Beading Adventures.....Love it!

Now, for anyone who knows me sitting still really is not my thing. I like to be busy and on the go! I realize that now my pregnancy is coming close to the finish line that maybe just maybe I need to relax.....

 

But that does not mean being a lump on a log in front of a screen zombie like.....

So this beading is such a relief for me! I am learning to do something that is not only creative, productive, beautiful but also makes me feel complete. Makes me feel accomplished. Artful and joyful intertwined. Like I always was meant to learn how to do this. Like its in my blood!

 

I love sitting down at the end of the day, putting a video on (usually a teaching video, a sermon or on the days my brain just won't work out so awesome, I put in a silly dvd to listen to!)

 

And I sit and bead for hours! The hours slip by with out knowing. The time is a time of serenity and calmness. Where the quiet is washed over me and I am in a zone!

 

Below are my works from a period of a week long effort to practice with beading!

 

This is only the second try!

 

Below I did together, so I did both of the black outlining first and then the color and then the outsides.

 

Below is all five of the completed Poppies!

I did the last two in a night for my son and my hubby!

 

 

 

I chose to try the poppies for Remembrance day. So we can have a beautiful piece that we can wear without falling off and that look awesome!

 

I have to say I am truly in love with Beading! This is opening up a passion that I never knew existed!

 

 



Learning How to Bead!

Beads Beads Beads!

 

I have always admired beaded work. Loved the beauty, the time, the patience and the love of the work that it takes for someone to make such an exquisite piece of art.

I am not a very good at hand sewing. I never have had that knack or ability. I have always simply longed to try but never had the opportunity!

 

A dear friend of mine, a talented force I tell you what! She has an amazing eye for detail and beauty. She is a mama of six and is simply amazing. A wonderful role model for us other mama's! She gifted me the opportunity to learn from her talented wisdom! And so begins my new love affair with the art of beading.

Begins!

 

 

For you see, this particular week I overdid some things. Being 31 weeks pregnant and a homeschooling mama of 3, I sometimes forget that I am supposed to take some rest. Life, is so wonderful and I love keeping busy. I have been blessed with my life and want to live each day to the fullest of the gift that God handed to me.......but I also must remember that, even God rested. So, my dear hubby "grounded" me to the couch and rest for the day. My friend invited me over and was explaining how relaxing, rewarding and productive beading is for me and I can put my feet up! So, naturally, I am all in!

 

 

 

 

Once I got started.....the love affair begin. I tell ya, if you have never had the opportunity to learn this is your day. I am absolutely in love with beading. The beauty of it. The effort. The serenity it is when beading. The fact that when you have completed for the most part you stare at it and just silently sit in awe..for I never knew I could ever accomplish anything like it!

 



 

 

Now you see, this is only my second time attempting this beading. The first time, was last year when I made my youngest daughter some moccassins. Oh that was hard. And it was on beautiful moose hide. Which, in itself I am in love with....but beading on it was quite a learning curve!

 

 

This was a whole different ball game. Its like, being just in sync. The calmness. The beauty. The elegance. I love it. Like I was meant to sit and bead. I don't know how else to describe it! It was serenity. This past week I was praying that God help me. So many different things that I was going through and thinking of and praying for.....and then He gave me this beautiful gift of an afternoon with a genuine friend. A friend that I had so much fun with. A friend that was nice to just sit and hang out. God gifted me this beautiful new desire to relax and work it through. As if beading and I were meant to be!

 

Sounds a little funny, I know but unless you try you may never know!

 

I pray that each of you find your serenity moment this week. That each of you are safe and loved and that you go through your week with joyfilled hearts!

 

Blessings to you and your family,

~Stacey Home Maker~

My love, My partner, My best friend, My shield, My rock, my everything......He is MY HUSBAND

Happy Anniversary My Love!

Five Years

 

 

An introduction to the way we came to be "US"! 

My husband, Sean and I met when we were six years old. His family owned the Laundromat that my biological mother had worked in at the time. As you can imagine our lives and families were quite on opposite spectrums of the world!

 

 

We rather were hateful to each other, and I in particular did not like him in anyway shape or form. Throughout our growing up we would see each other from time to time.

At twelve years old, we bumped into each other and I gave him the not so nice hand signal and mouthed him off. He was a blonde haired blue eyed snob in my eyes and I was not your typical twelve year old girl. Needless to say, I grew up far differently and it showed in how we both responded to each other.

 

 

I moved in with my dad and Sean would hear about some drama or another via my biological mothers friendship with Sean's grandmother.

At the age of 22, I was a single mother and had just been saved and baptized..(That is a whole other post) and was attending a church. I was living in a Hell situation. I was working full time. I was depressed and felt I needed to move back to the Lower Mainland to be close to family. At 23 I moved. At the same time, Sean was 23 and his family was going through the Loss of a beautiful, beloved woman....his grandmother. (Sean was raised by his grandparents.)

 

 

This year for the both of us found each other in the same town, and bumping into each other bi weekly. His mother was friends with my biological mother and the frequently had coffee etc, and Sean would have to pick her up from our home. I was a Dept. Manager for Sport Chek so I was often at work, so we bumped into eachother every so often.

 

My opinion of Sean during that year.....He was a pretty boy, He was a goody goody, He was a snob!

His clothes were immaculate, designer and worth $!

