Daily Photo Challenge (January 2011)

Day 01 - A picture of yourself with fifteen facts.

1. My name is Carolynn.
2. I am 35 years old.
3. I enjoy cooking and baking.
4. I LOVE reading.
5. I have 3 nieces and 1 nephew whom I love very much.
6. I am currently a university student.
7. I like winter from December 23 until January 31.
8. I am an avid crafter - scrapbooking, card-making,
    quilting, cross-stitching, cake decorating, I do it all.
9. I am a follower of Jesus.
10. I love traveling but hate sightseeing.
11. I have no sense of smell.
12. I'm allergic to onions and garlic, but LOVE garlic bread.
13. Long, hot baths and massages are two of my favourite
     things in the world.
14. I am a night owl.
15. I LOVE seafood.

Day 02 - A picture of you and the person you have been close with for the longest.

Me, Karen, Nancy and Lisa go back into our early years at
Scott St. MB Church. But our friendship probably really started
in high school. The craziness of life and busy schedules don't
allow us to get together as often as we'd like, but we make a point
of keeping in touch and keeping up with each others's lives.

Day 03 - A picture of the cast from your favorite show.

I can't get enough of this show.

Day 04 - A picture of your night.

I spent the evening meeting and assessing a
new tutoring student who needs support in math.

Day 05 - A picture of your favorite memory.

In 2004 I spent 6 months volunteering at a day care in Paraguay.
It was one of the greatest, hardest, most challenging and most
rewarding experiences in my life.

Day 06 - A picture of a person you'd love to trade places with for a day.

I'd trade places with ANYONE who is sitting on a warm beach
with a cold drink and a good book.

Day 07 - A picture of your most treasured item.

I have a really horrible memory. People tell me about things we've
done in the past or conversations we've had and I don't have a clue.
So my scrapbooks have become somewhat of a journal of my life
and allow me to recall the memories that would normally slip away.

Day 08 - A picture that makes you laugh.

OK, so maybe I changed this one a bit. It's a
picture of someone who makes me laugh, Tina.

Day 09 - A picture of the person who has gotten you through the most.

I don't know where I'd be without Jesus in my life.

Day 10 - A picture of the person you do the most messed up things with.

Love you, girl!!

Day 11 - A picture of something you hate.

I HATE it when you're with someone and they text/talk on
their cell more than they talk with you. I can understand
answering the call, but let the caller know that you're with
someone and that you'll call them back later.

Day 12 - A picture of something you love.

I LOVE reading. Give me a book and I am able to
escape my reality for hours at a time.

Day 13 - A picture of your favorite band or artist.

I've liked Tim McGraw since the late 90s. Some of his songs
are lovely duets with his wife, some are just fun/feel-good
songs with a catchy beat and some have lyrics that hit home.

Day 14 - A picture of someone you could never imagine your life without.

Day 15 - A picture of something you want to do before you die.

I would love to spend a lot of time traveling in Australia.

Day 16 - A picture of someone who inspires you.

Day 17 - A picture of something that has made a huge impact on your life recently.

Southridge Community Church. "Getting Naked" is the
title of a series of sermons that we recently heard.
Listen to the series and see if it doesn't challenge you too.
Click here to access the series.

Day 18 - A picture of your biggest insecurity.

Day 19 - A picture of you when you were little.

This is me as a one-year-old.

Day 20 - A picture of somewhere you'd love to travel.

Yes, I realize Europe is a whole continent and not very specific
and yes, I've done a brief tour of Europe, but there are so many
places to see and things to do that I don't think I'd ever get tired
of traveling through Europe.

Day 21 - A picture of something you wish you could forget.

For those of you who know me, you know why. For those
of you who don't know me, I won't explain. Sorry.

Day 22 - A picture of something you wish you were better at.

I wish I felt comfortable enough with myself and with others
to be able to say what I feel when I feel it. I am the type of person
who keeps things bottled up because I'd rather not deal with them
and don't feel comfortable/confident sharing them.

Day 23 - A picture of your favorite book.

OK, so this isn't one book. I am an avid reader and have far too
many favourites. This is just a small sampling of the books
that I consider "comfort reads". So many books, so little time.

Day 24 - A picture of something you wish you could change.

I wish I could change the existence of war in this world.

Day 25 - A picture of your day.

Bookkeeping for the family business.

Day 26 - A picture of something that means a lot to you.

Sunday lunch, doesn't sound like much, but it's a tradition that
we've grown up with and that has been carried on through
the years and as our family has grown.

Day 27 - A picture of yourself and a family member.

This is me and my nephew walking along the beach at the cottage.

Day 28 - A picture of something you're afraid of.

Kind of a weird fear since I know they're not real, but I can't
watch vampire movies because they give me nightmares.
It's like I can feel the fangs puncturing my skin.
I get the eebie-jeebies just thinking about it.

Day 29 - A picture of something that always makes you smile.

