October 11, 2010...

One year ago today...

...I was feeling so good about being ready to head home for BC early so we wouldn’t get home too late.

...I was working while the kids slept.

...I nearly had the van loaded.

...I heard my ankle snap...and felt the extreme pain.

...I was laying in the hospital in Vernon waiting for surgery.

...my ankle was snapped in 2 places.

...I wished my Thanksgiving weekend didn’t have to end that way.

...I wished Ben could be with me.

...I struggled with how much our lives were going to change.

BUT...even more than those wishes...I was sooo thankful (& still am!)...

...that the kids didn’t see me go down.

...that I could get ahold of Ben before I went to the hospital.

...that my parents were there with me!

...that my mom was willing to stay in BC for an extra week just to take care of me & the kids!!

...that my aunt & uncle allowed us to continue staying with them.

...for the amazing memories Uncle Wilf & Auntie Pearl made with my kids!

...for my wonderful day nurse Yolanda...I wish I had a way to thank you & tell you how much you encouraged me!

...for my very own personal nurse (Pearl!) once I got to their house.

...that God was working in my heart during that time!!!

...for all the friends & family that were praying for me & our family during that time!

...for everyone who brought us meals & helped me with things around the house!

If you’d like to read the whole story, it’s here:  http://bhwerdalfamily.blogspot.com/2010/11/thanksgiving-2010no-accident.html

When we went to BC this summer, I took a picture of the house we were staying at last year.  Our van was parked almost exactly where that black vehicle is (maybe just a wee bit further forward)...so you can imagine me laying behind itJ.

As this weekend approached, I told Ben I felt like having a party.  He thought I was a little nutsJ.  “Wouldn’t you rather just forget that?”  I know what he means...but I am so thankful for where this year has brought us.  So although I don’t think there’ll be a physical party tonight...there’s one going on in my heartJ.

Thank you Lord...

...that I can walk without a limp.

...for walking beside me through that emotional rollercoaster.

...for teaching me to slow down...it has made this fall so much easier!

...for drawing me closer to you!

Yes, that day a year ago changed our lives...for the better!  It was hard...very hard at times...but God brought us through.  So today...the day after Thanksgiving...I am reflecting & don’t want to forget these things that God did for us last year.  I also wanted to take a moment to say a HUGE thank you to everyone who was there for us in that time...from when I very first fell...till I was recovered here at home.  I want to name you all, but I’m so scared I’ll forget someone...so THANK YOU!!!!  Please know that every one of you was such a blessing to us!!

The Truly Important Things I've Done This Summer

This is a follow-up to my post back at the beginning of August.  I wanted to keep track of what I did & keep myself accountable so to speak.  So here are some of the important things that I’m happy I have filled my summer with so far (in no particular order)J.

v  Went out west to hang out with my family & dear friends the Sawatzky’s (missionary friends from when we were in Africa).

v  Took the kids camping...and along with Ben got to see them all catch their first fish.

v  Sat on the couch with my kids & read stories.

v  Went for a walk with my wonderful friend Jodi & thoroughly enjoyed adult conversation.

v  Hung out with a new homeschooling friend & her kids.

v  Went to the zoo...twice...one of those times with my good friend Kim.

v  Spent time with Kyla (sister in law) & her kids.

v  Enjoyed an afternoon with the Browns...visiting for me & play for the kids.

v  Helped get the Elliotts moved in.

v  Played games.

v  Spent some extra time at camp with Amanda when we picked her up to let her show us around & tell stories.

v  Took the kids on a field trip to a honey farm.

v  Spent an afternoon/evening with our dear friends the Elliott’s.

v  Sat & chatted with my sister Jodi at a church potluck when she came through unexpectadly.

v  Talked on the phone for over an hour with my dear cousin Beckie.

v  Put my camera down & enjoyed the moment.

v  Played catch with Benjamin & enjoyed his smile.

v  Enjoyed holding Kirby’s hand when he was needing extra closeness.

v  Cherished the moments when Amanda comes to me out of the blue & says, “I love you Mommy”.

v  I have sat here at the computer trying to work on something...and instead I have been stopped in my tracks by my kids’ laughter...and I have just sat here & enjoyed itJJ.

