Finding Joy in the Journey

When I saw this today on facebook I knew that I needed to post it on my blog.  
I have a new church calling and to say it has been challenging is an understatement.  I have great people on my board, but because of the differences in personalities I feel like sometimes I am either getting side swiped or bullied a little into doing things  their way.  This is my calling and I don't ever want anyone to think that things should be my way or the highway, however, if I feel compelled that things should roll a certain way, maybe it is because they should, maybe and I say this because I feel that I am entitled to inspiration, things should go a certian direction for the benefit the sisters of my ward.  I know that I can be a strong personality, but in situations like this I tend to roll over and let people walk on me for the sake of not causing any feelings especially because this is a church calling.  I want to keep the peace, but it leaves me a wreck on the inside and I have been in tears since Sunday over just planning our RS birthday party.  This shouldn't be difficult, it should be fun and was totally shocked when I had someone overstep their bounds in making assignments without my knowledge assignments that were someone elses to give and then to be chastised for not doing the musice "right" according to the other.  I am trying to find peace and the faith I need to know how to work with these different even challenging personalities.  I know it will be fine in the end, but this journey has been difficult so far.  I am trying to find joy in the journey, isn't that what the saying is?

CANADA 2013

WELL TRY AS WE MIGHT, WE HAD NO SUCCESS IN GETTING ANYONE TO COME WITH US TO CANADA.  WE ASKED OUR ITALY FRIENDS, OUR GYM FRIENDS, OUR SKI CLUB FRIENDS AND EVEN OUR FAMILY FRIENDS, AND WE HAD NO TAKERS, SO OFF TO CANADA JEFF I WENT ALL BY OURSELVES. 

AS WE GOT TO THE BORDER THERE WAS  A HERD OF BIG HORN SHEEP, IT WAS AS IF THEY BROUGHT THEM IN AND STAGED THEM THERE JUST FOR US VISITORS.  WE NEVER SAW ANOTHER ONE UNTIL WE GOT TO THE RESORT WHERE WE CAN ALWAYS BE SURE THERE ARE  BIG HORN SHEEP AROUND.

 

JEFF IS SO SILLY, HE WILL DO ANYTHING  I ASK HIM TO DO.  TO BAD FOR HIM HE DOESN'T KNOW WHAT I PLAN ON DOING WITH THIS PICTURE.

LOOK AT THESE BEAUTIFUL SKIES

THIS WEEKEND WAS THE THE HOCKEY TOURNEMENT ON THE LAKE.  THIS IS A HUGE LAKE BUT IT FREEZES OVER ENOUGH THAT YOU CAN DRIVE CLEAR ACROSS IT.   JEFF JUST READ IN THE PAPER THAT THE ICE ON THE LAKE IS 17 1/2 INCHES THICK.  IT DOESN'T SEEM VERY THICK TO ME BUT EVIDENTLY THAT IS THICK ENOUGH FOR ALL THE ACTIVITIES THAT ARE HAPPENING ON THIS LAKE.  THERE WERE ABOUT 6 HOCKEY RINKS GROOMED ON THE ICE FOR THE TOURNEMENT.  NO SUPER BOWL WATCHERS HERE.  THEY EVEN PLAY HOCKEY IN SKIRTS HERE.  HA HA HA...

FINALLY OUR BEAUTIFUL CONDO.  EVERYTIME WE COME HERE WE GET AN EVEN BETTER PLACE THAN THE ONE BEFORE.  I THINK WE ARE GOING TO BE VERY COMFORTABLE HERE THIS WEEK.

THEY EVEN HAVE GIRL SCOUT/GUIDE COOKIES HERE, I  THINK IT IS TIME TO TRY THEM AND SEE IF THE THIN MINTS FLAVOR IS UNIVERSAL.

CANADA DAY 2

ORIGINALLY JEFF AND I HAD DECIDED THAT WE WERE NOT GOING TO THE SKI RESORTS ON  THE OTHER SIDE OF THE KOOTENAY MOUNTAIN RANGE, BUT  FOR SOME REASON, AND I THINK IT WAS BECAUSE I HAD NEVER SKIED AT SUNSHINE SKI RESORT, JEFF THOUGHT IT WOULD BE FUN TO GO THERE.  SO ONTO THE "ROAD THAT NEVER ENDS"  WE GO. (My name for this road because the view doesn't change much from the beginning to the end)

 HE THOUGHT THAT I WOULD LIKE TO SKI THERE, BUT THE ODDS WERE AGAINST ME TODAY.  THE DRIVE OVER WAS NICE AND WE EVEN SAW SUN PEAKING THROUGH THE CLOUDS, I WAS OPTIMISTIC, BUT THAT ALL CHANGED WHEN WE TURNED UP THE ROAD TO THE RESORT.  CLOUDS, WIND, SNOW AND FLAT LIGHT IT WAS THE MAKINGS OF A DIFFICULT DAY FOR ME. 



