Hey all- I would appreciate if you could pray for my momma. It seems like a traumatic health year in the Reimer family. First Chad had pneumonia, then dad had a pulmonary embolism and now my mom has been sick for the last two weeks and she went to the hospital today and has been admitted.
She has congenital heart failure and cardiac myopathy. Essentially her heart isn't working the way it should and they believe there is some damage. They believe she must have contracted a virus at least a month ago that attacked her heart. But she wasn't sick a month ago, so who knows.
So she's at St. B. Different doctors have said different things about the severity of the situation. Essentially it is not likely to be life threatening. Sanity threatening though. She's on bed rest and for those who know my mother... she's not a fan of sitting still for any length of time so she is not looking forward to this. Not like she would be if she was otherwise a sitting duck.
I've had a crazy busy week as I have been subbing all but one morning and have two Kindergarten classes to take care of tomorrow for Halloween.
Thanks for the thoughts and prayers I know will be sent our way.
Thursday, October 30, 2008
Sunday, October 26, 2008
Eight Months
Eight months ago today we found out that Renee had passed away. In the last eight months so much has happened in our lives but not a day has gone by that I don't remember her smile and her belief in hope. So today I will leave you with part of a prayer that she kept with her in her last months of life.
St. Patrick's Breastplate
I arise today through a mighty strength, the invocation of the
Trinity, through belief in the Threeness, through confession
of the Oneness of the Creator of creation.
I arise today through the strength of Christ with His Baptism,
through the strength of His Crucifixion with His Burial
through the strength of His Resurrection with His Ascension,
through the strength of His descent for the Judgment of Doom.
I arise today, through God's strength to pilot me:
God's might to uphold me, God's wisdom to guide me,
God's eye to look before me, God's ear to hear me,
God's word to speak for me, God's hand to guard me,
God's way to lie before me, God's shield to protect me,
God's host to secure me:
Christ with me, Christ before me, Christ behind me, Christ in me,
Christ beneath me, Christ above me, Christ on my right,
Christ on my left, Christ in breadth, Christ in length,
Christ in height, Christ in the heart of every man who thinks of me,
Christ in the mouth of every man who speaks of me,
Christ in every eye that sees me, Christ in every ear that hears me.
I arise today through a mighty strength, the invocation of the
Trinity, through belief in the Threeness, through confession
of the Oneness of the Creator of creation.
I arise today through the strength of Christ with His Baptism,
through the strength of His Crucifixion with His Burial
through the strength of His Resurrection with His Ascension,
through the strength of His descent for the Judgment of Doom.
I arise today, through God's strength to pilot me:
God's might to uphold me, God's wisdom to guide me,
God's eye to look before me, God's ear to hear me,
God's word to speak for me, God's hand to guard me,
God's way to lie before me, God's shield to protect me,
God's host to secure me:
Christ with me, Christ before me, Christ behind me, Christ in me,
Christ beneath me, Christ above me, Christ on my right,
Christ on my left, Christ in breadth, Christ in length,
Christ in height, Christ in the heart of every man who thinks of me,
Christ in the mouth of every man who speaks of me,
Christ in every eye that sees me, Christ in every ear that hears me.
Tuesday, October 21, 2008
9 Pages
Does that sound excessive for a guest teacher to read before they are "sufficiently" prepared to sub in my class? I just realized that's how many pages I have for my sub tomorrow. To be honest 6 pages of it are my general sub information that will be going in my sub binder including an index but no appendix and 3 are specific to tomorrow. It covers all my routines from duty, to behaviour, to bathrooms, to snack (hmm... right beside bathroom in this list), and how to properly send my children home (after all they can't just go home with anybody).
Neurotic? I'm not sure. I mean if someone had never met your kids before and they were going to be with them for 2 1/2 hours and had to get some very specific things accomplished wouldn't you leave a list that was even longer? I wonder some days how being a parent is going to compare with being a Kindergarten teacher. In a way it's different because I feel like I have 40 parents who trust me everyday to protect their little person. While if it's your own child it's your own flesh and blood that you are protecting. Guess I'll wait a while to blog about that.
