last week Ayden got to go with Ben and Pete and do baptisms at the temple for his first time. he liked it. the Cardston temple baptismal area is so amazing, i love going there also. Tessa also went that day with young women's. (which is still odd to me that i'm not going!) so it was pretty cool that they all got to go the same day. love that!!!!!
on sunday we had the Calgary temple dedication...it was so good. President Monson was there and he said he had been waiting for that day. he loves Canadians. and of course! we are the best- truly. everyone knows it. anyhow, back to my original point...loved the dedication!!!
we have been without TV for a few days. yes, we are surviving...however, we were also really enjoying watching election build-up. and i would like to watch what's happening with the hurricane right now. anyhow...
we are less than a month now from being in Florida. it is so exciting for our kids! they will love it! i am especially looking forward to harry potter land! yippee!!! i have a few misgivings about such a long tiring trip- but am doing everything i can to prepare for it.
here we go, snow season! we got a bunch overnight...
and thank you 4 wheel drive! i think most of my anxiety about snow is because of our van getting stuck every time i go out...but NOW...i tried the sorento this morning and we zipped right up the east hill no problem! and there was a vehicle in front of us sliding backwards down...so it was a good test.
...and my title is fairly sarcastic...here is a picture of me showing my 40 year old wrinkles. and yes, thank you once again Peter for taking bright HD close ups that afternoon...
i didn't love turning 40 or acknowledging that number...it bugs me. but i suppose there is nothing i can do to change it!!! and because it wasn't the happiest moment of my life, i really appreciated those who took a moment to wish me a happy day. it made a big difference to me! many people probably think...ah, it's just another day, no biggie...but it was not just another day to me...
i was a bit surprised by family members that i guess didn't have the time to say anything...but...sigh...what can you do. if anything, it makes me see that maybe that is an area i could work on for myself. i can do better in keeping in touch.
i had a friend bring me a basket of breakfast. how cute was that??!!!
my awesome family made me dinner...and we had cake. the cake took a spill on the floor, so tessa and i scraped a bit off the top...
me- bowing my head in shame at my old age. 40 is the new 30 right??!! i think so!!! besides, i would not want to go back in time.
saturday we finally got to go to see the new Calgary temple. yay, we were excited! Ayden was especially excited to see the inside of a temple...we made one major mistake however. going the last possible day it was available. it was the day that worked for us. but man, it was BUSY. it was kinda crazy. i understand that the organizers did a great job and the best they could. but really- we were just rushed too quickly through. it was so beautiful though!!
it was a wet, snowy cold day! we weren't overly thrilled with the pictures. haha. and sadly, Tessa then got her hand shut in the vehicle door. her poor fingers swelled right up...we grabbed some snow for her which probably helped. but she was in pain, so we felt bad for her. it bend her fingers back, so it hurt her whole hand and arm as well. not fun!
ROOF DONE!! just in the nick of time for a possible bunch of snow. it is strange to have the roof shingled for the 3rd time in 5 years! let's hope it can go awhile now, without problems...
yesterday i headed into leth for a follow up app with Dr. Galbraith. i wasn't actually expecting shots. BUT i had been praying for the best thing to happen. and...he just sort of gave me shots! we talked about it, and went over how they were doing some good...and so voila!
after my last set, i have found myself to be more stable. i should say Pete has found me to be more stable. he checks my sacrum and hips every day...usually twice a day...and if the right side has slipped up, he pushes things back down. it's a huge part of the solution! it always feels better after. the only problem is- with all the ups and downs, there is still going to be inflammation there. which is causing the pain.
i am a bit surprised by people sometimes. people you think should automatically support you in difficult times etc....that don't. and you are surprised that people you wouldn't' think would be supportive- do. it is disappointing, but sometimes a pleasant surprise.
i am so grateful for Dr. Galbraith- that he lives in Leth now and not Calgary- that i've had the chance to have these shots. and YES they are helping, and anyone who thinks otherwise simply hasn't asked me or spoken to me about it.
thanks to those who have been supportive in my middle aged crisis lately! you know who you are...
evil nuns? creepy picture taken at our new favourite store...the halloween store! this is ayden and his pals...in case you can't tell...
oh PS...the background to the left are my favourite things...zombie/alien puppet babies!
sigh...nothing feels better in the world than all 5 of us having current temple recommends. even Ayden has one now. this month will be so great. he will be doing baptisms for the first time, we will go to the Calgary open house, and then the dedication at the end of the month. which we had to have special recommends for. it feels amazing to watch your kids come out of the bishop's office with a current recommend. grandpa Baker (Alma) said to me once- "as long as you have a current temple recommend, everything will be fine" and i believe him. and that has always stuck with me. nothing else in the world is nearly as important, or can even compare.
saturday morning yesterday started as most others...pete and i were cleaning away and this time listening to conference blasted on two tv's. he was in one room, i was in another. Pres. Monson started speaking and at about the same time, we both realized what was being said. jaws dropped, i froze...stood there absolutely stunned and listened to the whole announcement. pete came in, we were both shocked silly. i felt like i had been hit by lightening!
i can't think of a greater impact than on those parents who have 17 year old sons. which is us. so let's just say yesterday was spent in lots of thought, tears, excitement, and nervous energy. i texted Ben who was at work...and it was quite the buzz on Facebook.
i have to say that something interesting happened to me personally. i really felt like i needed a friend...someone who would listen and empathize a bit with what was going on. i quickly sent off an email to one friend...and she was on her computer emailing me already! she had many positive and empathetic comments, and i hope she reads this- because it meant an awful lot to me...it truly truly shows who true friends are. really!!!!
so how will this impact Ben? that is for him to decide ultimately- but the excitement was there yesterday- and the pressure of deciding what to do after graduation was suddenly gone! i will say that when Ben got home from work yesterday, he looked OLDER to me. really.
it has always seemed odd to me, kids growing up so fast- and now getting ready to leave home. VERY SOON...so much sooner than i thought. but this is a historical time in the church and as quoted by Jeffrey Holland... "the Lord is hastening His work!" that is so exciting to faithful members of the church in the last days. i never imagined it would impact us so personally, so soon.
and so thank you to the few kind family members who have sent me notes and comments...it is appreciated more than you know...
i would highly recommend everyone to watch this press conference...
friday the 28th i went to lethbridge with two of my favourite people...it was fun!
on saturday we went to the corn maze
on sunday we had ayden's ordination and a great salmon meal
tuesday was young mens and work
wednesday we watched the debate
thursday was a long day and i made a fantastic pot of quinoa soup
seems sometimes like we are up to our eyeballs in homework...pete helps with math a lot, and whatever he can't do- ben does. ayden has been working away learning the french horn
tessa got a set of white hands to hold her phone
this is my new chair ...the "old lady dying chair" as quoted by pete
started halloween decor
yipee!! got a new blender. my friend gave me one when my last one broke, which was SO SWEET...but it broke after about a week. since i can't live without my smoothies, i got this one...yay!!!
