Aloha summer 2026.

It has been a good summer. We were very busy. I was in charge of doing pioneer games for Champions 115th birthday party on july 4th (representing the lds church). We had Mary and Liam take laddy in the parade with a sign that said "Champion is a doggone good place to grow up in." I pulled a little handcart like wagon with Lizzy and Russell in it and Selman and Evelyn walked beside it. We all wore pioneer clothes. Elva walked with the library float as she worked at the summer reading program this summer. Caeleb had just finished FSY that first week of summer and should have been in the pool float but just watched the parade with Chris. The missionaries helped with the activites. Not alot of people came to our pioneer games at the church but we did the best we could and the members of the ward really supported us. 

Elva went to FSY the second week of summer. We went camping in Granum for 2 nights for Camellia and my birthday. They have a fun little swimming pond. And I golfed for the first time at the golf course on my birthday. I suck but Chris is pretty good.

I took Liam to pick up Elva from FSY on the Saturday and I took them downtown stampeding (Liam did the hat stomp and Elva and I did my favorite square dancing) and then to Calaway park till 7:00. It was a blast. 

Elva did her Bronze cross course in Claresholm and so she volunteered at the pool in August and Caeleb worked alot as a junior lifeguard all summer from June weekends to Aug 28th (the last day). 

We went to the zoo several times. Once with Kurt and his German girlfriend Julia. I scratch my head at that one. He lives in Germany with her and travels the world now. They came to visit us on the farm and I put her on Eva to lead her around. But Eva is now lame and we can't really ride her (only had someone on her twice this summer). It is sad to see animals get older. 

I went to Hawaii with my friend Lindsey from July 17 to the 24th. It was on her bucket list. We left on the Friday at 1:00 pm and got to Honolulu at 8:30 that night (after a stop in Vancover) and stayed in a hotel by the airport. There was an oldies rock band playing at the hotel which was fun to hear. We had a traditional rice, egg and sausage breakfast, went swimming and then to the car rental place across the street where I rented a little red car. It was a highlight driving that car around the island. We stopped quickly by Pearl Harbour and then drove the 1.5 hour drive up island to Laie. We spent 1:00 pm to 8:30 pm at the polynesian cultural center where they called us ohana (family), showed us around to the 5 "islands" (Tonga, Samoa, Figi, Hawaii, New Zelean and Tahiti), attended a delicious luau (with fresh pork, fish and fruit) and an amazing evening show. It was fascinating learning about the polynesian islands. 

We stayed 4 nights in a yurt at a glamping campground 5 minutes from the temple. 

Sunday, we attended a Samoan ward at 1100 where the songs and some of the thoughts were in Samoan. Then we swam at the beach, went to other beaches and travelled further up island to eat at some food trucks. 

Monday, we went to the pinapple plantation 1.5 hours further up island. We discovered some other beaches as well. The plantation was great, like a heritage park. We rode the train, walked around the grounds and through the maze, learned about pineapples and ate a fresh dole whip (I actually like the disneyland one better as it is less fruit and more cream - I like creamy). We went to the polynesian center in the afternoon as well. 

Tuesday, (we ate all our breakfasts at Mcdonalds) we went to the 8:00 am session at the temple. Then we went to some beaches again. There was an amazing turtle beach up island. And then to the polynesian center for one last afternoon of learning. I had a shaved ice and fresh coconut to drink from. And I had a delicious fresh raw tuna and rice supper at a restaurant there. 

Wednesday, we left about 7:30 to make it to Honolulu for a glass bottom boat ride where we saw more turtles and fish. No dolphins though. We went to the aquarium next and saw a seal but not too much to see there. Then we went on a hike to a waterfall. It started right in the hills of Honolulu. We went shopping downtown Honolulu and to Wakiki beach. I guess 70000 or so people go there a day. It was busy but the water was clear, warm and beautiful. Alot of surfers were there. We had a 4:00 supper at cheesecake Cafe, dropped off the car at 6:00 and left on the 1000 pm flight to Vancouver. We arrived in Vancouver at 6:00 am and arrived to Calgary at 1:00 pm. I was at work the next day. 

What an amazing little trip! I spent $4000 (it is not cheap there and I paid for the car rental -$650 and the hotel and yurt). Food and souvenirs were expensive too but it was worth it. 

