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.
