Catch Up Post: Thanksgiving Challenge #17: New Experiences

I'm not a person who ventures out of her comfort zone very often.

Seriously.

The odds of me watching a movie I've already seen on Netflix over a new release is almost 100:1.

The idea of travelling to Mexico terrifies me because I don't speak spanish.

And if I'm tired and don't know exactly where I'm going, I make my (very patient) husband drive me to my destination and pick me up.

Despite all appearances, my social anxiety tends to affect almost every aspect of my every day life.

I am extremely social with people I already know...it's the new people/experiences part that I have a really hard time with.

But every so often it's good to push myself out of this bubble and to venture out into the big, bad, scary world a little.

Yesterday, I did this and, despite the overwhelming fatigue and exhaustion I felt upon returning home, I'm truly glad that I did.

I pulled off a huge Zita-feat. A triple whammy of social-anxiety if you will...

1- I went out with a new person that I am still getting to know...by myself.
2- I went to an event I had never attended before in a room was full of people I didn't know...
3- I met and interacted (very enjoyably!) with a complete stranger.

After months of trying to coordinate a coffee/met up, I finally got to together with my online-friend Tamara. I really like Tamara's perspective on life, and have had the pleasure of meeting her several times in brief encounters over the years. I was truly looking forward to the chance to get to know her better and had a wonderful time.

Tamara invited me out to my first "Pecha Kucha Night".  This is an event put on by Edmonton's NextGen group, and features a handful of presentations, each about 6 minutes in length, accompanied by slide shows.  The topics were interesting, and while some of the presenters love something to be desired in terms of public speaking skills, the show was overall an extremely entertaining and thought-provoking one.

Tamara introduced me to her friend Tammy who is Sr. Web Developer and an all round very interesting person.  I seldom feel very comfortable with completely new people, but Tammy is one of those people who instantly puts you at ease by her casual, unpretentious friendliness.

When the event was over, I was ready to go home. I was tired- being a crowd always drains me. And I was very much looking forward to snuggles and cuddles with Jason, who seems to be the best 'grounding' force in the world. As expected, the inevitable post-event anxiety attack struck me, but I got through it relatively painlessly and slept generally well.

I woke up, grateful for the new experience and very much looking forward to my next outing with Tamara and Pecha Kucha 15. :)

This is post is part of the October Thanksgiving Challenge. I will post a new Thank You blog post every day during the month of October. I encourage you to follow Kevin, the mastermind of this challenge at www.kevinolenick.wordpress.com and fellow blogger Natasha at www.naturalurbanmamas.com. And, if you're up to it, consider doing your own challenge, big or small, to remind yourself to focus on the many blessings in your life.  I've also added a slight 'writing' component to this month's challenge: No posts are to exceed 500 words.  

Thanksgiving Challenge #16: The only thing I need.

When I have a bad day, I sometimes find myself falling into lapses of self-pity. It's so easy to forget how good you actually have it.

Then I see my son's twinkling blue eyes, the perfect replicas of his father's eyes, and I remember...

I have everything I need here to be happy. And nothing can tear that away.

This is post is part of the October Thanksgiving Challenge. I will post a new Thank You blog post every day during the month of October. I encourage you to follow Kevin, the mastermind of this challenge at www.kevinolenick.wordpress.com and fellow blogger Natasha at www.naturalurbanmamas.com. And, if you're up to it, consider doing your own challenge, big or small, to remind yourself to focus on the many blessings in your life.  I've also added a slight 'writing' component to this month's challenge: No posts are to exceed 500 words.  

Thanksgiving Post #15: Reflection

Every day. Every hour. Every minute. Every second.

Each is a gift.

A miracle, in and of itself.

To take one for granted is to forget just how quickly everything can be taken from you; how life can change in the blink of an eye.

And the saddest part is that- all too often- it takes a tragedy to remind us of just how fragile we really are.

I hate that I needed this reminder. But the message has been received.

In this moment, I am grateful for simply being alive.

And hopeful that those I love will be protected and kept safe.

Amen.

