A Reflection of 2013

Well it has been quite a year! Some very high highs & low lows for us.

On Christmas day 2012, after 10 years together my Dad & Stepmom finally met Aaron's family!
We had Dad, Elizabeth, Aaron's Mom Pat, brother Matt, & Dad Richard over to our new home for Christmas dinner.

In January I started making changes to my diet, and began seeing a naturopath.   I was tested for food sensitivities which showed dairy and eggs were an issue for me.  In February I cut out dairy and eggs completely for 3 months.  In this time, I discovered for the first time in as long as I can remember what it was like to not have tummy pain!

Aaron was working in Nanaimo, but on a part time basis, using up his leave & holidays he had accumulated.  He was spending as much time in Sechelt as possible with his Dad, as well as helping out with the mill.

In February I bought a new car, a 2013 Hyundai Elantra.  This was a great decision, and I have been very pleased with it.

February 24 my best friend Jess & her hubby Dave welcomed Finley to the world:)

In March we celebrated my birthday in Arizona.
We started in Sedona...

Ventured out to the Grand Canyon

We visited our dear friends, Vicki & Pete in Yuma

And watched Team Canada play at Goodyear Park in Phoenix.

In March Aaron went to Victoria & met his godchildren Janet & Robbie, when they were down with their parents Josh & Mary for a visit.

 In April Aaron's Mom came for a visit and we went to the Randy Bachman concert at the Island Savings Centre in Duncan. 

 In May I had my very first real art purchase.  This beautiful painting by a grade 12 Frances Kelsey student.  It reminds me of the waterfall in Spinnel (up north).

I got to watch my nephew Kane play soccer.  He even scored a goal in that game!

 In May we celebrated Aaron's birthday In Oregon.

We checked in on the Chamberlin Cemetery

Ate lots of yummy Mexican food:)

Explored Portland

 

And got a roof rack for the car.

May 25 I created my new blog, An Imperfect Girl Trying to Live a Healthier Life.  This was my way of journaling my journey to living a healthier life.

I decided to give gardening a try this year & it was pretty successful given my neglect to the watering.

In June Aaron's 15 month leave from work began, and he bid farewell to a great watch.

Aaron was spending the majority of his time in Sechelt with his Dad, and I was spending as many weekends as possible in Sechelt.
Fish & Chips at Mission Point Park

Aaron & Dad out for an evening stroll

June 15, Aaron proposed to me in Nanaimo Harbour

Toward the last half of June we booked the venue for our wedding, and the date was set for August 9, 2014.

July 8 we lost Aaron's Dad.  It was a heartbreaking day:(

 Shortly after he passed, Matt & Aaron set some traps in their Dad's boat and took in a beautiful sunset.

Matt's birthday is July 16 & Che's is July 19, so we did our best to celebrate on the 19th by enjoying some lovely dinner at Sweet Water in Gibsons.

July 20 we jetted over to Port Alberni for a partial Anderosov family reunion at my grandparents house.  I'm not sure how it's possible but I have no pictures???
 July 21 We were up to Campbell River as my Mom was in the hospital with another UTI...

 August was a very busy month!
We attended the Odlum Brown VanOpen, which Che organizes annually.  It was sure nice to be treated like a VIP!

Once again Mom found herself with a UTI in the hospital.  Gratefully they discovered it early and she recovered quickly.  She was out of the hospital after a few days, but then back in shortly afterward.  She was there a little longer the second time, but once again bounced back.

We went up to Campbell River to see our friend Lynn in the Musical Ride, and took Kane & Kole (which was our first unsupervised outing:)

We also got our engagement photos at the Spit in Campbell River, taken by Jessica Stirling.

 For the second consecutive year, we attended the Chamberlin annual reunion in Myrtle Creek,  Oregon.

Matt & Che got married:)
Aaron's family from England (Katie, Joey, & Sandy) came over for the celebration.

Our yard got a beautiful new sundeck and fence.

I managed to get a fair bit of riding in during the fall.

For a week in September I attended the Truth & Reconciliation Commission in Vancouver, as a support person for residential school survivors & their families.  It was an amazing event to be a part of, but very hard on the heart.

September 28, I got my wedding dress:) No pictures here...

In October I went to Coastal Black Wineries pumpkin patch with the Stirling clan.

October was an Asian adventure, as Aaron joined Matt, Che, Che's Dad Peter, & Che's uncle Paul as they explored Asia.

Kolkata, India

Angkor Wat, Cambodia

Bangkok,Thailand

North Vietnam

They also spent a night in Hong Kong,  (no pictures).

After he got back, Aaron and I spent a few days at the Old House Spa & Resort.

 In November, we accompanied my Gramps to the Remembrance Day ceremonies in Port Alberni.

 Aaron's Mom came over for a visit, and they put a lovely garden bed in the backyard.

Also in November was the Matthew Good concert at the Port Theatre in Nanaimo.

In early December we had our first snow fall of the winter.

We got all decorated up & ready for the Christmas season.

 Since we love snow so much we went to Charlton, Ontario to visit Aaron's family (Lanny, Renee, Roxanne, & Pat).  They were lovely hosts (and boy was there lots of fabulous food!) and from the moment I met them it felt like I had always known them.

 In December Aaron bought a new (to him) car, a 2012 Ford Focus.

Mom ended up in the hospital again with another UTI and sepsis.  A Christmas miracle had Mom back home by Christmas Eve, just in time for us to bring her some turkey dinner.

We had Christmas Eve dinner with my side of the family in Campbell River with Dad, Elizabeth, Ray, Nicole, Kane, & Kole.

