Flat Tire Blessings

This morning on my way to work I was stopped at the light on Pickering Beach waiting to keep going north across Bayly and the driver in the car beside, motioned for me to put my window down. He told me that my tire was flat and I needed to get air right away. The Petro Canada was very close so I pulled in there. I got out of the car and looked at the tire and it was so flat. 

Every year before the new school year begins Ken gives the girls and I back to school blessings. Years ago when we first moved to Ajax, I was still teaching at Blue Willow which meant driving to Woodbridge, and I was blessed to be safe as I travelled. I felt like a weighty important blessing. I felt the blessing sink into me. There have a been a few times over the years that I have been reminded of that blessing, and it has felt like the blessing still remains in force. I have felt like, I was protected just then. Today felt like one of those days.

At the gas station when I opened my wallet I had enough change for the air pump machine which felt like another miracle. I almost never have any cash in my wallet.

Stopping to get air made me a few minutes late for school, but Lana kept her kids for a few minutes and no one was mad. At morning recess my principal and the secretaries all told me that I should be checking my tire. In my head since I had filled up my tire so much it was going to be fine. I ran outside in my principal's coat and it looked fine to me. One of the caretakers Lisa was around when I came back inside and told me that she had a machine that could check tire pressure and could fill up the tire too. She told me I should check it and I listened.

Lisa came outside with me on my prep and we checked the tire. It had gone down to 18.5 psi. I had filled it to around 35 psi in the morning. Lisa told me that I couldn't/shouldn't drive home on my tire. I called Ken, he confirmed that we had bought the tires at Canadian tire. 

Next I called Canadian Tire, if it was just a fix it would take about 45 minutes to repair. I looked at Lisa, and I thought, if I go now, I can be back before fifth period. So after saying thank you to Lisa I was off to the other side of Stouffville to Canadian Tire.

They were going to be able to fix my tire, but it wasn't going to be ready on time for me to go back to school on time for fifth period. My colleague Katherine told me not to worry, she would keep her kids, it would all be okay, just to stay with my car. So I did.

My tire was fixed, and it only cost $37.00. I was good to go. I went back to school, hung out with Katherine and her class and then taught my last period class. 

Today felt like a day filled with love and protection and my heart is filled with gratitude. I'm thankful for the school that I work at, for the beautiful humans I work with, for so many good people in the world, and for a loving Heavenly Father that listens to a simple plea to be safe on the roads.

Another Snow Day... and it was Milo's Birthday!

It's Monday morning and it's snowy and beautiful. The snow day was declared last night. Every single school board in the GTA declared a snow day - not just busses canceled but schools are closed. The whole north east was slammed by this winter storm. Some areas got 60 cm of snow. I'm not sure exactly how much fell in Ajax, but not quite that much.

Ken and I went on a Pooh Stick's Bridge walk this morning. One of my favourite things about snow storms will always be saying hi to neighbours. I love how the snow brings us together!

Yesterday - Sunday, Milo turned 5. We sure love our pup SO much!

The walk this morning was sunny and bright. Walking yesterday - it was cold and windy and blowy. Breathing at times was difficult because the snow would go right down my throat.

Last night we had the missionaries over for dinner - Elder Christiansen and Elder Oishi. It was also Elder Oishi's birthday. We played happy birthday to him on all the instruments we had (well except clarinet). I played on recorder, flute, ukulele, and the piano. And Kate played Happy Birthday on the otamatone, it was fun and silly and awesome. Elder Oishi bore such a sweet testimony of Jesus Christ. 

Here they are from January 18th. (Elder Christiansen is from Taylorsville, Utah and Elder Oishi is from Japan)

I feel like today is a gift, but it's already 10:23 am. (I need to get to work - this new report card program is kicking my butt!) I was reading my scriptures and just wanted to remember this moment in time. This gift of time. The beautiful but cold snow. But being so grateful for where I live and the infrastructure that makes snow clearing - the roads and main sidewalks, a thing I never have to worry about. I'm thankful for our warm house and Fiona sitting beside me telling me stories, Ken working upstairs, the dog snoring peacefully on the couch, Alice and Kate playing minecraft. I'm thankful for peaceful snow days and a home filled with love.

A Beautiful Celebration of Life

Today I had the privilege of attending Shawn's Mama's celebration of life. It was such a beautiful service. Shawn and her family did such a beautiful job. It was held in the Presbyterian Church in Keswick, the church and community that Shawn's family was a part of when they lived in Keswick. Shawn's parents lived in Keswick from either the late 70s or the early 80s until 2020 when they moved to London to be closer to all of their children. 

Coming together as a community to celebrate a life well lived is such a beautiful thing. I felt grateful to be there and here Lina's kids talk about their amazing Mom. They declared several times that she wasn't perfect, but she was perfect for them. I think that is the thing we all strive for in families isn't it? That none of us is perfect, but we can learn and grow together in the best way possible. 

Lina could sew - I knew she had sewn Shawn's graduation dresses, but I didn't know that she sewed their matching Olympic Torch outfits - when Fred ran with the torch before the Calgary Olympics, and that she sewed Cabbage Patch Kids outfits and sold them. I knew she taught piano lessons, but didn't realize she played guitar and when she and Fred first met he watched her play guitar by the campfire and fell in love with a beautiful blonde. I knew they lived in New Brunswick for a time, but I didn't know that Lina loved the opportunity to build something new with Fred. I didn't know that she led the children's choir at church. I loved listening to her kids talk about how she listened to them, how she was there to support them when they needed her, traveling to Japan to meet a grandson, holding a daughter during the ups and downs of IVF.

