Bachelors

On June 3rd 2010 I officially graduated from University! I received my Bachelor's degree in Health Sciences (Addictions Counselling). It is about time that I graduated! I am sure my parent's agree. I could not have done this without them. I am so grateful for their support...and their money! :) Thanks Mom and Dad!
I floundered through University for a few years not really knowing what I wanted to do with my life. I took a risk and applied to the addictions counselling program, which had always been in the back on my mind. I haven't looked back since and I know I made the right choice.
I am also so lucky to have secured a job right out of school.

My parents and Caleb came to the convocation ceremony and were troupers to sit through the long affair. It was a sunny day, but soooo windy! Typical Lethbridge. They make you start in University Hall and then walk up the hill lead by a bagpiper. Kind of a cool experience, but pair a bunch of girls in heels with the Lethbridge wind and it's not agood combo! We almost fell over!

Caleb thought it was cute how when my program got up to get our degrees we all clapped and cheered for each other. That's what you get when a bunch of counsellor's get together. Unconditional regard!

But the whole thing was a great experience.
So I have one degree under my belt. Caleb is working on his third.
I told him I need to at least get one more degree so I can keep up. Not really for me, but I just picture out future children wondering why Dad has three degrees and I only have one!
Ha!
We will see what the future holds!


My amazing parents!
My amazing husband!


Me and the lovely Shira.




Me and the beautiful Rachael.

Mothers and Fathers

I've been debating if I should post about an event that occurred in our lives recently, or if I shouldn't.
I've decided that I feel I should, so here goes.
About a month ago, I had a miscarriage. I was about 7 weeks pregnant.
It's been one of the most difficult things I have been through, and I'm sure some people want to only tell those close to them, because it is personal, but I found that when it happened I wanted to talk to everyone and anyone about it.
I started to get really confused about the unwritten rule, of not telling people you're pregnant until you are farther along in your pregnancy. We hadn't told a lot of people we were expecting, but when I miscarried I needed support and told friends and others who had no idea I was pregnant. This was difficult because they never got the chance to be happy for us, and to share our excitement...they only got the sad news.
I am also posting this because this is not an uncommon occurrence for women, but it seems less common because no one talks about it. I needed to know I wasn't alone, and as I talked with people I found out that this has happened to more people than I had thought. I just wish we could talk about it more freely so that we don't have to feel alone in our pain. So that we know others have been where we have been. I hope I can be that person for other women. And that is one of the main reasons I am posting this.

One thing about having a miscarriage is when you do tell people, they sometime say all the wrong things. Sometimes hurtful things, even though they don't mean to. I'm sure I have said some pretty stupid things to other people in the past when they have been in this situation.
This happens I believe because people don't know what to say.
They also want to make things better, and want to help.
But my advice to others is the best thing you can say is "I am so sorry for your loss. Is there anything I can do?"
We have this instinct to try to make people happy, and fix things, but in my experience I just wanted to be sad about it, and I wanted other people to acknowledge that I was allowed to be sad.
I also think that the father's need more support too. It quickly became all about me, and not many people asked how Caleb was doing. It is hard on him too. But he has been such a strength to me and has been so amazing.
And I still am sad.
I still think about it everyday.
It is so devastating to be so excited about having a baby and then all of sudden you're not anymore. You feel so out of control...and you are.
It hurts to have lost your baby that you already loved so much.

But, we have faith and hope that things will get better, and that one day we will have a healthy, beautiful family together.

I am also so thankful for amazing friends and family who have supported us and shown us so much love. A few days after it happened my Mom and my sister came up to Calgary to just be with me. It was nice to have them here because I finally got out of the house. We went to the mall, played with Skye's kids and had a great time.

I posted some pictures of that day below.
These pictures also remind me how much I love Caleb, and that he is going to be such an amazing Dad. Stratton just absolutely loves Caleb and for good reason. He is so good with him, so patient and kind and fun. I have never doubted the fact that Caleb will be a great Father.
So a big Happy Father's Day to my own Dad, I love you!!
And also to Caleb, my sweet husband.

My Cousin's Wedding

On the Mother's Day weekend we went down to Lethbridge to my cousin Mary's wedding, and to celebrate Mother's Day with my dear Mother of course! (I love you Mom!)

The following are pics I took at the wedding.
Mary looked absolutely beautiful!
The food at the reception was absolutely delicious! (We ate a ton!)
And we had an absolutely amazing time with family and dancing it up!


The Beautiful Bride and her Groom.

The following are pics taken with our stolen camera. Ha!




Caleb started taking pictures of me. This is my model pose for him.
Skye, Aaron, and Jay with Grandma Porter. The best Grandma in the world!!

Then of course Aaron and I danced it up!
We always have so much fun dancing together, he is hilarious. At first the family sat and watched and also videotaped us dancing, but then they joined in! We had such a great time.








Congrats Mary!
Thanks for having such a fun wedding!!

I love to see the Temple

In April we had the wonderful opportunity of attending the dedication of the temple in Langley British Columbia. It was so neat to feel the excitement of everyone to have the first temple built in their province. We also had connections, which made the weekend even more exciting. Caleb's Mom was conducting the choir for the cornerstone ceremony and we were able to sing in the choir. Caleb and I may have not known all the words to the songs, but we made up for it in spirit!

It was such an amazing experience. We were so close to the prophet and Elder Uchdorf. We were also able to get into one of the dedication sessions, pretty much by the skin of our teeth! The evening prior we attended a cultural event put on by youth in the province and it was pretty amazing. They danced and sang and it was all incredible. The prophet loved it and even wore a flashing Canadian pin! He sure loves Canada.




Me and Britt in the choir stands.


Dad Lee and I getting ready to sing!




So Mom Lee was pretty much a celebrity this weekend. She got to lay some of the mortar in the cornerstone ceremony. President Monson asked the lady in the green dress to come help, because that's his favorite color. Good choice of dress!

And later she was also interviewed by Salt Lake press. She did a great job conducting the choir.

We had such a great weekend and it was so much fun to see everybody!