Child of Grace

Spring Has Sprung

Spring is here. Hockey is done, skating is done and the snow is quickly retreating. Those Raider boyz didn't make it into the play-offs again this year which meant an early exit from the house for the rent-a-kid. Hopefully he is off somewhere relaxing and enjoying the sun.

Trev has been working in Edmonton Monday to Friday since about the middle of February. He will likely continue until the find a more permanent project for him to work on. It isn't too bad having him home every weekend although I think we do miss the 2 weeks off at a time.

Along with Spring comes Spring cleaning and in this house we go all out. Trev walked in the door last weekend and he barely got his shoes off and he was pulling up the carpet. By the end of the weekend we had turfed the carpet from the stairs and upstairs hallway and the main upstairs bathroom, as well as the ugly green carpet from underneath the kitchen table which we have hated since the day we moved in. He tore off the banister upstairs and the moldy subfloor from the main bathroom upstairs.

Last year we redid Steven and Taylor's bathroom and we would have like to redo the main bathroom but ran out of time and money. So our Spring project has become the bathroom. Trev is as we speak taking a load out to the dump with the cabinet, sink, toilet and tub, not to mention the cheap ugly tub surround.

Our plan when he is finished is to cash in as many bottles as we can and if we have time we hope to take our earnings to Saskatoon for dinner and a movie. Tomorrow Trev plans to try and lay the hardwood on the stairs and the we have Tay's hockey wind up.

Once again, I have been sick, for about three weeks. It started with Mykayla being sick, and by the next week I had it. For me it became tonsilitis and bronchitis. I was on a weak antibiotic which did nothing. A different doctor gave me a stronger dose of antibiotics which seemed to help but after being done for a week, the sore throat and runny nose has come back. The cough never did go away completely so that has just gotten worse. Taylor had a sore throat last weekend but seems to have recovered. So now it is just me..... sick again. Every year since we have moved here I have been sick and back on puffers and antibiotics. Hopefully it is maybe something to do with the mold in the house and once we get rid of that, my winter health will improve.

Life in the Winter

So this what our winter looks like, Hockey for Taylor, Raider games for Steven, Figure skating for Myk, Hockey for Noah... and when we get a hockey free afternoon? Taylor and Myk head out to Little Red to ski and snowboard. When this happens, I try my best to clean and do laundry.

Yellowknife

Thursday morning, Trev and I woke up the kids, kissed them goodbye and headed to Saskatoon to catch our plane to Calgary and then Yellowknife. Luckily for us there was a Chili's right next to our Yellowknife gate in the Calgary airport. In between flights we enjoyed some boneless chicken wings and spinach/artichoke dip.

The view from the airplane was very surreal for me. We hadn't been back to YK for over a year and this was my first flight into Yellowknife in several years. I guess you tend to take things in differently when you are returning to a place like that. The Big Lake was getting icey in some spots. The cracks looked like a funky art design you make with crushed glass. I tried hard to find our old house but I was just clicking. I'm sure someone's house is in that picture that we know.

We were picked up from the airport by our "dad" Garth. Who delivered us to the hotel and we met "mom" Linda there where we shared an hour catching up and just enjoying being a part of their lives again. After the Woods left, we hopped in a taxi and went to the arena. Why the arena? Well aside from the fact that much of our lives were spent at the arena in the last few years before we left YK, we went there to see these two special guys. Lukey and Nolie are another extension of the YK family. Lukey is Noah's best friend and we took care of him when his younger brother Nolie came along. In fact, I still remember praying with Laurie and Eric the night Nolie was born and then a few hours later getting a call from Laurie from the delivery room that this little bug was now here. A trip to YK would not be complete without seeing their faces. And of course, what kind of "uncle" would Trevor be if not to show up to tie skates. And yes, those shirts are from us... Raiders all the way baby.

The first person I called in YK when I found out we were going for sure, was my best friend Marie. We have been friends for 10 years. We were mining wives together, I babysat her kids for a while, and then when her marriage broke up in Australia we made room in our home for her, Cole and Aleta to live with us in YK until they settled back in. While she lived with us, she became wife no. 3. Wife no. 2 place was already taken by our other mutual besty - Karen - who also lived with us with her two boys while she was waiting to relocate to Australia. Then in June of 2007 I had the honour of being Marie's maid of honour in her wedding to Russ. We all managed to get together quickly to see Aleta play in her school band at the Leg., then we met up again at the Black Knight Pub after the Christmas Party. Laurie was also able to get out and see us which just capped off the night. We are so blessed to have these guys in our lives, even though the distance separates us.

The reason we went to YK of course was to attend the Nuna Christmas Party. We squeezed it in and had a wonderful time. We were able to surprise a few people there. It was great to see our good friends Bonnie and Erik as well as Patty O. The looks on their faces were unforgettable. I felt so loved and that in itself made the trip for me. The party itself was elegant and beautiful as always and the food was to die for.

The next morning after very few hours sleep, we got up and met this little beauty for breakfast at the hotel. Despite having a strange father, she is pretty cute. Leah McShane is almost a year and this is the first time we have gotten to see her. Trevor was a groomsman in her parents wedding on Vancouver Island a few years back and so of course the visit would not have been complete with out a few cuddles from her.



