Hello? Is This Thing On?

 Hi, Friends! It has been a HOT minute since I wrote in this space. To be honest, I haven't REALLY been feeling like blogging lately. I feel like I can't "compete" wth all of the other popular bloggers out there, so I wonder, "why bother?". But I like blogging, and I think the 3 people who read my blog do to, too, sooooo :) Just like an unpopular kid at school, I feel like my blog isn't as cool as others', and I know I don't have the audience like the "cool" bloggers have. I enjoy writing about the good and the hard stuff. I also like to look back and see what happened; yes, I do have IG and FB, and I do journal, but there is something about seeing it up in the blogging world that is kind of cool. I feel that I have to have one post per subject/activity, and I know that isn't the case. As is the term now..."you do you"; in other words, I can do whatever the heck I want in this space, and no one really cares!

See? I can't even finish a post about NOT BLOGGING?? Who am I and, what is this life? :) I will often to go other blogs that I follow for inspiration, and even that hasn't got me blogging :) I will sometimes even go to my blogging groups on FB....still, no inspo. I know people who used to blog who no longer do..I have read that blogging is now considered "old", and "outdated". But then, I hop on to the blog verse (Bloggerverse??), and I see a bunch of updates from the MANY blogs that I follow :) 

It is Labour Day today, and I am here for it! I am watching a Hallmark movie, eating pie, and drinking coffee, and stayed in my PJs until 1:30. What can I say? I am living the Unemployment Life, and I am not sad or mad about it :)

How is it that it is SEPTEMBER already??? Three months until Christmas!!! Yes, I still have my tree up :) And yes, I am still watching Christmas movies (on NF and on TV). It has been cooling off here lately. I love that fall feel/vibe and smell :) The leaves will soon start turning and falling. I feel that we have a lot of leaves falling all year round. Anyone else?

So...what did I do this summer? Umm...LOTS! Babysat, house/animal sat, swam, got new glasses, watched tv, read (books and mags), had coffee (with friends and alone), shopped, saw family (from Van I), I had a few ranch getaways, did some respite for a friend, job searched, job interviewed, ate ice cream, spent some time at a creek at my parents', spent time with friends, hiked/walked, drank lots of coffee/fun drinks and SOME adult bevies, baked/cooked, spent more time than I should have social media, joined a direct marketing business, had a couple of of day trips with friends, got a new nurse practitioner after not having a doctor for two years, got a new phone, spent time with my nephews, slept lots, tried to figure out what to do with my life, had some ideas; then after awhile, they didn't seem so good, had some lake/beach time (but very little this year), got smoked out, melted at 10000000 degrees, Anker and I got some medical tests done, got anxious about the surrounding fires, got anxious about CVD, and what is going on in various parts of the world; #mutedandlistened, made new friends, and probably a lot more that I forgot :) 

All in all, it was an OK summer...there were some fun things that I did, f or sure....but I was thinking that I did not have a lot of beach time at all. I usually have some #swiminsun time at our local beach, but btwn my being away, it being a million degrees, and the smoke, I never got to our local beach ONCE! I went to one with a friend awhile back, but it was very windy, so I only went in the water once, and it was so cold when I got out, that I/we never went back in. I didn't even ended up lazing in my friend's pool like I have been doing the last few years. Btwn she and I being busy, the smoke, and other things, it didn't work out :( I did some reading in our back yard, which was nice. 

Speaking of yards, Anker didn't grow up much a garden this year, and hasn't been as present with the yard as he usually is. It kind of makes me said; as we have a lovely little yard, but he hasn't seemed to want to mow it like he usually does. He has been gaming a lot the last while, but on a good note, he hasn't bought much on Bang Good, or eBay in the last few months, so that is good :) I have been that one that has bought things that I probably shouldn't have got (and some things that I did "need").

Well, I think that is about all for now :) How was your summer?

Canada Day/Indigenous Day of Mourning 2021

I struggled with what to say (if anything) today; Canada Day 2021. I saw this on our Church's chat page, and I loved it, asked to share it to my page, and they said I could, as they had copied it from somewhere themselves.....This. Absolutely 110% Yes to this.

Happy Canada Day.Today we celebrate our country.

153 years old

She's not perfect.

She has secrets.

