6th Picture

 

Louise (LouCee as she is so fondly known to us here in blog-land…. and hay, I always want to drawl the Cee out … LooooCeeeeeeeeeeeeeee)  Well, Louise has challenged me to post my 6th sixth SIXTH photo on my blog.  I dunno, feels spooky this 66sixthhhhh thing, you know.  Being a Christian that number does not sit right. 

At any rate, here is the the sixth (tongue tripping over that word today too, twisting right over with the xth part.  Makes me think of Sylvester Lisp in the Sylvester and Tweety cartoons, you know?)

No, this is NOT the sixth and so on and so forth, this is just the sixth of the folder I’m working with lately.  I haven’t really shared what my BIG project is to date, so I’ll cough up now – now that its public knowledge. 

Many of you know that my Mr. works at (and I attend) a Learning Centre – I actually graduated here at the ripe old age of 43  (GOOD old age I say – I truly DID get ‘older and wiser’)  Well, the Principal at the Centre is retiring at the end of next month.  She’s a wonderful person and good friend.  She’s a huge advocate of education and learning – and has an especial place in her heart to see people come back to finish high school – even if they are up to their senior years.  I think the oldest person I saw graduate from the Learning Centre was in their 80’s – how cool is THAT?

I have SUCH an admiration and respect for Bev – she’s a very special woman.  I know there are many who will agree that her presence in our lives have made us better people.  She instilled a confidence and strength in myself.  Thank you, Bev, for the sacrifice of your time and dedication to help me become the person I am today. 

 

 

15 years passes quickly – truly in the blink of an eye! 

The school started off in one community, actually in the humble room of a local hotel!  After several years, the school expanded to a second location in a neighbouring town and eventually a third community was added.  In all this time, Bev remained as Principal at all three – so as the schools grew, Bev had to shoulder all the more work.  No wonder she’s ready to pass the torch!

We’ve known for a long time that retirement was coming, but I’m sure we’ve all been avoiding the reality of it in our hearts. 

So, when the staff inquired what Bev would like as a parting gift – she had no hesitation to say that a scrapbook of her years of her career and years at the Centre.  I have been busy gathering, scanning, collecting and compiling photos, articles and information for the past several weeks and I think it will be several more weeks before the book is ready to publish. 

Part of me does not want it to be finished, for that means the reality is here …

 

 

We had a potluck lunch last Thursday and the students presented her with a ‘money tree’ and a beautiful embroidered gift.  The tree is a ‘real’ tree which can be planted out – Bev loves to garden.  She will certainly have time to do this now.  What a nice thought that the tree will grow and spread out roots – just as the gift of learning she’s instilled in each student will grow roots out to the generations in their own families.

I thank God for people like Bev who give their very lives to give a helping hand to others.  Its a true honour for me to take this project on – its a labour of love and a small opportunity to give back. 

Great Louise… now you got me all teary, first thing in the day – way to go, girlfriend! *sob*  Don’t all stand around and watch me weep – why not visit Louise and check out the sweet kit she’s giving away? 

Oh – and a last minute tack-on here of interest.  Yesterday I was watching the news and heard of a hotel burning down… and realized it was from the area where my friend Cicero hails from.  Why, not only that, she was unaware – so off set her husband with camera and in hand and voila! – we have our own news coverage… how neat!   You can read about it and see the pics by visiting Cicero’s blog!