Still Missing

Our Mika is still missing . . . it has been 72 hours and nothing yet. We are not really sure what to do at this point as all the calls have been made, postings on Edmonton Pound website, etc, etc. Your mind doesnt even want to go to the possibilities - I have been hopeful until this morning and today I feel very sad, the kids are sad and we really miss our Mika. We are still praying for her return and that she is ok. Thanks for all the kind words from everyone. I'll keep you posted.

My baby is going to Jr. High!

Colton had his Grade 6 Grad Ceremony today at Sakaw School . . . sniffle sniffle. The one picture is of Colton and his teacher, Mrs. Morhaliuk and the other of some of his good friends-Graham, Luke and Jazkaran.

Colton's Favorite Grade 6 Memory: Going to the 1881 School house and doing a drama for the Minister of Education with Levi and Graham . . . sniffle sniffle.

Colton's teacher said: Colton is a very kind student and is the best LaCrosse player in Grade 6 . . . sniffle sniffle.

Colton will be going to Elerslie Jr. High along with several of his freinds . . . sniffle sniffle . . . isn't he so cute! My baby is growing up . . . sniffle sniffle.

Here Kitty Kitty . . .

I slept on the main floor last night with the screen door open as it was SOOO hot here (no airconditioning). I woke up and the screen door had been pushed open by . . . MIKA our cat. She is missing as of this morning and I am concerned. The kids are not up yet and they will be very sad. She is collared, tagged and microchipped so we hope that someone finds her or as the song goes . . .

The cat came back, he couldnt stay away, he was sitting on the porch on the very next day . . .

Mika, please find your way home!

I LOVE SUMMER!

I feel so happy right now . . . soccer is over, choir is over, small groups are over, school and homework is almost over, the craziness of Sept-June is almost over. I still have to go to work, but that is so ok.

The things I love about summer . . . hanging with the kids, play cards on the deck, bbq, have friends over, go for walks, day trips to Allen Beach, tanned skin, the smell of suntan lotion, campfires, camping weekends, twilight, sunshowers, taking pictures at the beach to scrapbook, watching Big Brother and GOING TO BRAMPTON FOR 2 WEEKS - it seems simply joyous!

Let me know what you most love about summer!

Some of the Many Faces of MIKE!

So long Stanley :-(

Well . . . its over . . . our dear Oilers came back hard, fought hard and played even harder . . . however, it wasnt quite enough. Stanley isnt coming home with them back to Edmonton but . . . our Oilers are, and there is always next year!!! Yeah OILERS - You're Electric!!

The pics are before and after . . . (obviously).

Father's Day

I had a friend ask me in church today if Father's Day was a hard day for me, initially I said "no", I have a dad. Although I think was she was really asking was it is hard with the kids dad having limimted contact and being far away from them. So, to be truthful, my answer is "yes", it is hard for me, but because it is hard for them. Our Pastor today mentioned a statistic that in 42% of divorces the dad does not have anymore contact with their children - I found that staggering and extremely sad. I am not saying that Brad has no contact with the children, but it is limited and I know it is hard for them. Colton, Levi and Madison, if you read this blog, please know that you are loved very very much by your mom and your dad, things may not look how you would want them to look, but that will NEVER change the destiny that God has placed on your lives. You will be able to do ANYTHING you set your hearts and minds to and I am so excited to watch as you grow into men and a woman of God.

I guess I also see that they are not alone in this world of absent dads, they are not alone because they have people that love them, they have men in their lives that love them, and they have a Heavenly Father that loves them and cares about them more than anyone ever could. I believe that Colton and Levi and Madison will be able to reach out and love other children who are broken hearted from divorce, show them its ok to be sad, but that there is a hope for them and someone named Jesus that loves them very much and in reaching out to others they will find healing in their own journey. Pretty big stuff for children . . . .

Happy Father's Day Brad from the kids.
Happy Father's Day to my own Dad, the kids and I love you!!
Happy Father's Day to my brother Beau (the pic is of Beau and my nephew, Hudson)

Meet Meghan and Sydney

As mentioned previously, Mike has 2 girls, Meghan(12) and Sydney(9) and I am excited to tell you a bit more about them.

If you ask Meghan to tell you something about herself, she would say "I love science and I am a tomboy". Meghan was diagnosed with Autism around the age of 2. She integrated into a Grade 4 class in a public school this year, she has a full-time aid and has done very well. Meghan has a photographic memory and can pretty much quote you "verbatum" any movie or book that she has read and can talk about DNA or bugs or pollution for hours and hours. Emotionally and socially is where she struggles but is making great progress on a regular basis. God told Mike a long time ago that his role was to help Meghan keep the innocense and joy that she sees in the world - and he does a wonderful job.

Then there is Sydney or just "Syd" as I call her. Syd is finishing Grade 3 and takes dance - Madi and I just attended her year end tap and jazz recital - so fun! She is a bit of a drama queen (in a good way of course as I think most 9 year old girls are - right Madi!), she loves girl stuff like fashion and makeup, she is social and spends lots of time with friends, her and Madison play on the same soccer team and she LOVES potlucks - if you say "potluck" - Syd will be there!

