A few days of work turned into a few more, then those few more turned into a few more, it's all good. I am certainly grateful as Summer is the perfect time for me to pick up some work. No worries about calls from school needing me to be there ASAP to pick up, take home or to doctors. It's all good, BUT blogging gets sidetracked, life happens and is happening there is much to tell but time seems to be at a premium. I miss writing, I miss blogging. My mind still runs a mile a minute with TONS of ideas to blog about, I just never get here to put it down.
So here is a nutshell version of the past few months...
June - Final Dance show of the year (Ashlynn's final dance show ever = a little sadness), school is out, July 1st Canada day celebration fast approaching, worked for a few days. Burnaby Farmers market starts, I sell KICS Lemonade, a few Saturdays. Got several shots in prep for Africa - reacted mildly,no surprise there, recovered, all is good. June flies by.
July - July 1st = Canada day celebration at Church = crazy insane time at our house for a few days. Worked some more, holidays come . . .
6 days spent with friends at their cottage at Shushwap lake = fun despite the lousy weather. We love spending time at the lake. We taught a few new games and played many rounds. Read lots, watched a few movies and did not let the lack of sunshine ruin the fun. Laughs, movies bad weather does not hinder our fun, only the swimming. My new swim suit did not get used. The up side of rainy weather = AMAZING rainbow. Sadly I was in the car at the time and my camera was back at the cottage, but you can trust me it was totally AMAZING, stretching from one side of the lake to the other in a vibrant colourful double arch. Spectacular!
Home for about 24 hours to do laundry and re-pack then pack the car, add a tent and a few other supplies and we are off for another 5 days. Creationfest Northwest 2011 here we come. Please God no rain.... it rained the first night AFTER we set up our tent and had it well tarped - this I can handle. The next day was slightly sprinkley then the sun burst out and shone for the rest of the festival. Perfect! Now we are back home, I am back at work, will be back at the Farmers Market this weekend, and life feels busy. I feel like I need another vacation and I have only been back for 2 days. July seems to have flown by as well.
My grandma was so right when she said, time flies faster when you get older. I knew she was one smart cookie!
Wednesday, July 27, 2011
Tuesday, May 31, 2011
Bad blogger...
Or maybe I should say distracted blogger....
Life distractions -Coming up to the end of the school year, dance year. Spring cleaning.. or at least thinking about it, patio reno, gardening when the weather is co-operating. I have been working for a few weeks, that is about to end (that was the plan from the beginning so no worries there) Doctors visits - I have 3 active teens - this too shall pass, for now it seems the norm. Hubby was away for a week, I am looking seriously at a trip to Africa in a few months, friends in crisis, family and friends coming in and out of town.... Canada day is coming.... just a few distractions!
Blog distractions - I have been blogging here http://kicslemonade.blogspot.com/ It is market season again. This is a friends company, seriously the best lemonade! She asked for some marketing help so I am helping, as well as doing the Saturday Farmers Market in Burnaby every other week.
I have also been blogging here http://frugal-is-not-a-dirty-word.blogspot.com/ - This one is my baby, couponing has become a hobby of sorts. With the added benefit of saving us money, it has been a huge blessing in our lives. Not working full time I look for ways to cut corners and save some moula - this is one of the great ways I have managed to do so.
All of these things add up to not too much action here. I have plans to change that, it is not like I do not have things I want to write, I just find it hard to find the time. Next week when I am done work for now... then I will get my act together. I especially want to talk about Africa! SOOOOOO EXCITED!
Life distractions -Coming up to the end of the school year, dance year. Spring cleaning.. or at least thinking about it, patio reno, gardening when the weather is co-operating. I have been working for a few weeks, that is about to end (that was the plan from the beginning so no worries there) Doctors visits - I have 3 active teens - this too shall pass, for now it seems the norm. Hubby was away for a week, I am looking seriously at a trip to Africa in a few months, friends in crisis, family and friends coming in and out of town.... Canada day is coming.... just a few distractions!
Blog distractions - I have been blogging here http://kicslemonade.blogspot.com/ It is market season again. This is a friends company, seriously the best lemonade! She asked for some marketing help so I am helping, as well as doing the Saturday Farmers Market in Burnaby every other week.
I have also been blogging here http://frugal-is-not-a-dirty-word.blogspot.com/ - This one is my baby, couponing has become a hobby of sorts. With the added benefit of saving us money, it has been a huge blessing in our lives. Not working full time I look for ways to cut corners and save some moula - this is one of the great ways I have managed to do so.
All of these things add up to not too much action here. I have plans to change that, it is not like I do not have things I want to write, I just find it hard to find the time. Next week when I am done work for now... then I will get my act together. I especially want to talk about Africa! SOOOOOO EXCITED!