And in case you were in suspense. The dairy farm went well today. Going on the bus was a big thrill for those of my students for whom it was the first time. We got to pet the calves, watch a cow being milked and we even got chocolate milk in convenient little cartons. Not straight from the brown cows this time.
Cheers!
Neurotic? I'm not sure. I mean if someone had never met your kids before and they were going to be with them for 2 1/2 hours and had to get some very specific things accomplished wouldn't you leave a list that was even longer? I wonder some days how being a parent is going to compare with being a Kindergarten teacher. In a way it's different because I feel like I have 40 parents who trust me everyday to protect their little person. While if it's your own child it's your own flesh and blood that you are protecting. Guess I'll wait a while to blog about that.
And in case you were in suspense. The dairy farm went well today. Going on the bus was a big thrill for those of my students for whom it was the first time. We got to pet the calves, watch a cow being milked and we even got chocolate milk in convenient little cartons. Not straight from the brown cows this time.
Cheers!
Monday, October 20, 2008
Hmmm... not too much going on
Despite life being pretty busy it doesn't seem like much is going on. Just the usual.
I called in sick for the first time on Friday. I was feeling pretty worn out from my crazy day on Thursday. I have never felt more baffled. Maybe baffled is not the word but despite having all my students at school on Thursday there was not one time when we were all in the same roomat the same time. I had an EA pulling out kids for work, a volunteer doing some finish up with kids, and then they did all of my kids hearing and vision screenings in the same afternoon. It was nuts. I could have easily lost one and not known it till home time.
Despite really needing a sick day I wasn't sure how my kids would do with a sub. I felt a little like a mother hen, a little protective. However, my sub on Friday who is my room partner reported this morning that all had gone well and my kids had been great. Phew. I was glad that their first sub was someone they see quite often. She's usually working in my class in the afternoons while they are there so she wasn't a stranger. And today I started preparing them for their next sub. I have to go to a Kindergarten inservice on Wednesday and my room partner is going too, so they will have someone different. Hopefully they're good for her too.
But tomorrow we are going to the farm. Watch your feet, and hold your noses. Heading to the dairy farm. I am subbing in the morning and going to a meeting and then a banquet after school so I will definitely be bringing at least one change of clothes. It's not that I don't like farms, after all I was a farmer this summer, but I do not want to smell like one.
That's all the excitement I have for now.
Cheers
I called in sick for the first time on Friday. I was feeling pretty worn out from my crazy day on Thursday. I have never felt more baffled. Maybe baffled is not the word but despite having all my students at school on Thursday there was not one time when we were all in the same roomat the same time. I had an EA pulling out kids for work, a volunteer doing some finish up with kids, and then they did all of my kids hearing and vision screenings in the same afternoon. It was nuts. I could have easily lost one and not known it till home time.
Despite really needing a sick day I wasn't sure how my kids would do with a sub. I felt a little like a mother hen, a little protective. However, my sub on Friday who is my room partner reported this morning that all had gone well and my kids had been great. Phew. I was glad that their first sub was someone they see quite often. She's usually working in my class in the afternoons while they are there so she wasn't a stranger. And today I started preparing them for their next sub. I have to go to a Kindergarten inservice on Wednesday and my room partner is going too, so they will have someone different. Hopefully they're good for her too.
But tomorrow we are going to the farm. Watch your feet, and hold your noses. Heading to the dairy farm. I am subbing in the morning and going to a meeting and then a banquet after school so I will definitely be bringing at least one change of clothes. It's not that I don't like farms, after all I was a farmer this summer, but I do not want to smell like one.
That's all the excitement I have for now.
Cheers
Wednesday, October 15, 2008
So many thoughts!
Right now I am sitting at my computer with so many thoughts running through my mind. None of them are thoughts I can actually do anything about. Thoughts about our future, where to live, where to buy, when to buy, to buy or build, feeling like I'm picking one family over the other, what will happen if we move, will we make new friends and still be able to maintain our current relationships, what will happen with the housing market, will I get more subbing, another half-time position, a full-time position next year, what financial decisions to make now so we benefit in the future....???
I was talking to a friend about being patient tonight. Neither of us are good at that, but yet we "must" be because we cannot change the situations we are in. We just have to wait and see what happens.
