A little corner of home!

Today, we headed out to the Windmill garden center in Medecine Hat. I have wanted to go there for a month now, to see the butterflies. Am I ever glad we did!

I wasn't sure what to expect when we stepped in the entrance of the garden center. You couldn't miss the place with its few windmills standing tall among the trees and power lines in one of the neighborhood of the city, some even towering the trees near by. We walked through the place filled with beautiful planters, fairy garden kits, garden benches, fountains and so on. We followed the painted flowery concrete "road" that led to the house of butterfly.

I couldn't believe the beauty that was concealed behind the plastic curtains you had to push through in order to get in the papillon's house. A tropical garden just like you would see in my home island! The garden itself was filled with a flora that was so familiar to me. It felt almost magical! It was like walking in a little corner of the home I've left so many years ago. It was like a dream but, I was wide awake and could feel the humidity that used to be my everyday. I was in love with the place and didn't want to leave. Everything was beautiful! Everything just belonged together! The main attractions, the butterflies, were flying around ignoring us and continuing on with their daily grind.

While they were without a doubt a sight to be seen, the vegetation and humidity stole the show for me. I knew most of them by names! I have planted a few of them in my teenage years to sell in the market. I have "hunted" down a few of the rare species with my parents, so that they could grow them in their big green house. I have grudgingly raked the leaves of some of them in my youth. They were everywhere in my parent's yard! I knew them! They weren't new to me! They were beautiful! I wanted it to be my garden! A "real" home away from home.

We walked around admiring every butterflies that gently flew by or rested on leaves. The boys were excited to see the koi fishes, turtles, birds, quails and caterpillar. They loved it! They were good at not touching anything, and not running. House rules! They didn't last in there as long as I did. It was too hot, too humid for them. They ventured out to the really really small petting zoo, and ate snacks while waiting for me to join them. I did eventually, for a minute or two, but back I went again. I stayed a bit, snapping photos here and there, smiling, and reminiscing every time a plant would remind me of an event, a memory from my past. I loved it there!

After a few hours, we went to the mall, ordered some food and sat at the table in the mall's food court. The magic was gone! Back to reality!

I like where our "adventures" lead us. We all had fun! The boys wanted to play with the turtles and go swim in the "lake" with them. They told us once we got home that today was a fun day, and I'm glad they felt that way.

A work in progress!

I've been working on losing weight, AGAIN! When we moved to Taber, I gained too much weight and undid everything I worked on while living in Lloydminster. I stopped working out daily, I stopped taking care of myself, and indulged in the tasty treats I like. I could probably find excuses to my behavior but I am not going to. I did it and now I am striving to undo it one day at a time.
Doing good so far! One day at a time, one workout at a time, slowly but surely!!!

I am wearing the same shirt in both pictures.

         The shirt is so loose now!          

I'm not quite where I want to be but it still feels good to be where I'm at. My sons have been like mini coaches to me, always reminding me or asking me if I'm exercising today. They do some of the moves with me, well try to, and just feel so proud of themselves for working out alongside mama. They are the boost I need to keep going. There are days where I feel like I am not making progress but when I get dressed in the morning I get so excited when my clothes are no longer tight and actually look good on me, and some have room to grow in (not that I want that). I am happy!

This is not a good picture of me but

you can see how the shirt is a bit big on me now.

Canada Day 2016!

Happy Canada Day 2016 to this beautiful country I get to call my home away from home.

We planned our day well ahead this year and thought for sure it would be a great one. Free breakfast at Confederation park, followed by activities galore for the boys, etc etc. A fun fill day!

Thursday morning came along and I decided that I wanted to make breakfast for my three favorite Canadians, so the plan changed a little but nothing major.

Around eight, we all got up feeling rested and off to the kitchen I went to make, pancakes, cut the strawberries in quarters, and put them in the plate with the raspberries. Cooked up some bacon, some homemade hash browns, and got the orange juice out and the whipping cream and placed everything neatly onto the plates I had set up on the table the night before. Everybody was happy, and all the tummies were filled. Once all the dishes were washed, we got ready and left for a much anticipated day of fun... well, we got there, walked around, sang the anthem, watch the flag raised, the boys mostly Yann went in the bouncing castle, and that was it. We either went too early or things just seemed unorganized this year.

