The Pieces of a Puzzle

Things are falling into place, or should I say, the puzzle is coming together.
It has been a couple of weeks since I made the decision to enrol in the Culinary Arts Program here at Vancouver Island University.
Arrangements for child care have been made, I was notified that my student loan application has been approved, I picked up my class schedule for the month of February and I have had the chance to get some feedback from various people regarding this new direction in my life.

I am thrilled and I feel at peace.

For most of my life I have been a planner. I like to look ahead and anticipate and plan and make lists (if not on paper, though in my head). I have often missed out on being in the moment, for that matter. This is something I am aware of, something that is slowly changing.

This morning my daughter Sophie and I looked out the window and saw a beautiful sunrise behind the clouds. There was just enough time to acknowledge its beauty and take a couple of picture, before it was gone again.

Today I am preparing a meal for some friends, who just had a new baby.
The kitchen smells good, as I write.

I love cooking for others.

The Wolf

Just after New Years, my family and I went on a little trip here on the Island. It has almost become a tradition for us to book a hotel, do a bit of schopping and a bit of site seeing and go out to eat at places like Nandos, Milestones and The Old Spagetti Factory.

In the Hotel where we stayed was a display case with some beautiful handmade jewellery and I decided to look up the store on our last day.
'Artina's Handcrafted Canadian Jewellery' was not too far from the Hotel and there I found this beautiful ring, made by local artist Victoria Harper.
The symbol on the ring is a Wolf. It represents umong others things, togetherness, communication, loyalty and family.

I love wearing this ring. I love being reminded of my husbund and my two girls throughout my day.
Thank you for the gift of this ring.

A Dream Come True

Yesterday, about mid morning, I got a call from the university here in town, to let me know that a seat in the Culinary Arts Program had opened up and that I could start full time classes in 3 weeks.

All through winter break I had been thinking about the possibility and what it would mean, not only for me, but also for my family.

It is a dream come true if you will, but at this stage it involves figuring out day care, applying for student loans, ordering parking permits, meal planning, time schedules...I am an organizer by heart.

As I went for a walk with my daughter tonight, I asked her: "Do you think I am crazy to do this?" "to do what, mom?" she asked, "for me to start school again, at this stage in my life?" "Oh, you'll do just fine, mom", she answered.

May be that was all I needed to hear. Someone is confident, even if it is not me.