Escaping

Last year in about November ish, I was asked by my younger sister Bo if I wanted to chaperone her grade 6/7 class at an outdoor camp. It would be my job along with one other mother to sleep in the little chalet with the girls. I figured, hey I'm a big girl I can rough it.... I got more than I bargained for.

The camp that Bo's class went to is called Shekinah. It is about an hour outside of the city, and I had been there before, once in grade six for a two night stay, and again on I think two other occasions with Evan Hardys ESL class. So I knew what the facility was like. In the last few years they have added a new chalet, and because it is winter, I figured the girls would stay there and the boys would stay in the cabins. I was slightly dissapointed when we arrived at camp and we drove right past the big chalet and on to the older little chalet.

I got over my dissapointment quickly though, and helped to get everyone as settled as possible... throughout the events of the day, cross country skiing, sledding, being fed pudding, an apple and apple sauce by my sister, mission impossible, I marvled at how perfect everything was and how much fun everyone was having. When sitting at the top of the sledding hill I could see into the river valley, I could see EVERYTHING, and yet I could still hear what everyone at the bottom of the hill was talking about because their voices carried. When I walked back to the small chalet myself after playing mission impossible, to make 8 liters of hot chocolate for the kids, I could hear nothing except absolute silence.

As I walked past the big Chalet, I was slightly Envious, it was BEAUTIFUL, all wooden beams, light up by the lights inside. Absolutely perfect. But I found contentment in the small little chalet that we had for the night. And as the girls all settled down for the night, in front of the wood stove, on our foam mattresses, I thought of how much nicer it would be in the big chalet with more heat, better beds, and plumbing that wasnt tempramental.

But then I also thought of all of the fun that would be missed if we were in the big chalet. Instead of everyone having to work together to do the dishes, sleep in the same room (the girls anyways) and cooperate, we could have just been ourselves not gotten to know each other, and gone unchanged from the experience.

The next morning when snowshoeing, some of the equipment was broken, so I walked instead of snow shoed. I ran back to the chalet to get my camera, and then went to catch up with the kids. As I walked quickly towards where they were, I kept marveling at the perfection, and quiet of everything. And I couldnt help but start to sing.

Although it would have been WONDERFULLY nice to be in the chalet, I had just as good, if not a BETTER time in the litte chalet.

In essence, I was shown that just because I dont have the BEST, of everything, doesnt mean I can't make the BEST of anything. And in truth I realized that Instead of working and striving for everything new and better and the BEST, I need to sometimes stop and see what else is out there. Smell the roses, walk and enjoy the view, and just live the life I was ment to live.

I can't rush life no matter how hard I try, when I try to do things my way, I just get in the way of the bigger things that are planned for me.

Saleosis

I have come to a conclusion today. Some may say it is one that is terribly overdue, but seeing as I am quite slow some days it almost comes as a surprise to me... almost.

Today at work it was VERY quiet... SO quiet that two hours into my four hour shift they asked if they could send me home... I thought that was just ducky, and so signed out, grabbed my bag and my jacket, and then grabbed a basket to look at what was on sale. I wandered the isles, searching for nothing in particular. When AHA! what doth my eyes perceive???? A half price sticker.... Now... Although I dont particularely NEED a heat and serve pasta dish with portabello mushroom sauce, beans, and red peppers.... its on sale, and therefore found its way into my basket, through the checkout, riding along with me in the car, and then into the fridge at my house... actually now that I think about it... EVERYTHING in my basket was half price... I guess thats why the casheir looked at me funny O_o

This little spark of insight caused me to look deeper into my shopping habits and find... with little surprise to NO one... The MAJORITY of things that i buy... are on sale... and because they are on sale, I seem to be able to justify being able to buy them... Not that I really NEED to buy more deoderant, shampoo, socks, or even inflatable furniture, my body seems to gravitate towards anything that has a sign proclaiming SALE! and my my, its half off.. what a deal!!!

From experience I believe this disease is Hereditary, although varying forms of strength, from not buying anything unless its on sale or you can barter it down at a garage sale (my dear mother), or just buying it because its on sale (myself) this disease is crippling and sometimes debilitating (have you ever seen my mother try to order at a resteraunt? you see my point)... In any case it must be stopped!!

lol, im not quite sure how, but if you feel the need you could always donate!!!

I know I am getting better (some days) at buying things and not cheaping out and getting no-name cuz its cheaper, or buying things JUST its on sale... but it has been SO engrained into me, buying things on sale and such...that I fear someday when I'm older and grey or something, I may get worse! I could even turn into my mother!!!!!!!!!! :-O

Just kidding, I love you mom...