January to June would be a blur... as it always seems to be in the work we complete to support the school division. We enjoyed some cross country skiing out our back door as well as slipping out to Canmore to enjoy more than a few moments in the mountains. When you live in Alberta you have two choices, complain or embrace... like anything really. Make the most of where you are, when you can, as you are.
My partner is a vice-principal at the second largest school in our division. The kids range from K-9 and there's a whack of them... nearly 800. She's completing her masters as she works to manage the intricacies of creating culture with her Principal partner while trying to develop assessment capable learners. It's been busy as she has two active boys involved in hockey and anything else athletic that they can manage. Keeps me young.
As we wound our way through spring and entered the month of June, we saw that we were in for a few surprises and even now have not recovered from the flooding that took place in Southern Alberta.
A number of my staff were directly impacted - a loss of access to their homes due to water filling their basements. On a personal note, I had a rental property that was flooded and the tenant lost a garage full of belongings - I helped move the materials out through sludge and sewage and tears. It wasn't pretty. What struck me the most was the resiliency and determination and camaraderie by those that call High River their home. Feisty bunch.
While this was going on, I helped repair the High River condo, repaired a damaged property I had in Lethbridge and finished my landscaping. I should be 155 lbs... but I'm not. :) It's been 6 months and people are still reeling. It may be gone from the news, but it's not gone from our hearts or minds.
In addition, I connected with some families that spend their lives focused on saving their children. My good friend Christine Killam has inspired me to be more than I am... this amazing Mom created the Okotoks Wishmaker Walk as a part of the Children's Wish Foundation in the middle of dealing with the disease that threatens her own son. You really need to see what a few people can do to make the biggest difference. Families like the Jarmans (shown) jumped in with us to give back and make other children's wishes come true.
We spent a fall organizing and getting the fractured pieces of our lives back together. Experiencing the turmoil makes celebrating the moments easy.
My own two kids are adults and are in the midst of creating their own lives. One is thriving as she completes her CMA certification and the other is seeking a path as his wife becomes a chiropractor and he determines what he wants to be.
I sat in the hot tub after a cross country ski out my backyard. The sun was setting and reminded me of how good things are. It's Christmas... a time to be thankful... a time to be happy.
Joy to all.
J, S her kids and mine.