This is post is part of the October Thanksgiving Challenge. I will post a new Thank You blog post every day during the month of October. I encourage you to follow Kevin, the mastermind of this challenge at www.kevinolenick.wordpress.com and fellow blogger Natasha at www.naturalurbanmamas.com. And, if you're up to it, consider doing your own challenge, big or small, to remind yourself to focus on the many blessings in your life.  I've also added a slight 'writing' component to this month's challenge: No posts are to exceed 500 words.  

Make up post: Thanksgiving Challenge #14: Hard to find the words...

By the time last night rolled around, I found it extremely hard to find anything to be grateful for.  Despite having had a beautiful day, and a near perfect weekend, our family was handed some shocking and sad news that completely consumed my thoughts and my attention for the remainder of the night.

I was too sad to be thankful.

But I wasn't too sad to be prayerful.

In moments of despair and tragedy, when I have no where else to turn, I turn to God. His love and support have gotten me through more than I ever could have handled on my own.

So this morning, still shaken from the awful news of the night before, I am grateful for my Faith.

I know that it will get me, and those I love, through this and through anything else life throws at us.

This is post is part of the October Thanksgiving Challenge. I will post a new Thank You blog post every day during the month of October. I encourage you to follow Kevin, the mastermind of this challenge at www.kevinolenick.wordpress.com and fellow blogger Natasha at www.naturalurbanmamas.com. And, if you're up to it, consider doing your own challenge, big or small, to remind yourself to focus on the many blessings in your life.  I've also added a slight 'writing' component to this month's challenge: No posts are to exceed 500 words.  

Thanksgiving Challenge #13: All in a day's work.

I recently read an article from Time Magazine's Newsfeed that intrigued me.  You can read it here: And the world's most educated country is...(thanks to Kathleen for sharing.)

It congratulates Canada for being the most educated country in the world. Amazingly enough, in ten short years, our post-secondary education has gone from 40% (of what I assume is the "adult" population) to 51%.  These numbers are remarkable, and place us a full 5% above our nearest competition. 

I loved being a student. It was one of the best experiences of my life.

However, as happy as I am to think of all the Canadians taking advantage of our phenomenal higher learning opportunities, a part of me reads this article with a critical, skeptical eye. 

For almost every pro, there is an equal and distinct con. 

Every year, I am growing more concerned by what appears to be a gap between university graduate job seekers and careers requiring this type of education.  I am witnessing many of my peers take on pseudo-"professional student" career paths, many extending their student years well beyond a decade. Eventually, most come out as highly qualified and successful doctors, lawyers and PHDs. However, a significant minority comes out with a lot of paper and no clear career direction in the slightest.  

I personally know at least a dozen university grads who are struggling to find gainful employment in *any* field, let alone one related to their education.  Others keep themselves stuck in dead end jobs because they don’t want to take a pay cut or a job that is beneath them.

The reality is that a bachelor's degree is no longer an "asset". It is par for the course, and doesn't carry the same weight as it used to. So don't expect an $80k starting salary just because you did well in school- those days are gone. You are now competing with the remaining 50% of the population that is just as- if not more- educated than you are. 

So my thanksgiving post today goes to my parents, who taught me the very important lesson of hard work. I was raised knowing that, if I wanted to succeed in my career, I would have to claw my way there. It would not be enough to simply have an education. I would need to prove that I had grown as an employee and had skills beyond acing exams. 

I have never struggled to find a good job, and have found excellent career mobility everywhere I went.  But my "path" hasn't always been a straight line, and I've had to work in jobs that seemed "beneath my education" as I built up my experience.  

And this is exactly what I needed to do to succeed in the long run. 

I can't take credit for my work philosophy. It’s the result of being raised with strong values of work ethic, reliability, seizing every opportunity, and having patience.  Without these,  I’d be lost, degree or no degree.

  

Word Count: 498

This is post is part of the October Thanksgiving Challenge. I will post a new Thank You blog post every day during the month of October. I encourage you to follow Kevin, the mastermind of this challenge at www.kevinolenick.wordpress.com and fellow blogger Natasha at www.naturalurbanmamas.com. And, if you're up to it, consider doing your own challenge, big or small, to remind yourself to focus on the many blessings in your life.  I've also added a slight 'writing' component to this month's challenge: No posts are to exceed 500 words.  