To finish off our trip, we ran to the mall, finally tracked down Al Harvey and then a quick visit to Al and Lisa's new home to say hi to Lisa. We also got to see Russ and Marie's new home and then have a wonderfully yummy meal at Bullocks with Russ, Marie, Laurie and Eric. We were thankful we got to see everyone we wanted to see and a few extras as well. We made some tentative plans for the kids for the summer as well. I will be so thankful if Taylor and Mykayla get to travel back this summer and get to spend some time with all these wonderful people we call friends. We came home tired and happy, excited to see our kids again and ready to get started on the Christmas season here at home.

So Totally Cool

So so excited... Trevor's company is flying us to Yellowknife for their Christmas Party. We leave Thursday and back Friday. It will be short but oh so sweet. ... Can't wait to see my YK family... Laurie, Marie, Garth and Linda and the Harveys... Only thing to make it sweeter would be if I could sneak in a snuggle with the Gutowski girls in Edmonton.

Zak

The first time we saw this kid was exactly a year ago. Trevor and I had spent the day in Saskatoon for our anniversary. We pulled up to see a silver explorer with a Red Deer Rebels front license plate at our house. Our first comment to him was that we didn't allow Rebels fans in our house. He apologized and said it was his parent's vehicle and they hadn't a chance to change it yet. He had just been traded the previous week, so we allowed him the misstep. It wasn't too much longer that his parents didn't get rid of the license plate but the whole car.

Over the course of the 07-08 season Zak became a constant figure in the house and we enjoyed his laid back attitude and easy going nature. By the end of the season, there was hinting from Steven that we take in another billet followed soon after by the fact that Zak's billets were not going to continue billeting.

Then came the final banquet and Zak brought his mom over to meet us and we knew that something was up. Following a summer of a few facebook messages and a surprise visit from Zak and his parents, it was agreed that Zak would indeed live with us. 

Zak again brought his easy going nature, huge appetite and brilliant smile to our house and for the last three months he became a part of our brood. He and Steven became "the big boyz" for me whenever I spoke of them. There rarely was one without the other, and likewise we rarely saw them as they tended to spend much of their time in their "chillaxin space" and some of their friends knew to let themselves in and head right upstairs to their spot.

It is ironic that exactly a year later to the day is the day we get the news that "the boy" has been traded. Trev called me this morning with the news. From there it was a rush to come to grips with the shock that in a few hours he would be gone. I phoned the school to say that I would be picking the kids up for an hour or so to bring them home to say their goodbyes.  Taylor had already been told through the school gossip, but that didn't stop the tears that formed as soon as we were in the car. The tears flowed for the next hour as the four of us helped Zak pack up his clothes, PS2, mounds of shoes (what 18 year old boy needs more shoes than I do) and any of the other small personal belongings he brought in here. Somehow he managed to fit most of it in his Honda civic including his hockey gear. What followed was a few pictures  with the kids, promises to see each other in Saskatoon at Christmas and some memory making hugs. 

Before he drove away I gave him a copy of this email I received from our new friend and pastor who is the chaplain of the team as well. I thought it was fitting that he have it with him to remember us and what he is leaving behind. I hope he knows he takes a little piece of each of us with him... this man/boy who became more a part of us than any of us realized until today.

Hi Peggy,
I just heard about the trade, I am very sad to see Zak go - he was one of the guys I really felt there was a connection with. This also won't be a whole lot of fun as a family. We walked through 2 or 3 trades during our billeting years and it wasn't fun, they really do become part of the family especially for the kids.

I have a lunch meeting today and then my plan was to get to the rink, so I will be heading over there for sure now. I probably won't see Zak - but when you do talk with him - wish him all the best! And remind him please that "God has plans to prosper us not harm us" (that was our chapel talk last month) - as much as it stinks for us - this could be a great move for him - he's to solid a kid and to good of a player for this not to work out for him!

Blessings,
Shane 

So to Zak... we have loved having you as part of our family. We have loved getting to know your family. Tay will miss you and Jake. We are thankful that your hometown is so close because that means we will see you again ... and soon. Miss you already buddy. Christmas can't come soon enough now.

I Know I am 2 Days Early

But in 2 days it is our anniversary. That is all I can think about. Of course I couldn't book the day off as my co-worker is on holidays and someone has to run the shop. It is a good thing too because Trevor has now been called out of town for a meeting and will be gone for about 14 hours that day. And the next day is the ADT Challenge at the Art Hauser. Not to mention that I haven't bought him a gift, nor he for me. And we didn't make any plans. Which I should probably be planning this year.

I just think it significant that he and I will be celebrating 14 years in a little over 24 hours. It really doesn't seem like a long time. In many ways I feel like I am still getting to know this person who sleeps beside me most of the time. Likewise, I have felt from the moment we met that we had known each other forever and that we were true soul mates.... if there is such a thing.

Regardless, I am pretty happy and content to be where we are at right now. With all of our struggles we seem to be walking through them hand in hand and carrying each other when one of us is too tired to walk.

We have a pretty full plate when I think of it... an aging and ill mother (who is more delusional every day), an almost healthy father who is doing quite well but is getting exhausted by all of life's twists; then we have these two men-boyz, who present their challenges, with wanting to be adults, but not quite ready for making adult decisions. We also have these kids that we call our own. A boy entering puberty, with all of that mess as previously mentioned in another post; a girl who is teetering between playing with dolls and drooling over the latest teen magazine and our little boy who I just really want to keep a little boy a little while longer.

But through it all there is this guy who is never failing in his love and dedication for what is best for all of us. So even though I could wait another two days to say all these things. I am saying it now, because an anniversary is just another day to say these things that really could and should be said every day.

So my love... thank you for the last 14 years and for all the years ahead of us we have to come.