A Fair Fall

I love the Fall and this Fall has had very Fair weather. It has been quite warm. Just a tiny bit of snow fell the other day but it didnt stick. We didnt even have as many flies as last year in the house so that was good. We could use some moisture. Kids have done well starting school except that it was interrupted by a 3 week and 2 day strike in October. It is quite sad that nothing came from the strike except a power struggle between the government and the alberta teachers association. I wish they both could have met in the middle. 

Anyways, Caeleb is in grade 10 (going to Vulcan), Elva in grade 7, Mary in grade 4, Selman in grade 2 and Elizabeth in kindergarten. Next year they will all be in school full time. Time goes fast and I am trying to enjoy each moment (and play barbies as much as I can with Lizzy when she is home Monday and Wednesday). 

The kids went back to school after the strike 2 days before Halloween so they were able to wear costumes to school on the Halloween Friday. Caeleb wore his costume-not-found T-shirt, Elva was a banana (the scariest costume of all according her banana hating self), Mary was the green M and M again, Selman was Jack Sparrow and Lizzy was a princess witch. We took a couple of friends from Lomond around to our neighborhood to trick or treat and we visited with 10 neighbors in 2.5 hours and then went to vulcan to see the spookiest house decorations in the whole town. It was a fun and exhausting night like usual. I worked the next 4 and a half days after Halloween.  

I have been working alot of 4 day weeks lately and several double shifts. I have been so blessed with my job. I love my job and make pretty good money for a nurse and we are able to save money when I work 3 to 4 shifts a week (while Chris is on EI). I am hoping to do General Conference, Visit BYUI to see if it is a fit for Caeleb and go to Disneyland with the kids all during the Spring break of 2027 (might need a better vehicle by then to drive there). I have goals and can make them happen!

But, I am not going to lie, it is hard that Chris does not have a contract and has only worked about 12 shifts since the beginning of September (the strike did not help that). I wish I didnt struggle so badly but I do and I am not sure what to do about it. And I made a mistake at work the other day which made my anxiety skyrocket to think I am almost alone in providing for my family (what happens if I lost my job?) I need to have patience and faith that all will be ok! 

We went to Champion's remembrance day service on Nov 11. It was really well done. Our Bishop spoke and Mackenzie Macdougall played the last post on her trumpet. Then we took Nathan to Lethbridge and I took him shopping for shoes and out to eat while the kids played with their cousins. I am glad he is becoming a bit more social. It was Caelebs first time driving in Lethbridge. We stayed the afternoon at Eric and Rachels and watched A Quiet Place 2. Kind of eerie-scary but pretty cool. 

Mom, Camellia, Nathan and I made Turtles this last Saturday while watching our traditional 1989 Little Match girl movie. I am starting to get excited for Christmas. 

I went to a funeral of a co-worker Saturday as well. I had visited her in the hospital a few weeks ago and she was so positive despite her circumstances. After the celebration of life, a bunch of co-workers went outside to have a shot of alcohol (kind of ironic since we work at an addictions facility). They were really pushing me to take it but I said no. I am glad I can have convictions and standards. I want my kids to know they can do hard things and that they dont have to do what everyone else does. Everyone can hold themselves to a standard and the gospel of Jesus Christ helps me hold to a higher standard of love and sacrifice. 

Selman and Caeleb continue with their piano lessons from Sister Burbank, Mary goes at times to chess club (she beat me in chess the other week), Selman is doing Karate Monday and Thursday evenings and Elva did a little bit of volley all through Champion school (played 2 games and won them both- she is quite a good player). She also got about 35th out of about 120 in the regional cross country run which was awesome. Both Caeleb and Elva want to do basketball this year. 

I need to take Nathan to Nanton to apply for a job today. Camellia did the resume, I am trying to network and hopefully we will find something for him. I am trying to be a good sister but this is hard for me. I just dont understand. 

Well, we are now starting to get into the Christmas spirit. Chris took Mary and Lizzy Christmas shopping in Calgary last week as Lizzy had a dentist appointment and Mary wanted to get her hair cut. 

I hope it will be a Merry little Christmas with a good dump of snow. 

Elizabeth is calling for me to play barbies with her so goodbye for now.