The Thanksgiving Blog Post

Yep, it’s the season so it’s the post.

Top 10 Things I’m Thankful For

10) Shoes.  I love shoes.  I don’t have enough shoes but I am thankful for the ones I have.  I’d like to be thankful for more. Matt things I have enough but he’s a boy, they don’t understand.

9) Work.  I don’t like my work and I wish I was doing something else that requires a little more brain usage but I am thankful that I have a job.  So many people have been loosing their jobs and in the grand scheme of things, my job is actually pretty good, especially for someone who really likes admin work.  So,  I may complain – ALOT – but I do remind myself that I am grateful that I have a paycheque.

My car.  I’m thankful that I have a car because it gets me to work so I can get a paycheque so I can buy shoes.

7) New Brunswick – I’m very thankful that I live here, in this most beautiful province.  I love Fall the best but every season looks good here.

6) My church.  It’s a pretty cool place to be and, even though I don’t have a lot of close friends there, we all share one friend in common and that’s what is important.  The music is fantastic, the messages are relevent and make you reflect on your faith, and overall I just feel like it’s where God wants me to be.  I’m thankful for my church.

5) My house.  I’m very thankful to have a wonderful place to call home.  I’m happy here and I feel truly blessed to live in a place that keeps me warm.

4) Aden & Simon.  I love my cats and I’m so very thankful to have them in my life.  They are such funny little creatures, they brighten my day with their funny personalities.  Even when Simon hisses at me…everyday… I love him and I’m thankful for him.

3)  My friends and family.  Words will never express how grateful I am to have such wonderful people in my life.  I feel tears when I think about how far away many of you are and how I wish I could celebrate Thanksgiving with you.  Thank you for loving me and accepting me for who I am.

2) Matthew.  With all my heart and all my being I praise God for him bringing you into my life.  I remember when I was a little girl wondering what kind of man I would marry.  I wanted a man who was intelligent, who would be silly with me, who would want to explore the world with me, and who play the piano.  I dreamt of you even before I knew your name or saw your face.  I am so thankful to have you by my side.   I am very thankful that you asked me to be your wife.

1) God.  I am thankful that my God has chosen me and loves me unconditionally.

Fredericton Top 5

I have lived in New Brunswick for two years now.  It’s hard to believe it’s been that long because sometimes it feel like it has been less than a year.  We’ve also just celebrated 1 year in our home.  Fantastic.

I believe that any time you move away from everything and everyone you know you have to give the new place 6 months to a year for you to really make a decision about whether or not you like living in the new place.  Then you need another year to know if it is really “home”.   Fredericton is home.  Matt still talks about moving but I’m just not on board yet.

So, as I sit by the fire, I’ve come up with the top 5 reason why I love where I live

5) Everything is within 15 minutes or less of where I live.  It doesn’t take  me 45 minutes to get to work and “rush hour” traffic really means “it’s going to take 10 minutes longer to get home” rather than “it’s going to take another hour to get home”

4) Trees, Trees, and more Trees.   I look out my window and I drive around the city and I thank God everyday for creating such beautiful surroundings.  As I go down the hill on Regent street I look out to the horizon and I am still in awe even 2 years later.  We are so very blessed

3) Property is affordable.  I’m not paying any insane prices for land and a roof over my head.

2) University is readily accessible.  I was thinking about this on Wednesday.  I sat at the University library with my book, a muffin, and a cup of tea and sat looking out over the campus.  (I also had a great view of the horizon which was picturesque)  I thought how privileged I was to be able to attend University and to do so practically in my backyard.

1) The amount of personal growth I have experienced while I’ve lived here.   In some ways I took for granted my friends back in Ontario.  They knew me and I didn’t have to impress.  They loved me just for who I was.  Coming here was a challenge because I didn’t get people here and I highly suspect they didn’t get me either.   I went from being an extrovert to being an introvert.  I was totally a fish out of water and sometimes I still feel that way.  I was incredibly shy and pretty much felt like no one here liked me.  It was a huge hit to the self esteem BUT it also forced me to reflect on the type of person I was and the type of person I wanted to be.  I had to get back to the basics of my faith and just let go of all those doubts.  I feel that I’m back on track and I understand myself better.  As a result I have managed to find a few like-minded individuals who I have developed friendships with and I feel a lot more secure.

Life in Fredericton is pretty good and pretty fulfilling.  I have a decent job, I love school, a good church, and I love volunteering with MCAF. (Multicutural Association of Fredericton) Praise be to God.

Life without Chocolate

No one is reading, but hey, I’ll keep writing.

Today it is about chocolate.  I love chocolate but, as my close friends know, I’ve given it up.   As of May I have not had any chocolate, not even a lick.  It’s tougher than it sounds.  For the first little while it was all I could think about. Now, I just have serious cravings.

