April 2010
A relatively sudden change in our lives this month of April. Dad and Mom decided to sell our 30 head of cows. They just do not need to be chasing cows around at this time in life. Dad has had this same herd for almost 40 years I think. It was a sad but special day indeed when we gathered together to round up the cows for the last time. And then on a Monday morning, a big semitrailer came and hauled them out to market. We went to see what they sold for and it was about $30,000 or more which was pretty good. Chris and I made dad a collogue of pictures of him and the cows which was good to do.
June 2010.
I, Katherine took a mini journey this month. I was unable to pick up very many shifts at the hospital this month and I am working a 0.2 (average one day a week) part time temporary status supplemented with picking up shifts. Work is a little slow in June I suppose. But Heavenly Father has blessed us so much and he provided me with another little job. For part of May and all of June, I was able to supplement income by working with Samuel who is a boy in my apartment complex with epilepsy. His mom Marilyn also lives here at Coventry place. They are members of our ward. It was so fun, and a great learning experience to work with Samuel. We went on outings to Lethbridge, the zoo, etc. I spent about 2 days a week with him.
July 2010
Well, this month has been busier with work for me and Chris is plugging away steadily at his job and school. We went on a Campout at Camellia and Doug’s cabin in Mountain View with Nathan on June 30th and then we joined mom and dad in Raymond on July first to celebrate Mom’s birthday. We watched the Raymond parade and had a potluck dinner at Aunt May’s house. Then we drove back to the farm and mom opened her gift from us kids – a big, tall blow up mattress to keep up with the growing Smith family. Another highlight of the month was to have Jarad, Carina and Landon (5) come out for a week. It was our Christmas present to them from us – a stampede adventure. Well, we all were quite cozy in our little apartment. We went to the farm as well and visited the hutterites and rode Pardon. We also went to the stampede grounds which was a lot of fun. I have not been there in years!! Chris met us after his work day and we saw an amazing ice skating show and a concert outside by Doc walker. We danced there. We went swimming in our apartment building and we went out to eat for my Birthday. Chris gave me a Josh Groban CD which I just love as well as an Alan Jackson CD. Chris sure spoiled me. He even gave me my favorite gift of all. A glider chair. It is beautiful and comfortable and I just love it! Another sudden adventure this month occurred when Grandma Watters passed away at the end of July. So I cancelled a few shifts and along with Kurt, we made a 4 day trip out to Victoria for the funeral. It was good to see the family again and I got to know a lot more of the Watters family which is quite a large family! I especially had fun going out to the breakwater with Chris and walking downtown with him and watching a movie with mom Watters. Chris had a good time too reconnecting with cousins and other family members. I enjoyed watching him use his camera to take pictures of everyone and everything. We saved up for that camera and got it the beginning of July I believe.
August 2010
I worked hard at the hospital this month right up to September 1. On one stretch of days off, I did go down to the farm to can peaches with mom and we also had our chicken killing day with the Smith family. We killed 20 chickens for ourselves – mom and dad helped a lot with taking care of them before we butchered them. So far, we have eaten about 3 of them and are they ever good!! My friends at work have treated me so well and they had a baby shower for Mallory ( a friend and coworker) and me at the beginning of August. I feel very blessed to work with who I work with. And you know something, since February, my confidence level has grown so much at work. In fact, I left work on Sept 1 ( I picked up one last shift on the spur of the moment) for Maternity leave, with such a peaceful feeling that I have worked hard and done my best and that Unit 74 and 73 have benefited because of me. I will miss work so much and will be excited to go back. What a blessing to leave on that note!
As for a sad note, we lost 2 church friends in a car accident on August 20. I will remember coming home from work at 8:00 pm August 21 and having Chris take me in his arms and tell me the bad news. Merin and Mike Melnik were killed and their 7 week old baby, Ysa, was sent to the children’s hospital in serious condition. We went to the funeral on August 28th and the ward picnic was postponed until Sept 10th. Chris and I have done a lot of talking on this. Merin and Mike were such exemplary people. They were pure and good and kept their covenants they made in the Temple. We want to live this way – a pure and simple life. We can look to their righteous example all our lives. I hope that when it is time to go, we can leave the type of legacy that Merin and Mike left.
This incident has got us thinking about our future as well and we are beginning to look more into a better life insurance to leave our kids with something if something happens. Also, we think about investing a little now for when we retire. We call ourselves starving students now but we can continually put a little away and then more and more as we have it. A friend of a friend of Chris’, Lisa, started to visit us near the end of August. She is with Primerica and has got us (me Katherine especially) thinking about finances. We have started going to Tuesday or Wednesday night classes with her and I have learned a lot about her. Our goal now is to get a house mortgage in my 28th year – near the end probably. So we are saving for that. We feel very blessed financially considering we are paying tuition and trying to save money as well.
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