Thanksgiving Challenge #12: Fragile

I had my mid-pregnancy anatomy scan this morning.  

For most expectant moms, this is an exciting day! Many will "see" their babies for the very first time.  This is the moment that their pregnancy starts to feel "real". 

I remember that feeling. It was how I felt when I went in for Sammie's anatomy scan. 

February 5th, 2010. 

A day I'll never forget. 

It was a wonderful day. Our baby was so beautiful that we cried the whole time. 

We basked in our new parent-to-be joy for three days. 72 hours. And then it came crashing down. 

I received a phone call at work that would change my life forever. It was my doctor, telling me that the ultrasound has revealed "serious abnormalities." Usually, he would have asked us to come into his office but he was leaving for Mexico for two weeks and we had to "act quickly" if we were going to "do anything". 

My baby's heart had a pericardial effusion.  And there appeared to be effusions on his lungs, and 'unknown spots' on his brain as well. To make matters, the ultrasound also showed that he had a single umbilical artery.  All of these, combined with some complications with my own organs led my medical team to one, terrifying conclusion:  The baby had no hope of survival. 

Even if Sammie made it through the pregnancy, which we were told was doubtful, the chances of him being healthy enough to have a high "quality of life" were questionable.  

Standing there in my office, surrounded by my young staff, I was told by my doctor that we should strongly consider “termination”. 

Thankfully, Jason and I were agreed that termination not the right decision for us. After years of struggling with infertility, we simply could not ever envision willfully parting with our child. 

Most of you know the rest of the story.  After a traumatic end-of-pregnancy, resulting in my being hospitalized for over a month, Sammie was born prematurely.  

He was tiny. But he was perfect.  

No heart problems. No lung problems. No brain problems. 

No chronic life threatening diseases. No syndromes. No death-prognosis. 

Today, we as we went through our scan for BabyToo, the experience was quite different. The fear, the trepidation, the panic was palpable.  But in the end, the results were so much better.  With the exception of a few issues to follow up on, the scan came back clearly as: "You have a health looking baby". 

And while I'm thankful beyond belief for that information, a part of me is equally thankful for the experience that we gained from Sammie.  I think that the appreciation of the delicateness and fragility of the human life process is so much more real to me now than it ever could have been. I feel more connected now than I ever have before. 

I can not- will not- take my babies' health for granted ever again.  

And that's the deepest kind of gratitude. 

"Baby Too"- 19 Week Scan

Word Count: 500

This is post is part of the October Thanksgiving Challenge. I will post a new Thank You blog post every day during the month of October. I encourage you to follow Kevin, the mastermind of this challenge at www.kevinolenick.wordpress.com and fellow blogger Natasha at www.naturalurbanmamas.com. And, if you're up to it, consider doing your own challenge, big or small, to remind yourself to focus on the many blessings in your life.  I've also added a slight 'writing' component to this month's challenge: No posts are to exceed 500 words.  

Thanksgiving Challenge #11: "I get by...

...With a little help from my friends." ~The Beatles

I can be a pretty complicated person.

My mind works a little differently than most people.  So does my heart. And often, the two don't quite sync up the way that they're supposed to, leaving me at odds both with myself and with society in general.

For better or for worse, I've always felt a little removed from the world even when I'm right smack in the centre of a huge group of people.  I'm usually pretty good at faking it and pretending that I'm 100% comfortable standing amidst the crowd...but most of my time is spent looking for an exit strategy.

If this sounds a little bit like you, you might be an introvert too.

I get a lot of shock and surprise when I tell people that I am an INTJ. They somehow seem to think that just because I'm "good" with people and able to comfortably lead a crowd that this is fulfilling for me or even a dominant personality trait.  The truth is that I genuinely prefer to spend time alone, or in the company of other generally introverted people.

