Tuesday, December 31, 2019

Another decade

1980
Living with my parents and 2 siblings in Minas Gerais, Brazil.
Our family drove a silver Volkswagen Beetle.
At least 3 great-grandparents living.

1990
Living with my parents and 3 siblings in Ontario, Canada.
Drove a red Pontiac Fiero.
Working on my Honours B.A. degree.
Worked part-time at the library.

2000
Living in British Columbia, Canada.
Drove a teal green Chrysler K-car.
Working as a fundraiser for an international humanitarian organization. 
Had completed an Honours B.A.
Met my future husband in November. 

2010
Kids were 6, 4, 1, last one hadn't been born yet.
Homeschooling. 
Married 9 years.
Living in our current house in Ontario, Canada.
In the middle of my Masters degree to become a librarian. 
Drove a black Mazda Protege. The other vehicle was a black Mazda 5.
Three of my grandparents were still living. Brother-in-law had died a year earlier.

Starting 2020
Kids are 15, 13, 10, 8
Kids are out in 3 different schools.
Married 18 years (at beginning of year).
Living in our current house in Ontario,  Canada.
Driving a blue Kia Rio. The other vehicle is a grey/silver Dodge Grand Caravan.
Senior librarian in charge of a branch.
All grandparents have passed away.


From https://www.marieforleo.com/2019/12/decade-in-review-10-year-plan/

What’s Next? What’s My Future?
What do you want to create, experience, or achieve over the next 10 years? What do you want to feel or accomplish in terms of your…
Health and wellbeing?
Finances?
Relationships?
Career or business?
Community and philanthropy?

Wednesday, December 25, 2019

Our Christmas Traditions

Christmas Eve we go to church, this year my mom came with us. I only ask my family to dress up nicely for church 3 times a year. This is one of them, the other 2 are Easter and Mother's Day.


After church we come home and enjoy a variety of cheeses, kolbassa (including turkey), olives, crackers, veggies and dip, and glasses of cranberry juice mixed with club soda to create a sparkling beverage. 

On Christmas morning the kids awaken to find their stockings. We don't do Santa so the gifts are placed under the tree as they're wrapped, the stockings in the morning add a bit of surprise. 

Mommy and Daddy get their coffee before anything else happens, then hot croissants filled with cheese are served. After a quick breakfast we read the Bible story of Jesus' birth. Then we open stockings and gifts from each other. 


This year I received a Therabox monthly subscription and was really happy with it. It's an "Ultimate self-care relaxation box curated by therapists to boost happiness&reduce stress!" Use my referral link and help me get a FREE TheraBox! https://www.mytherabox.com/refer/Krist-SIHHBTAQ 


We connect with my husband's family (across the border) on the laptop and they watch us open the gifts they've sent us. This year we enjoyed watching our little niece open a gift from us.

Late in the afternoon we'll head over to my mom's to spend time with my siblings and their kids. More gifts, carol singing, and a traditional turkey dinner.

However you celebrate, may it be a time of rest and peace for you.

Tuesday, December 24, 2019

Swainson's Hawk?

Swainson's Hawk - Whatbird.com

So strange, saw this huge bird on top of the van this morning. It's not usually in this geographic location, though it could come close during migration.