The Proper Sneeze

Okay, so with all the viruses, germs and diseases that are flying around, threatening our livelihood, (you know the ones; the new viruses that are sure to wipe us out each year) they are teaching us to be more germ aware.

I will not lie, I am not a ‘germ-o-phobe’ so being germ conscious isn't always the first thing I think of (after all, I'll be out moving cattle, riding, and branding and then will break for lunch and probably not wash my hands).

But....I AM aware that other people are ‘germ-o-phobe’, so I try to be thoughtful of them. 'They' tell us that if we have to sneeze in public, to do so into our elbows.

MY question is.....what do you do when you are wearing short sleeves??? The other day I was trying to be conscious of my germ spreading so I sneezed into my elbow, which happened to be bare. Afterwards I realized my elbow, forearm and upper arm were all slobbery wet. So I wiped it all off with my other hand and proceeded on my way. ha ha. Realizing later that all my germs were then transferred onto my other hand and onto everything else I touched.

So, what is the proper way to sneeze with bare arms?!?!?!

Thank you

Well I was thinking about this blog post as we were driving the 4 hours out east to my cousin’s place where we celebrated thanksgiving with my mom's side of the family. As we were driving, I was checking my Facebook and reading everyone's post saying how thankful they were this weekend for their friends and family.

I decided to update my status, and I changed it to "Jody is just as thankful today as I am each and every other day'.

It got me to thinking, yes it is amazing that everyone takes a moment on Thanksgiving weekend to realize what they are thankful for. To realize what they are blessed with: health, happiness, family, friends, etc....

My challenge for you....don't be thankful just on thanksgiving. But sure to give thanks everyday for everything in your life you are grateful for. Have a extra good day, say thanks!. Arrive at your destination save and sound, give thanks! Finally get over that nasty cold that has held you hostage the last few days, give thanks! The kids only fought once today, give thanks!

The more you are thankful for, the more abundance you will draw into your life. And the best way is to start and end each day with acknowledging all the blessings in your life. Even if it is simply, thanks for the breath in my lungs!

This morning I was thankfull for:
- my headache being gone
- Dustin having a great time at the hockey game
- Friday and I'm looking forward to a quiet, productive weekend at home
- my two treatments yesterday and feeling more healthy and directed
- my health
- all the special people in my life

No more excuses

Well, it's been 4 months since my last blog entry and now that wedding planning is over and life has started to get back to normal, I no longer have an excuse for not blogging.

I have to admit, the thought of trying to update my blog during the summer amidst the wedding planning was not something I was willing to tackle. I felt like every waking moment and thought revolved around planning that day. It is a lot of work to plan a wedding. It is a lot of work to plan a wedding in 3 months. It is a lot of work to plan a wedding in 3 months in the middle of an already busy summer. I struggled a fair bit with the stress of it all and mostly did not love the process.

That is until I gave myself an attitude adjustment. It took an early morning out camping, to sit quietly by myself along a river to gain some perspective. How could all the activities leading up the most special day be CRAP! (Which were my thoughts exactly, all that planning was CRAP!). I realized that although they may not be my most favorite activities, they were all an important part to making that special day special. And I knew that it didn't matter what happened that day or leading up to it, as long as I got married, that's all that mattered!

After that 'self attitude adjustment', I was in a much better frame of mind. I took on the planning tasks with a much happier outlook. When an issue did arise, I took it in stride and dealt with it without getting stress (other than 1 issues which honestly at one point almost brought tears to my eyes and even spoke the words 'this is ruining it for me'). I swore I wouldn't be a bride that got that wrapped up in her day, but it happens. I resolved to not let those issues bring me down and to just 'let them go'. I felt much better after that! Nothing was going to wreck my special day.

Much to the stress of many (perhaps even some guests as many of them said they had their fingers crossed), we decided to get married outside. I always knew I wanted to get married outside but wasn't sure if I could handle the stress of the weather. Yet as soon as we choose our ceremony location and the decision was made, I was very calm and at peace with it all. We made a backup plan (just in case) but I never put much thought into it, somehow knowing it wouldn't be needed. I was calm and trusted the weather would be perfect. Everyone was telling me the forecast, but I never looked at it myself or stressed. I trusted the weather would be perfect. As the week went on, the forecast was getting worse, I trusted the weather would be perfect. When the wedding day arrived and that morning was cloudy and a bit windy, I trusted the day would be perfect. My dad asked me "Well, are we playing like we got it?" (which is his way of saying, are we going ahead with the ceremony being outside), I trusted the weather would be perfect.

