I have decided to re-join Toastmasters. I am a member of Highriser Toastmasters Club #1171. We meet every thursday evening at 7 pm for just one hour at the Bridgeland Community Hall in Bridgeland. Before I left Toastmasters in 2005 I had obtained my Competent Toastmasters Award by giving a total of ten speeches in my club. Then a certain man in my life took up my time on Thursday evenings, I am talking about my wonderful husband, Ardell. I felt that our courting needed more time than my Toastmasters Club did, so I dropped out of the club. Now I have decided to get back into it, because I enjoyed doing the speeches so much. The fellowship of the club members were such a nice ring of friends and fellow toastmasters who were striving for the same goals as myself. We have a small club of 7 to 9 members and are always looking for new members in our club. This year is going to be an exciting one, as the INTERNATIONAL convention is being held in Calgary, so to be able to volunteer for roles at the convention in August will be a lifetime opportunity. If any of the family --- and mainly Allen Ackroyd -- would like to compete with me at getting our ATM Bronze it would be most rewarding for yourself and your goals to speak with proper grammar, and not be nervous infront of an audience and speak with no ums or awes. If anyone of you would care to join our club on Thursday evenings ---- hint, hint --- Allen, please do so. For anyone else in the family that lives in Calgary, it would be most rewarding for you as well. Fees are only $50 for six months - a steal of a deal.
Allen and I competed together to get our Competent Toastmasters Award and I don't know when Allen got his, but my certificate hangs in my office wall and I got it on December 3, 2003. I think Allen beat me to that one. If any of the family would like to join us, I could mentor you along in your path to success. I would enjoy doing so. Just let me know. I think you all know my email address or phone number. Give me a call.
Shirley Wilson
Tuesday, April 22, 2008
Monday, April 21, 2008
I've been thinking alot lately about the blessing of children and babies in our lives. Our Heavenly Father sends these little children to us for a short time. Sometimes their time with us is so short, we are left to wonder. We have been blessed to have a tiny baby this last month. Heidi received a 4 lb baby boy, who was in the hospital for his 1st week, went home with Heidi for less than 24 hrs, then back to the hospital for about 10 days. He is home now and thriving. He is up to 5.9 lbs. and doing really well.
We have another baby in the Boyer family that is still struggling. Tate is Barb Baker's son from Cardston. Here's their story.....
Dear Family,
As some of you may know Tate and Loralie have been in the hospital for the past 3mths with their little Taelan. She was born in Oct. with hydrophilic(which is water on the brain), a bi lateral cleft palate, and a Cyst on her brain. Taelan spent her first mth in the hospital, had a shunt put in and did ok with it for two mths. But during that time Loralie would make a trip up to Calgary(they live in Leth) once a week to have her fitted and have her appliance built up so they operate on her lip. One of those trips they saw the neurosurgeon and Taelan shunt had failed so they did an operation, taking her internal shunt to have it externalized. She has had 10 operations to this day, tried to have her shunt replaced a few times but has an infection and her fluid can't reabsorb back into the body. So her shunt is still externalized, meaning she has to lie in bed to be levelled off to have the fluid drain and can only be held 4hrs a day, an hour at a time. They have been in the hospital now for the past 3mths. Taelan just had a surgery this past wed for her lip and that went really well. They did a good job. But now the doctors are saying that her infection is still growing, the antibiotics that she has been on for the past few weeks are not working and they are thinking that the cyst has something to do with it. They want to do another operation this week to remove the cyst. We don't know if that will be the best idea. We would like to have a family fast for her this sunday, the 27th. (To keep in mind that the doctors will be able to find what is wrong and she will be able to recover and they can all go back home:))As well, during this fast we would like us to fast for Sara's mom and keep Jeff and Sara's family in your prayers. For those of you in Calgary,I know both families could use our support, we are all busy, that I do know too, but nothing is more important then families.
Love you all,
The Baker Family
Please keep these babies in your prayers. It's so incredible to watch the struggles and challenges of these tiny spirits and their families. They teach me so many things. I have little to complain about. I love my family so much. We are truly blessed with so much.
