The story of the broken foot

Weekend Madness is definitely the best way to even describe the past weekend at home. What was sought to be a relaxing Saturday spent outside in the sun and evening at a family friends Buck and Doe, turned out to be a morning of domestic pain, afternoon spent at the hospital and evening spent at home with Kevin.

You see I woke up early on Saturday the sun was shining through my window (since I forgot to close my curtains) and decided to start my day...with the hopes that I'd be able to be productive but then have a nap later that day. I sat with Mom and Dad in the living room and we planned out the day. I threw in a load of laundry and decided to make a quick double batch of cookies for a friend who had surgery, some to take with me for this week of training and a few to leave behind at home. It was early enough and we had all the ingredients so why not?

As I went to pull the 40 year old mixer out of the cupboard...the mixers that weigh a good ton and are basically 100% motor...well as I went to bring it on the counter it un-clicked and the motor went smashing on top of my foot. With a few bad words streaming from my mouth, and some prancing in the kitchen I thought I should elevate and ice. About 15 minutes later my foot was frozen and I felt like I was ready to get back up and moving. Not broken in my mind. I had cookies to make.

 

7 dozen cookies and 4 loads of laundry later my foot looked revolting and the pain was increasing. I thought I best go to the hospital and have it checked out...but not before showering.

 

Mom dropped me off to St. Joseph's, I had x-ray's done and was seen by a doctor within 2 hours and verdict...I have chipped and cracked a bone in the top of my left foot. The doctor gave me a couple choices of cast and crutches and so I picked and left with an air-cast--giving me the option to take the cast off when at home and sleeping, I can shower, and allowed to put some weight on it when wandering around house. The pain should decrease over the next week, however I am advised to wear the cast between 4-6 weeks.

 

I am pretty thankful it wasn't worse...I could have had a cast and crutches, it could have needed surgery, the pain could be worse. So I guess I am thankful its just a chip.

 

 For now, despite the pain I am in once and awhile, I will give thanks it happened now rather than in the middle of my summer and I will give thanks that I can take the boot off and on for sleeping and showering. I will also admit that my coworkers are amazing and constantly reminding me to take it easy, relax, and rest. For that I am grateful.

Well time to go put the foot up. Enjoy the sunny evening...I hear rain is in the forecast.

Nuggets of Spring Goodness

It's Friday, my favourite day of the week and after a couple weeks of missing out on Friday Nuggets...I'm bringing them back! It's been a weird transition this Spring, so much goodness happening all at once that sometimes it is a bit overwhelming...yes too much goodness can be overwhelming.

The first 4 months of this 2013 year have been a whirlwind. Between trips to Toronto for GO hiring, starting a relationship, heading to Nicaragua, having my conference interview for discernment, my trip to Halifax, applying to AST, and now 1 week of GO Coordinator training is complete. It's been busy. All really really good stuff. Stuff that makes me happy and my heart very full. I appreciate that this goodness doesn't happen to all, that I am very blessed, honoured, grateful...but it's also a lot to take.

So here is some nuggets of goodness that have happened over the past...month

:: The weather has been crazy lately and just when we thought it was Springtime the snow would appear. I must say though, there’s nothing like slipping on the winter boots, and running across the lawn in my pjs to visit with the neighbours. I am so blessed to have such awesome neighbours who I can count on, turn to for support and who are practically an extension of our family.

:: Springtime means University ends and friends come home. I was so excited to see and spend some time with some dear friends of mine, Matt and Cheyenne.

  

:: Sunshine and flowers, Spring is on its way!

  

:: At the beginning of this month Steph and I volunteered in the kitchen at Youth Forum; a weekend youth retreat for youth across London Conference. Although I didn’t want to see food for the next week afterwards (youth eat A LOT), it was so wonderful to provide youth with this type of service and to fill in where there was a need. Plus we got to join in for some of the worship times…and enjoy some delicious food too!

    

:: I’ve always wanted a pair of really fun spring pants…and now I have them!! I was so excited to wear them on the first warm spring day. These pants will definitely be a staple of my wardrobe.

 

:: I am so thankful for friends and for sharing their gifts and talents with me. I absolutely love knitted slippers and after professing my love for them to Steve he in turned asked his Mom to make me some…and boy did she deliver. My feet will be warm all summer and winter long, and I will now have matching slippers for each outfit I wear. I’m a happy girl.

 

:: Baby Harvey has had his ups and downs of hospital visits but I am happy to report he is home and doing well. It was so great to visit and snuggle with this little man and have a visit with his beautiful Mama.

