Sorry for not posting last week. I started one but did not finish it as the family and I have been cheering on our Canadian athletes in the Canada Games. This 2 week event is such an opportunity to see some amazing sport right in our backyard.
The big news was that Mac was even a flag bearer at the medal ceremonies for Air Pistol last week. What an honour! As my dad told him, "Its a once-in-a-lifetime thing." Between that experience and watching a wide variety of sports, he is inspired. He wants to train hard and make it there in four years. You never know, I could be blogging about being a parent of an athlete at the Canada Games. How cool would that be?
Until next week when I can finish the post I started and add in one about our times at the Games, here are some sites to check out:
http://www.canadagames2011.ca/en/home/default.aspx
http://canadagames.bellaliant.net/ (You can watch some of the live action. Keep in mind, the camera work isn't as awesome as national tv but that what you get when its not)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Canada_Games (not very comprehensive)
http://www.canadagames.ca/Content/HomePage.asp?mnu=0
Wednesday, February 23, 2011
Thursday, February 17, 2011
Rainbows, Sun Dogs and Moon Dogs
Have you ever felt like there was a "sign" placed in front of you to let you know that you are honoured at that moment or that you are on the right track? I have. Several times.
In the past 6 months, I have witnessed 4 of these "signs" all at integral moments. The first two were within a month of one another and were rainbows. These colourful occurrences followed special moments with our family. And after such a rocky year, it was almost like God telling us that he keeps his promise and would keep our family from harm and would make us stronger. (Sound familiar?) The third and fourth happened within two days of one another and they were the dogs - a sun dog and a moon dog. The sun dog was different than the rainbows as it didn't seem to be so much about our family directly as it was our finances and the shepherding of said finances. We are presently in the middle of making some big changes. And the moon dog capped a rare eventful and romantic date night last evening.
The first "sign" occurred on September 8th, 2010 on the day of our vow renewal. After the ceremony, we headed to Horseshoe Bay where we were graced with a lasting rainbow. It hung in the sky, unchanged for close to a half an hour. Incredible. We stood in awe for what seems like forever, soaking in all the colours and the beauty of it. Feeling at peace, we continued on in our celebration and played in the waves some more. I couldn't help but to keep checking ever minute or two to make sure it was still there. And it would was. Seeing it there provided a sense of God's contentment with us and the promise of a new beginning. Isn't it the same symbol He used with Noah to show His promise? That's all I could think about as I watched the kids play and splash in the turning waves, laughing as they are bowled over. Sigh. I could live in that memory forever. Time stood still. Joy abounded. God smiled.
The second "sign" was a different, yet it existed in similar tone. A double rainbow, (yes, a double rainbow,) was spotted on Thanksgiving weekend in October while on a family getaway to Cape Breton. It was the first time away since we returned from Bermuda. We had been going non-stop with our daily lives and hadn't had a chance to reconnect as a family. We were longing for some quiet time away. The phone wouldn't ring. Friends wouldn't be knocking at the door. Demands of work would become a faint whisper. And focus once again would be placed on the family, drawing upon the blessings God had provided us. All of us were enjoying each other as a new and improved family.
What amazed me about this rainbow in Cape Breton is that we could literally see the beginning and the end of it. It arched over the Alexander Graham Bell Museum we were visiting. It seemed to come out of the tall grasses from the homes below and span into the pine forest just above the museum. According to wikipedia, a double rainbow occurs when light from the sun reflects twice, instead of once, inside water droplets. Between the two rainbows is a very dark area. This band is dark because "while light below the primary rainbow comes from droplet reflection, and light above the upper (secondary) rainbow also comes from droplet reflection, there is no mechanism for the region between a double rainbow to show any light reflected from water drops, at all." Interesting. I never knew that. To me, it makes the "sign" even more poignant as we were continuing to make our family stronger. With a dark band between the two arcs, it is like a solidity of our family, not letting anything in between that could challenge our new, more solid foundation. I felt blessed when I saw it as if I was being given a personal note from God telling me how proud he was of us and we were loved. In that moment, I was given the pat on the back or that gentle shoulder squeeze I would get from my dad when he was at loss for words but donned an endless smile when he was overcome with pride for my accomplishments.