Secrets that have literally been unearthed in the discovery of the remains of thousands of indiginous children.

Children whose voices and identities were silenced and then forgotten. It's not the only secret in the history of our country. There are others, and there will be more.

More than ever, It feels like the shine in her motto "from Sea to shining Sea" has lost its gleam.

So what should we do?

Cancel Canada Day?

Stop standing on Guard for her?

May I suggest another option?

Instead of cancelling her we must, more than ever, celebrate her.

TRUE PATRIOT LOVE.

That's what exposes the stains that hide behind our Maple Leaf.

Love for people.

Love for countty.

Love for God.

WITH GLOWING HEARTS WE SEE THEE RISE.

That's the posture that keeps a country accountable and free. It causes us to rise in the face of evil and stand against the reality of injustice.

This is why we must celebrate, not cancel.

To cancel is to diminish the freedom that was fought for so that evil could be exposed.

Canceling Canada Day mutes the voices of those who gave their lives for our freedom. It diminishes their sacrifice and demeans the democracy that established the laws to expose and punish the evil deeds amongst us.

GOD KEEP OUR LAND, GLORIOUS AND FREE.

Free to confront.

Free to grieve.

Free to take a stand.

Free to question.

Free to investigate.

Free to hold accountable.

Freedom.

Thats the goal.

It's what we pray for.

It's what many died for!

God, heal our Nation.

Redeem the lost.

Restore the broken

Reconcile the hurting.

Shine Canada, Shine!!

When we cancel we no longer shine.

We blend in with the darkness.

And when we lose our shine we don't see injustice. Nothing changes.

We need to shine.

We have to shine.

May we be a light in the darkness.

Shine, Canada, shine!

We "Stand on guard" celebrating the gift that Canada is, from "Sea to shining Sea" so that evil is exposed, justice is served and freedom reigns.

Which is always worth celebrating.

Happy Canada Day.

This is what I echoed/responded/replied to on my FB page...

This (above) was copied from my Lighthouse Christian Fellowship chat, and I asked to share it...they said that they copied it, so I don't know who said this, but I believe in this 110%!!! I struggled what to say today, regarding our country, and I think this sums it up well. Our country is not perfect, but neither are well. Our country has secrets, so do we all. Our country has made terrible, awful mistakes, and so have (and are) doing so. Yet, what do we do each year? We celebrate our birthdays. What happens when we make mistakes..no matter how big or small? We have to face and pay the consequences. It is not easy being a country. It is not easy being ourselves. We make mistakes. We tear down people, we often do injustices. We need (or should) to apologize. Canada has done all of these things, and so much more. But guess what? Canada is not perfect, yet we still celebrate her. We still need to support her. Just as when we humans make mistakes. What happens? Family and friends rally around and support us. No matter how big or small, our family/friends come out and support and to help us heal. We (people) hopefully learn from our mistakes, find how what we did wrong, and try to make it better, and hopefully, never do that mistake again. It does not good to "cancel" (abandon) our family/friends when they do something wrong. Yes, we may have to distance ourselves for awhile (and we might even should), but hopefully, in time, we back to our injured family/friend and pick them up when they fall. Yes, the Church (Anglican/Catholic) needs to apologize (++++++++), and face the consequences of their actions. We, as settlers need to help them heal (it may look different to each person), and to come along side them; to learn, listen, and research. Today, I am wearing a rusty orange red top (my only other orange top is in the laundry). I will do some research, and will celebrate quietly (there isn't anything happening in town, anyway!), and I will pray for forgiveness of behalf of what the "church" and government did to our Indigenous Brothers and Sisters. Now is not the time to cancel (abandon) our country. We need to come and along side our Indigenous Family and Friends; we need to learn and grow from the mistakes our country has made. With every news article that I read, listen or watch about more unmarked graves of precious children being found, my heart breaks, mourns and hurts of their families. I am glad that the government is stepping up and digging up these horrible secrets. I have read that companies that deal in radar searching are offering and giving of their time, money and resources to help serach. This is not over. It will never be over. Essentially, none of Canada's mistakes will ever be over. But, together we can learn from what happened, and to ensure that this kind of history never repeats itself. #nationaldayofmourning #everychildmatters #1500children

I do not take credit for these photos. I found them on FB, and I loved, them, I am sharing them. They speak so much about what Canada Day 2021 is.