Is it the culture that we are in to not just live and trust that God will make things happen? Are we so anxious and high strung that we cannot just be still and know that things will work out? When will I learn that God will take care of it if I let him?
Cheers to God's infinite control, and being able to have some one to give it to.
I was talking to a friend about being patient tonight. Neither of us are good at that, but yet we "must" be because we cannot change the situations we are in. We just have to wait and see what happens.
Is it the culture that we are in to not just live and trust that God will make things happen? Are we so anxious and high strung that we cannot just be still and know that things will work out? When will I learn that God will take care of it if I let him?
Cheers to God's infinite control, and being able to have some one to give it to.
Monday, October 13, 2008
Thankful
I have so many things to be thankful for today so I'm going to make a list. (Thanks for the inspiration Dayna)
- God, whose love endures forever
- My wonderful husband- who has a plan and a vision for our life
- my family biological and in-laws
- Great friends who love me even when I screw up
- Family which fits into the friend category too
- Karyn and Monique (and 23 great years with Renee)
- A job which I love most moments (and a carpool to get there)
- A roof (even though there's neighbours up there) over my head
- a warm bed
- Steve's new job
- food... mmm cheese, cheesecake, bread, cupcakes, and so many wonderful things
- Reading
- My shoes
- shopping online
- Dreaming
- Digital Cameras
- Dutch Blitz, Killer Bunnies, Scotland Yard and the good times around these games
- Having people over
- Hugs (man this should be higher up on the list)
- Birthdays
- Christmas lists
- Wine
- The freedom to try and be who I want to be
- Celebrating
- Life
For all these things and so many more I am very thankful. Yes life may be stressful some times but maybe I should just remember in those times "I'm to blessed to be stressed".
Happy Thanksgiving.
- God, whose love endures forever
- My wonderful husband- who has a plan and a vision for our life
- my family biological and in-laws
- Great friends who love me even when I screw up
- Family which fits into the friend category too
- Karyn and Monique (and 23 great years with Renee)
- A job which I love most moments (and a carpool to get there)
- A roof (even though there's neighbours up there) over my head
- a warm bed
- Steve's new job
- food... mmm cheese, cheesecake, bread, cupcakes, and so many wonderful things
- Reading
- My shoes
- shopping online
- Dreaming
- Digital Cameras
- Dutch Blitz, Killer Bunnies, Scotland Yard and the good times around these games
- Having people over
- Hugs (man this should be higher up on the list)
- Birthdays
- Christmas lists
- Wine
- The freedom to try and be who I want to be
- Celebrating
- Life
For all these things and so many more I am very thankful. Yes life may be stressful some times but maybe I should just remember in those times "I'm to blessed to be stressed".
Happy Thanksgiving.
Saturday, October 11, 2008
Thanksgiving Poems
These are for Pam and Tammi and anyone else that thinks poems are funny...
First one- The Turkey
The Turkey is a funny bird
It's head goes wibble, wobble
The Turkey only knows one word
and that is gobble, gobble.
(with the appropriate head bobbing and emphasis)
The other- sung to Frere Jacque I believe
Turkey Dinner
Turkey dinner, turkey dinner
Gather round, gather round
Who will get the drumstick?
Yummy yummy yumstick
All sit down, all sit down
Turkey stuffing,
Cornbread muffins
Pumpkin pie, with whip cream
All of us were thinner
Before we came to dinner
Me oh my, too much pie. (with appropriate exaggerated stomach grabbing)
And I do not share these with my room partner, not that I wouldn't be willing to share. They actually came from my cooperating teacher the year I was in Kindergarten. She lent me all of her poems already written out (yay!)
Anyways, as you have too much pie think of this poem and say Me oh my, too much pie.
Happy Thanksgiving all!
First one- The Turkey
The Turkey is a funny bird
It's head goes wibble, wobble
The Turkey only knows one word
and that is gobble, gobble.
(with the appropriate head bobbing and emphasis)
The other- sung to Frere Jacque I believe
Turkey Dinner
Turkey dinner, turkey dinner
Gather round, gather round
Who will get the drumstick?