Wednesday, we were coming home from the bank and a sun dog was just "there," right in front of us as we drove on the highway. My husband wasn't sure what it was. He hadn't seen a sun dog before. I told him with confidence what it was we were looking at. This time, the "sign" comes at a time when we are making some big financial decisions and creating new goals for our family.
A sun dog is witnessed when plate-shaped hexagonal ice crystals are in high and cold cirrus clouds or, during very cold weather when ice crystals called diamond dust drift in the air at low levels. (It was BITTER COLD WEDNESDAY.) Ice crystals act as prisms as they bend the light rays. Often, as these ice crystals move through the atmosphere, they can become vertically aligned. This leads to the sunlight being refracted horizontally causing sun dogs.
WOW! I still am in awe that I have been able to take these sights in and at such important times in our life as a family. Chills are sent down my back just thinking of what is to come!
In the past 6 months, I have witnessed 4 of these "signs" all at integral moments. The first two were within a month of one another and were rainbows. These colourful occurrences followed special moments with our family. And after such a rocky year, it was almost like God telling us that he keeps his promise and would keep our family from harm and would make us stronger. (Sound familiar?) The third and fourth happened within two days of one another and they were the dogs - a sun dog and a moon dog. The sun dog was different than the rainbows as it didn't seem to be so much about our family directly as it was our finances and the shepherding of said finances. We are presently in the middle of making some big changes. And the moon dog capped a rare eventful and romantic date night last evening.
The first "sign" occurred on September 8th, 2010 on the day of our vow renewal. After the ceremony, we headed to Horseshoe Bay where we were graced with a lasting rainbow. It hung in the sky, unchanged for close to a half an hour. Incredible. We stood in awe for what seems like forever, soaking in all the colours and the beauty of it. Feeling at peace, we continued on in our celebration and played in the waves some more. I couldn't help but to keep checking ever minute or two to make sure it was still there. And it would was. Seeing it there provided a sense of God's contentment with us and the promise of a new beginning. Isn't it the same symbol He used with Noah to show His promise? That's all I could think about as I watched the kids play and splash in the turning waves, laughing as they are bowled over. Sigh. I could live in that memory forever. Time stood still. Joy abounded. God smiled.
The second "sign" was a different, yet it existed in similar tone. A double rainbow, (yes, a double rainbow,) was spotted on Thanksgiving weekend in October while on a family getaway to Cape Breton. It was the first time away since we returned from Bermuda. We had been going non-stop with our daily lives and hadn't had a chance to reconnect as a family. We were longing for some quiet time away. The phone wouldn't ring. Friends wouldn't be knocking at the door. Demands of work would become a faint whisper. And focus once again would be placed on the family, drawing upon the blessings God had provided us. All of us were enjoying each other as a new and improved family.
What amazed me about this rainbow in Cape Breton is that we could literally see the beginning and the end of it. It arched over the Alexander Graham Bell Museum we were visiting. It seemed to come out of the tall grasses from the homes below and span into the pine forest just above the museum. According to wikipedia, a double rainbow occurs when light from the sun reflects twice, instead of once, inside water droplets. Between the two rainbows is a very dark area. This band is dark because "while light below the primary rainbow comes from droplet reflection, and light above the upper (secondary) rainbow also comes from droplet reflection, there is no mechanism for the region between a double rainbow to show any light reflected from water drops, at all." Interesting. I never knew that. To me, it makes the "sign" even more poignant as we were continuing to make our family stronger. With a dark band between the two arcs, it is like a solidity of our family, not letting anything in between that could challenge our new, more solid foundation. I felt blessed when I saw it as if I was being given a personal note from God telling me how proud he was of us and we were loved. In that moment, I was given the pat on the back or that gentle shoulder squeeze I would get from my dad when he was at loss for words but donned an endless smile when he was overcome with pride for my accomplishments.
