I am a true Mother. For the last week my 4 yr old (who will be 5 next month) has been taking swimming lessons and I could not be any prouder. She is done as of today and here is what makes me a true Mother...I could NOT sleep last night wondering if she passed this level. I tossed and turned concerned that she didn't have the skills to pass into the next level to become a crocodile. I didn't think she was ready to be in the sunfish level but as I watched her I could not believe my eyes. She was doing fantastic! However I lost sleep concerned that she would not "win the level" as we called it. I wasn't quite sure she had mastered the skills to her teachers liking. I was most concerned about how she would take the news of not making it to the next level and having to repeat the sunfish level. Too funny, when I woke up dead tired to get her ready for her final class, I asked her if she would be sad if she had to do sunfish over again and she immediately answered with an upbeat "No!". She thought I was silly to even ask that. Apparently to her it doesn't matter what level she is in as long as she gets to swim! LOL! I lost sleep for nothing. Oooo if only we could go back to the days where our biggest worry was whether or not we could do a back float for 5 seconds or not!
Ok, so I lost sleep worrying about what? Nothing apparently. The Bible once again is true when it says in Matthew AND Luke: "Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life?" The answer is no. All it did for me was make me have a horrible sleep.
I do want to tell you why my chest is full of pride as I look back at the week. My kiddo was the youngest and smallest in her class and some of the things they had her doing was crazy! I watched as my 4 year old jumped into the deep end of the pool (no life jacket) make her way to the top of the water and tread water for 5 seconds! I watched as she did back floats, front floats, front and back glides, swim for 5 meters, do a side glide and other skills that seemed too advanced for her. Granted she needs to work on the back floats and glides still but I was UBER impressed! I could not believe what a great little swimmer I have. I watched as she dove under the water to find "treasures" we would just call them rings...She really enjoys to swim under the water.
Then came today...After a sleepless night, today is when I would find out if she advanced to the next level. It seems as if I was the only one concerned about this. Her Dad didn't seem to be bothered by it and I must say I was relieved and could breathe easily when my kiddo announced that it wouldn't bother her if she had to repeat the level. I don't like to see my kid disappointed. What parent does really? So the moment of truth the class was taken to the sauna and given their report cards...She came out later with her card and I couldn't wait to take a peek. But her teacher was there and he stopped to chat with us and told us (Dad was there too) that she needed to work on her back float and glides (this we already knew) so I was thinking "ahhh he is telling us why she didn't pass" so with a hint of disappointment (from me) I turned to her report card and glanced down to where it says "Please register in _______________" and I saw the word crocodile!!! Which of course is the next level!!! I was so excited for her. The teacher told us that she has all the skills to advance to crocodile he just wants her to practice her back floats/glides. I was so happy for her. Yet, that was not the biggest reason for my chest full of pride. It wasn't even because of all the skills my kiddo learned. My chest was full of pride because even though I lost sleep wondering how she would feel if she didn't advance; she did NOT! It didn't matter to her. We don't like using the word failing or failure in our house. My husband was taught growing up to reward effort and that is what we do in our house. We told our girl before today that it didn't matter if she won the level or not, we were proud of her because she gave it all she had. It just so happens that I have a crocodile in my house now...Not a sunfish! :D
Friday, July 8, 2011
Tuesday, June 28, 2011
A Tiny Update
Hello. I know I have been absent lately. Please forgive me. Between the flood here and numerous other happenings, I have not had a chance to even think about much.
Here is a bit of what has been happening for us:
-Flood recovery. Been helping numerous people cope with the significant loss that was experienced. Our church needs serious help too. That is tiring.
-Finished my 1st Trimester. All is going well...I think. Been too tired to tune into my own body. :( That will change soon I am sure.
-Went to Toronto for a great conference. Went to the CN Tower...Discovered my 4 yr old is FEARLESS! She walked on the glass floor with NO problems. I on the other hand am a CHICKEN! She had to pull me across the floor while I stared straight ahead. I did it tho! :) We also went to Ontario Place...A fun place with rides, water park, games, side stages...Good times.
My family is sick. 4 yr old has a throat infection and the hubby is no better. Thank God I am ok...Who would keep the family together? Well that is what is happening here. Take care. Will post more when I have time...I promise. Have a great summer.
Here is a bit of what has been happening for us:
-Flood recovery. Been helping numerous people cope with the significant loss that was experienced. Our church needs serious help too. That is tiring.
-Finished my 1st Trimester. All is going well...I think. Been too tired to tune into my own body. :( That will change soon I am sure.
-Went to Toronto for a great conference. Went to the CN Tower...Discovered my 4 yr old is FEARLESS! She walked on the glass floor with NO problems. I on the other hand am a CHICKEN! She had to pull me across the floor while I stared straight ahead. I did it tho! :) We also went to Ontario Place...A fun place with rides, water park, games, side stages...Good times.
My family is sick. 4 yr old has a throat infection and the hubby is no better. Thank God I am ok...Who would keep the family together? Well that is what is happening here. Take care. Will post more when I have time...I promise. Have a great summer.
Saturday, June 18, 2011
In A State....