Little Nutbrown Hare!

M&M

So we took matters in our own hands and turned a disappointment into a really really fun day. We went home, put on our bathing suits, packed some healthy food, and off to the lake we went. The boys played on the beach and in the water, we went and hung out on the pontoon smilingly admiring the boats, and their occupants, and swum some more. We all tanned! It was so gorgeous outside despite the rain we had the night before. I love being near the water. It reminded me of all the holidays spent at my grandma's by the beach. I felt homesick but happy that I have this Country as a second home and I wouldn't want it to be anywhere else but here. After a tasty snack/lunch, we packed our things and went home. Once there, we filled the boys' little pool and they enjoyed more water fun, laughing and playing until it was time to take a bath. We made some yummy supper then off geocaching we went. To end our day, we grabbed some Slurpee and ate red dinosaur jello as a treat! It was a long but beautiful day!

Canadian Colors! A boat just like we have them in Tahiti!

My three favorite Canucks!

Dino Jello!

We were planning to go to Fort Steele, BC on Saturday (today), but we found out that the stream train we wanted to ride, was out of service until the fourth of July so we decided to wait for another week end to go.

Making memories as a family always makes me happy. It makes us happy! The boys love it when we tell them we're going for a new "adventure" as a family. Adventures don't have to be costly, they just have to be fun and enjoyed by all. We went camping a few weeks ago and that was a BLAST!!!! The boys were so happy and excited that they THANKED us for taking them camping. That's what it is all about! You can make memories anywhere. In your own backyards, your own county, province or neighboring places. As long as you are doing it, that's what matters! Love your family! Give them your time!  

Tomorrow takes us to a new adventure! And next week end, we are off camping again! How I love summer!!!!

I hope you all had a happy day celebrating! There are a lot of beautiful places to see in this great beautiful Country.

ps: Canada Day picture found on google! 

Treasure Hunting!

When I was serving in the Young Women's presidency a few years ago, there was an activity we did in the fall/winter that was among the favorite thing I have done with the girls. We went geocaching!

It has now been one, among many, of the favorite things we enjoy doing with our boys, and we call it, treasure hunting. It sounds more exciting and fun for the boys, as they (I'm pretty sure) imagine themselves being pirates looking to find hidden treasures.

Recently, we have started a new hunt based on the mother goose's rhymes, where we have to collect six clues before getting to the final cache and discovering what it holds. It is the longest one we've done, and it is quite exciting! We went geocaching for a new "treasure" tonight and found the location of the cache but, somehow, whoever hid it forgot to mention that you can only find the cache during operating hours so, that was a bummer.

Geocaching nowadays is easier than it was back then since you can now use your smart phone to do it.

We keep our loot bag in the van so we always have something on hands to replace the treasure that my little pirates would like to keep from the "chest". It is so much FUN!

Here's the link to the geocaching website where you can create your free account then download the app from the app store or play store and off you go. I recommend it! It is a lot of fun!

It's happening!

My boys are both entering the fun world of preschool, learning without me, and starting their journey in the education system. And what a journey it would be for them! On Monday, we got to go in and visit their classroom so that we could all get a feel for it, and meet the teachers.

At first, I wasn't planning to register little M but he was so excited about it all, and wasn't shy being around the teacher that it seemed like the natural thing to do. Fall of 2016! Yes, this is truly happening! The boys are growing and there's nothing I can do about it! I am excited for them! Sad but truly excited.

Because Marc would be in a different group, they wouldn't be going to school at the same time which would allow me to have more one on one time with either one of them. I am looking forward to that! We have our monthly date with them separately but this time, we could have little rituals, or "traditions' that would be just ours and would be precious moments for me, before they grow up even more and conscientiously decide that they don't want to hang out with me anymore.

