Day 4

Not much improvement. Still feel terrible. The pain in my back is agonizing. I've taken for my infections and pain:

Tylenol

antibiotics

garlic capsules

oregano oil capsules

cranberry capsules

Lemon juice and water (with hardly any sugar--so SOUR)

Apple cider vinegar, honey and water (potent through the nostrils!)

And SO MUCH WATER! (I feel like I've swallowed a small swimming pool)

And had a blessing. 

I'm sure I'll try many more things as the days go on!

Pray for my speedy recovery. 

Hot and Cold

I've been sick for 3 days now. Flat out, can't do a thing, SICK.

My eyes are sensitive to light and I had a fever last night. My body has been through the wringer. I've had times where I can't stop sweating and perspiring and then I get chills which makes me shiver and shake and my teeth to chatter. My back hurts on the left side under my ribs and I have pain shooting from my hips to nearly my knees on the top side of my thighs. I've been so tired but not very rested and my jaw aches something crazy.

I started not feeling well on Sunday evening. By Monday afternoon I was a mess. I had on my cozy blue socks, some cotton capris and polar fleece pj pants on top of those. I had a tshirt and my hoodie with the hood on and my down jacket with my winter mittens. Then I tucked myself under my warm bedspread.

I could barely move, everything hurt and I hardly left the bedroom. My house is a mess, so are some of the kids and nobody has had a decent meal in three days. Jeff has been home for the three days I've been sick. I appreciate his help and am grateful for all that he has done for me.

Lying on the couch Monday evening with my winter coat and mitts on. 

Found my eye mask. It totally helps with the light sensitivity. The quote helped remind the kids also. 

My wonderful daughters brought me breakfast in bed this morning. Yogurt with apples, peaches, bagel, water and vitamins. 

This is what the baby looks like when mom neglects her for 3 days. Good thing dad has been helping. 

This morning Jeff made an appointment for me to see a doctor at the clinic at 4:40pm. A urine sample tested positive for a Bladder Infection and the nurse took a sample for further testing but the doctor thinks I have a Kidney Infection too. I got the prescription for antibiotics and have started taking them. The pharmacist said I should be feeling better by tomorrow evening and much better by Friday. I hope so because being sick is terrible. I haven't felt this bad in years. I'll even take labour over this infection. Not pneumonia. That infection is about as bad!!!

Happy Birthday

Jeff had a birthday.

Happy 43 years!

Happy Birthday to Cara also. 

We met for cake and ice cream at Mom and Dads. It's always fun to celebrate birthdays. 

Magrath parade

We went to the Magrath parade.

I love the way these two travel in the van!

We took a few extra kids with us. Seth, Lorrin, and Spencer so that Sheralee could have some time to finish packing for their upcoming holiday. 

I took this picture for Brandon. He was working so he couldn't come. The float said: "Camo and Bling is a hunting girl thing"

Rebekka with her pile of treats. 

All the kids came home loaded with candy!!!!!!

Golf

Months ago Jeff won two free passes to Land o Lakes golf course in Coaldale. Because he doesn't golf, he gave it to Devin and Cory. Cory picked up Devin on July 23 in the afternoon at 3:30. Devin was so excited.

Devin took hours deciding on what to wear. And took a long time polishing his clubs!

He was ready to golf but wasn't sure about golfing with uncle Cory who is an avid golfer.

Practicing before the game. 

They arrived home after 7pm.  Devin said it was a nice course. He had a great time and is ready to go again! Anyone want to take him???

Devin and I had fun talking after about his game and I shared many of my memories of working at the Elbow Springs Golf Course in Calgary as a teenager. (My favorite job by far was was the beverage cart.)

Hardy Reunion

We had a second Hardy Reunion on Monday, July 20 and Tuesday, July 21 at the Stirling Reunion Center. David and Rita and their posterity met together for two days of family fun. Janae organized it with the theme "A Year in Two Days". We celebrated all the major holidays together throughout the reunion.
For Valentines Day we had waffles/pancakes with strawberries and cream for breakfast. Yum. I ate so much!

Next, was various morning activities for all ages. Many went to the fish pond.

Camilla organized a St. Patrick's Day treasure hunt for the kids. We all enjoyed the fruit as an after lunch rainbow fruit kabob treat.
We had a yummy lunch complete with devilled eggs in honor of Easter.

Grandma and Grandpa Hardy were the presented with talent show/ performances by each family in honor of Mother's Day and Father's Day. (Except Jeff and Kim family. We didn't do anything. Surprisingly, quite a few of our kids were really mad and frustrated at me for not having something prepared. We will think of something for the next performance.) Cam and Alan family announced baby#10. 

