choices

I won't go into much detail out of respect for my husbands family, but there has been a discussion surrounding my in-laws decision to not own a cell phone and us kids (all of cams siblings) wanting them to get one. You see, my father-in-law has diabetes and my mother-in-law doesn't drive. Therefore, if they were on the road and there was an emergency where my FIL needed medical help asap, MIL couldn't help what-so-ever! Their oulook is that they have gone 37+ years without a cell and therefore, do not need it. God will be with them, they have faith and that's all they need.

Now, I am a christian just like my in-laws and extended in-law family, and I absolutely believe that God is with us and that God hears our prayers and that we should have faith in Him alone. I also believe, and hence the title of this post, that we make choices that dictate the outcome of our lives. I believe that my grandfather got cancer and died at 79 because he smoked and his choice to smoke caused the cancer to develop, grow and kill him. I know that my grandfather was a God fearing man, I know that he prayed and had a stronger faith than most men I know. I believe that God allows us to make choices for ourselves, and if those choices walk us down a road of suffering and death, then God will be there giving us peace and holding our hands while we suffer. But I do not believe that God will always take that suffering away, we made our choices, we walk our own roads, we get the benefit of having Him (God) there with us along the way. The same is true of my grandmother who ate herself into diabetes and heart disease and then died from a stroke. She made the decisions that lead her down that road and God was with her willingly to the end. She was also a God fearing woman, she also prayed fiercely and full heartidly. It was her actions that caused the outcomes in her life.

I understand where my in-laws are coming from, but I believe that if they continue to choose to not protect themselves with something as simple as a cell phone for "just in case" then when that emergency happens (and it will because shit happens in life). The outcome of that emergency will be reflective of the decisions they made. God will be there holding their hands with them, but I am not sure that God will deliver them from the outcome.

This whole debate has got me thinking a lot about the decisions I am making in my own life and what am I chosing to do that could lead me down a path I do not wish to walk in the future. Am I eating myself into sickness and disease? I already have a list of conditions I suffer from that I do not want to see grow larger. What if I chose to make changes? What would those changes look like, and I actually sit down and listen what is God going to ask me to do to better my life? The life He has so graciously granted to me. 

It's food for thought, that's for sure. Do not judge me on my theology, I may hold a diploma from a Christian Institution but I am not a theologist. You may agree or not, that is entirely up to you. I just hope that you take a moment to analyze your own choices and be at peace with them and their outcomes.

Blessings, N.

Camping fun!

This weekend we took off to chilliwack (just outside abbotsford) for a camping trip with cams work. His boss put on a whole trip with all the fixings, yesterday was golf. I lost miserably... But proudly made it to the 13th hole, and today is just a day to relax.

As hubby demonstrates so well...


I named this guy Jimmy... Cute little cricket


Soon enough we will be back home to reality and I'll be in the classroom with a bunch of kiddies :)

N.

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For the love of staff meetings

I went to my very first W&T staff kick off today. Turns out that they love me (and the rest of their staff of course!)

I mean take a look...



Yes, you're right that's a very pretty in purple Lululemon bag that belongs to ME!

I love my job, this preschool company is the bestest ever :)

N.

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Preschool beginnings

Take a peek...


It may look a bit bare, but this classroom will soon be full of eighty lovely children in four separate classes. Awaiting play, education, social fun and field trips! And I get a front row seat through all ten months of fun, fun, fun!

I'm getting more excited with each passing moment. Right now it's lunch break and I'm slowly drinking my coffee... Thankful for the opportunities this job will bring. I am truly happy :)

Blessings, N.



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New found love...

Quinoa, yep... That's right. This lovely super food has grabbed my heart and made me fall in love with it's lovely nutty, fluffy self. It's SO good, and so versatile, for example my dinner tonight



Quinoa with zucchini, acorn squash, onion and garden fresh tomatoes. In a tortilla shell, yummy in my tummy

N.

killer stomach

I've been needing to desperately change the way that I eat and how I view food for a while now. Since getting married back in December 2008, I've gained a fair bit of weight. It's no secret (as much as i want it to be). If you knew me three years ago and saw me now, you'd know that I got bigger. At first I was mortified once I realized how much I gained (far too much) but then after a while I stopped getting mad at myself and instead asked myself why I allowed this to happen while not entirely realizing that it was.