It ended up being about 12 degrees and cloudy, with bursts of sun throughout the day. Only a bit of wind and a few spits of rain came during one part of our photos that afternoon, but all in all, the weather was perfect!!!

Well those are just a few of my wedding thoughts that ,although it is all over with now, still occupy my mind as I reminisce and relive that most special moment of my life.

Don't be surprised to hear more post wedding thoughts from me. Hopefully I can keep the blogging up to date now that I have no excuses!

Engaged!!

Okay, so I’ve had enough people ask me about the details of the engagement that I figured I’d better tell the story. Plus it’s definitely worth sharing. Dustin did an excellent job pulling it off.

So it started off earlier in the week by Dustin suggesting that we go hiking if he got a day off on the long weekend, since we wouldn’t be camping. Of course I loved the idea.

Friday after work he informed me that unfortunately, he wasn’t getting a day off. So I went about planning my weekend and was to go help friends move cattle with my dad Saturday morning and had it all lined up.

Saturday morning, 6:20am, Dustin’s alarm goes off for work. I made a comment about how crappy it was he had to get up. Then he quite excitedly announced that he didn’t have to go to work today.

I was half asleep and groggy with my eyes still shut. I think the conversation went like this:

Dustin: I don’t have to work today!
Jody: What, but you said you did.
Dustin: I was pretending.
Jody: (after a pause) Are you serious?
Dustin: Yes
Jody: You aren’t being teasy?
Dustin: No. We get to spend the day together.
Jody: But I have to go riding.
Dustin: No you don’t
Jody: Yes I do, I told dad to catch me a horse in the morning.
Dustin: I called him and told him you weren’t coming.
Jody: WHEN?
Dustin: Last night.
Jody: Really? You aren’t just being teasy?
Dustin: No! I’m seroius
Jody: Oh yay!!!
Dustin: I figured we’d go hiking!
Jody: Oh yay!

So we had a bit of a sleep in (although I didn’t sleep well after that), hit Tim Hortons, hit a few garage and were on our way. I was surprised when Dustin didn't head west for our hike, but was happy to just be along for the ride, wherever he was taking us. Next thing I know, we were south of Calgary. He has an area out there that he likes to fish at so I figured that was where we were going. Then I realized he was taking me to my uncles land SW of Nanton. Which is my most favorite place on earth!

Once that secret was out of the bag, he said he felt bad that he was sick the last time we were there and didn’t get to go for a walk. And since I’d helped him out this spring while he’s been busy, he thought this would be a good way to thank me. So needless to say I was very excited!!

Looking up to the top of Old Stormy

So we hike up ‘Old Stormy’ hill that my family usually rides up each summer. We got to the top and just looked around, chatted, ate our peanut butter and jam sandwiches and just simply enjoyed the view.

I was a little cold so he sat behind me to cuddle and warm me up. He grabbed the camera and took a picture of both of us. It must not have turned out because he went to take another one (or so I thought). He actually was taking a video. The next thing I know he whispers ‘Will you marry me’ in my ear and pops the ring in front of me!! I was so shocked! And the video shows my surprised look. It took me a second to comprehend it, then it sunk in and the water works and the ugly cry started!!


He said I took a little longer to say yes than he would have liked, ha ha

I was amazed, shocked, excited, emotional, ecstatic and overwhelmed all at once. We just sat and held each other for a bit and took in the most amazing moment in the most amazing location!!

We snapped a few more shots then decided to head back down and hit the road. We knew we needed to tell our immediate family in person and needed to do it before it hit Facebook so we were on a mission.

As we were hiking down, I was asking him all sorts of questions, about the logistics of how he pulled it off. He said he had called my parents earlier in the week to ask them for their permission, which of course they gave him. A few days later, my dad called Dustin back and said that it wasn’t his business but if he didn’t have a plan as to where he was going to propose, up in the hills would be a special place for me. My dad knows that I’ve cried up there before and that’s as close the Maker as you can get. As soon as Dustin told me what my dad had said, emotion ran over me again and I said, ‘Aw, I now have 2 special men who’ll love me forever!’.

I also told Dustin that one time I was up there I thought to myself what an awesome spot that would be to be proposed to! And boy was I right!

