Rent-A-Kid

Our family of three has become a family of four, sometimes even five for the last few years. We have welcomed six different Korean International students into our home. Every new boy that comes to our home brings with him a new dynamic. Our first student was a girl named Sabrina. At this time Cayden was not quite two. She lived with us for six weeks.

We then welcomed a wonderful boy named Jared. He was with us for a year and a half. Two years later we still miss him. If I could have I would have adopted him and never let him go. He was only nine years old at the time and is turning thirteen next month. He was incredibly good with Cayden and was just a natural fit for our family

While Jared was with us we had David come to live with us for six weeks during the summer. Wow, he is memorable! He was fun, messy and loud. I have to say six weeks was long enough though. He is still in Chilliwack and I get to see him often. And he still makes me laugh.

The next boy who came to stay with us was Joey. He was also unique. He laughed often, was chatty, and loved food. At first I wasn't sure that I would become attached to him because Jared had just left and I was really missing him. After a month I really came to like Joey for his own qualities. Joey left our home after six months to move with his family to Texas, USA.

Ivan is our current student. At fifteen years old, he is the oldest of all the boys. He immediately fit in with our family and the first eight months of him staying with us have been wonderful. He loves sports and so do I. We enjoy the same TV shows and movies. He is patient with Cayden as well. Currently, we are keeping our fingers crossed that he will get to stay here another year.

This is Ivan. This picture was taken on a trip to White Rock last September.

This is David. He was the life of the party. How do you like Cayden's earphones?

This is Joey. This smile was the norm. A boy that cared little about what others thought and had a heart of gold.

This is Jared. We will never forget what a wonderful boy he was. He was an extremely pleasant boy and always fun to have around.

I look forward to hopefully one day getting updates when they one day become adults. I often wonder what they will be like one day. It's funny because they say the same thing to me. They have said to me that they wonder what Cayden will be like when he grows up. Time will tell I guess.

Happy Birthday Tanya!

My co-worker Tanya hates recognition. At least she says she does. The juries still out on that one. Anyway, today was her birthday and also the anniversary of two years of work at Denbow. Two great years. She figured that if she was quiet about it no one would remember, which suited her. I didn't forget although I pretended to. Until 10:30, then game over. I got busy. I sent an inter-office e-mail to let everyone know. Then I sent a GPS message to all the drivers to let them know. Her first phone call came from Kelly. At this point she didn't realize that I had done this. She was shocked that he knew. He says to her, "I know I'm not supposed to ask a girl her age. So I'm just telling everyone your forty. Oh, I have a really good Birthday present for you as well. I lined you up with a date. Be ready for ________ to pick you up at 5:00". The humour of it all is that firstly, she's married. Secondly, she doe not like _____at all. (I can't put the name in, but if you know Denbow, you'll know who it is!) I just about died laughing when she repeated the conversation. Immediately after she hung up the phone, completely mortified, she threw not just one pen, but four plus an eraser at me! I absolutely loved it. She swears she's going to get me back one day.

I brought a slice of lemon cake, lit a candle and put it on her desk. Just then a customer came in and said 'Happy Birthday". Again she was embarrassed.

The above is the GPS that everyone got. She got a whole lot more phone calls than she wanted today.

Happy Birthday Tanya! Hope that we can continue celebrating together!

Michelle

I Don't Like Needles!

Cayden finally made it to his 18 months health check-up and vaccinations. Only two and a half years behind. On Monday I thought I'd see how Cayden would react to having his shots so I kind of teased him by telling him that he was going to get a needle. Instant tears. I guess that wasn't very nice of me. First came the weigh-in. A whopping 35 lbs.

Then came the first needle. A little moan, but no tears.
Then came the second needle. Not such a quiet moan. This time full out wailing. Poor little guy. I quickly took the picture, then soothed.

Not long later, two Hotwheels stickers in hand, tears wiped dry, we were on our way home.

This picture was taken when Cayden was just 6 weeks old. I remember Cheryl's surprise when I asked for a picture to be taken while Cayden had his first shots. I guess I was the first person that she came across with this request. I didn't find it that strange considering I am a scrapbooker and like to keep these memories of first's alive.

