Hmmm... ok, so I said earlier that once I stopped updating this regularly, it was time to shut it down.
Well.... I certainly haven't updated regularly (unless you count once a year as regular) and yet, I'm not so sure that I won't want this blog again in the future. So, instead of shutting down, I will simply tell you that I am spending most of my online time on Facebook these days. Lots of photos.... a pithy comment about my day... you know.
I do reserve the right to get busy on here again - but I'm not going to lock myself into anything.
ttfn,
Susan
Friday, August 08, 2008
Monday, January 08, 2007
The Cross, the Crown and the Cradle.
Hi,
I know, I know, it's been awhile. When I can't update at all it'll be time to shut this thing down.
Let's see, December. There was the whirl of Christmas concerts, with the added joy of being the music teacher for the grade ones this time. The back of my head is on MANY photographs this year, as most parents took much more time seize the Kodak moment instead of listening to their children sing! I know I did the same thing when it was Benton's turn on stage!
We decorated, shopped, baked, listened to music, and all the things you're supposed to do before Christmas. The last day of school was the 22nd, so there really wasn't much time to get psyched before it was time to jump right in to the festivities. The lovely part of our break was the full week AFTER Christmas to just relax and enjoy each other. Steve even took a couple of days off so we went to movies, played with the kids and even took naps!
More than ever this year I was haunted by the image of the cross and the crown of thorns waiting in the cradle. Knowing that Jesus CHOSE to be born, knowing that He would die in only a few years humbles me every time I think about it. What a powerful choice He made; what a gift He gave.
One of these years I want to make a manger, a cross, and a crown of thorns. Thatwill sit in front of our fireplace instead of the gold balls and pine cones. To me, the magic of Christmas is in the pause; the consideration of my Saviour's choice to lay down His sweet head.
Blessings to all of you.
Susan
I know, I know, it's been awhile. When I can't update at all it'll be time to shut this thing down.
Let's see, December. There was the whirl of Christmas concerts, with the added joy of being the music teacher for the grade ones this time. The back of my head is on MANY photographs this year, as most parents took much more time seize the Kodak moment instead of listening to their children sing! I know I did the same thing when it was Benton's turn on stage!
We decorated, shopped, baked, listened to music, and all the things you're supposed to do before Christmas. The last day of school was the 22nd, so there really wasn't much time to get psyched before it was time to jump right in to the festivities. The lovely part of our break was the full week AFTER Christmas to just relax and enjoy each other. Steve even took a couple of days off so we went to movies, played with the kids and even took naps!
More than ever this year I was haunted by the image of the cross and the crown of thorns waiting in the cradle. Knowing that Jesus CHOSE to be born, knowing that He would die in only a few years humbles me every time I think about it. What a powerful choice He made; what a gift He gave.
One of these years I want to make a manger, a cross, and a crown of thorns. Thatwill sit in front of our fireplace instead of the gold balls and pine cones. To me, the magic of Christmas is in the pause; the consideration of my Saviour's choice to lay down His sweet head.
Blessings to all of you.
Susan
Friday, December 01, 2006
November
Hi everyone.
Kim's quest for November has been to write a 50,000 word novel, start to finish, within the month. She's been taking part in NaNoWriMo (www.nanowrimo.org) and did in fact finish the job on November 27. She's exhilarated, exhausted and excited.
My writing quest for November was to do a good job on the report cards that we produce for every student. I have the luxury of sharing a classroom with my teaching partner, Grace. Grace does the major part of the work, but I still had hours of pondering and preparing my part of those report cards for those kidlets and their families. As teachers we do wonder sometimes about how valuable these reports are, and especially WHO those reports are for: student, parent or us as educators? Interesting. Anyway I am finished, and actually just got home from the last of the parent/teacher interviews. It was lovely to meet with the parents of all my students and see a bit of the home side of their lives. I love my class.
Tomorrow I am off to Saskatoon to spend a few days with Mom. Her first oncology appointment is on Monday, so we'll be there to hear what impact the cancer has had on her body, and what the next few months may look like. Steve will fly to Saskatoon just for the appointment, and head home again right after. He'll hopefully be able to translate all the technical information we're given. (Thanks to WestJet for having a seat sale just at the right time for this weekend!)
