True Hope

A strange thing has happened to me since entering the hell of perimenopause. I have noticed a significant change in my brain. I am always word finding. I can't remember names. I worry about dimentia because it has been an issue for some of my relatives. This can't be happening to me so soon!

Allen found some vitamins called True Hope a number of years ago. You used to have to order them online. Now you can buy them in stores. I took them now and then. A while ago I bought a bottle and kept it in my car. I took one a day like you do any multivitamin. Then my car got stolen. We had a lot of stuff to replace and the vitamins kind of went to the bottom of the list. I started to notice a significant difference. Anxiety and anger were growing. It was kind of scary.

A couple weeks ago we finally went and bought some more. In the past I took one day. Since I had been so long without them Allen suggested I take four a day. Seemed a little over the top, but I have been to the temple a lot lately and the blessing of ears to hear the counsel of your husband (and the word of the Lord) have been on my mind....so I decided to follow his advice.

Oh. My. Goodness!!

It is like a grey cloud has been lifted. Noise in my classroom doesn't bother me the same. Dumb things my students do doesn't make me angry. Instead I smile at them and deal with the situation. Suddenly the writer's block for report cards was gone. I have the energy to do little bits of housework here and there (it just seemed like an 'extra' that I just couldn't manage before). When I play the organ in church I no longer get totally caffuffled when I make a mistake. I play better. I am just plain happier. I feel the spirit more often...like in every day things. 

They truly give me hope.

Family picture day!

We were so lucky to get a nice warm day! 

Jill seems a little leery of Becky's idea

Sure love these two

He is getting so grown up!

Not sure what was going on here! Allen and Becky have a special kind of relationship :)

It was Becky's suggesting that we take pictures in the Birth Place Forest in Nose Creek Park. I don't know if she knows that this is Destiny's birthplace forest or not. I didn't bring it up. I thought it was a perfect idea though. I am going to love these pictures.

Bobby - Basketball

I finally have a child who plays high school basketball! We are quite enjoying attending Bobby's games. Lots of fun!!

The End of an Era

We gave our trampoline away today. 

I felt a little bit sad.

I think it is repressed sorrow from when I found out my parents gave our trampoline away....when I was away at university. 

We had a lot of fun on trampolines in our house! Our kids really haven't jumped on it much for a couple years though and I am ready to do something different with our back yard. The trampoline pretty much took up half our yard. I always worried about neighbourhood kids jumping on it and getting hurt (and us getting sued). We probably should have had one of those fancy no springs, big net safer ones.

Nah!! You can't jump off the deck onto the trampoline if there is a net!

(Oh my shattered nerves!)

I am sure, wherever it is going, it will be well loved.

Bobby Experiences Frost for the First Time

Next we will teach him about how much Allen doesn't love people touching his car :)

Might as Well!

Jill has never been a big fan of homework. However, in grade 12 it has become apparent that it doesn't matter if she is a fan or not. It has to be done. 

She has decided that it is best to do homework in beautiful places. Starbucks. Trendy restaurants. Devonian Gardens....they are perfect candidates for homework.

This is her studying at the new and trendy and very cool Simmons building.

Why didn't I think of that when I was a student?!

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.