Learning From a Master

I've been visiting the hospital almost every day over the break. There is an old lady (83!) in our ward who fell and broke her ankle. I figured over winter break I have nothing but time, so I volunteered to visit her on quite a few days. I've known her for a number of years. I have always enjoyed visiting with her because we have a lot in common. She loves to read and she was an elementary school teacher. She's always super smiley and has positive things to say. Today when I visited she got talking to the husband of a lady in her room. It was amazing to watch her work her magic on him. She engaged him in conversation and was super interested in learning about him. She would ask him questions and compliment him and smile and ask him more questions. It was something to watch! It really made me think about how I engage people in conversation. Her conversation was really positive and kind. That's the kind of person I want to be.

One Week Until MY Summer Starts

Did you know I only have one week left of school?! I love my class this year so much - but jeepers, I'm sure ready for summer!! It feels like this has been a really long year. We started out the year with the bathrooms under renovation and we're going to end off the year with them renovating the portables. Not mine though. The library and the music room will be in beautiful new portables come September. We'll see if they're even finished by then. They're going to have air conditioning AND big beautiful windows. I might be spending a lot of time in the music room/library. 

Actually, my coworker's husband does air conditioning for his job. He maintains air conditioning systems in big buildings downtown. This week he brought her an air conditioner for her room. It even makes a difference for my room. It's so great!! Some people give her a hard time about all the electricity it'll use. I say that she's just ensuring there's an environment where these little minds can focus and learn. That is very important and well worth the cost! Also, it's important they have a teacher that isn't a worn out dish rag. We're much perkier now that there's cooler air in our portable. It's bliss.

We went to this really cool place this week called Ralph Klein Park on a field trip. The kids got to scoop up water and look at all sorts of creatures in there. We even saw a muskrat! It was so cool. Check out this eel:

I decided I'm going to get started on my 5 km a day pursuits this week. I should be able to do that since I used to get up and get to seminary on time. Last week was a bad week for walking. I had this idea that I had all this time in the morning and so I tried to do too much - then I'd realize time was almost up and just be able to do 1 km. Time to change that, baby!

Karen Johnson is moving to the states and so they're renovating their house. She needed a bunch of boys to come help so I got Peirce to do it. He pulled up carpets and he did a lot of painting. He said he really likes painting. 

It was pretty hard work - but in the end, he was pretty happy about the money he earned. That'll be some good cash to start off his time in Quebec. He goes this week. Oh my heart!!!

This weekend Gaylene and Duane went to Kelowna for Neil's birthday. Rachelle had a surprise party for him. Of course, the best part is being reunited with his dogs. Oh Harley! 

They donated blood for Neil. I think it might become a new tradition. Neil needs blood transfusions all the time because his hemoglobin gets really low. I am going to get back into donating blood regularly.  Taylor and Sydney went too - but Taylor, apparently, is too short. LOL 

On Saturday I went grocery shopping. I know. I know. I always do that. The reason I'm sharing it is it reminded me of how I always like to turn things in to a game. Did I ever tell you that about me? For example, when I was growing up and cleaning rooms in my dad's hotel, my cousin, Nickee and I used to time each other and see if we could beat each other's time for making a bed. We had requirements for how the bed had to be made and we'd try to do it super fast. It made the job fun. I've always done things like that. When I get up in the morning, I challenge myself to be dressed and have the dishwasher finished before the CBC news podcast is finished. Then I have to have lunches made before the other podcast I like to listen to ends. I do it with grocery shopping too. On Saturday, you could get a box if ice cream treats if you spent $250. My goal was to get the treats but spend as little over $250 as possible. In the end, I ended up spending $250.33. My best job yet at that game!! When I was on my mission we used to play that game too. We'd challenge each other to only say kind and positive things. We'd see how long we could go before one of us would slip up and complain or say something negative. We got so we could go all day! Maybe that's where the whole streak thing started in my mind. I don't know. All I know is the mundane things can be made a lot more fun if you turn it into a game. 

Tony leaves this week. Oh boy. What am I going to do without these boys?! I will miss Tony, for sure. 

