Candle shopping with her girls

Char and granddaughter Sierra looked through the Partylite catelog making up their wish list of what they would like to purchase for future candle parties. Even Casendra got her first taste of shopping (2nd photo) but soon realized how exhausting it can be, her eyes got too heavy to stay open (3rd photo).

Casendra with her Auntie Amanda

Headed up to Three Hills Tuesday night to attend Sara's Candle Party. The drive was nice as the sun was FINALLY shining - we have had a few straight days of rain - I arrived at Amanda's place first and had supper - found out that both Ocean and Sierra passed their Level 2 Swimming lessons and are ready to begin Level 3 soon. Then went to Sara's for the candle party - we all fell in love with his candle stand that can be like a corner piece or comes apart and can go on your wall - plus it has glass squares where you can photos or dried leaves in it. Of course, stealing the show was our little Casendra. I know I only saw her Saturday it seemed she had grown. She gave me a few more smiles that night - she is adorable. Here she is with her Auntie Amanda.

Little House on Kneehill Creek

(Sorry - a bit blurry I was still driving at the time I took this photo - almost at a stop and no other car was nearby so I was safe)

Being a girl growing up in the 70's & 80's, two book series for my age to read were Nancy Drew and of course the life of Laura Ingalls Wilder (made famous by Michael Landon and Melissa Gilbert on TV - The Little House on the Prairie). On one of my first times driving up to Three Hills to visit Amy it was on Hwy 21 heading north. The drive to Three Hills no matter what hwy you take (Hwy 2 to the Didsbury turnoff; Hwy 9 or Hwy 21) it is a beautiful drive of rolling hills and valleys - beautiful in the summer time when the crops are in full bloom. I like having little landmarks letting me know I am nearing to my destination - when taking Hwy 21 north to Three Hills, my landmark is this little abandoned wooden house in the middle nowhere really. It is just as you come across the Kneehill Creek bridge and it is there on the right hand side. It just so reminds me of the house in the TV show - the little shed attached to the house was probably the ice house to keep things from melting or rotting, a little porch in the front of the house to relax at the end of the day watching the sun go down.

My Fair Lady

On Saturday I joined Sara, Char, Andy, Sandy (Char's sister), Daniella (Sandy's granddaughter), Garron, Peter and Jon for the Theatre Production of "My Fair Lady" presented by the Three Hills Arts Academy. Simply - Awesome!!! Back in Thunder Bay, I had attended Magnus Theatre with my family growing up - definitely same caliber - the voices were clear (hard to do if you are speaking with a British accent) and the changing of the scenes went pretty smooth too (I had front row seats so you saw everything).

This was my first time that I had seen Amy "on stage". I knew as a teenager she played Annie, in "Anne of Green Gables" and from what I heard was great in it too. How do you describe Amy on stage? Relaxed, Joyful, Happiness, Excited, Mixing her love of arts - singing and acting. Simply put - she is at home on stage. It was thrilling for me watching her play these different characters - a part of the cast ensemble, street vendor and one of the maids. The scene where they are at Ascott for the horse races and they were in their fancy dresses with those oversized hats - that was fun to watch. The actors playing the leads Eliza Doolittle and Henry Higgins along with his friend Colonel Pickering were get - definitely had a few laughs throughout the 3 hour production.

Another family member was also part of the cast - John (Sara's husband). He played Harry (a friend of Eliza's dad) as well as a part of the cast ensemble. This was John's debut on stage - he did a great job singing and dancing. The play closes this Saturday night. Above is the playbill as well as a photo of John and Amy in costume sitting on Char's furniture that she lent for the production. Thanks John and Amy for a wonderful evening of entertainment - you both shined on stage!!!

Another door has opened...

Well back to my life in Calgary. It is good to be back with my family and friends close by. I have had some correspondence with the data quality leaders of the reabstracting study I just participated in. Actually today in the mail, I received a certificate showing I passed my training session in March which gave me 32 credits!! Credits is something new for our association. Within a 3 year window every Health Information Management Professional (HIM Professional) has to complete 36 continuing education credits along with paying our annual fee to remain in good standing with our national association (CHIMA) - in short - pay and do educational workshops to maintain your job is basically what they have instituted in 2005. Next month we had a downtime day were we are doing 2 educational e-learning workshops - 6 more credits. So thankfully, I don't need to worry for the next 3 years!! Great - check that off my list of things done.