A long, hot, relaxing soak in a tub with a good book and a
glass of wine will always put a smile on my face.

Day 30 - A picture of someone you miss.

I miss my Oma Janzen.

Day 31 - A picture of yourself.

snow day

In honour of yesterday's snow day...

I look outside my window and what do I see?

Six inches of fluffy snow waiting just for me.

School is cancelled for one day. Buses cannot run.

That’s ok with me because I’ll have lots of fun.

I grab my boots, coat, and hat. I run, jump and play.

Scoop it. Toss it. Crackle. Crunch. Snow Day! Snow Day! Snow Day!Yay!

by Renee Kirchner

donuts

The other day my Mom had the kids in the car when Berlin announced to Mom that she was boring because she didn't make donuts. This confused us a bit because Mom makes donuts for everybody's birthdays. Then it came out, she wanted Mom to make donuts "the way Daddy does".

Beginners learning skating skills with figure skating club
New session of classes will start next week
released in the Niagara Advance
December 30, 2010

Alika Elliott, Christy Engemann and Kaityn Wiens
learn basic skills with the
Niagara-on-the-Lake Figure Skating Club.

Not sure figure skating is the right sport for your child?

How about hockey, ringette, or just learning to have fun and be safe on the ice?

The Niagara-on-the-Lake Figure Skating Club offers programs for beginners of all ages, designed to develop a variety of skating skills. The CanSkate program focuses on fun, participation and basic skill development.

It is beneficial to any skater with an interest in ice sports, including figure skating, hockey and ringette.

Skaters are grouped according to ability and taught by certified professional coaches assisted by qualified program assistants. Skaters develop forward and backward skating skills, stopping, turning, jumping, edges and crosscuts. Badges are awarded when all skills have been achieved.

"We might have the next Sidney Crosby or Joannie Rochette among us. If we do, we want to find them," says NOTL Figure Skating Club spokesperson Darlene Dortono.

And for those who will not reach the level of a professional hockey player or Olympic figure skater, she said, lessons will give them an opportunity to learn new skills.

With the next session about to start, it's especially timely for youngsters who will be skating with their schools during the winter, she adds.

Coaches make the sessions active using teaching aids, music and a variety of theme and fun days held throughout the season.

Skate Canada and the NOTL club strongly recommend a properly fitted CSA hockey helmet for all beginner skaters.

The skating club offers a pre-school CanSkate session for beginners ages three to five at the Virgil arena Thursdays, from 4 to 4:45 p.m., and Mainstream CanSkate sessions, for beginners aged five and up, from 4-4:50 p.m.

On Saturdays, the Pre-school session is from 3 to 3:45 and Mainstream from 3:45 to 4:35.

Students can choose one or class or attend both, says Dortono.

The club also offers an adult session on Wednesday evenings from 7 to 7:50 p.m.

All programs begin next week, Jan. 5 for adults, Jan. 6 and 8 for kids.

Registration for the January session can be arranged by calling the club at 905-468-7465 or emailing the office at notlsk8r@hotmail.com. Information is also available at www.notlskatingclub.com.

Parents or guardians of pre-school and CanSkate skaters must remain at the arena during lesson time for their children's safety and encouragement.

that's my niece!!

Niagara Blades bring home gold

released in the Niagara Advance
09 December 2010

The Niagara Blades, a novice girls travel team playing
in a Niagara Falls girls league, traveled to Stratford
recently and won each of their five games,
coming home tournament champions.

The Niagara Blades of the Niagara Falls Girls Hockey Association traveled to Stratford to bring home a tournament trophy in the novice division—and they did.

The team of Niagara-on-the-Lake girls—there is no girls travel division in NOTL—played three preliminary and two playoff games to capture the gold.

Not knowing what to expect, the team came out strong beating London 5-1. Goaltender Lauren Viviers stole the spotlight making numerous saves to earn the game star. Emma Penner and Katie Miller each scored two goals with Avery Penner adding the single. Assists went to Jessica Paul with two, and singles to Emma, Avery, and Abbey Penner.

Playing against the host team, Brooklyn Clark paced the way scoring five in an 8-1 win over Stratford. Emma Penner collected two and Miller one. Single assists went to Isabella Antonucci, Emma, Avery and Abbey Penner.

The third game Niagara won over the Twin Centre was a lopsided 12-0 victory. Miller and Clark potted four each and Emma Penner and Emma Andres two a piece. Assists went to Emma Penner, Clark, Paul and Abbey Penner.

These same two teams hooked up in the playoffs with a totally different outcome. Great defence by Antonucci and Tiana Hollowchuk combined with great saves by Viviers, Niagara snuck by with a 1-0 victory.

Great plays from Emma Andres, Alice Hellwig and Berlin Wiens just couldn't get by the goaltender. A fine pass from Lexi Buis went to Clark in a breakaway with Avery Penner trailing to pick up the rebound and score a late goal.

