Christmas Parties

Ian and I had a great time this past weekend at his work Christmas party in Saskatoon. The company put everyone up in a hotel there with all expenses covered. It was just one night but Ian and I had fun ordering room service and laughing at his intoxicated co-workers. Yay for being sober! We also braved the chilly weather to go to a real mall which was a big thrill for me as shopping is quite lacking in Lloyd. While we were there we also saw Santa Claus (the real one - beard and all).

We came back on Saturday afternoon in time for our branch Christmas party which was so fun. It is starting to feel like family. Most of the group braved the weather again to go carolling (I wimped out and stayed at the chapel) and then we had a wonderful dinner with a dance. We have made some good friends here.

The above pictures are from the work party in Saskatoon (including the view from our 12th floor room). We didn't take any pictures with the group. We also had the camera but didn't use it at the branch party so you just get a look at the dressed up couple in SK (doesn't happen often so a picture was in order).

I would cry if my tear ducts weren't frozen

- 46 with wind chill! MINUS FORTY-SIX! It is like death outside. Our trip to Hawaii can not come soon enough. Today in Hawaii it was 25 degrees. TWENTY FIVE! And my lovely sister Janelle was just so kind as to let me know that it is -1 in Vancouver. Why did I move to Lloydminster?

NOT going outside...

It is soooooo cold. -28 with the windchill and I don't want to go outside. I miss my underground heated parkade. I miss Calgary (only -8 there today). Who ever liked winter anyways. Sigh.... I would be perfectly content with a full winter of -10 but anything less than that is just too cold. So Santa.... that is my wish for Christmas.... see what you can do!

perhaps I should just move to the coast?

It's Here!

We made it to December 2 without any bad weather, but now it has come. I guess I shouldn't complain considering we got a whole extra month of fall. The snow is just a skiff but with -25 wind chills there seems no possibility of melting. Bring it on winter.... this will be the last winter we have to survive without a garage so hopefully it isn't too bad.

We are in the process of purchasing a home... and we feel truly blessed to be able to afford a new build here in Lloydminster. We may just get our dream home (a smaller version at least) the first time round. Nothing is signed yet but we have looked at floor plans and lots available. Monday will be decision day! Wish us luck.... it is a huge decision with lots on the plate, especially considering the current economic state.

Wearing in shoes

I was back to teaching today (finally)! I substituted for a grade 2 class at Jack Kemp School here in Lloyd. I had definitely forgotten how tiring the younger students are. I think I would much rather take on the older classes then deal with the "high maintenance" little ones. It is so ironic too that I am finding the older students to be more enjoyable. I started my education career training in Early Childhood Development and even did most of my University placements in grades 1 and 2. I love the conversational ability that the older students have as well as their 'funky' personalities as they begin to figure out who they are as individuals. I am however, grateful for the blessing it is to teach any age. The school was great and the staff friendly, I do miss having my own students though and really feeling like I belong. It was a good day... but man am I tired.

Note to self.... wearing in new shoes as a teacher is really atrocious. You never get to sit.

Early Christmas

Ian and I had fun this past weekend decorating at my parents house for Christmas. We did it a bit early this year to take advantage of the clear roads. We left Friday night to visit family, though the main point of the trip was for our branch youth temple trip. We arrived at the temple on Saturday afternoon to find out that our whole group canceled, due to a sudden blizzard in Lloyd that melted a few hours later. We still enjoyed our weekend however and I came home with an early Christmas present to me.... a new vinyl cutter. I have been having a great time and a crazy time figuring this thing out today and am very excited for the new possibilities with my business.

gufarlakmeakne!

grumble.... mumble......sigh..... smile..... tear..... angry face.... scowl.... sigh.... arg

Craft fair pictures....

long weekend.... soooo tired.... must post pictures.... words later...

... have items left.... still selling!

Chaos...

My apartment is a disaster currently. There is wood, paint, vinyl and supplies littered around numerous rooms as the craft fair looms ever closer. Who would have thought we could make 200 items in 2 weeks. Needless to say I am exhausted and am looking forward to next week when I can clean and reorganize my home.

At this crazy time I must also give huge props out to Ian who has helped so much through this entire process. He is wonderfully supportive even though this business is messing up his house and taking away his wife who has neglected the cooking, laundry and cleaning for the past month. I love you babe!

Pondering

How long is the Lord's timetable? Is it set in blocks that are months long? Is there recess and lunch? Will 'class' EVER end?

I feel like I am sitting in some University class, that may be interesting, but has no 'end time'. It's like I'm sitting there taking notes and listening to the instructor who just keeps talking and talking... never looking at the clock, never running out of things to say... the students are all sitting awkwardly in their seats wondering if they should suggest that the teacher dismiss or if they should just walk out and hope that they don't miss anything important..... hmmm, can I even leave? I wonder if the door is locked? Maybe not the back door, but the front door is definitely barred and guarded. You can't get out that way until the instructor gives the go-ahead. Who wants to go back though? No one wants to return to high school (okay maybe some of you crazy people want to... I wouldn't wish that on anyone).