Lately however, I have gotten far less worried about the number on the scale and far more worried about my health. It is evident from my lack of energy, abundance of stomach pain, brain fog and other symptoms that change is in order if I want to live happily.

Tonight I started a change and my body immediately reacted with vengeance. I haven't had stomach pain like this since early this year... Lucky me. Should go away by Tuesday night, I hope.

In other news, my hubby cut me some flowers from the garden he's such a sweet heart!



Blessings, N.

Happiness

There was one delightful morning when I woke up and saw this...




Seeing it every morning brings a big smile to my face. Life is good, my life is so damn good.

Blessings, N.

Sadie

So in an earlier post I communicated my frustrations regarding our big, boat like, long and green 1998 Chrysler Concorde. She was named Bernadette or Bernie for short and she was hell to drive and a money pit of unsafe horror. I'm honestly not exaggerating. My husbands parents got it for him when we were only a few months into our relationship and now nearly six years later... SHE IS GONE! We almost threw a party we were so incredibly happy.

So it was obvious that we needed a set of wheels... And after a long search and many tears...

Let me introduce you to the newest member of our family.

Meet... Sadie




She is a 2006 Hyundai Tuscan, low mileage, incredibly clean and well loved and cared for. We love her!!

Can you see the joy in our faces? Well, hubby is pretending to take a bite out of her (I dunno why, my husbands humor sometimes confuses me too!). We immediately took her out for a drive around the beach and tomorrow we are hoping to get to a lake and continue to enjoy her company, so we can all get to know one another better!

Her name came from a girls name that I absolutely LOVED but got vetoed by Cam as a contender for a future daughter so he let me use it for the car (not even an option for a future dog). And yes, we are weird like that, naming our cars and referring to them by their names it just makes it more fun!

So yes, welcome to the family Sadie you will be loved and cared for. I promise :)

N.

New hair cut :)

So yesterday I got a cut and color done, and I LOVE it. I went darker, more to my natural hair color and cut off a whole bunch of length, so now I have whats considered as a "bob". So its shorter in the back and longer in the front. I'm really excited for this change, it's going to be nice to maintain and keep looking good :)

In other news, I've been feeling so much lately like everyone I know around me is having babies. My sister (in law) is pregnant, and Im SO happy and excited to have another niece or nephew (Im thinking nephew) to spoil and love and cuddle. My other good friend Alissa is pregnant, which Im also super excited about too! (Im also thinking she will have a boy). And then there is my college roomie Traci who is preggo with a girl, and another college friend Carlene who is preggo... the list goes on...

Ive been wanting a baby for a LONG time, and I felt for so long that my time may never come because my body may never allow it. It wasn't until an appointment earlier this year with the gynecologist who did my surgery when I finally got some relief and some answers. She did an internal ultra sound and examination and behold, no more Endo!!!!!!!!!!!! which means, that my body should be able to conceive a child. It was just amazing because on the ultrasound screen she showed me my uterus and my eggs!!!! It was one of the most amazing experiences :)

I know that my day will come eventually and it's not a case of "she has one so I want one" it's more the feeling of knowing that I'm ready and that it will be the most incredible time of my life. Soon... I know that to be true. But the maternal heart strings are tugging and I can't wait much longer :)

Blessings, N.

Car frustrations

I've always had a love-hate relationship with the car I drive. It was my husbands when we got married so we just continued to use it, and I guess I should be thankful that I even have a vehicle to drive. But in this case, I'm not! She has left me stranded in some frustrating spots around the lower mainland, her tire went flat while I was driving, and she stalled just moments before us entering the busiest intersections in Langley, BC. Now, after an extensive overview by the mechanics who gave her an a-ok, she once again refuses to start and we've had enough!!! So we are on the search for something new (to us) and the search hasn't been easy. I came home crying yesterday just completely overwhelmed. We want to make the best decision and not end up car poor, or just poor in general. But at least we've narrowed it down to SUV for sure!! Maybe this week we will find something? I sure hope so.

