The Horie Family Year in Review (May)

May, my favourite month of 2015.  We were all together in the UK, adventuring.

The Orkney's call to me in a way I can't explain.  It resonates in me.  When I think about it, I want to cry I miss it so much. 

Kirwall Harbour, Orkney Island, May 4, 2015



This photo is probably my most favourite.  He had a terrible 2014.  If my year of misery was 2012, he took 2014.  He was strong through that year, when I proposed that we go to Scotland in 2015, he was shocked but believed in me that I could do this without breaking the bank.  He loves me completely.  He is always my biggest fan, support and I gain great strength from him.  I'm looking forward to what 2016 will bring us.



King and Queen of Stirling Castle for the day.

 


The Windy Wallace Monument.  Perfect picture except the wind blew up my scarf...and we had a photo bomber...


 
The Kelpies.  Last time we were here we drove by while they were under construction.  100' tall monuments to the impact of the horse in Scottish culture.

 

I will love you my whole life, you and no other.  Our 25th anniversary gift to each other. It's matching silver bands with thistles and trinity knots repeated. (We didn't do this on our 25th anniversary trip, this time, we made sure we found something we both liked and renewed our vows to each other)




He hates to travel but he did this for me.  I'm so thankful that he is part of our family.  I love him so much and I am so proud of him.


Queens Park Rangers vs Newcastle.  We watched QPR win, but lose relegation and end up out of the Premier League.  It was a dream come true.



From York.  I wanted to see a real Medieval City.  We were amazed.

 

 

 

Holding hands across the border, Kim in England, Kent in Scotland.
 


I love Scotland, I can't wait to go back.



Maxwell, May 2, 2015



Yes please!!

 

 
 
 
















We walked over the Tower Bridge.

Every holiday should have a subway.  <3


 
The best way to see London!

Kirwall Harbour, Orkney Island, May 2015

Landing in Orkey, I'm almost home.

The Horie Family Year In Review (January to April)

January

In December of 2014 - handed back the leadership of the youth ministry at Colwood.  We had hired a youth pastor and although he was here in December, so that he could be oriented, I continued to work on the ministry until the end of December.   The 31st could come fast enough, I was tired.

 

Saying goodbye December 31, 2014

 

January started with a real low in this house.  Melissa and Jon went home to Saskatchewan on the 31st and Kent had been unemployed for 11 months and the weight of it all was grinding us down.  Kent was spending everyday applying at every job he could find.  At the very end of January he was hired at Black Apple Cellular, repairing phones.  He loved the people he worked with, but working with the public is not something Kent ever aspired to do.  He'd often shake his head at my stories of working with public.

January, Melissa was working on her BSc, Jonathan on his MBA and Max on his 2nd year Sciences.  They were all very busy.

I was working full time in Research and at home.  We had taken on the fullest amount of students and renters we could to stay afloat.  Kent and I were couponing, cooking and cleaning, and parenting, parenting, parenting!  Fortunately, for this house, we were able to stay afloat through 2014-2015.

We also decided that maybe it was time to look at downsizing our house.  We thought that if things didn't change, we should maybe consider moving.  So, I spent a weekend packing up the house and staging.  It looked amazing when I was done....

We decided Kent and I needed a break--we decided to go to Vancouver.  So, with my couponing and free ferry rides, a free hotel we were off.  We met with Jamie and Josh, had breakfast with Patrick and Scott.  Money was stupidly tight, but we managed the whole weekend to be free with the exception of food and gas.

 

 

February 

 

After 2 weeks  of working at Black Apple, Kent was hired to work with the Government on a contract basis.  He wondered if he should've applied, but the job description fit him so well, I encouragement him to take the 6 month contract.


So, he interviewed and got the job, then explained he needed time off in May....we'd been planning a trip to Scotland and they agreed!

I know what you're thinking, money is incredibly short and we're going to Europe....We decided to gift Kent this for his 50th birthday, Melissa graduating from her BSc and Jon from his MBA.  All would happen in 2015.

The 17th is  Melissa's 23 birthday.  It's hard for me to even write that.  During January and February Melissa and I spent a lot of time talking and emailing plans for our trip to Scotland.  It was great fun to plan with her.

March

March, Max turns 21.  He's legal everywhere now.  He's a joy to have in our house and I'm thankful for these times that he's still here with us.

I celebrated Beer Week and International Women's Day by doing a bike tour in Victoria with a friend.  I liked the idea of the biking, not the beer.  I'm not a beer drinker.  I had a great time, although part way through, my introvert kicked in and I wanted to find a corner and a good book.  I didn't drink much at all -- just sips to determine, I'm not a beer drinker.

 



April

 

One of my favourite coworkers was away for part of April and into May, so I had some time to orchestrate one my best office pranks:

 

 

In April, I had been working tons.  We still had all of our students, renters, I was cooking ahead for the students while we were in the UK.  Kent and I were falling into some routine with his new job.  Every evening, I was working on our trip to the UK and cooking and baking. I was madly looking forward to May 1, when we'd leave the house for the ferry.  (Which was free....)

 

On the last day of April, we took our students/renters out for dinner then we went to a movie.  The following day, we'd be off to London. Note:  flash in the movie theatre is not recommended....

 



 

Lucas, Philipp, Angel, Max and Bernardo

 

Turning out to be the worst blogger ever

I've been a terrible blogger.  I think part of it has been that since October, I haven't wanted to look at a computer once I get home.

So to catch you all up on life since my last posts:

Max is back in school--He's not got a terribly full load, but he's plugging along.  The food truck he was working on is taking a 3 month break--due to his boss' schedule.  So, he's on a volleyball team and with school he's keeping busy.

Lucas is still here with us, he's working ridiculous amount, but he's got a plan, it's another trip to Germany this Summer and he wants it all paid for.  He also will be going to other places in Europe, that is still to be determined. 

Melissa and Jon bought another house.  They still have their place in Kelowna that is rented out long term and they have decided to put down some roots in Saskatchewan.  It's a super cute little house (they love small living) that they are now renovating.  I think the move in date was end of November, but they are still not in.  They have done all the renos themselves, with help from Jon's Dad.

Melissa is working on her Masters (Immunology and Public Policy).  In February she'll be off to India for some schooling and Jonathan is working as a Electrical Engineer.  In October he graduated from his MBA.  They are busy people.

Kent is now a "real boy" at his Government job.  He was hired in February as a contractor and that they had hoped that they could roll him into a full time job, which he has.  We high fived each other and enjoyed the peace of mind that this brings.  It's a big difference over last year.

In October I was still with Research and Capacity Building.  I was the Administrative Assistant to the Director of Research.  We had been working toward adding to my job description--adding Research Office Coordinator.  (I can't be a Manager as that means that I have to have oversight to budgets, which I don't).

My co-worker in Research Ethics and Compliance had talked about leaving (since about August).  She was working in a role that she was not using her Masters degree, and was looking for a change.  Periodically we would talk about it, but it was not something that was really on my radar.

And then she left.  Her Manager came and told me she'd like me to apply and that I'd be good for the role.  She then talked to the Director about snagging me for her department.

So, I applied.  I interviewed.  I won the position.  And I have been incredibly overwhelmed since then.

The job is vastly different and it seems that there's 10 rules and 25 exceptions per rule.  Having said that I am really, really, enjoying the opportunity this job has given me.  I love my team.  I love the peace and quiet of my office.  I don't miss a lot from working in my old position, except a few of the people.

So, that being said, I should be doing my year in review, that will follow.  For now, I don't want to look at this computer!