It Was A Humdinger Of A Night

The place to be to dream big this past weekend was at the Humdinger RV Show at the Chilliwack Heritage Park. The place was loaded with people dreaming big. Some making their dreams a reality. This was not the case for my dear husband Jeremy. He has three more years to enjoy hauling our 1979 Prowler around. Yes, he really had hoped that I would change my mind. Yes, I was very tempted by these wonderful 30 years newer travel trailers. Good thing about having willpower when it counts! We have an agreement to have our truck paid off prior to our next big purchase. It is the wise thing, although the temptations to upgrade face us every year at this time when camping season is just on the horizon. If nothing else, we did enjoy our night out together browsing and dreaming. It never hurts to look, if you don't touch.

The entertainment of the show was in front of this unique camper wagon.
Jeremy and Cayden sitting at the table of what could possibly be our future travel trailer. The Jayco 29 foot with a slide.


Cayden entertained himself by smelling the flowers on display outside the trailers. Checking to see if they were real. "Yep" he says, "they is real"!

And, as usual he had to make faces when I was looking to take a nice picture. This is the case in about seventy-five percent of pictures these days!

Robert H. Schuller

You can often measure a person by the size of his dream.

Michelle

No, You Aren't Seeing Things

Hey, this bridge stood up to many a bike and rider crossing.

It took five city planners to draft up the plans for this new walking path.

Holy Cow! Gives a new meaning to cattle hauling.

Have a great laugh. Laughter is said to be the best medicine!

Michelle

A Little Road Trip To Ikea

What better place to find some storage ideas than at Ikea. I don't buy a lot of furniture here but am always drawn to the functional and great looking rooms that display their wares. One of my favorite lines of storage units is the Expedite line. I love the way you can fill them up with baskets to hide the messy things as well as books and other display items.

Just a little over 1 year ago a friend and I decided to make a similar trip to Ikea. Cayden was just shy of 3 years old. We got him totally excited about the trip to Ikea with the promise of a wonderful time playing in Smaland with other children. We got there, took his shoes off, stood him at the "Check Height" line, saw that he was mere millimetres under the line and lined up to sign him in. Well, we got him to the counter, they measured him again and told us that millimetres under the line was not tall enough. Wow, the happy moment quickly became a sad moment.

This trip Cayden was a little over 4 years old and measured a little above the "Check Height" line and made it in to Smaland. He had a blast and I got 1 hour of time to myself to wander the store. We both left Ikea happy. He got 'play time' and I got 'alone time.' Such a wonderful thing when we have 'win-win' situations.

Have a wonderful day!

Pass It On

By Ricky D. Claar

Smiling is infectious you can catch it like the flu
when someone smiled at me I started smiling too
when I passed the corner someone saw my grin
when he smiled I realized I passed it onto him

I thought about that smile and realized its worth
a single smile just like mine could travel round the earth
so if you feel a smile begin don't leave it undetected
lets start an epidemic quick and get the world infected

What Should I Put Down?

We had a slow start today without many things that just 'had to be done'. This doesn't happen very often. With the extra time Jeremy decided he should start some of the paperwork that we each have to fill out for the Children's Ministry. One of them was a Safe Questionnaire that was 13 pages long. All it required was for us to simply check the boxes that applied.

I watched as Jeremy worked his way through his. Five minutes later I thought maybe I should just get mine done. (A bit of a race as it took me 5 minutes to fill it out and Jeremy 30 minutes). I came to question 32. It read, "Check the boxes that best describe the various roles you and your spouse play in the relationship". I gave a quiet chuckle as I quickly breezed through checking off the boxes. I suspected Jeremy would struggle with this one. Finally Jeremy made it to the 32nd question and mumbled, "So... Head of Household... What should I put down?" I know that as a Christian, Jeremy is technically the "Head of Household" but we both know better. I do try though!

Aversion of Fabric Store Mayhem

Tonight after a quick visit with Jan and Lara with nothing really else to do, I decided to make a stop at the fabric store. Have you ever been to the fabric store with an active 4 year old boy? All those fabrics to hide under. All those fabrics to run around. What fun! Well, I knew from past experience that taking Cayden into this store wouldn't really be the best place idea, but did it anyway. I knew ahead of time what I would be facing so I made the threats of "You better behave and not run around. Or else"!