I think transitioning into this new normal would be paved with mixed feelings, excitements and probably some frustrations, especially regarding the early morning wake up calls, but it should be fun, right? Who am I kidding, I'll probably ball the night before and the day of. My kids have never been to daycare. They have been babysat only a few times in their lives. I spent most of this past four years with them. Everywhere I went, they went. Most everything I do, give or take a few things, I do for them or with them. I have been ME-ER than me with them than I have been with myself even when I whined about the fact that I need time to be ME. I'm a mother and without them I wouldn't be. I am a person too, I am ME but without them a part of me is missing. I'll be sad BUT I'll be happy too. This is life! We give, we take, we compromise here and there, we adapt to changes.

Here's to this new chapter in parenthood!

Castle River Bridge!

FATHERS!

Yesterday, the Town of Taber and especially some community organisations put together a free BBQ dinner which was open to the whole town in honor of celebrating fatherhood and fathers. What a great idea I thought it was! I think fathers are not celebrated enough so I was quite happy to see that this town cared enough to do such thing.

This post is for all the Fathers in my life!

To my dad, who has taught me valuable lessons about work, service, family, budgeting, and open mindedness. Thank you for all you have done for me. You were my first love, my whole, my best friend. I learned to serve, cherish, and love our family, and friends from you. You taught me how to give unselfishly and taught me a great deal about charity through the example you were in helping the people around you whether they were family, friends, coworkers or even strangers. I am grateful for your teachings. I am grateful for the values you have instilled in me and for teaching me to love my people, the Tahitian people. Although I might not be daddy's little girl anymore. Although time, distance and other reasons have altered the wonderful relationship we had, I thank you for all that you gave me, for all that I am and all that I learned. I hope you knew how much I LOVED YOU and how much I still do LOVE YOU.

To my brothers, thank you for the examples you are to me. What great men you are! I couldn't be prouder to call you my brothers. You know how to love unconditionally and give willingly without expecting anything in return. You always so wonderfully and so simply teach us about what really matters in life and how to enjoy it. You are my living heroes! I know how much you love me, love my husband, and my boys. I hope you know how much I LOVE YOU too!

To my grandpas (even though I only knew one out of the three of you), uncles, cousins and nephews who are all fathers now, thank you for the great dads you are. When I think about our upbringing and all that we have been through together and all that we did together, I feel so much pride about the fathers you are. The fathers you have become and the wonderful, beautiful, intelligent children you are raising. Our humble beginnings have proven to be a blessing for each one of us. I am grateful for YOU, for our childhood together and the protection, care and love you have shown me. I LOVE YOU all dearly.

To my father in law, thank you for teaching Marc about work ethic. Thank you for raising him in the gospel and getting him on a mission. It has taught him how to study. He was made a better man. And of course, we were able to meet.

Last but not least, to my husband, my love, thank you so much for the extraordinary man and father you are. I am so grateful for you. You have made me a better person by teaching me through example of the importance of a gospel centered life. I am grateful for the many things you do for me daily and the love, patience, and respect you have for our boys. Thank you for loving us unconditionally. Thank you for providing for us. Thank you for the time we spend together. For the unselfish person you are. I am grateful for you, for your values, your integrity and work ethic. I am grateful for all that you have taught me for the past thirteen years. It is so easy to love and care for you. You lift me up when I am down. Cheer me up when I am sad. You never complain when I have my bad days. I am grateful that you let me sleep in on week ends and never expect me to do anything. I know that you know how much we love you. I am so thankful that our sons have you as a father. You always teach/talk to them when they have done something bad never harshly and always patiently. They can always count on you for comfort when they get hurt, or a cuddle just because they want one or playtime and fun because you always and no matter what, stop what you are doing to play with them. I am thankful that you always find and give of your time to our sons. You are the greatest man I know! You are my only love, my whole, my best friend. As you tell me often " I LOVE YOU TO THE MOON AND BACK."

To all of you wonderful fathers out there. THANK YOU!

