More holes

First off, I want to say (as I know I will say a million more times) thanks to the people that have helped us in this process and to the people that are building our house. It's really a dream come true and every day is still like a dream and I keep wondering when I'm going to wake up. So thank you so much!!!! Okay, now that my "Oscar" speech is done...on with the show!

















I have to admit that I actually think it's boring to look at house building pictures. I just like to see the inside. Matt is the 'official' picture taker and I have asked him to take pictures from the same spots each time so you can actually see the real progress in each spot. I think that's why I think it's boring to look at house building pictures. They're always taken from random directions of different things. For example, if I want to share a picture of my kitchen, I'll share it in all stages...not just a picture of the framed kitchen and then ta-da...all done. I like to see (and like to think others like to see) the progress on a specific room/item etc. So here's to hoping I can accomplish that.


I hesitate to share this next thing because it's a bit personal but nevertheless I will share. The reason for our trip to Calgary this weekend was to see my Aunt, very possibly for the last time. She has been sick for quite some time and her health has declined significantly in the last little while. My family and I are okay under the circumstances. It's like I told my Mom last night "when you're in the fire (so to speak) you do what you can to cope/survive etc, but when you step out of that fire, it becomes a different thing". Stepping out of that fire is when you think, when you feel, when you mourn, when you cry, when you remember, when you wonder, when you wish, when you regret, when you realize, when you hope, when you pray. It's a lot some days. Some days I feel like I'm 11 years old again and my Dad is dying. I personally feel it's harder to say goodbye to someone when it's a slower, progressive thing. I think it's easier (NOT E-A-S-Y) when it's an instant thing. I have had a few family members pass away quickly and at least for me, it's been easier to deal with. As I said earlier, life is a little bit like a tap and here is a 'trickle' of what is going on. I know my family (in Calgary) could use any support any of you who know them or live there can give. I am grateful for those of you who have let me feel safe enough to let me talk about this to them in recent months. Anyways, I won't say much more or I will be a running faucet : ) Life is very fragile.

On a happier note:

Tanner had to wear purple to school today and of course he didn't have purple (most boys don't) so he wore my purple kangaroo jacket today. It's really quite cute and funny at the same time. It's, of course, HUGE on him but who am I to tell him he can't wear my purple coat on purple day?! It doesn't harm him in any way, shape or form so he can wear my purple coat if he wants.

They have this amazing yearly challenge this time of year where the entire school wears a different color (or strips or crazy hats) for 3 weeks and they focus on reading/literacy. It's such a great thing and the kids seem to love it. I just LOVE the programs and fun things they have for the kids here. You know, everywhere you go you're going to find challenges/bad things but I really feel like the school tries to promote unity and acceptance in the schools and it overflows into the community. It's such a great place to be.

A HOLE! A HOLE!

HOLE:an opening into or through something/a hollow place












This is the starting of our hole. It is apparently done but we weren't able to get pictures as Matt is at work with the car and I was plain lazy to go over and take a picture. Matt will take a picture of it tomorrow.

Today holes make me happy!

I still feel like this is pretty surreal.It still doesn't feel like OUR house.

Today having my shoulder taped made me happy. A couple weeks ago I over stressed it or slept on it wrong and it hasn't been the same since. Being in Calgary and sleeping poorly didn't help. So I had it taped up all fancy today so it feels better but we'll see how the week goes.

Hawaiian meatballs over rice made me happy today.

Walking home from dance class with Susanne made me happy today.

The fresh, windy air made me happy today.

Being alive makes me happy

Zoned

For the few of you that know what's going on in other parts of my life right now you'll understand why this happened.

Today I COMPLETELY zoned out after work. I had to run into Lethbridge for a little bit and I honestly don't even remember driving there or which way I drove. Then I was filling up with gas and, again, zoned out. So much so that all of a sudden I smelt gas and looked down and saw gas overflowing from my tank onto my skirt. Crazy!

I had a really good afternoon though. Service was exactly what I needed to get my mind off of what's going on.