Chris and Mary flew to Victoria on Tuesday July 28 to Aug 6th (I dropped them off at the airport at 5:30 am before heading to work in Claresholm for 7:00 and Elva had her bronze cross class that day as well so she came with me). Chris and Mary had their own little daddy daughter adventures including fireworks at Buchart gardens, the minature museum and botanical beach. The kids and I picked them up Thursday a little after 9:00 pm and we stayed in a cheap NE calgary hotel so that we could go to the zoo for a few hours the next morning before Caeleb and Elva worked at the pool at 1:30 and I went to work in Claresholm at 3:00. (we want to get as much zoo in before January as we have passes this year). 

We also went to Evelyn's baptism at a river near the Nelsons on August 8th after we helped Wendy and her boys move into their new lethbridge home that morning. 

I worked 17 shifts in July and 18.5 shifts in August. I probably only spent 2 days at home on the farm without going anywhere. I do some pretty crazy things with my schedule such as swimming by myself after work the last pool day on Friday the 28th (the kids had swam earlier that day), then driving to lethbridge to go to supper with a couple of friends, then visiting Rachel and Wendy on Rachel's beautiful deck and getting home at midnight after picking Caeleb and Elva up from there end of work pool party, then driving some of the kids to the Nelsons on the Saturday morning so Caeleb could attend a party Sterling was putting on, then driving to Claresholm for an evening shift, then back to the Nelsons for the night arriving at 1245 am, then up at 7:00 am to get the kids to church in Champion by 1000. 

Other things we did this summer were painting the porch, camping at Little Bow August 17 to 19th (kids had their bikes to ride around and that was fun-the lake was nice for swimming in too), taking Lindsey to her cardiac surgeon appointment August 19th in Calgary and then to Lethbridge after that for a Luau with the Watters family. I did a talk in Church in July. We swam as much as we could at the Champion pool. And I did water aerobics as many Monday and Wednesdays as I could fit in. Mom and Camellia joined me at few times as well. 

Life is busy but I need to enjoy the busy as I might not always have the stamina I have now. One day I will miss it. I am sure of that. I just need to make sure that I am not so busy that I go insane. I do feel like my mental health is being affected by my new job as I am so busy. I want to feel like my new job is a calling in my life, and I think perhaps Heavely Father wants it for me, but it is stressful. It was hard that I was doing all the working this summer while Chris was home. I really struggled with that. I am doing my best to keep my head above water and I pray I will make the right decisions for my family and myself. 

Back to school is in 2 days (Sept 8th). I hope my kids have a wonderful year! I think they are ready to go back and I am excited for all the adventures that are in store for them in life. 

Start of the Summer

Well, summer is here. The kids had a great June. Selman did soccer and had lots of fun even though they came in second last. He had several games of playing in the rain. We traveled as far as Millarville. He did really well and I love to watch him play and to play soccer with him! Elva did horse riding lessons. Elizabeth did T-ball with a tournament in Champion and Milo. Caeleb and Mary decided not to do spring sports. 

Elva got 3rd overall (total points) out of around 100 girls in districts for track meet this year. Pretty cool huh. She also got best overall grade 7 grade. Her and I sang a song for a wedding shower in the Alston community. We sang I can't help falling in love with you by Elvis and Janice Burbank played. It went well and I am so grateful for Janice in my life. Did you know she was my grade 2 and 6 teacher and she fueled my imagination with stories and songs.

Caeleb got the grade 10 math award and performed in the high school rock bank where he played piano for the Bohemian Rapsody song and the drums for 2 others songs. He is musically talented, that is for sure. Janice has helped him out in this area and he got his natural talent from him Grandma.

Mary is my friend kid. She is always having friends over. She is my small animal kid too. She plays with the chickens and cuddles the kittens. She and a friend just found a new kitten on the farm and Mary will just lay on Laddy's bed outside for hours and cuddle the cats and that kitten. It is cute to watch. I see her having animals forever and working in a pet shop or vet shop someday.

Elizabeth graduated from Kindergarten on June 17th. It is crazy to think that my baby is done Kindergarten and will be in full time school next year. She loved school this year! She is a ball of sunshine and energy and she got the citizenship award in Kindergarten. I hope she keeps that sunshine as the years go on. Lizzy turned 6 on June 20th. We had a swimming party and roasted hotdogs and opened gifts and had cake at the campground in town. She had 8 classmates come and cousins and aunts and uncles. She was spoiled. She is our sunshine.