In other news, staff training was so much fun! I'm VERY nervous to start and teach, but I'm learning and I'm brand new to the field of early childhood educators so I shouldn't put too much pressure on myself. As long as I'm doing my very best, that's what counts.

Blessings, N.

Pirate Paks!

Ever since I was young, The local and only British Columbian restaurant White Spot has been my favorite. Why you may ask? Because it's just the best. And it makes me sad when I get a craving outside BC and there is no Spot in sight. As a child my parents would take me after my dentist appointment for lunch, or for my birthday or just because and every time I would get the pirate pak and it was SO COOL! so when I heard that there was pirate pak day at White Spot today for adults with proceeds going to sick children I HAD to go! And so we did and I got a chicken burger and for a moment I was 5 again and it was was delightful. I was sad when my pirate ship was taken away. But I got my chocolate coin so I got over it.

Teacher Nicole?!

Years ago, when I was in highschool I had the opportunity to go to Mexico three seperate times for mission work. I got to help run a daily vacation bible school for children and hang out with a bunch of incredible kids. It was the highlight of my highschool career, and out of it I decided that I would be a missionary. Then came graduation and going onto choose where I would go to school and what I would do. So... I went to CBC, started doing a Intercultural Degree and then ended up meeting Cameron (my love!) and realising that marrying him was my dream and my future. So I changed my major to psychology and LOVED every moment of it.

To make a very long testimony short... I NEVER thought I'd EVER become a preschool teacher. If you could go back and talk to Nicole Stehr even just one year ago, Im sure she'd laugh, or shake her head, or maybe even brush off what you were saying if you'd tell her that a year from that moment she would be a preschool teacher working for W&T.

Back in my college years each roommate I ever had outside the dorms was an Early Childhood Educator, and there were songs, and they were silly, and they had weird homework and everything was over expressive. And I thought to myself, by golly! why in the world would anyone EVER go into that career field?! Little did I know that I was destined to follow in their footsteps, because now... I LOVE every single moment of the sillyness, the joy, the laughter, the songs, the FUN! Cause it truly is incredibly fun and if you love children as much as I do and if you love watching children grow and develop and learn as much as I do, then you can only LOVE love love this career.

When I took child psychology and finished reading that text book from cover to cover, I was just overwhelmed with how a child develops, learns, grows and becomes the person they will be as an adult. I have the honor of being able to teach and love children at the most vital time in their development and that is incredibly special to me. I have lots to learn and lots to master in terms of how to do the guiding and the teaching right. But I have an incredible amout of love to offer those three and four year olds that will walk into my preschool classroom and I am eager to get started!

Teacher Nicole? Yah... I can handle that title. I will wear that badge proudly :)

so its been a while...

Ive been thinking about all the many things I could update you on, cause it has been over six months since Ive taken a glance at this blog. So lets continue where we left off, huh?

In March, my parents had Cam and I over for dinner... this wasn't anything out of the ordinary. My mother liked to have us over as much as she could to feed us and therefore, help us out with our grocery bill by not having to worry about some of our meals. It also helped me out BIG time cause I was in full time school and not wanting to worry about dinner. But at this particular dinner gathering they brought up the question, "what if we bought a house with an incredible basement suite in it and you guys move in?". SHOCK was one of the initial reactions since they had been throwing an idea like that around for years, pretty well the moment they knew Cam and I would be married there was talk. But this time, they were actually serious!!! We left that night with something serious to talk about, so we talked. And then came back to them with, "YES!, as long as the basement suite isn't crap!" (trust me, its not!). So, here we are, August and we've been in this space for 5 or so weeks now and LOVE it. Our space is twice the size for less rent then we were paying at our old place and we get the luxury of saving for our 1st home years down the road, what is not to love about that? Now, we're just contemplating paint colours!

