Thank You Cards...

I know it's been a long time since my last post - for that I apologize - I'd write you a card BUT...

I am writing today about thank you cards (or just cards in general, I suppose). I have many MANY friends getting married this summer (which is lots of fun), and many of those friends live in the area, which means I get to go to their weddings (also fun) BUT it also means I get to go to lots of showers. Now, I know I put a but in there - that's not to say that I don't enjoy showers (although I will definitely say that some are MUCH more fun than others - but that's another post). I enjoy the showers - and I love giving gifts to people who mean a lot to me, it's fun to bless them with stuff I know they'll enjoy a lot BUT (here it comes) - all these people who I give gifts to have been writing me thank you cards!!

Now, it's not to say I don't like thank you cards. In fact, I love them. I got a great one this week that included the words "pee my pants" which is always a great phrase to get in any card, but receiving cards that are meaningful (not just "Thank you for the pot it was nice" which obviously mean the writer of said card is completely tired of writing thank you cards) and directed just to my relationship with that person is great - but is makes me feel guilty. VERY Guilty...and here's why.

When I got married many moons ago (those moons would be mostly from Brad, although some from the sky), I didn't give out thank you cards for up to ONE YEAR! I started off with good intentions, but got lazy, got frustrated, got Brad to do some (which means I just ended up doing them, MUCH later) and basically didn't get them done. I was putting cards in mailboxes at a work I no longer worked at (and hadn't for MONTHS) for a shower they'd thrown for me two months before I left the job. I got the ones done for our relatives before we saw them a month after the wedding, but once that initial rush was over, we just never did do them. Some people, in fact, have never been given their thank you card - it got to be so late I was just too embarrassed.

I loved the gifts, I cared about the people, but I just couldn't do it on time. Which says something about cards in general. I had my Mother's Day cards two weeks early. When did my mother-in-law get hers mailed to her - a week late (at least I sent it from another province, so the cool factor of that must account for something). Christmas cards this year - not done. Thank you cards from Brad for donations for his trip a year ago - never written. "I think you're great" cards - they just never make it beyond the well thought out plan phase.

SO - I would like to say two things - for those of you who are amazing at sending cards to us. Thank you. I LOVE them, I put them up on my mantle, they mean a lot, and you are INCREDIBLE for putting in the effort to giving them to us.

For those of you who feel you deserve a card from me - my deepest apologies. You may never get one, ever. I thank you from the bottom of my heart HERE for all the things you will ever do for me. And if you REALLY want a card - please leave a comment, and I'll do my best to make sure you get something within the month of when you deserved such a card. You are all wonderful - cards or not.

On Mother's Day...

To my Mother

Thank you for being my mom. Thank you for all of the things you taught me over the 27 years you were a part of my life. You taught me grace in any circumstance. You taught me unconditional love (and were better at it than I am). Mom, I remember your hugs, your love, your willingness to talk about any and everything. You taught me about sacrifice, and the joy that brings. You showed me what it is to be a woman of prayer, and one who had a real relationship with our Father.

You showed me trust, and treated me with respect, and allowed me to live my life, without imposing rules on me that could have made me "safer", but kept me from growing. You showed me the value I had in life and told me I was worth it when I wanted to buy that outfit that was mint green and pink with a matching scrunchie (I have since learned I'm worth so much more than that...thank goodness)! You taught me that laughter is important, and family meals, and regular affection, and an open and honest relationship with anyone is more valuable to both of you than any platitudes. You taught me how to be a good mother one day, and were a great Oma to your grandkids, even the ones you won't meet on this earth.

Mom, sometimes I want to call, and I'm reminded you're not here. I think of you when I think of going shopping for my birthday, when I think of going to a play in Vancouver, when I have a counter full of dirty dishes and when I just want a hug.

You taught me what a legacy is - and how it is formed by each moment of each day leading up to the end of your life.

I miss you.

To my Mother-In-Law

I truly love you. You have blessed me with your amazing son. If not for the way you raised him, I would not have such a wonderful husband today. You taught him respect for women, and for all people. You taught him how to listen, how to take notice of the life around him and a genuine heart for the people in his life. You taught him wisdom, and the value of a strong woman in a marriage.

You have also taught me. You've taught me that it's necessary to speak up and have an opinion on things. That "if we both thought the same thing all the time, that one of us would be unnecessary". You taught me that respect and love don't mean acquiescing and cooking dinner every night. You taught me that a career is important. That continuing to grow as a woman, as a person, is a lifelong endeavour to be cherished and developed.

I have cherished our morning chats over breakfast, TV and the newspaper. I have appreciated the way you opened your home and shared your Christmas with someone who was "just a friend". I have loved how you have opened your family to me, and allowed me to be part of such a special and wonderful group of people. I love the way you and dad continue to be a blessing in our lives in so many ways.

You have taught me what it is to be strong - not hard, but the strength that is evident even in vulnerable moments.

I love you.

