Tuesday, April 27, 2010

Jenn's first day!


Well, I know this seems super lame, but I took pictures of Jenn on her first day at her new job. She doesn't know I'm posting on it, but I just wanted some weird public way to say how proud I am of her. This job was definitely a leap of faith, and it is taking trust in God, because she will lose her SUN union hours (as this job is in another union). There aren't many nursing positions at all in this new union, so if she ever wants to go back to SUN, it may be difficult to land a position she wants/likes.

I'm thankful for Jenn, because she's been so willing to work while I go to school. Some days I feel very helpless. I know there will be days ahead when she comes home from work and people have given her a lot of trouble, and then I know there will be days when she comes home excited. My prayer for her is that the good days will far exceed the bad ones. My prayer for her is that this would be a job she loves, and can see herself at long term.

Thanks Jenn, my sweet heart. You're all my blessings at once. I love you, and I'm thankful for all you do for us.

Wednesday, April 14, 2010

Visitor

Jenn's grandma came over for supper tonight. Jenn works most days till 4:30, so supper was up to me. It turned out ok, but that is not the point of this post.

Grandma Marie is an amazing woman. She is British. She was a teenager through WWII in the U.K. As a 17 year old, she enlisted in the Women's Land Army. This involved a lot of farm work. Immediately after the war, she was married to Fred, and moved to Edmonton, where she lived from 1947 till only a few years ago. Almost all of those years were in the same house. Fred died a few years ago, and that's why she moved out to Saskatoon. Her youngest son, and my father-in-law, brought her out to Saskatchewan to help take care of her (he has also brought out Grandma's sister-in-law to take care of her as well...he is another story of an amazing person).

Grandma can tell stories about her youth like they were actually yesterday. In fact, she can recall her youth better than I can recall yesterday. There could be a couple of explanations for this: 1) Grandma's life in her youth was very eventful (war time, etc), thus making it easier to remember, 2) she has a great memory, 3)my life is pathetic and not worth remembering and that is why I can't remember yesterday.

Makes me wonder if I'm wasting my life away. Obviously the major event in Grandma's life was unwanted (the war), and I'm sure she would be perfectly to have lived a quiet life in the U.K. But the war did come, and it brought a young Canadian soldier to the island, who fell in love with a young little British lady, and they would have three boys, the youngest of which would marry and have a daughter who would in turn marry - me. Woot.

This post doesn't really have a linear path. I just want to pay respect to grandma, who is a great story teller, and a walking history book. We should all take some time to ask questions and listen to our elders.