Love, Colleen
We have another baby in the Boyer family that is still struggling. Tate is Barb Baker's son from Cardston. Here's their story.....
Dear Family,
As some of you may know Tate and Loralie have been in the hospital for the past 3mths with their little Taelan. She was born in Oct. with hydrophilic(which is water on the brain), a bi lateral cleft palate, and a Cyst on her brain. Taelan spent her first mth in the hospital, had a shunt put in and did ok with it for two mths. But during that time Loralie would make a trip up to Calgary(they live in Leth) once a week to have her fitted and have her appliance built up so they operate on her lip. One of those trips they saw the neurosurgeon and Taelan shunt had failed so they did an operation, taking her internal shunt to have it externalized. She has had 10 operations to this day, tried to have her shunt replaced a few times but has an infection and her fluid can't reabsorb back into the body. So her shunt is still externalized, meaning she has to lie in bed to be levelled off to have the fluid drain and can only be held 4hrs a day, an hour at a time. They have been in the hospital now for the past 3mths. Taelan just had a surgery this past wed for her lip and that went really well. They did a good job. But now the doctors are saying that her infection is still growing, the antibiotics that she has been on for the past few weeks are not working and they are thinking that the cyst has something to do with it. They want to do another operation this week to remove the cyst. We don't know if that will be the best idea. We would like to have a family fast for her this sunday, the 27th. (To keep in mind that the doctors will be able to find what is wrong and she will be able to recover and they can all go back home:))As well, during this fast we would like us to fast for Sara's mom and keep Jeff and Sara's family in your prayers. For those of you in Calgary,I know both families could use our support, we are all busy, that I do know too, but nothing is more important then families.
Love you all,
The Baker Family
Please keep these babies in your prayers. It's so incredible to watch the struggles and challenges of these tiny spirits and their families. They teach me so many things. I have little to complain about. I love my family so much. We are truly blessed with so much.
Love, Colleen
Saturday, April 19, 2008
Busy Week in the Hyde Family
This is a busy week for celebrations in the Hyde family. Happy Birthday to Pierce. What can we say about Pierce?? For a little baby that needed some special TLC after he was born, he has grown into a mighty fine big boy. I know he loves to eat his vegetables and he loves learning from books. He is a very intelligent child and you can see how he thrives on his discoveries in life. Pierce has the cutest smile when he looks at you and kinda turn his head and smiles. It is so cute. He has lots to do to keep up with his big sister. I admire how the two of them get along so well. As their mom tells us they fight when they are together, but when they are apart they are lonely. It is good for them to be apart for their one on one with Mom, but they love each other too. Have a Happy Birthday on Thursday Pierce, and next year you get to go to school for the whole day and spend time with all the kids at school.
Happy Anniversay to Gaylene and Duane. Hope your day goes well. The two of you have a lovely little family. Taylor is growing into a gorgeous young woman. She sure had fun working at Papa's hotel for the spring break. I watched her in the restaurant and she was very helpful to the staff and the patrons there. Jordan did a fine job working with the maids too. He could make the beds, clean bathrooms and vaccuum rooms just like the maids could. I was told he was a good go for this and go for that too, saving the girls lots of steps in their daily tasks. Sidney got to stay home with mom and have a really good one on one week with MOM. Gaylene has turned into a lovely Mom and wife for Duane. I admire you both for your dedication to your family. You children all adore you for being their for them. Your love and respect for your children is being returned to you I am sure.
Happy Birthday to Beth too. What a charm Beth is in the family. She too lives for her two girls. Hayley and Ava will be basket ball players for sure. Hayley is already a good cheerleader and loves to attend the basketball games with Mom and Dad. Both Hayley and Ava are growing so fast. Beth is a very supportive wife for Ryan, and following him all over the globe for his work in the summer and his ball games in the winter. Colleen is so proud of their little family.
It is indeed a joy to have Pierce, Gaylene and Duane and Beth in the Hyde family. We love you all so have a wonderful day. It is yours to enjoy and celebrate.