CELPIP

Wednesdays are becoming my favorite days of the week. Every Wednesday around 6:25 pm, I leave my place and walk to the Taber & District Community Adult Learning Association's building to take evening classes to "study" English and get ready to take the exam, called CELPIP, in order to be able to apply for Canadian Citizenship. I enjoy meeting the other foreigners, mostly Mennonites and an Australian lady who participate in the classes and get to meet some of the employees there.

I never thought I would ever try to get  Canadian Citizenship but here I am, a decade later, and I am finally making the plunge. If it wasn't for my children I probably wouldn't even try to get it. I LOVE this beautiful country that my children so proudly call home. Almost daily, the boys remind us that they are Canadian and that they love Canada. I want to be able to always be with my children (you know just in case I can't be a resident anymore), and be wherever they are. I want to simplify my residing in this country without having to renew or deal with a lot of forms, papers to fill (not that I mind them), and be able to travel freely between here and the United States without having to pay $14 every couple years to the U.S borders. I mean $14 is not a big deal but when you forget about it and travel to the States then realize that you have forgotten about it, well let me tell ya, It is not funny being taking into custody and having to run around the airport to find a place to fill and pay the fee in question, long story. I will also be able to finally switch all my official papers to Bennett. People always struggle with my maiden name, and at Church, my records are under Tainanuarii which is a pain for the priesthood brethren to say when I need blessings or setting apart. Having dual citizenship might have its benefits too so why not do it? The only thing that will change for me, once I become an official Canadian citizen, is that I would finally be able to vote. That is the only difference between being a PR (permanent resident) and a Citizen. No big deal right?

The English classes are quite simple. Having had 10 years and some of, learning/"practicing" it daily, I think it is safe to say that I am not doing too badly at it. I am acing all of the work we have been doing so far and occasionally am learning something new about grammar which is, I have to say, quite exciting! Few more weeks to go then I can apply to take the exam in Lethbridge, and go from there. Will be applying for the boys dual citizenship too.

Tahitian/French is what I truly am. Becoming a Canadian will be awesome. All of the Canadians I personally know are terrific people. I love them! I love this beautiful country, and I couldn't be happier to call it home.

Finding patience!

Becoming a mother four years ago, I realized that patience was a quality I have taken for granted and just assumed I will remain that patient person I have been, most of my life, and stayed that way all of my years but, how little did I know.

My firstborn came along and although he brought me a happiness I have longed for, he also challenged me in a quality that I so proudly thought I have mastered for years.

A month ago, I was shaken badly by the guilt, and the intensity of how upsetting losing patience could be when all I did, it seemed, was striving to be the nicest, kindness, and fun mother I knew I could be. In times like this, I mostly fall apart, crying for help to make it through a not so unfamiliar rough day. I lost it! I lose it sparingly throughout the month and occasionally, just occasionally though,  have a whole week of just losing it again and again. Why is losing patience so much easier than trying to find it? What do you do to find it?

This past month since my "break down", I made it an even bigger goal to find patience daily. Finding patience with myself first, and with my children. I made some "posters" that read FIND PATIENCE and plastered them on the walls of our apartment as a visual reminder to find it rather than lose it and it has worked so far for me. Last week, I finally took them down and I am still working on this goal of finding what I seem to lack as a mother. This month has been a good one so far with no rough days and more peace in my mind and less guilt. I am striving! I am doing! I am not quite there. Slowly but surely. One day, I hope, I will master it again.

I love my children. While they go through their own roller coaster of emotions leading to tantrums and outbursts or plain old refusal of wanting to do what you would like them to, I know I am responsible for choosing to be impatient in those moments. It is me that needs to change! I know it isn't going to happen over night. The challenge is on. The challenge starts with finding patience with yourself first. Here's to finding patience!

Bye bye pumpkin!

I sold my pumpkin today! Pumpkin is the bike I bought last year so I could get riding again and do something I have always enjoyed doing. It was my way to distress, have time to myself and take a break from my everyday  routines. Even though I didn't get to bike as much as I wanted and only put just over 200 km on my pumpkin, I fully enjoyed it. If it wasn't for pumpkin, I wouldn't have found the cancerous lump in my right inner thigh. I won't lie but I felt sadness when the buyer took the bike away from me. She has been my favorite bike so far.

