Best of 2009

December 22 Startup. What's a business that you found this year that you love? Who thought it up? What makes it special?

It's been a very long time since I was in a Camper's Village store but there's a new one on the south side of the city, which we explored a bit before going to Africa.  I got some travel clothes (a hoodie and a long sleeve shirt) while Bob picked up mitts and a headlamp, as well as other assorted necessities.  The store was packed with tons of good stuff at decent prices and it's very accessible for us.  Staff were knowledgable and helpful, while allowing individual browsing time.  Shopping for gifts for hikers, campers or outdoor enthusiasts is so easy at this store!  And a bonus was the very nice reusable bag in which they packed our purchases.

And I have to mention an old store that's become a new favourite for groceries!   Real Canadian Superstore is my 'go-to' place these days.  Heather recommended it and it really is the best place for great prices and lots of selection.  I like the choices between top quality and cheap prices, the wide selection of gluten-free foods they offer and the large produce aisle.  It's an hour drive to the nearest one so I try to get there once a month and stock up on good buys.  They also have great sales and bonus items if your purchase reaches certain levels.

Best of 2009

Carrying on with the review of my year!

December 21 Project. What did you start this year that you're proud of?

We ripped out the carpet and lino that we've had in our house for the last 30+ years and replaced it with beautiful hardwood flooring.  It was quite a project and thankfully we had a ton of help!  And it looks marvelous - it almost seems like we have a whole new house.  Of course, doing that led to other related projects and those are still in the works.  It will take a few more months to get everything finished but we are definitely proud of it so far!

The quilt that I made Heather for Christmas is the other project of which I'm very proud.  I loved doing it and love how it turned out.  I think it convinced me  that I can quilt :))

Stay tuned for more news on quilting :))

Best of 2009

I am determined to complete Gwen Bell's Best of 2009 questions - I hope it doesn't take me all of 2010!

December 20 - New person. She came into your life and turned it upside down. He went out of his way to provide incredible customer service. Who is your unsung hero of 2009?

We welcomed two new grandsons into our family this year and while not turning our world upside down - yet! - they have definitely won our hearts already. 

 I saw Samuel twice in his first  3 months, which was great, but we are definitely feeling overdue for some time with him again.  Hopefully Melinda and Tyler will come to visit this spring and Samuel will get to meet all of his Alberta family.   It was wonderful to watch him opening Christmas presents via Skype on Christmas morning.  

Blake arrived while I was in Nova Scotia!  I had this feeling that might happen when I decided to go!  It is marvelous getting to see him and cuddle often.  He does this little thing where he lays his head on your chest and kind of burrows right in.  It's such a sweet cuddly thing - I love it!  

Both boys are starting to squirm and move around, getting up on their knees and rocking, rolling over and reaching for things.  By summer time we could be in for a crew of little men on the move, walking around and exploring.  I can just imagine what the next years will bring - tons of adventure and many boy games, I'm sure!

Best of 2009

I'm still working on my review of 2009, as outlined by Gwen Bell - I will get this completed, I promise myself!

December 19 - Car ride  
What did you see? How did it smell? Did you eat anything as you drove there? Who were you with?


Our car ride of the year was the 4000 km ride while on safari in Kenya and Tanzania.  Clarence and Sandra and Albert and Iris were great companions for a once in a lifetime ride in a totally unique vehicle with an amazing driver / guide.  

I love this picture of Chris and Bob in the Ngorongoro Crater with the zebras grazing in the background.

On this drive we saw things we will never see again!  The quantity of mammals living undisturbed in the wild and the photo opportunities we had were unbelievable.  We saw everything from the largest slum in Nairobi (as we drove by) to a Masai village to shopping center towns in the middle of nowhere.  And we saw more than enough rocks and bounced over some very rough roads!!

Best of 2009

Back to Gwen Bell's Best of 2009 blog questions - 

December 18 - Shop. Online or offline, where did you spend most of your mad money this year?

There are a lot of places that I like to shop!  But I think my mad money can very nicely be spent at the scrapbook store.  Paper, cardstock, ink, transparencies, diecuts, metal pieces, journal blocks, adhesive, pens, cutting blades, albums, ribbon, punches - so much to choose from and so much to smile about!  Yes - my extra nickels and dimes (and maybe a few toonies) are nicely spent on scrapbooking supplies.

And a close second would be Chapters or any bookstore :))

Best of 2009

December 17 - What word encapsulates 2009 for you?

My word of the year for 2009(as part of an Ali Edwards challenge for a new year) was TRUST .   I defined it more specifically -  to trust God that I am right here where He wants me to be, doing what He created me to do.  It truly has amazed me this year with just how often, in so many different experiences, this word has been uppermost in my mind and reinforced to me.