Auntie Shirley
Happy Anniversay to Gaylene and Duane. Hope your day goes well. The two of you have a lovely little family. Taylor is growing into a gorgeous young woman. She sure had fun working at Papa's hotel for the spring break. I watched her in the restaurant and she was very helpful to the staff and the patrons there. Jordan did a fine job working with the maids too. He could make the beds, clean bathrooms and vaccuum rooms just like the maids could. I was told he was a good go for this and go for that too, saving the girls lots of steps in their daily tasks. Sidney got to stay home with mom and have a really good one on one week with MOM. Gaylene has turned into a lovely Mom and wife for Duane. I admire you both for your dedication to your family. You children all adore you for being their for them. Your love and respect for your children is being returned to you I am sure.
Happy Birthday to Beth too. What a charm Beth is in the family. She too lives for her two girls. Hayley and Ava will be basket ball players for sure. Hayley is already a good cheerleader and loves to attend the basketball games with Mom and Dad. Both Hayley and Ava are growing so fast. Beth is a very supportive wife for Ryan, and following him all over the globe for his work in the summer and his ball games in the winter. Colleen is so proud of their little family.
It is indeed a joy to have Pierce, Gaylene and Duane and Beth in the Hyde family. We love you all so have a wonderful day. It is yours to enjoy and celebrate.
Auntie Shirley
Thursday, April 17, 2008
HAPPY BIRTHDAY CAMERON
Hope your day goes just the way you would like it to go. It is your day. Spend it wisely.
What can we say about Cameron? He is the best husband for Nickee and he must have patience with such a big family. We know you spend lots of time with your family, and we can all tell how much the kids love their DAD. We don't see much of Cameron when he does come home to Canada. He is usually off to a camp with the boys in Scouts or whatever. He does spend lots of time at soccer games watching Loren and Ashley play their team sports. He shows all his children good example by being supportive to them in their endeavors. Your family picture shows that, the rest of all your aunts and uncles are aging, but then your family is growing up and moving on. Enjoy them all while you can. It won't be long before your will be empty nesters like the rest of us, and you can enjoy peace and quiet then too. We love you Cameron for just being the best dad in all the land. Hope your day an enjoyable one. Heck you must be at least 30 by now, right???
Auntie Shirley
What can we say about Cameron? He is the best husband for Nickee and he must have patience with such a big family. We know you spend lots of time with your family, and we can all tell how much the kids love their DAD. We don't see much of Cameron when he does come home to Canada. He is usually off to a camp with the boys in Scouts or whatever. He does spend lots of time at soccer games watching Loren and Ashley play their team sports. He shows all his children good example by being supportive to them in their endeavors. Your family picture shows that, the rest of all your aunts and uncles are aging, but then your family is growing up and moving on. Enjoy them all while you can. It won't be long before your will be empty nesters like the rest of us, and you can enjoy peace and quiet then too. We love you Cameron for just being the best dad in all the land. Hope your day an enjoyable one. Heck you must be at least 30 by now, right???
Auntie Shirley
Puppet Show Saturday Evening
For any of you who like to laugh at my parents, we're going to do that on Saturday.
Well, not directly, of course. Our ward is having a talent show and Jill and Peirce are going to do a puppet show. The story is: The Rat. I'm sure a few of you are familiar with it. :0)
Should be fun!
Dawn
Well, not directly, of course. Our ward is having a talent show and Jill and Peirce are going to do a puppet show. The story is: The Rat. I'm sure a few of you are familiar with it. :0)
Should be fun!
Dawn
Tuesday, April 15, 2008
Olympic Dreams
Last month there was a bit in the school newsletter that said in April they would be having an athlete come speak to the students. They needed someone to volunteer to drive the person from their hotel, to the school, on to the next school they were speaking at, and then back to the hotel. I was instantly interested - but I didn't think I stood a chance since I hadn't got around to reading the newsletter for a week or 10 days after it had been out. Surprisingly enough though no one else had jumped at the chance - so I got the job! I was especially interested in doing this because Jill has a goal to go to the Olympics as a swimmer - so to hang out with someone that had done that seemed like a great opportunity.