We're grateful as well to Steve's parents who will be staying with the kids, to my friend Joyce for bringing chili, and to our kids for being so flexible.
Most of all we are grateful to see God working in our lives every day. He is faithful in the small things: writing a novel in a month, plowing through important report cards, providing affordable plane fares. He will be faithful in the big things as well.
Kim's quest for November has been to write a 50,000 word novel, start to finish, within the month. She's been taking part in NaNoWriMo (www.nanowrimo.org) and did in fact finish the job on November 27. She's exhilarated, exhausted and excited.
My writing quest for November was to do a good job on the report cards that we produce for every student. I have the luxury of sharing a classroom with my teaching partner, Grace. Grace does the major part of the work, but I still had hours of pondering and preparing my part of those report cards for those kidlets and their families. As teachers we do wonder sometimes about how valuable these reports are, and especially WHO those reports are for: student, parent or us as educators? Interesting. Anyway I am finished, and actually just got home from the last of the parent/teacher interviews. It was lovely to meet with the parents of all my students and see a bit of the home side of their lives. I love my class.
Tomorrow I am off to Saskatoon to spend a few days with Mom. Her first oncology appointment is on Monday, so we'll be there to hear what impact the cancer has had on her body, and what the next few months may look like. Steve will fly to Saskatoon just for the appointment, and head home again right after. He'll hopefully be able to translate all the technical information we're given. (Thanks to WestJet for having a seat sale just at the right time for this weekend!)
We're grateful as well to Steve's parents who will be staying with the kids, to my friend Joyce for bringing chili, and to our kids for being so flexible.
Most of all we are grateful to see God working in our lives every day. He is faithful in the small things: writing a novel in a month, plowing through important report cards, providing affordable plane fares. He will be faithful in the big things as well.
Friday, November 10, 2006
Eh. Huh?
I hear it every day. When we lived in California we used to get asked about it, even though we were careful not to use it. It's an accepted part of life in Canada.
Eh?
What is it about that particular phoneme that symbolizes so much about Canadians? And why does nearly everyone, educated or not; brown or tan or pinky white; young or old, say that particular syllable?
eh?
Don't know. I don't know why people just south of the border into America don't say it, but people on the Northerly side all seem to. Maybe it just resounds in my ear because I didn't hear it (barring trips back to Canada) for ten years.
All I know is that, increasingly, and somewhat without my permission, I hear it passing my own lips. I hear what sounds amazingly like my OWN voice say it at the end of sentences, or when I am looking to change a statement into a question with one easy syllable.
Americans sometimes mock "eh" as a symbol of the beery "dumb Canadian" they see on TV. Just as Canadians mock Americans for what they perceive to be true from exposure to the media, they're wrong. "Eh" is not a sound of ignorance or lack of understanding. Instead, I have come to see "eh" as a particularly Canadian punctuation mark. It's a polite sound that symbolizes our desire to be understood. "Wow, those oil prices, eh?" "You're working on your PhD, eh?" "You'll bring the bean dip, eh?" It's a syllable that implies agreement, reconciliation and a hope for unity and peaceful discussion. Very noble Canadian attitudes, all.
Americans have several words that they use for the same purpose. "Huh" "Yeah" "Hey" Whatever, they all end up sprinkled throughout conversations like salt.
I'll go ahead and use it. Hopefully I can control my participation in the great "eh" campaign to a few "ehs" now and then. Like salt, "eh" is best used sparingly to add flavour. I like it. It sounds like home, eh?
Eh?
What is it about that particular phoneme that symbolizes so much about Canadians? And why does nearly everyone, educated or not; brown or tan or pinky white; young or old, say that particular syllable?
eh?
Don't know. I don't know why people just south of the border into America don't say it, but people on the Northerly side all seem to. Maybe it just resounds in my ear because I didn't hear it (barring trips back to Canada) for ten years.
All I know is that, increasingly, and somewhat without my permission, I hear it passing my own lips. I hear what sounds amazingly like my OWN voice say it at the end of sentences, or when I am looking to change a statement into a question with one easy syllable.
