So we get him admitted and then we wait, and we wait. We waited 5 hours with a screaming, child who looked horrible, so horrible that a lot of people would not stop staring. John went up and started asking questions. Why is it that when you question how long it is taking, you are suddenly the bad guy? You know, like somehow waiting for 5 hours is acceptable and should be acceptable with a screaming, inconsolable child. We finally got them to give him some more Benadryl (which did absolutely nothing), but we could not stop him from scratching and crying and bleeding from scratching so much.
We finally get in to see the doctor and they diagnosed him with Erythema Multiforme (say what?). Apparently it is common, but they don't know the cause (it could be an allergic reaction to the atibiotics or a reaction to a cold virus) and there is nothing they can do for it. The antihistamines didn't work as it wasn't an antihistamine reaction. It also takes 7 to 10 days to pass and it may disappear and then come back again. So home we went with a name, but nothing to help our poor little Jude.
We did a whole bunch of research on the net about it. Found some natural ways we could deal with the itchiness and kept pumping him full of the homeopathic cleanse. We had no sleep that night either. This rash apparently can either be mildly itchy, or in his case extremely itchy. It also causes the skin to tighten (hence the reason he was in so much pain) and it also affects the circulation. His skin would feel like it was on fire, but he would be shaking because he was so cold. The blueish/purplish hue was due to the lack of circulation and seemed to occur when he got out of the bath tub, or when we stripped him down.
We got on our knees and boy did we pray. I looked at John at one point and cried that I could not do this for another 7 days!! We were exhausted and there is nothing more painful and heart wrenching than seeing your child in agony and knowing that you can't do a thing about it. Ahhh!
We had quite a few people praying alongside us and Saturday morning we saw some relief. It had cleared up quite a bit on his torso, but his poor little legs looked like sausages. They were so swollen, tight and itchy. We also bought some aloe vera and that really seemed to help. Plus we kept the homeopathic cleanse up, and we were on our knees in desperation, praying!
Sunday, was remarkable. It was almost like we could see the rash disappearing. The rash was moving down his body. He was still itchy and his little calves and feet were super swollen, tight and hot, but his face and torso were completely clear. Our little Jude was coming back, and that evening he was ready for action.....
Monday I went into work and he had almost completely cleared up (just the feet were swollen). Tuesday I had off and he was clear, but still super fussy and cranky. We have found that over these past few days since last Wednesday he has had a few bouts of 'hives' and itchiness come and go. Finally last night we had a pretty decent sleep. We have been racking our brain trying to figure out if he is allergic to something, or if it is still part of this cold virus. This cold virus is a nasty one and it has been reported that it can take up to 6 weeks to get rid of. During this time I also fell sick again because I am so run down with my lack of sleep.
We survived though, and I guess it has made us stronger! ;o) It has been a horrible, horrible almost 6 months of illness in this household and we just need a break. Thanks to all of our friends and family who kept us in prayer. Thanks for the cookies, meals, and words of encouragement from some pretty amazing people!! Praise God that it cleared a lot sooner than we thought!!
Talk about emotional roller coasters.....celebrating 8 years, to wondering whether or not we were losing our baby!
We had a great time celebrating our anniversary even though John worked late. I love hanging out with my best friend in the whole wide world. We have had some incredible talks, prayers, laughs, lately! God has blessed me so incredibly much with this amazing man I call my hubby!
So Wednesday was a bit of a blur. We were tired from staying up too late the night before (totally worth it). The older two kids had swimming lessons bright and early and then I had to rush to work. Jude woke up with this rash on his face and torso, but we said that we would really watch it before we took him in. We did, and it progressed. After John dropped me off, he took Jude to the doctor. The doctor diagnosed it as an allergic reaction to the Penicillin he was on and after checking his ears to see if there was still an infection lingering, promptly told us to stop the antibiotics. He then gave a prescription for a steroid and some antihistamines. That was day one.....
By Thursday (day two), things were not getting any better. We had a horrible night on Wednesday and we got desperate and went back to the Pharmacist to see if we could give him Benadryl too and what the acceptable dosage was. Thursday night was horrible and he just cried and cried. He could not sleep, not settle and just wanted to be right on top of me. I barely had any sleep.