On Thursday night I went to a meeting where they gave us all the supplies we needed (posters for the schools, tattoos for the kids, and money for lunch). The athlete I was supposed to drive around wasn't there - but I got to meet a number of others. Jeff Payne (skeleton racer) was there as were a number of 'athletics' athletes and water polo players. It was fun.
I was a little nervous about the prospect of hanging around with this person all day. I worried that maybe I'd have to spend the day with someone that was quite full of himself. That sure wasn't the case though. The athlete that we were assigned to was Jaret Llewellyn. He's a PanAmerican athlete that has tons of medals and awards and world championship titles for waterskiing and wakeboarding. He was just terrific! Very down to earth and very easy to talk to. He had lots of good advise for Jill and told some great stories. Jaret is from Innisfail (how does a guy from Innisfail become a professional water skiier?!) and now lives in Florida.
Here's a video about him:
In between the two presentations we went for lunch with him and had plenty of time to talk about training and diet and discipline and mental toughness. It was really very inspiring!
Jaret Llewellyn at the second school doing his presentation.
At the end of the day Jaret gave Jill a poster and autographed it. He signed it to 'the future super star'. She was more than thrilled!
What a great day!
Thursday, April 10, 2008
Our Trip to Salt Lake
Some of you are aware that Gayle and I went to SLC last week end for a Danish Missionary Reunion as well as to Conference and to check out the statue of Henry Eastman Day that is in City Park in Draper, Utah. It was dedicated at a huge Day Family Reunion in 2002. It was a thrill to go and see it, both because if it my great great grandfather and because the artist is a friend of ours. Dennis Smith is the sculptor and he served in Denmark at the same time Gayle did.
We took Jill and Jordan with us and they are great travellers. Everyone commented on what great kids they were and how well behaved they were. We could do nothing but agree. Somebody at the Conference Centre asked me if they were twins. They waited in line with me for 1 1/2 hours to get into the Conference Centre, then we waited another 1 1/2 hours before the session started and the session was two hours long. That was a phenomenal amount of time for two ten year olds to spend waiting and sitting and yet they were soooo good. They were thrilled also to see the statue in the park and realize that it was their great great great great grandfather and his wives and that he was the second person to build a house in Draper. We also went to city hall and asked for address of the house he built in the hopes that we could get a photo. They gave us the address and we drove to it only to find out that it is a Joann's Fabrics store now. The kids thought it was quite appropriate for my ancestor's house to be replaced with a fabric store.
In this photo, Jill is checking out the artist's signature. That's right it is Dennis Smith. Some of you may recognize him as the artist that does all the church statues such as the ones in Nauvoo and many at the temples all over the world.
This is the information monument that is in front of the statue. It shows his three wives and if you can enlarge the photo, you can read the information about Henry Eastman Day. We are the descendants of his first wife, Leah Rawlins Day. We found out that Henry was not a member of the church until after he arrived in Salt Lake City. He followed Leah here when she came across the plains with her family. He joined the church after he got there. He had much to do with the church before he came to Utah though. He knew Joseph Smith, and had altercations with those who would destroy the prophet. It is interesting reading.
very good. Very interesting reading.....
We took Jill and Jordan with us and they are great travellers. Everyone commented on what great kids they were and how well behaved they were. We could do nothing but agree. Somebody at the Conference Centre asked me if they were twins. They waited in line with me for 1 1/2 hours to get into the Conference Centre, then we waited another 1 1/2 hours before the session started and the session was two hours long. That was a phenomenal amount of time for two ten year olds to spend waiting and sitting and yet they were soooo good. They were thrilled also to see the statue in the park and realize that it was their great great great great grandfather and his wives and that he was the second person to build a house in Draper. We also went to city hall and asked for address of the house he built in the hopes that we could get a photo. They gave us the address and we drove to it only to find out that it is a Joann's Fabrics store now. The kids thought it was quite appropriate for my ancestor's house to be replaced with a fabric store.