As a teenager, I spent a lot of time biking. Wednesdays were my favorite days. I used to bike 15 Ks just to go visit my cousin and spend time with her. And when my friends were in the town I lived in, we would hop on our bikes and go pretty much anywhere we wanted too.

Biking is that one thing Marc and I have in common that we enjoy doing. We've owned different bikes, each, throughout our married life and keep upgrading them every few years. While I am more of a road biker, Marc is more into downhill biking and mountain biking. He gets to bike with a group of friends he made here and with the weather being so beautiful in southern Alberta, they have done a few outings already which makes me happy for my husband.

This week is week 3 of rehabilitating my leg. Week 1 was really painful. I was only able to bike for 20 minutes a day and was left feeling disappointed each time for not being able to do more. Week 2, I pushed myself starting with half an hour and by the end of the week was able to bike for an hour, the last two days of the week. The pain was there but it was manageable. Looking forward to week three for my goal is to raise the time to an hour and a half.  I am biking in my apartment for now and hope, if the weather permits it, to take my bike on the road soon.

My biking goals for this year are, not in any particular order:
-getting a new road bike,
-biking from Taber to Coaldale,
-biking from Taber to Lethbridge,
-putting at least a 1000 km on my bike,
-bike as much as I can by myself and as a family,
-just enjoying biking really.

A sister in our ward and I were talking about maybe entering our stake triathlon coming up soon. Members would be able to, either, enter it individually or as a relay team. She would do the 2 km run, I would do the 10 km bike ride and we just need someone to do the swimming part. That would be so much fun if we can do it.

MY PUMPKIN!

2014 Norco Storm 7.2

Photo taken last year.

Photo taken a couple weeks ago.

MY NEW BIKE!

2014 Kona Blast.

Marc bought it last year for himself but upgraded to a downhill bike a few months after.

This one will be mine now until I hopefully get my new road bike. This bike would definitely be an upgrade from pumpkin and should be a good ride.

I am excited!!! She should be a blast! Might call her pumpkin too.

A week end in our house!

After trying a few time to go back to Lloydminster over the past few months, we were finally able to make it happen this past week end.

If you haven't heard by now, we still have our house for sale back up north. It has been on a market for 15 months now.

We left Taber around 6 pm on Friday and made it to Lloyd around 11:30 pm. The night before, my sweet husband made pizza, from scratch,for us to munch on in the car, and I prepared sandwiches and snacks to enjoy, if pizza wasn't enough. The drive was long but enjoyable. The boys watched a couple movies, and had a snooze while Marc and I got to talk. 

We were happy to be home and the boys were beyond excited to see their bedrooms and as they call it, "mama's house". They ran around opening all the cupboards/closets and were marveling about all the things they would see exclaiming each time how amazing they were. Marc and I expressed our common feeling of missing the life we had in this home of ours and how we missed the spacious rooms we had that we are now lacking living in a two and a half bedroom apartment. How beautiful our house is! How sad it is to know that it remains empty day after day without anyone to enjoy all that it has to offer. After reminiscing about the life we once had there, we played a bit with the boys, tried to watch a movie and off to bed we went.

The next day, we called our realtor agent letting her know that we wouldn't be renewing our contract with her, and asked her to bring the key to our house back to us. Marc then proceeded to call a new agent whom we will be relisting with once our house is taking off the MLS listing.

After dealing with switching Real Estate Agency, we went for a drive to check out what was new in Lloyd and stopped by the mall. It's amazing how many new stores they have in the Border City. Big name stores!

Once home, I got my camera out and started taking pictures of our house to give to the realtor in case hers, well how do I say it, SUCKS! Let's be honest, some of these real estate agent do a poor job at taking pictures. Our former realtor took such crappy pics of our house that I had to take some myself, with my phone, and sent them to her, which she used on MLS. So I didn't want to risk it with this one and wanted to make sure there were decent pictures to be shown when our house is back on the market.