In April, I GOT A JOB! with the best preschool company around! I am SO excited to start staff training tomorrow and then begin the school year September 1st. The way this happened can only be described as an incredible blessing from God. Because in December 2010 I ran into someone who I haven't seen in YEARS! and she just casually asked what I was doing, I told her I was going back to school for my ECE and then she mentioned that she knew the director of W&T and that she would be happy to be a reference for me if I decided to apply to W&T. So, at the end of January I applied and then the first week of April I got a call. I went into the interview with absolutely no expectations other than excitment for a great opportunity. It was five minutes after meeting me that the director of W&T offered me a job and asked me to accept full time!!! I was beyond excited, I left the coffee shop shaking and praising God for I knew it was only Him that made it happen.

Unfortunately though a few weeks after this excitment my college was closed by the Langley school board and I was forced to find a different educational institution. Thankfully, I found where to go and will be returning to school starting the end of September for two night classes a week. I should be graduated December 2012, with my certificate and then another year or so after that be done with my diploma.

In July, Cam and I went to VEGAS!!!!! with my family, it was to celebrate my parents anniversary and just have a great time in a place that doesn't sleep. It was so much fun, lots of late nights, lots of walking, lots of things to see. We saw Blue Man Group, and The Vegas Show (a must see!) we ate at Mario Batalli's resturant (such a highlight for me!) and went to Serendipitys resturant for their frozen hot chocolate (very yummy!). We had such a great time, but I seriously missed having a beach :( so Cam and I are hoping to plan our own incredible vacation for next year, with a beach! and just the two of us!

Im sure that there is more to share, but Im going to stop there... until next time!

Blessings, N.

School Rocks!

So I really should update this thing more often, not that I really have much news to update on. School so far has been a blast, I truly am a school junkie. Cam always jokes saying that I'll be in school forever, he is probably right! I can still see myself being in my mid thirties working on my BA or Masters, having fun at work, raising my kidlets (or correct term: children) and keeping up with the house work while still finding ways to romance my husband (hahaha). I would love to live a life like that one. I finally see myself heading in that direction.

School is so much like psychology that Im thrilled I chose to go in this direction, the way children behave and why they behave the way they do is fascinating! Im learning so many ways to guide and direct them through teaching them problem solving skills and ways to encourage but not praise them, affirm but not reward them, etc. It really is a skill. And the creative aspects of the field are thrilling, I LOVE to be creative, I feel like it just is a natural thing for me to do, so to find ways to show literature, art, math, and science to young children is just so much fun! Im really nervous for my practicums, but Im sure I'll be okay.

There are SO many babies being born, our landlords had a little boy in January and good friends of ours had their second boy in January too. It was so much fun to go to the hospital and hold little adorable James Karl in my arms. so CONGRATS Trevor and Angela on the birth of James & Jon and Christy on the birth of Mattius. O, and my nieces had their 4th birthdays one in December and one in January, and my little nephew turned 1 in January too! so happy birthday to all you little ones, Love you SO much, xoxox.

now off to do some homework... its not so hard, just really time consuming. O did I mention that I aced my child development test? 100%! yep, thats right :)

N.

a look at 2010

The tree is still bright in our living room, with the lights shining on our front window, stockings are still up and none of the Christmas decorations have been put away as of yet. Unfortunately however, Christmas has come and gone. It's always sad to me when the final gift has been given and opened, and the final moments of Christmas are over. I have so many fond memories of my childhood Christmas's that its sad to me that each year they continue to change. It's okay though, life keeps changing and Christmas is not exempt from the changes that occur. This past year has been an interesting year thats for sure...

I had started 2010 with intentions of going back to school, and I had! I did three classes from January to April at CBC towards my psychology BA there. I had completed two of those classes with an A and one with an A-, one of these classes being Adult Psychology and the other effective teaching, two classes that I was terrified to start that month.

I had started a job in an organization that I thought I could make my home, and my career in. Unforunately, bad experiences and the reality of what sacrifices it meant to succeed there made it unfit and I left after one two months of full time work there. However, through this I understood that ECE (preschool teacher and/or infant & toddler work) are for me! and I was determined to make a career out of something I loved, and looked forward to doing.