Monday, May 2, 2011
I love living where we live...
For the most part, I love living where we live, especially at this time of year. As the weather changes, and the cherry blossom trees are displaying their skirts of pink my neighbours start to come out of hibernation. Reconnecting with those we share walls and driveways with is one sure sign that spring has sprung.
We laugh often in our house, that the car that goes in and out of the drive way the most lives at the far end. We also have the oldest kids, meaning they are no longer of the age where they play "in the middle of the road" most of our neighbours have kids under the age of 10 so on any given day there can be almost a dozen kids out there "playing in the middle of the street" - They are like little robots when they see the big red van coming.. Jumping up, moving hockey nets, bikes, sidewalk chalk, sprinklers (well not quite yet), scooters, balls to name a few. Toys moved they stand aside and wave smiles on their faces, usually, and heave a sigh when I go past and they can pull out their toys once again. The funny thing is when it is one of those drop off pick up turn around sort of days, when just as the nets are back in place here I come from the other end, I do not seem to get as many smiles and waves then. Hmm wonder why?
The parents joke that I should send my household schedule out at the beginning of the week so they can schedule the times their kids are out in the street. LOL - it is all in good fun. Wonder what they will be saying this summer when we add 2 more drivers to the mix. The saving grace there will be that despite the fact their may be 4 drivers we still only have one vehicle.
All in a day's fun here.
We laugh often in our house, that the car that goes in and out of the drive way the most lives at the far end. We also have the oldest kids, meaning they are no longer of the age where they play "in the middle of the road" most of our neighbours have kids under the age of 10 so on any given day there can be almost a dozen kids out there "playing in the middle of the street" - They are like little robots when they see the big red van coming.. Jumping up, moving hockey nets, bikes, sidewalk chalk, sprinklers (well not quite yet), scooters, balls to name a few. Toys moved they stand aside and wave smiles on their faces, usually, and heave a sigh when I go past and they can pull out their toys once again. The funny thing is when it is one of those drop off pick up turn around sort of days, when just as the nets are back in place here I come from the other end, I do not seem to get as many smiles and waves then. Hmm wonder why?
The parents joke that I should send my household schedule out at the beginning of the week so they can schedule the times their kids are out in the street. LOL - it is all in good fun. Wonder what they will be saying this summer when we add 2 more drivers to the mix. The saving grace there will be that despite the fact their may be 4 drivers we still only have one vehicle.
All in a day's fun here.
Monday, December 27, 2010
Wishing I could do more....
I LOVE roller coasters. I have been on too many to count. I have loved them from the first time I rode the Dragon Coaster at Playland I think I was 5 maybe 6, waving grandparents watching from the sidelines, all smiles, camera ready. Ever since, the roller coaster is my favourite, be they, steel, wooden, small, large, hilly, inverted, fast, slow, outside, inside, strapped in by the shoulders or just a simple bar, I love them all. The faster the better. All provide some thrill, excitement and lots of laughter. To say I have met a Roller Coaster I do not like would be an understatement, however this roller coaster called life sometimes leaves little to be desired.
True, it is full of ups and downs, thrills and laughter, however, sometimes you feel like you are strapped in by the shoulder and others, well, you feel like you are holding on for dear life with little restraint at all. Sometimes it just feels like the dips are too deep, the turns are too quick and just when you think you are coming into a smooth patch, you are jerked along again dipping and speeding .... with little response time. Sometimes you just want to stand by the side, camera ready, wave and smile. To just have a different perspective, a rest, a chance to catch your breath if you will.... Deep breath... a deep deep breath.
I am feeling a little like that right now, not so much my own life but that of friends, I want to help, to be able to reach out and offer a steady hand, or a platform in which they can stand on just to catch their breath. Sadly distance prevents that from happening, I offer support from a distance and that is good, BUT it is not the same as a shoulder to cry on or a hug, or the simple silence of a friend who is just there.
Prayer, a connection of faith, is the only thing outside of words that I can offer, and offer them I do, to the point of tears, wishing, praying hoping things today will be different. Hoping beyond hope that they will have a chance to come up for air, to breath in deeply. I wish I could do more but do not know where to start without stepping on toes and getting in the way. So I pray - trust that they will call when they know what they need, KNOWING that we will be there at the drop of a hat to do what is needed.
