EdD 2011 Cohort Rocks!

What a fun weekend at Tigh-Na-Mara Resort in Parksville. Our cohort was invited to the Educational Institute to meet and mingle with cohorts from previous years. Well-meet we did!
Above are pictures from our fun and partying. The first one is the pre-party. We gathered to plot and plan and get ready to show the 2009 cohort that we were not only the "new kids on the block", but also the most fun.

A light hearted rumour was spread that the 2011 cohort was "slow" and perhaps not as bright as the 2009 cohort. This good natured but incessant teasing got our cohort to thinking of ways to get them back. We decided that buying some t-shirts and having a saying applied to them would be a fitting way to crash the Saturday night banquet (we would have a captive audience).

So-behind close doors our cohort secretly doned our newly stenciled t-shirts with the following words: Stuqid is as Stupid Does-2011 Eddy

When the cohorts and teachers were all nicely seated waiting for dinner to begin, we marched in giving an eloquent speech thanking the 2009 cohort for all their kind comments and making us feel very welcome. We then ripped our coats open to reveal our t-shirts and yelled "process this!"
The pictures testify to the laughter and fun we had with our statement. With this- we firming postioned our group as the "fun" and certainly not "slow" cohort. I think it was at this moment that our initiation into the Doctor of Education was complete.

We danced the night away with our teachers and all the attending cohorts. I cannot remember having that much fun and I will remember it for years to come.
To my 2011 Eddy cohort...I feel so fortunate and blessed to be with you. I know you will be my friends for life and I look forward to many more years of conspiring against the other cohorts and wearing our t-shirts to all the Educational Institutes as a reminder that we RULE!

Renovations and New Grandbabies

As I prepare for the birth of my second grand child, I have come to realize that my downstairs is old and in desperate need of some renovations.
My daughter Melody and her husband Scott, have decided to have their baby in Kelowna rather than Fort McMurray. When they come here for Christmas- Melody will stay until the birth of her son in February. Scott will come back at that time and stay until their baby boy is able to travel.

This decision set off a flurry of excited activity with my desire to make a beautiful and comfortable "home away from home" for them. I surveyed the downstairs and decided the old carpets just had to go. I also wanted to buy new beds and a crib so they could settle in (perhaps some ulterior motive on my part to encourage them back often)LOL.

As you can see my the pictures above-I have put new flooring in the rec room. The room still needs coffee tables (ordered and should be here shortly) and some flowers and decoration pieces. The large TV can't be seen in the pictures. I love the floors.

I decided that new carpets would be best for the 2 bedrooms downstairs for warmth. Because I don't have time to paint- I have decided to work with the wall color my daughter painted when she lived at home, and buy new bedding to match. Note the new faux leather queen bed and side table. Also, I will have an espresso colored crib in the room soon. The carpet is very soft to walk on and will keep my daughter, son- in- law and grandson warm.
I am doing a similar theme in the 2nd room (minus the crib) so I can have guests (you are all welcome to visit).

I am a very proud and excited Nana. I already have a grand daughter named Emily- and I love her very much and now have a crib and nice room that she can bring her mommy and daddy to for a visit. Being a Nana is the best role in the world. I look forward to having all my grandchildren visit often in Kelowna.

Getting Fit for Life

I have decided to take on a new health life plan...AKA...diet. Above is my before picture taken this year.
As a child, teenager and young woman, I was always thin. In fact my nick name (thanks mom) was "bones" during my growing up years. Even after having all my children I was thin. I could eat what I wanted and I never exercised.

I swear that when I turned 30 my body decided to add salt to my already open wound and throw on some extra weight. 10 extra pounds to be exact! I dealt with this thinking that I could easily take it off whenever I wanted so I didn't give it much thought...big mistake...huge...because I didn't take it off and when my 40s rolled around the weight kept creeping on. Suddenly I was faced with 25 extra pounds. Hmmmmm-doesn't look that great when a person is used to being thin!!
Many diets ensued - sometimes with good success for a while...other times disastrous with me gaining even more. I decided that my "metabolism" was in slug mode or that I surely had a thyroid problem...funny thing is my doctors disagreed...what do they know!(LOL)

When my 50s unceremoniously rolled around this summer, I found myself even heavier. Do you know that whenever I am walking down the street and see myself in a store window- I am completely shocked at the person staring at me? I wonder who that is until I realize it is me and my heart sinks. I am equally shocked when I try on clothes in a store and they don't fit or are tight...I automatically check the size in case I brought the wrong one into the change room. Good grief...can we say denial??

