Cowboy Knee boarding

We were very fortunate this year with gorgeous weather on family. We spent the day with Dustin's family at his parents house. We all made the trek down to their coulee and spent a few hours tobogganning down the hill. It was great fun and every one of us took a turn taking at least one trip down. I took more than my share of 'turns' and was a bit sore the next day, both from wipe outs and from hiking back up the hill so many times. Here's one video of me going down backwards.

We had the horse saddled up and was pulling the kids around on the sled. When all of a sudden, I had a great idea....getting pulled behind the horse and going over some sweet jumps!!! So Dustin and I each took a few turns. This definetly turned out to be my highlight of the day.

Snow fun is sooo fun!

Well, I"m finally making myself take a minute and update my blog. I apologize for my absense and thank those of you who are interested enough in reading my blog to give me a hard time for not updating it. I will do my best to stay on top of this.

So,

I am not a fan of winter, to say the least!(Notice how I didn't say hate. As per my friend Robyn, it's a cold and negative word that isn't in my best good of positive energy). Since I usually don't partake in many winter activities, I realized I don't even give myself a chance to enjoy even a portion of our everlasting freezing season. This year I made sure to do my best to enjoy winter while it was here. I did do a few activites in the snow that was a ton of fun!!

For those of you who don't know (but let's face it, only my friends and family that know me well can love me enough to bother following this blog and so already know this), I grew up right next to the Olds overpass. I remember being younger and thinkin what perfect tobogganing hills the overpass had. However, as they should, my parents wouldn't let me as it wasn't safe.

But, as Dustin put it, I am now a grown up and can make my own decisions! So, while putting the safety of myself and all Highway 2 drivers aside, I finally was able to take advantage of the perfect tobogganing hill. Or as Dustin said it, the hill with the perfect fun-to-workout ratio. Explanation: The amount of fun going down the hill is directly proportionate (and worth the effort) to the size of the hill you have to haul your tired, lazy, over dressed carcass back up each time.

We had a great time and went up and down many times, forwards, backwards, sitting, laying, kneeling, etc... We moved to one spot that was close to the big light pole so we had to keep a pretty close watch so we didn't toboggan out butts right into it.

Here's a few pics and videos.

Doing my part

About 4 years ago I decided that I wanted to do more to give back. I decided one way I could do that is to donate blood. I know a lot of people are almost shocked when they know that I donate blood. They say 'I could never do that', or 'I don't like needles', or 'I don't have time'. Well my answer to that and reasoning why I decided to donate is because being scared of needles or not having time aren't options when you are the one in dire need of blood. So, praying that the day doesn't come that I'm the one that needs the blood, I will be so thankful that other people have so graciously donated, forgetting their fears and finding time in their schedules to save my life.

It's not like donating is all fun and games, but it's a sacrifice that I'm willing to make and hoping that many other people will too. I still remember how scared I was the first time that I donated. I wasn't sure what to expect and from my bad experiences with IVs during surgery, I was not looking forward to that needle. I was pleasantly surprised at how well they look after their first time donars, making sure to explain the process and make your experience as pleasant as possible. The nurses are great - I wish those nurses worked in hospitals doing IVs. They have that needle in there in no time at all!

I'm not the greatest donater. I take a long time to fill my bag. Which I think is probably a good thing for myself that I"m a slow bleeder, ha ha. And I can struggle with feeling faint afterwards, but have learned to be sure to eat and drink lots of water before donating.

Even with my little fears or experiences, I still feel donating blood is worth it to try to do a little something for someone else. Please think about donating next time a clinic is in your area or find a local clinic. It's worth it! And you'll be extra glad you did if you or anyone close to you ever needs blood.

Oh, and p.s. Drinking and eating lots after donation is a great idea too. I found out this week that an early and light supper + donating blood + early morning workout the next morning = feeling faint and queasy on the treadmill.

Happy donating everyone!!!

Positive Thinking

Are you a fickle fan? Do you jump on the bandwagon when the going is good?

I don’t know if being a positive person is something that I’ve necessarily strived for, however I have been told that it is a trait that I possess and I am thankful for that. I don’t know if I have to remind myself to stay positive or if it just comes natural. Believe me, I have my moments: moments of self pity, of sadness, of defeat. However, they never seem to last very long for me. I naturally find it easy to see the bigger picture and that things could always be worse! Granted that I’ve been blessed to have an amazing life that with only minor incidents, I am a firm believer that you don’t have to look very far to see someone worse off than you.

