IF 2023 and Apple Blossom Festival

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IF 2023 and Apple Blossom Festival

The destination was Leavenworth Church of the Nazarene. The event was IF, a women’s conference. Speakers were viewed on the jumbotron and they were all amazing. I was disappointed that we weren’t given much time for discussion amongst ourselves after hearing each speaker. That is an important part of any conference of this type. And it was a small group. Only fifty women registered and not everyone attended.

IF 2023 was actually held live in Dallas on March 3-4, 2023 where the speakers were all recorded. This annual women’s conference was founded by Jennie Allen, a NY Times Best-Selling Author of Christian books. Her goal is to create tools and experiences for women in the local church to make disciples who will make disciples; to encourage women to come to their local church to continue their faith journey.

The same weekend the Apple Blossom Festival was in full swing in Wenatchee. Parades, a classic car show, rides, entertainment and food. Throngs of people flooded the area causing disruptions in traffic due to road closures for the events. There was even an arts and crafts fair and a musical production of Shrek. The Apple Blossom Run was a race of 2K, 5K and 10K.

The original name for this festival was Blossom Days. The first one was held in 1919 and became an annual event. There were cancellations between 1942-1945. After World War II the name was changed to Washington State Apple Blossom Festival. The event was also cancelled in 2020 due to Covid. And in 2021 the event was postponed until June. Back on track again in 2022, the event once again began the last weekend in April throughout the first weekend in May.

Have A Great Sunday!

Do It Again!

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Do It Again!

So often people want to talk about what they could have or should have done differently. Or maybe they shouldn’t have done it at all. I like to think of things I’ve done and if I had the opportunity would definitely do again. In this post I’ll touch on four of them.

I missed the first couple of weeks of high school. My friends from middle school were all going to Kelvin High and I lived in the catchment area for Grant Park High. My parents refused to sign the form that would have allowed me to change high schools. I never did hand in the registration form at Grant Park so I wasn’t registered anywhere. Instead I hung out at Memorial Park where I met some really interesting people. Of course eventually someone did catch on and I wound up at Grant Park. But those couple of weeks were awesome!

I had just received my certification for teaching ESL from University of Manitoba. I taught in a program at Red River College over the summer. Then it was time to find a job. I received a phone call from a school in Culiacan, Mexico and decided to head south. Yes, Culiacan is notorious for having one of the strongest cartels in the country. But I had a fabulous year in Mexico. It was so fabulous that when I returned to Canada to supposedly stay, instead I turned around and went back to Mexico. The past twelve years have been amazing!

That brings to mind the summer of 2015 when I came to Leavenworth for two weeks and stayed for four months. Then I made the decision to turn into a snowbird after living fulltime in Mexico for a few years. But I have become a snowbird returning to Washington State and not Canada. I’ve lived in different areas and have done some exploring. I’ve met some wonderful people who have now all become a part of my extended family. We laugh, we cry and we have incredible adventures together. It just doesn’t get any better!

But I’ve saved the best for last. I have two fantastic kids and it was worth all the nausea during pregnancy and all the pain during childbirth to be blessed with my son and my daughter. It was well worth moving my office home so I could be with my kids from infancy to adulthood. I enjoyed numerous hours volunteering with all the activities they were involved in. I have fond memories of bands practicing (of course they practice at the drummer’s home), chauffeuring, living in bowling alleys, coaching sports, being Akela of a cub pack and so much more. Yes, those were incredible days indeed!

I would do all of these all over again given the opportunity. High school, college, adulthood. It doesn’t matter. These are all great experiences that I would gladly repeat again.

Prompt Of The Day

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Prompt Of The Day

WordPress always suggests prompts every day. And I usually ignore them. But one caught my eye and I’ve decided to go with it today. “What topics do you like to discuss?”

I like to discuss a lot of topics. The only ones I really shy away from are religion and politics, although occasionally they do find their way into my blog posts. My blog has changed a lot over the years and I find myself writing about a great variety of topics these days.

Originally I began writing a blog describing my life and travels in Mexico. I was living in Tlaquepaque at the time. I’ve moved around a lot and then discovered Washington state. My blog posts were still mostly about travel and events and contained a multitude of photos.

Then Covid came along and I wrote about my adventures while seeking asylum in two foreign countries. In the past year I have found myself doing more writing and cutting back on the photos. I actually just use one featured photo per post now.

I haven’t done as much traveling in the last few months. I spent six months in Aguascalientes and only made one trip to Culiacan to see my family. Other than commuting from East Wenatchee to Wenatchee, I’ve only even gone to Leavenworth three times and I’ve been back for well over a month.

I like writing about writing. If you’re a writer, you’ll get it. My characters in my book are doing weird things these days. I think they’ve got their noses out of joint because I spend my time teaching fitness classes and have found other activities at the Senior Center in Wenatchee. In Mexico this past winter I really focused on my WIP and my characters got all my attention.