As I might have mentioned in a previous entry - while I was in Ontario, I had let my coding director know that if she needed an extra person for inpatient training that I would be willing to put my name forward. I will know have my opportunity. My coding supervisor came into the office this afternoon to inform me that starting Monday I will be cross-training 2 coders in daysurgery coding for the next two weeks at Peter Lougheed Hospital; and then the 4 weeks following that I will be training 2 coders in inpatient coding. Since being back we have been busy getting our year end chart completed - this Saturday I will be working overtime with others to get March completed so all our edits and corrections can be fixed by Monday. Nothing like pressure, eh?

At times I just shake my head - trying to comprehend all the advancement I have been able to achieve in the 3 years since moving here - it is unbelievable how doors have been opened with new experiences. Similar to a domino effect - those doors opens into new ones like being able to participate in the reabstraction study in April. And hearing that the data quality leaders hope I reapply in the Fall when another study is to take place. It's like Wow - how awesome is this!!! It sure does something for your self-esteem and confidence in your work too.

A Star is Born....

A Star is Born.... and her name is Casendra!!! After having a wonderful day scrapbooking and fellowship, a group of us went to visit the horses (Silky - Char's horse; Sgt Pepper - Sierra's pony). Sara's cousin-inlaws and 3 daughters; Sierra, Ethan, Casendra, Sara, Char and myself all went to where the horses were being kept. Sierra has become quite the rider as I later hear that Sara has been giving Sierra lessons on how to ride -it shows. Sgt Pepper got quite the workout as all the children took turns riding the pony. Char found the perfect patch of grass for her horse Silky as she combed out her mane and tail as well as brush down her coat and legs. Char shared that she has had Silky since the year before arriving in Calgary (1991) - so it was interesting observing the connect that was obvious between Char and Silky. I just stood on the sidelines with Ethan and Casendra watching everything. Instead of holding onto Sierra's sunglasses I decided to put them on Casendra - that way she could still watch the happenings from her chair - as you can tell - doesn't she look like a movie star???? She had her smiles going on - wish I had my camera (totally forgetting it at home).

Saturday night I was able to make up for time missed while away in Ontario. Sara had just finished feeding Casendra and it was nearing her bedtime I told Sara that I would rock her - this would allow some time with John and his cousin's family. Well, I think I got a taste of where moms learn some of their patience with children. I thought no problem I just will burp Casendra, do some rocking and she will fall asleep especially with her "susie" near by - well I was wrong on that accord - try 2 hours of rocking!!! She would fight closing her eyes, finally closing them for a few minutes but then she opens them as if she was wide awake and the cycle continues. She would give me smiles, squeeze my finger with a good grip - it was so adorable. It was wonderful cuddling time - just Casendra and I in our little world for 2 hours.

A "scrapping" great day!!

On Saturday morning, Char and I drove up to Three Hills listening to our Il Divo music as we chatted away. Hobby Haven (Amy's Scrapbooking Business) was having a mother/daughter scrapbooking day (it was the National Scrapbooking Day too). In the end, it was the James ladies and myself. There waiting for us in Amer's livingroom were Amanda, Amy, Sara and Casendra. Amy had our tea steeping and waiting for us. For like 15-20 minutes we sat in the livingroom just chatting away - between all our different schedules, do you know I can't remember where all 5 of us just sat in one room to just have a "girls chat" - it was awesome.

After having our tea, we headed to the basement where the tables await us and our crafty projects. My goal were to complete the two Special Occasions calendars for Amy and Sara for their birthdays (April babies - little late I know). Char worked on putting Andy's 60th birthday timeline in a book (it was great hearing more stories from Char about Andy and family memories); Amy played a great host put did do some chalking on some beautiful ocean scenes that she had bought the last time she was in Ocean City; Amanda also working on chalking - she did a beautiful job and we will have to work on getting it framed for her "blue like the ocean" themed home; and Sara worked on picture frames (don't remember the technical name for her project) I loved the end results and they will be ready to hang on the walls this week.