I am enjoying getting to know Meghan and Sydney, the kids all get along well together and we try to have dinner together once a week. On the July long weekend we, "the Tkachuks" and "the Sims" are going camping with 6 other families and we can't wait - looking forward to having some funtime together this summer!

Ciao for now friends . . .

Almost Over . . .

Ok, so, after that huge breakdown and vent last blog, I actually didnt even make it to the funeral. It just did not work out - I could not seem to coordinate all those things without some sort of fallout. Sad that it didnt work but good for the kids and my own mental health. My sympathies go out to Barbara and Emily whose life as of this week has been forever changed. I pray God's peace will be on them as they journey through this time of grieving.

I am sitting in my Adobe Indesign Course at this moment just on a break and feeling releaved that in oh about 8 hours I will be in BED!! and then guess what? I, like many of you, get to getup tomorrow morning and do all the craziness all over again - YIPEE!! Seriously, we all survived the last 4 days and all is well. Tired, brain dead, hungry, but well. Will write something hopefully much more inspring over the next couple days.

Since I am at my course, this is one of the few images I could find, but it looks yummy doesnt it!!

Ciao for now . . .

Life in Fast Forward

I have the craziest next couple days and my head is spinning so I am just going to vent and share with all of you . . . and perhaps earn a little sympathy - ya right :-) I was off Tuesday cause I was not feeling well, actually just soooo tired I couldnt even stand up. I will now be off this Friday because I am going to my brother-in-law's funeral (died of cancer this week at 47). I am driving with Brad's family to Lethbridge (6hrs away) and will arrive Friday 2AM and then come home after the funeral on Saturday at 2AM. In the meantime, the 3 kids have a choir finale rehearsal that I am still trying to find someone to take them to it, Friday Madi has a soccer game that grandpa will take her to. Once I arrive on Saturday in the wee hours, I will sleep a couple minutes and then get up to go to a Grant McEwan Adobe Indesign course for ALL DAY Saturday and Sunday. Madison has soccer pictures that Mike will take her to, then when i get home from the course on Saturday madi and I are off to Sydney's dance recital. Then, Mike will have the kids Saturday night as I am in school again, and he will take them to their kids choir finale at our church for Sunday am. Immediately following Sunday's course at the college, I will head to the church for our business meeting to vote on our new church name. Somewhere in there I will get my "church work" done for Sunday as I will be 2 days behind. Somewhere I will sleep and then perhaps just have a breakdown on Monday . . . well thanks for listening, thats about it for now. Thanks to the crew that will be helping me get all these kids different places - if I could just split myself into 4 . . .

More Pics

My friend Erin from Ontario, who now lives in Texas, requested some more pics of the kids. I had to think about that for all of oh . . . 3 seconds. Of course I can put more pics of my great kids!!

PS ERIN, I would be REALLY nice to have picture of AVAH to put on my fridge - it would be great if I could have one before she enters FIRST GRADE!! (hehe)

Madi in her soccer gear, Levi with Mika, and Grandpa Sim, Uncle Owen, Colton and Levi.

Add Some Colour

Ok, so some may think I am a bit . . . can I say "bi-polar". One day I am on brain overload/depressed and the next day feeling full of life and joy . . . so silly.

So, yesterday I went into Addition Elle outlet to buy some BLACK capris for work. I did not come out with BLACK capries but with the top I have on in this picture - I dont usually go for colour, but for some reason, we (the top and I) fell in love, it made me feel happy, bright and well diva-ish of course! I then started to think about the area of our Women's Ministries that recently changed their name, they changed it to "COLOUR" and all about being Women of Colour. Women who are vibrant, joyful, full of love and passion, women who are walking in the wonderfully bright destiny that God has for them . . . I love that! So, if you can, go out, get your self a new top, or some earrings, but they have to be colourful - something that makes you smile when you put in on. Then, look at yourself in the mirror and smile . . . and know that is exactly how God sees you everytime He looks at you. He sees COLOUR, lots and lots of beautiful colour!

Grandma Schultz

This is my Grandma, Susan Penner (Schultz). She is 94 years young and is really the most remarkable woman. She had outlived 2 husbands, raised 4 children, had many grand and great-grand children, step children, etc, etc. She is an incredible writer, a great speaker, classy, beautiful inside and out and very funny! We all love her so much. She never forgets a birthday card for anyone, she knows each of us personally, she prays for all of us and had been the most incredible example. She is truly a woman who is passing down a Godly Heritage. Grandma has not been well the last couple weeks, we dont know how much longer she has on this earth but what awaits her is far greater than any of us can ever imagine. Grandma you are loved!

But friends, that's exactly who we are: children of God. And that's only the beginning. Who knows how we'll end up! What we know is that when Christ is openly revealed, we'll see him - and in seeing him, become like him.
1 John 3:2