A VERY SPECIAL DEDICATION

This post is dedicated to my Mom and Dad. They are two very special people who mean the world to me. They are the best parents a person could ask for. I remember going to visit them at work when they both worked at the hospital. I would go to my Mom's office and she would let me sit at a desk and would give me stickers, and paper. Then I would go to Dad's workshop and he always had colouring stuff there for us. Then Dad would take us to the kitchen and we would go into the big walk-in fridge and get grape juice. It was one of my favourite memories. Every Christmas I am reminded of their Christmas rituals - they would stay up until the middle of the night getting presents ready; we couldn't wake them up before 8:00 and then they had to have toast and coffee. Then we could open a present or two and it was off to church. It was an agonizingly slow process for a kid, but we made it through. My Dad has super hero xray vision. When I was about 9 I broke my skiis, so I hid them behind a pile of wood. The first thing he said when he walked in the door after work was "So, Ann, you broke your skiis." I was very worried I would be in trouble, but I wasn't. Mom's super hero power was her hearing. Even though she is deaf, she would always hear us at night when we were babies. Dad would sleep on, blissfully unaware and Mom would get up with us. They must have been very rich when we were kids, because Mom seemed to have many of the other neighbourhood moms in her employ. That must be how she always knew when we went swimming in May, or that I rode my bike on the highway with Tony, or that we were riding our skateboards down the hill by the store (the hill leading right onto the highway). I got special things that my siblings didn't because I was the youngest. Mom and Dad would drag me along with them to school board meetings in Vancouver. Mom and I would shop and sight-see while Dad sat in meetings all day. Even when I was in Bible College Mom insisted that I take two weeks off work and come on a holiday with them. She always swears up and down that I didn't want to leave home, but it was actually that she wanted me to stay around. (Actually it was probably both.) Those apron strings have just been stretched a lot longer in the last few years, but they are still there. I wish I had a picture to publish on here, but I don't - sorry. I could go on and on, but suffice to say: I love you both immensely. You are the greatest parents I could ever have had.

GOOD NEWS!

Josh made it to school this afternoon. He was starting to go stir-crazy in the house. So, I finally relented and let him go. He is so happy to be out with his friends again that he only came home for a few minutes after school.
On the other hand, Brian is still sick. The ironic thing about this is that I was the one saying just take the whole week off, you need to get better, now guess who's teaching his class for the next 2 days? You got it. Me!!! Let me tell you, he owes me big time after this. I am not sure on payment terms for this - but I am thinking a nice supper out when we come down south would be great! or maybe he could cook supper for an extra couple nights next week.

SICKNESS REIGNS IN THE HOUSE

O.K. this has truly been a week of sickness. Brian came home from work last Friday and has been sick ever since. He is taking this whole week off work - just lazing around the house! Actually he is getting very bored. But to make things even worse, Josh is still sick. He has been sick for well over a week now. His temperature keeps rising and falling. Tonight, though, I am getting quite worried because his temp. is hovering at about 101 and I can't get it to go down. I have given him Advil, sponged him down, and Brian gave him a cool bath, but all to no avail. Yesterday I took him to the health centre and the nurse had a really good look at him. She even gave him a ventilen (?) treatment to help him. She told me to call tomorrow to let her know how he is. Here's hoping that all will be well soon.

HOCKEY

Well, we are into the second round of the Stanley Cup playoffs. I was sorely disappointed that Calgary did not advance. I was totally pulling for them. So, being the loyal fan that I am, I am now cheering for Edmonton and Ottawa. The craziest thing about these playoffs is that I am the one waiting each night to watch the game. Brian just isn't all that interested. To those of you that knew me growing up, you may recall that everyone in my house hated hockey. We used to get so mad when all you could get on tv for weeks on end was hockey, hockey, hockey. Now, here I am right into it. I watch more tv during this time of year than the rest of the year combined. So, go any Canadian team, go!

QUILTS

Nothing much has been happening, so I thought I would share some of my quilt creations with you. It turns out that quilting is one of my favourite things to do. I haven't attempted a large full size quilt yet, just wall quilts and lap quilts. Here are a few that I made this winter.

I am currently working on a house warming quilt. A couple we work with just bought a house here. I am making it in browns and yellows - not my favourite colours, but it will work in their house.