:: After years of hearing how awesome Grandma Morris’s cottage is, I finally got to see the place! Jodi’s Mom (aka Grandma Morris) has a cottage close to our old one and Jodi talks about the cottage all the time. After hearing that Jodi was heading up once again, I invited myself and told her I was coming too. Renovations are taking place so we just went up for the day but it was so great to be by the water, and enjoy a sunny afternoon out on the beach.

  

:: Go Grant and Kristen Go! The two of them (brother and his girlfriend) ran the Forest City Half Marathon on Sunday. After a wild goose chase trying to find them…I finally did and so glad I was able to cheer them on. Way to go guys!

 

:: This man’s still very much part of my life and I’m liking it. As much as my blog is a huge part of me and I share lots of personal stuff on it, there are something’s to keep private; I believe a relationship is one of those things. We are having fun and learning lots about one another.

:: A call came yesterday from my nephews Joe and Jack…guess who got Guinea Pigs and a Peacock- THEY DID! I think my brother Rob and his wife Patti are a little nutty...but why not, they live on the Funny Farm :)

 

That's all from me. Enjoy this wonderful warm sunny spring weekend!!

xo

Candidacy!

Now that I've shared with my family and close friends, on this beautiful spring afternoon I write to share with you that I am now an official Candidate for Ordained Ministry from Middlesex Presbytery. 

I sat on Tuesday afternoon, in a room that is very familiar to me. A room in my home church, a room where all Sunday teen-classes were held during high school, and the same room in which held all my discernment meetings. Nothing about the room had changed. Even amongst the circle were familiar faces. Members of my discernment committee, my support person Betsy, and youth minister Marilyn were all present, along with 3 others from presbytery. 

I was welcomed into the room, welcomed to the circle and introduced to all who were there. After being asked to pray to begin my interview I was then asked some questions. Questions about faith and life, my beliefs and challenges. I was asked about my thoughts on further education, to share openly about my relationship with Jesus and within 30 minutes felt like I had poured my heart. The committee then asked Betsy and I to leave the room so they could discuss my answers. I returned 5 minutes later where they read the motion that will be passed allow to presbytery. The motion stating that I was candidate. To be honest I didn't really know what to think...nor what to say. I looked to Betsy and smiled, I looked to Marilyn who was in tears and started crying too. I smiled. Said thanks and jumped for joy when I left the room. I called Mom and Dad, Tara and Paige to tell them my news and I sent some text messages to friends. But it still didn't hit me.

When it hit was after I hung up the phone with Paige. After I poured my heart to her and then I burst. I'm a candidate. I'm a candidate. Something I've been praying, thinking, exploring, discerning for the past year and half and now the time has come. For so long I've been dreaming of these things, of candidacy, schooling, ordination and now the time is here. I'm scared but also celebrating. I'm in shock but also relieved. I'm nervous but also confident. I keep saying to myself the scripture that I've said all along. The scripture from Jeremiah 29:11 "For I know the plans I have for you. Plans to prosper you and not harm you. Plans to give you hope and a future". My future is here. Thanks be to God.

B.A. my friends! I'll have my B.A!!

On Wednesday April 10 2013 it was pouring raining outside, but my insides were bright and jumping with joy. After waking up early and spending the morning in my pj's in bed, writing my last paper to complete my undergrad, I quickly sent a couple people a text message that said "I'M DONE, I'M DONE, I'M DONE!" and then proceeded to update my Facebook status with "so the girl that was told she would never go to University let alone graduate...well that girl JUST HANDED IN HER LAST ASSIGNMENT OF HER UNDERGRAD!!! (now keeping my fingers crossed I passed the course and I'll be a GRADUATE!)" and within 12 hours over 80 friends had either 'liked' or commented on that status. It was overwhelming. 80+ friends took the time to read my status, like it, and in some way, whether big or small, joined with me in celebration.

Although feeling a big sigh of relief knowing that the course is done, I actually had a bit of a panic attack thinking to myself 'oh wow. that's over. I better have passed. I'm sure I passed. But what if I didn't? yikes. okay when are the marks coming up. waiting. waiting. waiting. Then yesterday, exactly 2 weeks later, I check my portal and indeed I passed! I PASSED! DUDE I PASSED!! I FINISHED ALL THE REQUIREMENTS WITH PASSING GRADES AND CAN NOW GRADUATE!!

ummm...excuse me.
yes you.
did you hear the news?
DID YOU HEAR THE NEWS?

This chick. YES ME. seriously. ME.

I'M GOING TO GRADUATE!