Cam had stayed landscaping this entire year, starting in Feburary and ending in December. A year that had its challenges with finances, but we learned to endure and make the best of our rescources. It was absolutely a year of learning and understanding for Cam, that he wants to persue horticulture as a career direction! being a landscaper has a held his passion and he wishes to make it his lifes work. 2011 will give him challenges in how to move forward in this step and choice, whether school is his best option.

We did some trips this year. One to Ontario in Feburary to hold our nephew Timothy for the first time! we were absolutely honored to be the guests in Jen and Dans home and see Timmy and Addison, play in the snow and go see the Niagra falls, it was gorgeous! We were also honored when they came in November here to BC to see Cams parents, (and us of course!). We also travelled to Winnipeg, Manatobia to see the family and to celebrate Colin and Jessica's wedding! (Cams younger brother). We were both in the wedding party and had such a blast there in the summer (we had previous been there December 2009, to meet our newest neice Ashley!).

Cam and I also had an adventure in August with almost buying a condo in Murrayville, it was one of those steps that we thought we could handle. But thankfully the Lord new that we were waaay over our heads and lead us away from the opportunity which meant walking away from the deal and back in the rental we were currently living in. We hope that soon we will be able to journey in the direction of owning a place of our own, but for now we are more than happy with our location and landlords.

We celebrated our 2nd anniversary this month as well (December 20th!) it was incredible to be aware that its been two years already that we've been together under the same roof, living as a family. I hope that every year gets better and better.

2011 will bring changes once again. I am going to school at Langley College, its not certain if I will be going full time the entire year, but I will be going full time January to June for certain (two semesters with one practicum). I am eager to see what will happen this next year, yet I am aware that it will feel like just a moments notice when I am back here writing about the year of 2011 and our hopes for 2012. I wish to savor every moment, and not wish away the year... everything happens when its meant to I believe.

So... here is a big *cheers* to 2011! HAPPY NEW YEAR! :)

update & change of plans

I'm back! Jen mentioned when she was out here in November that she keeps checking to see if I have updated my blog yet... and then is sad when she sees that I haven't (now you'll have to comment on this post Jen so I know you've read it!)

Life has been kinda crazy since August (my last post) considering its December and two weeks away from Christmas, I have a lot to catch you up on, but most of you who read this already know about my life... so I guess its not so bad.

so 1st, I got the job at QMM, I started on September 13th and then I quit on November 10th. It is a long story why I quit, and if you honestly want to know the full story then just ask me. I don't want my personal details on that one to be lost in the orbit of the internet world. It is because of QMM and that experience that I decided that I really wanted a career that I know I would love, I thought, I prayed, I considered, I researched, I pondered, cried and came to the conculsion that ECE (early childhood education) was the route for me. I can go to school full time in the day (with one evening class) and finish my certificate, then finish my diploma at night while I work (after the certificate is complete) and then if I want, I can even take it into psychology to become a child psychologist OR I can continue at UFV and transfer my ECE into their Child and Youth Care BA and then keep going for a Masters degree in ECE. So there are SO many options it is unreal... so there will be so much that I can do with it! Im excited to start. I actually went to an orientation at Langley College on a Tuesday, went to their testing and interview process two days later on Thursday and was accepted that Monday for their January semester!!!! YAY me! I even got 96% on their entry exam!

Other than that.... Christmas is going to be awesome this year! We are going to spend equal time between Cams family and my family, its going to be different this year but thats okay! we finally get Brandon this time! he isn't in Germany this year like he was last year.

I think I will try to think of other things we've been up to and catch you up next time...the pic is taken from my sister-in-laws blog, my nephew Timothy and I. He is 11 months this month, I love that little guy! the only nephew I have (so far!).

N.

The White House is no more :'(

When I came to CBC in January of 2006, Cam was living in the Jones Street House on campus. I remember many cuddling nights on the couch in the living room, falling in love with the incredibly handsome man beside me. The next year he went into The White House and again, the memories are many of the year he lived in the room in the basement. How we played video games in the living room for hours and how although I was supposed to be outta the house by 11pm, I would usually stay till 1am or later. Our relationship unfolded in the walls of the houses on campus at Columbia Bible College... and, now they are no more.