In my home, my husband, my mom and I are all INTJs.  Given that only about 1-4% of the population would fit this personality type that's actually quite surprising. And yet, in many ways, it's totally inevitable. Introverts tend to flock together.

Which brings me to my "thankful" topic of the day.

I am so lucky to be surrounded by friends and people who "get" me.

I spent most of my young life trying my very best to fit it. I dreamt of being a chameleon who could easily blend in with any group and any dynamic. I fantasized about what it would be like to be one of those 'easily liked' people who seemed to float through life without a care in the world.

I've also always known that I'm a polarizing figure. As loved as I am, I am often equally hated.  This is ok by me. I really have never felt the need for a lot of friends, and being loved by a few beats out being liked by many.

But this is the first time in my entire life where I can say that I feel 100% comfortable being who I am with the people that I love.

I love that I can tell them "I just need a few days to disappear" and they "get" it. I love that I can ask for emotional support because I have to brave West Edmonton Mall and go into the horrible, colourful, hugely overwhelming Disney Store.

For better or for worse, I'm surrounded by people who seem to understand how my brain works. And if they don't, then they're happy enough to pretend that they do and that’s just as good.

Being "just me" is a great feeling. I'm looking forward to the next two thirds of my life being spent that way.

Word Count: 498

This is post is part of the October Thanksgiving Challenge. I will post a new Thank You blog post every day during the month of October. I encourage you to follow Kevin, the mastermind of this challenge at www.kevinolenick.wordpress.com and fellow blogger Natasha at www.naturalurbanmamas.com. And, if you're up to it, consider doing your own challenge, big or small, to remind yourself to focus on the many blessings in your life.  I've also added a slight 'writing' component to this month's challenge: No posts are to exceed 500 words.  

Thanksgiving Challenge #10: Denouement

Today, I closed a door.

It's supposed to be "ajar", closed only temporarily, but the truth is that we never really know what will happen with closed doors.

Today, in a way, I bid farewell to the project that has been dominating my attention for two years.

Although I still have paperwork and transition documents to clean up, for some reason today felt more final than any other day.  It was my last "work appearance" for what will be at least 65 weeks.

I do have a few meetings to attend, none of these feel quite the same as what I did yesterday.

Yesterday, I said goodbye to the vendors of the farmers market. 

Some I said goodbye to over the phone. Many I sent emails to personally. Others, I was privileged to get to say goodbye in person. But, no matter what the medium, the message was the same.  

So long, farewell, auf Wiedersehen, good night...

Goodbye. 

Many of these faces have been with me since the start.  Many will be there when I return. But for some reason, it feels 'heavy' just the same. 

And with this heaviness comes the realization that my life is truly, and forever more, going to change dramatically very soon. 

My days of being a full time 'work at home' mom are drawing to an end.  With two young children to watch, I simply won't be able to justify the long hours spent at a computer any longer. I've learned that you really can only do one, maybe two things well at any given time. I am choosing wife and mother.  It's an easy choice. 

I know that my career will be there waiting for me when I do decide to return, whether that be after my mat leave or further down the road.  It will be dusty and in definite need of reconstruction and tender loving care, but the truth is that the knowledge, the experience and the skills I have acquired aren't going away.  They are simply going to sleep.  And when they wake up, rusty as they might be, they will be ready for me. 

And hopefully, I'll be more ready too. Renewed. Once again passionate. Once again engaged. 

In the meanwhile, I'm going to focus everything I have and everything I am into the only career choice that has ever really mattered to me: raising my children and caring for my family. 

And I am thankful for the opportunity. 

Word Count: 409

This is post is part of the October Thanksgiving Challenge. I will post a new Thank You blog post every day during the month of October. I encourage you to follow Kevin, the mastermind of this challenge at www.kevinolenick.wordpress.com and fellow blogger Natasha at www.naturalurbanmamas.com. And, if you're up to it, consider doing your own challenge, big or small, to remind yourself to focus on the many blessings in your life.  I've also added a slight 'writing' component to this month's challenge: No posts are to exceed 500 words.  

Thanksgiving Challenge: #9: Someone to watch over me...