ANYTIME YOU SEE A FLAG STANDING STRAIGHT OUT AND SOMEONE TELLS YOU THAT AT THIS RESORT THEY PUT SNOW FENCES UP TO KEEP THE SNOW FROM BLOWING OFF THE MOUTAIN, IT IS A LITTLE CONCERNING.  GENERALLY  I TRY TO KEEP MY MELTDOWNS ON THE SKI HILL TO A MINIMUM, AND I HAVENT HAD ONE SINCE ITALY LAST YEAR, BUT I HAD ONE TODAY.  WE TOOK THE GONDOLA TO THE TOP OF THE MOUTAIN AND IMMEDIATELY BETWEEN THE WIND, SNOW AND MY LACK OF ABILITY TO SEE I WAS A MESS.  NOTHING WAS GROOMED, BUT THAT WASN'T REALLY MY BIGGEST PROBLEM.  I FELT LIKE I WAS IN A BLACK HOLE ONLY WHITE, IF THAT MAKES SENSE.  IT WASN'T FOGGY, BUT THE LIGHT WAS SO FLAT I COULDN'T SEE AND I JUST COULDN'T FEEL EITHER, IT WAS ROUGH.  WE SKIED IN SEVERAL DIFFERENT PLACES TRYING TO FIND A BETTER PLACE AND FINALLY WE DID.  BUT UNFORTUNATELY I WAS BACK IN A PLACE THAT I HATE TO BE,  FEELING A TOTAL LACK OF CONFIDENCE AND INSECURE. 

SUNSHINE IS A VERY DIFFERENT PLACE TO SKI,  I AM SO ACUSTOM TO RIDING A LIFT TO THE TOP OF THE HILL AND SKIING DOWN, THIS PLACE HOWEVER, IS NOT LIKE THAT, THERE WILL BE A  SMALL HILL AND JUST AS YOU START MAKING SOME TURNS THE TERRAIN GOES FLAT AND YOU HAVE TO GLIDE TO FIND THE NEXT HILL, SO HARD TO EXPLAIN BUT I REALLY WASN'T LOVING THIS RESORT.  WE WENT IN FOR LUNCH AND VISITED WITH A COUPLE THAT WE MET ON THE GONDOLA RIDE UP FIRST THING IN THE MORNING AND THEY SUGGESTED A COUPLE PLACES TO CHECK OUT AND AGAIN IT WAS THESE LITTLE SHORT RUNS, BUT WE DID FIND ONE AT THE TOP OF GOATS EYE.  THE PROBLEM HERE WAS THE WIND, IT WAS SO WICKED AND I DONT USE THAT WORD LIGHTLY, IT WAS SERIOUSLY BRUTAL.  WE WERE BEING SANDBLASTED WITH SNOW AND IT WAS SO STRONG THAT HELD YOU BACK ON THE MOUTAIN.  BUT WHEN WE GOT BELOW THAT, WE FOUND THE FIRST LONG RUN OF THE DAY AND IT WAS SO GOOD THAT WE BRAVED IT MORE THAN ONCE.  EVERY ONCE IN A WHILE THE SUN WOULD TRY TO PEAK OUT FROM BEHIND THE CLOUDS BUT NEVER QUITE MADE IT.

THIS WASNT THE LONGEST DAY WE'VE EVER SKIED AND AT THE COST IT SHOULD HAVE BEEN A LONGER DAY BUT I JUST COULDN'T ENDURE ANY MORE.  THE WEATHER ITSELF WORE ME OUT.  I AM HOPING FOR A BETTER DAY TOMORROW BUT THE REPORTS AREN'T PROMISING, WE ARE SEEING RAIN IN THE FORCAST EVEN AT KICKING HORSE. UGH!!



ONE GREAT THING ABOUT THIS TRIP IS THE VIEWS OF THE MOUNTAINS ARE ALWAYS SPECTACULAR.

                                                                                      
 WE DECIDED ON THE WAY HOME AND FOR OLD TIMES SAKE WE WOULD STOP AT STORM MOUNTAIN FOR OUR TRADITIONAL PICTURE, BUT ALAS, IT WAS CLOSED. (See the fine print at the bottom of the sign, closed on Mondays) 

ONE MORE THING, WE FOUND TWINKIES IN CANADA,  AND NO MATTER THE NAME, A TWINKIE BY ANY OTHER NAME IS STILL A TWINKIE, BUT THEY NEED A LITTLE MORE FILLING IN CANADA.

WHEN WE FINALLY MADE IT HOME, WE HAD OUR USUALLY GUESTS THERE TO GREAT US.