True, it is full of ups and downs, thrills and laughter, however, sometimes you feel like you are strapped in by the shoulder and others, well, you feel like you are holding on for dear life with little restraint at all. Sometimes it just feels like the dips are too deep, the turns are too quick and just when you think you are coming into a smooth patch, you are jerked along again dipping and speeding .... with little response time. Sometimes you just want to stand by the side, camera ready, wave and smile. To just have a different perspective, a rest, a chance to catch your breath if you will.... Deep breath... a deep deep breath.
I am feeling a little like that right now, not so much my own life but that of friends, I want to help, to be able to reach out and offer a steady hand, or a platform in which they can stand on just to catch their breath. Sadly distance prevents that from happening, I offer support from a distance and that is good, BUT it is not the same as a shoulder to cry on or a hug, or the simple silence of a friend who is just there.
Prayer, a connection of faith, is the only thing outside of words that I can offer, and offer them I do, to the point of tears, wishing, praying hoping things today will be different. Hoping beyond hope that they will have a chance to come up for air, to breath in deeply. I wish I could do more but do not know where to start without stepping on toes and getting in the way. So I pray - trust that they will call when they know what they need, KNOWING that we will be there at the drop of a hat to do what is needed.
Thursday, December 23, 2010
Birthday musings.....
46 random facts should count as Little-Bits-of-Random don't you think?
1. I had to do the math to figure out what birthday this was. 2010 - 1964. (kind of funny, but 46 is just a number to me... )
2. I think Faith is a very key ingredient to a great life.
3. I was delivered to my mom in a Christmas stocking.
4. 2 of my 3 daughters weighed the same as I did at birth
5. I think that Peanut butter should be it's own food group!
6. I like the dark hours of the day (well I guess that would be night...)
7. I love sleeping in a tent when it is raining
8. Christmas is my favorite time of year
9. I LOVE to travel
10. That being said, I would go almost anywhere if I were given a ticket!
11. I have dipped my toes in the Pacific ocean from the West coast of one country, and the East Coast of another.
12. Sauerkraut is one of the nastiest things that people call food. Sent shivers down my spine just typing that.
13. I received the same comment on almost every report card I received in elementary school. "Dianna needs to spend less time staring out the window and more time concentrating on her work in front of her"
14. I loved the 11 years that I co-owned the scrapbooking store, but I rarely miss it now. I miss the people, but not the daily store stuff for the most part.. some days yes.
15. I read every night before bed
16. I rarely talk on the phone without a pen and a piece of paper in my hand (there are scraps & doodling by every phone)
17. I collect snowmen - I hung almost 200 on the garland in my stair well this year.
18. The pull tabs on the Minute Maid frozen juice with the ones with a finger hole make me happy.
19. Salty over sweet most days.
20. My all time favorite Christmas movie is "It's a Wonderful Life"
21. We wrap gifts and watch the above movie every year on my birthday.
22. I can only recall one time receiving a combo birthday / Christmas gift. (well until this year, but that is o.k T it really is!)
23. I love the smell of a brand new book
24. Love Love Love walking beside the open ocean
25. I with the help of some great Doc's and God's healing hand.... kicked breast cancer to the curb
26. Yes, I do dye my hair
27. Disneyland is one of my happy places.
28. Silver over Gold
29. I have made snow-angels in the snow (in my bathing suit)
30. I like to shoot people with my Canon
31. I rarely dream at night.. daydreaming is another story see....#13
32. Long road trips with 3 kids ARE FUN, I look forward to them and treasure the ones of the past.
33. I have laughed so hard at my kids that stuff has come out my nose
34. Walking on the beach is one of my favorite things to do
35. Bath over a shower any day, preferably with bubbles
36. I am a self professed chocolate snob - dark baby!
37. I believe that laughter is truly the best medicine... Laughing every day is a goal
38. I can get lost online reading blogs and looking at photography sites...
39. I may not dream, but I have been known to sleep walk and wake up in a closet
40. Was the best birthday party ever... Rollerskating with 100+ friends and family members- SO MUCH FUN!
41. I have slept under the stars
42. My most favorite piece of Jewelry is my charm bracelet - so many stories.. so many memories
43. I really like red shoes but sadly only own one pair (might need to change that this year!)
44. I am blessed to have many friends near and far. I may not see them often, but we can pick up where we left off and go from there, no questions asked...
45. Is how old I thought I was until I actually did the math.. Man that year went by in the blink of a calculator flash.
46. I actually like making lists like this. It does not start with "TO DO TODAY"
So there you have it 46 slightly random things you may or may not know about me...
One more.. Today was a great birthday, and that flash of a year was great too.. No regrets!