This weekend will hopefully be a weekend of facing regrets, love, comfort, honor, peace, solitude and forgiveness.

Sorry that this is so cryptic. I just need to get some of it out. Life is a tap right now for me and I need to drip so that I don't burst. In time I'm sure things will make sense.

Matt and I are good. Tanner is great...other than a silly cold. We are looking forward to the ground being broken on our house either tomorrow or Monday. Although if they do it tomorrow we'll miss it but there are some things that are just a little more important in life right now.

I've been staked out

Yesterday they FINALLY staked out our lot!!!!!! EEEKKKKK!!! So stinkin' exciting!!!

I have many thoughts on this and other things so I will write a bit later.

Curious

Do you read/follow blogs that you never leave comments on or on a very rare occasion leave comments on?

Why do you NOT leave comments? Are you shy? Do you think that person will think you're a stalker/weird/lame if they know you read their blog?

Are you just an observer? You like to watch other people's blogs but not participate on them.

I'm a bit of all of those. There are some blogs that I follow that I am really shy about leaving comments on. Why? Because I feel I have to explain how I found their blog and if I know them through a friend of a friend, I feel like they might think I'm a stalker or a weird. There are actually quite a few blogs of people here in Ray-town that I follow but have never met them. Why do I follow their blog? I find their blog uplifting or funny or inspirational. I feel dumb leaving comments on them because...well, I feel like they're the "cool" kids and I'm not.

Anyways, I wondered this today because on my feedjit bar it showed an American visitor yesterday and I wondered who it was and how they found my blog. Most of my feedjit bar is visitors from Canada so it made me really curious. I'm kind of a random person sometimes and wonder odd things. Anyways, I hope everyone enjoys coming to my blog and finds it somehow uplifting or inspirational in some way. Or at least finds my life humorous in some degree because sometimes when I read back on posts, I laugh because even though at the time they seem like insignificant or serious posts, they become kind of humorous and or nostalgic to me.

Keep on reading and thanks for stopping by!

I came across this blog and loved what she had to say about this particular issue. Although THESE ARE HER THOUGHTS, I agree with them.


...in BYU’s Alumni Magazine entitled, THE DANGEROUS DIGITAL VORTEX, with the byline; Savvy parents connect with their children to build powerful family firewalls.

The author interviewed BYU associate professor of computer science, Charles D. Knutson who stated; “Increasingly, technology is the air we breathe. … We have to acclimate our children and teach them and train them how to live in a world where that is their reality.”

The article pointed out that dangerous areas such as pornography and predators in chat rooms are not the only thing to worry about. ”Sexting”, cyber bullying, Facebook, video games, and even too much texting can be areas that, if left unchecked, can become major problems. Prevention, and frank discussion is vital to training our children and youth.

Under a section entitled – Internet Filters and Computers in the Kitchen Are Not Enough, the author stated;

Responsible parents know not to put a computer in a child’s bedroom, but Knutson has found that some don’t think twice about handing their son or daughter a cell phone with a browser, messaging, and a camera. “You give your kids iPhones and they have the entire world at their fingertips. They’re taking it to bed with them, and maybe they’re accessing porn or maybe they’re just up until 4 in the morning texting their friends.” Parents who do this “have an absolute disconnect” about what they’ve done.

The solution is for parents to keep up on the latest technologies. They must investigate thoroughly and put limits on any devices they buy. That means adding filters, disabling questionable features, and controlling access. Some parents keep custody of the devices; the children check them out when it’s agreed they’re needed and check them back in at specified times, such as during homework hours or bedtime.

I think that is SOOO important to remember. Technology for teens is a privilege - NOT a right. Just like driving the car. We need to teach our children responsibility, and intelligence.

For example -

Texting language is not correct; just because your friends type “thru” and “C U L8TR” doesn’t mean that it is accepted as proper English. (When one uses texting language in his/her college papers, it only makes that person look illiterate. And, please don’t think it hasn’t happened, I have graded way too many of these papers in my six years in the college scene.)
It’s important to have conversations. The art of conversing will allow one to go far in life. A lot further than those who only know how to text their thoughts and feelings.
There are many AMAZING activities in life that can be done without technology. In order to learn those skills, one needs to unplug!
The author also states that not allowing any technology in the home is not a good idea.