CANADA DAY 3

Stairway to Heaven?  I don't think so....

 TODAY WE WENT TO KICKING HORSE.  I WAS REALLY EXCITED TO GO AND WAS HOPING FOR A BETTER DAY ON THE SLOPES, BUT THE FOG HAD NOT ELUDED US YET.  THE CLOUDS WERE WAY DOWN ON THE HILL AND THIS MORNING WAS NOT FOR THE VISUALLY IMPAIRED, WHICH WHEN IT COMES TO TAKING AWAY MY VISION SENSE AND PAIR THAT WITH MY BALANCE ISSUES, IT WAS A DIFFICULT MORNING.    COMING OFF THE TOP OF THE TRAM WAS COMPLETE PEA SOUP BUT THE SNOW WAS REALLY GOOD.  SO WE JUST KEPT ON GOING AND EVERY NOW AND AGAIN THE THE SUN WOULD PEAK ITS WAY THROUGH AND MAKE THE LIGHT JUST A LITTLE BETTER.  I NEVER LIKED A LITTLE POWDER UNTIL I GOT MY NEW SKIS AND NOW I LOVE A LITTLE POWDER, IT IS SO MUCH FUN.  I DID DECIDE HOWEVER , THAT IF I HAD TO CHOOSE BETWEEN THE BITING WIND THE DAY BEFORE AND THE FOG, I WOULD PREFER THE WIND BELIEVE IT OR NOT.

I ENLARGED THIS PHOTO  SO YOU COULD SEE HOW NEAT THE MOUTAINS LOOK.

the best looking and most patient skier on the hill

IF I EVER FIGURE OUT HOW TO PUT THE GO PRO VIDEO OR A EDIT A SNAPSHOT OF THE FOGGIEST DAY EVER, IT WILL PUT IT ON HERE.  I WOULD LIKE TO ADD THAT THIS IS A RESORT I WOULD LIKE TO SKI ON SUNNY DAY, IF THERE WERE ANY SUCH THING.

I HAD TO TAKE A PICTURE OF THIS ONE LANE BIRDGE IN GOLDEN, WOULDN'T YOU THINK THAT IT IS TIME TO UPDATE?  BE SURE THAT WHEN YOU COME AROUND THE CORNER  YOU SLOW DOWN SO YOU HAVE TIME TO STOP INCASE SOMEONE IS ON THE BRIDGE BECAUSE THERE IS NOT ENOUGH ROOM FOR YOUR CAR.  FIRST COME FIRST SERVE IS THE NAME OF THIS BRIDGE.

PANORAMA DAY 4

FINALLY MY KIND OF SKI DAY.  I KNOW I AM A LITTLE PICKY BUT SUNSHINE ALWAYS MAKES FOR A GOOD DAY SKIING EVEN IF THE SNOW IS QUESTIONABLE. THIS WAS THE DAY THAT I HAD BEEN ANXIOUSLY AWAITING.  THERE IS NOT MUCH TO SAY EXCEPT IT WAS A GREAT DAY.  WE STOPPED AT THE TOP OF THE WORLD (i think that is what Jeff called it) HAD A CUP OF HOT CHOCOLATE AT THE SUMMIT HUT, SOMETHING WE NEVER DO.

A very nice amenity on the mt.

can you see the smile?  Happy skier...

WE FOUND A COUPLE RUNS THAT
I LOVED, ONE WAS THE RACE COURSE, WHICH WAS GROOMED NICELY AND NO ONE WAS SKIING ON IT NEARLYALL DAY.






WE STAY IN A TOWN CALLED RADIUM HOT SPRINGS AND THE DUELY NAMED BECAUSE OF THE HOT SPRINGS IN THE AREA.  THERE IS A PLACE ABOUT 10-15 MINUTES FROM OUR HOTEL THAT WE LIKE TO GO TO AND SO WE FINISHED OUR DAY WITH A DIP AT THE HOT SPRINGS. 

I LOVE THAT WE HAVE THIS NICE CONDO AND CAN MAKE OUR OWN DINNER, GO TO THE HOT SPRINGS FOR A DIP  AND THEN JUST CHILL FOR THE REST OF THE EVENING IF THATS WHAT WE WANT, AND WE WERE USUALLY TO TIRED TO DO ANYTHING ELSE.   I SERIOUSLY OVERPACKED, BESIDES OUR SKI CLOTHES ALL I NEED IS MY PJS AND A PAIR OF SWEATS.                                 (Note for next trip:  dont't overpack)






THE BIGHORN SHEEP WERE OUT IN ABUNDANCE TODAY SO WE STOPPED TO TAKE A FEW PICS.