Also, there is smoke from 5 fires around this area, a town essentially has burnt to the ground, and there is buckling of sidewalks in our city..so, there's that.

It's Summer!!

 Happy SUMMER, friends! I hope you are all doing well, and trying to stay cool, and out of the heat. Do you like summer? The heat? No? I like a little bit of both :)

Here are some randoms...

1)..it is HOT, people! And it is supposed to get even HOTTER!! I am not entirely sad about...:)

2) We had a very low key Father's Day this year. We didn't even go up to the ranch, though I realized that we probably could have gone up there if we had wanted to. A and K went up (for various reasons), and they had a nice time with the family..BBQ, etc. I love me a party, and I was a tad sad that I didn't end up going...but I stayed at their house and Quail-sat, and watched tv :) So, I really can't complain :) I did get a card and a gift card for my own dad, that they took up with them. I said a nice thing on FB (but I forgot to do one on IG..oh well), and called Dad twice, and that was that :)

3) I found out that I won a contest on IG with DQ and Reece's! I love me some free stuff. I also had tried to win a STAYCATION in Kamloops, but I didn't win that, and I was sad. I am currently entered to win another prize pack (which includes Golf!), so I hope and pray I win it. 

4) I seem to be busy doing this, that, and other other thing. Btwn the boys, hanging out with friends, I seem to be busy!

5) Our garden (such as it is this year) is growing! Anker planted a smaller garden this year. We have already had spinach, and we have a ton of strawberries coming..FINALLY! Sunflowers seem to have SOMEHOW gotten planted AGAIN this year! Anker had taken down the stalks last year, but somehow those little seeds just planted themselves :)

6) Life is still slowly returning back to normal. Life is happening, and I am here for it. Even the most cautious of people are starting to live life again. BC-wide travel for recreation is now allowed (I think?), and interprovincial travel (recreationally) is soon allowed, if it isn't already. Movie Theatres have now opened. I went with my friend to see Peter Rabbit 2, and it was a good movie! Maybe even better than the first one? My friend and I had seen the first one in the theatre, and I thought it would be fun to see the second one in the theatre as well. And yes, I did order a big old thing of popcorn with LAYERED butter! Masks are still being worn in public indoor spaces, and, when it comes to church, meals (our restaurants have reopened!), and movie theatres while you are walking around, otherwise, you can take them off. 

7) I am definitely feeling old sometimes...:) I have my twice yearly back pain...I think it was from sleeping A and Ks couch (guest room wasn't avails), combined with sitting the movie theatre chairs...It is getting better....I think.

8)  I had my 45th bday earlier this month. Y'all...I am oooold! The day itself was pretty low key. Anker had made us waffles (which turned to pancakes), which was sweet. I took myself out for my Starbucks birthday drink, and I met up with my friend for a quick birthday chat at the park. She gave me some lovely gifts (I posted them on my IG..go ahead and take a look). Then, I went to the library, and of course, I enjoyed seeing the well wishes on FB :) We ended up having a quick picnic of Mary Brown's Chicken. It was a bit windy, so we didn't stay long. I spent the rest of the evening on the phone with family. It wasn't a bad day, at all, really. Earlier in the week, I had gone up to the mall to get my free gift from Sephora, and I spent some of my bday money (and I "told" Anker that he had bought me a gift!) at Saje (yes, I am THAT lady now..I never would have thought I would become that crazy oil lady!), and I had bought a CD (yup, I still have CDs!) from Sunrise Records. I also think I used some of my bday money on bills..oh well :) Ha! So, instead of Anker going out and buying me a gift, I will usually go and buy myself one, and tell him that it is from him :) I also had a little picnic for one that same day as well :) The week before, I was at the ranch with the boys, and Mom had asked me what I wanted to do for my bday...a tea party there (my aunt has her bday 5 days before me), or for her to come into town, and we have a girls evening. I decided to do the tea party. Mom had invited two friends that I have connected with (well, one more than the other), and my SIL, and my two aunts, and it was perfect! We had a lite supper, and we were able to have most of the party outside before the mosquitoes came to say hello! I wanted pie instead of cake, and Mom had a lovely pie. It was the first time in awhile that I had had my bday at home. The next weekend, some of my friends from town took me to Kelowna (the next largest city south east). I might blog about that as well. It was a lovely and hot day.