Americans sometimes mock "eh" as a symbol of the beery "dumb Canadian" they see on TV. Just as Canadians mock Americans for what they perceive to be true from exposure to the media, they're wrong. "Eh" is not a sound of ignorance or lack of understanding. Instead, I have come to see "eh" as a particularly Canadian punctuation mark. It's a polite sound that symbolizes our desire to be understood. "Wow, those oil prices, eh?" "You're working on your PhD, eh?" "You'll bring the bean dip, eh?" It's a syllable that implies agreement, reconciliation and a hope for unity and peaceful discussion. Very noble Canadian attitudes, all.
Americans have several words that they use for the same purpose. "Huh" "Yeah" "Hey" Whatever, they all end up sprinkled throughout conversations like salt.
I'll go ahead and use it. Hopefully I can control my participation in the great "eh" campaign to a few "ehs" now and then. Like salt, "eh" is best used sparingly to add flavour. I like it. It sounds like home, eh?
Friday, November 03, 2006
On the convergence of weather and candy.
Well, suddenly it's winter.
A couple of days before Halloween, Calgary was covered with a thick layer of the white stuff. It looked really pretty - except for all the cars sliding off of streets, all the flashing lights of emergency vehicles, etc.
Although we had hopes, the 31st was still cold and frosty.
This touched off all sorts of reminiscing for Steve and me. I particularly remember heading out as a kid with my costume completely covered with a snowsuit. Just the mask let anyone know that I was actually coming to the door for the CANDY, thank you very much!
Kim was at work on the big night, wearing her kimono. Apparently Staples was so quiet that the employees were put to work, (hear the humor in this) putting up Christmas decorations. April and Benton both went out, and we managed to keep them both warm and costumed.
This will be April's last year out. We were ready to cut her off after last year, but all of her friends were going trick or treating so why not. They all put a lot of work into their costumes, and I think the candy acquisition was secondary.
Benton had a fabulous time around our neighbourhood wearing his robot costume. He and Steve wired it up with every LED, laser pointer and battery operated flasher they could find. He was visible a block away.
At the end of the evening, Steve and I sorted their candy as parents do, looking for anything creepy. More reminiscing: the smell of halloween candy is unique and unchanged from when I was 10.
The snow is still with us. We aren't too sorry about that as God gave us a beautiful fall with shirtsleeve weather as late as last week. Only 5 months till spring! In the meantime... let's eat candy!
A couple of days before Halloween, Calgary was covered with a thick layer of the white stuff. It looked really pretty - except for all the cars sliding off of streets, all the flashing lights of emergency vehicles, etc.
Although we had hopes, the 31st was still cold and frosty.
This touched off all sorts of reminiscing for Steve and me. I particularly remember heading out as a kid with my costume completely covered with a snowsuit. Just the mask let anyone know that I was actually coming to the door for the CANDY, thank you very much!
Kim was at work on the big night, wearing her kimono. Apparently Staples was so quiet that the employees were put to work, (hear the humor in this) putting up Christmas decorations. April and Benton both went out, and we managed to keep them both warm and costumed.
This will be April's last year out. We were ready to cut her off after last year, but all of her friends were going trick or treating so why not. They all put a lot of work into their costumes, and I think the candy acquisition was secondary.
Benton had a fabulous time around our neighbourhood wearing his robot costume. He and Steve wired it up with every LED, laser pointer and battery operated flasher they could find. He was visible a block away.
At the end of the evening, Steve and I sorted their candy as parents do, looking for anything creepy. More reminiscing: the smell of halloween candy is unique and unchanged from when I was 10.
The snow is still with us. We aren't too sorry about that as God gave us a beautiful fall with shirtsleeve weather as late as last week. Only 5 months till spring! In the meantime... let's eat candy!
Friday, October 27, 2006
Cycles
Hi.
Well, the lymph node report is in and it looks like of the 9 nodes taken, 2 are malignant. Although it's hard for me to tell from this far away, Mom seems to be handling the news ok. We haven't told our kids yet...we'll do that this weekend. I suppose the next bit of information to glean is a liver scan, which has not yet been scheduled.