Every few minutes it would hit me and I’d tear up. And still do. Every time I watch the video, I tear up. I can’t describe how happy I am! I can’t wait to officially start my life with him. He’s been well worth the wait!!

Tag your it

I have been tagged by my friend and avid blogger Robyn in her post today. It's a fun game of questions and answers.

Where were you five years ago?
- I was working for a oilfield consulting company and commuting to down town Calgary everyday
- I moved back in with my parents which, although was meant to be temporary, turned out to be for 3 years. I loved having them as roommates and miss sharing my day to day stuff with them.
- I had a waitressing job at a friends pub which was a lot of fun and made a lot of fun memories
- I did some major growing and learning from a fairly major heart break (and funny looking back on that time now - THANK GOD FOR UNANSWERED PRAYERS!!)
- My niece Sheya was born 5 years ago this year and has graced us with her presence ever since.

Where would you like to be five years from now?
- Married with a kid(s)
- Own our perfect acreage west of Didsbury on a river/creek
- Own several rental properties
- My airbrushing business being full time (or as much as I want)
- Continuing my goal to be healthy and in shape

What was on your to-do list today?
- Get through work (ha ha)
- Mow my lawn (depending on weather)
- Get my glasses adjusted
- Get groceries
- Figure out plans for this long weekend

What snacks do you enjoy?
- cereal
- ice cream
- popcorn
- craisens
- any candy or baking

What five things would you do if you were a billionaire?
- Have my dream home, land, holiday property
- Travel anywhere I want
- Contribute my time and money towards charities and groups that I'm passionate about
- Share my wealth with friends and family and splurge on myself
- Buy a Yogen Fruz franchise so I can have frozen yogurt anytime I want!! ha ha

And I’m tagging:

Anyone who is interested, especially fellow bloggers to post on their blogs!

Pinocchio

Spring has sprung
And the garage sales are on the riz
I wonder where all the deals is?

Ya, so like I said before, I’m not much of a poet. But….garage sale season is upon us. I love garage salein’. You always find the neatest things! And sometimes, when you are really lucky, you find that one specific thing that you’ve been needing (or wanting) and can get it for a steal of a deal! That’s what garage saleing is all about!!

On the other hand, you always seem to find something that you think is just AWESOME at the time and you just HAVE to have it…….only for it to be thrown in your ‘junk pile’ and end up in your garage sale next year. The old saying ‘one person’s junk is another person’s treasure’….isn’t always the case. Sometimes one person’s junk is EVERYONE’S junk. Ha ha

Anyway, I’m quite the Disney movie fan. I have quite a few in my collection, all of which are still in VHS form. Well I came across a box full of Disney movies for $1 each at a garage sale last week and just HAD to check them out. I happened to find 3 movies that I didn’t have in my collection that I was pretty excited about. I got The Fox and the Hound, Sword and the Stone, and Pinocchio.

I watched Pinocchio the very next day and had actually forgotten a lot of the story line. I was impressed with the moral of the story and thought I should share it with all of you who also don’t remember it all that well.

Well…..the Blue Fairy comes to bring Pinocchio to life. She tells him in order to become a real boy, he has to show that he’s a good boy by proving that he doesn’t give into temptation, tells the truth and shows bravery. When Pinocchio gets himself into trouble by giving into temptation, the Blue Fairy comes to help him. When she asks how he got into trouble, he lied and told her that monsters made him do it. Well, as we all know, his nose started growing as his lie grew.

When he ask the Fairy why his nose grew, she explain that a lie is as plain as the nose on your face and lies just keep growing and growing!

So there, there’s your moral story for the day!

Patience

I came across this write up in a local community paper. I just love it. I think I am naturally a pretty patient person in some aspects and I strive to improve my patence in other aspects of my life. I think there are many people out there that could stand to have more patience!! Maybe this will help:

Patience is quiet hope and trust that things will turn out right. You wait without complaining. You are tolerant and accepting of difficulties and mistakes. You picture the end in the beginning and persevere to meet your goals. Patience is a commitment to the future.

You are practicing patience when you....
- Calmly tolerate a delay or confusion
- Are willing to wait for things you want
- Set goals and persevere until they are met
- Do somethig now that will helpe you inthe future
- Accept things you cannot change with humour and grac
- Are tolerant when mistakes are made

Afirmation:
I am patient. I am gentle with others and myself when we make mistakes. I wait calmly. I trust that things will turn out right.