I hate being prevented from doing something. I am a stubborn person.... I know what I want and what I don't want. Why waste time in the 'present moment' when there are things to be done. It isn't that I don't like where I am... I love my husband and am so blessed with everything that we have here together in Lloydminster. I just feel like I am being sooooo lazy (even though I really am working my butt off). It just all comes down to my LIST...

I am definately a list person... and I go through each day, week and year of my life checking things off my list. I find it very satisfying to throw a list in the garbage knowing I have completed everything on it. Looking back at a very generalized 'life list'; I completed elementary school, got baptized, finished junior high and seminary, completed high school, moved out, got a college diploma, recieved my endowments, completed a university degree, finished institute, started teaching, got married.... now what... of course, have children.... oh but wait... some of us can't make this happen no matter how hard we try.

I don't like this current feeling of being stagnant. My pool of water is growing bacteria and starting to look and smell gross... ew, who wants to climb a mountain to see a view of smelly, green scuz along the valley floor? I don't know if this post makes any sense to anyone (even me). I just feel frustrated with where I am NOT going.

November?

Who said this year could go by so quickly? I can't believe it is time for the snow to fall, to prepare for Christmas AND to be ready for the craft fair in 2 weeks. I am so excited and sooo worried that we won't have enough done, that people won't buy our products or that they will buy them all really fast and we will have an empty booth for a day. I'm hoping for the best and hoping that I will have fun doing it above all else. I love the holidays and am really starting to feel Christmas-y.



This is the crazy look I am going to have on my face until stress time is over. Just smile and nod!!!!

Weekend Adventure

Ian and I had a great weekend gallivanting across Alberta. Here are some pictures of our adventures...



I got to see the 'fun uncle' whom I haven't seen since I was 10 years old. Apparently I am "sooo tall". I guess a lot of things change in 16 years ;)



man... he is the TALL one!



I also got to attend YW in Excellence with my girls and I was so proud of their effort on their recent projects.



Arrianna on the orange stripe made the dress she is wearing.



We then traveled down to Calgary for a quick visit with some awesome friends. What evening isn't complete without Spicy Hut and mid-air pictures... those crazy boys can sure jump.



This one is a bit more tame... after we watched Arrested Development... so funny.

After seeing our friends we had a lovely stay/visit with Ian's aunt and uncle and all the cousins who came by for Sunday dinner. We were super excited to see his sister Cora as well!



Monday morning before we headed back home I was able to visit my old students. It was a wonderful visit and I really miss them. It was so nice to see my old co-workers and I really miss seeing them daily.



This is one of my wonderful co-workers who made me this adorable baby hat (below).



The visit ended all to quickly as we rushed to get out of Calgary to begin our 5 hour trip back home. It was lovely to be there but also nice to be back in the more peaceful Lloydminster. We hope to visit Calgary again in the spring.

Cutting, painting and more

My friend Chelsey and I are now full swing into our business making a large order for a local store as well as preparing for the November Christmas Craft Fair. We certainly have our hands full with only one month to finish a couple hundred items. Thankfully with help from my wonderful husband (who has become my free labourer) and the Gibb's who lent us their table saw, the process has sped up considerably. Here are a few pictures of the process...

Regrets of a tender heart...

I know... so cute, right?!?...

Yesterday Ian and I found a kitten out all on its own. We were cutting wood in our parking lot behind our building and saw this kitten whining and whining. It seemed to be all by itself so we went to pick it up to see what we could do. The kitten then ran and took up residence in the undercarriage of a vehicle and we could not coax it out (not even with milk - I am told cats like milk ;). We continued to work out there knowing the kitten was safe in the car for the moment, occasionally trying to get it to come out. Eventually it came time to pack up and leave and my tender heart just couldn't bear to leave this kitten (and I hate animals) out where it could die in numerous ways. So determined and with a prayer in our hearts that if Heavenly Father cared about the survival of this little kitten then He would help us to retrieve it. Ian then spotted the kitten curled up inside the wheel of the car. Ian, the fierce warrior, managed to get his hand back in there to get the kitten... which resulted in claw marks and a vicious bite on his finger (it was bleeding pretty good).