It’s as simple as sports fans. I went to a Flames game a few weeks ago and was appalled when at the end of the game (which by the way the Flames did basically hand the win over to the opposing team) the Flames fans began booing. What kind of a fan is that? You say you love the team and you’ll be the first guy whooping it up on the Red Mile when the Flames make the playoffs, yet here, when your team just faced a defeat, you boo them for it?!?!?

The world of Facebook allows us wear our heart on our sleeves, or should I say, on our profiles. I find it so interesting to read everyone’s status. You can get a real understanding of a person’s true personality and overall outlook on life if you take a look at their status history. Are they always complaining? Do bad things ALWAYS seem to happen to them? Or are they always upbeat? Do they have positive statements and thoughts? The ones that I get the greatest kick out of are the ones that praise positive thinking when the going is good. They are thankful for everything in their life that day because it’s a good day. (Which by the way, being thankful for everything you have is the way to attract more positive energy in your life). Yet, the very next day, when the going is not so good, these people are the first to get down on life, be mad at the world and to blame everyone around them and complain about how crappy their day is, their week is, their year is!!

Want to know what I feel is the best way to attract positive energy in your life? Be thankful for what you have, even when you are feeling down. Even when things have crumbled, be thankful for what you do have, even if it’s the simplest thing: Today, I have breath!!!!

Ever start your day off bad and you say to yourself, this is going to be a crappy day. And surprise, surprise!?! The whole day turns out to be crappy! Best way to confirm a crappy day: tell everyone on Facebook! Ha ha Have you ever said to yourself, okay, that sucked, but this is going to be a good day and make a conscious effort to look forward to it being a good day.

A friend’s recent status caught my eye recently and it really struck home. Her status said ‘took off my grumpy pants’!! YAY!!! Why can’t we all do that!?!?!? I love that she acknowledged she was having a bad day and made a conscious effort to remove her ‘grumpy pants’ and to commit to making her day better. We all have ‘off’ days. So why not try this next time you are having a grumpy day. Commit to taking off your grumpy pants. Now just think how pleasant and upbeat the world would be if we could all make that commitment!!

So just some food for thought, don’t be one of those fans that jump on board only when the going is good. Be thankful for what you have when you know you have a lot. More importantly, be thankful for what you do have, even if you don’t feel like you have anything. Realize positive thinking is most important when the going is not so good. And remember thoughts are things and words have power!!!

You can decide what kind of a day you are going to have!!

What kind of energy are you going to attract today?

The Matriarch Grandmother

I have been so very blessed to have grown up with both sets of grandparents. I was lucky enough to live only a few miles from my mom's parents so spent a lot of time with them. My grandparents are the most special people and are truly the pillars of our amazing, strong, fun family and have set a great example of how to live a full life with values and to respect everyone around you.

Last week my grandma, the still vibrant, active, quick-witted 84 year old suffered a stroke. She was very fortunate that it was fairly minor (in comparison to several other patients in her ward at the hospital). She's had her ups and downs and as of most recently - up! She can walk, talk and is still just as sharp as ever. She has lost use of her left arm but as of yesterday could wiggle a few fingers. We are definitely hoping for further recovery of her mobility.

**Just a side note to share her still quick witted mind, as she was sitting in a chair one day and my aunt was curling her hair, her non-mobile left arm slipped off to the side. As she was reaching over trying to grab a hold of it with her right hand, she was saying 'You get back here'!**

I was blessed to get to spend some time with grandma in the hospital. That afternoon she was very tired and was not having one of her best days. She mostly slept and I spent quite a bit of time just looking at my amazing Grandma that I love so much! I can remember her saying one day that if she's ever in the hospital, to just play with her hair. She loves it. At one point, as I was stroking her hair to help her get back to sleep, I had a weepy moment. Just thinking about her strength, her love, her understanding, her compassion and her never ending giving to all those around her. Now, in this moment, it was her turn to let someone give to her.

I came across this on a website with the posting 'The Matriarch Grandmother' by Russel Mosley and thought it was ever so fitting. She will always be the Matriarch Grandmother in our family.


