a month in pictures

what pictures have i been taking lately....here is just a snippet of what i have been up to this month...atleast what i have taken pictures of

hanging with jimi at his place watching "role models"

annual superbowl party with our usual friends. this time much more refined at anita's place

 i may have got shunned into the corner cause i brought martha stewart magazines...

i have said this before but i must brag again that i really have great friends. i had to write the crne this day and mark was unable to get off work so casey took jimi to his leg appointment. looks like everything is healing nicely and they both seemed to have some fun.

markness cleanly shaven and cut from an errand day of ours. i really like errand days. especially when he is there to spend time with me. makes all the tedious boring stuff you do fun when you have someone to joke around with.

guess who is coming for dinner? jimi being a goof trying to get mark to drive him home after dinner

a walk with the girlies. i love that snowsuit and the person in it attempting to do the walking.

picture time!

happy valentine's day to me. definitely spoiled here. and to top it off i found out i got a job today!

i really don't know what to tell you. i took my cupcakes and ran. he he. spent valentine's day after supper with the girls cause we really haven't seen each other enough!

i got some valentines snuggles with these sweethearts

date with penny and time to bond with my lovely little honorary niece. sledding, eating cupcakes, singing to songs, and terrorizing the animals.

hockey date watching markness play hockey. he is such a blur. for some reason he just would not stand still. he he. this is me being a dork pretending not to watch but he was pretty rockin!

everyone needs a little kitty love now and again. 

Gramma Edey

To you.
I knew you for six years.
I came to know you,
Love you,
And more importantly like you.

You had opinions.
You had drive.
And what I enjoyed the most:
You had spunk.

You ate snails with me at Christmas time.
You were happy we were not serving green beans.
You disliked green beans.
We requested no green beans for our wedding reception.
And to have music for the church service.
We were happy to do it for you.

You had specific instructions on how to make toast.
This still gives me a chuckle
I remember my husband trying to perfect it.
I don't know if he ever did.
But he tried.
And it was endearing to watch you both.

You told endless stories from your childhood.
Your working life as a nurse.
My husbands childhood.
I enjoyed those stories the best.

We had dinners together.
You always asked me how I was.
How was school.
One time I replied it was horrible.
And to be truthful it was and I was not happy.
You responded:
"I'm sorry I asked."
This produced giggles.
All I really needed was to laugh.

I remember endless times.
On a chair.
Knitting.
Always knitting.
Sometimes our cat would visit.
You would pet him.

I know you were ready to go.
I am happy you got to go on your own terms.
I feel fortunate to have seen you.
To hold your hand and be present.

It was nice to have an honorary grandma for six years
You will be missed.
You will be remembered.
Your memories will live for a long time.

Love

gotta love her

i don't think its a secret how much i love beyonce. her songs are just what gets me to run that extra km or 2. love her. this is what i am loving in particular right now!

love

craft night revisited

we organized a revival of our craft nights.
something that we started when very few of us were married
where we would sit back
talk, banter, laugh and giggle
work on the endless projects we would bring
whether that was scrapbooking
cross stitiching
embrodering
quilting
we would eat sweets
sometimes we wouldn't do crafts at all
we would just talk, banter, laugh, and giggle
it was to have it again
i missed it

love

right now

at this very moment
i am nervous
ready to embark on new adventures
ready to see what the future has in store
i am nervous
but i am ready

love

Right now.

At this very important
I am happy
That is it
Love

let's talk campaign

let's talk about mental health and mental illness.

how do you take care of your mental self?
is it through:
reflection, speaking with friends, colleagues, partners.
exercising the body physically
exercising the mind through reading
exercising the spirit through church/yoga/retreats
do you have extracurricular activities that are a great release?
baking, crafting, watching movies, playing video games
do you meditate, listen to soothing music, or do you take a long bath?

have things gotten so hard that you have trouble getting out of bed
not getting to sleep at all
or your thoughts are just so disorganized?
are you experiencing feelings of lonliness and hopelessness?

or are you overwhelmed with the bussle of life
money, children, aging, unemployment
divorce, stress, separation, anxiety

just know that you are not alone
and there is NOTHING wrong with you
there is nothing to be ashamed of
everyone needs help sometimes

know there are people out there to help you
willing and able
to comfort
to listen
to provide you with steps to get better

the body gets sick and people are out there to help you get it better
the same happens to the mind
please seek out help!
http://www.cmha.ca/

The simple things.

So I was trying to think of something grateful this week. I decided on the simple things. Whether they are small gestures like a hug, or a peck on the cheek. Or small moments of time with special people doing errands, driving in the car, listening to music. Whatever they have been they have been special to me. And hopefully those in return.

Love

it is done

Be forewarned this is a vent post.

Ugh. The exam is over and done. You would think this would be a great relief. But I just feel a little icky. I can't talk about it much only to say that I think it was hard. I say think cause I looked at the questions at one point and didn't realize how I got to 120. And then when they called 'hour left' I was on question 140 wondering where all my time went. I did finish it all. And asking what others felt of it they said it was hard. And then I went onto the Facebook group for the exam and they too said it was hard. He he. Well I guess it was hard.

All I can say is that I am hoping and willing for just a pleasant 'P' pass when the mail comes. But as my mom says, there is not much that can be done now, and if it comes down to another undesirable letter I just write it again. BUT let's hope that doesn't occur. Lol.

Time to move on to bigger things and put this degree to use. So...no more vents or worries about this dreaded thing. I will erase it from my mind. Until 6-8 weeks time....he he

2 more days.

The big exam is coming fast. And over the last few days I have been feeling really good. I can sleep again and I am not nearly stressing like I was in the beginning of the week. What has changed?

I have been taking melatonin.
Stopped studying at night.
Booked a massage for the day before my exam. Just the thought has relaxing results.
See and talk to friends for multiple occasions. Super Bowl being the big one.
Went to a movie.
Running in this wonderful weather.
And writing about all that I am worried about and the forgetting about them as really there is nothing to worry about.

Love