In this photo, Jill is checking out the artist's signature. That's right it is Dennis Smith. Some of you may recognize him as the artist that does all the church statues such as the ones in Nauvoo and many at the temples all over the world.
This is the information monument that is in front of the statue. It shows his three wives and if you can enlarge the photo, you can read the information about Henry Eastman Day. We are the descendants of his first wife, Leah Rawlins Day. We found out that Henry was not a member of the church until after he arrived in Salt Lake City. He followed Leah here when she came across the plains with her family. He joined the church after he got there. He had much to do with the church before he came to Utah though. He knew Joseph Smith, and had altercations with those who would destroy the prophet. It is interesting reading.love Marvelle
Spring has sprung....or maybe not
This is one of those days when I'm SOOOO glad Allen and I don't get up and get on the roads at 7 am with everyone else. It's pretty funny to have this post so soon after our kite-flying post the other day!
At about 6:30 today it started snowing....and it hasn't stopped. I guess the commute to work was terrible for everyone. Here's a picture from The Herald:
The story is here.
After a while this morning I booted J&P outside. It wasn't without a lot of griping (I want to watch TV) and moaning (I hate snow pants) and complaining (I feel like a mummy in all this stuff!) and attempts to avoid going out all together....but once again the mother prevailed! (Can you hear the crowds roar?!)
It's funny how when they finally get out there they have such a great time. It's perfect snowman-snow. They told me the snowflakes are so big they can hear them hit their head. LOL
Looks like they forgot about the complaining.....
Looks like they forgot about the complaining.....
Don't worry about us though. By Sunday it's supposed to get up to 20 degrees (???!!!!)
I thought to myself that perhaps we had a similar crazy weather story last year. I was right...only it was in May!
Sunday, April 6, 2008
The Wilson's House
Happy Birthday to Gayle this week. We know you will be away for your birthday, but they still roll around no matter where you celebrate them. Hope you have a good one.
Our family has been very busy - Ardell is so busy at work and so am I. Finally I am taking a weeks' vacation this next week. I was scheduled for March 20th for a week, but had that changed as we were so busy and a new girl started so I had to train her as well as get all the work done too. So I had to re-schedule my holiday. I was going to go to Lethbridge, but L.A. and Gayle are away so I won't do that. I have lots of work to do around the house. Today both of us have just been sleeping and catching up on our sleep. Now I probably won't sleep tonight.
One of the things on my list to do this week is to go and change my name at all the place I have to change my name. I have to get a new social insurance card and a new passport. We received gift cards at the wedding, and now I have to go and see what I want to buy with the cards. I have to recycle my pop bottles and get the yard cleaned up, if it would ever quit snowing. We had a skiff of snow again today. Yesterday we woke up to a completely white yard. I have a big crack in my birch tree out front, so Arborcare are coming to put a bolt through the trunk of the tree and cable it up to te big branches above the crack to see if it will self heal itself. Then I have a guy coming to the house to put leaf screens in the eavestroughing, so leaves don't get caught.
Well that is it for the Wilson's house. We are happy and well rested today. Nothing exciting happening.
Love you all. Write soon.
Shirley (The New Mrs. Wilson)
Our family has been very busy - Ardell is so busy at work and so am I. Finally I am taking a weeks' vacation this next week. I was scheduled for March 20th for a week, but had that changed as we were so busy and a new girl started so I had to train her as well as get all the work done too. So I had to re-schedule my holiday. I was going to go to Lethbridge, but L.A. and Gayle are away so I won't do that. I have lots of work to do around the house. Today both of us have just been sleeping and catching up on our sleep. Now I probably won't sleep tonight.
One of the things on my list to do this week is to go and change my name at all the place I have to change my name. I have to get a new social insurance card and a new passport. We received gift cards at the wedding, and now I have to go and see what I want to buy with the cards. I have to recycle my pop bottles and get the yard cleaned up, if it would ever quit snowing. We had a skiff of snow again today. Yesterday we woke up to a completely white yard. I have a big crack in my birch tree out front, so Arborcare are coming to put a bolt through the trunk of the tree and cable it up to te big branches above the crack to see if it will self heal itself. Then I have a guy coming to the house to put leaf screens in the eavestroughing, so leaves don't get caught.
