:: State Of Emergency ::

Some of you may have heard on the news about the flooding we are having in town. We pass this gas station on the way to church and last night when we were driving around survey's the chaos, the water in that same spot was was a couple feet deep

http://watch.ctv.ca/news/latest/bc-flooding/#clip237803

Never seen anything like this in the 15 years that I've been here!

It was Thursday afternoon that they declared a State of Emergency but it looks like, weather permitting, things are looking up.

{ In My Next Life }

As if seeing New Moon wasn't enough, tonight my bestie and I are going to see the one and only Terri Clark in concert at the local theater. The coolest thing about tonight is that it is a Vancouver Island Exclusive. Meaning she's only playing here on the island.I think she's completely fabulous and am really looking forward to our evening. I'll be sure to try and get a couple good shots and post them for you! We're also going to the Santa Claus parade this afternoon with Denay so stay tuned for pictures from that as well!

Happy Weekend!

:: New Moon Mania ::

Thursday night was a day that I had been waiting for since the summer when I first read the Twilight series. Ask anybody that knows me well and they will tell you I simply do not read romance/fantasy books, ever. The only reason I ended up with Twilight in my hands was because I was desperate to have something to read for the rest of our holiday and borrowed it from a friend. Long story short I was quickly hooked and could barely wait for New Moon to come out. I had started re-reading Twilight a couple weeks ago and finished in time to pick up New Moon and refresh myself. I also borrowed the Twilight movie from my friend Megan (to the left of me in the picture) and watched it not once, but twice this past week.

We were lucky enough to get tickets for the sneak preview! Megan called me on Tuesday morning and asked if I wanted a "Team Edward" shirt. I asked her if she was getting one and with a laugh we both decided we would do it.

I left early on Thursday evening to give myself lots of time to get there in the torrential down pour and also to get a few errands done. I arrived at the theater at 7:00 and met Megan and her group of co-workers in line. Apparently one of the girls had paid her teenage brother to get in line at 1:00 in the afternoon to hold a good spot in line for us and thanks to him we were the second group in line.

:: Team Edward :: Keep in mind that the youngest lady in this group was me at 25 :)

They let us in at 9:00ish and at 10:00 the lights went down and the screaming started. I was really worried that silly teenagers would scream during the movie and ruin it for me but surprisingly that didn't happen.

By the time the last scene rolled around, I could hardly breathe and then, it was over. Black screen and gasping all around the theater.

We had a ridiculously good time laughing and acting like we were a lot younger than we are!

The movie? Loved it......of course the book was way better but they followed the story line really well and even quoted the book verbatim a handful of times.

Not going to lie, I'll probably watch it in the theater again ;)

:: Birthdays and Parties and Desserts, Oh My! ::

A couple weekends ago the family jumped a boat to the mainland to celebrate, well, a lot of birthdays!

Saturday night was P&S's celebration. We enjoyed a ridiculously good roast beef dinner complete with gravy, mashed potatoes, Yorkshire puddings and more! Then two different desserts and homemade ice cream. If any of ya'll don't know, this gal is a big fan of dessert :) Jacob and Denay were serenading us on the piano as well.....Trev was working the camera while I used S's for the cake shot. He's still learning!

Then Sunday was Cole's big 2nd birthday bash! It was farm themed and S* took it to the max! You can click the photos to enlarge......make sure to get a good look at the awesome cake in the lower right of this collage.

Presents and candles.

It's so fun watching Denay really start to interact with her cousins more and more!

On another note: sorry for the lack of quantity and interesting-ness (not a word, I know) on my blog as of late and for my serious lack of commenting as well! I honestly don't think I've ever had so many things going on at one time in my life and blogging has quite obviously taken the back seat. I've got one more week before I leave for back to back weekends of Cranberry Creek but I'll do my best to get you all updated before the madness begins again! Hope you're not getting too soggy *wink* with our above average rainfall. I don't want to start a panic, but if this keeps up, I think we're going to sink ;)

Handpainted and Perfect

During one of my breaks, I came across a booth full of signs. I had noticed people walking around with them and I fell in love. I made my way over and got to pick out the colors of the panel, the lettering and the decals. This is how it turned out......