Christmas Day, Jess, Dave, & Finley, Andrea, Andrew, & Matthew came for dinner.

The weekend after Christmas we went to the Sunshine Coast & I got in a lovely visit with my Aunti & Uncle.

We had turkey dinner in Pender Harbour at Aaron's Mom's.

December 3o, we laid Aaron's Dad's ashes to rest.

 And tonight we find ourselves on New Years Eve celebrating 11 years since our first date!
I have set some intentions for next year:
1) Spend more time at home with my sweetie.
2) Take more time for self-care & focus on bettering my health.
3) Let go of anxiety around perfection & embrace my imperfection.
4) Reconnect with friends I really haven't seen since before I left for Tsay Keh. (Sorry friends, as you can see life has been pretty hectic this year, but I haven't forgotten about you!)

Plans for 2014:
In January we are learning how to tap Big Leaf Maple trees with some friends.
In April we are planning a trip to England to visit family.
Hopefully I will be starting my Masters degree in May (fingers crossed).
And last but not least I plan to marry my love, and go on a beautiful honeymoon in August!

Christmas

This Christmas crept up on us like never before.  2013 was a challenging year, and we really didn't get into the Christmas spirit until the moment it arrived.  When it did arrive it was magical.  I think there is magic in the air when children are involved.  We went to Campbell River on Christmas Eve to have dinner with my side of the family.  My Dad always makes a delicious dinner, and this year he actually let me contribute by stirring the gravy;)

We had homemade pumpkin pie, and Papa served Kane & Kole some whipped cream, which they thoroughly enjoyed.

Then it was present time!

Is that Kole or Michelangelo?

Kane opening his guitar

Jam session

Kole opening his 'Cars' race track

Ray assembled the track

Let the races begin! (As I tried out my new camera)

Then we were off to see my Mom & bring her some turkey dinner.  It was a Christmas miracle that she was out of the hospital and back home on Christmas Eve.  Look out for the choo choo...

 Then we jetted back home to prepare for company the next day.
 Christmas Day we had our friends Jess, Dave, & Finley, Andrea, Andrew, & Matthew over for dinner. 

I think Finley is destined to be a baker:)

Me, Andrew, Matthew, Andrea, Finley, Jess, Dave, & Aaron in amidst a plethora of food.

Andrea made a delicious pumpkin pie, and Jess made some yummy chocolate treats.

I'm not sure what made this Christmas so different, but somehow despite the travel and busyness it was very relaxed and joyful.

A Moment of Gratitude

I had originally planned to spend the weekend at home with my sweetie having some quality time, cleaning the house, and preparing for our company on Christmas, and of course sleeping.  It wasn't exactly the weekend I had planned but I am looking at the silver lining in it all...

Friday evening my neighbor & colleague had brought home a gift that had been left at the office for me.  A  beautiful gift given to me by one of the youth I am working with.  I love it!  And little did I know I would be having a run in (the good kind) with a beautiful buck 2 days later.

On Friday night I got a call from my Dad, letting me know he & my Stepmom were in a car accident and thank goodness they were okay.  The vehicle was not.  For the record someone ran a red light, and they happened to be in the wrong place at the wrong time.  Or the right place at the right time if you look at it differently.  It could have been far worse if they had been seconds later.  So on my weekend gratitude list, my Dad & Elizabeth are okay!

The next thing on my gratitude list that came on Friday night...

I don't drink...Ever... We decided to be a little festive and discovered rum & eggnog!  I only had one... for real...  It was lovely with some brie on crackers & red wine jelly.

I wasn't feeling very well Saturday morning.  It has nothing to do with the one rum & eggnog by the way.  I have been really tired and on go mode for so long, my body just said enough, so I listened.  I stayed in bed & slept until 1:30pm.  It was lovely.  As I was laying there slowly getting ready to face the day, and the phone rang.  Mom was on her way to the hospital in septic shock.  So my brother went to suss out the situation and not much later I was headed up island to be with her. 

I was at the hospital until the early morning hours, and I knew she was stable & settled.  Another moment of gratitude I knew Mom would pull through.  Then I went to my Dad's to catch a few hours of sleep.  Next comes another moment of gratitude.  I got to be at Dad's for the usual Sunday pancake breakfast ritual.  When my brother is home from camp he brings Kane & Kole in their pjs to my Dad's on Sunday and they have pancakes.  So I got a bonus visit with the lights of my life! And the funny part, Kane said he knew I would be there.  I swear we have a special connection, that boy & I :)

Kole almost fell into the tree as I took this picture.

Kane standing with pride near Papa & Elizabeth's real Christmas tree.

I popped by the lodge to pick up a few things for Mom.  I went to pick up the flowers (that were dead) we had planted outside her window,  When I came around the corner there was the biggest buck I have ever seen!  We startled each other.  He looked at me, I looked at him, he looked at me, I looked at him.  Then like a flash he took off.  I stood there in awe.

Tonight I drove home came home, and the roads were very wet & it was foggy, so it took a little longer than usual.  I arrived exhausted after doing some errands for my Mom & making sure she was on the road to mending.  She is still quite spacey, but is recovering from yet another urinary tract infection.  I am so grateful she pulled through another one.  I came home & dinner was ready.  We decided to relax tonight. So I sat on the couch with one cat curled up on each end of the couch, my sweetie by my side, and a gingerbread house to build while sipping on yet another rum & eggnog.

It was the perfect end to a crazy weekend.  Home safely with my sweetie, right where I want to be.
GRATITUDE!