To my Future Stepmother

MaryAnna, I am thankful you have become a part of my life. You are a blessing to my dad, and a joy to share my time with. You are an amazing woman. I appreciate that you never tried to force yourself into a relationship with me that I wasn't willing to have. You simply cared about me, and let me know that. You have a great family - and I'm glad that I'm going to be a part of it. I could not have imagined a woman who will fit so well into my father's life as you are - challenging him, and loving him both. You have gone through a lot, but you refuse to be afraid of the future because of that. You continually open your heart and your home, in a way that is so natural and comfortable.

You laugh, you think, you are self sufficient, you are a woman of Faith. You are a blessing to those who know you.

I am glad you will be here in my future. You will not take the place of my mother, but you don't want to. You have simply found a new place in my life, and I like it that you're there.

* * * * * * * * * * * *

I am so thankful to be a part of such an incredible family of women of Noble Character. God has put you all in my life - I don't know why, but I am grateful. I hope I will continue to grow more like each of you, as you reflect God's love to the world, may I learn from all of my mothers' lives.

Strange Vomit...

**Note - the following really does have to do with strange vomit, so if you've made a pact with yourself to avoid funny vomit stories, please, read no further**

Some of you may know this about me, many of you probably don't. I do not have a history of throwing up. In fact, I have a history of NOT throwing up. Other than knee surgery (where I threw up many times, and my loving husband was there to throw out the vomit, as I couldn't walk, and to feed me more juice to throw up at a later time) OTHER than that, I used to be able to say that I hadn't thrown up since I was about 12 years old. Not too shabby, eh?

Like I said - used to. I figured, what with getting pregnant and all, that record would not stand, but lucky me, I managed to avoid throwing up the entire few weeks I was pregnant (ha - I've finally figured out how to avoid morning sickness...) and NOW, not that I am most definately NOT pregnant - I throw up.

But HOW did I throw, as I said - it's strange. I was walking down the road, drinking pop. Something many of us do on a regular basis - both walking, and drinking pop, and perhaps, something you have even done recently together. As I did. Suddenly I felt the urge to belch. Being a teacher, that urge often has to be quashed, which is not as fun. So...seeing as there was no one around, and I was out and about and there wasn't going to be anyone seeing or hearing me, I figured now was a GREAT time to belch away. And so I did. Only it turns out, it wasn't a belch - somehow, instead of just air coming up the windpipe, there was food that had formerly gone down that felt the urge to come back up. And so it did. And I threw up. Just a little - enough to get it up my nose, not enough to leave an obvious mark on the road. And then I kept walking home. And laughed to myself.

Here I am - not drinking alcohol, not drunk, yet walking down the road and puking like a drunkard. For no aparent reason. I went home, and called Brad and laughed as I told him.

I don't know if the fake belch / vomit thing is a common occurence, or if it's just one more thing that makes me special, but it sure made me laugh!

What the heck???

Ladies and Gentlemen - welcome to the underbelly of Langley BC...



I apologize for the blurriness - this was taken out of a car window as we were driving by. This is the highest we've seen it yet - I'll keep you updated with more blurry pictures.

Brad and I went Shopping...

And we bought a new DIGITAL CAMERA!! YAY. This is a camera just for me, basically. It's cute and small, but will still work well and have enough features to take some cool wedding shots. We bought it so I've got a bit of time to figure it out before Tiff & Brynn's wedding next weekend (wow, that's coming fast!).

So, without further ado (adieu?) (A-Doo) I give you *imagine trumpets trumpeting...* the first picture I took on my NEW CAMERA!!


P.S. after all, what else do trumpets do?

I just got my "L"!!

**The Following is a drama BASED on a true story**

Deb enters the school on Monday morning around 10:00 am. She is later than normal to work, but on time for her first class of teaching. Deb bounds upstairs to the sewing room where Sue (who knows Deb was taking her test) is teaching. Deb pulls out a yellow piece of paper and starts smiling and jumping up and down.

Sue: You did it!

Deb: Yep! Woo hoo!!

Sue gives Deb a hug while students gather, looking confused. Deb looks at the class.

Deb: I just got my learners!

Random Student: You just got your learners? What?

Other Student: You mean you can't drive? What?

Deb: Oh, I can drive...

Other Student: You mean you've been driving illegally all these years? What?

Deb: Yes...in fact, I believe I've even driven you around, haven't I...(grins evilly)

Random Student: I'm confused. You JUST got your learners?

Deb: Yep...for my MOTORCYCLE!!

Students look at Deb with varied mixtures of shock, respect and a sense that thier drama teacher is completely insane (all of which are true and legitimate feelings about me by the way).

RS: Are you going to get a motorcycle?

Deb: I already have two!

RS: Really!? (more shock, respect and a little fear)

Deb: Yep!

This conversation happened about 15 times throughout the day, and always ended with one of two endings. Either students asked about what KIND of motorcycles I had, or, if they knew nothing about motorcycles, they'd ask about how the test was, and how I did (it was easy and I got 100%, although I did skip a few questions along the way). Either way the very end of the conversation would be me telling them that I was going to be taking lessons before I attempted to get on a big and scary bike, and that I was super excited.

So, the moral of this little play is:
YAY - I GOT MY MOTORCYCLE LEARNERS!! I'm going to be a motorcyclist!! WOO HOO! And kids: don't play with matches.

The End.