Lunch was wonderful prepared by Amy and dessert by Amanda. Amy had 2 yummy salads, fresh and warm biscuits and homemade soup. Amanda made a beautiful trifle of pudding and angel cake with layers of bananas, strawberries and kiwi. Usually you pray before you eat but as it turned out, we prayed after we had eatten - it was just us in the room. Garron, Ren and the kids Solomon and Journey were off playing somewhere - so we had the room all quiet and we were able to say in the quietness of the room on how we love and appreciate Char in our lives. I think it was a special moment, it was for me anyway.

Thank you Amy for hosting a beautiful day of us sharing, laughing and enjoying each others company - of course listen to an arrangement of songs from all ranges - from My Fair Lady songs to AC/DC.

Thank you Mom!!!

My mom taught me not to give up. She was there encouraging and supporting me. I was rebellious in Grade 7 almost failing, but for the last semester she spent countless hours at that kitchen table - reteaching the Canadian explorers, trying to improve my grammer, going over my fractions and how to get organized to do a report/essay ( I passed). The photo above is my college graduation from George Brown College in the Health Record Administration Program. My mom's brother Alan and wife Dee came from Montreal to join in the celebration. Though he was not in the photo - my brother Bruce attended too. My mom showed by continuing to keep the communication lines open, how beautiful a relationship can blossom and grow.

Thanks for your shoulder mom (oh and plenty of kleenex boxes too). We have had to face some pretty huge trials through the years. But we have learned that we are there for each other, only wanting the best and happiness of one another. Thank you for your endless years of support and encouragement as I find my footing to spread my own wings especially these last few years as I made the move out
West.

Thank you for showing me the great healing in laughing - sharing the great memories from the past or in that moment. The importance of giving someone a smile to possibly brighten their day. The warmth of the human touch - your cares seem to drift away when you receive or give someone a hug. Might seem like a small thing, but I remember the first hug after your reconstruction surgery - it was a soft hug. It was the best hug - probably knowing too that you survived your postoperative complication made it all that more special to me - the beginning of the closeness we have today.

I was sharing yesterday that one of the earliest memories that you showed me is the importance to say "Thank You" and "I Love You" and to stay in touch with those important to you. Growing up, at least once a month on a Sunday, you would gather Bruce, myself and Kathryn in the kitchen as you called our grandmothers and we all took turns sharing a little. At Christmas as well as throughout the year, you showed us the importance of sending a Thank You card/letter to our relatives/friends who gave us presents or to send a note to say hi and share something - I usually shared right off the weather of Thunder Bay in those letters - everyone thought I was going to become a meterologist!

Wishing you a Happy Mother's Day Mom. I just want you to know that you are important to me and the examples I have shared are only a few of things you have taught me over the years. It has been so awesome to reflect, looking back to where our relationship changed from parent/child to adult/adult - thank you for not only being my mom but becoming a special friend in my life. I look forward to what the future hold for us - the adventures and memories that lay ahead.

Love you always, your daughter Laura Jean

Remembering my Mom

Jan, Gary and Mom

Jackie and Mom

Mom and Bev

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Today is Mother's Day. My mom is Thunder Bay and I in Calgary, but we don't let the distance prevent us from celebrating this day. The photos above are a few of my mom's closest friends. Jackie had worked with my mom in the ER dept at the old McKellar Hospital; Jan had lived down the street from us and had told my mom about the position at McKellar Hospital's ER dept where she worked too. Bev is friends with both Jan and Mom. Like myself with the James gals, they are not only friends of my mom, but like sisters as well.

You might be wondering why I included these photos - it is through Jan, Jackie and Bev that my mom has shown by example the important of a relationship between females.

My Mom and Jan - a friendship that began with a common theme (nursing), being there for one another through the rough and bumpy times as well as celebrating the joys in life. Knowing you can just call and a voice is there at the other end, giving you the reassurance you are not going to have to face this alone. For me, the friendship between Jan and my mom has been the best example of what a relationship takes and rewards that comes from it.

My Mom and Jackie - despite the distance between them now (Jackie lives in Southern Ontario), when they get together it is as if they see each other just the other day. My mom has shown that if someone is important to you, remember to send a card or picking up the phone to just say "hi and how are things going?" is essential. How cool is that to know that someone who cares about you far away, holds you close to them.