So-why am I telling you this? I have decided that I want to be a healthy and fit woman for the rest of my life. I picture above is my before picture so you can all see me at my highest weight (and no...I won't say what that is!!). I figure that if I share this with you, I will be more inclined to stick to my program so that I won't be humiliated in front of you all. Therefore, I will keep you all in the loop and post pictures periodically to chronical my journey to health and fitness. So...stay tuned!!

Find a Happy Place...Find a Happy Place

Well-the busy semester has officially set in complete with busy classes, clinical practice in hospital, team meetings, committee meetings, research, and not to be forgotten...my doctoral homework!

I had it all worked out this summer. I had a plan. I prepped. I completed and posted my class power points. I updated all my teaching notes, I organized all the class rooms for my teachers. I ensured everything was in order. So my question is why am I experiencing the stress of keeping my head above float? I am sure I am not alone and that most teachers and university instructors feel the same. You can plan...but then life happens and you have to adjust, change plans, and be flexible. Well-let me tell you-that is easier said than done.

Each week in class-I have issues with the electronics...come on UBC ...update the equipment all ready!! Students faint in clinical practice looking at the first dressing change...I think if they knew how much paper work was involved-they would eat breakfast before coming to clinical! LOL. I plan the perfect community schedule for my students...but they want to change it "because it doesn't sound interesting". Hmmmm how to please 125 community students is beyond me!

Then to add to this chaos is my doctoral work which is well under way for the semester. We have several assignments due this semester and the first one was due this week. As well, I have to drive to Vancouver for the weekend to attend classes. Though I am complaining...and believe I am...I love this new knowledge so I guess I will have to find a way to fit everything in.

Okay-now that I have vented...and thanks so much for listening...I am determined to look on the bright side and "find my happy place".
Life is amazing. Along with the chaos, it is filled with many blessings such as my daughters who never fail to phone regularly "just to chat". It is filled with friendships that will carry me into my old age. It is filled with accomplishments such as publishing my book. It is knowing that I am loved. In spite of the chaos, I wake up happy and joyfully sip on a fresh cup of coffee and plan my day. I always leave for work with a smile on my face.
Remember the movie "It's a Wonderful Life". Well-that is each of our lives. We are needed, loved and making a difference in the world!

Here is a quote from the Dalai Lama:
"When we feel love and kindness toward others, it not only makes others feel loved and cared for, but it helps us also to develop inner happiness and peace."

We are Having a Boy!

Our family has had a wonderful week. My daughter Melody is 5 months pregnant and came to Kelowna to have an ultra sound done to determine the gender of the baby. We have been holding our breath wondering whether we would be buying frilly dresses or jeans. On Monday the 19th Melody, myself, her sister Simone, and her mother in law Tina drove to "Sneak a Peak" ultra sound centre where we found out that Melody and Scott are having a son. We were jumping up and down crying and laughing with excitement in the room. You will see in the picture above that Melody is laying on the bed telling her husband the news and Tina and I are giving the "thumbs up". Simone graciously took the picture. It is amazing and certainly a true miracle to see this little boy so perfect and sucking his thumb, kicking his mommy, covering his eyes with his hands (as if to say-"quit looking at me"). Tina bought Melody a stuffed bear from the centre. They record the baby's heart beat and put it in the bear. When we squeeze the bear's tummy-voila-there is his precious 135 beats per minute heart rate. I am so happy and blessed that I will have a grandson soon.

After leaving the centre, we went on a shopping spree buying blue everything! Tina and I laugh about how we whipped out our ultra sound picture for the sales clerks saying "do you want to see our grandson?" LOL. Of course our little grandson weighs only 11 ounces and is small and fairly skinny yet-but to us he is a big beautiful boy!!
We decided to have a "reveal" party for family. As you will see in the pictures above, I bought blue cupcakes, and Tina put together an assortment of blue things such as blue corn chips, blueberries, blue cheese, blue napkins, and my personal favourite...cocktail wieners!! We had a wonderful evening and celebrated our blessings and ohhhhed and ahhhhed over all the baby clothes Melody will take home to Fort McMurray. So- here is to the miracle of life, precious babies and grandbabies, and God bless little boys!!