9) I am looking after the boys (along with my brother-their dad) for two weeks while K is travelling for work. I am thinking of what we want to do...we might go to the ranch for a few days...at any rate..send help! I am sure we will find things to do..H (10) and I already have talked about what we want to do. I am staying over, to save on gas, etc. I will most likely come back (I have to switch clothes, I am sure), every couple or few days to say to Anker :)

10) I have had picnics in the park with friends, playing in the park with the boys; and basically general fun as been had.

11) I am still looking for work. I had my first interview in ages yesterday. It sounds like it might be promising..we will see, though. I kind of like not working, but I do miss the routine (and money!). Bills are starting to get behind...fun times :)

12) I have decided NOT to get V'd..at least not for now. I don't feel that there is substantial evidence to say that it is safe. And no...it isn't b/c I have followed Conspriracy Theorists on Social Media...well, I guess it has partly to do with that....it just common sense...it is like the fast food of vakseens. Just sayin'. I did bring it up with my Nurse Practitioner (see below), and said that I should get it. He did say that they were working on when SARS was around, but didn't need to use it, as it had "gone away"..so that made me feel a bit better, but not much. I will do a bit more research, and I will probably get it done in the fall. I fear that the end of the world is coming. I don't want to make decisions out of fear/propaganda. I know that in most countries, you aren't really allowed to travel unless you have had the Jab...I dunno; I am scared for our children! I could go on about this, but I will leave it for now..lol.

13)  And I have a Nurse Practitioner now! After not having a PCP for nearly 2 years, I have finally got one! He is great, and on this side of town :) I like having a health care provider that I can count on. One of our longest standing WI clinics have closed; so having one that is designated for me makes me happy! And, yes, very THANKFUL!

14) Y'all, gas is expensive!!! $1.42/ltr. I am not happy! We also need to get brakes done on our car, and an oil change is due...:)

15) Movies and Mags are still abounding :) I still watch tv (lots..lol; whether it be on NF, OD, PVR'd, or LIVE tv/movies. I still get magazines out of the library by the truck load, as well as books, but I don't seem to read books much anymore...H always wonders why I don't read books..lol :) I just tell him that I do sometimes, but magazines are a quick thing to read, and they make me feel that I have accomplished "something". I am still watching Hallmark movies, and I have no shame! It is now Summer Nights on W Network :)

16) I had my MRI a few weeks ago...my cysts on my ovaries seem to be slow in growing since my last U/S, which is a blessing. I think they have even shrunk a bit..Yay. I haven't had any pain (I don't think my stomach pain I have had on and off for a few years is related; but yes, I am keeping an eye on it). And yes..Peri/Pre menopause is real, friends! I also found out art I have gained a the "quarantine 15". Sigh.

17) So far, no real fires (there are a few, but they have been semi-contained) or floods, for which we are very happy about.

18) There is a new (well two) ice cream shop in our city! They serve the same kind of ice cream that the other one does, but it is closer to us, instead of us having to go downtown. The Ice Cream Social opened up a couple of months ago, and Anker and I went for a quick date to run a few errands, and we decided to try it out. Oh my word. DELISH, Y'all!! I had the Saskatoon Pie, and oh my goodness! It was SO GOOD!! It is also hilarious, b/c it is by a medical clinic...ha! I think I might take the boys there sometime during my stay :)

19) I am having my monthly sushi date with my friend. The last one we tried was Taka Japanese Restaurant, and it was really good!!!

20) Anker's sister gifted us not only a week's worth of meals from Good Food, but she also gave us an extra GC to help offset the cost that I would have had to have paid. She says she loves out of the all the ones (HF, CP) that she has used. I do like that they offer some groceries, as well as some brunch meals. I personally don't think that it is MY favourite, but hey, free is free!! It WAS nice having to have meals planned for us. 

21) Our little place gets SO HOT...so we finally broke down and put in the window A/C after a few hot days at the beginning of June. The kitchen gets super hot, especially around 5-6, so often, we will have a light supper that doesn't involve a lot of use of the stove or oven.