I loved singing hymns in a different church. We sang "Praise to the Lord, the Almighty", "Shine, Jesus, Shine" and "It Is Well with My Soul". They were all a little different than I'm used to, but I loved standing and singing in Shawn's family's church. I loved the prayers and scriptures, and the solos by high school friends. 

Psalm 139:14 - I will praise thee; for I am fearfully and wonderfully made; marvellous are they works; and that my soul knoweth right well. "Fearfully and wonderfully made", I love that.

I'm grateful for dear friends, and I'm grateful to be there for these sacred moments in our lives.

I'm grateful for my amazing friend Shawn, and the amazing home that she grew up in. I'm grateful to have learned a little more about her amazing Mama. Lina was no ordinary Mama, she was extraordinary.

A Snow Day

Yesterday afternoon when I was teaching social studies to the grade 2s, the homeroom teacher Katherine Sprigg started talking about snow, and how they were now forecasting 30-40 cms of snow for tomorrow. I thought oh dear, I need to actually get up on time!

When I woke up I looked at Instagram - quickest way to see what's been cancelled. DDSB cancelled buses in all zones and to my surprise and utter delight, YRDSB cancelled all buses and closed all of the schools! I had an honest to goodness snow day and I was so happy!

Ken and I shoveled a bit, then I tried to take the dog for a walk at 7:30 but it was so windy and the dog was not interested. I shoveled more snow, Kate came out, Alice and Kate decided to stay home, but then Fiona wanted to go to school. I tried to convince her to stay home but she really wanted to go, so I took her.

When I got home I tried to take the dog out again and this time he was willing to walk. One of my favourite things about a heavy snow fall is talking to all of the neighbours. You just don't see people very often in the winter, so everyone being outside commiserating about the snow, I love it!

I should have used my time to do more school work today but I worked kind of slowly. I actually wrote missionary emails, did some paperwork - the Honda Pilot is officially paid off and I scanned the document to let the insurance company know. I chatted with Alice and Kate a little. I cleaned the kitchen. I shoveled more, I picked up Fiona, I shoveled some more, I walked the dog again, Fiona and I made dinner, I shoveled a path for the dog in the backyard, watched a Korean cooking show with Ken and in there I did a tiny amount of school work. I labelled band music and wrote marks in my marking book.

I am grateful for slow days like today. My school board actually has a work from home P.A. day tomorrow so I didn't push myself too much today. It really was a delightful day.

The meat house. This is a house at the corner of Cherry and Range Line and Milo found some frozen meat in the ditch over the winter break. He took me back to the house so many times over the winter break and then on one of our visits we actually met Brendan and Susannah - the owners of the house. They were so lovely. I told Brendan I now called his house the meat house and he thought that was the funniest thing. He promised to clean up the meat - he thought likely deposited by a helpful racoon. We've been back twice since the meat has been cleaned up. I wonder how much longer poor Milo will keep looking for it.

14 inches ish, about 35 cms. It was A LOT of snow!

I told Fiona to put her face in the snow so she did lol.

The funny dog. I think I wanted Milo to enjoy his snow path a little more than he did? Or he was just tired of being outside? Or he wanted food? Who knows, funny boy.

I'm thankful for where I live, in this beautiful corner of this beautiful world and I'm so thankful for snow days.

SURPRISE!

I can't remember exactly when Theo messaged Alice on Instagram, but at some point in late December Theo reached out because he wanted to organize a surprise party for Kate for her birthday. Originally it was going to be the 10th, but more people could come on the 11th and party day was set! Alice was originally the go between but then it was just frustrating so Theo and I followed each other on Instagram and continued messaging and organizing all the things.

Ken's laundry treasures tee hee!

Kate asked for a cake a couple of days ago, and decided at lunch yesterday that she wanted an octopus cake, so that worked out well. Fiona really likes baking and she helped Ken make the adorable cake!

One of the biggest concerns was how to get Kate out of the house. I decided that her coming to walk the dog with me could be the thing, and it worked! (If it rained, our back up was Ken taking Kate out to drive). Our walk was so pretty!

When we got back from the walk I wasn't sure how to get her to the basement. We're in the kitchen, Kate's back is to me and I mouth to Ken something about basement, and he said "Kate can you get me both types of pasta from the basement" and off she goes, not realizing even a little bit that her friends are giggling in the dark behind her. They yelled out surprise and this was her face.

Kate was so cute. She looked up at me at one point, and then as the shock was starting to wear off a little she said "I think I'm going to cry."

Leah had to work and Mason had some other commitment, but everyone else was able to be there, Theo, Jaden, Rhian, Sophia, Zach, Isabelle, Tiffany and of course Kate.

Oh my dear sweet Kate. Remember this. Remember that your friends do love you. Remember that friends are human and not always amazing at seeing every little need/hurt/slight. Remember that despite their human frailty your friends do see you and they love you. They love you. Happy 17th birthday my darling girl. Being here, being your Mom, watching the amazing human that you are growing into, it fills my heart with love and gratitude. 

The Aquarium, a birthday visit

A few weeks ago when we were talking about Kate's birthday she was feeling a little bummed about it. I suggested we go to the aquarium as a family since it had been a few years, Kate asked if she could bring a friend, Isabelle was allowed to come and then yay! We had a really fun day today. We took the train down, enjoyed the fishes! Had a yummy meal at Boston Pizza and I hope that Kate had fun and felt loved cause we sure do love her!