2018 Reflections

2018 Reflections was originally a blog post I wrote for my Blogger account,
​I decided that I would prefer all my materials in one place.

​Today is the last day of 2018, and the first day of my new blog; tried blogging in 2009/2010 and an unfortunate situation occurred and discouraged me from continuing on and completely deleting my work. My first blog was about being a stay-at-home mother, DIY projects, crafts, and homeschooling. I did blog about being a Girl Guide leader for a while (mostly during my time as a Sparks leader). My new blog will be different this time around... more journal style and as my title of the blog indicates, that it is "a work in progress" and I am also a work in progress. I thought my first blog would be a reflection of 2018.

2018 had many ups and downs and I wanted to share some of those highlights/low blows:

Photo 1, Katie with her Girl Guide cookie throne.

Many wonderful Girl Guide events happened Thanks to Cookies. Katie sells 80 cases of GGC cookies every year, and because she is such a hard working entrepreneur she received camping opportunities (Bonita Glen & Ecology center), a trip to Ottawa for a Rosie Revel themed sleepover, and earned a reward that she used to purchase her very own roller blades and safety gear.

Photo 2, Miley

I adopted Miley on March 29th. She is such a treasure. She has been my therapy dog. She is one of the biggest highlights from my year. I am grateful for her company when times are tough, when I can't sleep through the night, and when I am ill.

Photo 3, Our family portrait

This photo was taken after David's grade 6 graduation, that week, we decided that the smaller children would be attending public school and all three children would be in different schools/starting new adventures.

Photo 4, David the pitcher

I love a good baseball game, especially when David is the pitcher or the catcher. I get the best photos of him thanks to the sports setting on my camera! I love David's spirit, he is always encouraging others and trying his best at whatever he gets involved with... good job Boo.

Photo 5, Rosco and Katie

On July 13th, Katie said goodbye to her cat before she left for Mom & Me camp at Doe Lake, while she was away, Rosco passed away after being sick for several months. Rosco was not alone when he passed, Sarah stayed by his side comforting him and keeping him warm and cozy in the dog's bed. I believe Rosco waited until Katie was gone for the weekend to let go. Katie coped with the news very maturely and knew her pet was no longer suffering. She prepared funeral arrangements and we said our final goodbyes on July 18th

Photo 6, Rainboots on the floating dock

I was fortunate for the opportunity to work at Camp Adelaide again this summer. My contract started 36 hours after my volunteer gig at Camp Woolsey. I had to rush home, repack, celebrate our wedding anniversary, sleep, and rush to Haliburton. I got to work with the most amazing young women; it was a pleasure to help, assist, and share (my story with) them.
One (LOL moment) highlight would defiantly be the day I said during a safety staff Sunday meeting that "I have never seen a bear here in the 6 years I have worked at Adelaide" and then saw a cub on my rounds before the campers arrived for their week.
I knew this would possibly be my last summer at Adelaide (I thought last summer was the last one but fate changed that), I took the opportunity to visit sites that I had not had the chance to enjoy on my previous volunteer job or as a camper. I took a few super special photos at camp and I said my goodbye to my camp/my home/my dreams.

*Adelaide will be closing in 2019, and will not run summer camping program.

Photo 7, Kirk & CeCe

For our 20th anniversary, we drove to the place where we meet and had a few photos taken together in the yard of the wedding hall. We had our first kiss at the fence in the yard, and we posed there for our picture.

Photo 8, Sarah/"when in Rome"

Sarah is gone to Italy for the school year as a Rotary Student exchange. In November 2017, we found out that she was accepted and in February she found out her country. She has worked very hard to earn this opportunity and I am super proud of her. This is one of many favorite photos of her in Italy, this one is an inside joke, and she looks so beautiful.

Photo 9, Room #2

Oh, room #2 at my doctor's office I have spent many hours sitting there... so many appointments, so many referrals, so many blood work requisitions, so many x-rays, one CT scan, and one MRI later I finally received my diagnosis on November 27th.

---

I just wanted to add a few more photos to this post

Thankful for Right Brain Child; I get to bring my child to be creative and sometimes. I’m lucky enough to play teacher and get creative too. And a funny boss who runs with a good joke… “Chontelle”

I was fortunate to work another summer at camp Adelaide.
I am grateful for the time I worked alongside some amazing women…
I was reunited with Nessie & Synapse for their volunteer weekends.
I saw Pelican grow over the 3 summers she worked at Adelaide;
take the time to jump in the puddles and enjoy the adventure, my friend.
Before I left camp on my last night,
I gave boxes of Girl Guide cookies to the women who travelled overseas to work with us at Adelaide,
you will always hold a special place in my heart…
camp life is hard but so rewarding when you are lucky enough with women like them.
I can’t wait for my Shutterfly artwork to arrive and that
I can add my Ontario camping 2018 badge to the frame.

After an internal struggle throughout the summer, I resigned from my positions with GGC on August 27th.
I am very sad that I wasn’t able to finish my term, but I am grateful for the training sessions and
​the opportunities being ACL provided me.

Speaking of Girl Guide opportunities… we got to be Happy Campers at three different
Girl Guide Ontario camps this year. And one special event in Ottawa…that reunited me with
my best friend Elf. I am grateful for that small amount of time we were able to reconnect
​and it honestly rejuvenated my soul.

Waiting and testing and visiting doctors/specialists and hospitals, etc. was the hardest part…
not knowing what was wrong was agony.
Currently in mindfulness therapy and started physiotherapy for my knee…
Able to sleep now thanks to the sleep clinic’s diagnosis and
trying to live and cope with depression & anxiety and being diagnosed with fibromyalgia.