Finally!!! 2008 In Review

I have finally gotten around to putting together the year in review slide show for 2008. God has taught me some valuable lessons again this year, although this time, I see a different thread of consistency running through the pictures that I was drawn to, and the song that just kept coming back to my mind - to represent where we began 2008, and where we are at now.

2008 began in a new community, a new full time job for me, a new company for Barry, and a whole new world for Matthew. At first, I found myself striving to change all that. I convinced myself that I would start to enjoy each day once I had figured out a way to go back to school, to finish my education and then land the job of my dreams. Perhaps every moment would be filled with joy once Matt was in school, and he felt a bit more settled, instead of still being the "new" kid at day care. What I'm getting at here, folks, is that I kept putting my life on hold - I fell into that trap of thinking that once the next goal had been met, once that bill was paid off or that course was finished or all those appointments were over, whatever it may be that took over the horizon - the "thing" that needed to be overcome....once that is finished, or out of the way...then I'll really enjoy my days. I'll be happy and I'll stop worrying about the things that I haven't done, and I'll enjoy the abundant and full life that God has blessed me with.

There will always be something that could steal my joy - but reality is - right now my life is going by...and it will not wait for me to reach my next goal. If I don't fly a kite with Matthew today...I'll blink my eyes and he'll be past the age of wanting to fly kites. I must enjoy taking him to the dentist, and helping him with his homework, because even the difficulties and the struggles and the things that we wish we could change, are part of living life today. It is these little, mundane, seemingly "get it over with and then move on" things that make up our days. Not every day will be filled with breathtaking experiences. But we can take deep breaths and enjoy even the simplest, quietest, or most frustrating moment each and every day.

So, I chose this song because it speaks exactly about these things. It talks about loving, about crying, about sunrises and freshly cut grass....and how these are the things that we are really living and experiencing.

What I would like to leave you with, is just the encouragement to experience today - whether it is filled with great joy or great pain, or great mediocrity. At the end of the day, my prayer is that you will feel as though you lived it, and didn't just wait for it to end.

Much love,

Laura

P.S.
I need comments.

According to Matt Part II

Matthew is walking out of the TV room.

Matt: "Just walk away, Matthew, just walk away."

Me: "Matt, what's going on? What are you walking away from?"

Matt: "It's Johnny Test. I just don't like what the twins are doing. I'm alright Mom...just walk away, I learned that at school."

Johnny Test is a cartoon. The twins are his older genius scientist sisters who frequently test their hilarious experiments on Johnny (and his faithful sidekick - "dog," the dog).

Happy Friday everyone!

According to Matt

The other night, Matt hew and I were in the car, waiting for Barry to join us.

From the backseat, I hear this little voice tell me. "Mommy. Your hair is a little bit crazy at the back."

Of course it was tossled at the back. I had been cleaning and doing laundry all day.

"Mom...you know those commercials who have ladies in them...and their hair is all nice and smooth all the time? That's what you need to get. That will make your hair all better. Okay mom? That's the stuff."

What a little rat.

Sweet Dreams

If anyone ever tells you that you will not sleep better in a bed that is beautiful...they are lying.

We came to notice that we were not sleeping particularly well. It was difficult to fall asleep...then I'd wake up at 1:00am and that would be it for the rest of the night...no more sleep for me. Finally, we decided to take action.

We bought a king sized bed.

I love it a whole lot. There was just one thing missing. A beautiful duvet cover. I have had the sort of "look" that I am after all pictured out in my head for a very long time...and I assure you, that turns shopping into absolute torture. It is much easier to go without any expectations. That way, if you see something you like, you simply purchase it and go merrily on your way. Oh no. I can never seem to do it that way. I search and search and search until I find EXACTLY what I'm looking for. It has taken me almost two years to find what I'm looking for.

It was worth the wait.

Don't criticize my taste, okay?? It's pretty much plain. And beige.

Yup...it screams "me."

Matt

So, for those of you who aren't on facebook - here's what's been going on with our boy. Been a rough couple of weeks, but God is good, and He always knows how to give me a new perspective right when I need it.