Well that is it for the Wilson's house. We are happy and well rested today. Nothing exciting happening.
Love you all. Write soon.
Shirley (The New Mrs. Wilson)
NOBLE NEWS #66, - Marvelle Reporter
Happy Birthday to Lester Ann, Ava, Gayle and Ryan, We love you all and wish you a very happy birthday. I send this Family Blog to Adam in Argentina. If you want to send him a letter send it to him thru this medium as I send a copy to him every monday. Hope those having birthdays have a good one and Gaylene and Duane are having an anniversary soon. Happy Anniversary to them. Dawn and Allen had an anniversary in February. Dont think we don't think about you where ever we are, when ever you have a special day in your life. We love you all.
Love Marvelle & Clifford.
Love Marvelle & Clifford.
Friday, April 4, 2008
Our Life in March
I was just looking at the things that have gone on with us in March and thought I'd share our comings and goings with you all.
First off, and foremost in my mind it seems, we got the autopsy results for Destiny. It was as I expected - no answers. There aren't any answers to the why question in the autopsy. The more reading I've done on this the more I am starting to believe that it is that there isn't a lot of research into pregnancy loss, I think that is really the biggest reason that there aren't a lot of answers. I've had a hard time this past month as I watch a couple friends that have had their babies that were due the same time as me. Bette was right. It's in the quiet moments months later that the tears flow and I spend a lot of time thinking and praying and wondering about this whole experience. I realize the hand of God and I have many wonderful blessings in my life.....but I'm still quite heartbroken. I ran into an old family friend this week and she was asking about how I was doing. She has children my age and I don't know if she had a baby die or not but I do know that s he did have a son die recently as an adult, so perhaps that is why I felt such a connection with her. She hugged me and said that a day won't go by without you thinking about that child...and she's right. It's nice to have understanding people around. My RSP sent me an email the other day telling me about a dream she had about me where the whole RS in our ward was in the temple and they were praying for me. It really touched my heart and caused me to think about how many people I do have in my life that care and do pray for us. I appreciate it. I've kind of tired to immerse myself in work and family life a little more lately - but I've decided that maybe just keeping myself extra busy isn't the key to healing. I guess I'll keep working on figuring that one out.
My life these days seems to revolve a lot around teaching our kids. We pulled Jill out of school at the end of December after lots of talks with her teacher and the principal. It was clear that it was a bad situation that wasn't going to get any better (to sum it up, nasty teacher!) - so we decided rather than fight for the good of the system we'd just remove our child. We could have sent her to a different class our a different school - but in the end we decided this was a great opportunity to try our hand out homeschooling. My days are filled with planning and doing and thinking about what is needed for her in her grade 4 life. Our board allows you to do a blended program - so she does Social Studies and Science with the board and I am just responsible for Math and Language Arts. Once a week she goes to a school for SS and Science classes - and I'm really impressed with what they're doing. Her teacher for SS is actually a member from Raymond that knows the Ackroyds well. She's really wonderful. Jill has learned a lot from her and has really enjoyed having a teacher that is a member. They sit and chat about things at lunch time that Jill would have never had the opportunity in different situations. She's really been wonderful. I don't think I've ever seen elementary Science taught quite so well either. It's really quite thrilling. Jill has developed a real love for science because of it all. I seem to make plans with Math and LA and then adjust the plans as regularly as I make the plans. Right now we're approaching language arts with a focus on immersing ourselves in books, books, and more books. We are reading a wide variety of genres and really loving it. It's been really great. I decided I didn't want to try to replicate school at home - but that we should try to do something with these few months that couldn't be done if she had been in school. We read a lot together and Jill reads a lot on her own. She's a bit of an obsessive writer - and so that helps too. She can't help herself...she has to write. It's good for her soul. I think she's getting a Language Arts experience she would have never experienced if we hadn't decided to homeschool....and I love it. She's also enrolled in a Spring Break camp at a kid's gym called Bull Dog. That was an interesting experience! It was non-stop activity all week from 8:30 am until 4:30 pm. She was one tired kid at the end of the day! She's also been in a drama class and has been working on sculpting with clay. It's a great life for her.
