Doing Something About It

I am so thankful that we decided to return to Heritage Christian School. Even though it's summer time, I feel like I'm being listened to. I received the initial 2 levels for the Susan Barton Spelling and Reading Program. I just finished the tutor training. But, before we begin this, I have a few tests for Diane to do online. The school sent me links and passwords for some standardization tests so we can get a clearer picture of Diane's particular strengths and struggles.

I am being heard, I am being supported and my family is being cared about. There is help out there, sometimes you just have to be like a 'dog with a bone' to get it. I know that many people in todays world talk about how bad it can be to 'label' someone. But we all have labels, they are simply words to describe who we are. Mother, tall, young, old, patient, strict, compassionate, caring, nurse, fast-talker, smart... Obviously the list can go on forever, when we hear lables like Autistic, ADD, Dyslexic it conjures up different ideas for different people. But for the parents of those children it gives us a direction to go in. It's like suddenly we have a roadmap of our child. There are still a lot options and decisions, but there is a narrower focus than before. Knowing something is 'different' or 'wrong' doesn't help in any way. Having that label gives us the ability to say 'THIS is what it is!'

Someone not on this journey doesn't necessarily understand the necessity of the 'label'. Using the word 'Dyslexic' is much faster that, 'well...she has difficulty with phenomes, has a high compresension level, but nerologically her brain cannot recognize the symbols commonly known as the English alphabet to turn those symbols into words she can read. Because she see's everything so much finer than the rest of us, everything is a picture to her highly imaginative brain and therefore trying to create a picture of the symbols 'i t' becomes extremely stressful and difficult. At this point the words seem to float off the page as she retreats to her imagination world, also known as 'spacing out' or 'not focusing'...' No, I prefer to say 'she's Dyslexic'. If you know what that is then you instantly understand, if you don't than you can ask me what that really is, but please don't tell me not to use a label.

I don't mean to come accross in every blog entry as complaining or negative. I just hear from others with similar struggles about the frustration with the lack of understanding or knowledge in the people around them. So it tends to come out when I write. Maybe I should write more often and I won't have quite so much to say all at once.

First Time Doin' the Grind

My wonderful daughter is away at camp this week. A couple weeks ago I decided that I wanted to do something completely out of my comfort zone, something beyond what I think I can do. So what is the opposite of sleeping in and watching movies? Well climbing a mountain of course!

Trail Facts of the Grouse Grind

Length: 2.9 kilometres (1.8 miles)
Elevation Gain: 853 metres (2,800 feet)
Total Stairs: 2,830

Before I could talk myself out of this crazy notion, I texted my friend of 20 years. A dear friend who has seen me at my worst and my best. I knew I'd need someone who wouldn't judge me if I vomit on the climb or start to cry. Her response was 'When did you start doing drugs?'. But of course she was a willing participant in this crazy venture. The average hiker completes the Grind in 1.5-2 hours. But we are not the average climbers, we are overweight, 38-41 year old sedentary women so we gave ourselves 4 hours to complete

I knew this would push me to my limits. I knew it would be hard. But I knew I had to try this.

This morning we arrived at the base of the mountain, thankfully clouds covered most of it so we couldn't see the entire foreboding height. After a short stretching period, we began the ascent. As I took the first step up I actually tripped and almost twisted my ankle. We should have turned around then, but alas, we persevered. It is a long hike up with innumerable stairs (ok theres 2830, but it feels like 20830). There are portions where we were literally using our hands to help us haul our carcasses up the mountain. By the time we reached the 1/4 mark we were already committed and there's no turning back. We encountered a fairly fit woman vomiting off to the side. I felt the same myself at a couple points. We took a lot of small breaks and a couple longer ones to fully catch our breath.

Aside from labour this is absolutely the most difficult thing I've ever done. There is no quitting, you just have to keep climbing. Every time I'd think we couldn't have that much farther to go, I'd look up and just see stairs and people and more trees. When we finally reached the top, it was surreal. I couldn't believe we'd actually made it. I climbed a mountain. I did it! I may or may not ever do it again, but today, I DID IT!

Our total time was 3hr 32min.

http://www.grousemountain.com/grousegrind/

Old leather jacket, New purse

With my sisters in a spending freeze, our whole family decided to do a RRR Christmas. We've all been thinking about what we can re-gift, re-purpose, or repair for presents this year. It's neat having a 'gift' box at home that we put unwanted items. Then sometime in November we will 'shop' there and hopefully come up with something for everyone.

 This brings me to my current triumph. I came across a hideous 80's red leather jacket recently. The leather was so supple and the lining out of crimson satin. I just couldn't throw it in the trash. So on a whim I decided to re-purpose it into a purse. After spending a couple days just thinking about the design, I created a pattern and then went to work.

Upon completion it looked a little too drab for my tastes so I added an old necklace for the finishing touch.

I really hope all the women in my family don't expect one for Christmas :-)