Not a second after entering the store Cayden was jumping up on the bed and a staff member was after him about not climbing on the bed. Great. I immediately said to Cayden that the ladies of the store do not like it when little boys run around the store and don't stay with their mommy's. The lady immediately lightened up and made a promise to Cayden that good little boys get balloons when they leave the store. After browsing the wonderful fabrics and some subtle reminders to behave, we were ready to leave the store. Cayden was then rewarded with his balloon as promised by the sales lady.

We went home to have a balloon and airplane race. Kind of a neat concept that Cayden came up with. The airplane won every time. To my surprise Cayden was actually able to blow his balloon up himself. Guess he's full of hot air, like his father of course!

And So My Heart Sank

Yesterday, I drove down Yale Road, looked at one particular sign and read one word. That one word was enough to deflate me and sent me into a minor state of shock and disbelief. You must be wondering what that one word could possible be. Well let me tell you.

"SOLD"!

You may be thinking that it is awfully strange for me to get upset about something as small as that. But, in fact, there is a very good reason. At least in my opinion. For the past six months I have wanted one particular thing and have dreamed and imagined all the possibilities of that one thing. It was simply a house. But to me, not just any house. It was my dream house, with my dream yard and with endless possibilities of what it could be for our family. It was the house that I believed I would likely live in for a very long time.

I can only really be upset with myself for this tragedy. (Yes, you are probably thinking I'm off my rocker) Alright, its not a real tragedy today it feels like it is to me.
When this house went on the market I immediately went to take a peek inside and fell in love. We decided that we would put our house on the market and make the big upgrade but had a few minor improvements we wished to do first. Well, this list was actually fairly small, but we did think it was important for getting the best dollar. A brand new kitchen went in. A two month delay. Followed by the completion of the laundry room. Another two month delay. Followed by the repair of a crack. And another two month delay. Hindsight being as it is, all these minor things should not have held up posting our own "For Sale" sign.

I happen to drive past my dream house every day and will probably think "What If" every time. Well, I have to say life will go on. My four year old son and I had a sweet little conversation following this whole upset. I said to Cayden, "Mommy's really sad because someone else bought the big white house." (This is what he knows it by) Cayden says to me, "Well, maybe when that man is done with it he will give it to you. Maybe if you ask nicely, he will give it to you. Maybe if you say please. Saying please is nice, right mommy?" Well, I could only smile and agree that "saying please" is nice.

SOLD!!!

Moral or Not?

Where have I been? Obviously not following the controversy of Embryonic Stem-cell Research. I humbly have to admit that I did not know what was involved in this science until I read about President Barack Obama's policy switch on federal funding of this research. I decided that I needed to do a little reading to know what exactly the controversy was about.

Stem cells are seen by many researchers as having virtually unlimited applications in the treatment and cure of many human diseases and disorders including Alzheimer's, diabetes, cancer, strokes, etc. Stem cells come in three general types:

Embryonic stem cells are a type of cell that can be coaxed into developing into all of the 220 types of cells found in the human body (e.g. blood cells, heart cells, brain cells, nerve cells, etc). In the past, they have always been derived from human embryos in a process that causes the death of the embryos.

New research is developing techniques to convert skin cells into Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells (iPS cells) that emulate embryonic stem cells. Fortunately, if iPS cell technology develops as expected, it will eventually replace the need to derive stem cells from embryos

Adult stem cells bear some similarities to embryonic stem cells. Research using adult cells has a two decade head start on embryonic stem cells. Adult cells are limited in flexibility, and are only capable of developing into a few of the cell types.

As a Pro-lifer, I struggle with the concept of using embryos for stem stell research. I am thank-full for the iPS cell technology and hope that it continues to progress to the point that Embryonic Stem-Cell Research is a thing of the past. I have to say that at least with Obama's policy switch some rules were put into place. Creation of embryos is not allowed. The embryos must come from the leftover embyo's that remain in "banks" This research is also not to be used for cloning research.

So, what is your opinion? Moral? or Not?

Jingle All The Way!

How many of you never watch a commercial for fear that you might hear a catchy tune that just will not let you go? I'm sure you know what I'm talking about. Think about some of the most memoriable commercials and what many of them have in common. Because of the wonderful invention of PVR, I almost never have to watch a commercial. So, technically I should never encounter that catchy jingle that just wants to roll around my head and interupts those many more important thoughts. Unless... a commercial actually starts before my fingers make it to the "skip forward" button on the remote.