Here we go:

School: Matt hasn’t been crazy about his school ever since he started there this fall. He cried about the bus ride and begged me to drive him each school day. I told him that he’d be fine, and it settled down a bit once his seat partner actually started taking the bus (it’s a little boy in his class). Then he started telling me that the kids there don’t like him, “Mommy – the friends at school don’t even like the name of me, and they don’t want to play with me.” What a dagger into the heart of a mother!! I sooo want to see him happy- and confident and all those good things. I also don’t want him to be a follower, or to base his decisions on getting approval from his peers – and his teacher says she sees a bit of that. He’ll act like a baby to make the other kids laugh. This is not a good sign….and I don’t know how to handle it. Do we change schools?? Will it be any different anywhere else?? The kids at daycare love Matt and he seems to fit in REALLY well there, so why doesn’t he at the Christian school?? Is public school really the answer??

Health: Matt got sick during the last week of RRSP season. This is very bad timing for me. I work at a financial institution. It ended up in him feeling very much like a sick yo-yo who wasn’t able to just stay at home and get better.

The week after RRSP season wasn’t much different, and by now Matt was crying every night saying that he just wants to stay home, and he doesn’t want to go anywhere in the morning. “Please can we just have a home day?”

Things just piled up and piled up. Then Matt’s whole body broke out in eczema and he REALLY didn’t want to go to school because they are having swimming lessons at school right now – and all the kids would see his rash.

We were stressed – so Matt was stressed – he was getting more and more upset about school and the night I posted that my heart was breaking, he was so worried about going to school in the morning, and so sad that he wasn’t going to have a home day – he cried and cried and cried and then lay awake in his bed until almost 9:30.

Things are getting better. He is healthy again and his eczema is much better. It’s truly amazing how a few nights of sleep can make the whole world better.

Have a great weekend every one - we're taking it easy here in the Candline house!

Issues

So, those of you who know me will not find this shocking in any way.

I have some personal space issues. Several of them actually.

I really don't like other people to be physically near me. I'm also not really one to wear my heart on my sleeve.

These perfectly reasonable boundaries have been tested lately. I'm not very happy about that. I like my boundaries, and I have no plans to deal with my issues any time soon.

So, there I was innocently watching Matthew's hockey practice - and one of the other moms came over to me and started a conversation. To date, I have been largely excluded by the other hockey moms. I am not from our little town, and thus, I am an outsider, and have been looked at, however, not spoken to, while sitting in the stands. Just a little reminder - we are quite a ways into the season. There is only one ice time left.

Okay, back to the horrifying experience. She began by asking me which little one is mine. Totally reasonable. She asked how many kids I have - also very socially acceptable.

Then she jumped right into, "Which guy is your husband?? He looks a bit older than you - how much older?? Has he been married before?? Does he have other children?? How many, how old, what happened to his first marriage?? How did you meet?? How are you finding the whole blended family thing, do his kids like you, do they like Matthew???" Somehow, in the midst of the gunfire-like questions, she managed to tell me her entire life story...in terribly graphic detail.

I think I'm fine with sitting by myself and being looked at occasionally by the other hockey moms. Yup, pretty much fine with that.

Now for the personal space story. As if that incident weren't damaging enough. There's more.

We have started going to the early service at church. I like being home at 10:45, it feels like we still have a day left, instead of getting home at 1:30 (starving) and by the time lunch is done...you get that sinking feeling that the last day of your weekend is slipping through your fingers with alarming speed.

Anyway...back to the point. Our church has that awful 2 minutes where you are supposed to move around and greet people. Shake hands (AAGGHHH - touching)chat with the people you know and introduce yourself to those you don't. I try very hard to be in the ladies room during those particular two minutes each Sunday morning. Don't get me wrong - I don't have a phobia of going outside and I'm not afraid of placing my hands on the grocery cart. I just don't like people I'm unfamiliar with to be too close to me.

There I was - caught in the church when the two minutes of greeting came around. I was trying to make my way through the crowd to the door, when this well meaning individual stepped in front of me, and said, "Good morning!!! Come here! I need to hug you. I'm not a hand shaker - I hug everyone whether I know them or not. I just have to give out as many as I can every day...don't you just love a good hug!??" Oh. My. Goodness. You have no idea. The bright side is, I lived to tell the tale.

Next Sunday, I will be much more prepared. I will plan ahead.

I really am a nice person. I just like to be a nice person from a safe distance. That's all.

Unplugged

So, I'm not really a technical genius. I am a genius in so many other ways, though, that there must be one area in which I do not exude brilliance, or people would get jealous. Hope you know I'm kidding and that I love sarcasm.

We're having some computer issues, over here in Candline-ville, so if you have suggestions, please LEAVE A COMMENT!!!