I WILL HAVE A DEGREE THAT WILL BE FRAMED ON MY WALL

I WILL GRADUATE WITH A 4 YEARS BACHELOR OF ARTS

 MAJORING IN CHILD AND YOUTH STUDIES!!

and it will have MY NAME ON IT!! MINE! 

I'm beyond excited.
Joyful. So so happy that this journey is complete.
All the hard work, stress, sleepless nights, times of procrastination.
It's over. And worth it.
And I'll even have those 2 little letters beside my name
So crack open a bottle of wine.
Let's celebrate.

From your friend,
Hillary MacDonald B.A. 

Retiring from CT

I write this post from my phone as I sit on the most uncomfortable folding chair, leaning against a lopsided table and listening to some oldies music on the load speaker...because I'm at work. Yes this post is coming right to you from my corner of my Canadian Tire world.

It's been a slow night, my work is done, and so I sit here watching the door for customers to come in. I've jumped at the chance to answer the phone and swear I've cleaned every counter space, emptied every garbage can, wiped down the waiting room and done everything possible to pass the time. And so I sit and think of this place that I've called 'work' for the past 7 months.

 

But it's not just been 7 months...it's been 7 months this time around, but I started working here at Canadian Tire way back in 2008 and have been employed here on and off throughout the past 5 years. I have a love/hate relationship with this store, but on most days it's love. Ive been a cashier most of the time time just in different locations- cash at store front, garden centre and now at Auto Service. I also had a point where I was merchandising- something I highly disliked. Throughout my time I have grown as a person, learned more about customer service, plants, communication, consumerism, cars and service and much much more. I've developed friendships, established myself as an employee, built relationships with returning customers, laughed at the ridiculous things people say, and felt comfortable every time I walk through the doors.

 

This place is a place of familiarity, a place where I walk in the doors and feel part of something. Part of a team; a group of people all so very very different, yet a group that comes together to share a common goal. There are inside jokes, seasonal t-shirts, people that make me laugh and others that make me want to pull my hair out. Its been a place where I have been sworn at my multiple customers, where I have seen some of the most ridiculous outfits, listened to the most annoying stories, and laughed at jokes that I didn't think were funny. Its been the place where I have put smiles on customers faced, offered assistance to those that didn't think they needed it, made the 'cash-out' process easy for parents, and even been the one to help pick out Christmas presents for some.

 

Canadian Tire was my first retail store that I worked out, and has been my only. I can tell you product numbers off the back of my hand, and if you're looking for electronics head to aisle 66 on your right hand side. Since the merchandising renovation every time I enter the store and see the first shelf all lit up with the kitchen appliances on it, I think to myself 'yeah I did that' and its true...I did.  I know when certain managers are having a bad day just by the look on their face, and can predict if it's going to be busy depending on the sales and weather. I can let you know what products go on sale more often than others, how the products are displayed depending on the season, and on May-24 when everything is closed and its freezing outside, top soil will be on sale and the Garden Centre will be open.

 

But my time at this store is coming to an end. When I left to go to Brock University I always knew I would be back...I never knew when, but I knew I would...and I did. It was very much a short-term leave of absence. This time however I feel as though I am actually retiring. That I'll wear my shirt one last time this upcoming Saturday and after that it will forever hang in my closet. I may bust out a t-shirt once and awhile to wear to bed, or wear my thick fleece sweater on a cold winter day. But after Saturday I'll be tossing my steal-toed shoes, handing in my name tag and walkie talkie, and saying goodbye to my time as an employee at CTC #425.

It's a bittersweet leave. It means that I'm moving onward. That life is changing. I am growing. My direction is altering. There may be tears. There may be jumps of joy. Either way I know that my time at CT has been a good one, that I will forever walk in the doors and remember the good times and that no matter how far I am, I will always have my little CT family.

Ready or Not...the ride has begun

My mind has been spinning lately with a bunch of different feelings and thoughts. I normally don't write them down but after reading some articles I've decided to write and to share. This is part of healing and growing and so tonight I do just that...

And to those family and friends who read this and go what the heck? Why didn't you share this with me sooner...please know it has nothing to do with you and everything to do with me because...

I'm nervous. This in the short 3.5 months we've had of this 2013 year, my months have been full of the most amazing-beautiful-awe inspiring-uplifting-soul filling-heart beating-eye opening-fun having times that Ive had in a very long time. Right at the beginning of the year there were sparks flying and I begun a relationship, I headed to Nicaragua and experienced a trip of awe and wonder, I travelled to Halifax to have a tour of AST and very quickly realized that AST is the school for me. I also had the chance to connect and visit with really great friends. Hiring for The GO Project started and finished; a long process that took so much time and energy, and my discernment process is one step closer to being complete as I had my conference interview in March. Friends returned home after a 4 month trip, I'm wrapping up my undergrad and now preparing for the next leg of this 2013 journey.