THE FERNIE ADVENTURE

TODAY WE WENT TO FERNIE, A LITTLE SKI TOWN A FEW HOURS AWAY.  THIS IS  A RESORT THAT HAS BEEN GETTING SOME BUzZ LATELY, ONE OF THOSE HIDDEN GEMS OF A RESORT.  WE DECIDED THAT THIS TRIP WE WOULD GO SOMEWHERE WE HAD NEVER BEEN BEFORE.  PRIOR TO THE TRIP WE TRIED TO SECURE HOTEL RESERVATIONS AND FOUND IT VERY DIFFICULT TO GET A ROOM AT A REASONABLE PRICE AND WE FINALLY ENDED UP AT THE TRAVELODGE.  THIS WOULD NOT BE MY FIRST CHOICE, BUT IT WAS LOOKING LIKE OUR ONLY CHOICE.  IT WAS THE BEST OF THE WORST PLACES LEFT IN TOWN TO STAY. WE PASSED THE TIME TILL CHECK IN WANDERING AROUND THE OLD PART OF FERNIE A CUTE LITTLE TOWN THAT IS GOING THROUGH A REVITALIZATION, WE LOOKED THROUGH THE TOURISTY SHOPS AND HAD LUNCH AT "LOAF" A GREAT BAKERY WITH YUMMY FOOD.  IT WAS A NICE RELAXING DAY, THAT IS UNTIL WE CHECKED IN.  JEFF CAME OUT TO THE CAR TO INFORM ME THAT I HAD BETTER GO CHECK IT OUT TO SEE IF IT WOULD PASS MY INSPECTION.  UPON INITIAL INSPECTION IT LOOKED OK.  HERE IS THE REPEAT OF THE TEXT I SENT THE KIDS, SHARING OUR ADVENTURE...

MOM..."Learning what ski bumming is all bout.  Staying at the Travelodge, the best of the worst hotels in town.  No heat they gave us an osliating heater to stay warm.  Probably because of the fire they had here this week.  I not sure I'm cut out for this.  We are going to check out the super 8 they said they would move us if we want.  I haven't taken my coat off since we checked in an hour ago.  Wish us luck

MICHELLE...Ha ha just enjoy the adventure!! Sounds like fun.
BEN...Ski bums don't stay in hotels.  They sleep on strangers couches and in their cars  :)  Good luck!
MOM...Funny thing they said they upgraded us from a room with one queen bed to two queen beds.  But we had to give up something, I guess that was heat.  Your dad said that was the Canadian upgrade:)  I guess we aren't the roughing kinda people so  we are off the the Super 8.  They have free breakfast.
MICHELLE...Lol this is all so funny to me!
DAYNA... Ha Ha
JESSICA...Ha Ha good luck, I think you'll be ok.

THE SUPER 8 IS MUCH NEWER,  AND HAD HEAT.  MUCH BETTER AND A LOT TO LAUGH ABOUT.
THAT IS UNTIL WE GOT TO THE RESORT AND ONCE AGAIN THE MOUTAIN WAS SOCKED IN WITH FOG.  FOR SOME REASON WE JUST COULDN'T GET AWAY FROM IT.  WE DIDN'T HAVE SNOW, JUST FOG.

 

I TRIED, AND TRIED, BUT THE BLUES ON THIS MOUTAIN WERE STEEP. AND IT WAS HARD.  WE DID GET SOME SUN ON THE FAR SIDE OF THE MOUTAIN, BUT THE MOUTAINS WERE SO HIGH AND THE SUN COULD NEVER QUITE GET OVER THE TOP OF THEM FOR VERY LONG.

BY THE END OF THE DAY I FELT LIKE THIS MOUNTAIN HAD CHEWED ME UP AND SPIT ME OUT.  ROLL ME OVER AND POKE ME WITH A FORK, I'M DONE.

I WAS SO SORRY FOR JEFF BY THIS TIME.  WE HAD SPENT A NICE WEEK TOGETHER, BUT I KEPT WIGGING OUT IN THE FOG, SOMETHING WE HAD A LOT OF.  HE WAS SO PATIENT WITH ME

ONE FINAL CHUCKLE FROM FERNIE...FOUND IN THE TEE SHIRT SHOP. IT'S KIND OF AN INSIDE JOKE.  ONE DAY AFTER SKIING  PUT A RIDICULOUS POST ON FACEBOOK USING THE CRAZY SLANG THAT THOSE LITTLE PUNK SNOWBOARDERS USE, THAT NO ONE CAN UNDERSTAND.  THIS MADE ME THINK OF THAT

FERNIE IN A NUTSHELL.  I THINK THAT I HAVE DECIDED TO STAY CLOSER TO HOME TO SKI AND THAT THE NEXT VACATION THAT I TAKE WILL BE ONE THAT I DON'T HAVE TO WORK SO HARD TO HAVE FUN.