I am briefly writing to ask for your prayers. Our city has declared a state of emergency due to a high volume of rain waters. There is also a boil water advisory. Our house is ok so far but our church is not so great. Sewers have been backing up in numerous basements. My hubby has been at the church for going on 18 straight hours. He was up all night fighting the waters back from our Food Bank. We need your prayers for our city and us. Thank you.
Thursday, June 16, 2011
Looking Forward...
Here are a few things I am looking forward to:
1) Summer Holidays! We have been so busy here with work that my family and I need to have a break together. We really need to reconnect somewhere other then here. So I am looking forward to leaving work behind! Don't get me wrong I feel completely blessed to do what I do...But I need a break. I intend on getting away for real. Here is what some of our holidays will entail: Heading to our hometown for a night to see my bros, then heading to Edmonton to see more family AND to officiate a vow renewal. My in-laws are celebrating their 40th Anniversary so we are having a family get together to honor them and WE (hubby and I) get to do the ceremony. That will be a highlight. Then off we go to BC to spend some time with some more family. We are also hoping to get to Tofino where some really good friends of ours run "Chocolate Tofino" pretty self explanitory...I am Really looking forward to that.
Before holidays here is what I look forward to:
1) Swimming lessons for the kiddo! You may wonder why I am looking forward to it. Well let me explain. Where we live it literally is a labour of love to get your kid into swimming lessons. Last year I stood in line for 2.5 hrs to get her into lessons and after that long it was announced that her particular class was full! GRRRR! So this year I was prepared. I cleared my schedule and I arrived at the pool 2 hrs before registration time. I was the second in line! That's right...There was another Mom who got there 1/2 hr before I did. So we sat for 2 hours but the good news is she got into swimming lessons this year!! That is going to be fun to watch. Don't even get me started on the process of how they register kids...I have thought of at least 5 different ways they can do it differently but what do I know really? I am sure they have thought of them too but can't make it work? Not sure...All I know is I WON!
2) Church Family Beach Day. Yep...Betcha' you wish you were here for it! We are planning a church family get together where we are going to spend the whole day at a beach just hanging out with each other. Our church family is great.
3) Time away in Toronto. My whole family and I are heading there for a conference. It will be great to see some good friends and just be together for that time. It will be busy but great.
I am sure I am missing some things we are doing before we go.
As a side thought...It seems as if time goes so quickly. When we get back from our holidays, our fall programs will be starting up, our kid will be starting kindergarten, we will be preparing for Christmas (I am not nutts...In The Salvation Army, well...where I am anyways I have to start planning for Chirstmas in September) next thing I know Christmas will be done, a new year will begin and God willing we will welcome an addition to the family. Life goes so fast. So this summer take some time to slow down and enjoy every moment you can with your family. Here is a quote I will leave you with I pray you remember this and enjoy the summer:
"Life is not measured by the number of breaths we take, but by the moments that take our breath away."
— Maya Angelou
1) Summer Holidays! We have been so busy here with work that my family and I need to have a break together. We really need to reconnect somewhere other then here. So I am looking forward to leaving work behind! Don't get me wrong I feel completely blessed to do what I do...But I need a break. I intend on getting away for real. Here is what some of our holidays will entail: Heading to our hometown for a night to see my bros, then heading to Edmonton to see more family AND to officiate a vow renewal. My in-laws are celebrating their 40th Anniversary so we are having a family get together to honor them and WE (hubby and I) get to do the ceremony. That will be a highlight. Then off we go to BC to spend some time with some more family. We are also hoping to get to Tofino where some really good friends of ours run "Chocolate Tofino" pretty self explanitory...I am Really looking forward to that.
Before holidays here is what I look forward to:
1) Swimming lessons for the kiddo! You may wonder why I am looking forward to it. Well let me explain. Where we live it literally is a labour of love to get your kid into swimming lessons. Last year I stood in line for 2.5 hrs to get her into lessons and after that long it was announced that her particular class was full! GRRRR! So this year I was prepared. I cleared my schedule and I arrived at the pool 2 hrs before registration time. I was the second in line! That's right...There was another Mom who got there 1/2 hr before I did. So we sat for 2 hours but the good news is she got into swimming lessons this year!! That is going to be fun to watch. Don't even get me started on the process of how they register kids...I have thought of at least 5 different ways they can do it differently but what do I know really? I am sure they have thought of them too but can't make it work? Not sure...All I know is I WON!
2) Church Family Beach Day. Yep...Betcha' you wish you were here for it! We are planning a church family get together where we are going to spend the whole day at a beach just hanging out with each other. Our church family is great.
3) Time away in Toronto. My whole family and I are heading there for a conference. It will be great to see some good friends and just be together for that time. It will be busy but great.
I am sure I am missing some things we are doing before we go.
As a side thought...It seems as if time goes so quickly. When we get back from our holidays, our fall programs will be starting up, our kid will be starting kindergarten, we will be preparing for Christmas (I am not nutts...In The Salvation Army, well...where I am anyways I have to start planning for Chirstmas in September) next thing I know Christmas will be done, a new year will begin and God willing we will welcome an addition to the family. Life goes so fast. So this summer take some time to slow down and enjoy every moment you can with your family. Here is a quote I will leave you with I pray you remember this and enjoy the summer:
"Life is not measured by the number of breaths we take, but by the moments that take our breath away."
