New Beginnings

 

I started this blog soon after Mark and I were married, back in 2006. For some reason I kept putting off actually writing anything. I have kept a journal of sorts since I was 11 but with each child I have I seem to find less and less and less time to write. I also have many extended family members who have written their life history and I would like to one day do that as well. Writing has always been one of my passions but I have neglected it for many years. Perhaps by recording my family adventures on here it will help me to keep it up.
 So I guess I better start at the beginning. Mark and I met when I was 15 and he was 16 at a church youth dance. Our story is a long one which perhaps I will write another time. Basically we were friends until a couple of months before his mission when we started dating. We wrote throughout his mission and when he came back we got engaged after 3 months and married 3 and a half months later.  I feel so blessed to have married my best friend and we have been married now for 9 wonderful years. We have 4 kids Carter, Leilani, Jacob and Adelaide who keep me very busy.
We moved to Raymond, Ab from Victoria, BC leaving all my family behind. It was a little scary but we have loved living here. It has been a great learning and growing experience for our family. I think everyone should move away from family from a while to learn to rely more on their spouse.
 We lived in my parents basement for 4 years which was so nice being close to my family to visit with and have built in babysitters. When we moved I would have panic attacks at the thought of taking all 3 children shopping by myself. I would usually leave them with siblings or Nana, or we'd all go with my mum. Moving away has taught me that I can do things that I never thought I could. I also had to rely more on my husband which has been good for him too. If you've never lived away from family I recommend trying it even just for a year. It's nice to establish your own family where you are not formerly known as... That being said I definitely miss having them so close and am grateful for phones and computers to keep them feeling close.
 Mark is a machinist by trade but this past year decided to go back to school to get a combined degree  in Bachelor of Arts/Education. He wants to be a high school shop teacher. He is doing great in school and is really enjoying it. I am a hairstylist and work out of the home. I love having the flexibility of having my own business and I love doing hair. I also am a homeschool mom and enjoy learning along with my kidlets.
We love doing exciting and fun things together as a family. Mark loves dirt biking and one of the pluses to living in Raymond is the motocross track a couple of minutes away. Our kids like to ride as well and the rule is they can ride a dirt bike as soon as they can ride a two wheeler.
 I hope you enjoy reading about our adventures!