Dallin led the family in a yoga/exercise class with the July1/July 4 streamer ribbons. (I wish I could find the video I took of it. It was pretty funny.) The streamers were a huge hit. They were simple but all the kids loved them.The teenagers enjoyed the large birthday sparklers. It was fun to sing O Canada and Star Spangled Banner as a large family.

Chalk and balloons also delighted the littles.

In celebration of Halloween, Mom and Sheralee brought their dress ups. The younger cousins had so much fun dressing up and playing with the clothes.

Dad, Mom and Joseph all did a presentation for Remembrance Day. I am grateful to mom for encouraging us to fight righteously for the things that are important in our lives. Since the reunion, I keep thinking of the Hymn with the line that says "Who's on the Lord's side? Who? Now is the time to show. We ask it fearlessly: Who's on the the Lord's side? Who?"

And another verse from the music of Afterglow "Find the Power that you have in your heart.

There’s a stone rolling forward, it’s the nation of God.
For the battle is raging and the armor is strong.
The Enemy is losing, who’s side are you on?"

I hope each of my children will rally for good and stand as part of God's army.

We had a fabulous chicken dinner in honor of Christmas. Chicken breasts, potatoes, gravey, green beans, corn and squash. So good! And ice cream cones for dessert. Thanks to Dad and Mom for that major meal. 

The kids made decorations for a small Christmas tree Landon and Brenna brought. Then we had a white elephant gift exchange. (And I thank Cara for bringing an extra gift for our family so the kids could participate. Once again I dropped the ball on this part of the reunion and many of our kids were mad and disappointed they couldn't participate... Until Aunt Cara saved the day!!)

After the building and grounds were cleaned up, Janae brought out noisemakers for each of the kids to ring in the New Year. I was so excited (NOT) to be going home with 7 of them!!!!!!

After a bit of personal family quiet/unwind time, we met again later that evening at the Raymond pool for more family fun. 

It was a fabulous two days surrounded by a family whom I love dearly. I am so grateful for the loving, caring, honorable, hardworking bunch of aunts and uncles my children have as examples and role models in their lives. I couldn't ask for a greater bunch of extended family. I'm grateful we were there and we dearly missed all who weren't able to attend.

At a impromptu meeting Tuesday of the aunts and uncles, we discussed future reunions and what we can do to help the teenagers feel more involved, entertained and included in the family circle during future reunions. We had some great ideas and hope that we can plan some activities that will encourage the youth and young adults to want to attend. 

Fishing and minnow catching at the Stirling fish pond. Looks like more wading than fishing!

Children supervised by Landon, Lowyn, Dallin, Heather and Alan.

Joseph caught a garter snake that garnered a lot of attention from the nieces and nephews. I hate snakes so that's all I'm going to say about that event. 

More tossing that is Grandpa approved.

Devin and cousins.

A soccer game was played on Monday throughout the day. It involved all ages.

The highlight of the reunion was the kid toss. This activity once started was done over and over!

When the Hardy kids (Jeff and his siblings) were little, they always had a kid toss at their reunions. They used a "throw up blanket" made by Aunt Janice Ellingson. The term throw up blanket was because the kids were thrown up in the air. (And perhaps some even threw up after!) At this reunion two of my denim quilts and Lowyn's cotton quilt were put on top of each other to make a sturdy blanket for kid tossing. And tossing the kids they did. Lots went HIGH. Maren probably went the highest. We have many pictures of kids flying through the the air with the greatest of ease!!!!!

Fortunately no one was hurt. The aunts are now planning the construction of an official Hardy Reunion Throw Up Blanket. It should be ready for kid tossing next summer 2016!

Cassandra with Skaidrite and Esther.

Cousins on the playground.

Lots of visiting!!

More family interaction

White elephant gift exchange

Some duplicate pictures. Oops

Blanket toss

Super Maren

Tysyn

Mermaid Savanna

I have so many pictures of the reunion fun! It's hard to not choose them all!!!

We look forward to next summer!

Hardy Party

We just finished a Lyman and Mildred Hardy family reunion in honor of Grandpa turning 100 this year and Grandma turning 99 in several months. It was held on Stirling at the church. There was a lot of people there and a lot of little kids!

It was so fun to see extended family and renew the distant relationships.

Family began gathering at the Stirling church on Friday at noon. We had a lunch of taco in a bag. So yummy!! Because the day was rainy--a much needed answer to southern Alberta prayers- the organizers struggled to pull together activities for the kids to do inside. I loved the time to visit and talk with extended family. A favourite activity for me was seeing the great grandchildren try to put the grandchildren who were there in order by age. It was easier for me to get the first few right but after that, the order was hopeless. Parents even struggled. Soon it was left to the cousins to arrange themselves! What impressed me through the activity was that Grandma Mildred faithfully kept a family record of her posterity. As people were added through marriages and births, they were numbered in the posterity. I wish I could remember what number I am. I knew it once!