Caeleb is working at the pool this summer and Elva is doing Library club. Caeleb is at FSY this week and Elva will go the following week. She is also working for Nana and was up at 0600 this morning to help her. 

I am a bit of a rain cloud myself. Work is demanding and it is hard to work almost fulltime while Chris and the kids are at home. Sometimes I only feel good for my money. But I keep trying. I need to be strong for my kids. I feel like an awful wife...a nag... so often. It is always my fault...always....But I will keep trying. Maybe I will go to counseling again. 

Good news is Chris has a probationary part time job for September in Carmangay at the Mennonite high school. Not sure why we are not more excited. I think he is nervous about the evaluation and we both feel low in spirits after many years of him getting let down by teaching jobs. I pray that it goes well for him. It is such a blessing he will be working there! And his old principle helped him get that job. I am grateful for that. 

I need to play the glad game like in Pollyanna. Chris likes that movie too.

Mom's birthday and Canada's birthday was yesterday. Camellia and I took mom canoeing at Twin Valley lake. Thank you Chris for helping us with the canoe. We also went canoing with the kids the day before. We went swimming yesterday too. And had Chinese food and cake for supper. It was a simple but good day and mom enjoyed herself. Her and Dad celebrated their 50th anniversary on June 26th. We took them out for supper at Silver Slate. Just us 3 siblings and Chris and mom and dad. We had a good time.

Well. I will get some sleep. I get so anxious in the morning to go to work. But I will keep going and doing and I will think of the kids and how I want to work hard for them.

Spring is here (I think)

After many weeks of sunshine then snow, alternating daily, I think spring is here to stay. Mary and I have been going for many walks in the fields and today we walked in the warm rain and it was beautiful. 

It has been a stressful couple of months starting this new job. I even cried one day to my manager (about a mistake I did) and today I begged Chris not to make me go. Sounds childish but I have anxiety and my medication doesn't seem to be helping much right now. It doesn't help that I am working alot more than Chris. I even missed most of  General Conference as I worked that weekend. 

I crave being at home with the family but I am almost working full time this month between Vulcan and Claresholm and I just finished 8 in a row, then 1 day off and now 4 in a row. I am off to Calgary tomorrow for a class. 

Alot is expected of me and I feel like I am under the microscope and let my team down day after day as I struggle to get through. Everyone is so busy and no one cares too much about being a mentor. I was thrown into being charge nurse 3 days after my orientation ended. I am doing dressing changes, catheter exchanges, accessing IVADs, blood work, HDCs, and doing alot of case management, all while navigating this bizarre connect care system for home care. I took care of a palliative patient my 4th day by myself and had to walk her husband through giving her medications into her skin. He was having a hard time with little rest, she was struggling with pain and agitation. It was hard. I hope I helped them when they needed it most as she passed onto the next life. Wish I could have debriefed more. 

Today I traveled alot for work. To Milo, then back to Vulcan and then towards Nanton. 

I took a online RAI class 3 days last week. Now I will be doing 2 hour longs assessments on my clients and analyzing the outcomes. This case management stuff is no joke. But if I can just get through this first year, I think I will get used to it and be set for the next 20 years. I have imposter syndrome though, which means I constantly think I won't make it, that I am not good enough. 

It was a breath of fresh air working at the Center on Saturday. I love it there and it will be my back up plan. And Elva came with me to the fire hall (which is located across the parking lot from the Center) as she passed her bronze medalion last week at the claresholm pool (over spring break) and so had a first aid class this weekend so she can do her bronze cross coming up. 

People tell me to make nursing part of my identity. I am trying. Honest I am! In reality, being a caregiver to my parents and brother and Chris and kids is more a part of my identity. It is why I felt like we needed to move out here (for my parents). But I will keep trying day after day, week after week and year after year, to make it part of my identity. Maybe I will see the whole picture in retrospect, and my struggle will all make sense. 

I will keep struggling away. I best rest for an early start tomorrow. 

Hey, before I end this stressful note, I need to brighten it by saying Selman was baptized in March a couple of weekends after turning 8 on March 10th. He went to the zoo for his birthday. He had Grandma and Brooklyn and Eric and Rachels family and Camellia and Dougs family and Nana AND PAPA and many in our ward there. I am so proud of him and his decision to following Jesus. I hope he will always seek to follow the Saviors example. 