Peirce is loving Kindergarten. He HATES it when there are long weekends of, heaven forbid, entire weeks without school - like for Spring Break. He also seems to have been a little inspired by all the reading Jill is doing and really wants to be able to read on his own. We read the Book of Mormon together every morning and he has words he knows and so he reads those words. I figured I'd start doing a phonics program with him and read some basil type readers. He informed me last night that for him writing is a better way to learn to read. (Hmmmm....looks like we have two kids that HAVE TO write...interesting) He's really a charming and fun boy and I sure am enjoying seeing him grow into such a nice little boy.
Allen has had great success in his work lately. I was a little worried at the end of March when things went awry. His car got stolen. That threw us for a loop! The car was found in a field not far from where we live....it looked like they had tried to jump the ditch. The air bags were deployed, the windows were smashed, and the tires were flat. Even the front window was smashed. It looked like when they took the jump someone wasn't wearing a seatbelt and their head hit the window. No blood in the car though. I bet he had one heck of a headache! The good news is that we just got a settlement from the insurance company and we're going to get $100 more than we actually paid for the car! I was thrilled with that. It isn't often that you come out ahead on a situation like that!
I've really been working on our food storage lately too. Our stake is putting a big effort into helping members approach food storage more effectively and I've really caught the fever. Our main additions this month were a cow, a pig (which nessitated a new freezer...we got an upright one...and I LOVE it!), 80 pounds of honey (that's thanks to the co-op our stake has formed), apple sauce, and fruit leather (thanks to a great little produce store I found that sells fruit really cheap...but you have to buy it by the box for the best deals....so I did. And I'll be back!!) Phew! I bought a soy milk machine a month or so ago and I think I've mastered soy milk (Allen says it's as good at the stuff you buy.) I love it because you can make 2 litres of soy milk for less than a dollar...compared to about $5 in the store. I have also been making a lot of freezer meals for our family and it's been really wonderful to have this all on hand. Makes life much easier.....provides a little opening to add a few other things into my life (ha! Like I need to be trying to add more!)
Anyway, I hope that you're all doing well and that you'll let us know how things are in your house!
Dawn
First off, and foremost in my mind it seems, we got the autopsy results for Destiny. It was as I expected - no answers. There aren't any answers to the why question in the autopsy. The more reading I've done on this the more I am starting to believe that it is that there isn't a lot of research into pregnancy loss, I think that is really the biggest reason that there aren't a lot of answers. I've had a hard time this past month as I watch a couple friends that have had their babies that were due the same time as me. Bette was right. It's in the quiet moments months later that the tears flow and I spend a lot of time thinking and praying and wondering about this whole experience. I realize the hand of God and I have many wonderful blessings in my life.....but I'm still quite heartbroken. I ran into an old family friend this week and she was asking about how I was doing. She has children my age and I don't know if she had a baby die or not but I do know that s he did have a son die recently as an adult, so perhaps that is why I felt such a connection with her. She hugged me and said that a day won't go by without you thinking about that child...and she's right. It's nice to have understanding people around. My RSP sent me an email the other day telling me about a dream she had about me where the whole RS in our ward was in the temple and they were praying for me. It really touched my heart and caused me to think about how many people I do have in my life that care and do pray for us. I appreciate it. I've kind of tired to immerse myself in work and family life a little more lately - but I've decided that maybe just keeping myself extra busy isn't the key to healing. I guess I'll keep working on figuring that one out.