So now with the terrified kitten we took it inside to get it some food and to cuddle and play. It warmed up to Ian very quickly (it doesn't like me but that is just fine with me). So after our evening of playing with this cute adorable kitten (whom we named Mickey Blue Eyes) came night. The first time I heard the kitten was a clear sign of what my night/morning was to encompass.... MAN can this thing whine! It did okay at night as we put her box in another room with a blanket overtop and closed the door. The kitten stopped fairly quickly and did well most of the night.... this morning was another story though... even freed and allowed to roam and wander this kitten just keeps meowing... and it is LOUD. So this morning I am regretting the tender heart I had yesterday for this helpless kitten. The plan was to wait till Ian came home from work... canvas the neighbourhood to see if we can find where it came from and if not, take it to the SPCA. If this insesent meowing continues though it will be traveling to the SPCA a lot quicker than planned.

Ahhhhh, We got in!!!!!

Just got the call this morning.... we have a spot in the big ol' craft fair in November! Chesley (my co-hort) and I are super pumped for our first big business debut! It hasn't yet sunk in of how much work we have to complete in the next month and a half (an 83 item order for Christal's store as well as probably the same amount for the fair). Yikes! We can do it though and are thilled about how everything has just come together with this new business. We have a 10x10 foot booth in a PRIME location on the busiest aisle of the route... not to mention a corner booth! I am going crazy with excitement and am really wishing I had a garage or basement to do all this work in. I will find a way though... and may take you up, Lara, on your garage use offer.

So keep your calendars open folks (if you can make it all the way to Lloydminster) for November 14-16th. We will also need help managing the booth as I am quite sure we won't both survive there the entire time by ourselves. I am still not sure what to do about the Sunday part of it all but if we sell out of everything before Sunday then we just close the booth down.

I am so thankful to my Father in heaven for providing a way for this all to be possible. For giving me something to keep me busy as I still wait to teach, especially something that is so fun!

These high and lows of life are crazy and I am thankful for the love and support of you all. Sometimes it is hard not to feel alone when you are surrounded by people.

Is anyone there?

Is anyone reading this? Does anyone care?

I have been feeling lately that no one reads my blog... that because I don't have cute, adorable children to write about that my life is not quite equal to everyone else's. I want, more than anything to have my own family... to tell about the tough times and the good but right now it is entirely out of my control and I am extremely frustrated about it. What I wanted most, my entire life, is being withheld from me and it breaks my heart. I love hearing about your families... the things you do together... what you teach them... what you learn from the precious things they say. I check numerous times everyday to see what has happened in your lives... because I can't have what you have, right now.

I just want you all to know, if anyone even reads this, that I want more than anything to be in your shoes and I am so tired of hearing from everyone "enjoy this time you have alone". God did not create us to be alone.... I was created to have a family and I don't want to enjoy this 'alone time' because I see everyday, numerous times a day, what I am missing and it makes me sad.

Business Time......

I must tell about the exciting events that are happening for me here in Lloydminster!!!!

If you have not yet heard I have started a business! It is a vinyl sign making company (quite popular for you folks in southern AB and even Edmonton and Calgary. The fad that has come from where?!? Utah of course.

Starting my own business was never something I really wanted to do (except perhaps a preschool which may happen someday... or maybe not).... but having been here in Lloyd now for 3 full months (especially without being able to teach) I have been going bonkers with boredom. The suggestion came from a few different people (Ian was one of them) and I thought it through a bit and figured.... why not!!! It was something that was possible without too many start up costs and no one in my area seems to be doing the same thing. The real seller for me was when I learned a friend in our branch owns a store in the area and was looking to switch suppliers for the same type of products. It was a guarantee with a busy store to sell the products in so I was SOLD! I don't know how things will go as far as making any large amounts of money but for me it is about doing something I enjoy and keeping busy. So with our first large order in (75 items) I will be quite busy for the next little while... especially if I get into the huge craft fair here in November which I am still waiting to hear word on.

So I know there are many others who do the same thing (and probably closer to where you are) but please keep me in mind if you are looking for vinyl wall decor, custom wooden plaques and tiles. I included just a couple pictures of the first few samples made.... These are just the start as well... I have more designs coming and hopefully a website in the coming months.

Happy Birthday to ME!

Can't you see the excitement in my eyes!!!! I love birthdays and always have because it was the one day a year when I felt it was my right to have everything be all about ME! With 5 siblings there aren't many moments when it is just about you so I have looked forward to, and counted down to my birthday each year. I thought this excitement and anticipation would wear off as I got older but I must say it feels the same (though I only started counting down about 11 days before - instead of 70 days).

Today was wonderful and I thank each of you for your sweet messages and kind thoughts for a happy birthday. It was more than just today though... much more. I have felt very spoiled this week... by my wonderful husband, family and friends as I received gifts, lunch/dinner dates and a spa pedicure treatment. I especially loved my family (part of it at least ;) who traveled from Edmonton to Lloydminster just to spend a couple hours with the Isackson's.

Ian was also extremely wonderful as his surprises just kept coming.... I was WAY surprised (and that is a BIG deal)!