Some parents are so terrified by the prospect of their children having access to the digital world that they “pull the plug”—they forbid any and all technology in their homes. “That solution creates a false sense of security,” says Knutson. “Your children still have access to computers at the library, at school, and at their friends’ houses. And they’re going to leave home. If they go to college, now they have a laptop for the very first time, and they’ve never had to contend with what that world looks like. It’s like tossing a kid into a swimming pool who’s never seen one before.”

Pulling the plug also denies children and families the positive connectivity of the digital world, which includes Church websites, General Conference, and valuable instruction of many kinds.

The most important thing to do is to make sure that families have good communication about the world in which they live.

Knutson says that when there’s emotional connection in the family, there’s a huge amount of protection. Add to that gospel teachings, and you have what amounts to a near firewall against harmful technology.

“I really believe that this is the fire this generation has to pass through,” says Knutson. “It’s the river of filthiness in Lehi’s dream. He said the iron rod was on the riverbank, so when you’re clinging to the rod, you’re very close to the river. It’s muddy, and you get splashed. But you can’t let go and move further from the filthiness. You’re where you’re supposed to be. It’s not your location that’s safe or unsafe—it’s how you behave despite your proximity to temptation. We cannot withdraw from the world but instead are called to be in it while we hold on to the scriptures, good parents, others who are godly, and, most of all, the Savior.”

You can read the entire article here. Also, the BYU professor has a website dedicated to Internet Safety which can be found here.

It's easy

When you have your 7 year old tell you he doesn't want to go to church and you ask him if he thinks Jesus loves him and his response is "no" , it becomes easier to see all that you've been blessed with and have been given as you start to list the ways and reasons Jesus does love that innocent, impressionable, young, sweet boy. In a moment like this I am terrified that I have done something wrong to make Tanner say that he doesn't want to go to church. It makes me grateful for my testimony, yet still tries my faith as I don't know if he just says that or if he really does not like going to church. It makes me unsure of what to say to him so that he also can grow his own faith to know that Jesus loves him even more than everyone in his life combined love him. That is something there is no specific answer to. Prayer and faith is all I have and is going to have to be used to the fullest in a moment like this.

Seriously

I seriously have the BEST of the BESTEST friends in the world! I am so dang lucky to have such amazing friends.

Shall I elaborate??? Of course I will.

As most people know, Tanner goes to one of my friends' (Amelia) house on Wednesday and not only does she watch Tanner, she makes both of us supper EVERY Wednesday. Awesome!

THEN, since we don't have cable (by choice) Susanne and I get together every week to watch 3 of our favorite shows and we decided this 'season' that we would do dinner and the shows. We alternate who does the meal but we always watch the shows at her house. Susanne is a terrific cook and I LOVE eating at her house. So yes, Susanne, this post was partly about you : )

It's so nice to only have to think about 2-3 other meals (Sunday's are always spaghetti and Thursday's are always leftovers) depending on the week.

Some days I can't believe how lucky I am with the amazing, thoughtful friends I have not only here in town but in Calgary too.

The ray of Sun that shines through the clouds

This morning I got a good cuddle/tickle session in with Tanner before I had to go to work...that makes things brighter.

A post from a friend was an answer to a prayer

Matt shoveling the hard snow to make a path from the back door to the car was so appreciated

A warm mug of Hot Chocolate to warm up the soul

Safety First

I'm not really sure why I'm putting this out there right now...maybe because I hope that if people are worried that this will somehow make them worry less...I don't know. I haven't really felt like myself. I'm just personally struggling with personal stuff...so I have kind of shut down and put up a wall...it won't be for forever...I'm just trying to work it out. So if I seem not myself, please don't think it's a specific thing...I'm just stuck right now.