Just before I left on camp I got a text from my framer about Nightmare on Sugar Street. That is what I have decided to call my house project now, because my street IS ACTUALLY called Sugar Street.
The crane truck had come out all the way from Lethbridge to hang the roof trusses and a crew of 8 was ready to really get some work done that day. After trying to hang the first truss, it was apparent that there was a screw up with the trusses. TOO BIG. All the garage ones were totally messed. This did not sit well with my framer or me to put it mildly. I was ready to throw in the towel that day. My framer admitted that he had never seen so many things go wrong on one build project. Thanks for sharing, because I was already feeling great about things.
I have decided that I have been beat and I am turning over the general contracting to someone else. My mental health can't handle it any more. To make matters worse, it would take a couple of days to fix the truss problem and the crane truck couldn't come out again until Monday. SO............I had a full week of NOTHING going on, no progress whatsoever. Did I also mention that this was the first 5 day stretch since I started that there has been no rain. Perfect.
This week I also had some dear friends who stopped in to visit for a few hours. They had flown in from Ottawa to see the stampede and they took a large detour to come down and see Waterton National Park and to visit me. It was so great to see them. My friend has the same type of leukemia that Cam had and that is actually how we became friends. She was such a support to Cam. Love her and her husband.
After their visit, I drove 6 hours to Edmonton to the Adolescent Literacy Summer Institute at the University of Alberta. I arrived at midnight in the pouring rain with only one windshield wiper working.
The conference was very informative and I got to visit quite a bit with a couple of teachers from my division who are really fun and interesting people. I also found out at the institute what I have really signed on for. What was sold to me as a great PD opportunity is actually a Master's program in disguise. However, you don't get any university credit for it. The people who were in it last year said it was WAY more work than they thought, and they didn't want us going in blind like they did. There are every other week 2 hour webinars, heavy reading assignments, and action research assignments to be conducted in my classroom. Yay for me. Well, my old plan was to get my masters, so I guess this will have to do. All complaints aside, it will be a great chance to learn from leading literacy professors across North America and network with some very talented people.
The last big event of the week was summer games soccer. Marin's team got pummeled and were out of the running quickly. Reggie's team was the favorite to win the gold, and we fully expected them to. We won the first three games handily and then the wheels started to come off. After a heartbreaking loss that would have led us to the gold medal game, we settled for trying to win bronze.
After a full day of non-stop soccer in 30 degree weather, these kids were SPENT. It was a hard fought battle and the game ended in a tie. We headed to over time. If the over time still resulted in a tie, we would go to a shoot out. The shoot out was looking like our best chance to win, as we have an amazing goalie and some very strong kickers. The other team's goalie was mediocre at best. 10 seconds to go to end the over time and our defenseman got a hand ball in the penalty area. When this happens, the opposing team gets a penalty shot, which is from very close range. The goalie must stay on the goal line until the ball is kicked, and there is no assistance or interference from any other players. They sent their best player forward, and he blasted a bullet kick into the right corner to score. Hysteria ensued from the opposing fans. We still had, however, 10 seconds on the clock. We made the kick off and everyone rushed to the opposing team's net to score including our goalie. A beautiful, high cross shot was executed and our forward launched into the air to head it in. He missed. Time was up.
As most of you know, I am a very competitive person. After sitting in the hot sun all day and screaming my fool head off I wanted a win. I was ticked. I expected everyone else to be to. To my amazement, Reggie's coach, who is equally competitive, I might add, brought the team together for a pep talk and a cheer. Some how she got smiles on their faces. Some how she made them feel like they were still winners. To end the last game of the year, she lined the team up horizontally across the field, facing the parents and walked toward us. When they got to us the team cheered for the parents who had been supporting them throughout the season. I was taught a very good lesson. It had nothing to do with winning. It had everything to do with building character in kids. She is a rock star in my book and I feel so fortunate to have Reggie in her midst.
Today was my nephew's mission farewell. This farewell was especially hard on me. Sam was 6 months old when I came into the Williams' family picture. I have known him pretty much his whole life. Out of everyone in the Williams family, he is the most like Cam. I hate the thought of losing my little piece of Cam for two years, but I am so glad he has the chance to serve the Lord and grow his testimony. He is such a great example for my kids.
Hopefully, my summer vacation will begin this week. I am heading out camping with my family and I hope a lot of reading, hiking, and fishing will be on the menu.