This is why I don't blog often..it takes HOURS (this took 2 or more hours), and I get obsessed by what I post (links, photos). I have a few other posts that I want to write and publish (I had abunch last year that I was going to write and publish, but I never got around to doing it, so I just deleted them..I might do one on our new floor, but I don't think so now).https://www.makegoodfood.ca/en/home.

I have realized that through all this that God is Good, He still sits on His throne, and He has provided for us!!

Happy Summer, friends! I leave you with the sunset from Sunday night. Feel free to head on over to my IG/FB to check out my photos!

Where Does the Evangelical Church Belong Admidst The Grief?

 Again, I am no expert, and I am sure I will (or have) say the wrong thing (in regards to TRS), but again, I took to IG to post some of my heartfelt and what would some say as my inexperienced advice :

This was recorded in Ontario with First Nations (i am assuming) joining in the worship. I love the feel of this album's music. In Rev.7:9, it says that every tribe and tongue(nation) will stanf before His Throne and will worship Him. Some of the songs are sung in French and Ojibwe. I 100% agree that it is time for the church to rise up. Kamloops (Tkemlups) is from the Shuswap/Secwepemc language that means #meetingofthewaters. Meeting and to join. Together. Unity. I blv that this the time for #firstnationsand whites to worship and join together! I blv this is the time to come together and to let the healing of what happened not so long ago begin. 

215

This is a high number. Numbers are like experiences; they are relative. Last month, the entire country was in shock when RCMP and ground-penetrating radar equipment found the remains of 215 children on the grounds of the former Kamloops Residential School (from here on in, I will be referring to it either as KRS or TRS). For those who might not know, from the late 1870s until 1996 (yes, you read that right), The Canadian Government, and then the Catholic Church (and at times, both) forcibly removed First Nations/Aboriginal/Indigenous children from their homes to be "educated" in a Residential School; which was in most cases, far from their homes. In some cases, the "school" was across from their family home. What happened there was nothing short of a prison (though I have read that in SOME cases, and probably few and far between the children had a semi-good experience). Not only were they forbidden to speak their language, wear their own clothes, have their faith, but they were abused, tortured and experimented on. In the heart of our city, there still stands the old "school" (I put that word in quotation marks, b/c they don't deserve to be called schools) that housed up to 500 (most likely at one time) kids; ages 3 to high school age. It was a Residential school until 1969, then it became a day "school", where although the kids could go home at night, they were most likely abused while there, as well. This is a dark and dirty secret of our country. As a Canadian, Christian, and Caucasian women, I am actually embarrassed! It gives the Church a bad name, and it makes ALL Christians look bad. That is NOT how Jesus loves and cares for His kids! 

I am sorry. I am sorry that this happened. On behalf of the Church, I am sorry. On behalf of my race, I am sorry. On behalf of my country, I am sorry. This was not ok. This was horrible. Deplorable. This is evil on all kids of levels. Evil in almost every form. I wrote this little blurb on IG the day or so after it happened, and I am going to share it here:

There are no words. ❣215❣ We mourn and weep with and for you at this heinous tragedy. We are listening. We are s.will speak up and out about this. We are doing our research. We are reading and remembering your history. We are remembering the lives lost. The last residential school closed in 1996/7. There were so many children who died while in these "schools". I am so, so sorry. Jesus heals and He sees you in your grief and trauma. He can heal and restore.

There is going be a special place in Hell for anyone who did harm to those children (I think there will be a special place in Hell for anyone doing ANY harm to any child). I cannot even fathom what they(you) must have (and are) going through. I am comforted that they are in Heaven, dancing with Jesus, but that does not make this loss any less bearable for the families.

Why didn't they bury them in marked graves, you ask? Well, simply put, they killed them. There is a cemetery for the children who died "legitimately" while in their care, but as for the rest? Well, they were told that they simply "ran away". Here is an article from CBC that can explain it better than I can..you can read it here. 

There is a ton more that I can say on subject, but I won't, mostly b/c I can't say it as we as our First Nations friends can. We must be learning and researching; we must rise and and comfort them; we must not sit idle. This cannot happen again. We must speak up and out for those who are unable to do so.