Calgary

I have been getting used to navigating around Calgary again and have been coming here for courses alot in the last few weeks. I like Calgary (except for the traffic) and have done some reminiscing on the 10 years I lived here. I loved those years, walking the pathways around Calgary, enjoying our little home in Copperfield, date nights around the city, attending and cleaning the Temple. Chris and I spent a night 2 weeks ago at a hotel near southport (where most of my courses have been) which was alot of fun. We went swimming and to the lounge for appetizers. We used our zoo passes (that we got in order to take the kids in January when Camellia and Doug and their 3 oldest went to Mexico and we watched Evelyn and Russell) to go to the zoo the next day. We spent almost an hour watching the gorillas - it was so cold and snowy out but nice and cozy there) and then we went to the Temple. I feel such peace at the Temple and Chris and I feel so close when we are there. The kids were at the Nelsons for family week spending time with their cousins (which they love to do!) and Caeleb had young men's camp in Mountain View. 

I worked 11 days in a row last week between orientation, my old job and courses in Calgary. I had a bit of a breakdown towards the end, just felt like crying for a day. I was exhasted! Still am. It has been tough stuffing all this knowledge in my brain and being away from the kids. I did have a wonderful weekend with the family though. We went for a walk, went sledding down the ditches, made snow angels and patterns in the snow, watched movies, played in the attic, played a bored game with sister Burbank who came for a yummy roast Sunday supper. 

I missed Caeleb's game in Coalhurst tonight as I sit here at Gainors after a long day of class, working on online courses, getting ready to go to sleep so I can go at it again tomorrow. He got a 3 pointer and another 2 points in his game tonight (my friend keeps me updated). I am so proud of him. Wish I could have been there to see it 😪. But I didn't sleep well last night and didn't want to fall asleep while driving. 

Elva has Marine biology next week and flys out to Victoria with her Junior High class on Monday. Caeleb did this in Junior High as well. I am so excited for her to live on a sail boat for 5 days and experience the ocean in a way she has not before!

I am disappointed to miss my kids activities (like basketball games) but I am happy for them and their experiences and I count my blessings often. I have so much and I should not covet what other people have (though I do get confused as to why there is so much division in wealth in the world, even in the church and why some people have so much and some people have so little (I see the poor alot in home care and mental health). Why can't we as a society or at least as a church live more of the law of consecration and equal out our blessings a little more. I get so confused by this in the church as of late. But I count my blessings and want to give back. I am grateful Gainors have let me stay here. I am grateful for my job even though I get so stressed. It gives me perspective. I am grateful for my wonderful family and friends. I have decided I am taking my dear friend to Hawaii this summer. She has been through so much the last few years (brain tumor, job changes, detached retina, losing vision) and now she might need heart (aorta) surgery. She has a bucket list item to go to Hawaii and I want to do that for her! I have it all planned out. I have been blessed. 

Merry Christmas and Happy and busy New Year

It was a Merry Christmas for the Watters with the usual traditions. We put our tree up on Sunday Nov 30 and watched the Polar Express while drinking hot chocolate. Uncle Doug got us a tree this year. I really want to take the kids to the mountains to get a tree but I seem to work on the weekends that start off december, so it never happens (except once when Lizzy was 18 months). Maybe next year. For Elva's birthday, her, Mary, Amber, Emery, Lindsey, Olivia and I went to see Wicked 2 on Dec 6th. I even liked it better than the first one. We had a stake youth activity that night and Caeleb had a basketball tournament so it was a busy day! 

We watched all our favorite Christmas movies this season, participated in the Champion Nativity (Chris and I were Mary and Joseph for the 3rd time, the girls were angels and Selman was a shepard - Caeleb had a basketball game and was not there), made gingerbread houses and Christmas cookies, etc.  We were supposed to attend the choir concert in Vulcan and Champion family dance the same night but they were canceled due to snow and ice. The Champion school concert was cancelled as well due to a white out blizzard that sent the kids home from school early. Since then we have had really nice weather and even though there was some snow at Christmas, there is no snow on the ground now (Feb 8). Camellia and Doug and family came to the Champion Ward Christmas party on Friday the 19th and we took family pictures beforehand. Chris did a great job of taking and printing family portraits for our family this year and they made wonderful gifts. We did our family nativity in mom and dad's living room with the 10 kids each taking a role. 