I like writing about family although sometimes my family don’t exactly like what I write. I try to embarrass my kids less often and they’re more than happy about that. Writing about people who are no longer with us is easier. They aren’t around to be embarrassed or to criticize me for writing about them.

I like to write about my friends. I have some amazing friends in all three countries. We may not see each other as often anymore but when we do get together it’s like we’ve never been apart. Because I don’t live anywhere near my blood family, I always tell my close friends that they’re my family and they’re stuck with me as a sister.

Weather occasionally is mentioned in my posts. Once in a while I write about teaching ESL or fitness classes. Sometimes I discuss music, pets, crime, courses I take——whatever happens to come to mind. Once in a while I throw in holidays and memories.

I enjoy writing about the seasons of the year. I arrive in Washington in the spring when everything is budding and coming to life. And I head back to Mexico in the fall when the leaves are absolutely spectacular here, giving Vermont some competition.

This weekend the Apple Blossom Festival has begun in Wenatchee. Events from a children’s parade to a classic car show. The temperature soared to the high 80s today so I didn’t venture out to the parade. Watching it on TV was a much better option. I hope it cools down by next weekend for the car show.

And yes, I even write about me sometimes, about my feelings and other more personal stuff.

Have A Great Sunday!

Tai Chi And Me

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Tai Chi And Me

I know absolutely nothing about Tai Chi. I’ve heard that it’s a good fit with the SAIL fitness classes I teach and A Matter Of Balance. I recently joined the Senior Center in Wenatchee and Tai Chi is one of the activities offered. Okay, Karen! Here’s your chance to try it.

And I did. I went to my first class yesterday. The instructor has the patience of a saint. He has me in his class. I’m really getting to know my right from my left. And I’m getting into these interesting forms we go through. Weird names. Part The Wild Horse’s Mane. Repulse Monkey. Golden Rooster. Needle To Sea Bottom. Those are just a few. I’m game. I’ll go to another class.

I’m more than halfway through the Suicide Prevention course I’m taking. Still doing Duolingo for Spanish. Two more sessions left in the Boundaries discussion group. I also need to select something to read at Writers’ Group next week. Life group on Zoom. Lots of activities at the Senior Center and at the library that I still need to check out.

Writing mode is diminishing. I think my characters are annoyed that I’ve gotten involved in so many other things now that I’m back in East Wenatchee. I think they may even be a little jealous of the time I’m spending with friends here. They’ll get over it.

Have A Great Wednesday!

Playing The Victim

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Playing The Victim

The main character in my book is the master of this. He thrives on attention-seeking behavior. He doesn’t assume responsibility for his actions. He always blames someone else when things get screwed up. After all, that’s easiest, isn’t it? And the more he does it, the more comfortable he feels about it. Even though it usually all blows up in his face, that still doesn’t stop him.

Of course this got me thinking about my own life. It’s really easy to step into that victim mentality. I think we all do it from time to time. I know I have. The big problem arises when we make a habit of doing it and it then becomes the norm. We get stuck and somehow it just feels too comfortable and we don’t even attempt to get out.

As adults it’s easy to blame parents for the mess in our lives. My character is really great at doing this. He’s been doing it since he was a teenager. My character is also struggling with mental health issues. So when he doesn’t play the blame the parents card, he blames the mental health issues when there are behavior problems. He has this all perfected by the time he becomes an adult.

We all face challenges in life, mental and physical. Playing the victim results in hearts filled with anger and bitterness. I’d rather have a heart filled with peace and tranquility. Wouldn’t you?

New This Week

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New This Week

I joined the Wenatchee Valley Senior Activity Center. Now that I’m living in East Wenatchee, the Leavenworth Senior Center is just a little too far away. WVSAC is a much larger center with many more activities to choose from. Today I’m going to a writing group, staying for lunch and then will decide if I want to play cribbage in the afternoon. I’m also planning to going to Tai Chi and a book club.

I start teaching fitness classes again this week. I will be teaching mainly in East Wenatchee, although I will still be subbing in Leavenworth. Right now it looks like it will be three classes a week plus the subbing.

Back in Canada WestJet pilots have voted to strike as have the federal public servants. It figures. This is the year I need to get my passport renewed. And I watch from a distance as Trudope continues to dig himself in deeper and deeper.

I just started a course from Wesleyan University entitled Suicide Risk and Prevention. It’s interesting how the terminology has changed over the years. The rates are soaring, much of it being attributed to Covid. The ratio from a couple of decades ago was 4.5 men to 1.5 women. It’s now 4.5 men to 3.5 women. Very significant and very scary.

I had a video call with my granddaughter yesterday. Madeline told me she went camping on the weekend and slept in a tent. They cooked hot dogs and s’mores over a campfire. She also showed me her chocolate Easter bunnies that she hadn’t eaten yet. Madeline also insisted on showing me the medals her mom won in competitions. And of course she wanted me to see Tigger, one of the cats.