Our desktop is ill. It makes a funny noise every now and then. Not when you're using it, just when you're across the room doing something else - it will make that loud noise that computers make when you try to save something with the wrong "last three letters behind the dot." See how brilliant I am??

Then, it started telling us, "unable to display that video mode." So, we would turn it off and come back the next day.

Then the screen went all pink and stripey. You guessed it. Turned it off and came back the next day.

The next day, the screen went all red. Nothing but red.

The day after that...smoke came out of the monitor. I do realize that the monitor is dead.

The computer is in the hospital. The tech dude says the computer is fine...that the video card is okay and that it didn't kill the monitor. I don't beleive him. I have a feeling that if we bring the computer home, and happily replace the monitor, the computer will assassinate the new monitor...it may even become a serial monitor killer. Okay techie people - feel free to jump right in here with opinions galore!!

Our computer is not new. Matt wasn't even one when we got it.

We know that we need to face the inevitable question - should we replace it with a new PC or...get a Mac?? More opinions please.

So, this is the reason for the lack of blogging lately. Hang in there...and if you're at all technically intelligent, leave me some advice.

Big Weekend

This was a big weekend for our little monkey.

Saturday began with hockey...and he scored his first goal!! He had prayed on Friday night that Jesus would help him to get a goal - and he thanked Jesus afterwards. It's so great to see Matt coming to realize that Jesus cares about the things that matter to Him - and Matt matters to Him.

THEN...Austin came for a sleepover. With the exception of Noah, Nicola and Chane, Matt has really never had a sleepover. Those two boys were sooo excited! We decided to keep them very busy!! We took them swimming, out for ice cream, home for games and dinner, then we watched Madagascar 2, had some junk food and put those tired critters to bed. Those tired critters were up at 5:45 this morning. Yuk.

Wouldn't ya just know it?? The day after the sleepover was the Sunday School potluck and training time...we didn't get home until 4:00 this afternoon. Now we're all tuckered out, and it feels great.

So, here's one that I wouldn't mind opinions on. I struggle to force myself into
"down time". I work full time now, and when I'm home, I'm cooking, cleaning, doing laundry, organizing, tidying...ironing...come on fellow moms you know the list. It goes on and on. Along those lines, I'm forever preaching about how we all are where we are in life because of the choices we have made. I like the order that tidying and cleaning brings me...so I frequently choose to do these things. However, I find myself increasingly lonely for my boy. SO...Saturday's dinner was Chinese Food. Just for fun, I opened my fortune cookie. Wanna know what it said??

Life is series of choices. Today, yours are good ones. Hmmmm.

Many wishes for a great week everyone!

Hockey

Matt had a hockey game in Sylvan Lake last month. They got creamed. They didn't care. Every child on our team played hard, cheered when the puck mercifully didn't go in our net, and pretty much lost control when it went into the other team's.

When the game was over, Matt asked me if I was so proud of how fast he skated and how hard he tried to get a goal. I was beyond proud.

Kindergarten

Went to Kindergarten with Matt this week. It was wonderful.

I got to watch him hand out the play dough coloured cookies we brought for snack.

I helped the kids make birdhouses at centre time.

The principal came to the gym and juggled for the class. They loved it!

Then I bleached all the food that the kids play with in the house centre - yes, that was right up my alley and I felt completely at home.

One little boy smiled up at me and said, "I think you are beautiful."

What a great day!!

Okay, I know you've been missing the "Matt quotes" so here you are:

"Mom, how old is Cody?" (Cody is Matt's cousin)

"I think Cody is around 20."

"Or maybe he's 7."

"Actually, Matt, I'm pretty sure that Cody is right in that 20 yr old range."

"Ummm.... or he could be 7."

Sure wish I was 7.

The Holidays

We had wonderful plans for the holidays this year. Nothing turned out the way we planned.

We were all packed and ready to go see family - the flights were cancelled and we ended up staying put. We didn't even leave the airport, or part with a single suitcase. We didn't even get to check in. Upon our arrival at the check in desk, we were informed that our flights were cancelled and we should turn around and go home.

So, we turned around, went out for breakfast, then proceeded to wander Calgary contemplating some sort of major purchase to try and cheer ourselves up.

Our major purchase turned out to be groceries at Costco. Our Christmas turned out to be just the three of us, and it was wonderful. We had dinner with some angelic friends who heard that we were earthbound, bless their dear hearts.

Funny how things turn out soo very well even when it's not anything at all the way we planned.