I went to work on Friday and he looked horrible! John went to our Homeopath to see what they could suggest and they gave him a cleanse for his liver. John brought the kids home and put Jude down and tried to catch a nap himself. All of a sudden, Jude woke up screaming! John went to him and could not console him. He then gave him a bath, as he would not stop scratching. John brought him out of the bath and his skin turned this bluish/purple hue and Jude was shaking uncontrollably and would not stop screaming.
Long story short, I left work and we rushed him into the hospital. We thought we were losing him. He wouldn't stop shaking, his skin was a blue hue and he was so tired he would kind of go in and out of consciousness.
When we finally get to the hospital, he was more alert, but he was in a lot of pain and would not stop scratching. So we get him admitted and then we wait, and we wait. We waited 5 hours with a screaming, child who looked horrible, so horrible that a lot of people would not stop staring. John went up and started asking questions. Why is it that when you question how long it is taking, you are suddenly the bad guy? You know, like somehow waiting for 5 hours is acceptable and should be acceptable with a screaming, inconsolable child. We finally got them to give him some more Benadryl (which did absolutely nothing), but we could not stop him from scratching and crying and bleeding from scratching so much.
We finally get in to see the doctor and they diagnosed him with Erythema Multiforme (say what?). Apparently it is common, but they don't know the cause (it could be an allergic reaction to the atibiotics or a reaction to a cold virus) and there is nothing they can do for it. The antihistamines didn't work as it wasn't an antihistamine reaction. It also takes 7 to 10 days to pass and it may disappear and then come back again. So home we went with a name, but nothing to help our poor little Jude.
We did a whole bunch of research on the net about it. Found some natural ways we could deal with the itchiness and kept pumping him full of the homeopathic cleanse. We had no sleep that night either. This rash apparently can either be mildly itchy, or in his case extremely itchy. It also causes the skin to tighten (hence the reason he was in so much pain) and it also affects the circulation. His skin would feel like it was on fire, but he would be shaking because he was so cold. The blueish/purplish hue was due to the lack of circulation and seemed to occur when he got out of the bath tub, or when we stripped him down.
We got on our knees and boy did we pray. I looked at John at one point and cried that I could not do this for another 7 days!! We were exhausted and there is nothing more painful and heart wrenching than seeing your child in agony and knowing that you can't do a thing about it. Ahhh!
We had quite a few people praying alongside us and Saturday morning we saw some relief. It had cleared up quite a bit on his torso, but his poor little legs looked like sausages. They were so swollen, tight and itchy. We also bought some aloe vera and that really seemed to help. Plus we kept the homeopathic cleanse up, and we were on our knees in desperation, praying!
Sunday, was remarkable. It was almost like we could see the rash disappearing. The rash was moving down his body. He was still itchy and his little calves and feet were super swollen, tight and hot, but his face and torso were completely clear. Our little Jude was coming back, and that evening he was ready for action.....
Monday I went into work and he had almost completely cleared up (just the feet were swollen). Tuesday I had off and he was clear, but still super fussy and cranky. We have found that over these past few days since last Wednesday he has had a few bouts of 'hives' and itchiness come and go. Finally last night we had a pretty decent sleep. We have been racking our brain trying to figure out if he is allergic to something, or if it is still part of this cold virus. This cold virus is a nasty one and it has been reported that it can take up to 6 weeks to get rid of. During this time I also fell sick again because I am so run down with my lack of sleep.
We survived though, and I guess it has made us stronger! ;o) It has been a horrible, horrible almost 6 months of illness in this household and we just need a break. Thanks to all of our friends and family who kept us in prayer. Thanks for the cookies, meals, and words of encouragement from some pretty amazing people!! Praise God that it cleared a lot sooner than we thought!!
Tuesday, 19 March 2013
Eight Years!!!
I can't believe that it has been eight years since I married the man of my dreams! Time has flown, but in such an amazing way! I knew after a year of dating that he was going to be my partner for life, it just took him a little longer to 'pop' the question, but it was worth the wait! ;o)
We are celebrating apart tonight (again)! However, it is for good reasons as he ministers to the Youth Group tonight. I love that he is so dedicated to serving God and is doing what God has called him to do. God has gifted him in so many ways and this is just one of them. We did however celebrate last night with some amazing Mexican Food. If you ever get a chance to try Costa Vida, it is awesome! Yes the first Costa Vida in Canada is right here in Airdrie. Everything is homemade, the salsa, tortillas, guacamole! Delish!
