Signed and delivered...

We have cleared the first hurdle! The offer is accepted and Paul will be an employee of Mark's Work Wearhouse. The official date has not been set, but because it's taking the shape of an internal transfer, the official date is dependent on when Canadian Tire is willing to let him go! Ah, so nice to be wanted...
He is working so hard. He's digging into the testing he needs to get done at CT with a vengeance. He's been trying to get quotes on our small bathtub reno. He's constantly packing up extraneous bits and transporting them to storage, when he's at home. He also had a dental appointment today, so after supper he bravely ate a freezie in the hope of numbing his sore mouth.
As for me, I rearranged the living room.
I can't wait for this house to be clean again. I know it always looks the most awry just previous to the moment it begins to look civil again. I'm finding it hard to think past the mess.
Hmm. I'm finding it hard to think, period.
I don't suppose I could go to bed this early, could I?

Nah. That would just be weird. It's the wrong side of midnight.

Ah yes, the kids. The afternoon snack was grapes. Emily decided that she would be a fruit bat, as they eat grapes. Sometime later, when she flapped back upstairs, I asked if she, the fruit bat, had a name yet.
"No," she replied.
"Would you like one?" I asked. She nodded, completely in character.
"How about....," I thought for a while, ".....Juicy?" She nodded again, though this time a tiny bat-like smile curled onto her face.
Later on, I found her trying to sound out her name while trying to type it on their play computer. When Paul got home, she properly introduced herself to him, so there would be no mistaken identity.

On a mischeivous note, I hung a beaded candy cane on Butterscotch's collar tonight. I don't think he noticed but guaranteed when Paul does, he'll roll his eyes and say something like, "Oh Butterscotch, what will we do with her?"

Hee! Small things that entertain me.

Oh man, will it ever end? I have totally lost motivation and perspective, I suppose.
Paul contacted Marks today with a question related to the offer. By the end of today, he still has not signed BUT! we have received a welcome package by courier, he is being scheduled to head out there next week and we are trying to plan a house hunting venture the following weekend.

Sometimes organizing a myriad of details into a cohesive plan can be an interesting and a fun challenge. This? This is monumentally aggravating.

Salad dressing.
I feel like someone is making salad dressing with my life and in order to get the end product EVERYTHING goes in at once and the whole thing is being whizzed around.
I feel dizzy.

The offer is on the table...

The coffee table.
Waiting.
For tomorrow, when Paul will clarify a few things and then SIGN IT!!

Our house is emptier too. We need to move a few more things out of the basement and then I will start to try to make it look prettier. So someone will buy our house.
As I write this, my poor exhausted husband is dozing beside me. He`s staying up to be with me but he`s just pooped. He took two trips to the storage unit tonight. He`s been working so hard at trying to get this house market-ready.
I`m exhausted too. I guess I`ll take us to bed now.
I wish we could just take time and feel the joy and the excitement. To let it bubble over. We`re just too tired.

The Yearly Letter...a year too late

Dec 2007



Dearest family and friends,
Our greetings to you come a little late this year. As I started to gather my thoughts for this letter around mid-November I realized I had to wait. There was something in the offing that just might need to be included in this letter. While waiting, I painted most of the house. It took a lot of work, much help from Paul, and a great deal of patience from the kids, which they were happy to give. For the most part!

Here are some highlights from our year:

Growing Up, Nathan and Emily Style
These two kids are incredibly imaginative. They spend much of their day pretending, attempting to be in costume and in character for as long as possible. Emily really enjoys dressing up and Nathan enjoys draping blankets and propping pillows anywhere he can in order to create his spaceship, ice breaker, castle or whatever. If it resembles a string, he’ll try to tie it to something. They both regarded the arrival of spring with glee, getting out on their bikes almost every day. Nathan’s sense of humour is very wordy, using puns and rhymes. Emily’s sense of humour is a little more physical. If you stare into her eyes for a while, they’ll turn up at the corners just before she scrunches up her face with her hands and sticks out her tongue. She can’t seem to help but to try make us laugh as often as she can. Even as they are filled with laughter, they are always inquisitive, asking questions ranging from the philosophical (Aren’t you glad Santa isn’t real?) to the physical (why do dogs’ tails have bones?) and back to the practical (can I have some of the gingerbread house now?).

Camping

the very cold waters of Georgian Bay at Indian Head Cove, Bruce National Park

The Bruce Peninsula. WOW. It is simply amazing. We kicked off our camping season with a 2day test trip to Laurel Creek Conservation Area, in the middle of Waterloo. That was informative. We noted all items which were forgotten and those which were unnecessary, bought a cartop carrier bag and took off on our 10day vacation, beginning at the Bruce. Oh, you should go! Really, it is a beautiful, unique place. There is truly nowhere else like it on this planet.

We then joined forces with the Beilby family at Awenda Provincial Park and took in the area’s historical sights. I didn’t mention that Nathan is a history buff, did I? One of his highlights of the year was our visit to Discovery Harbour and Ste. Marie-among-the-Hurons.

the only volunteer for this activity at Discovery Harbour, was Emily!

In late August, we shared some food and some splendid camping at the Pinery with the Naus family. Emily was in tears when she realized that this would be the last camping trip of the year. Paul and I felt the same. Nathan was happy to get back to his own bed.

on our way to the beach, Pinery Provincial Park

The Last Half was Harder
The last 5 months have brought some challenges to Paul and I. In early August, my aunt, whom I call Julie Mamie, passed away. I had the opportunity to see her and to say ``goodbye`` a few weeks before. My life was but one that she had touched deeply. The grief, though, was not something I had ever known before and I found it all-consuming for a while.
One day, in late September, we received a phone call from Paul`s mom. Paul`s dad, who lives and works in Southern Mexico, had been in an accident and his leg was broken. He was taken to hospital in Mexico City and Paul`s mom, and some good friends, spent many hours there with him. In early October, the doctors determined that the leg needed to be amputated. Soon after, Dad, and Mom were flown up to Ontario, to North York General, in Toronto. Dad`s recovery was longer and harder than we expected but through much prayerful and practical support from friends and family, he has come very far. He`s now at St. John`s , a rehab hospital in North York. Yahoo!!
On Dec. 23rd, we celebrated! For Dad`s first day pass, we had Christmas dinner together, at a home generously offered to us by a family who were away for the holidays. It was a very refreshing time, resting in the blessing of God`s provision and finding great joy in being together.

What are we waiting for?
We are waiting for a dream to come true!
About 4 years ago, we began talking and dreaming about moving out west. About 2 years ago, you may remember, Nathan and I went to a certain city, called Calgary, to visit friends. And to check it out.
Paul was attempting to transfer to Mark`s Work Wearhouse, a company owned by Canadian Tire, Paul`s current employer, just as the housing prices skyrocketed. Maybe it was a little premature.
About 2 months ago, Paul was contacted regarding a position with Mark`s new supply chain team, headed up by a former director from CT. Just as the housing prices dipped a little! We are in the later stages of negotiations, proceeding with the hope that we may be heading to Calgary in the New Year.
So, after our letters and cards are mailed out, we will continue a frenzied pace. Replacing the Christmas preparations, however, will be readying our house for listing and attempting to find housing in Calgary. If you want to keep up with what is happening, you`ll have to check out my blog http://curlsinmyhair.blogspot.com/ or find me on Facebook!

God Bless you, this Christmas, and into the New Year.
With love,
Paul, Amy, Nathan and Emily