— Maya Angelou
Tuesday, May 31, 2011
A Little Funny Goes a LONG Way!
In a world that is so full of sadness, disappointment and pain don't you think that we all need a little funny in our lives? I do. I am blessed to have such a wonderful 4 1/2 year old child who truly is my funny bone and not the kind that hurts! Right now in the heavy mood that I am in, I really want to share some of the funny that she brings into my life...You may have heard some of these before but just in case you haven't here they are! Enjoy.
When she was 3 & 4:
(Dancing around in the living room pretending to teach a class)
Me: "What kind of dance do you teach?"
Kiddo: "Roll over, ballet and wiggle"
Me: "What time is your next class?
Kiddo: "6-0-4-8…I better be on time!" (Talking about me)
(She was not in the best mood at this point. We were in the car going home from somewhere) Kiddo: "Mom don't look at me, I'm lazy!" (She meant cranky).
Some of her funny sentences/word mistakes...
Kiddo: "Mommy, I have a headache in my stomach."
"I'm boring!" This one STILL makes me laugh.
"Can somebody help me a hand?"
After hurting her baby finger…in a whiny voice…"But that is my favorite finger of all, it is soooo small."
Talking about wanting a kitten or a puppy…"When I grow up I would really like a kittlette AND a puplette."
About the shrimp in her pasta: "I only like rotten shrimp" (She uses rotten for raw!)
Kiddo singing loudly in the car with her headphones on: "You are the ever lusty God…the ever lusty God (a pause)...What's lusty mean?" (This is when we quickly told her that the correct wording in the song is ever LASTING God...)HA HA HA!!
Running into the house after looking at our tulips in the front yard: "MOM!!! The Daisies are QUILTING!!" (Too cute.)
Our Kiddo and Mike (husband) were talking about the movie Mission Impossible and our kiddo told her Dad about a show she watched on TV and there are "Special Asians" on there too! She meant special agents!
Me: "Kiddo you are Wacky!!"
Kiddo: "Thanks!"
Kiddo was helping me cook in the kitchen (Pushing a chair to help me in the kitchen)Kiddo: "Whew!! This is difficult!!"..."What's difficults mean?"
Now before I share the most recent funny...You need to hear some exciting news of ours...We are expecting a baby! :) So here is the funny...
Once our kiddo found out she was going to be a big sister we started talking about hormones so she would understand why I am happy one second and crying the next...Well at the risk of being embarrassed, I had some gas and something slipped out and she says: "Oh Mom, don't worry, it’s just your hormones!"
Well...Hopefully this has helped lift your mood a little bit! I know it has lifted mine. Remember that God will always provide a way for us to smile even when times are tough!
When she was 3 & 4:
(Dancing around in the living room pretending to teach a class)
Me: "What kind of dance do you teach?"
Kiddo: "Roll over, ballet and wiggle"
Me: "What time is your next class?
Kiddo: "6-0-4-8…I better be on time!" (Talking about me)
(She was not in the best mood at this point. We were in the car going home from somewhere) Kiddo: "Mom don't look at me, I'm lazy!" (She meant cranky).
Some of her funny sentences/word mistakes...
Kiddo: "Mommy, I have a headache in my stomach."
"I'm boring!" This one STILL makes me laugh.
"Can somebody help me a hand?"
After hurting her baby finger…in a whiny voice…"But that is my favorite finger of all, it is soooo small."
Talking about wanting a kitten or a puppy…"When I grow up I would really like a kittlette AND a puplette."
About the shrimp in her pasta: "I only like rotten shrimp" (She uses rotten for raw!)
Kiddo singing loudly in the car with her headphones on: "You are the ever lusty God…the ever lusty God (a pause)...What's lusty mean?" (This is when we quickly told her that the correct wording in the song is ever LASTING God...)HA HA HA!!
Running into the house after looking at our tulips in the front yard: "MOM!!! The Daisies are QUILTING!!" (Too cute.)
Our Kiddo and Mike (husband) were talking about the movie Mission Impossible and our kiddo told her Dad about a show she watched on TV and there are "Special Asians" on there too! She meant special agents!
Me: "Kiddo you are Wacky!!"
Kiddo: "Thanks!"
Kiddo was helping me cook in the kitchen (Pushing a chair to help me in the kitchen)Kiddo: "Whew!! This is difficult!!"..."What's difficults mean?"
Now before I share the most recent funny...You need to hear some exciting news of ours...We are expecting a baby! :) So here is the funny...
Once our kiddo found out she was going to be a big sister we started talking about hormones so she would understand why I am happy one second and crying the next...Well at the risk of being embarrassed, I had some gas and something slipped out and she says: "Oh Mom, don't worry, it’s just your hormones!"
Well...Hopefully this has helped lift your mood a little bit! I know it has lifted mine. Remember that God will always provide a way for us to smile even when times are tough!
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