There are so many things I can share about this wonderful man I am married to, but as I was out and about with the kids today I found this card that was perfect. I hate buying cards, as $6 seems ridiculous to spend, but I had to get this one (and no it wasn't the $6 card, but still darn close). I think it sums up perfectly what I think and feel about my amazing husband. I thank God for him EVERY- SINGLE- DAY! I thank God that he is so dedicated and committed to serving Him, taking care of his wife and family and always, always putting us before his own needs. Some days the love I feel for him brings tears to my eyes, I am just so incredibly blessed! Ok, now for the card........
My Husband
is a man of character
who understands commitment
and does more than his share
to make his family comfortable,
safe, and secure.
I adore him.
My partner
is a man who is patient,
optimistic (in a realistic way--hee), caring, and wise.
His sense of humour and support
hold me up when I can't
do it myself.
I'm grateful for him.
My friend
is the only man
with whom I can share
my deepest secrets
and know they'll be safe.
Time with him is always good.
I cherish him.
You (John) are all of those things
and more to me.
I'm so thankful you came into my world,
for if you hadn't, I'm sure
I never would have known the kind of happiness
you've brought into my life.
I love you.
Happy Anniversary!
Thanks for being such an amazing husband John!! Can't wait to see what God has in store for us in the many years that lie ahead!
We are celebrating apart tonight (again)! However, it is for good reasons as he ministers to the Youth Group tonight. I love that he is so dedicated to serving God and is doing what God has called him to do. God has gifted him in so many ways and this is just one of them. We did however celebrate last night with some amazing Mexican Food. If you ever get a chance to try Costa Vida, it is awesome! Yes the first Costa Vida in Canada is right here in Airdrie. Everything is homemade, the salsa, tortillas, guacamole! Delish!
There are so many things I can share about this wonderful man I am married to, but as I was out and about with the kids today I found this card that was perfect. I hate buying cards, as $6 seems ridiculous to spend, but I had to get this one (and no it wasn't the $6 card, but still darn close). I think it sums up perfectly what I think and feel about my amazing husband. I thank God for him EVERY- SINGLE- DAY! I thank God that he is so dedicated and committed to serving Him, taking care of his wife and family and always, always putting us before his own needs. Some days the love I feel for him brings tears to my eyes, I am just so incredibly blessed! Ok, now for the card........
My Husband
is a man of character
who understands commitment
and does more than his share
to make his family comfortable,
safe, and secure.
I adore him.
My partner
is a man who is patient,
optimistic (in a realistic way--hee), caring, and wise.
His sense of humour and support
hold me up when I can't
do it myself.
I'm grateful for him.
My friend
is the only man
with whom I can share
my deepest secrets
and know they'll be safe.
Time with him is always good.
I cherish him.
You (John) are all of those things
and more to me.
I'm so thankful you came into my world,
for if you hadn't, I'm sure
I never would have known the kind of happiness
you've brought into my life.
I love you.
Happy Anniversary!
Thanks for being such an amazing husband John!! Can't wait to see what God has in store for us in the many years that lie ahead!
Saturday, 9 February 2013
Another Amazing Day!!
Three years ago we celebrated an Amazing Day with Zechariah and now we celebrate with Genesis!
I am still in shock!! She has been asking a lot of questions lately, especially to John about 'having Jesus in her heart'. John told me a while back that he thought he may have to sit her down and explain it and have the conversation with her as she kept bringing it up, totally on her own, unprompted by any of us. Of course I am always concerned about their age and whether or not they understand what it means to ask Jesus into their hearts. I don't know why, as Zechariah clearly remembers and knows exactly what it means.
Yesterday, while they were eating lunch Gigi announced to John that she had asked Jesus into her heart. He looked at her and said in shock, "you did....when and where?". She responded that she had in the bathroom (nice place to do it, but that is where she apparently does her best thinking and makes the best decisions----kind of like her Daddy--hee:o). He asked her if she wanted to say the prayer together with him and she did. So amazing!!!