October 9th is a special day in my life. It’s my brother’s birthday.

I think that most people who know us would agree that my brother and I, despite being almost polar-opposites, are exceptionally close. For a long time, it really felt like it was the two of us "against the world".  My parents had divorced when I was quite young, and my mother worked full time in a very high pressure job in one of the most demanding fields there is.  My father relocated to Edmonton which was a four hour (or five hour, depending on road conditions)  drive away.  Antoine and I were often left to fend for ourselves. 

We had our share of sibling rivalry- sometimes even pushing this term to extremes.  Our world had just fallen apart and we didn't know how to cope with the extraordinary changes happening all at once. Yet, even through all the rocky times, he was my protector and defender and I knew that no matter what happened, he would keep me safe. 

Somehow, through the years, the rivalry slipped away. Despite our rough patches along the way, our sibling relationship evolved into one of the most beautiful friendships I could hope for. We tell each other everything- or at least as much as would be appropriate to share between brother and sister- and we are always there for each other through thick and thin.  And despite being intensely different people, we somehow understand each other and balance each other out.  Our relationship is, in my opinion, a perfect blend of 'family', 'friend', and 'counterpart'. 

And today he turns 34. Wow.  

When did we grow up?

It feel likes yesterday that we were still a couple of children playing kick the can in the park. It's incredibly hard to believe that it's been over 20 years since those days were over.  They remain, in many ways, some of my happiest memories of all time. 

Antoine will have his work cut out for him if he plans on trying to top "33".  This really was his year. 

At 33, he proposed to and married to the woman of his dreams. 

At 33, he learned he was going to be a father and he witnessed the birth of his child. 

At 33, he solidified his career, transitioning away from being a corrections officer and finally becoming one of Edmonton's finest peace officers, an Alberta Sheriff.  

33 was the year that everything fell into place for him. 

And I could not be happier or more proud. 

Allow me to assure you that there is no person on the planet more deserving than the kind of happiness that has found Antoine at the age of 33.

So this year, my “happy birthday” truly is about celebrating the year that passed. And what a year it was. 

Can he top it? I hope he tries, and succeeds!

Bonne fete, Antoine. Thanks for always being there for me. 

Word count: 485

This is post is part of the October Thanksgiving Challenge. I will post a new Thank You blog post every day during the month of October. I encourage you to follow Kevin, the mastermind of this challenge at www.kevinolenick.wordpress.com and fellow blogger Natasha at www.naturalurbanmamas.com. And, if you're up to it, consider doing your own challenge, big or small, to remind yourself to focus on the many blessings in your life.  I've also added a slight 'writing' component to this month's challenge: No posts are to exceed 500 words.  

Thanksgiving Challenge #8: All the good things

There is so much to be grateful for this year that I hardly know where to start.

A beautiful, loving family. Wonderful supportive friendships. A roof over our heads. Food in our bellies. Happy memories in our hearts.  Exciting days to look forward to.

Truly, my life has never been better.

In 2012, we welcome two new members in our family. Our beautiful sister Heidi and my perfect nephew Nico.  And now, as we await "BabyToo", I am awed at how our family has grown and reached such a wonderful state of balance.

With great thankfulness should always come the great desire to share our blessings with the world. Thanksgiving always kick starts the beginning of the "holiday season" in our household, which is filled not only with celebrations, joy and laughter, but also with different family activities centered around giving back to our community and those less fortunate than we are. It's my favourite time of year, and truly a time that reconnects me with the greater meaning of "love".

So this Thanksgiving, I am particularly grateful to my mother, who taught me about humility, compassion, and love of our fellow man.  Every dollar and can we give is in large part owed to her ongoing positive influence in our lives.

Happy Thanksgiving everyone.

This is post is part of the October Thanksgiving Challenge. I will post a new Thank You blog post every day during the month of October. I encourage you to follow Kevin, the mastermind of this challenge at www.kevinolenick.wordpress.com and fellow blogger Natasha at www.naturalurbanmamas.com. And, if you're up to it, consider doing your own challenge, big or small, to remind yourself to focus on the many blessings in your life.  I've also added a slight 'writing' component to this month's challenge: No posts are to exceed 500 words.  