My parents came for the week of New Years. We were going to go swimming, to the Zoo, The Festival of Lights, play games...Barry and my dad were going to start framing the basement...all sorts of fun stuff. Barry and I were sick.

Very sick.

Barry rarely got out of bed the whole time they were here. I stumbled off to work (the odd day) and the other days my wonderful dad chauffeured me to the Dr.

I had a sinus infection and Barry had an ear infection. What are the odds?

Instead of doing doing and more doing, we just were. We read, visited, watched a movie, played cards, napped...and just enjoyed being family.

It was one of the most relaxing and wonderful visits we've had. I still feel sorry that my parents had to run the household, but it was sure nice to have them here to look after us.

Thanks guys.

Funny, even though it didn't turn out at all the way we had it planned...it turned out exactly the way we needed it to.

God is good.

Hugs,

December 12

That was the night of my staff Christmas dinner. It snowed. A lot.

Dinner was originally scheduled for 7:00, and Barry was going to be home (it's a staff only, no spouses kind of dinner) to watch Matt. Perfect. No babysitter required.

At the last minute, Barry had to go to a hockey game with some co-worker (team building and all that stuff).

Thank goodness for Heidi - she came through at the last minute and said she'd watch Matt.

I get to work that morning, and dinner is somehow moved to 6:30. Oh my. Heidi was scheduled to arrive at 6:45. I call her in a frantic panic. She has a great idea - since dinner is out at this quaint little country restaurant (that she happens to live near) why don't I bring Matt to her, and he can play with the other kids (Heidi is room and boarding with a wonderful family who just happens to have a daughter in Matt's kindergarten class). Excellent!! All my problems are solved.

I quickly feed Matt a hot dog, and head out the door into the blizzard armed with my directions (I've never been to this place...out in the country...down the back roads...in a blizzard).

Somehow, I managed to peer through the whirling snow that was coming toward the windshield with so much ferocity that Matt actually unzipped his backpack, got blankie out, snuggled up with blankie, and told me, "Momma, this is a scary place......Do you even know where Heidi lives?"

So. The directions said to turn onto the road that The Blooming Fields is on (that's the restaurant) and keep going past the restaurant. They are the 2nd driveway on the right. I find the road with The Blooming Fields. Yay! When we get to the restaurant, I notice that you have to turn down a side road and then into the driveway, I see a sign that says "No exit. Local traffic only." I figure I am going the right way. They will be the 2nd driveway and all will be well.

There was no 2nd driveway.

We ended up in a field with a stop sign in the middle of it. A stop sign?? What happened to local traffic only? I was in the midst of carefully turning around - the snow was getting pretty deep - when two dogs came bounding up to greet me. They were followed closely by - I'm assuming - the owner of the field.

Apparently the enormous Newfoundland was named Duke. He wanted to go for a truck ride in Matt's car seat. On top of Matt in the car seat. Thankfully he was able to assure me that if we went back to the "main" back road we would find three more driveways on the right, and I was confident that the second one would be the God-sent babysitter.

We were right!!!

I was late for dinner, but so was everyone else, and Matt and I had quite the adventure, driving through the snowstorm. When we got home at the end of it all, he sighed, and told me, "It's okay, Mom, we're home now, safe and warm."

Thank goodness we had the four wheel drive.

Barry had to navigate some slippery-ness on the way home from Calgary, but the closer you get to the city, the more civilized they keep the roads.

Well folks, I have much to be thankful for tonight. I'm home, safe and warm, and off to read in bed.

Blessings,

December 11, 2008

That was the night of Matthew's school Christmas Concert. The very first one. I'm sure it will always be remembered as the very best one. The kindergartners always steal the show. The principal was careful to advise the audience that we could not just up and leave after the kindergarten performance. Obviously, he's been to more than one of these events. We, however, did not heed his advice. Seeing as Matthew was the only child from our family performing that evening, we both went to "collect" him when he was finished...and we just never came back to our seats. In our defense, it was already close to his bedtime, and he was definitely tired, so we decided that he "needed his rest" and we went home.

His class "rang" Jingle Bells perfectly. Each child had a bell and followed the teacher's cues at the perfect moment. We were soo very proud! Then all the lights in the gym went out, and each child held up a glow stick while they sang "This Little Light of Mine." I still get choked up whenever Matt starts to sing that little tune.

More to come...eventually you'll be all up to date.

Blessings,