This week both of the houses were demolished on campus to make way for the construction of the new dorm building project. And although Ive known for a few years that this project was going to take place, I had no idea that the photos of campus with the empty spaces of where those homes were would make me cry as hard as they have. Seeing the photos of the demolished house were there were so many precious memories made.... were I fell in love with my husband, makes me cry tears of serious sadness. I know that those houses are just the places where the memories were formed, but still.... its another part of our new reality that CBC will never be the same, that we have to move on. I am thrilled for the plans that we have for our future, I am thankful for the memories we made at CBC... but it still hurts, and I am allowing it to.

Man alive, I will be a basket case when they demolish the chapel that we got married in whenever it is that they do.

It feels like forever ago that I attended CBC, I miss it SO much! and I am SO thankful for everything that happened in those halls... in those homes, my life... I don't want to consider who and where I would be without those precious years at CBC.

we're home!!!!!!!!!!!

the wedding was fabulous! I had such a fun time... Being in the party was so much fun, the dresses were incredibly sexy, my hair looked honestly incredible and my makeup was done by Anthony, who was SO MUCH FUN! He called me sweetie and talked me into buying more product that I probably should have (of course!) but anyways...

I got the ball rolling on the paper work to be done to be officially a Quality Move Management Customer Service Rep. Im SO EXCITED! It just dawned on me that my CBC days are quite far behind me... I don't have my completed degree yet, but there is always the opportunity to go back and complete it. I may not get it done until Im quite a bit older... my focus is going to be entirely on this job. My priorities have shifted from "MUST HAVE A BA" to "want to succeed at the opportunities that present themself to me, set my family up for our future and work towards a home and a baby" I honestly didn't go searching for this job, my friend informed me of it and then I put in an application and BOOM I got it, with the effort of interviews of course. But I truly believe that God had His almighty hand in this one. I will focus on doing more courses in January, after I got training for QMM and understand the job more. This will help me focus on the job so I can pass the probation. The owner of QMM wants to meet me apparently to get to know me, the office is like an intimate family... just knowing that the owner of the company wants to know who I am, to me is a fantastic sign of a properly run company who cares about who works for them.

Honestly, I am SUPER EXCITED to go shopping for some heels and super awesome office wear :) Alissa, you in???

Tomorrow, Jason gets back from Mexico... he was on a missions trip doing plumbing and Im sure he saw some things that touched his heart. He has never been exposed to that type of culture before. Please pray for his safe return and that once he starts looking for a plumbing job here that he will become successful. He has been out of work in plumbing since May of 09, its quite devestating and he is coming into some real bad financial problems because of it.

N.

I GOT THE JOB!!!

I finally heard back from QMM today!!! and..... Christina said that she wanted to proceed in the steps to hiring me! Just some paper work and a background check and I will be on payroll :)

I am soooo excited for the opportunity, a little nervous cause I will have to train and all for two weeks and all I want is to do my best and do great at the job, pass the three month probation and work there for a while! I hope I love it.

I start either the end of August, or middle of September. Doesn't matter to me when, as long as I am on staff!

Im super happy tonight...

N.

it's sure been a stressful ride *sad face*

so... after some real hard pushing to make this condo thing happen, Cam and I realised that it's not going to happen and we decided to back out of the deal. We didn't get approved, because Cam's work is seasonal it just wasn't working out for the banks to give us the loan and we refuse to have a co-signer so this is the end.

And.... as sad as I truly am to say "goodbye" to it, I know in my heart that it's okay and that this is just not the right timing for us. I believe that God is saying "just not right now you two, trust me!" so because of the overwhelming peace, my heart is happy. I am honestly happy. I know that there is a perfect home for us to purchase one of these days, just not today.

We will try again next year, probably next summer/fall and that's okay. In the mean time we're going to make this awesome basement suite more like home...

Still no word from the QMM job... hopefully that news is good, but if its not, I still believe that God has His hands in it all and that the right job will present itself. I will just look like crazy once I get home from Winnipeg. Maybe starbucks! :) Maybe the library! :) or... who knows, maybe QMM! :)

N.