We had lunch and went out to do a bit of shopping, and headed to the Swendsens for dinner and a visit with a few friends. It was an enjoyable time with good food, great catching up and some awesome laughs. Marc left for a while to meet up with our new realtor agent. We went home at a decent time so we can have a good night rest and get ready for Church the next day.

It was nice to see old friends at Church! We visited when we could and hugged as soon as we saw each other. After the 3 hours block was done, we said goodbye and left for Taber. I missed our friends for sure. I MISSED my house terribly but cannot say I missed the weather there.

When we left Taber on Friday it was 28C and it was only 1C when we got to Lloyd Friday night, and -4C when we left Lloyd on Sunday.

We are hoping this year that our house will finally sell. A few friends in Lloyd are planning to pray, and fast in our behalf so that we can sell our house. The fast is to be taking place this coming week end.

Despite this, we are grateful to have a roof over our head. We are grateful for wise decisions, and budgeting that keeps us going. Grateful for the blessings this past year has brought and hope for more to come whether big or small. If things don't work out the way we want, there is always our Heavenly Father's way.

Here are a few pics of our beautiful home! We've done so much to it! If you saw our house when we bought it 9 years ago, it didn't look anything like this.

THE KITCHEN: 

I had so much fun painting the kitchen cupboards

while my boys were playing with pots and pans. Marc installed the laminate flooring. It was supposed to be temporary until we put new hardwood but our plans changed. We wish sometimes we could finish the renos like we planned years ago.

THE BEDROOMS:

Beside the window, everything else is new in little M's room. Hardwood flooring, new paint color, new baseboards, casing and trim and doors.

I had fun decorating it when it was both Y's then M's bedroom.

 Same as for M's room, everything else in Y's room is new. I loved the yellow room!

 My favorite thing about our bedroom is the birch hardwood floor. Everything is new there too except for the window. Windows and kitchen were going to be our next big projects but...

BATHROOMS:

Love our blue bathroom. Everything in there is new even the window.

I absolutely love it! We went 6 years without a proper shower in the bathroom upstairs, The only shower was in the bathroom downstairs.

The bathroom downstairs was gutted out too. Everything is new beside the window.

We rebuild it back in 2010. We put cedar wood in the shower.

 THE LIVING ROOM:

We did new paint, casing, baseboards, trims, took off wood paneling, and wall paper, and put in new doors on the closet.

The front door is the same, I just repainted it white and added a new door lock on.

 BACK YARD:

The shed Marc built! And our new fence in the back. 

We were so excited when we started building our new fence all around our property. The old white one was such an eye sore, and it was falling apart. 

 I worked really hard on landscaping our back yard.

I did most of it on my own since Marc was sick. It was fun for me!

 OUR HUMBLE ABODE!

New paint, shingles, flower beds, plants.

Update on my LMS!

I get asked a lot about how I have been doing with my cancer and all.

Two months to the day I had my surgery, I started feeling pain right where they took the tumor out. It worried me and kept me up at night so I called my family doctor and went to see him about my concerns. He was quite positive that I just needed to start rehabilitating my leg a bit and suggested that I either see a physiotherapist or start biking slowly and doing knee exercises to strengthen my leg muscles.

I am doing x-rays in July to check if there are any signs of the cancer, and will be seeing my doctor in Calgary in August to discuss the results of those x-rays.

Somehow, I have been looking forward to this. It will certainly put my mind at ease. Although I have faith, and am filled with hope, it will be lying to say that, "fear" of recurrence of this cancer is never in the back of my mind. While I do not think of it daily, it occasionally finds its way back in my thoughts and makes me wonder what the future has in store for me.

I am grateful everyday that my trial was short and my "fight" so small that I try as much as I can to live life fully, well at least try to. Life is good!

PS: LMS stands for Leiomyosarcoma.

Twas a GOOD day!

We went to Calgary today for my follow up appointment with Doctor Mack. It has been almost a month since I was last at the Foothills hospital. I was really excited to go and talk to my doctor.