My life these days seems to revolve a lot around teaching our kids. We pulled Jill out of school at the end of December after lots of talks with her teacher and the principal. It was clear that it was a bad situation that wasn't going to get any better (to sum it up, nasty teacher!) - so we decided rather than fight for the good of the system we'd just remove our child. We could have sent her to a different class our a different school - but in the end we decided this was a great opportunity to try our hand out homeschooling. My days are filled with planning and doing and thinking about what is needed for her in her grade 4 life. Our board allows you to do a blended program - so she does Social Studies and Science with the board and I am just responsible for Math and Language Arts. Once a week she goes to a school for SS and Science classes - and I'm really impressed with what they're doing. Her teacher for SS is actually a member from Raymond that knows the Ackroyds well. She's really wonderful. Jill has learned a lot from her and has really enjoyed having a teacher that is a member. They sit and chat about things at lunch time that Jill would have never had the opportunity in different situations. She's really been wonderful. I don't think I've ever seen elementary Science taught quite so well either. It's really quite thrilling. Jill has developed a real love for science because of it all. I seem to make plans with Math and LA and then adjust the plans as regularly as I make the plans. Right now we're approaching language arts with a focus on immersing ourselves in books, books, and more books. We are reading a wide variety of genres and really loving it. It's been really great. I decided I didn't want to try to replicate school at home - but that we should try to do something with these few months that couldn't be done if she had been in school. We read a lot together and Jill reads a lot on her own. She's a bit of an obsessive writer - and so that helps too. She can't help herself...she has to write. It's good for her soul. I think she's getting a Language Arts experience she would have never experienced if we hadn't decided to homeschool....and I love it. She's also enrolled in a Spring Break camp at a kid's gym called Bull Dog. That was an interesting experience! It was non-stop activity all week from 8:30 am until 4:30 pm. She was one tired kid at the end of the day! She's also been in a drama class and has been working on sculpting with clay. It's a great life for her.
Peirce is loving Kindergarten. He HATES it when there are long weekends of, heaven forbid, entire weeks without school - like for Spring Break. He also seems to have been a little inspired by all the reading Jill is doing and really wants to be able to read on his own. We read the Book of Mormon together every morning and he has words he knows and so he reads those words. I figured I'd start doing a phonics program with him and read some basil type readers. He informed me last night that for him writing is a better way to learn to read. (Hmmmm....looks like we have two kids that HAVE TO write...interesting) He's really a charming and fun boy and I sure am enjoying seeing him grow into such a nice little boy.
Allen has had great success in his work lately. I was a little worried at the end of March when things went awry. His car got stolen. That threw us for a loop! The car was found in a field not far from where we live....it looked like they had tried to jump the ditch. The air bags were deployed, the windows were smashed, and the tires were flat. Even the front window was smashed. It looked like when they took the jump someone wasn't wearing a seatbelt and their head hit the window. No blood in the car though. I bet he had one heck of a headache! The good news is that we just got a settlement from the insurance company and we're going to get $100 more than we actually paid for the car! I was thrilled with that. It isn't often that you come out ahead on a situation like that!
I've really been working on our food storage lately too. Our stake is putting a big effort into helping members approach food storage more effectively and I've really caught the fever. Our main additions this month were a cow, a pig (which nessitated a new freezer...we got an upright one...and I LOVE it!), 80 pounds of honey (that's thanks to the co-op our stake has formed), apple sauce, and fruit leather (thanks to a great little produce store I found that sells fruit really cheap...but you have to buy it by the box for the best deals....so I did. And I'll be back!!) Phew! I bought a soy milk machine a month or so ago and I think I've mastered soy milk (Allen says it's as good at the stuff you buy.) I love it because you can make 2 litres of soy milk for less than a dollar...compared to about $5 in the store. I have also been making a lot of freezer meals for our family and it's been really wonderful to have this all on hand. Makes life much easier.....provides a little opening to add a few other things into my life (ha! Like I need to be trying to add more!)
Anyway, I hope that you're all doing well and that you'll let us know how things are in your house!
Dawn
Wednesday, April 2, 2008
NOBLE NEWS #65 - Marvelle Reporter
Thanks for using this vehicle to put your news out to the rest of us. If any of you want to write
to Adam besure and use this way of writing to him. I always send him a copy of the blog in the letter I write to him every Monday.
love Marvelle
to Adam besure and use this way of writing to him. I always send him a copy of the blog in the letter I write to him every Monday.
love Marvelle
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