I guess she asked John in the car a few days ago about asking Jesus into her heart and he asked her if she wanted to do it now. She responded 'no', she would do it tomorrow. Totally shows her personality. She is a thinker, but she is extremely independent and will do things when she is good and ready. Also shows that this is a decision that she has to make, that it is not forced by us. I get so frustrated when I hear comments about us shoving our beliefs down people's throats and especially down our children's throats. I will do everything possible to raise my children according to God's Word, but in the end it is 100% their decision as to whether or not they accept it and choose to live their lives for Jesus. I just pray every single night that the Lord will have a whole heck of a lot of Mercy and Grace on John and I as we try and succeed at the most important job we could ever have---being Christian parents. I fail miserably, especially lately when my patience is non-existent and my temper is quick and strong. That is why I feel so incredibly blessed and thankful that my kids have such a yearning and desire at such a young age to follow Jesus. I know I will have to pray even harder for them now!
We spent the night cuddling and talking. As I mentioned I still worry as to whether or not they understand and know what they are doing, so I asked all sorts of questions. Her answers amazed me and put my worries to rest. We talked about the Bible verse we are currently memorizing from
1 John 3:16 - "Let us not love with words or tongue but with actions". I asked what sort of things we could do that showed Jesus' love through us. Genesis broke down in tears as she told me about the poor kids and how they have nothing to eat and sleep in the dirt. She has a real heart for the poor and I pray that God will guard her heart and use her to help the poor that I know she feels burdened for. It was such a precious moment. She was trying so hard to hold the tears in and then she just looks at me and says "Mommy, my heart is so broken, it is just so broken for the poor"! Such an amazing moment to share with my incredible gifts from God. I am beyond bless! Days like these are absolutely priceless!
So today, we celebrated exactly like we did when Zech asked Jesus into his heart. We bought special cupcakes, balloons (one for her to keep and one to send up to the angels and Jesus in heaven who are having a party right now), and she gets to pick out a special new book (of course a Gigi, God's little princess book is what she wants). I sat with her and wrote special messages on her balloons. It was pretty cute what she told me to put! I think the pictures will tell the story.
I also felt so humbled and proud as to how Zech was so excited for her and just kept praying and thanking God that she asked Jesus into her heart. I pray that these kids will always be close and can pray for one another in the years that lie ahead. I pray that we are a close, praying, Christ centered family that can openly pray, talk and love each other daily! I pray that we will not let our differences separate us, break us apart, but instead through Christ and his love for us, we will be open and loving with one another.
My heart is full of happiness, so incredibly full right now! Please keep my beautiful girl in your prayers, God is so incredibly good!
I am still in shock!! She has been asking a lot of questions lately, especially to John about 'having Jesus in her heart'. John told me a while back that he thought he may have to sit her down and explain it and have the conversation with her as she kept bringing it up, totally on her own, unprompted by any of us. Of course I am always concerned about their age and whether or not they understand what it means to ask Jesus into their hearts. I don't know why, as Zechariah clearly remembers and knows exactly what it means.
Yesterday, while they were eating lunch Gigi announced to John that she had asked Jesus into her heart. He looked at her and said in shock, "you did....when and where?". She responded that she had in the bathroom (nice place to do it, but that is where she apparently does her best thinking and makes the best decisions----kind of like her Daddy--hee:o). He asked her if she wanted to say the prayer together with him and she did. So amazing!!!
I guess she asked John in the car a few days ago about asking Jesus into her heart and he asked her if she wanted to do it now. She responded 'no', she would do it tomorrow. Totally shows her personality. She is a thinker, but she is extremely independent and will do things when she is good and ready. Also shows that this is a decision that she has to make, that it is not forced by us. I get so frustrated when I hear comments about us shoving our beliefs down people's throats and especially down our children's throats. I will do everything possible to raise my children according to God's Word, but in the end it is 100% their decision as to whether or not they accept it and choose to live their lives for Jesus. I just pray every single night that the Lord will have a whole heck of a lot of Mercy and Grace on John and I as we try and succeed at the most important job we could ever have---being Christian parents. I fail miserably, especially lately when my patience is non-existent and my temper is quick and strong. That is why I feel so incredibly blessed and thankful that my kids have such a yearning and desire at such a young age to follow Jesus. I know I will have to pray even harder for them now!
We spent the night cuddling and talking. As I mentioned I still worry as to whether or not they understand and know what they are doing, so I asked all sorts of questions. Her answers amazed me and put my worries to rest. We talked about the Bible verse we are currently memorizing from
1 John 3:16 - "Let us not love with words or tongue but with actions". I asked what sort of things we could do that showed Jesus' love through us. Genesis broke down in tears as she told me about the poor kids and how they have nothing to eat and sleep in the dirt. She has a real heart for the poor and I pray that God will guard her heart and use her to help the poor that I know she feels burdened for. It was such a precious moment. She was trying so hard to hold the tears in and then she just looks at me and says "Mommy, my heart is so broken, it is just so broken for the poor"! Such an amazing moment to share with my incredible gifts from God. I am beyond bless! Days like these are absolutely priceless!