Yummy yummy yumstick
All sit down, all sit down
Turkey stuffing,
Cornbread muffins
Pumpkin pie, with whip cream
All of us were thinner
Before we came to dinner
Me oh my, too much pie. (with appropriate exaggerated stomach grabbing)
And I do not share these with my room partner, not that I wouldn't be willing to share. They actually came from my cooperating teacher the year I was in Kindergarten. She lent me all of her poems already written out (yay!)
Anyways, as you have too much pie think of this poem and say Me oh my, too much pie.
Happy Thanksgiving all!
Friday, October 10, 2008
Scared and hoping for the best
Although I have so much to be thankful for this Thanksgiving I am also scared. Steve and I have a plan. A plan that's very doable to buy a house but with the market crashing... my head is swimming with thoughts of what this will mean for us, for the people around us. Never mind wanting to go cross-border shopping. That definitely won't be happening with the dollar. All in the midst of elections both sides of the border. Here's for hoping and praying that something... anything... will fix this situation.
Wednesday, October 8, 2008
Pumpkins
As Thanksgiving approaches and Halloween is around the corner we are "studying" Apples and Pumpkins in KKS. This week we've mainly been talking Turkey and pumpkin pie with some really funny poems. My favourite poem ends with the phrase (and appropriate stomach grabbing) "All of us were thinner, before we came to dinner. Me oh my, too much pie".
Well I brought in two pumpkins yesterday and today my students were very interested in their presence in our classroom. One boy was quite certain and convinced that we should make something out of them. He suggested one recipe... or something like it... including sticking pencils in it and eating the pumpkin. Not quite sure how that would work. But that's the same student who tried to convince me he went to the Icefields in Florida and who when I ask what they did over the weekend says he went to Edmonton for a week. Love him but his facts are kind of wonky.
On a very positive note- my prayers are starting to be answered in one area. I was really hoping for some subbing work and low and behold. Two mornings already this week. This morning a teacher got really sick after she got to school so it was very last minute but that was fine.
Have a great Thanksgiving everyone. Mine starts tomorrow at my Reimer gathering. I have so much to be thankful for this year (like every year). God is good.
Cheers!
Well I brought in two pumpkins yesterday and today my students were very interested in their presence in our classroom. One boy was quite certain and convinced that we should make something out of them. He suggested one recipe... or something like it... including sticking pencils in it and eating the pumpkin. Not quite sure how that would work. But that's the same student who tried to convince me he went to the Icefields in Florida and who when I ask what they did over the weekend says he went to Edmonton for a week. Love him but his facts are kind of wonky.
On a very positive note- my prayers are starting to be answered in one area. I was really hoping for some subbing work and low and behold. Two mornings already this week. This morning a teacher got really sick after she got to school so it was very last minute but that was fine.
Have a great Thanksgiving everyone. Mine starts tomorrow at my Reimer gathering. I have so much to be thankful for this year (like every year). God is good.
Cheers!
Wednesday, October 1, 2008
More and more...
My List
1. Buy a house
2. Get a full-time permanent job
Purchases and Creations
3. Buy a new coffee table
4. Get a label maker... on my Christmas list
5. Buy a new TV stand
6. Get a KitchenAid Stand mixer ... on my Christmas list (hint hint Kitchen Collection, Albertville, less then half price... Black, Chrome, White, anything but pink or red) ps. Love you Mom!!!
7. Get a food processor .... on my Christmas list
8. Buy a bike
9. Buy a new computer
10. Buy a piece of jewelry at Tiffany's- I have my eye on this http://tinyurl.com/4f34gf
11. Make an upholstered headboard
12. Make pillows for the couch
13. Make a gift for a friend
14. Sew 4 things 1/4 - I hemmed a pair of pants 09/04/08
15. Buy a new(er) car (I would like a Mazda 3)
16. Make bread from scratch (And it has to taste good)
17. Get two new games 0/2... Killer Bunnies and Scotland Yard are the two I'm wanting
People and Places
18. Go to New York with Steve (I've been twice, and he would really love to go)
19. Go to the observation deck of the Empire State Building
20. Go on a plane with Steve (he's been on a few planes, I've been on more but never together)
21. Go to camp for two weeks (not necessarily in the same year)
22. Make Steve breakfast in bed
23. Go camping with just Steve
24. Go on an anniversary trip (probably won't include #23)
25. Go on a road trip longer then 6 hours away
26. Throw a birthday party - My mom's 50th bday party- 09/07/08
27. Have a dinner party once a month for 6 months 2/6
28. Visit a new state
29. Cook a meal for my family
30. Cook a meal for Steve's family (I think this will have to be after we buy a house, there's not room for all of them in our apartment) - By not saying entire family I am completing this 09/13 for my Mother-In-Law's bday- there will be a couple family members missing but we invited them all.
