it was a good month

September is one of my favourite months. Em goes back to school, we get into a fall routine, I start making more soups and curries, and all the new boots hit the stores. Also, some of my favourite memories of Bill took place in September, during a three day stay at my house in the beginning of our long distance relationship. You know, any time I get annoyed by those little things he does, I just have to remember how torturous it was to be apart! I appreciate every day that we have to love and laugh. Beth has been here for a month now, and she's adjusting well, considering our families are as different as night and day. She says she's never lived in a house with so much laughter; she finds it fascinating to watch the family dynamic and she completely fits in. Both kids got jobs, at the same mall and just down the hall from one another, and I know that Beth is both thrilled and really nervous, as this is her first time working and the first time she's ever counted on a city bus to get around! The other big news is that Jamie met my birth mother - and I have to say, the day I got that call, I just sat down in the living room and started shaking. It seemed like I would never have that day - to see what she looked like, to see where I get some of my traits. Bill and I were cleaning the kitchen with The Irish Descendents blasting away "Catch the Wind" when I got the text. Jamie: OMG. I just met Penny. She jumped out of her wheelchair and hugged me... Me: OMG! Get a pic! Jamie: I will Jamie: The pictures won't really show it, but HOLY SHIT you look JUST like her. Same eyes, nose, lips. Face shape and skin colour Me: holy shit Jamie: If you had lived really hard, and chopped off your hair, you'd be TWINS. It's freaking me out... I didn't speak to her, but from what Jamie says, she's clean and she's living in a halfway house in Vancouver. She's helping other women get off the street, but she is still not in contact with the rest of the family. If Jamie hadn't have gone out to visit my birth sister, I probably still wouldn't know what she looks like. It was a surreal moment, but a good one. One last thing - How can I separate the paragraphs in my posts? All the text is just jammed together!

checking in

Bill and I recently went camping in the Rocky Mountains and spent the day at Crescent Falls, near Abraham Lake. I love this area! How was your summer? It's been interesting here. In early July I was laid off due to shortage of work, but was grateful that I didn't have too much of an interruption of unemployment benefits! I've also been grateful for the time off so that we could help Jamie move (80 miles to the south) I could learn how to grow vegetables (corn, peas, peppers and onions) and I can get the house ready for Bethany. Beth is Bill's oldest daughter, she's eighteen. He'd been estranged from her for fourteen years, but last fall she searched for & found him. Over the last few months we've been developing a relationship with her, and in a few days she'll be moving in! The timing for this is great! Jamie's moving has opened up the basement, which has a large bedroom, laundry room, living space and bathroom. Emily (who is 15 now) will be moving downstairs and sharing a room with Beth. Although Beth graduated from high school this past June, she'll be attending Em's high school to upgrade her classes before heading off to college. She may only live with us for six or seven months, but we think it'll be a good opportunity for us all to bond. Bill should be home soon, so I'm off to see who is still blogging. Happy Friday!

Hey! It's almost Spring in Alberta

I think I could start posting again! And reading again - haven't done that for awhile...after being laid off last year, I just kind of went into hiding.
Thank goodness most of you are on my facebook account, or else I'd be in total withdrawal.
Have a good weekend!