January 28th, I had my surgery, later than previously planned, but had it nonetheless. Everything went well except for the fact that I had to have a spinal anesthetic instead of the one they were planning to have with the tube going into my mouth. I was awake during most of the surgery but zoned in and out occasionally due to lack of sleep and nausea. After the surgery, I waited outside for twenty minutes before being pushed to my room. I started feeling nauseated again and was given some anti nausea medications. Once I was in my room, the nausea was gone but I couldn't feel my legs and waited patiently for the anesthetic to wear off. I couldn't wait to see Marc. We were apart for 4 hours, and I was worried he might be bored and hungry. When he finally came I was quite happy to see him and feel his hands in mines (so cheesy I know, lol.). We laughed, and talked and respectfully and patiently let the nurses come and check on me every fifteen minutes. I love nurses and always do my best to be patient with them and be polite.
Doctor Mack had called Marc just after the surgery was done and was quite positive about the whole procedure so we were hopeful that all was well. There was hope for me to go home that same day but that didn't happen, of course. I was missing my boys who were in Lethbridge with their uncle and aunt. The first thing I did once I was in my room is to ask for a drink and food. I had ice first and was allowed to eat regular food at supper time. Marc was allowed to stay the whole night with me so I made space for him in the bed, I was so happy that he got to stay with me. Once the feelings came back in my legs, I went out for a walk up and down the hallway. I did pretty well considering I just had surgery and felt no pain at all. I was painless from that time on and still am today. Marc snicked out to get us some A&W food (don't judge me haha) later on at night and we watched T.V until we were ready to go to bed. We visited with my room mate who happened to be from Vermilion. Morning came, Marc and I shared breakfast and waited for the doctors and nurses. They came, checked my incision, changed my bandage, discharged me, and off we went and picked up our boys in Lethbridge.

Marc took the whole next week off and took really good care of me. I was able to read two and a half books and just relaxed on the couch. He is such a strict "nurse" but I love him for it.

February 11th, We were supposed to leave for Lloydminster but instead, I ended up in the E.R. My right leg was three times bigger than usual and part of my incision split opened and was "leaking". (Still no pain though.) I got a shot of blood thinner and some antibiotics and home I went. The next day the leg was less swollen. I went back to the E.R to do some blood work and met up with my family doctor. He forbade me to go on a road trip so we went to the Fyfe's on Saturday instead and had a nice visit with them and the Jeannottes which was great.

Fast forward to today, EVERYTHING is great! The doctor informed us that I will not be needing radiations. I am cancer free!!! I was so humbled and felt so blessed and fortunate for this great news. I am one of the lucky ones to survive an aggressive cancer because it was caught early enough. I am so glad I tuned in to my body and actually went to see the doctor about it. Leiomyosarcoma is an aggressive cancer but if caught early, the chances of survival is about 95%, so we were told today. Because of the other 5%, I will need to have X-rays and check ups every six months for the next two years and once every year for the next three years after that. All of my appointments in Calgary will be done at the cancer hospital.

While my trial was short and didn't feel like a battle, I am grateful to my Father in Heaven for blessing me during it all. Faith has made me whole and I hope it will stayed this way for the next trial.

I am grateful for my family, Marc's family, our ward family and, last but not least for all of my friends who knew about it. I am grateful for your prayers, well wishes, and for your thoughts. I am grateful for you checking on me through messages on facebook.  I am grateful for God's missionaries in Congo who fasted for me and have kept me in their prayers and nicknamed me their "belle". And o how grateful I am to the Fyfes for their support and help. So grateful to call them my friends, and have them in my life.

Life is made beautiful when you know you are loved. Thank you so much! I truly LOVE you all.

*Not a cute pic I know but this was taken just a few days after my surgery. I still have a hard time stretching my leg straight and part of it still feels numb but it is to be expected according to my doctor. It might take a whole year for the numbness to go away. Today the scar looks way better and should thin out nicely in the next months or years. I cannot believe the only discomfort I have from it is the inability for me to stretch it.