31. Have photos taken of the two of us
32. Send out Christmas cards (most likely including #31)
33. Have family pictures taken with my family
34. Visit 3 out of town family members 1/3
I brought my SIL (in Steinbach) a birthday dessert 09/11
35. Buy 3 friends flowers 0/3
36. Go on a hot holiday
37. Sponsor a missionary we're not currently sponsoring
38. Email or call Monique once a week for 3 months
39. Email or call Karyn once a week for 3 months
40. Go on a date night once a month 2/32- we went to the Forks tonight 08/08
41. Invite a new friend out for a meal
42. Bake for 5 friends 5/5
43. Take my parents out for supper
44. Have pictures taken with Karyn and Monique
Out and About
45. Eat at 5 new restaurants 3/5
We went to Niko's- 08/17/08
Went to MJ's with my SIL 09/29/08
Went to Joey's 10/11/08
46. Eat at my old Boston Pizza (for some reason I just haven't been going back)- Went 9/5/08
47. Go to a Goldeye's Game
48. Go to two Bomber Games 0/2
49. Eat outside 10 days in 3 weeks 0/10
50. Eat at the dining room table every day for a month
51. Go to a concert
52. Try 5 new flavours of gelati 2/5- first new flavour tried was Blood Orange 08-15, Pink Grapefruit 08-17
Healthy Living
53. Get a gym membership
54. Go to the Gym 3 times a week for 6 months
55. Eat vegetarian once a week for 6 weeks 0/6
56. Lose 10 pounds and keep it off for 6 months
57. Be in bed by 10pm for 2 weeks
58. Wake up before 7 am for 3 weeks
59. Watch no TV for one month
60. Quit biting my nails for 4 months
61. Reward myself for not biting nails by having one manicure a month for every month without biting
62. Don't eat fried chips for two months
63. Drink only water for three weeks
Home to Stay
64. Create a sports room with Steve
65. Paint a room in our house by myself
66. Create a welcoming guest/Karyn + Monique room
67. Have flowers waiting for overnight guests
68. Start a garden
69. Buy a Christmas Tree
70. Buy a Christmas Tree Skirt
71-85- To Be Determined once we buy a house (#1)
Organization
86. Label my files in my filing cabinet at home and at school
87. Frame three pictures I have taken 0/3
88. Start and Finish our wedding album
89. Make a new list by May 12, 2011- by then the list may include... kids...
Can't Put it in a Category
90. Take a cooking class
91. Take a dance class
92. Watch all the seasons of SATC- started with season 3- 09/12
93. Start putting money into RRSP's
94. Read 10 non-teaching books - I've read False Witness, and Good-Byes are Always Hard
95. Incur no late fees at the library for 1 year (this may be hard)- Started August 16 with a clean slate!
96. Watch a sunset
97. Watch a sunrise- I drive into the sunrise every morning
98. Get a pet
99. Go credit card-less for one month
100. Watch our wedding video (yes, it's been 3 years and we haven't watched it)
101. Blog 3 times a week for 2 months
1. Buy a house
2. Get a full-time permanent job
Purchases and Creations
3. Buy a new coffee table
4. Get a label maker... on my Christmas list
5. Buy a new TV stand
6. Get a KitchenAid Stand mixer ... on my Christmas list (hint hint Kitchen Collection, Albertville, less then half price... Black, Chrome, White, anything but pink or red) ps. Love you Mom!!!