Well, I've now got the Comcast.com jingles. I just love them so much that I've included them in my blog. After youv'e watched the first one, scroll to the next. They are actually brilliant! A genius in marketing was definately involved in this one!

C. O. M. C. A. S. T

Today

Today
Author Unknown

We shall do much in the years to come,

but what have we done today?

We shall give our gold in a princely sum,

but what did we give today?

We shall lift the heart and dry the tear,

We shall plant a hope in the place of fear,

We shall speak the words of love and cheer

but what did we speak today?

We shall be so kind in the afterwhile,

but what have we been today?

We shall bring each lonely life a smile,

but what have we brought today?

We shall give to truth a grander birth,

And to steadfast faith a deeper worth,

We shall feed the hungering souls of earth,

but whom have we fed today?

We shall reap such joys in the by and by,

but what have we sown today?

We shall build us mansions in the sky,

but what have we built today?

'Tis sweet in idle dreams to bask,

but here and now do we do our task?

Yes, this is the thing our souls must ask,

"What have we done today?"

Scrapbook Shopaholic

Have you ever told yourself to stay away from a certain store because you know you will buy something that you really don't need? Well, I have been telling myself to stay away from scrapbooking stores due to the fact that I have enough paper and embelleshments to do at least two full scrapbooks. But I'm certain most of you know how it is. Everytime they strategically come out with new patterned paper and cool embelleshments! Well, I just didn't have the willpower to stay away this time. After a trip to Clipper Street, and of course some additions to my current line of scrapbooking supplies, I just have to get down to business and get some pages done. Some neutral paper for those serious pictures.

Some red, black and white paper and ribbon for those romantic pages.

Some bright green stripes and solids for a variety of pages.

The creation of something new is not accomplished by the intellect but by the play instinct acting from inner necessity. The creative mind plays with the objects it loves.

Carl Jung

Recycle Me!

This project was to turn a plain black Rubbermaid garbage can into a nice looking recyling can.

The reason for this creation was to encourage a friend to put it into their apartment in the hopes that they might recyle their many cans. She loves pink, and black is one of the main colours in her apartment decor.

One reason for encouraging the use of this nicely designed recycling can is so that they can take part of the "Go Green" movement. This should satisfy Willetta a tad. The other reason is to help me support our International student's rugby team. They are currently fundraising some money for their new rugby uniforms. One of the fundraising activities is collecting soda cans and trading them in for some money. I promised my friend that if she would start collecting her cans I would take the cans weekly from her place. We'll see how this goes. I'll be sure to update how she does!

Good-morning!

What a wonderful and refreshing thing to hear first thing in the morning! I was signing Cayden in at his daycare and watched as this darling little girl was trying hard to get my son to respond to her morning greeting. "Good-morning Cayden", she said. No response from Cayden as his mind was set on joining the boys in the far corner. "Good-morning Cayden", she says again. This time she tapped the back of his head. Still no response. As a mom that wants her son to be polite I said "Cayden, Alexis has been saying good-morning. You need to say good-morning to her". He responds with a mumbled "Good-morning", and trotted off to join the other boys. With a grin Alexis emphatically responded with "Top of the morning to you"! I really had thought I had heard wrong and looked over only to see the teacher in stitches. I had definately heard right. I've just had to share the story with others. It was so sweet.

Hard At Work As Usual

Wow, just look at the Dynamic Dispatch Duo at Denbow! Can you believe that work actually does get done in this office? Well, the story is that we took a bit of a time-out to process some serious and unexpected news. I had just hung up the phone after a routine weekly check-in to one of our largest local suppliers of forest-by-products. I recieved the unexpected and undesired news that due to the continuing struggles in the world market that mills would need to take an extra shut-down break. All I could do was let out a loud groan followed by something that went along the lines of " HOLY SH____" Well, needless to say it was then time to just put our feet up, close our eyes, lean back and just relax for a moment before we had to get back to business and dissappoint many of our wonder equine clients. The great news is that just four weeks later were back on track and able to deliver to them with ease once again.