Thanksgiving Challenge #7: A picture is worth...

Sometimes, words can not adequately convey gratitude. So I'm not even going to try.

Happy Thanksgiving Everyone.

"Buddha"- Week 19

This is post is part of the October Thanksgiving Challenge. I will post a new Thank You blog post every day during the month of October. I encourage you to follow Kevin, the mastermind of this challenge at www.kevinolenick.wordpress.com and fellow blogger Natasha at www.naturalurbanmamas.com. And, if you're up to it, consider doing your own challenge, big or small, to remind yourself to focus on the many blessings in your life.  I've also added a slight 'writing' component to this month's challenge: No posts are to exceed 500 words.  

Thanksgiving Challenge #6: At your fingertips

Tonight, I would like to say thank you to the Internet. Though I typically have a love/hate relationship with all things technology, today I must really admit that the internet came through for me more times than not.

As a person who has a "need to know" personality, I am so glad that I only have distant and dim recollections of what life was like pre-google. And, while the hunting is a little more complex than it used to be, and requires a huge amount of sifting through the rubbish, the ability to access the most up to date research, knowledge, and expert opinions on any topic that strikes my fancy makes me unbelievably happy!

So while I may not always show it- or remember it- many thanks to the forefathers that brought us this beautiful worldwide playground web of information.  This knowledge seeker is truly grateful.

This is post is part of the October Thanksgiving Challenge. I will post a new Thank You blog post every day during the month of October. I encourage you to follow Kevin, the mastermind of this challenge at www.kevinolenick.wordpress.com and fellow blogger Natasha at www.naturalurbanmamas.com. And, if you're up to it, consider doing your own challenge, big or small, to remind yourself to focus on the many blessings in your life.  I've also added a slight 'writing' component to this month's challenge: No posts are to exceed 500 words.  

Thanksgiving Challenge #5: Rest for the weary

A bit of a break away from the "thank you" posts focusing on specific people, today's post is focusing on one very simple, but very real life luxury: The long weekend.

I've had one hell of a few months, and I feel like I haven't slept in years. My mind, my body and my soul need to relax and unwind...and while this may or may not happen this weekend, one thing is for sure: my house will finally get cleaned.

So tonight, I am grateful for having one extra day this weekend to catch up on some desperately needed housework and- if husband and child are so willing- maybe even an extra hour or two of sleep.

Government Of Canada- I salute you and your "holidays".

This is post is part of the October Thanksgiving Challenge. I will post a new Thank You blog post every day during the month of October. I encourage you to follow Kevin, the mastermind of this challenge at www.kevinolenick.wordpress.com and fellow blogger Natasha at www.naturalurbanmamas.com. And, if you're up to it, consider doing your own challenge, big or small, to remind yourself to focus on the many blessings in your life.  I've also added a slight 'writing' component to this month's challenge: No posts are to exceed 500 words.  

Thanksgiving Challenge #4: The Yin to my Yang

Balance. 

It's one of those words we talk about a lot, but most of us seem to always be seeking it in one way or another. 

Every day, in every way, we strive to find that perfect equilibrium where everything sits "just right".  

I am not a master of 'balance'.  I seem to always throw myself from one extreme to the other- and sometimes to both extremes at the same time. I take on too much, and then desperately struggle to get it all done. I spend weeks over exerting myself socially, only to take a month (or six) of hibernation to recover. Doing things in moderation has simply never been my strong suit. 

But there is one place in my life where I have struck a perfect chord; one area where I sit back, look at my "accomplishments" and think to myself "this is good". 

I have awesome friends. 

I know everyone thinks that they have awesome friends- and for their sakes, I hope that they are right. All I can say is that the little circle that I have stumbled into, either by luck or Divine Intervention, is pretty damn phenomenal. 

And they are all different from each other.  This is what makes it all work so well. 

From some I find humour, from others I find emotional/spiritual kinship. From some I find tremendous intellectual stimulation, and from others I am relieved that they offer me a pseudo escape from the "heavy thinking" and that we are able to just enjoy simplicity. 