After a yummy dinner of ham and scalloped potatoes, all gathered in the chapel to share memories of Grandma and Grandpa. 

It was a beautiful gathering with laughter and tears. Young and old shared fond memories and their thoughts from the heart. Our kids remembered the jelly bean jar and visiting at Good Sam's.  They also remembered 5 little squirrels on the toes. I enjoyed the thoughts of Aunts and Uncles and their memories of their parents.  I'm grateful for the reminder to take care of each other shared by Aunt Jan and for the love and strength of testimony I continue to feel from two people whom I love and cherish like my own grandparents. They have left a legacy of faith and commitment in me that I want to honor and uphold. I miss Grandma and Grandpa Hardy as do so many others. It will truly be a glorious reunion in heaven when we see them again.

Today, Saturday, was the Stirling Settler Days so the family put a family float in the parade. A white banner that read, “The Lyman and Mildred Hardy family says" held by Cassandra and Maren along with giant pictures of Grandma and Grandpa Hardy held by Dallin and Heather passed first then a pick up truck with a flat deck pulled the children and spouses of Lyman and Mildred. Their banner read "100 Years in Stirling -- Thank You For Our Heritage".

Following them was a semi truck with a flat trailer proclaiming on its banner- “We’ve shared it with the world.” This huge truck was pulling grandchildren, great grandchildren and great great grandchildren with more walking, cycling and skooter-ing beside and behind, all waving flags from places they have been and lived around the world. 

The magnificent heritage float of Lyman and Mildred Hardy got a FIRST prize ribbon! I felt honoured to be a part of that great family. 

I did not ride on the float or walk in the parade. It is/was much more fun to watch!!!!

The truck as it pulled away from the church after everyone loaded. 

I never took pictures in the parade. I only took video of the family passing. I'm wishing I did both!! But I had to mind Rebekka too, so three things by myself wasn't very easy.

The Hardy family was one of the first floats to pass so halfway through the parade all the kids joined me on the parade route to finish watching the parade. Rebekka was getting a lot of treats by herself until the crowd of extended Hardy's joined us. Then she didn't get many more. After the parade, the family met again at the Stirling church for lunch of pulled pork sandwiches, veggies and chips. The gym was full of tables and chairs and heaping plates of lunch and cheerful, happy chatter. After lunch the kids were able to play in a couple of bouncy houses outside and inside, the gym and building was cleaned up. 

Later in the afternoon, we went to a home in Stirling to ride the zip line. (Brother Larry Varty) The kids had so much fun. It was from one side of the small coulée to the other. These are the only pictures I took of the fun.  The rest are all videos from our kids turn.

Devin harnessing up. 

Cassandra (in orange) waiting for the line.

We went back at night (10pm) for the Stirling fireworks. This is a few of our kids watching the fireworks. The picture was taken when one lit the sky. Cassandra has hands on ears lying down, Evan in red sitting up. Tysyn in orange blanket. Savanna lying beside Evan. Maren was on a seat in the van, Brandon and Aaren were to the left of this group and Jeff and I with Rebekka sat behind. Devin chose not to come. He was with friends in Raymond instead. Fireworks were set off in the ball field by the Reunion center. We had amazing front row seats!!

New bikes

Brandon and Aaren both purchased new bikes this summer.
They each saved enough to buy the bikes they wanted. They spent hours on the internet researching various bike models and features. Aaren and Brandon both ended up purchasing Kona bikes.

This is Aaren's bike. He stores it in his bedroom.

This bike was the demo model that he tried out
at the store (Ascent Cycle).
 He purchased the demo a few weeks later.

Summer Games

Devin and Aaren both participated in the Summer games in Claresholm.
Devin played on the U16 Soccer team and Aaren submitted 3 pictures in photography.
Aaren received a bronze medal for his photograph of Chief Mountain in the My Home Town category.

Devin's team won silver medals. It was a hot week and Devin suffered from heat exhaustion. Thank you to Lynette Martin for taking him and taking care of him while in Claresholm. They spent the night in Claresholm in a tent. It was a very hot two days!

Despite how crappy he felt, he worked hard and his team did well. They were disappointed to not get gold but he had a great team and they had fun together.

Coaches: Richard Worsey, Kevin Olsen and James Hemming. 

Taylor Hillyer, Tom Wilde, Jordan Webster, Parker Graves, Joshua Simpson, Devin Hardy, Adam Witbeck, Adam Burton, Justin Martin

Merissa Stocker,  ?, Boyd Brooks, Shayla Tatlow, Abby Sugi, ?