Here is another good article. This is from the National Centre for Truth and Reconciliation (a group formed from 2008-2015 to listen to families and survivors of TRS; they created documents, etc for the. public to read and research) website...you can find it here.

"Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted." Matthew 5:4

Yes, Infertility is a Loss

I have had this in my drafts for 9 months, with no text...so I thought I had better write it or delete it :) I posted this back in September in my IG, and I am going to copy some of this text from there to here...Yes! So much yes!! Infertility is a loss. It bugs me when ppl say that i didn't lose anything by not being able to have babies. This, my friends, is simply not true. When i saw this the other day, i knew i had to post. I had plans. I wanted to get married and have 4 kids. I love kids. I had my life planned out. Sadly, that didn't happen. Several health conditions later, a infertile diagnosis, and life happened. I think it will be a constant grieving process. It will never really go away. Like the loss of a child, it's always there, in the back of your mind. No, it's not as difficult, nor it might not be as sad, but it's all relative. It is the loss of pregnancy tests, announcements, ultrasounds, gender reveals, births, baby showers, dresses, bows, outfits, playing the "name game", feeling loved and fussed over. It is the loss of mommy groups, talks with friends and sisters about babies and kids, nursery duty, dedications of babies, among so many other things. I don't know why Jesus chose this life for us, but it's here. It's who we are (i am) this life we (i) live, and it is painful, sad, and brutal, but it is also having a new plan, learning new things, seeking God in a different way. I trust in Him in a different way now. It can also be beautiful, and lovely. I am loved, i am fussed over; i love on my nieces and nephews, even tho pg and baby related things can be hard at times. I am not a disappointment, a disaster, or a failure. I am enough. You, my infertile friend, are enough! This is the other side of #infertility. The side that no one talks about, no one wants to talk about it. This is what happens when #ivf and #adoption, #donorsperm#donoreggs, and #surrogacy aren't an option.    

Now for the "fresh stuff"; today, my mind and heart are heavy with the weight that we can't have children, and this is all there is. Some people have said to me (and to others); "you must not have wanted a baby bad enough.", and "What about adoption?", like we are going to pick out a dog or a cat from the shelter (though adoption from shelters the last few years feel kind of like adoption a child!). There is a process. A huge process. It is expensive. Even if you adopt through MCFD (BC Family and Social Development), which is basically free (foster to adopt, usually), it is still a process. And now with both Anker and I "older", it is not feasible. Most of the time, I am ok with...(hello, sleep in!), but some days, like today, I just feel sad and lonely. And yes, I grieve the loss of infertility nearly every day.  I feel like I am not good enough. My body can't seem to do what God created it to do...give life. Anker and I are the one 1 in 8 in Canada who are infertile. I call our situation "double infertility", b/c we are both infertile. We also have health problems, which doesn't make having a child (bio or adoption) any easier. I sometimes think that God overlooked/forgot about us, but I know that His plans are better than ours. Life isn't easy, whether you have children or not. Everyone has a hardship in life, at some point in their lives. 

But infertility is most definitely a loss. A loss what could have happened; a loss of milestones, graduations, birthdays, and a million other things. It doesn't help that kids, Mother's Day, milestones, etc are all documented on Social Media. Sometimes, I literally just can't take anymore cuteness on FB/IG, and I have to put my phone away and do something else. Sometimes, the loss is so great, I can hardly stand it...but I know that God is there for us; for me, and life IS going to be ok; even without children!

Also, i totally forgot until after it was over that it was #ciaw2021 a few weeks ago. I was hoping to share something about it, but i didn't know what to say that i already haven't said. Infertility is still this shrouded taboo subject that people won't talk about...but it is getting more mainstream, and that makes me happy! 

Spring Has Sprung /SpringDate on Us

 I had the title in my drafts for a couple of months, so I guess I had better write it and post it before it is winter :) 

I can't believe that it is almost SUMMER (officially!). We have had a pretty nice spring so far. I often forget what the weather was like after a day or so, but I know that it has been pretty nice...we are getting some rain today, which is needed.

What's Up with Us:

Nothing! Ha! Anker went to my parents for a few days during their Shearing (shaving the wool off the sheep, and yes, it is done humanely) week. We went out for the weekend, and I left him there on Sunday. I think he will go out there again next month to help out. There is always something for him (or anyone!) to do there. 

