Fairy Tales

When I was little I always dreamed of one day being Cinderella. When I was up to my elbows in a sink full of dishes, or scrubbing out a bathtub, I believed that I already was - but I thought it would be wonderful to have a Fairy God Mother that would take me from rags to a glorious gown, that I would meet and fall in love with Prince Charming and live happily ever after. Sweet dream.
This week I am actually acting in "Cinderella"...as the Wicked step Sister. Not quite the beautiful little princess, but oh so much more fun!
Thinking about my fairy tale dream, I have realized that the script may not be the same as what the brothers Grimm penned centuries ago, but the outcome is pretty similar. My Prince Charming? - a handsome redhead named Dan that swept me off my feet 22 years ago. My Fairy God Mother? - a Heavenly Father that uses much more power than a million magic wands can hold. Do dreams really come true? You bet!

Week of Goodbyes...

This week I attended 2 funerals. I hate funerals and usually try to avoid them, but these were two that I really couldn't. Both were for women of great worth... those real Proverbs 31 variety.


On Monday I went to Bow Island to say goodbye to my most favorite Auntie Marion. When I was little I informed my parents that when they died I was going to go live with her and Uncle Harry. They were the kind of Uncle and Auntie that made everyone feel that they were their favorite - although I am pretty sure that in reality I am.


I can't really figure out how they became so dear to me because they were missionaries in South America so their days in Canada were pretty limited. But the time that I did spend with them was very precious. I actually went to stay with them for a month when I was 16. I flew all by myself to Caracus, Venezuela and they treated me like royalty. Uncle Harry took me to the beach with a bunch of other missionary kids and he took off his shoes and socks and sat in the shade while we spent the entire day in the water and sand. Auntie packed an amazing picnic for us. I helped them spruce up this house that they lived in on the Orinoco River. It was full of cockroaches and lizzards, but Auntie made it a sweet little place. It was my job to paint baseboards onto the cinderblock walls. I would freak out when a little salamander would run in front of me and leave little black lizzard foot prints up the wall. Uncle and Auntie would just laugh. I also got to visit them when they were in Peru a few years later. I was so blessed to be able to do that.


The other goodbye was for my buddy Shuggy's mommy. I called her mom too. She was one of those kind that it just came natural for everyone to do. She had alzheimers but it didn't change her into a miserable kind of person, but instead into an affectionate one. You couldn't come into the room without a full dose of hugs and kisses. She laughed at our jokes - even the really bad ones. She lit up when you walked into the room. She was an angel of joy... but now she is with Jesus.


These events have made me think about my own Mom. I really miss her. My friend Paula wrote

in her blog that grief is a cloak that we wear for a season. But every once in a while we try it on again to see if it still fits. It has been 4 years since Mom has been gone. That is a lot of denied memories - weddings, graduations, Christmas's. I think the cloak still fits... I love you Mom!

I can't believe I have joined the Bloggers...

I truly never thought that I would ever start one of these things, but I suppose all of us succumb to the desire to have a life exciting enough to reading about. So for those reading, I thank you.


I eagerly anticipate the day that all of my little "charges" leave for Christmas and I get to:
- sleep past 7 am
- shut off my cell phone
- no longer give permissions for everything
- forget about runny noses, diarrhea, coughs, cuts, and broken hearts

Enough about me... on to the things most important to me...

#1 Dan the Man

What a hunk, eh? This is his amazing Mule Deer that he got with his bow this year. He was pretty excited. It measured 172 and three eighths (if you know what that means, then good for you) All I know is that if filled up our freezer quite nicely...ummmmm deer steaks.

We have been together for 21 years and counting. Truly hard to believe. I'm not sure who is the bigger hero - thinkin him...

#2 - Lys the Princess

Yes, our baby girl has graduated from High School and is now at the University of Alberta. Not an easy transition for her or Mom... She has been a little homesick as well as trying to transition from a tiny little Christian School on the Prairies to The Giant Mega-learning facility. It has been a little rough, but she works hard and we are pretty proud of her and her stand for what she believes even though it has cost her some humiliation and a couple bad marks.
She is glad to be half done and is deciding about future plans right now.

#3 - Riley - the Heart-throb

Riley is in Grade 11...yikes!! He spends his

time playing x-box, hockey, quad-ing, hanging out with friends and working at Subway. Once in a while he thinks about school, but that is more thought of as a hinderance to an active social life. He remains single, but I do hear from many girls in the dorm that he is "hot"... hmmm, not really what a mom wants to hear.

Other Important "Family" members

Brandon ...

...has stolen Alyssa's heart (and ours too) and has become a part of the family. He is working right now at Phone Experts and has become an expert navigator of the road between Innisfail and Sherwood Park!

Dexter...

Alyssa decided that she needed to add to the family in the way of a very small Chihuahua that we named Dexter Diablo (Diablo because he is a bit of a demon at times). Training has not always been pleasant... poop ground into the bottom of your feet, etc. But we have fallen in love with the little guy. Even Luke likes him...

So that is us...

Not so exciting, but hey, we're happy and that works out for us pretty good. In days to come I suppose I will wax eloquently, but for today, just wanted to let you know who we are.

God is so good to us. I can't always figure out why. It isn't because we deserve it - just because He's good...

Merry Christmas everyone. Remember to be nice to each other...

Sheels


ps... new addition to the family... Introducing Miss Haley Thulien - soon to be Mrs. Riley Adkins.  We have loved Haley for a long long time, so it is only natural for her to really become one of us.  Welcome Haley!   Sweet days ahead!!