Christmas 2015

GIn November, as a last minute pull the rabbit out of the hat and make a good RS activity night, we had a class on planning for a stress-free Christmas. Turned out to be the best thing ever. I think from now on, in November, I will be sure to take some time to think about what I really enjoy and focus on that for the Christmas season. There is so much to do that sometimes I get bogged down in to do lists and don't enjoy this season. This year I didn't do that. I enjoyed the music more. I enjoyed the social gatherings more. I enjoyed my family more.

We have a few traditions. We go to the First Presidency broadcast the first Sunday in December, then we go to our friend's, the Hawryluks. We had my work party, Allen's office party, a RS party (missed that one, although I did help organize it....it conflicted with my work party) our ward party, and we usually help serve at the other ward's Christmas party. I even went to my friend, Kim's, Christmas  concert. It was amazing music! I went alone...and that was just fine because I gave up all the expectations (it is okay to do some seasonal stuff without family!) and just did what I enjoyed. It was great! We went to Storybook Theatre's Christmas play.....loved that. We usually go to the Hudsons for a carol singing night, but this year they didn't have it. We would have missed it anyway because that was the day we celebrated Christmas with Grandma.

 

We had Christmas Eve at home. Usually, we go to the nativity pageant, but it was really cold, so we just enjoyed ourselves at home instead. I learned the joy of teenagers on Christmas morning: they slept until 8:00!! This year we didn't seem to do as many presents, but it was still great. Just perfect actually. We had The NAckroyds over for dinner the afternoon of Christmas Day. A lovely day!

I always have a long list of housework things to catch up on over breaks from school. This year I decided to just do one little thing each day to make our house a little nicer.....something I had been neglecting. It worked! Usually I have these long lists and never quite get sound to any of t because I really don't want to spend my whole time cleaning. That makes me feel a little bitter. This one little thing each day seemed to work much better. I might even continue it after school starts up again! I also did a little bit of school work - even though people like to lecture on how important it is to leave all work behind. Just a little bit now and then is what I did...and I think that will make going back to work even better. And the truth is, I don't hate the work I do. I enjoy it.....so why not?!

Peirce got a pet sitting job over the break so we have spent a lot of time driving him to the house of pets. They have a dog named Draco, two cats and a bearded dragon. I has been a good responsibility for him. Good $$ too, I would say!

Jill did a fair bit of homework and studying (still finishing up English 20!) She has some swim practices, worked a few days at Brokin Yolk, and did a lot of fun friend things. She pretty much never stops!

We tried to immerse Bobby into his first Christmas experience. He wasn't that into it. I decided I would just invite, and after that, not worry about it if he didn't participate. It was, however, very interesting to have someone who has n emotional connections to Christmas. That is a subject for a whole 'nother post!

I also spent a lot of time reading. I hoped to do a book a day (inspired by Donalyn Miller) but I got stuck in a couple books I wasn't that enthusiastic about. Didn't quite meet my goal, but I did get some great books read! I also exercised every day over the break. Every day!! It has been fabulous.

Looking back, we really did a lot. It didn't stress me the same as other years though. I think there are a few reasons. I decided to be conscious about simply enjoying the moment. I decided to not worry about expectations, especially when it comes to gift giving. I just did what felt right, not what I figured others expected me to do. I chose to not do some things that I just don't enjoy. I filled my days with things I love, rather than duties. 

I lived to feel the joy.

Really, I think that is what Christmas is all about.

Seeking Balance and Good Mental Health

In RS we have been doing pursuit of excellence. I've realized that I don't have a very balanced life. Much of my time is spent doing things for my kids to help them have a balanced life....and that is ok. I have decided though that I need to try to do more things for my own enjoyment as well. Last week we had a great RS activity. We had a psychologist come and talk about mental health. One of the things she talked about was mindfulness. It was a great message on how important it is to be in the moment and focus on what you are doing now.

With that in mind, last night while our is were busy with their Halloween activities, Allen and I were free to do whatever we wanted. We thought about the usual, go get something to eat....but instead we decided to go visit some friends. In our busy frenzied life in Calgary that just doesn't happen that much. They were thrilled that we would think of them. We had a great visit. When I left I felt that feeling I don't get that often that I had really enjoyed myself. I did something I wanted to do that was just fun for me, rather than something I had to do.

How weird is it that that is such a big deal? 

I think I will do that more often! 

I also have decided I need text back to more blogging....watch for it! More blog posts to come.