We had a semi-family reunion a couple of weeks ago. Since we are all in the boys' circle of care, it was all perfectly legit. Also, I am tired of C0v1d...anyone else? Anyway, we celebrated H's 10th bday, which was a wonderful time. I can't believe H is 10!!! He is a wonderful, kind, funny, and crazy kid! He loves his little brother so much, and loves to "brother" him, which is hilarious! I love spending time with them. They really are hilarious! Both boys talk almost non-stop! Their parents are finishing up their bathroom Reno, and doing lots of yard work. I have been spending a lot of time with them, as that is only place that we are really "allowed" to go (other than outside celebrations).

My church is back to meeting outside. Most churches in BC are doing either "drive in" or "outside" church. I have gone a few times, but I slept in on Sunday, and since they had moved it to 10, I was far to late to go. I should probably listen to it, though.

Mother's Day weekend, we were at my parents' (see above), and I was kind of not looking forward to it (celebrating MD), but in the end, it turned out ok. Anker came to church (he only goes when he is at my parents'), and it was kind of neat that this little village church had their own FM station :) Ha! We still had/have to wear masks. And yes, they did communion. I love how churches are being creative when it comes to communion. Sadly, there is to be no singing, socializing, or sipping (coffee). Hehe :)

I seem to be busy with this that, and other thing. I have been hanging with Adam and Co (my brother)/the boys, going to the library, errands, coffee (outside), hanging with some friends (mostly outside), watching TV/movies, cleaning the house, reading, job searching, going to the ranch, and sleeping!

I have also joined Epicure, and I have been enjoying it so far. I have done two online parties, and I was able to get some fun stuff as rewards :) I have also been thinking about doing social media marketing (IG/FB) for companies. Nothing has come of that yet. I am also still trying to become an Social Media star/influencer. Yah, thing has come from that, either. I have also been looking for work, and or thinking about starting up a business of some kind. God has been faithful with taking care of us, however. And we are very thankful. We have never gone hungry, nor have gone homeless. 

We have also paid off our car :) We are VERY thankful that that is done with. We had a "dayte" the other day. We went to a few stores to look around. I also got our tires changed over to summer tires. I also got a new Primary Health Provider. I have been without a Dr/NP for 18 months, as our last Dr. left his practice. Anker got a new doctor, but she didn't take me on, as I was too young (she was only taking people 55+). I have a nurse practitioner, and he has been great so far!

Anker has been up and down. He does well for a bit, then he has a few bad days or a week, then he is good for awhile. Right now, he has been suffering from when I accidentally elbowed him in my sleep. I almost took in him to the hospital on Sunday, but he did feel better when he took pain meds, so I made him an appointment with the Walk in (call in) clinic, and of course, he was feeling better by the time he talked with the Dr! He is feeling better today, so that is good! He is growing a small garden this year. He definitely not as into gardening this year as he has been the last few years. We did go and spend a few days at the ranch in January together, and we stayed in my parents' cabin, which was lovely.

There are more things that I could say here, but I think it would just bore you, and now I have forgotten about what they were! Oh yah...This is Us' 4th season will be its last season. I am not sad about it, as I was going to stop watching it, anyway. I will probably finish it off, as it only has one season left. I will start watching series' (like THE CROWN), and then I will just stop watching it. FRIENDS is having a reunion, and I wish I could say I will be there for it, but I don't think we will get HBO MAX! I hope to find it SOMEWHERE online. I am glad that most of my shows are done after this week. I watch A LOT of tv :) I watch shows on Food Network, HGTV, and of course, my Hallmark movies! I think Grey's should just end after this season....it is like pounding a dead horse (IHMO), though I WILL say that the last few episodes have been good...so maybe Shonda and her writers have been given some fresh new ideas?

I have a little less than 500 groups on FB, and I changed some of them so that I receive ALL notifications. Yah, that was a mistake...lol :) Now I am getting notifications every second :) Ha! I am trying to read real books. I still seem to be only reading magazines, and even THAT has been slow! I haven't journaled in months. 

I also got a long over due hair cut earlier this month. I needed it HORRIBLY! I still wear my hair up, but least there is less of it now, and it is less damaged. Did I say that my friend gave me a FREE hair cut?