Each and everyone is unique, and together, they form a perfect mix. 

But when it comes to balance, there is one friend that stands out the most in my mind.  She is that special breed of friend who doesn't only fulfill one or two of my 'social needs'.  No, instead- on any given day, and in every possible way- she finds a way to fulfill all of them. 

Every hour spent with her is spent sharing laughter, sharing deep conversation, sharing the 'fluffy stuff' and the deeply personal and intimate.  She is the perfect person to vent to, but also the perfect shoulder to cry on.  She is always ecstatic to hear good news, and seems to always have the perfect words to ease my troubled mind in times of fear or sadness. 

On the surface, many would say that we have nothing in common. And they would be right.  She's all "Backstreet Boys" and "Disneyland" and I'm all "Metallica" and political debates. Thankfully, our friendship extends far beyond 'the surface'.  In our hearts, we're too peas in a pod because we're both people who desperate need a sense of harmony. Together, we form a statis in which the world simply makes more sense. 

She's the yin to my yang. And believe me when I say that my yang needs a lot of yin.

For that, and so much more, I'll be forever thankful to my wonderful friend, Erie. 

*word count: 492

This is post is part of the October Thanksgiving Challenge. I will post a new Thank You blog post every day during the month of October. I encourage you to follow Kevin, the mastermind of this challenge at www.kevinolenick.wordpress.com and fellow blogger Natasha at www.naturalurbanmamas.com. And, if you're up to it, consider doing your own challenge, big or small, to remind yourself to focus on the many blessings in your life.  I've also added a slight 'writing' component to this month's challenge: No posts are to exceed 500 words.  

Catch Up Post: Thanksgiving Challenge #3: Conor

I know that I'm posting this a day late, so it'll be a double header for me tonight.

In my defense, I had a 16 hour work day yesterday, and was up for about 20 hours total. That's not easy to do when you're riding the Hyperemisis Gravidarum train in your 18th week of pregnancy. Also, I was away from an internet connection for the vast majority of the day and up to my arms making chili for 150 people the rest of it. So blogging was not at the top of my list!

That being said, I did think an awful lot about what I would write, if I were able to write my post.

It was a pretty obvious one.

As I wrap up my second season of the market, I owe a great big "Thank You" to my best friend, Conor.

I use the term best friend relatively loosely here. There are many people that I've used the term with, and each of them in their own way is deserving of the title.  But with Conor, the truth is that it just doesn't go far enough.

Conor is more than a best friend.

Conor has been- for the past seven years- like a sibling to me. In some ways, like a veritable part of who I am.

Through every life experience, for better or for worse, Conor has been there- the rock in my life who has never once given up on me.

I've had friends go out of their way for me. I've had friends sacrifice a lot. But I have NEVER known a person who gives of himself so willingly.

The Market is only one example of Conor's friendship and dedication.  For the past two summers (about 20 weeks each year), Conor has spent almost every Wednesday by my side.  He has weathered storms, gruelling winds, treacherous suns, hail and threats of tornadoes.  Every Wednesday, he drove from Spruce Grove to my Edmonton home, to baby sit my child until my mom got off work and relieved him. Then he would haul his butt over to the market grounds, where he would proceed to spend the next five hours volunteering by my side.

And when I started to feel like I was the only one who "understood" the operations of the market and wished that someone else at the Board had more direct, hands-on experience, he signed himself up for Board meetings and gave of his time and energy on that front too.

I estimate his total contribution over the past two years to be around 500 hours. That's a lot of unpaid labour. In work hours, we're talking about over $15,000.00.

Does he care about the market? Yes. It's hard not to after putting your blood, sweat and tears into a project for two years.

But did he do it because it was his passion?  No.

He did it for me.

And there's no thank you big enough for that kind of friendship.