The first question I’m asked is “why?” and although I normally give these 2 serious answers “1, because I made a deal with Matt that if he quits smoking I would quit chocolate and 2, because chocolate is my “trigger” food. Once I have it, I loose all will power”

The real answer is “I wanted to see if I could”.   I was a chocoholic and always had chocolate in my freezer but now there is none and I’ve managed to have the will power to say no.  How long will it last?  So far, I’ve told myself that if I can loose 20 lbs then I can have chocolate again.  But, who knows, maybe when I lose the 20 lbs, I might not want to start the chocolate again.

I’m Getting Married. Um Ya.

Ok so I haven’t blogged in a long time.   Life has been happening.

I’m getting married. 

I don’t feel like a bride to be. I’m not surrounded by friends and my mom sitting around talking wedding plans.  I haven’t looked for a dress yet.  Other than the ring, it just doesn’t seem real.  But if I actually take time to think about it.. whoa, it’s very real.  Crazy real.  I mean, I met a perfect stranger 4 years ago and now it’s like ok so we’re going to be a family. 

Don’t get me wrong, I am excited and think this whole thing is awesome, I’m just a little freaked out. 

Can any of you relate?

The TreeGo Experience

Some have called me a monkey and today I proved it could be true.  I was up in the trees for 4 hours!  As we walked down to the first course the sun was shining and all was well with the world.  Then as we got started on the course, I mean up in the trees, the down pour came and came and came.  I was soaked!! But at this point I’m still having a blast and thinking, “heck, this isn’t so bad”  but my goodness did my tone change by the 3rd course. (there are 4 courses)

As we got higher up in the trees I started to look down less, it was just too scary.  It didn’t help that everything was wet – yeah, even that life line to help you feel safe – not so much.  I admit I did fall off once and would have seen the end of my days if I wasn’t strapped in with the biggest wedgie of my life.  Monkey? Not so much.

It was fun and the views were amazing.  Everyone should experience TreeGo – unless you are afraid of hights, if that’s the case steer clear!!   After we finished all the courses I walked up the hill (a cruel joke from those who designed the layout) I walked into the trailer and asked the guy “Do you have a t-shirt that says “I survived TreeGo”?” and he said “No” and my reply was simply “you should”

I was asked, “would you go again?” and my answer is “ask me next year”  It was a blast but I’m taking tylenol to bed tonight.

Congratulations Matthew!!

I’m so excited to share with you today the good news we received.  Matt has accepted the position of Technical Analyst with the Department of Social Development.  He’s going to be the departments “Linex Guy” and finally get his hands back into the technical stuff he loves.  I’m so proud of him. 

It is a two year contract with the option of going back to his current position of Business Analyst with Service NB should he decide he doesn’t like the new position.  In two years they will have to formally post the position in which Matt will need to reapply but again, if they decide to go with someone else at that time, he still has a job to go back to.  It’s a WIN -WIN for him.

Congratulations my love, I am very proud of you!  Praise God for doing great things!

The PappaBear Story

On this Father’s Day I honor my dad, Lyle Singer Sr.  

Like many Dad’s, my Dad didn’t have it easy growing up.  As a child, school was very difficult because he had a learning disability that today we recognize as dyslexia.  While growing up, he was punished frequently because the teachers and his parents didn’t understand his disability; they thought he was refusing to learn how to read.   He struggled academically and it was no wonder that when he was in high school decided to drop out and go out on his own. 

What the elders in his life didn’t realize is that he did have a desire to learn and learn he did in unconventional ways outside of the classroom.   He would learn by trial and error, by watching others, or by watching an interesting documentary.  Interesting could include things of nature, things describing mechanical workings or things about time or space.   From childhood, Lyle was always learning even if he couldn’t read.

One day Young Lyle was at the pool when he ran into the woman he was going to marry.  He tried frequently to woo her but she would have none of it.  Eventually through luck of meeting & befriending the woman’s brother, he was able to win her heart.  They married and had brought 4 children into the world; Kelly, Kim, Kristie and Lyle Jr.  

As the children grew up Lyle worked many jobs to support the family.  He was determined to teach his kids the love of learning using fun and interesting ways to capture their attention.  Although he made clear the importance of doing well academically he was hesitant to put his kids through the same pressures he felt in school.  All he asked was that they do their very best, even if the best they could do was a C+.   Lyle was more proud of his children when they showed they did their best and very little value was put on the mark itself.

