I Have Returned

Good thing Ray was sharing his Wabikimi adventure over the last few weeks or my blog would have been a virtual wasteland. It has been very busy, and the other day I realized that when I don't have time to blog, I fall out of the loop of other people's lives too. Not good.

Winter has arrived in Ontario and with that comes the shovelling. I usually enjoy doing that part of my work which surprises a lot of people. It only becomes a problem when all my jobs collide. Good thing I can be flexible, but you can still only be in one place at one time. Joe and Kevin had a PD Day and Craig got a bonafide snow day when the white stuff arrived. So....I had lots of help. Ray stayed home that day as well, since London can be a real mess when it snows like this. We have had to outfit Kevin properly for Canadian winter since ankle boots just aren't going cut it. We went to TSC and took care of business.

I can't say exactly what has made life so busy. There have been school meetings, fundraising events, worship visuals to plan, create, and carry out....There have been many obligations but also many things that are a privilege to be a part of. Doing the visuals is always a wonderful visit with my friend Winnie. I'm in a great Bible/book study on forgiveness. The mother of Craig's friend Tristan died last week and we went to the funeral, Craig's whole class came on buses sent by the school (Did I mention that I love London District Christian Secondary School!!!!!) I've also had a lot on my mind and sometimes when you are pre-occupied everything gets to be a bit too much. You feel like you go-go-go from the minute your feet hit the floor in the morning until you drop into bed at night. The last two days have been really nice, and today is shaping up that way too. The rest of the month will be busy so I'll take advantage of these days while I have them.

My top secret projects are finished and I'm so excited. It's fun to have something up your sleeve!!! I also finished Christmas shopping for myself. Ray and I had chatted about what to get each other and he came home from his conference in Toronto with a half a suitcase of camping gear which he is going to wrap and put under the Christmas tree. I mentioned that I really only want some CD's and he said....oh, just go and get them and put them under the tree. Hey, that's all the permission I need. I opened one though.....has anyone heard of a band called "33 Miles"? They're a country-ish band.....I know....who'd have thought.... and they're sooo good. Anyone who is a fan of the Gaithers and their friends will love this CD! I love it because it is so upbeat and I really needed that these past few weeks.

I got my hair cut a couple of weeks ago and my shortest layers are just past my chin. I added some colour too and the blond highlights are gone. And I have bangs. It is great to straighten it, and have it hold its shape....it's just the right length. I think I got 6-8 inches taken off. It takes no time at all to my hair now since I only have half of what there used to be! It is quite wavy and unruly now that so much of the weight is gone.

Things with Kevin are still going really well. He is very excited about Christmas and the parcel his mom is sending from Korea. He told us everything that his mom is sending. That boy couldn't keep a secret if his life depended on it. :):) I should mention to him how much I LOVE surprises. But anyway!!! He is doing really well in school and works really hard. He loves to sleep in during the week but come Saturday morning he is the first one to bound out of bed and head for the PS2 to play a little Guitar Hero. He loves "Slow Ride" and "Hit Me With Your Best Shot".... He had a really good report card.

Joe was SO proud of his report card that he wanted to pin it up on the wall. I loved seeing him that excited. He is really maturing in his outlook on life lately. In some ways I am not ready for him to grow up, but it is wonderful to see him grow in independence and develop a good head on his shoulders.... But it comes in spurts. I still love it that he heads out the door in big boots and snow pants so he can build forts all recess long. His fort has a la-Z-boy and a big flat screen tv.

Tonight Craig's whole school is going Scrooging . That's canvassing for the foodbank in London neighbourhoods. Afterwards they are have pizza together and go bowling. I think that is one of the highlights of their week. I love how the school makes these kinds of opportunities available to the kids. In the same way they encouraged Tristan's class mates to go to his Mom's funeral. I've met his mom a few times and I went too. It was so neat how when the service was beginning the kids just started streaming in, filling up pew after pew, after pew, until they had filled 1/3 of the church. Tristan came and stood by them for a minute before his family was walked in. It was just so cool. Every once in a while you are criticized for choosing private Christian education....but days like that remind me of the privilege I have and of the freedom to choose.

I'm glad you have enjoyed Ray's adventure and getting a glimpse of his "wild" side. It's so much a part of who he is...how could I NOT let him go?

Well...I have remained within earshot of the laundry facilities all this while and I have been "working", doing the laundry. Time for the next shift...