Wednesday, we were coming home from the bank and a sun dog was just "there," right in front of us as we drove on the highway. My husband wasn't sure what it was. He hadn't seen a sun dog before. I told him with confidence what it was we were looking at. This time, the "sign" comes at a time when we are making some big financial decisions and creating new goals for our family.
A sun dog is witnessed when plate-shaped hexagonal ice crystals are in high and cold cirrus clouds or, during very cold weather when ice crystals called diamond dust drift in the air at low levels. (It was BITTER COLD WEDNESDAY.) Ice crystals act as prisms as they bend the light rays. Often, as these ice crystals move through the atmosphere, they can become vertically aligned. This leads to the sunlight being refracted horizontally causing sun dogs.
WOW! I still am in awe that I have been able to take these sights in and at such important times in our life as a family. Chills are sent down my back just thinking of what is to come!
Wednesday, February 9, 2011
History can be a rockin' good time!
Last week, I came a cross this YouTube channel called History for Music Lovers. All I can say is that the kids and I must have spent over an hour watching and rewatching the videos. We were supposed to be working on other things!
Mac, especially, cannot get the song lyrics out of his head. He is often caught singing in the kitchen and at the table, "Fleas on rats, fleas on rats" (from the song, Black Death to the tune of Hollaback Girl) much to Abby's disapproval. She doesn't like the images those particular lyrics conjure up. Her favourites that needed replay were Constantine (to tune of Come On, Eileen) and Iceman (to the tune of Tax Man, by the Beatles.)
Just from listening to a handful of songs (there are over 51 in all) a few times, the kids are able to recall details about various events and people. Its quite ingenious, I think, to develop and carry out such an ambitious project that leads to a fun way to remember historical facts and figures.
Here's the link. http://www.youtube.com/user/historyteachers#p/a
But be forewarned... it is a time sucker - so make sure you have a cup of coffee in hand and snuggled in a comfy chair. Or at least in a spot that you have room to boogie and dance in, if you feel so inclined!
Mac, especially, cannot get the song lyrics out of his head. He is often caught singing in the kitchen and at the table, "Fleas on rats, fleas on rats" (from the song, Black Death to the tune of Hollaback Girl) much to Abby's disapproval. She doesn't like the images those particular lyrics conjure up. Her favourites that needed replay were Constantine (to tune of Come On, Eileen) and Iceman (to the tune of Tax Man, by the Beatles.)
Just from listening to a handful of songs (there are over 51 in all) a few times, the kids are able to recall details about various events and people. Its quite ingenious, I think, to develop and carry out such an ambitious project that leads to a fun way to remember historical facts and figures.
Here's the link. http://www.youtube.com/user/historyteachers#p/a
But be forewarned... it is a time sucker - so make sure you have a cup of coffee in hand and snuggled in a comfy chair. Or at least in a spot that you have room to boogie and dance in, if you feel so inclined!
Monday, February 7, 2011
What do you want to be when you grow up?
Once again, my husband sent me an email with some new questions for me to answer.
Part 1.
Its hard to pin point the exact thing I wanted to be as there were a few. I was always changing my mind.
Part 2.
Now that I am grown up, what would I like to be?
So in that theme: How would I like to spend my time?
Part One: What did you most want to be when you were growing up and why?
Part Two: Now that you’re all grown up, what would you most want to be and why?
This was my response to him (with the question returned to him which he loves when I do:) )
Hmm...
Part 1.
Its hard to pin point the exact thing I wanted to be as there were a few. I was always changing my mind.
A doctor... NO! A dentist... No! LOL!
The ones I kept returning to most were...
A nurse because I could help people who were hurt, but that got thrown out in high school when I realized my bedside manner was lacking.
A teacher, once again, because I could help kids learn and have fun doing it.
A watershed ecologist. This emerged in high school when I began to develop a passion for conservation and environmental issues. (And it also meant working with water, which I love.) Once again, it was to help; this time the earth, and subsequently, people.
A teacher, once again, because I could help kids learn and have fun doing it.