So today, we celebrated exactly like we did when Zech asked Jesus into his heart. We bought special cupcakes, balloons (one for her to keep and one to send up to the angels and Jesus in heaven who are having a party right now), and she gets to pick out a special new book (of course a Gigi, God's little princess book is what she wants). I sat with her and wrote special messages on her balloons. It was pretty cute what she told me to put! I think the pictures will tell the story.
I also felt so humbled and proud as to how Zech was so excited for her and just kept praying and thanking God that she asked Jesus into her heart. I pray that these kids will always be close and can pray for one another in the years that lie ahead. I pray that we are a close, praying, Christ centered family that can openly pray, talk and love each other daily! I pray that we will not let our differences separate us, break us apart, but instead through Christ and his love for us, we will be open and loving with one another.
My heart is full of happiness, so incredibly full right now! Please keep my beautiful girl in your prayers, God is so incredibly good!
Tuesday, 5 February 2013
The right decision!
I am just so proud, yes that Mommy eyes proud! That kind of proud where my mommy eyes are glued on. Seriously, I think today was a pivotal moment for me, a moment where I realized that we really did make the right decision, the best decision. No matter what people may think, no matter the stigma that it may or may not bring, I can finally say and say it in the open, that we made the right decision.
My boy came home with his report card today. He came home with his Kindergarten report card. Yes I said Kindergarten. It was all 1's and 2 's, and I am shocked at how far this kid has come!!! Last year was horrible. We fought constantly with him to do his homework, practice his printing, do his letters and sounds. I was relentless and I really pushed him, a little too much! I knew though that he just was not ready for Grade 1 and in fact I was the one who brought it up to his teacher. In the end they showed me how much progress he had made and said that he could go on to Grade one, but they would really be watching him. Is that what we wanted....him to be watched? We also did not know where we would be for his Grade one year, so we had a couple of months to make some decisions.
He was also going through numerous tests and we were told to wait for the results from those, before we made our decision. We got them and it really did help explain a lot. He has a slight hearing loss (not sure why and we are following it) and thus has been doing some extra speech therapy (more for him to slow down and get everything out that he wants to say---this kid has so much to say---it's exhausting for me sometimes). With that, we found ourselves miraculously in Airdrie again. Miraculously because we had to get out of our place in Cochrane (that is a whole other blog in itself---we were just sick and tired of putting up with marijuana, drinking, parties...etc.), but we were not having any luck finding anything. We basically started looking anywhere by the end, yes even in the not so great areas of Calgary. We got this place on Tuesday and moved on Friday and it was not even advertised. Total, total God thing!! Our landlords are amazing too! However, we then had to find a school for our monkey and make that difficult decision.
Christian schooling has always been a must for us, especially for Zech. He is so evangelical and everything for him revolves around Jesus. He told me the other day that he only likes to go to school to learn about Jesus! He would not survive in the public school system with his zealous goal of telling everyone and everything about Christ. However, money is also an issue as we can not afford the tuition of a private Christian school with our meager 'ministry' wage. I tried Catholic schools, we were even going to drive him a half hour away to a semi-public Christian School, but everybody was full. So we went to Airdrie Koinonia Christian School. Our first meeting with them was really good and we expressed our concerns about him going into Kindergarten. Well, their cut-off date for accepting kids into Grade one is Sept. 30, so Zech would not make it in. I am sure that they would have made an exception if we felt he was ready seeing how close his b-day is to the cut-off, but we had an amazing conversation with the resource teacher and principal and felt really confident about our decision to put him in Kindergarten again. The teachers expressed how important it is to ensure that little boys are ready to go on and that they have the confidence and tools to succeed in school. I wanted him to be ahead, not always lagging behind or having to 'watch him'.