I obviously don't have it hung yet but I can't wait to get it up! There's something to be said for unique, handcrafted stuff.

:: Lest We Forget ::

In Flanders fields the poppies blow

Between the crosses, row on row,

That mark our place; and in the sky

The larks, still bravely singing, fly

Scare heard amid the guns below.

We are the Dead. Short days ago

We lived, felt dawn, and saw sunset glow,

Loved, and were loved, and now we lie

In Flanders fields.

Take up our quarrel with the foe:

To you from failing hands we throw

The torch; be yours to hold it high.

If ye break faith with us who die

We shall not sleep, though poppies grow

In Flanders fields.

"They shall not grow old, as we who are left grow old:

Age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn.

At the going down of the sun and in the morning

We Will Remember Them."

I moved to tears a number of times as we took part in the Remembrance Day ceremony in town. So many husbands and wives, sons and daughters, brothers and sisters, fathers and mothers have made the ultimate sacrifice for this country and our world. Not only in the past, but in our present, young lives are being taken in the name of freedom and liberation.

I'll be really honest and say that it hurts me when people simply see this as another day off. If you are reading this then you are only separated by a member of our armed forces who has served overseas, and seen comrades fall, by one degree. I am the proud sister to a soldier.

It only takes half hour out of the day to take the time to respect those who gave us what we enjoy today, our freedom. Yet to some it seems irrelevant or pointless.

I would challenge you to take some time to look around at what we enjoy in the country, and let your heart break a little for the families that were broken for your freedom.

Lest, we forget.

Oh, How He Loves

I heard this song for the first time a couple weeks ago at the Praise 106.5 Praise Gathering at our church. Then I heard it again sung by David Crowder on the radio. While we were on the mainland this weekend for family birthdays, my SIL brought this video to my attention and it's just so powerful that I wanted to share.

{ Big Little Girl }

On the 31rst Trev put Denay in a little track suit with a tail on the pants and ears on the hood and took her to the Trunk or Treat event at our church and let her wander around before taking her to my parents to celebrate my dad's birthday.

While we were in Red Deer, Grammie bought Denay this adorable hand painted puzzle chair and as soon as she saw it she knew it was hers and it didn't take her long to figure out how to get in and out of it.

This wee girl has also discovered coloring. She doesn't quite get it yet but it's sure fun watching her figure it out.

It's hard to believe that she turned 16-months-old yesterday and before I know it she will be two! I continue to be grateful that I am able to be home with her and raise her and watch her change and grow. She's becoming increasingly more independent and insists on feeding herself most of the time now.

What a delight she is to me.

:: 2010 Torch Relay ::

While I was away in Red Deer with CC, the relay for the Olympic Torch came through town. I can't tell you how this small town girl felt when she saw her unknown city pop up on the national news while in another province. Trevor took Denay down to the rally and they all seemed to have a great time!

These are police officer friends of ours on security duty.

You can click on any of the photos to enlarge them as well! Part of me really wishes that I had been here but I have very mixed feelings about the whole thing so maybe it worked out that I wasn't here. Regardless, it sounds like it was a pretty neat event for our spot on the map!

:: Checking In ::

Hey all......just checking in real quick here. I got back from Red Deer on Monday and haven't really had time to slow down and it's not looking like I'm going to until next week.
The show (but mostly the people I got to work with) were completely awesome but I am so very glad to be home!
Lots and lots happened while I was away including my dad's birthday, my nephew Cole's birthday, Halloween, the Olympic Torch coming to my teeny little town and some adorable fixin's that I came home with........so if you will bear with me I am working on getting myself organized and I hope to have something to you shortly.
Hope this finds you all well and healthy!