And this is why I'm nervous. Scared. Terrified. Full of questions and wonder. Heart is sad. Shaking. Yet there is also so much excitement and happiness. Lots of wonder and joy. I am anxious and yet so ready for this journey. I didn't even realize it was possible to be so nervous and yet so excited at the very same time...but it's possible. It's also crazy hard to believe that if you asked me 6 months ago what the beginnings of my 2013 year would be like, my answer would be far far far different from the reality that I'm living.

In exactly 3 weeks from today my life is on the go. Literally And figuratively. I begin working for The GO Project; my dream job with amazing colleges and friends, youth who continue to challenge and inspire, working towards building a better community one life at a time. I'm excited for this job. There is familiarity and routine, there are also new hopes and adventures. But after GO, when the summer comes to an end...a new chapter is beginning.

I know very little about the chapter. All I know is that the setting will be in Halifax at AST and I know some characters that may show up, and weirdly enough, I know the ending...my Masters degree. But I know nothing else. No details. No climax. No overall plot. No author has written a quick summary to let me know if this is a chapter of my book that I want to read live. And I'm scared. Nervous. I'm nervous that this chapter is going to suck. that I'll fail. feel alone. isolated. that Ill be away from home and feel stranded like the boys in 'The Lord of the Flies' (I dont know what I'm talking about when I say 'like the boys in lord of the flies' but let's pretend)

But with every new book and new chapter there is excitement. The wonderings of what is to actually happen. The anticipation of the climax and the new characters that you'll meet. There is wonder in the twists and turns, celebrations and joys. There is happiness in knowing the end, it's just a matter of getting there.

And so when someone asks "how are you?" I've been pulling the "fine thanks, how are you?" but what I really want to say is "oh hot damn. My life is amazing. Challenging. I'm trying to live each day to the fullest yet I'm scared shitless of what the tomorrow will bring. I'm smiling all the time because the people in my life are wonderful, supportive, loving, fun. I'm smiling all the time because I know God is good. All the time. God is good. I'm smiling because I know where my life is going unlike so many young people in this world. I'm smiling because I'm confident in myself and the decisions that I've made this far. But dude, girl, you random person on the street, I'm scared. Im nervous. What if I get to AST and something happens? What if I'm not accepted by my fellow classmates? What if I miss my family & friends so much that I just want to go home?What if I get started into ministry and suck at it? What if? What if? What if?"

This has and will continue to be a big year for me. I feel like the most prepared yet unprepared Girl Guide in the world. The one that knows how to bake cookies but forgot the most important ingredient. It's been a whirlwind. The most exciting yet nerve wracking ride of my life...and I'm sure it will only get better from here.

Sharing Photo: Miguel

After taking the time to sort all 3000 photos, and then creating a PowerPoint for a presentation we gave last week I needed a break from everything photo. I know I said I would share my top photos from my trip and the meanings behind them, but I needed a little break. Today while sitting at the doctors office waiting for my doctor I couldn't get this photo out of my head. It kept reappearing. I kept thinking of Miguel and wondering how he is doing, knowing its been 7 weeks since I said goodbye.

And so clearly today was the day I need to share this picture. A picture of us together. This was one the 2nd last day in the Barrio, but Miguel's and I's last day together. Miguel was the son of Dona Rosa. A 17-year old young man who cares more about his family and siblings then any 17-year-old boy I know. His smile lit up any space he entered and his eyes had a constant sparkle. Miguel was a hard worker, ready whenever needed, and always willing to lend a hand. Being the eldest of the family, he had big responsibilities and expected to be a leader within the family; and there was no doubt that he was anything but. Miguel tried so hard to communicate with me, to share his heart, to laugh and joke together, and within a matter of hours he had put an imprint on my heart. Miguel has so much potential behind him and he is so lucky that he has drive and motivation to keep him going.

This photo was from the Thursday, after a full work day, the last day Miguel was going to be there as he was heading out of town to be with his Grandma and attend school. We gathered outside the home, all the family and workers and had a little celebration honouring Miguel. He shared his gratitude towards us, and us with him. It took everything in me to fight back tears and through translator share how much I appreciated him, his hard work, and wish him all the best in the future.

I dont ever know if I'll see Miguel again. I don't ever know if our paths will cross again. But what I do know is that he's left a print in my heart. I will always think fondly of this young man. I will always wonder how he is doing, where his dreams will take him, and where he will be on this journey we call life.