However, I haven't told anyone. I think it had more to do with me and my own personal issues, as Zech would stay in Kindergarten for the rest of his life if he could and he has no problems telling people that. I felt that some how I had failed him, didn't spend enough time with him, should have put him in preschool. I have really backed off this year. I don't push him as much as I did last year and he is genuinely interested in learning. He will come and sit down with me and go through his counting book. He is sounding out words and trying to read all on his own. He knows all of his sight words. He has no problems memorizing his Bible verses. I am proud of how hard he is working and striving to do his best. I do not care whether or not he is the next Einstein, I only care that he is working hard and trying his absolute best and that he has the tools and confidence to succeed. We will be going through more testing with him here again soon. I pray that this is something that he will 'grow' out of and that it is not getting worse. It does explain why he is so 'loud' though! :o)
So proud of my boy!
My boy came home with his report card today. He came home with his Kindergarten report card. Yes I said Kindergarten. It was all 1's and 2 's, and I am shocked at how far this kid has come!!! Last year was horrible. We fought constantly with him to do his homework, practice his printing, do his letters and sounds. I was relentless and I really pushed him, a little too much! I knew though that he just was not ready for Grade 1 and in fact I was the one who brought it up to his teacher. In the end they showed me how much progress he had made and said that he could go on to Grade one, but they would really be watching him. Is that what we wanted....him to be watched? We also did not know where we would be for his Grade one year, so we had a couple of months to make some decisions.
He was also going through numerous tests and we were told to wait for the results from those, before we made our decision. We got them and it really did help explain a lot. He has a slight hearing loss (not sure why and we are following it) and thus has been doing some extra speech therapy (more for him to slow down and get everything out that he wants to say---this kid has so much to say---it's exhausting for me sometimes). With that, we found ourselves miraculously in Airdrie again. Miraculously because we had to get out of our place in Cochrane (that is a whole other blog in itself---we were just sick and tired of putting up with marijuana, drinking, parties...etc.), but we were not having any luck finding anything. We basically started looking anywhere by the end, yes even in the not so great areas of Calgary. We got this place on Tuesday and moved on Friday and it was not even advertised. Total, total God thing!! Our landlords are amazing too! However, we then had to find a school for our monkey and make that difficult decision.
Christian schooling has always been a must for us, especially for Zech. He is so evangelical and everything for him revolves around Jesus. He told me the other day that he only likes to go to school to learn about Jesus! He would not survive in the public school system with his zealous goal of telling everyone and everything about Christ. However, money is also an issue as we can not afford the tuition of a private Christian school with our meager 'ministry' wage. I tried Catholic schools, we were even going to drive him a half hour away to a semi-public Christian School, but everybody was full. So we went to Airdrie Koinonia Christian School. Our first meeting with them was really good and we expressed our concerns about him going into Kindergarten. Well, their cut-off date for accepting kids into Grade one is Sept. 30, so Zech would not make it in. I am sure that they would have made an exception if we felt he was ready seeing how close his b-day is to the cut-off, but we had an amazing conversation with the resource teacher and principal and felt really confident about our decision to put him in Kindergarten again. The teachers expressed how important it is to ensure that little boys are ready to go on and that they have the confidence and tools to succeed in school. I wanted him to be ahead, not always lagging behind or having to 'watch him'.
However, I haven't told anyone. I think it had more to do with me and my own personal issues, as Zech would stay in Kindergarten for the rest of his life if he could and he has no problems telling people that. I felt that some how I had failed him, didn't spend enough time with him, should have put him in preschool. I have really backed off this year. I don't push him as much as I did last year and he is genuinely interested in learning. He will come and sit down with me and go through his counting book. He is sounding out words and trying to read all on his own. He knows all of his sight words. He has no problems memorizing his Bible verses. I am proud of how hard he is working and striving to do his best. I do not care whether or not he is the next Einstein, I only care that he is working hard and trying his absolute best and that he has the tools and confidence to succeed. We will be going through more testing with him here again soon. I pray that this is something that he will 'grow' out of and that it is not getting worse. It does explain why he is so 'loud' though! :o)
Friday, 1 February 2013
One year ago....
My dear Aunt Elaine passed away. It is hard to believe that it has been a year already! Since I was the one that introduced her to the blog world (which I have been horrible at lately), I thought it was fitting that I dedicate this blog to her.
She was such an amazingly strong, vivacious woman, who remained so positive right until the end. Her battle began with discovering she had breast cancer, over coming it and then discovering she had brain tumours. She was fighting those as well, but then my Uncle and her were in an accident and she was injured bad. I am still amazed that she fought and hung in there given everything that she had injured in the accident. However, it was too much and she just could not hold on.