1. I had to do the math to figure out what birthday this was. 2010 - 1964. (kind of funny, but 46 is just a number to me... )
2. I think Faith is a very key ingredient to a great life.
3. I was delivered to my mom in a Christmas stocking.
4. 2 of my 3 daughters weighed the same as I did at birth
5. I think that Peanut butter should be it's own food group!
6. I like the dark hours of the day (well I guess that would be night...)
7. I love sleeping in a tent when it is raining
8. Christmas is my favorite time of year
9. I LOVE to travel
10. That being said, I would go almost anywhere if I were given a ticket!
11. I have dipped my toes in the Pacific ocean from the West coast of one country, and the East Coast of another.
12. Sauerkraut is one of the nastiest things that people call food. Sent shivers down my spine just typing that.
13. I received the same comment on almost every report card I received in elementary school. "Dianna needs to spend less time staring out the window and more time concentrating on her work in front of her"
14. I loved the 11 years that I co-owned the scrapbooking store, but I rarely miss it now. I miss the people, but not the daily store stuff for the most part.. some days yes.
15. I read every night before bed
16. I rarely talk on the phone without a pen and a piece of paper in my hand (there are scraps & doodling by every phone)
17. I collect snowmen - I hung almost 200 on the garland in my stair well this year.
18. The pull tabs on the Minute Maid frozen juice with the ones with a finger hole make me happy.
19. Salty over sweet most days.
20. My all time favorite Christmas movie is "It's a Wonderful Life"
21. We wrap gifts and watch the above movie every year on my birthday.
22. I can only recall one time receiving a combo birthday / Christmas gift. (well until this year, but that is o.k T it really is!)
23. I love the smell of a brand new book
24. Love Love Love walking beside the open ocean
25. I with the help of some great Doc's and God's healing hand.... kicked breast cancer to the curb
26. Yes, I do dye my hair
27. Disneyland is one of my happy places.
28. Silver over Gold
29. I have made snow-angels in the snow (in my bathing suit)
30. I like to shoot people with my Canon
31. I rarely dream at night.. daydreaming is another story see....#13
32. Long road trips with 3 kids ARE FUN, I look forward to them and treasure the ones of the past.
33. I have laughed so hard at my kids that stuff has come out my nose
34. Walking on the beach is one of my favorite things to do
35. Bath over a shower any day, preferably with bubbles
36. I am a self professed chocolate snob - dark baby!
37. I believe that laughter is truly the best medicine... Laughing every day is a goal
38. I can get lost online reading blogs and looking at photography sites...
39. I may not dream, but I have been known to sleep walk and wake up in a closet
40. Was the best birthday party ever... Rollerskating with 100+ friends and family members- SO MUCH FUN!
41. I have slept under the stars
42. My most favorite piece of Jewelry is my charm bracelet - so many stories.. so many memories
43. I really like red shoes but sadly only own one pair (might need to change that this year!)
44. I am blessed to have many friends near and far. I may not see them often, but we can pick up where we left off and go from there, no questions asked...
45. Is how old I thought I was until I actually did the math.. Man that year went by in the blink of a calculator flash.
46. I actually like making lists like this. It does not start with "TO DO TODAY"
So there you have it 46 slightly random things you may or may not know about me...
One more.. Today was a great birthday, and that flash of a year was great too.. No regrets!
Wednesday, December 22, 2010
What's his is more mine than mine is.....
It's true. Royd's extended family is more my family than my own extended family. I suppose that distance, different views of life, divorce, adoption, and in the extreme case not even knowing we had extended family on mom's side all add up to cousins who I rarely see or have anything in common with.
Royd's family on the other hand feels like how I always imagined family should be. Certainly not perfect, and there is certainly some disconnect there as well, however the ties that bind are much tighter. Royd's dad is one of 10. Royd is one of 30 grandchildren, 15 boys & 15 girls. When Ashlynn was born I think we calculated that she was the 30th great grand child - since then that generation has exploded and I have lost track. Last weekend as many who could make it gathered for a Christmas get together, it was a loud, happy, joyous affair. By Hilstad standards there were very few there (33 I think) but those who were not there were certainly there in spirit, talked about (in a good way), remembered and cherished.