Again I feel this weird sense of being in two places. I am so thankful to be home, going on with my family in our normal daily cycle. At the same time I feel drawn to Saskatoon and the happenings in Mom's life. I imagine this is what it will feel like when the kids start leaving the nest: split responsibilities.
From where I sit at my desk, here at home, I can see out the window and look at the sky and the open land southwest of Calgary. The cycle of seasons goes on out there: colours and shades, cool air and change.
In the quiet of this hour I find myself trying to let go of fall and mentally prepare for winter. The garage needs to have the bikes moved out so we can park both cars in there again. The yard needs to be cleaned up for it's winter rest.
What stage of the cycle are we at with Mom? It's nowhere near time to give up and let go, and yet at the same time there are thoughts to be considered. Preparations for more tests. Decisions to be made for chemo, or not for chemo.
Thankfully we know that there is a Master in charge of the seasons. There is a Master in charge of my Mom and her physical, mental and spiritual well being. The same Master that has shown He always brings spring gives us a future and a hope.
Love from
Susan
Well, the lymph node report is in and it looks like of the 9 nodes taken, 2 are malignant. Although it's hard for me to tell from this far away, Mom seems to be handling the news ok. We haven't told our kids yet...we'll do that this weekend. I suppose the next bit of information to glean is a liver scan, which has not yet been scheduled.
Again I feel this weird sense of being in two places. I am so thankful to be home, going on with my family in our normal daily cycle. At the same time I feel drawn to Saskatoon and the happenings in Mom's life. I imagine this is what it will feel like when the kids start leaving the nest: split responsibilities.
From where I sit at my desk, here at home, I can see out the window and look at the sky and the open land southwest of Calgary. The cycle of seasons goes on out there: colours and shades, cool air and change.
In the quiet of this hour I find myself trying to let go of fall and mentally prepare for winter. The garage needs to have the bikes moved out so we can park both cars in there again. The yard needs to be cleaned up for it's winter rest.
What stage of the cycle are we at with Mom? It's nowhere near time to give up and let go, and yet at the same time there are thoughts to be considered. Preparations for more tests. Decisions to be made for chemo, or not for chemo.
Thankfully we know that there is a Master in charge of the seasons. There is a Master in charge of my Mom and her physical, mental and spiritual well being. The same Master that has shown He always brings spring gives us a future and a hope.
Love from
Susan
Tuesday, October 24, 2006
It's Good to be Home
Hi again.
What a gift it is to be home again, back in the whirl of kids and Steve and dogs and school. Last night as we sat down to supper I looked around the table at my little family and was just happy. I spent a whole week away and missed them all so much.
At the same time, I am longing to be back in Saskatoon with Mom! Aren't humans funny that way? We can experience completely opposite emotions, both at the same time.
Mom continues to do well recovering from the surgery. What a star. She doesn't complain about drains and dressings. She talks about how the incision hurts, but it isn't really "painful." She is so stoic. Lots would spend the recovery trying to make everyone feel sorry for them, but not Mom! I really admire that; hopefully I can remember the lesson!
We find out the lymph node results on Thursday. I guess that's the next hurdle but let's take them only one at a time.
My own family seems to have weathered my absence quite well. The kids are happy, fed and clean. The house looks great. The dogs were ecstatic to see me. My students gave me a thousand hugs at school yesterday. It's good to be home.
Love,
Susan
What a gift it is to be home again, back in the whirl of kids and Steve and dogs and school. Last night as we sat down to supper I looked around the table at my little family and was just happy. I spent a whole week away and missed them all so much.
At the same time, I am longing to be back in Saskatoon with Mom! Aren't humans funny that way? We can experience completely opposite emotions, both at the same time.
Mom continues to do well recovering from the surgery. What a star. She doesn't complain about drains and dressings. She talks about how the incision hurts, but it isn't really "painful." She is so stoic. Lots would spend the recovery trying to make everyone feel sorry for them, but not Mom! I really admire that; hopefully I can remember the lesson!
We find out the lymph node results on Thursday. I guess that's the next hurdle but let's take them only one at a time.
My own family seems to have weathered my absence quite well. The kids are happy, fed and clean. The house looks great. The dogs were ecstatic to see me. My students gave me a thousand hugs at school yesterday. It's good to be home.
Love,
Susan
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