*word count: 499

This is post is part of the October Thanksgiving Challenge. I will post a new Thank You blog post every day during the month of October. I encourage you to follow Kevin, the mastermind of this challenge at www.kevinolenick.wordpress.com and fellow blogger Natasha at www.naturalurbanmamas.com. And, if you're up to it, consider doing your own challenge, big or small, to remind yourself to focus on the many blessings in your life.  I've also added a slight 'writing' component to this month's challenge: No posts are to exceed 500 words.  

Thanksgiving Challenge #2: Silly Songs

There are about a hundred and fifty million thousand posts I could write about why I'm thankful for my husband, Jason.  I'm sure I could fill an entire library on this topic alone. But since I've committed myself to keeping my posts to 500 words or less, I'll have to stick to one reason at a time and keep the gushiness short and sweet.

Today, I want to thank my husband for his silly songs.

Anyone who has spent a lot of time with Jason and I knows that we are tad on the sentimental side. We're one of those couples who sincerely mean it when we say "I married my best friend". There is no one on the planet I would rather spend time with than Jason; through good times and through bad, he is my number one "go to" person.

But this morning, I'm feeling especially grateful for my husband. Nothing incredibly out of the ordinary happened, except that we both woke up unusually early and actually got some morning snuggles in before work.  Seeing as I was up already, I figured that I should get some work in before the little man woke up, so I got up, showered and got ready alongside my love.

What made this morning special wasn't the extra hugs. It wasn't even the warm cup of coffee that was brought to my bedside. What made it special was that, for the first time in a long time, we got to sing our silly songs to each other.  These songs used to form part of our everyday morning routine before our schedules changed dramatically. There's a half dozen of them, and we sing them throughout the day. But there was something ridiculously awesome about being able to start my morning off with my husband singing about his "shaking tooshie", and his "fuzzy belly", and our "silly Sammie".

I was reminded that, along with his kindness, his gentleness, his brilliance and his attractiveness, one of the things that most drew me to my husband has always been his humour. I'm so glad that, on the eve of celebrating 7 years together, we've kept a little bit of the 'silly' magic alive.

There's nothing like laughter to keep a marriage together.

*word count: 375

This is post is part of the October Thanksgiving Challenge. I will post a new Thank You blog post every day during the month of October. I encourage you to follow Kevin, the mastermind of this challenge at www.kevinolenick.wordpress.com and fellow blogger Natasha at www.naturalurbanmamas.com. And, if you're up to it, consider doing your own challenge, big or small, to remind yourself to focus on the many blessings in your life.  I've also added a slight 'writing' component to this month's challenge: No posts are to exceed 500 words.  

October Thanksgiving Challenge

I'm embarking on a new monthly challenge for the month of October.

After only encountering moderate success in my September challenge (I missed a few posts, not for lack of writing but because I lacked the courage to post what I had a written...I'm working on bringing those back up in the future, when I feel braver and more comfortable in my 'writer's skin'), I am ready to tackle the month of October with a renewed sense of positivity and humility.

October, being the month of Thanksgiving, has always been a time of love, family and friendship in my life.  Many of my dearest friends have their birthdays in October, including my brother, and I feel that it perfectly sets the tone for the Christmas season which is soon to fall upon us...(But not TOO SOON, Walmart...!)

Kevin Olenik, a Calgary-based blogger that I recently started following threw out this question to his readers last week: "Agree or Disagree: People Need To Say Thank You More". This post really struck a chord with me, as I have spent a great deal of time lately reflecting on the many blessings and joys in my life.  In this post, Kevin challenged himself to a "31 Days of Thankfulness" challenge, during which he will write a post of 'thanks' a day for the entire month of October.  After a particularly stressful September, I have decided to join him on this journey of gratefulness.

So today's post, my first of this challenge is a Thank You to Kevin, for the inspiration to start this journey as well and for having the courage to stand up and say that we all could use a little more Thank You in our lives.

This is post is part of the October Thanksgiving Challenge. I will post a new Thank You blog post every day during the month of October. I encourage you to follow Kevin, the mastermind of this challenge at www.kevinolenick.wordpress.com and to consider doing your own challenge, big or small, to remind yourself to focus on the many blessings in your life.  I've also added a slight 'writing' component to this month's challenge: No posts are to exceed 500 words.