Tuesday, December 30, 2008
Except for one year, we have spent every Christma Eve/Christmas Day at Mom's. This year we spread the celebration out until the 29th, when my brothers and I and all of our kids were able to be together. I don't know how long it will be until we get another chance to do that. Here are a few photos from last night. I'll post more candids later . . .we are very busy today, packing up Becca for Australia. She is leaving tomorrow!
Sunday, December 28, 2008
Change is in the Air
I've done a lot of journalling online since 1996 . . . in casual, friendly venues where I interact with Christian ladies. But this is my very first official blog . . . my own place. I'm looking forward to decorating it with photos and commentary as I walk through the next few years.
In a nutshell, I was raised in a Christian home . . . pretty stable with 2 parents and 2 younger brothers. I married Jamaican born Glen in 1986, and we have 4 really great kids. I know we are blessed to have such beautiful, bright and healthy kids and I am very grateful.
Except for the years I stayed home to raise my little ones, I have taught at a small Christian school since 1982. I started with a gr. 1/2/3 class but now teach only gr. 1 core subjects in the mornings. After working hard as a manager for 20 years, Glen has been unemployed for 8 months. This has caused significant stress in our lives but many blessings as well. God is taking care of us by using some very special people. We are very excited about the new opportunities ahead, as Glen is going back to college in Feb. We are waiting for the final acceptance into the Second Career Funding Program. A 12 week course in Food Services should lead to a good job.
I absolutely loved having babies and raising toddlers . . . but have found that it is high time I reinvented myself and took on the role of "mom of teenagers" much more seriously. I am my kids' biggest fan and love them so much, but I fear that it doesn't always translate into day to day life. What good is love if it isn't recognized and received?
So, along with changes in employment, come big changes in parenting. Our strong, confident, funny, charming firstborn, Matt, moved out 2 months ago. He was tired of driving back and forth to college everyday and is enjoying his independence. It was time to help him fly off. He is still as close as the phone or computer and I am happy to help him with laundry and groceries several times a month. He is taking business now, with an eye on marketing and real estate in the future.
Rather than build a shrine to Matt and preserve his room forever, we decided to completely redecorate it for our youngest son, 10 year old, Zach. Zach is loving it!
The most difficult change for me right now is packing up my beautiful, funny, athletic, artist daughter, Becca (18.) After a tumultuous relationship during her high school years, I have really enjoyed spending more time with her this year. She worked at Suzy Shier until 2 days ago to earn funds for her next life adventure. She has been on 3 short term missions trips to Jamaica and Ethiopia. In 3 more days she will fly out of Toronto to Perth, Australia for 6 months at YWAM. I am really excited for her, but I'm missing her already.
Now that Zach is a room dweller, I hope to spend many evenings with 15 year old Mikayla . . . but I know that for a few more years her friends will always come first. I know she loves me and I really am glad that she has so many good friends. That girl can light up a room.
And so I close my first-ever blog entry . . . and wonder what else God has in store for us in 2009. I'll post some pics soon.
In a nutshell, I was raised in a Christian home . . . pretty stable with 2 parents and 2 younger brothers. I married Jamaican born Glen in 1986, and we have 4 really great kids. I know we are blessed to have such beautiful, bright and healthy kids and I am very grateful.
Except for the years I stayed home to raise my little ones, I have taught at a small Christian school since 1982. I started with a gr. 1/2/3 class but now teach only gr. 1 core subjects in the mornings. After working hard as a manager for 20 years, Glen has been unemployed for 8 months. This has caused significant stress in our lives but many blessings as well. God is taking care of us by using some very special people. We are very excited about the new opportunities ahead, as Glen is going back to college in Feb. We are waiting for the final acceptance into the Second Career Funding Program. A 12 week course in Food Services should lead to a good job.
I absolutely loved having babies and raising toddlers . . . but have found that it is high time I reinvented myself and took on the role of "mom of teenagers" much more seriously. I am my kids' biggest fan and love them so much, but I fear that it doesn't always translate into day to day life. What good is love if it isn't recognized and received?
So, along with changes in employment, come big changes in parenting. Our strong, confident, funny, charming firstborn, Matt, moved out 2 months ago. He was tired of driving back and forth to college everyday and is enjoying his independence. It was time to help him fly off. He is still as close as the phone or computer and I am happy to help him with laundry and groceries several times a month. He is taking business now, with an eye on marketing and real estate in the future.
Rather than build a shrine to Matt and preserve his room forever, we decided to completely redecorate it for our youngest son, 10 year old, Zach. Zach is loving it!
The most difficult change for me right now is packing up my beautiful, funny, athletic, artist daughter, Becca (18.) After a tumultuous relationship during her high school years, I have really enjoyed spending more time with her this year. She worked at Suzy Shier until 2 days ago to earn funds for her next life adventure. She has been on 3 short term missions trips to Jamaica and Ethiopia. In 3 more days she will fly out of Toronto to Perth, Australia for 6 months at YWAM. I am really excited for her, but I'm missing her already.
Now that Zach is a room dweller, I hope to spend many evenings with 15 year old Mikayla . . . but I know that for a few more years her friends will always come first. I know she loves me and I really am glad that she has so many good friends. That girl can light up a room.
And so I close my first-ever blog entry . . . and wonder what else God has in store for us in 2009. I'll post some pics soon.
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