The matriarch grandmother has been the glue and support of the family structure for thousands of years. Her strength exist in her ability to bring clarity to the challenges and blessings encountered by her family. She is often a silent leader. Bypassing the opportunity to pass judgment on those that have chosen to perform less than she would expect of them. Instead she offers them love and guidance during those times most needed. Encouraging the quality efforts of those that have chosen to lead their life in way that honors her expectations.

She is a proud grandmother, that will do anything for her family.

She has faith in the ability of her family to achieve greatness. Though the world may sometimes offer a difference in opinion, to her the world has no control over the ability of her family to prosper when they are joined together as one. The challenges of the world are minimized at her kitchen table. Her meals bring refuge in a way that only her family and friends have had the benefit to appreciate. Through her recipes, the sun shines brighter, the birds sing louder and the flowers bloom quicker. Even in these amazing feats, the effects of her love can still not be measured.

Through her love she shares her wisdom on such topics as finance, relationships, health and faith in a way that brings joy and hope into the lives of her family.

From her meeting place, the kitchen table, she prepares more than just meals. She shares the wisdom of life as it has always been, still is and always will be. She creates an atmosphere that makes you wish that time could both, stand still and rewind in an instance.

When you visit this matriarch grandmother, her arms are always opened wide, her smile is always shining bright and her love is always flowing. Though she will not always be physically present in our lives, what she has taught us will never die.

For many of us that have become great leaders in our lives, she was our first example of how leadership can effect another persons life.

What a blessing it has been to be a grandchild of a matriarch grandmother.

What a way to end!

First of all I must apologize to all my blog followers (like the whole 2 of you that read this, ha ha) for not updating this for the past few weeks.  I will however try to be better and doing regular updates.

Well another year is in the books and it was ended with another holidays season full of blessings.  Dustin and I were very busy with lots of fun family gatherings.  We are so blessed to have so many wonderful people in our lives and were joyed to get to celebrate the holiday season with them all!!

The 19th was spent with my mom's side of the family.  It was our usual loud, busy, fun, food filled get-together.  We had a great time catching up and had lots of laughs over our gift exchange.  The new generation of kids (as my generation still feels like the kids even though most of us have their own kids) got to partake in one of my favorite activities as a kid.  Being pulled on the toboggon by a real powerful, one horse power machine, ha ha  My dad used to pull us behind the horse a lot when we were kids and I loved it.  I'm sure he wasn't pulling the kids as fast as we used to go.  There were 2 horeses and 10 kids

The 24th was spent with my family.  We had a yummy lasagna meal (trying to switch up the usual traditional turkey dinner).  We opened gifts and got spoiled.  Played some games, watched a movie and got ready for Santa with the kids.  I got to read the kids The Christmas Story before they wisked off to bed before being seen by Santa.

After watching the kids open their stocking, we headed to Dustin's parents house to spend some time with his family.  The tree was overflowing with gifts.  We were all spoiled!  Then we headed to his aunt and uncles house in Calgary for a yummy turkey dinner.

The 26th we went to Dustin's aunt and uncles house for the famous Boxing Day party with a bunch of his family and family friends.  It was heaps of fun and I can see why it's something Dustin looks forward to every year.  Dustin took part in the poker game and I enjoyed a copule reall fun games that required blurting out answers.  So of course I was good at that!!  Any game that cane make use of my big mouth is always a good time!!! ha ha

The 27th my mom hosted my Dad's side of the family Christmas.  It was great catching up with everyone that we don't see very often.  And in tradition, we played a game of Scatagories.  It was lots of fun with many laughs.  At one point I thought my mom was going to loose it she was laughing so hard at one of Dustin's answers (it made her blush a bit).

The 28th we got to celebrate my favorite little guy!  Cayden is 7!!  He had a awesome cowboy themed birthday party and was spoiled rotten.

We rang in the new in year in fine style.  We went to a friends place for a Super Hero themed party (which we remembered only that afternoon.  Unfortunetly for me, it takes me a month to be creative.  So I was Super Sport and just wore a sporty outfit with a towel as a cape.  Dustin on the other hand is very creative, even last minute.  He went as Captain Canada.  Our other friends planned ahead and had great costumes.

Tis The Season of Giving

Christmas time! They say it's the season of giving! Unfortunately, that idea has been misconstrued into spending hundreds, and even thousands of dollars on gifts for every man, woman, child and dog in your life.