The Day in the Life of an Educator

Summer vacation is over (not that I saw much sun) and the busy university semester has begun. My summer vacation was spent at UBC Vancouver taking courses for my doctor of education degree. You see - although I am a nursing instructor, I want to learn more and become the best educator I can be because I love teaching. Within the nursing program, I teach the pediatric theory and seminar content. This picture is my class of 35 eager nursing students and was taken yesterday. They are working on a case study.

Thinking back to yesterday I have to laugh and remember that being flexible is part of being a good educator. I dutifully went into class early to set up my DVD to the overhead projector, and ensure my power points were open and ready to go. It turns out the projector was broken. Never a happy moment when I have an hour long video to show. Ahhhhhhh. Oh and just to let you know...I teach a 6 hour class (yup-I deserve a medal!). So-back to the broken overhead - I called IT and asked for immediate assistance. They were busy but said they would come when they could. Okay-panic set in as the DVD I was showing was a full hour and discussed the normal stages of pediatric growth and development.
After this video and a case study, I discuss abnormal growth and development and pediatric death and dying. I find it hard to talk about "abnormal" processes when I haven't taught the "normal" processes first. The eager faces of the students caused me to reach into the recesses of my brain and think up something else to do while waiting for the IT people to fix my projector. Those who know me -know that I can talk the hind leg off a horse so I managed to fill in time!

Two men showed up and starting climbing on tables to reach the projector, banging, talking, and playing with my laptop to "test" the video and sound-all while I was teaching. LOL It was so distracting- but also mildly funny. After an hour they had it fixed and I managed to show the video and get through my content on time. All part the the day in the life of an educator!!

In spite of things that go wrong and the occasional stressful moments, I love teaching, and enjoy sharing my knowledge, experience and stories to help students learn about this specialty. I am thankful everyday for my amazing job and being able to teach topics I am passionate about. So-here is to another year of teaching in the nursing program! And here is to all the educators out there-have a blessed and joyful year!!

Happy Birthday Danielle

Today is your 26th birthday my darling daughter Danielle. You have grown in to a beautiful young woman, and I am proud of you and who you have become.

I remember the summer before you were born. You were due August 26 but decided since there was free food and a soft place to sleep that you would come out later. Funny that you still have this same mentality today!! LOL

When I was in labour (yup - 36 hours) it felt like it would never end. I remember saying to your Dad-"I am going to die-you will have to care for the other girls on your own". He told me later that he was trying not to laugh because I was so serious and so cranky!! After you were born I cried for hours thinking I had the most beautiful and perfect baby ever born on this Earth. Many of the nurses and doctors cried too because I was so happy. I kept saying "look how perfect she is".

You were such a happy baby and you were a happy go lucky toddler. You learned everything so quickly and your sisters loved you very much. One day after Sunday School you announced that you learned how to spell God. We eagerly encouraged you to spell it and you loudly and proudly said "D O G". We laughed our hearts out and asked you to spell it out for everyone we knew. My goodness we were mean!!

When you started school you wanted to learn everything there was to learn in one day. At the parent teacher interview your teacher told me that you rummaged through her garbage daily looking for blank work sheets that you could bring home to work on!! You were so desperate to learn that you would read the encycopedia and copy all the words on the page (grade one). You would sit beside me on the couch and read a magazine. One day you said (and looking as nonchalant and grown up as you could) "mom look I am reading a mesageen". (translated-magazine). I laughed until I almost peed myself. To this day we tease you about reading mesageens.

You loved your two younger sisters and carried them around like they were your dolls. You taught them to read, tie their shoes, learn the alphabet and many other wonderful things. To this day they are very close to you.

Teaching you to drive almost turned me grey. Danielle you were the WORST driver ever. I feared for my life on many occasions during the driving lessons. Do you remember mixing up the gas and brake peddle while learning to park and hitting the chain link fence? Do you remember mixing up the gas and brake peddle while backing out of our driveway and when you realized it you hit the gas with all your weight while we were going backwards down the road at top speed? Yup-that one nearly did me in. When you finally stepped on the brake-I told you to pull back in the driveway and I went in the house and cried I was so scared. You have gotten better over the 10 years you have driven!

I am proud of you for accomplishing your goal of obtaining a BA and then an MA. You work hard and are well respected in your place of employment. You are a wonderful and dependable friend and employee. You are the best sister ever and an amazing daughter. How did I get so blessed? I wish you all the joy, happiness and blessings possible for your life. Thank you for being you!