I remember my first ever Christmas gathering, there must have been 50 or more gathered in Art's house (Royd's dad's). To say I was overwhelmed was an understatement. At the time Royd and I were 'just friends' truly, and honestly 'just friends' good friends albeit, but just friends. I was feeling a little shy and just wanted to observe. That did not matter to the aunts and uncles... I was as good as married to the guy - after all at 20ish he had never brought another girl to the shin dig, grandpa & grandma loved me, and I sassed a few of them back (in a most playful polite sort of way)... I was invited back the next year by Uncle Larry then and there. I am sure that Royd had not thought that far in advance. To say the least I was welcomed into the fold and totally engulfed by the love that is this family. 20 some odd years later, it truly is more my family than my own is. And you know what that is o.k. my family is what it is and I am happy to embrace my husbands extended family in the same way they have embraced me. I am glad for my girls, that they can be a part of it knowing that they have a place to belong, aunts & uncles who look forward to seeing how much they have grown each year. Cousins, to play games with, tease and interact with or little ones to entertain. This is what family is supposed to be. Even if there are months or years between visits.. you pick up where you left off, give a hug and in the Hilstad family, grab a coffee and a piece of Lefsa and settle in for a good visit. Looking forward to this summer when we will gather for an Aunt & Uncle's 50th anniversary - now that will be a party! Watch out Saskatchewan the Hilstads are coming......
My dad is one of 3 boys. Bob, did not have any children. Larry, has 7 and the last time I saw more than one of them was at Grandma's memorial service - 12 years ago. Gulp! I do have one cousin that I keep in random contact via Facebook, he is likely the only one who would recognize me if we passed on the street. However it is a contact in the case of family emergency... Sad, yup, but that is the reality in the world of the Rogers boys. My mom, well that is a long story and you can read more about that here. Suffice to say, I have more cousins on that side than I even knew existed before 2008.
Royd's family on the other hand feels like how I always imagined family should be. Certainly not perfect, and there is certainly some disconnect there as well, however the ties that bind are much tighter. Royd's dad is one of 10. Royd is one of 30 grandchildren, 15 boys & 15 girls. When Ashlynn was born I think we calculated that she was the 30th great grand child - since then that generation has exploded and I have lost track. Last weekend as many who could make it gathered for a Christmas get together, it was a loud, happy, joyous affair. By Hilstad standards there were very few there (33 I think) but those who were not there were certainly there in spirit, talked about (in a good way), remembered and cherished. 
I remember my first ever Christmas gathering, there must have been 50 or more gathered in Art's house (Royd's dad's). To say I was overwhelmed was an understatement. At the time Royd and I were 'just friends' truly, and honestly 'just friends' good friends albeit, but just friends. I was feeling a little shy and just wanted to observe. That did not matter to the aunts and uncles... I was as good as married to the guy - after all at 20ish he had never brought another girl to the shin dig, grandpa & grandma loved me, and I sassed a few of them back (in a most playful polite sort of way)... I was invited back the next year by Uncle Larry then and there. I am sure that Royd had not thought that far in advance. To say the least I was welcomed into the fold and totally engulfed by the love that is this family. 20 some odd years later, it truly is more my family than my own is. And you know what that is o.k. my family is what it is and I am happy to embrace my husbands extended family in the same way they have embraced me. I am glad for my girls, that they can be a part of it knowing that they have a place to belong, aunts & uncles who look forward to seeing how much they have grown each year. Cousins, to play games with, tease and interact with or little ones to entertain. This is what family is supposed to be. Even if there are months or years between visits.. you pick up where you left off, give a hug and in the Hilstad family, grab a coffee and a piece of Lefsa and settle in for a good visit. Looking forward to this summer when we will gather for an Aunt & Uncle's 50th anniversary - now that will be a party! Watch out Saskatchewan the Hilstads are coming......Monday, December 13, 2010
I think often....
about blogging, I have ideas constantly running amok in my head. Sometimes I even start to write and do not finish. Or I start with just a title in hopes I will return to put the thoughts down. Sigh... what is it that they say about the road of good intentions.... Oh, I just went to look for that quote not sure I like it now, however maybe there is humor in it....
"The road to hell is paved with good intentions"
Good thing I am pretty clear on how to avoid the road to hell. That however is a post for a different time. Earlier today I was looking at my list of posts since I started blogging and realized that I have a lengthy list of "drafts" posts started but not returned to... it was actually quite entertaining to read so I thought hmm, what a great thing to just list here, just in case I need inspiration in the future.
Here it goes:
I confess...
Relay
Breaking the Chains
What a difference a day makes
Time to breathe
What a week
Down to the Crunch
One week away
Choices
Life with 3 teenage girls
Dates, changes & life in general
One day you blink & so much time has passed
There are times when
This is my life
We are all just one decision away from Stupid
There you have it my list of good intentions. When I read the list I have to confess, some I have no clue what was running through my brain, on others I thought .. Oh shoot that would have been great, and yet on others I really do need to go and revisit and actually put the thoughts down.
Oh and then there is the one rolling around in my head right now, it needs photos, and I have to get those onto the computer then it will get written
"What's His is more MINE than mine is......"
So for today I sign off, and I will not walk the road to hell, I will blog the above mentioned story VERY soon!
Di
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