7. Get a food processor .... on my Christmas list
8. Buy a bike
9. Buy a new computer
10. Buy a piece of jewelry at Tiffany's- I have my eye on this http://tinyurl.com/4f34gf
11. Make an upholstered headboard
12. Make pillows for the couch
13. Make a gift for a friend
14. Sew 4 things 1/4 - I hemmed a pair of pants 09/04/08
15. Buy a new(er) car (I would like a Mazda 3)
16. Make bread from scratch (And it has to taste good)
17. Get two new games 0/2... Killer Bunnies and Scotland Yard are the two I'm wanting
People and Places
18. Go to New York with Steve (I've been twice, and he would really love to go)
19. Go to the observation deck of the Empire State Building
20. Go on a plane with Steve (he's been on a few planes, I've been on more but never together)
21. Go to camp for two weeks (not necessarily in the same year)
22. Make Steve breakfast in bed
23. Go camping with just Steve
24. Go on an anniversary trip (probably won't include #23)
25. Go on a road trip longer then 6 hours away
26. Throw a birthday party - My mom's 50th bday party- 09/07/08
27. Have a dinner party once a month for 6 months 2/6
28. Visit a new state
29. Cook a meal for my family
30. Cook a meal for Steve's family (I think this will have to be after we buy a house, there's not room for all of them in our apartment) - By not saying entire family I am completing this 09/13 for my Mother-In-Law's bday- there will be a couple family members missing but we invited them all.
31. Have photos taken of the two of us
32. Send out Christmas cards (most likely including #31)
33. Have family pictures taken with my family
34. Visit 3 out of town family members 1/3
I brought my SIL (in Steinbach) a birthday dessert 09/11
35. Buy 3 friends flowers 0/3
36. Go on a hot holiday
37. Sponsor a missionary we're not currently sponsoring
38. Email or call Monique once a week for 3 months
39. Email or call Karyn once a week for 3 months
40. Go on a date night once a month 2/32- we went to the Forks tonight 08/08
41. Invite a new friend out for a meal
42. Bake for 5 friends 5/5
43. Take my parents out for supper
44. Have pictures taken with Karyn and Monique
Out and About
45. Eat at 5 new restaurants 3/5
We went to Niko's- 08/17/08
Went to MJ's with my SIL 09/29/08
Went to Joey's 10/11/08
46. Eat at my old Boston Pizza (for some reason I just haven't been going back)- Went 9/5/08
47. Go to a Goldeye's Game
48. Go to two Bomber Games 0/2
49. Eat outside 10 days in 3 weeks 0/10
50. Eat at the dining room table every day for a month
51. Go to a concert
52. Try 5 new flavours of gelati 2/5- first new flavour tried was Blood Orange 08-15, Pink Grapefruit 08-17
Healthy Living
53. Get a gym membership
54. Go to the Gym 3 times a week for 6 months
55. Eat vegetarian once a week for 6 weeks 0/6
56. Lose 10 pounds and keep it off for 6 months
57. Be in bed by 10pm for 2 weeks
58. Wake up before 7 am for 3 weeks
59. Watch no TV for one month
60. Quit biting my nails for 4 months
61. Reward myself for not biting nails by having one manicure a month for every month without biting
62. Don't eat fried chips for two months
63. Drink only water for three weeks
Home to Stay
64. Create a sports room with Steve
65. Paint a room in our house by myself
66. Create a welcoming guest/Karyn + Monique room
67. Have flowers waiting for overnight guests
68. Start a garden
69. Buy a Christmas Tree
70. Buy a Christmas Tree Skirt
71-85- To Be Determined once we buy a house (#1)
Organization
86. Label my files in my filing cabinet at home and at school
87. Frame three pictures I have taken 0/3
88. Start and Finish our wedding album
89. Make a new list by May 12, 2011- by then the list may include... kids...
Can't Put it in a Category
90. Take a cooking class
91. Take a dance class
92. Watch all the seasons of SATC- started with season 3- 09/12
93. Start putting money into RRSP's
94. Read 10 non-teaching books - I've read False Witness, and Good-Byes are Always Hard
95. Incur no late fees at the library for 1 year (this may be hard)- Started August 16 with a clean slate!
96. Watch a sunset
97. Watch a sunrise- I drive into the sunrise every morning
98. Get a pet
99. Go credit card-less for one month
100. Watch our wedding video (yes, it's been 3 years and we haven't watched it)
101. Blog 3 times a week for 2 months
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