It’s warming up and 60s are in the forecast for the weekend. The snow has cooperated and stayed far away atop the mountains. No blizzards or tornados in Washington.

Have A Wonderful Wednesday!

Writing

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Writing

As much as I enjoy writing today, there was a time when I absolutely detested writing. It began in middle school where I had an English teacher who absolutely lived for character sketches. I never could get into those.

Then there were the teachers who wanted you to summarize chapters. I didn’t want to regurgitate. I wanted to create. And I was never free to express my opinion which quite often differed from the author’s.

Anyone out there remember iambic pentameter? Why was that one chosen to be the norm back in the 60s? Thankfully times have changed.

In college I got to take a course in Creative Writing. Finally a place where I could safely express myself! Even the write your own obituary allowed for creativity. That was a pretty awesome course and I’ve taken one or two more online over the years

But one thing I really wish schools would bring back are classes in grammar and spelling. Back when my kids were in high school I used to cringe when I read some of their assignments.

Having taught ESL in Mexico for several years, I became very conscious of grammar. I became known as the grammar guru in more than one school. But since I’ve retired my grammar has somewhat fallen by the wayside. I’m really struggling with grammar in Spanish although my friends remind me that most Mexicans aren’t fastidious when it comes to grammar.

Write your hearts out people. Be creative. And most importantly, enjoy the writing experience.

Have a great Sunday!

Boundaries and Books

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Boundaries and Books

Last night was a very stimulating conversation about boundaries in one of my Zoom groups. How do we define boundaries? How do we create boundaries? How do we enforce boundaries? Professional boundaries. Personal boundaries. Very interesting. We’re all getting together in person this weekend to delve into this topic even more.

The prompt on WordPress yesterday was “What book could you read over and over again?” Wow! Only one? I can think of a lot more than one. Obviously my Bible would be one. But there are some others that stand out.

Rosamunde Pilcher is one of my favorite authors. I adore all her books but the one that I love the most is The Shell Seekers. I’ve read it several times and will probably read it again this summer.

Brace yourselves. I also read Danielle Steele although lately I’ve been finding her books to be a tad too predictable, almost to the point where the plots really don’t vary from book to book and you can almost interchange character’s names.

John Grisham is another of my favorite authors. So is Nicholas Sparks. I even enjoy reading Charles Dickens from time to time.

One of the greatest books ever was written by Robert Munsch and I’m sure you can guess which book I’m referring to. Love You Forever. I have tearful memories of reading this one to my kids when they were younger. I even gave them each a copy when they were adults.

Boundary setting time. It’s getting late and I still want to get some editing done in my WIP. So that’s it for today’s post.

Happy Humpday!

Happy Easter!

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Happy Easter!

Easter to many people is synonymous with Easter eggs, chocolate bunnies and egg hunts. But Easter is so much more. To Christians Easter is the holiest day of the year. I have vivid memories of the first time I celebrated Easter after I’d been baptized. It was back in 2010 and Easter took on a whole new meaning. I went to Church of the Rock in Winnipeg and then over to a friend’s for dinner. It was a very different experience from the Passover I had always celebrated for years before that.

Since then I’ve lived in several different places and attended Easter services in different churches, sometimes in English and sometimes in Spanish. I’ve even done services online. I still tune in to Church of the Rock for Good Friday and Easter services as these are all recorded and replayed throughout the day. But I’m really blessed to be able to attend Sage Hills Church in person in Wenatchee when I’m here in Washington. The Easter service this year was exceptionally amazing and I will probably watch it again online.

I’ll let you in on a little secret. I do buy Cadbury Cream Eggs. We don’t have those in Mexico and they’re a treat when I’m in Washington.

Have A Blessed Easter!

Getting Settled

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Getting Settled

What do you mean I’ve been back for ten days already? I just got here! On Monday I finally got down to AT&T and got my American number for 2023. I also got a new phone. So now I’m playing around with all the new features. Amazing how phones change so much in three years.

I also went to Walmart on Monday for the first time in six months. Never did get there in Mexico. No need to with my corner tienda. Time to start buying things in packages again. Time to start filling up shopping carts again. It’s very different up here. I always go through reverse culture shock especially when it comes to shopping.

I haven’t started teaching fitness classes again yet. I decided to take a few days and just breathe a little. There are still a few things I want to do first. I want to check out the Senior Center in Wenatchee. It’s a much larger facility than the one in Leavenworth and has a lot more activities.

I also have a couple of Zoom meetings coming up. I haven’t started any university courses yet but that’s on the agenda. And now that I’m back in Washington I can actually go to some events in person now. It will be nice to meet the people I’ve been chatting with online.

It’s been great getting together with friends again. We always have lots to catch up on. So much goes on in six months. Right now I’m cutting back on my writing so I can spend time with friends.

Alexa’s joke today: What did the pecan tree say to the psychiatrist? I think I’m growing nuts.

Happy Humpday!