I love love love giving someone just the right gift that you know they'll love and getting to watch their reaction as they open it. For me, when you find the perfect gift, price doesn't matter (to a point). Whether it's $10 or $100, it's worth it to see their reactions. However a recent conversation with a friend brought up the controversy of prices of gifts. Her lucky husband is lavished with amazing expensive gifts that are just perfect for him. For her, price doesn't matter, it's seeing the look on his face. I told her I agree, but only to a point. Because if I spend too much money just to see the happy look on their face that one day, they'll have to suffer seeing my poor sorry face the whole rest of the year because I ran out of money!!! ha ha

Where I run into struggles with the 'season of giving' is when you are suppose to buy someone a gift and you have no idea what to give them so you basically just run out and grab the best (and let's be honest, the quickest) thing that you can find. For me this totally takes away that wonderful feeling of giving. I figure you might as well just chuck their gift at them and say, 'fine, here's your damn sweater'. Isn't the idea of giving is that it's something you know will bring them joy and happiness, not because you are 'suppose' to give them something. Maybe I’m old school, but when I’m in a bind with what to give someone, I like to give them homemade baking. I’m not sure if everyone appreciates it, but to me it shows much more time and caring, then just grabbing the quickest thing at the mall as you race through it to finish your shopping. I love a homemade special baking (I can’t say the same for my hips though).

For me, the true meaning of Christmas is the gift of time. It's not just about spending money on everyone, but spending the time with family and friends. My holiday season is jam packed full of many different festive gatherings. And although it’ll be a busy run, I am so blessed that I have so many special people in my life to share it with and I look forward to each and every day this season!

I know a family that has definitely figured out the gift of time! Instead of buying a gift for whose name you draw, you are to spend a day with that person. Unfortunately, and most honestly, I’m pretty sure everyone has that one family member that they’d prefer not to have to spend a day with, ha ha. But hey, let’s be optimistic. Maybe you’d find a new found appreciate for the person they are. Anyway, this family got creative!! The mother got her sons name and since he loves pickled carrots and beans, they spent the day together pickling. The son-in-law drew his mother-in-law and knowing her adrenaline junkie side, took her zip lining. A brother-in-law drew his sister-in-law and they took a nice serene kayak trip. I just love this idea of Christmas giving!

I think there’s no better way to give the gift of giving then to volunteer your time. This is something that we can do all year round is so many different ways. Although the holiday season is a time that volunteering is definitely in need. For the past 2 years I have been blessed to volunteer with the Olds and District Christmas Angels. They work all year gathering food, clothes, toys and supplies for those in need. I helped out yesterday as people came in to pick up their pre-packed and organized hampers as well as delivering hampers to those unable to come and pick up. I love the feel of knowing you are helping to help make this a special Christmas for them and their family! It warms your heart as you bring in the many boxes full for them and seeing their look of amazement and gratitude on their faces. My goal for 2010 is to do more volunteering throughout the year!

My mom’s side of the family has come up with an idea that I love. We enjoy the gift of giving and of the time spent with each other. Instead of doing the usual Pirates (or Chinese) gift exchange each year, where we'd all spend $20 to attempt to find just the right thing for whoever may end up with your gift, only for everyone to come home with some piece of crap that we'd never use and ends up in our garage sale pile. Now, instead of throwing away our $20 on something useless, we pool all our money together and make a donation. Each year, one family gets to choose where the money is donated to. This year it's been donated to Medic Canada to provide micro loans to people in Africa. As well, because my family still enjoys the time spent with us all in one room (with 35ish people, that doesn’t always happen) and fun of a friendly competitive gift exchange, we've kept it to something homemade or from your house, to alleviate the costs. Some of the top gifts this year were homemade ice cream, tarts, chocolates, Baileys and lots of yummy baking. This year I hit the jackpot (at least I think I did) and came home with a bunch of canning!! I can’t wait to dive into my pickled carrots.

So, as the festive season arrives, please remember the true meaning of Christmas. Take the time to spend quality time with those that you love. Give to those that are less fortunate. And above all, be thankful for all that you have. We don’t have to look far to realize there’s someone worse off than yourself. It’s amazing; the best way to improve your situation, boost your spirit and to find true joy is to give to others and count all the wonderful blessings in your life.

Merry Christmas to you all! Thank you for being in my life!