In the final match the Blades held off a London team 3-1. With the Blades up 2-1 late in the game, Miller sealed the championship with seconds remaining.

Hollowchuk, Hellwig and Ana Laura Mancuso got in on the scoring action picking up single assists as did Miller. Clark and Emma Penner added the other goals.

cancer shouldn't happen to kids :(

I went to Bible school with Shari (Emmalee's Mom). To see an update click here.

Dealing with leukemia difficult for three-year-old and family
By Greg Vandermeulen
05 November 2010

Emmalee Chubaty pictured at her uncle's
wedding where she was a flower girl
in mid-August. Although she was not yet
diagnosed, which happened after her fall,
the cancerous cells were present in her body.

It's a battle no one should be asked to fight. But at the age of three, taking on cancer seems like an insurmountable task.

Not even a month from first diagnosis to present, three-year-old Emmalee Chubaty has undergone more medical treatments than many people do in a lifetime.

Diagnosed on Sept. 30 with Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia, Chubaty has been on a rough road toward recovery.

As Ridgeville area farmers and parents Wayne and Shari try to adjust to their new reality, Emmalee is in the fight of her life.

On Oct. 26, Shari Chubaty talked about how far her daughter had come. "She's responding the way they hoped she'd respond," Shari said.

Because her ability to fight infection is compromised, Emmalee hasn't been able to go home until now.

She started telling me she would stop doing
bad things if I made the pokey things stop.

- Shari Chubaty

"They've given us the green light," Shari said.

Because of Emmalee's fragile immune system, renovations had to be hurriedly completed on the home, including ripping out the carpets, having the ducts and the entire furnace system inspected and cleaned.

Shari said doctors told them they could not engage in renovations anytime soon, once their daughter's home.

"It has to be done now or not for three years," she said.

Changes to their farm house are the least of their worries for the last few weeks.

With Emmalee, her troubles began in early August when she fell off her bed. "That kick-started her pain," Shari said. "She didn't want to walk after that."

They took her to the doctor and was told there was nothing wrong and that she was faking.

Two weeks later they brought her to a different doctor who thought she had possibly sprained her ankle.

Emmalee started walking again shortly after, but that only lasted a week.

Shari said they brought her to Altona where the doctor expressed concern for her paleness. "Her lips were white," Shari recalled.

Blood work was done, and that's when the Chubaty family's lives changed.

"Before I got back to my car, (the doctor) told me to take her to Winnipeg for a blood transfusion."

Just how serious her condition actually was, became apparent quickly, as instead of feeling better, Emmalee felt much worse.

"She had minor heart failure because her body wasn't used to white blood cells and oxygen," she said.

That day in Winnipeg will never be forgotten. As Emmalee had various tests, Shari said they received the news. "By 3:30 p.m. there was an oncologist in the room telling me she had cancer," she said.

Although she wasn't allowed to jump on the bed, Shari said that action, and the subsequent fall, may have saved her life.

"The oncologists had told us that her fall was the best thing that could have happened to her, that if she hadn't shown those signs of pain prompting us to persue things further, she would have lasted until December, and that we could have easily lost her with how low her counts were," she said.

Since then she has had five bone marrow aspirations, a spinal tap and chemotherapy. A control line has been put in her chest for chemotherapy.

And the formerly friendly and outgoing little girl is now afraid of everyone.

Shari described it as horrific, saying Emmalee doesn't know why all this is happening.

"She started to say no more," Shari said. "She started telling me she would stop doing bad things if I made the pokey things stop."

"She won't speak to people anymore," Shari added. "She was my social butterfly."

Her physical appearance has also changed. Her hair is cut short, (to help prepare her for hair loss), her face is puffy, and she has gone up four sizes in clothes thanks to steroids and chemo for one month. "She doesn't look at all like the same little girl," she said.

Emmalee had a word for people she thought of as heroes. To her they were all "superman".

"I call her my superman," she said.

But Shari and Wayne also have a one-year-old son, who is being looked after by friends during all of this.

Shari said there has also been a trust fund set up at Scotia Bank in Emerson, and D.D.'s Country Kitchen held a fundraising breakfast on Oct. 30.

Not from the area (she grew up in Regina but Wayne is local), Shari said she is stunned by the support.

"It's been incredible, absolutely unreal," she said.

Although at first they greeted news of the trust fund with mixed feelings, Shari said they have come to appreciate what has been done.

"You don't think that would ever be something we need," she said.

Shari said they are thankful that Emmalee has made it through the first part of treatment and are optimistic for her recovery, since the type of leukemia she has is the most curable.

But she recognizes the next three years are going to be tough ones. "It's going to be really hard for a long time," she said.

Dad's 60th Birthday

On October 16th, Dad's 60th birthday was celebrated in style. Yup, lots of meat, friends, fun and games. 60 may not seem like a huge milestone to some, but in the Wiens family it is a big deal. My dad is the first male in his family to reach that age and it's big because his parents and oldest sister didn't make it out of their 50s.