Christmas eve was spent cooking a turkey (that did not unthaw properly the days before, so Chris had to work hard to get it ready - he always cooks a great turkey!) and having a lovely dinner at 4:30 with Mieke and Lindsey and her parents (and of course Nana, papa and Nathan). We enjoyed lots of food, playing games after and watching Mr. Kreuger's Christmas and Mr. Bean's Christmas. Kids were asleep by 9:00 in our bedroom and Chris and I stayed up till midnight watching National Lampoons Christmas. 

Christmas morning started with stockings at 7:00 (though some kids were up early and during the night). We had our traditional cracked wheat for Christmas breakfast, then went to Mom and dads at 0900 where mom had a fire in the fireplace place waiting. We were done opening gifts by about 1030 and spent the rest of the day watching Lord of the Rings, chilling and playing with our gifts. Lego and boared games were themes this year. Lizzy got barbie and bluey stuff from santa, Selman got lego and an remote control airplane from santa, Mary got a stuffy rabbit (she wants a real one or a small dog) and a calico creature cabin (she got a sensory swing after Christmas which hopefully will help her), Elva got clothes and a little Keychain electronic game and of course cinnamon bears which is all she asked for and Caeleb got some baseball stuff and lego. 

I worked Boxing Day and the 4 days after that and Rachel and Eric and family came Boxing day afternoon to play games. For New Years Eve, we had a games night, appetizers and watched the New Years Eve movie. Selman and Lizzy made it till 1000 for the New York countdown and everyone else made it till midnight. 

New Years day (Thursday), we went with the whole family to our favourite hotel in lethbridge, went to Tony Romas for lunch and then swimming after. Ordered in Pizza for supper. It was great and what made it more great is that Nathan joined us for lunch this year! On Friday, we took the kids to Cardston to do baptims at the temple and then we stayed the night at Camellia and Dougs. 

So big news of the new year is I got a new job! I had a interview for Vulcan home care (0.74 FTE - 3.5 days a week on average) 2 days before Christmas and got the call Christmas eve that I got the job due to my "glowing reviews." I am excited and scared to death. 

I started my new job on Jan 26th. It has been a whirlwind of orientation so far. So many connect care courses! It is overwhelming and I have been at the Vulcan hospital 4 days a week since then. I worked 7 in a row between claresholm and orientation a couple of weeks ago and I work 11 in a row coming up. I am nervous and want so badly to do well but it is so different than working in a hospital setting and alot is expected of me as I am a case manager. I hope I can be good enough to do all that is expected of me. I didn't think life would lead me here. I dont want a career except to be a mom but I will do the best I can. I want to be excited for this opportunity. I know I have been blessed! It is more hours than my Claresholm job (I am still casual there) but better hours and with Chris only subbing, we feel like we need this. But even talking about that gets me down so I will change the subject for now. 

Caeleb and Elva are into basketball. Elva just had her last tournament this weekend and they got 2nd. She did so well learning the sport and has been a big asset to the team making quite a few baskets. She also had a curling tournamemt last weekend and they got second as well. She is talented in that too. Caeleb has not been played much for his basketball team this year but he enjoys the sport and is getting better. He just spent 4 weekends taking the lifeguard teaching and National lifeguard courses and passed them both so he will be lifeguarding this summer (hopefully in Champion). I am proud of him. He did not want to miss church on the Sundays. It was hard for him and I am grateful he loves church. Mary continues with her chess club and hanging out with her friend Faith (many sleepovers). She is not as much a fan of church as she struggles with the noise in Primary. But I love her sense of humor and she tries so hard in life. I am proud of the effort she puts into her family and friendships. Selman does his karate 2 x a week and is wanting to do soccer this spring so we have been out practicing these days in this beautiful weather. I am enjoying my limited time at home with Lizzy as she only has kindergarten 2x a week. Wish I could be home with her more but we continue to play barbies and family together when it is the 2 of us at home (and other times too). She does love to go to school to play with her friends and she is a happy and carefree little girl. She wants to do dance lessons next year. 

Life is busy. I want to be strong for my kids. They are everything to me. I hope I can be the example and support they need to help them find success, hope and happiness in life.