Lyle is a smart man but during the years his kids were in school he still felt the shame of not being able to read.  He wanted to sit with his kids and help them with their homework but knew he would be of no help because he couldn’t read the instructions.  The one subject area that Lyle could help was the subject of science.  If his child needed to show how electricity worked, drawing a picture wasn’t good enough for Lyle.  He would take his child by the hand and together they would make a live diagram using a few wires, a small battery and a small light to show how electricity flowed.  My eyes lit up just like the light did when I touched the wire to the battery.  In that moment, my dad was the smartest Dad on the planet! (and I still do!)

In my last year of high school my Dad decided it was time to do something about his inability to read.  He found a tutor and, after she recognized his disability, managed to do what he never thought possible!  My Dad learned how to read & write!  He would sit down with his homework along side us kids and worked very hard to learn.  As his child watching, I was so proud of my Dad.  He set aside his pride in order to get the help he needed.  That’s not all, after he was recognized through an article in the local paper for his accomplishments, he let us all in on a secret he had kept.  Through his entire life he dreamt of being a big rig truck driver.  He never thought it was possible because he couldn’t read but after working with his tutor he was able to read & write the exams and passed.  Today my father is able to work in his chosen career because he worked hard to learn how to read and write.

My parents are no longer together and both are happily with other people.  My dad continues to work long hours as a truck driver and still lacks confidence with his reading and writing skills. But I am proud of him and I’m proud of the lessons he taught me growing up.  He was strict and I fought him frequently, even moving out over one of our fights.  But he has always been there for me and always there for each of his kids.  He is a great Dad and I am so blessed to have him in my life.

Why the name, PappaBear?   He can be a grizzly bear on the outside; tough, strong, loud and on the inside he is a teddy bear.  But shhh, he doesn’t want you to know that.

I love you PappaBear.

Canada Day, 2008

Thank Goodness for Freedom of Speech??

I’m an avid reader of CBC and CTV news. Mostly because it gives me something to do at work but I also like to keep up to date on current events.

Both of these news sites allow readers the opportunity to post comments.  At first it sounds cool and I enjoyed reading what some of my fellow Canadians had to say about the topics that interest me.  However the honeymoon is over.  We have some really dumb, ignorant people who don’t understand common sense.  Sometimes it’s really sad and other times it can be soo funny to read comments and wonder “how do you even get yourself dressed in the morning?” I feel great power in hitting the “agree” or “disagree” options.  If I don’t feel like writing my own comment well then at least I can make them know how I feel by my vote of agree or disagree… LOL

Anyhow, I’m off to find the last comment I posted to see if I won the vote of “agree’s”  Last count I was at 400 agrees with 15 disagrees.  The 15 don’t know what they are talking about, of course.

Another Update

Once again I must say that I am so grateful for the people I have met here in Fredericton.  When I asked for help, my friends were there for me sooo THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU!!

I am truly blessed to know the people I have come to know here in town.  After a year & half I finally feel apart of my community and I thank God that he brought some amazing people into my life. 

As for my call out for “stuff” I needed to borrow for my friends stay – Everything on my list (except toys) has been covered!  I’m so happy that the necessities have been taken care of.  I might just browse some of the yard sales for some good deals on toys.  It’s always good to have them around the house anyway.

The Living Room is almost done – well, not completely done but close enough.  I figure by the weekend it should be back in order.  I am happy to report that the cats have been allowed to, once again, roam the entire house. 

Things are good and it’s almost June!

Paint, Paint, and more Paint

The cats haven’t moved out on us yet but I’m sure it’s only a matter of time if the situation doesn’t change soon!    Yep, this long weekend I tackled The Livingroom.  Because I was planning on painting the livingroom, and only the livingroom, a bold orange colour I made the executive decision to ban Aden and Simon (our cats) to the basement.  There was no committees, no voting, no discussion, the decision was under a dictatorship, mine.  Now, for indoor cats whosehome used to be a small 1 bedroom apartment, our basement is a step up.  But, they have been able to roam the entire house since Sept so they are none too pleased to be restricted.  They tell me this frequently through endless yelling – ok, meowing – through the door. 

Why are the banned downstairs?  Quite simple, Aden wouldn’t think twice of walking in the paint tray and then walking over the piano, hardwood floors, kitchen, everywhere.  I only want orange paint in the livingroom.  Simon would likely brush up against the wet walls as he ran from me hissing (a regular occurrence in our home) and cover his lovely black fur in orange.

Being locked downstairs is a fitting punishment for Aden. After all it IS his fault for me having to spend my holiday working.  He was the one to climb the curtain and pull the whole thing out of the wall causing holes that needed to be filled and then painted.  However, I really should just thank him. I was looking for a good excuse to redecorate the livingroom so soon after doing the kitchen.  So thank you, my baby boo, and please don’t move out on me! I’ll try to finish the extra coats of paints soon!