Monday, January 05, 2009

One Week

Consider this my one week 'heads up' til my last post on this blog.

As of Jan 12th I won't be making new posts here. As of Jan 16th my domain www.stevewiseman.ca will expire.

It's been a good ride!
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Thursday, January 01, 2009

Happy New Year!

What are your dreams for the new year?

A friend sent these quotes to me. I pass them on to you:

“Happiness is a state of activity.” ~Aristotle

"Believe while others are doubting.
Plan while others are playing.
Study while others are sleeping.
Decide while others are delaying.
Prepare while others are daydreaming.
Begin while others are procrastinating.
Work while others are wishing.
Save while others are wasting.
Listen while others are talking.
Smile while others are frowning.
Commend while others are criticizing.
Persist while others are quitting."

~William Arthur Ward

I encourage you to take some time today to reflect on what was 2008, ponder what the possibilities are for 2009 & decide what you really want to accomplish this year. Believe it or not, you have everything it takes to accomplish everything you want. Dream Big!

Thanks for those words Terry.
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Wednesday, December 31, 2008

Rearview Mirror

With the new year only hours away, here are some highlights (in no particular order) from the presently fading 2008:

  • Going to the movies with Leslie & the kids.
  • Taking our annual trip to Banff for my mom's birthday. This time, in addition to sitting in the hot springs, we rode the Gondola.
  • Retreat at Kananaskis. Great time with the Pearce's & Sabourin's & playing hockey on the outdoor rink.
  • Me & the kids skated several afternoons in January & February on a little frozen pond a couple of neighbourhoods over.
  • Monster Jam with the fam.
  • My six month Partner stint with Starbucks.
  • A trek to Hamilton & spending some time with the Goodyear clan.
  • Watching Jake play soccer and seeing him score!
  • A life changing weekend spent with new friends at Foundations.
  • As I Lay Dying w/Berk & Eric at Mac Hall.
  • Camping in Kananaskis on the May long weekend (first time we've gotten to camp on that date).
  • Spending the weekend with Jason, Sarah & Abigail - love these guys & their friendship!
  • Phil & Amanda's wedding. It's that much more sweet when Leslie & I get to do the ceremony of people we know & love.
  • We got to a few Stamps games - Jake, Joel, Berk, Graham, Darcy & moi.
  • Stamps win the Grey Cup!
  • Jake, Joel, Berkley, Graham & myself become proud 08-09 Stamps season ticket holders - that means, we're going to the Grey Cup!
  • Camping in Kananaskis with our buds, the Sheas! Gotta plan to do it again this summer!
  • Camping in Montana, USA - good time of exploring across the border!
  • Milllarville Market with the kids - both in the summer & during Christmas season.
  • Seeing Joel receive Most Dedicated Player Award for his work last season in hockey.
  • Seeing Joel receive Hardest Worker Award following his week at Dinos Hockey Camp. That award earned him a composite stick from Dinos Hockey. Not too shabby!
  • Annual trek to the tat show with Berkley & Jake.
  • Spending a few days catching up with Mike during his visit to cowtown.
  • Metallica at the dome - unbefreakinglievable!
  • Turkey Bowl '08 - had a good game & reconnected with some old friends.
  • Avs vs. Flames w/Berkley - I love the atmosphere at Flames games.
  • Advent activities with Les & the kids.
  • Seeing Cinderella with the fam at Storybook Theatre.
  • Watching Julia perform her speaking part during the school Christmas/Winter Concert.
  • Getting our puppy - Brutus ("the barber" Beefcake), affectionately known as "Brunacious B"
  • Leslie's mom getting married & Grandpa Max becoming part of our family. We had a great visit with them in the spring.

Our family cultivated deeper relationships this past year as we began a smaller, more intimate faith journey with good (becoming greater) friends. You guys have been a blessing to our family and we are extremely grateful for your love & friendship - back at you! I love watching our kids play together like adopted siblings. The birth of Sydney Bell into our group is a highlight all on its own!

Movies I saw & enjoyed:

Fav downloads of 2008:

Fav books read in 2008:

Thanks God for all the blessings of 2008 - the ones named, the ones unnamed & the ones I misunderstood at the time as a pain in the ass. Parts of 2008 I wished away. Forgive me for not living in the moment as I should have. I want to live more heartily the moments of 2009 that you give me.

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Thursday, December 25, 2008

Merry Christmas!

I'm working today, on Christmas day, for the first time since I was 17 years old. Back then it was 1989, I was a young pup in love, about to leave home & washing dishes at an Irving Big Stop Restaurant.

Times have changed. I really didn't want to leave the fam to come downtown to work today. I feel like I'm hungover. Joel said he'd get up early. We sent him back to bed at 4 am. They did well to wait until 6 am.

We had a great advent time together this season. We decided to look forward to the celebrated birth of Jesus by way of a daily family activity.

We were in a pinch for time, so Leslie picked up an advent calendar from Starbucks. I put together a list of family activities that Leslie & the kids each chose 5 things to do & I chose the reamaining 4. Our 24 activities from the list are as follows (beginning on December 1 & wrapping up last night on Christmas Eve):
  1. Color a Christmas picture
  2. Make sugar cookies
  3. Walk the dog together
  4. Have a bubble bath (individually of course)
  5. Make a gingerbread house
  6. Paint wooden ornaments for the Christmas tree
  7. Go bowling
  8. Make hot chocolate with all the fixins'
  9. Have a chocolate fondue night
  10. Put candy canes on the Christmas tree
  11. Volunteer at the Toy Warehouse (The Salvation Army)
  12. Campout around the Christmas tree
  13. Fancy dress up for dinner
  14. Dollar store gift exchange (each person given $5 to spend on the other four family members, then we go home & exchange gifts)
  15. Make it snow in the house by making snowflakes and hanging them from the ceiling
  16. Paint each other's fingernails & toenails in Christmas colors
  17. Go out for ice cream
  18. Make a Christmas ornament
  19. Make a hideout and hangout with flashlights
  20. Have a picnic at Elbow Falls
  21. Give each other crazy hairstyles
  22. Tell a round robin story
  23. Put together a Christmas or winter scene puzzle
  24. Read "Twas The Night Before Christmas" & put out egg nog & cookies
We truly had a blast together!

We did everything on the list with the exception of three things that were put on hold because of the weather. On the day of our snow storm we had to postpone going bowling; our dog didn't get walked & our picnic at Elbow Falls were both put on hold because of the negative temperature lately.

Next year I hope to put each of the activities in a decorated matchbox, each individually wrapped like a small gift (that is, if we can find the small matchboxes - otherwise, I better get crackin' on consuming Altoids!).
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Monday, December 15, 2008

My Lady

It was Leslie's birthday this weekend too - yesterday!

Me & the kids got her greeting up on the board at the Hitmen game that we attended with Joel's team. I was slow on the draw and missed her name but got the rest of the message before it scrolled away.

I love you Les - you're a beauty!
I love your smile, laugh & sincerity.
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