Big Fish: Algonquin 2009

Dave was thrilled to be part of the annual boys fishing trip in Algonquin this year: "Big Fish 2009". They had great weather, caught lots of fish, and enjoyed whatever it is that boys do on a 5 day fishing trip. Here's to many more years of "Big Fish"ing!!!

Windermere weekend

Stampede 2009

This year we had Dave's sister, Tara, and my high school friend, Cheryl, here for a visit during the first weekend of Stampede.
As usual, we managed to fit in lots of "Stampeding": a visit to Ranchman's (the local "cowboy" bar), the Chuckwagon races on Friday night, our very own "Stampede Breakfast" Saturday morning, followed by the Rodeo and the "Wild Horse Saloon" on Saturday. It's always busier than we remember, trying to fit in so much into a few days, but so much fun to spend time with friends "celebrating" summer and this festive time of year. There really is a festive atmosphere in Calgary, with decorations, country music, and Urban Cowboys (and Cowgirls) everywhere you look.

Another great weekend in Montana

We spent another great weekend in Montana, this time with Tannis and Steve and Shandra and Dave joining us as well as Crystal and Marc...

Providence Girls Night Out

My "colleagues" from Providence celebrated the end of our parent meetings and the upcoming last few days of "school" with a night out at the Duelling Pianos bar "Aussie Rules". It was great to celebrate and let loose with the girls. Each time we spend time together outside of "work" time, it always serves as a great reminder of how lucky I am to work with such wonderful girls that I truly do consider friends as well as colleagues. Thanks Ladies, and have a wonderful summer!!!

Kananaskis

Although we've spent a lot of time exploring Alberta and BC since moving here, we've tended to focus our time and attention on Canmore, Banff, Lake Louise, etc. and haven't spent much time at all in Kananaskis. We've done hikes and mountain bike rides here and there, but have never really explored the village and highway 40, etc.
Today we had a friend running in the K100 (Ryan Strom), where a relay of runners each run a portion of a 100mile stretch of the highway that runs through this beautiful area. We took our bikes out to cheer him on, then spent some time at the Stroms campsite at Eau Claire.
This area is a bit of a hidden gem: so close to Calgary, but SO beautiful!! Here's Dave in Kananaskis Village

Riding down Hwy 40 in search of the K100 racers

We caught up with Ryan and cheered/heckled him along his leg of the race

Back at the campsite, the ladies enjoy some much needed (but highly overpriced) beverages!

Dave's best buddy Bennett

Our first visit to friends' in Montana

(Sorry: I've been having a hard time getting Blogger to post properly lately, so some of these posts are a little delayed)...

We have a few friends from different places who have recently acquired vacation/recreational property in Montana: Dave's biking partner from the TransRockies--Joe and his wife Natasha have built a home they enjoy with their kids, Niya and Jagger; and Crystal and Marc have a beautiful piece of property that they have started to develop by first building a "bunkie".
We were invited down to check out the properties, and to offer Dave's handy-man skills in building a front deck for Marc and Crystal's place.

It was wonderful to get away for the weekend: it always feels longer and more relaxing to me when we are able to actually get away from the daily household tasks (laundry, mowing the lawn, housecleaning, etc.) and have a bit of a mini-vacation.

The drive to Montana is about 4 hrs, but goes by quickly with the beautiful scenery, and now that it stays light out so late, so you are easily able to see the road.

The contrast between Crystal and Marc's undeveloped but "untouched" property and Joe and Nat's beautiful and comfortable but developed home and property was interesting: it made me realize that I really do like the simplicity of the "no running water/no electricity" sense of getting away from it all, moreso than all the comforts of home offered in a more developed vacation property. I used to love going to Aunt Joan and Uncle Fred's cottage on White Lake, that truly was a "cottage", or Jim Bailey's cabin in the woods that was also just that--a hunting cabin. That being said, I understand with little kids how the convenience offered by a more developed vacation home definitely makes more sense! Here's some pictures, hopefully worth a thousand words...
Wild Rose Country

Some good looking shirtless dudes working on the bunkie

Pretending to ride the motorbike (I rode on the back of the quad with Dave but that was about as brave as I got)...

Marc and Crystal at Joe and Nat's place

Dave tries out the halfpipe at Joe and Nat's (boys and their toys...)

Spring pictures...

Greyson seems to be taking over our bed lately... A work trip to Edmonton for Dave and I, as well as colleagues Christina and Kaylea and our friend Mike.

Tannis and Grace

Shandra finishes her Half-Marathon in record time, despite getting over a cold...

Learning life lessons...

Every now and then I have a few moments/hours/days/weeks of reflection where I start to consider and really try to understand the lessons life is teaching me on a daily basis...I like to think that everything happens for some kind of a reason, whether or not we know or understand at the time what that reason may be...

I think whatever the reason may be that I have ended up in this profession (Occupational Therapy), in this job (working with children with disabilities), or with these particular kids, it is always such a wake-up call and a great reminder of how blessed I am, in so many ways.

Surfing around on the internet, I came across this piece of writing on a friend of a friend's website. (Feel free to check this link for their full story: http://evanpenny.wetpaint.com/ )
I think it does a great job of putting things into perspective and reminding me of all of the reasons these children make me so grateful...


I AM THE CHILD (Author Unknown)

I am the child who cannot talk.
You often pity me, I see it in your eyes.
You wonder how much I am aware of -- I see that as well.

I am aware of much, whether you are happy or sad or fearful, patient or impatient, full of love and desire, or if you are just doing your duty by me.

I marvel at your frustration, knowing mine to be far greater, for I cannot express myself or my needs as you do.
You cannot conceive my isolation, so complete it is at times.

I do not gift you with clever conversation, cute remarks to be laughed over and repeated.
I do not give you answers to your everyday questions, responses over my well-being, sharing my needs, or comments about the world about me.
I do not give you rewards as defined by the world's standards -- great strides in development that you can credit yourself;
I do not give you understanding as you know it.

What I give you is so much more valuable -- I give you instead opportunities.
Opportunities to discover the depth of your character, not mine;
the depth of your love, your commitment, your patience, your abilities;
the opportunity to explore your spirit more deeply than you imagined possible.

I drive you further than you would ever go on your own, working harder, seeking answers to your many questions with no answers.

I am the child who cannot talk.
I am the child who cannot walk.
The world seems to pass me by.

You see the longing in my eyes to get out of this chair, to run and play like other children.
There is much you take for granted.

I want the toys on the shelf, I need to go to the bathroom, oh I've dropped my fork again.
I am dependent on you in these ways.

My gift to you is to make you more aware of your great fortune, your healthy back and legs, your ability to do for yourself.
Sometimes people appear not to notice me; I always notice them.

I feel not so much envy as desire, desire to stand upright, to put one foot in front of the other, to be independent.
I give you awareness.

I am the child who cannot walk.
I am the child who is mentally impaired.

I don't learn easily, if you judge me by the world's measuring stick, what I do know is infinite joy in simple things.
I am not burdened as you are with the strife's and conflicts of a more complicated life. My gift to you is to grant you the freedom to enjoy things as a child, to teach you how much your arms around me mean, to give you love.
I give you the gift of simplicity.

I am the child who is mentally impaired.
I am the disabled child.
I am your teacher.

If you allow me, I will teach you what is really important in life.
I will give you and teach you unconditional love.
I gift you with my innocent trust, my dependency upon you.

I teach you about how precious this life is and about not taking things for granted.
I teach you about forgetting your own needs and desires and dreams.
I teach you giving.
Most of all I teach you hope and faith.
I am the disabled child.