My Mom and Bev - the friendship with Bev came through gatherings at Jan and Gary's. Birthday celebrations, summer BBQs, symphony Pops Classics, Magnus Theatre and playing Bridge every other Tuesday night from Sept to June. Their relationship has shown me saying little things like "Your special to me", "I am cooking a roast, why don't you come over for supper?", sending a note to someone.

Thank you mom for showing me wonderful examples through your friendships with Jan, Jackie and Bev, on how the special people that come into your lives can make such an impact on you.

Finding my Time Management skills

As my friend Char mentioned - I didn't let moss grow under my feet once getting back to Calgary. Yes, will admit I have been keeping myself busy with working projects but trying at the same time to balance some "play time" for myself.

As our fiscal year ended March 31 and the need to health information data promptly, you will find many hospitals under the gun to meet those national deadlines to send in our data. Not only do the hospitals need it for their planning for the next year as well in creating short term plans; for receiving funding/reimbursement for hospitals depending on the procedures they perform (like knee replacements);but institutions like Stats Canada also use our data for their studies and calculations. My first week back, I was at the Foothills only until Thursday when I was asked to move over to the Peter Lougheed for the next couple of weeks to help with their backlog of March charts. Being I have worked at PLC before, it was great to see them all too. For me, being able to move between sites, you get to have multiple little families around town, which is cool.

Saying all this, I am doing a bit of a balancing act - I work FT at the hospitals here, 2 days a week I am at Tom Baker scanning, and with pending deadlines an old job I had in Ontario (coding at home or remote coding) I am working another 15 hours per week. Graciously, my boss at the Tom Baker understands and I can come back once my "push" with Salumatics is over. I am fortunate to have such great supervisors. So my May will be kept quite busy. But I am leaving some fun time for me - Char and I are heading up to Three Hills tomorrow morning to do scrapbooking at Amer's. Char will be coming over for dinner on Sunday so we can watch the Survivor finale - I get Ontario time channels so we can watch it at 6pm instead of 8pm. At the end of the month, I will be heading up to Three Hills to see a production of "My Fair Lady" in which Amy and John are taking part in (oh yeah - Char's furniture is making an appearance too - found that out last night).

Oh yeah, while I was in Ontario, I had put forth my name to be an inpatient trainer if they needed one. When I got to work on Monday morning, there was an email from my director sharing that I am now an inpatient trainer as well as remaining to be the daysurgery trainer. My first taste of being an inpatient trainer will be with a HIM student in June. Plus talking with some coworkers at PLC, I think that there will more training ahead for me in both the inpatient and daysurgery disciplines. Nothing like keeping life interesting, right? A couple of coworkers have mentioned that I will be a good inpatient trainer - nice to hear that from your peers.

Getting back into a routine

Even though I have been coding elsewhere for the past 5 weeks, it has taken me this week to get "my groove back" at work. It has felt like a very long week that just dragged on.

I had come home late Friday night from Toronto and the next morning returned to the airport to drop off my roommate who's co-op is now finished as she returns back to Southern Ontario. After doing two loads of laundry, catch up on my mail/correspondence, I drove up to Three Hills to spend the night at Amy's. Amy's daughter, Journey and I played a card game called Slamwich - a new game for me. Since I last saw Solomon he seems more interactive and loves to smile - hard not to smile back to him. On Sunday morning we had a beautiful day with the sun shining warmly melting any remaining snow we did receive over the past two weeks. Headed over to Amanda's where we enjoyed our iced tea on her front patio talking about travels plans (right up my alley!!). Plus I was able to get my summer items that I had stored in Amanda's garage. Then for lunch headed over to Sara and John's. It is amazing the changes I see in Casendra from 5 weeks ago. She is longer, heavier in your arms, has good control of her head and loves to give smiles too. She even gave me a little gift she left on my shoulder - forgot to put the spit-up towel before burping her. We had some girl time with her big sister Sierra too - we went to Sierra's room to see all her changes her mom and I made as well as for me to read her a couple of horse books while holding Casendra. With it being a sunny day, Sierra and Ethan with the neighbourhood kids on the street rode their bikes. John was getting their RV for summer use, Sara and I took the cribbage board and played 3 games (she won 2-1). We played in the front lawn so we had good laugh as it made us thing of us as two old ladies on community watch as people pass the house. Then of course, I had to drive back to Calgary to get ready for work - early wake up call - 4:45am!!