 When stress starts to mount, I remind myself to trust God in all situations, with all problems and worries.   Sometimes I have to remind myself over and over again, even in the same day, that God has always cared for me and He has never failed to provide everything that I need.  Why would He suddenly do things differently now?  I have this picture in my mind of a Heavenly Father who delights in each of His children, just the way I do as an earthly parent.  I love to see my children, talk with them, watch them, help them, protect them and encourage them.  My God does the very same with me!  So I can trust Him just as a child trusts a parent, completely and without reservation.

Two years ago when I decided to leave fulltime teaching, the word 'trust' took on new meaning.  Before that I had been prone to rely on myself, my pay cheque, my ideas, my job but then my professional life, as I had known it for nearly 14 years, was over.  As a substitute teacher now I trust that God will send jobs my way and when He doesn't, as happened this week, I know the other plans He has for me are more important at this time.

These are some of my favourite Scripture (NIV) verses about trust:

Psalm 13:5
But I trust in your unfailing love; my heart rejoices in your salvation.


Psalm 91:2
I will say of the LORD, "He is my refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust."


Proverbs 3:5
Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding;


John 14:1
[ Jesus Comforts His Disciples ] "Do not let your hearts be troubled.Trust in God ; trust also in me.


Trust isn't just a word for one year - a word to be replaced by a different or better one in the next year.   I chose it because I knew I needed to live it, breathe it and dwell in it - this year and always.    


These are some reminders of trust from my last year:


- trusting that God would be with Darrin and Kelsey as they were married and would share life


- trusting that our two new grandchildren would be healthy and strong


- trusting God to see Tyler through medical school and clerkship


- trusting that Melinda would have support and encouragement as a new mom


- trusting that visiting Africa was part of God's plan for us


- trusting God for safety while traveling - flying, driving, sailing, walking/hiking


- trusting God to show me how to help others this Christmas


- trusting that God will provide jobs and income, not just for me but for our family members as well


I could go on!  I'm trusting Him for tomorrow and for always!  

Best of 2009

December 14 - Rush - What gave you the biggest thrill this year? - Walking through Times Square in New York City was an incredible experience.  I kept thinking "Wow - this is really it - this is what everyone talks about - this is the Big Apple!"  It was more vibrant, interesting, colorful, surreal than I ever imagined. And it was really cool :))

December 15 - Best packaging - our new grandsons, Samuel and Blake, came packaged as the sweetest little guys.  Perfect from the top of their heads to the bottoms of those tiny toes, we are so blessed by their presence in our family!

December 16 - Tea of the year - Chai Masala, brewed at home.  And a close second would be the fruit tea that I brought home from the Czech Republic - it's got chunks of dried apple, oranges and spices and is so delicious.  I should have brought more home with me.

Best of 2009

December 12 - Best new food - I made Rhubarb Chutney this summer and it's become a new favourite preserve.   It tastes good with any fish, chicken or pork dishes and I'm proud of making it myself.  I also made a Barley Mandarin Salad with cooked barley, mandarin orange sections, and spinach.  It was a great new salad to add to my repertoire.

December 13 - What's the best change you made to the place you live?  Hands down, no questions, don't have to think about this one - our new hardwood floor!!  It is so beautiful and gives a whole new look to our home.  It's smooth, shiny, and we are so very happy having it done.  Of course it's opened up a whole new set of other things to improve but we'll work away at those as time and dollars permit.

Check Gwen's blog if you want to read other posts on this topic.

Best of 2009 (continued)

Here are a few more Best of 2009 picks, as organized by Gwen Bell.

December 5 - Night Out - in downtown Manhattan, at a burger pub, with Melinda and Tyler, celebrating Tyler's birthday.  And later eating ice cream and then walking through Times Square, marveling at the neon signs, buildings, crowds, and energy of New York City.

December 6 - Workshop or conference - On National Scrapbook Day in May, I went to an all day crop organized by Scrapshotz in Calgary with Heather and that was lots of fun!  I got some pages done about our trip to Poland.  And in April I went to the International Reading Association conference, a perennial favourite of mine,  in Edmonton.  I love a day devoted to children and reading and books!

December 7 - Blog find of the year - I've followed a lot of blogs but if I could only read one each day, it would be Holy Experience, written by Ann Voskamp.  That girl has a gift with words and her camera, she lives on a farm, and her faith is a living, breathing daily reality.  She truly is an inspiration - I know she's shy about praise but God is using her in mighty ways!

December 8 - Moment of peace - early morning Bible reading when the sun shines in our bedroom and my day starts calmly, focussed on Him.

December 9 - Challenge - driving through Kenya and Tanzania, watching the women and children walk collecting water and firewood - and having children call out to us as we passed by in our safari vehicle, "Water, please."  And now coming home to so much of everything and sometimes seeing it being wasted or not appreciated.  This is still on my mind most days.

December 10 - Album of the year - Christmas music:  Andrea Bocelli "My Christmas" -  Christian album:  "CompassionArt (Creating Freedom from Poverty)" - 12 artists inspired to write and record an album with all proceeds and royalties going to help the poorest of the poor- from the album cover.