I remember visits with her, long chats, serious chats, and her stories and sense of humour. She loved to talk, to find out anything and everything she could about everyone. We really cherished the fact that she was genuinely interested in hearing about us, our lives. She genuinely understood that we didn't have to have 'everything' to be somebody. We weren't judged by what we had or didn't have, said or didn't say, believed or didn't believe. It was ok to be 'us' around her, which is a rarity for us!
So many great memories of her. Some I know we will never forget and will chuckle at for years to come (Dominican, Kelowna and the pink shorts in the hot tub, lunch at the Uni with her, seeing her right before she went in for surgery after the accident, the list could go on...).
While I have been horrible at blogging lately, I always knew that when I did blog, she would be one of the firsts reading it and commenting on it. Her comments were stories in themselves, which I loved because I always learned so much from them. I loved reading her blogs too and I miss them!
My dear Aunt, you are missed by so many and have touched so many!
She was such an amazingly strong, vivacious woman, who remained so positive right until the end. Her battle began with discovering she had breast cancer, over coming it and then discovering she had brain tumours. She was fighting those as well, but then my Uncle and her were in an accident and she was injured bad. I am still amazed that she fought and hung in there given everything that she had injured in the accident. However, it was too much and she just could not hold on.
I remember visits with her, long chats, serious chats, and her stories and sense of humour. She loved to talk, to find out anything and everything she could about everyone. We really cherished the fact that she was genuinely interested in hearing about us, our lives. She genuinely understood that we didn't have to have 'everything' to be somebody. We weren't judged by what we had or didn't have, said or didn't say, believed or didn't believe. It was ok to be 'us' around her, which is a rarity for us!
So many great memories of her. Some I know we will never forget and will chuckle at for years to come (Dominican, Kelowna and the pink shorts in the hot tub, lunch at the Uni with her, seeing her right before she went in for surgery after the accident, the list could go on...).
While I have been horrible at blogging lately, I always knew that when I did blog, she would be one of the firsts reading it and commenting on it. Her comments were stories in themselves, which I loved because I always learned so much from them. I loved reading her blogs too and I miss them!
My dear Aunt, you are missed by so many and have touched so many!
Friday, 25 January 2013
Hello 2013!
Wow, it's 2013! Normally I hate ringing in the New Year. It seems that the past few years have been hard and filled with twists and turns that I didn't anticipate, so what is the point of making goals, resolutions, making plans, when they never work out the way I (not God) wants them too. I am usually just so happy that I survived the past year, that is a goal in itself!!
This year, I am hoping will be different. Every year I have seen, read, followed those people that pick this nice little 'word' that they will focus on. I have always felt that there are so many little 'words' that I would need (yes, not just want...but need) to focus on and it would quite frankly becomve overwhelming, confusing and impossible to narrow it down to just 'one', so I have never bothered.
This year, however, after a lot of yelling, crying and uttering my complete and utter frustration to God, I think I have narrowed a 'word' down. It's a miracle, it's weird, but it is all encompassing for so many reasons! I won't go into my convoluted description as to the why and how I came to choose this word. Let's just say it seems to fit and in a weird way I think it is perhaps a more 'optimistic' way of looking at 2013. I need a bit more optimism, so here we go 2013........the year of OPPORTUNITY.
Yes that is my word = OPPORTUNITY
Weird I know, but hey that is the way I roll. Happy 2013, the year of opportunities!
This year, I am hoping will be different. Every year I have seen, read, followed those people that pick this nice little 'word' that they will focus on. I have always felt that there are so many little 'words' that I would need (yes, not just want...but need) to focus on and it would quite frankly becomve overwhelming, confusing and impossible to narrow it down to just 'one', so I have never bothered.
This year, however, after a lot of yelling, crying and uttering my complete and utter frustration to God, I think I have narrowed a 'word' down. It's a miracle, it's weird, but it is all encompassing for so many reasons! I won't go into my convoluted description as to the why and how I came to choose this word. Let's just say it seems to fit and in a weird way I think it is perhaps a more 'optimistic' way of looking at 2013. I need a bit more optimism, so here we go 2013........the year of OPPORTUNITY.
Yes that is my word = OPPORTUNITY
Weird I know, but hey that is the way I roll. Happy 2013, the year of opportunities!
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