A watershed ecologist. This emerged in high school when I began to develop a passion for conservation and environmental issues. (And it also meant working with water, which I love.) Once again, it was to help; this time the earth, and subsequently, people.
Part 2.
Now that I am grown up, what would I like to be?
This is such a loaded question as I think there are more ideas and desires of what I would like to be now than back then. I see it more now, not as what I would like to be, but more of how I'd like to spend my time. I believe that I want to be, and presently strive to be: inquisitive, kind, compassionate and open to new experiences.
So in that theme: How would I like to spend my time?
Besides the obvious of spending time experiencing new things with my family, I would like to: paint, write, take pictures, hike, ski, travel, meet new people, read, swim, sail, kayak, play instruments, play games, bbq on the back deck, go beach glass hunting, volunteer, sip tea and coffee with family and friends, and sleep in neat places.
Out of all this, if I were to answer the question "what would I want to be?" as I would when I was younger, I would have to say a travel writer, a missionary, an artist, a mom, a wife and a friend. All these would satisfy my need for new experiences, see the world, meet new people, be creative and love and care for people. The latter three I am already doing and loving. The artist has laid dormant in me since university and is waiting to be released. And the travel writer and missionary are close at hand. I can feel it. :)
Now, I will turn the questions over to you:
Part One: What did you most want to be when you were growing up and why?
Part Two: Now that you’re all grown up, what would you most want to be and why?
Thursday, February 3, 2011
Random Commercials that Make Me Laugh
There are thousands of commercials out there. Most of them just make you groan and roll your eyes. Some are downright wrong. However, there are always a few gems that appear. These are a handful that always make me laugh...
Wednesday, February 2, 2011
My Dream Places to Live
This week, my husband and I have been bouncing questions via email back and forth to one another. Yesterday's question was, "What makes you laugh?" Hence, the theme of the previous post.
Today, my question to my hubby was this: "If money wasn't an issue and your job didn't impede where you need to be, where would you live?"
This was his snazzy response:
1. Christchurch, New Zealand
2. Victoria, BC, Canada
3. Vittoriosa, Malta
Today, my question to my hubby was this: "If money wasn't an issue and your job didn't impede where you need to be, where would you live?"
This was his snazzy response:
Hmmm.... well, if money, job, etc were not a concern, then I guess I could have a few homes to stay in J
2. Victoria, BC, Canada
3. Vittoriosa, Malta
New Zealand, because of the landscapes, its relevance to the Lord of the Rings J. Its secluded but modern and the people speak English. Christchurch for is history and culture.
Victoria as a flip on my East Coast background, something familiar yet different. Love Canada, amazing country and would want a place here. West coast, but not Vancouver – too big.
Malta, for its warmth and beauty. They also speak English there so that’s a plus. Swimming in the med and close to Vittoriosa for a good mix of things to do and a place to relax…
****************************************************************
Okay. Now its my turn...
For me, it is difficult to pick one place, let alone a few places, as there are many that I would love to live in, especially if I could have many homes. In that same tune, here is my list...
1. Tuscany, Italy. I fell in love with this area when I was in Florence and got a taste of the area while riding on the train and the tour I took to Fiesole. The pace is laid back, the food divine and it is so beautifully old!
2. Provence Region of France. This encompasses some of the best beaches in Europe along the Med., and it is once again, beautifully old and apparently laid back. It is also only a few hour train ride from Paris.
3. Bermuda. Simply beautiful in every way. Many memories. Enough said.
4. Salsburg, Austria. I picked this one because it was my favourite place I have ever visited. Once again, I love the pace of life here, the history and culture. It is so central to other parts of Europe and its easy to get around the city, too. Oh, and I can't forget the views! Surrounded by the majestic Alps...
5. South End Halifax. A sentimental attachment to what feels like my home.
6. Christchurch, New Zealand. That one intrigued me on your (my husband's) list, so I looked it up. It is on the water, has a Halifax-y feel and its luscious and very green.
Malta sounds quite amazing, too. But that would make my list even longer...
So, if you could live anywhere, where would it be?
So, if you could live anywhere, where would it be?
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