The Strength of a Village

Our local Kindergarten gets the majority of their funding from Casino Money.  I have said in the past that I will not support these fundraisers by volunteering because I just do not agree with the method of payment.  I still do not agree with gambling but when our Kindergarten staying open and available to the children in our community so desperately relies on this money I couldn't turn my back when the association was in such desperate need of volunteers to help work at the scheduled Casino.  I had no idea what to expect nor did I really comprehend the amount of money that would pass through my hands. 

The shift I worked was in the count room from 10:30pm until close at 3:00am.  I wouldn't say it was a busy job just wearing because of the time of day!!  I was with a great group and we managed to keep each other awake with visiting and laughing!  We got home safely at 5:00am and I managed to sleep for almost 2 hours before heading to the pharmacy to work for the day.

It was sad to see elderly people sitting at machines mindlessly pressing buttons with no results.  It was heartbreaking to see people take $9000 advances on their credit card to be able to play.  It was mindboggling to think of all that could be done with even just a handful of the money we counted.  But then I remembered that what we did that night would help in a round about way.  It would help keep our Kindergarten open and an amazing teacher and teaching assistant employed!  I guess if these people are willing to gamble away their money then I should be thankful it is to help fund a great cause. 

We have a great community with many members stepping up to volunteer.  Over the two days we had to have around 40 people volunteer and many of those volunteers haven't had children in Kindergarten for years.  Some had children who would eventually be coming into Kindergarten and some had no children at all and still gave of their time.  I am thankful to be apart of such a wonderful community and to feel the strength in our small numbers when we come together to support these worthwhile causes.

I Want This Week to be Over.....

I have a fairly busy week coming up that I am not really excited about :( Monday I work at the pharmacy and right after work I have a Rainbow Literacy Board Meeting. Tuesday I work at the kindergarten and after Emry has piano and curling!!! Wednesday I am subbing in Nobleford for their secretary. Thursday I am working at the kindergarten and after I have to teach how to make two soups for a Relief Society Activity and then I have to be in Calgary to help volunteer for the kindergarten casino, my shift is from 10:30pm until close, which is usually around 3:30am.... I have said in the past that I don't do casino's because I don't agree with using them to fund our programs... But the committee was in desperate need and since I'm the president of the board I felt obligated :( .... Then Friday I am working again at the pharmacy while one of the other ladies is in Maui!!!! Saturday will be a much needed reprieve!!!!! 

If I survive there will be another more upbeat post to follow!! Until then.......

Women's Crafting Retreat

This past weekend I was able to go to a women's only crafting retreat held at SABC ( Southern Alberta Bible Camp)! My mom is on the committee that organizes it and has been waiting ever so patiently for the time when my sister and I could come spend a night!! Well, the time has finally come and am I ever happy that it has!! It was a much needed reprieve from the day to day with lots being accomplished that I just don't seem to get to when at home!!! It was two full days of making cards, visiting with family and friends and lots and lots of laughter!!!!!  My two aunts on my moms side also came and at times we filled the hall with our bursts of laughter!

From where I sat the view was stunning!! I could perfectly see Little Bow Lake all covered in snow, I even saw a herd of deer pass by!! And the hills and trees all snow covered and pure too!! A picture right from the page of a calendar!!!!

Arren and I shared a room and that was a huge highlight!  We stayed up late and watched a movie, a rather long but really good movie!! By 3 am after the movie had finished I still wasn't overly tired so I watched an episode of Glee!!!  After breakfast we got right back into crafting, visiting and laughing!! It was so much fun with such a great group of ladies. Other than my mom, sister and two aunts we also shared tables with two of my moms really good friends, who also contributed greatly to the memory making and bouts of laughter!!!!

This weekend was so much fun but couldn't have been possible if it weren't for my mother in law who watched the kids while Jared was at work and for a super fantastic husband who spent his Saturday trapped inside with our three rugrats when I'm sure there were a million and one other things he could have been doing!!!  He watched Back to the Future 1 and 2 with them which they all LOVED!!!! I am also thankful for a mom and sister who are so close to me and who are always giving me their love and support, and their healing power through laughter!!! A really fun weekend!!!!!  

Kids

I have been trying to keep track of the cute things our kids say!!  Sometimes they come up with the funniest things!!

Emry says Tynenol (tylenol), catainer (container), libary (library)...Emry is still totally convinced that Santa is real and we of course want her to believe as long as she wants to!  She hasn't been asking questions otherwise so we just let her believe!  Before Christmas we had a babysitter for the kids while we went out with the Puzey clan for our Christmas get together.  When Kaitlin came in one of the first things Emry asked her was what she asked Santa for...Kaitlin is 15 years old!!  She wasn't sure what to say but thought of something quick so as not to burst Emry's imagination bubble!

Calum says A-okay...Calum also answers the phone quite often and is quite the little secretary!  In fact this morning when my dad called Calum answered and said mom was still in bed.  When my dad asked if he could talk to her Calum said no she's in bed and I'm playing Minecraft, he said he would tell me that he called!!  Calum is quite concerned about having bad dreams and desperately wants a dream catcher.  He borrowed Emry's last night and this morning Jared asked him if the dream catcher worked and Calum said yup I had no dreams at all!  When we are watching a show and there is a funny part Calum almost always says, "that was funny, right dad?" or mom, or Blake, or Emry....just depends on who happens to be sitting beside him at that moment!

Armin calls people Automatic because I think he thinks he is being insulting!!  It makes Calum laugh quite hard because he knows what that word means!  Armin also comes up with quite elaborate stories...his imagination is very good!  He always tells us to have a nice sleep, and a happy ismas (Christmas)!!!  He is not afraid of people and loves making up songs...he always seems to be singing!!  He has developed a stutter over the last 6 months, we know it is nothing serious and will most likely go away as he gets older and more developed!  But it sure is cute!!  It takes him twice as long to tell us a story but we patiently wait for him to get it out!  Calum and Emry are good about being patient with him too!!  What great big siblings they are!!

Not a day goes by that these three little rascals don't make us laugh!  And even though their loudness is way off the Richter scale and they are capable of trashing our house in mere seconds on a daily basis, I love them and wouldn't trade them for anything.  I look forward to the changes this new year will bring and the laughter and joy they will continue to bring to our home!