There is still much more I want to do...and I will update again, but I feel good about the truly important things we’ve been able to do this summerJ.  What have you been up to this summer?

New blog ideas

Here are some new blog ideas I have that may or may not (depending on how much I decide I like themJ) pop on here:

Random Recipes...recipe ideas that have already been test drivenJ.  (I have a few friends who do this & I really enjoy getting them so I thought I’d try too.)

Werdal Wanderings...probably a similar format to what I was doing last year.

Family Funnies...pretty self explanatory.

Heidi’s Highlights...random thoughts & facts that stand out in my mind.

Picture of the month...again...I think you can figure it outJ.

Feel free to give me your thoughts...

Random fact

Manda & Kirby have both been LOVING (& somewhat obsessed with) counting (to 100 & beyond) & spelling words.  Well, one day they put the 2 together & were thinking of words & counting how many letters they had. Cat.  C-A-T.  3.  You get the ideaJ.  Here’s what they came up with.

Benjamin.  B-E-N-J-A-M-I-N.  8.

Amanda.  A-M-A-N-D-A.  6.

Kirby.  K-I-R-B-Y.  5.

Hey Mommy!!!  All of our names are the same numbers as our ages!! 

Let’s try Mommy & Daddy!

M-O-M-M-Y.  D-A-D-D-Y.  Awww, it doesn’t work for your names!  JJ

Generally at some time or another in our lives we will be the same age as the number of letters in our name.  I just think it’s funny that it happened for all 3 of our kids at the same time...and that they were the ones to point it outJ.  (No it wasn’t plannedJJ)

Blogging!??!

Can someone please remind me what blogging is???!! J 

I know I’ve been terrible.  I haven’t written since the end of January.  Poor Kirby, I didn’t even write about his birthday.  I’ll catch that up.  Right now I’m just doing this to get myself motivated to start writing againJ.  There are so many things that happen that I know I won’t remember if I don’t write down.  OK...so, I’ll hopefully be back to blogging very soon.  Might be gradually, but I’ll get there.  I’m pondering a different format to make it more smaller posts instead of a big one...we’ll see.  Anyway, I haven’t forgotten about you all...I truly appreciate your willingness to read my babblingsJ. 

Here are some random thoughts to keep you till I write again (Hope you don’t mind I stole your idea CoreenJ):

*We got around 8” of snow on Wednesday...and most of it is already gone.

*Ben turned 31 earlier this monthJ

*I’m very excited to go on a date with my hubby next Friday...a late birthday trip to Tony Roma’s...it’s been waaaay too long since we’ve been on a date!

*We have yet to do a basement in 2010L

*Benjamin is doing great at school.

*Amanda LOVES hanging out with me & doing any girl things.

*Kirby says the funniest things ever...problem is, it’s not what he says, but how he says it...so it’s really hard to write down.

*I finally got our taxes done this week...and was thrilled to find out we owe less than I think we’ve ever owed for taxes (too bad it still has three zeros behind itL)

*Uncertain work situations are very hard on a marriage & I’m so thankful that God is using this to draw us together & not apart (certainly hasn’t been easy though)

*God is good!

*We’re still praising God for the hail storm last summer...that’s all the work we’ve done all year is hail repairs!

*I’m really excited about a book I just started...it’s about organizing in a way that allows me to relax.

*HIGHLY recommend the book “The Lamb” (devotional for kids 5 & up)...all 3 of our kids learned sooooo much from it...and I LOVE the way it’s laid out...Jesus became so much more real to me too!

*All 3 kids are loving soccer...Benjamin’s in competitive for the first time this year & loves playing more often...this is Kirby’s first year & he’s thrilled to be in it...and Manda is so much more confident this year!

*Ben & I have been working on our ensuite bathroom in the last little bit (it never has been finished since we moved in)...the shower door is up & it’s all painted!!!  Soooo excited for Ben to put it all together tomorrowJ

*I am thrilled to have all 3 kids home again next year!!!