Thanks again for the love and attention... I must admit that I do love it and am a secret drama queen, though I don't perform on demand.

Ode to Rhonda

I cannot say enough about how great I think Rhonda Steed is! Honestly, she is my hero and the type of mother I want to be. It was sad to move away from my Idol but I do my best to keep up with her life on her blog. Anyone else who knows her would totally understand my admiration for this amazing photographer, talented scrapbooker and tender-loving mother. I pray that I may one day be as motivated, organized, artsy and dependable. Rhonda puts her best effort into everything she does, whether she is getting paid or not. She is so kind and was one of the first families to welcome us into our new ward. She encouraged me, comforted me, thanked me and motivated me when I was responsible for 12 insane toddlers every Sunday. She is such a beautiful woman inside and out. I will continue to live vicariously through her as I wait for the blessing of my own family.

Rhonda, thank you for all that you do for your children, your family, your friends and your ward. You are loved and appreciated by so many and I know that God could not have blessed your children with a better mother than they already have! Just wanted to let you know that people far away are thinking about you.

Waiting...

Summer has ended and I find myself still waiting.... waiting for something to keep my days busy and not so self centered. It is wonderful to sleep in everyday as long as I like and do what I want at any time but it isn't very fulfilling. I had my two months off from teaching during the summer, which was somewhat busy, with a move to a new city and a trip to Switzerland, but I am still amazed with how much time I spent doing 'nothing' (at least nothing useful eg. tv, internet, reading). Looking back there is so much I could have done and accomplished during that wasted time but I was severely lacking the motivation. It is hard to go out and make new friends, find new jobs and to develop talents and serve.

I have been blessed in the, almost 3 months I have lived here, with good friends, a comfortable home, a quiet city and a happy husband. It is fairly close to my family and far enough away from the craziness of traffic and year-round construction.

Since school started in September I have been really missing the feeling of 'helping others' that was so prevalent as a teacher. I miss knowing that I was an important part of a group and that I had an impact, perhaps forever, on the lives of so many. Not knowing what was awaiting us here in Lloydminster we had decided that I would just substitute for the school year. I have been hired but put off the paper work I should have done during the summer, that would allow me to teach in a Saskatchewan school district. So I find myself waiting for the document to come in the mail that will finally let me work and take my mind off the nothingness that seems to be my life at the moment.

Don't pity me though as I have been mostly happy here and like the smaller city life. I have just been focused on me for too long. I am excited for the recent call I have to be the Young Women's President here in the Lloyd branch and hope that serving these wonderful girls will put some fire back into me. I am just sooooooo ready for change and hope that me, myself and I can leave my thoughts for awhile.

Thanks to all you friends and family who have kept in touch, gotten to know me, sent me messages, phone calls and love and support since we left Calgary and came to Lloydminster.

Switzerland and Italy

We made it back! The last two weeks in Switzerland were such an adventure. It was so wonderful to see my Sister and her husband and to travel around such beautiful parts of the world. I knew as soon as I got there that I couldn't find any motivation to get my sister to come back to Canada. We have a beautiful country in Canada but Switzerland doesn't even seem to compare.

This trip involved a lot of firsts for me. It was my first trip overseas, first time riding the intricate train systems, first time climbing the Alps, first gelato, first time in Switzerland, Italy and Germany and the first time surrounded by people who don't speak English. I enjoyed most of these firsts but I am not such a fan of being unable to communicate with others. Oh and I had no idea what car sickness was until I rode the switchbacks in Switzerland.

We traveled to many cities including: (Germany) Frankfurt, (Switzerland) Zürich, Sankt Gallen, Appenzell, Meglisalp, Gais, Tessine, Vira, Lugano, Bellinzona, Indemini, Locarno, Winklen, (Italy) Luino and Milan. We drove, walked, hiked, shopped, ate, swam, explored and were awestruck.

Favourites for me were the great cathedrals, the market in Luino, the soccer stadium, the castle, Indemini and the old city in Sankt Gallen. I loved being with my sweetheart who spared me great anxiety as I fear traveling and everything associated with it. I loved to see what my sisters new life in Switzerland is like and I am so proud of her as she teaches primary in German. I loved seeing Ian and Ephraim having fun together and really appreciated my time with my sister.

There were many stories to tell and lots to see... check out my facebook space to see pictures of us and to hear about our adventures. www.facebook.com

Switzerland was amazing and I am so glad I went but now I am so grateful to be back home with all the comforts it allows. As Ian and I were traveling back to Lloydminster we realized that Switzerland may be beautiful beyond compare but there is still such beauty in all the places we call home. I love the yellow fields of canola and the vast expanses of green. I like to see far into the distance and watch the sun rise and set. I love that I don't get sick traveling on our straight roads and I love being able to communicate with all around me. I most of all love sleeping in my own bed!