 

My opinion of me for that year...... I was a 23 yr old single mom, I had everyone telling me I needed to go out and have fun.....so I did. I was a party girl, I wore clothing that you would see 18-19yr olds wearing, I was a work aholic, I was losing weight, I was (for the first time in my life) a eyebrow waxing, acrylic nail wearing, girly girl! (for those who knew me, this was crazy)!

 

I was looking for a new place to rent. Sean was the acting property manager for his Papa's building which had a 2 bedroom apartment. I had just accepted a job in our town, a bigger title (Store Manager) with reduced pay although now I would have more time with my daughter!

 

At this time, I was sad, confused and had been going through a rough year. I cried out to the Lord,

"Why am I doing this? Why am I here? I hate this place (lower mainland) Lord Why???????"

 

I started feeling like I should pack up and move back to the one place I felt safe and the one town I loved...The Lord had other plans. As He so often does.

 

At this time in Sean's life, he was busy, on top of the world in all area's....except for one. He cried out to the Lord, "Lord give me a wife, give me my best friend!"

 

With the job change came Sundays off! I could go back to church like before....I started attending once in a while the same church Sean attended....I wasn't comfortable....for many reasons.

 

On mother's day, Sean and Sean's papa took us out to lunch. For the most part I did not make a good impression.....And for some reason Sean saw beyond the tough feminist exterior..

 

I moved into the apartment. He let me move in early. Raven and I loved it. Sean started dropping by for no reason....well to give me keys that were for nothing at all. Our apartment was only 600 sq ft. It had one locking door, the outer door for the building and a mailbox....I kept receiving many and many keys.....

This beautiful, kind hearted, gentle blonde haired, blue eyed giant of a man kept bring them keys.

lol

 

For Sean's papa's birthday my biological mother asked me to help her make a party for him.....

 

This is our first picture together. My biological thought it would be cute!

 

This is also the evening where Sean got to know my little girl. She was 3 and 3/4 years old. It was a fun night.

 

This is also the night Sean used his text messaging on his cell for the first time in his life. He called me but I hadn't heard my cell ringing. Then I read the text....

 

Asking me out........well what do you do with that? The next day he called, after talkin it over with many I agreed to go for a date. For you see this man, was not your typical Stacey man so it was scary.

Then furthermore, prove that this may not work out was when he asked if my daughter would be coming so he included her in the reservations................reservations.......well my biological said if he is needing to make reservations its probably best that my daughter stay home!

 

And wouldn't you know it, this man takes me to the Revolving restraint in Vancouver....

One look at the menu and I was dizzy! Dinner here was gonna cost over a quarter of my rent! ugh! This dude was outta my league. I ordered water. I ordered the least expensive dish on the menu. Sean made me get desert with the luring, "your daughter would love it, you can take it home!".  Sean was not much of a talking. Still isn't. I said very little (which is a miracle if I keep quiet!).

After that I was sure this wasn't going to go anywhere. My friend convinced me to give him another chance. Sean went to Whistler for a week, during that week we had many text conversations, he called me each night. He phoned and asked if I could be there when they got home. So I was! When he drove me home, we sat outside my apartment and he handed me a box. He said, I was in this store and I saw this and thought of you..........I opened the box. It was a drusey necklace. A stone, hand sanded and beautiful! No one really knew but when I was a little girl, my papa and I would cut open rocks to see the crystals inside. He would tell me that no matter how rough or ugly the outside is the inside is a beauty that is surpassed beyond our knowledge.

And Sean gave me this.

 

We dated for two weeks, this two weeks seemed like years. When we held hands it was as if they molded together and fit as one. When we hugged I drank in the sheer beauty of him. It was as if we were created to be together. As if God himself shaped our lives for this moment. As if were chiseled out to become best friends, and that a love like this did not come ever.

 

At the end of this two weeks, Sean had asked me to go out to a business meeting for some pyramid thing. All day I could not get a hold of him. That night he was weird, nervous, he was far quieter than usual. We got to Vancouver late, he was frustrated made me walk all over the place! Finally a nice restraint was still opened. Zen, was the name. He ordered the entire contents of the appy menu and his favorite champagne. Which was expensive! I thought this guys flipped his lid. If this is how "well off guys break up with you....." I had visions of what I would do to him to show him how us girls do!

lol

 

After eating and champagne! He wanted to take a walk to the dock....what its after midnight. I thought for sure Sean was nuts....halfway down the dock. He asked me, if he could ask me a question....I said sure..

 

He stopped me and asked me to marry him!

The ring he held out was immaculate and gorgeous! The look in his eye was to die for! The warmth in his hand was intoxicating!

 

The answer in my heart, the answer in my eyes the answer off my lips rolled effortlessly, a resounding YES!

 

June 3rd, 2008 Sean asked me out on a date!

June 26th, 2008 Sean asked me to marry him!

July 1st, 2008 we drove to Keremeos for Sean to ask my dad for my hand, and to meet him of course!

 

We set our date for August 31st, 2008....but that will be another post!

 

Sean, you are my husband. You are my rock,when I am weak!

You are my shield in the storms that life brings no matter what!

You are my pillow when I need to just cry into!

You are my best friend, whom I can talk till wee hours of the morning to!

You are my lover!

You are my fortress, that holds steady and firm!

You are my board in which I can bounce Idea's off of!

You are the sails in which guide me to the Lord!

 

In the past five years, we have walked the darkest of hours, the fires from the depths of Hell! In the past five years we have had many a trial, persecution and we have given it all up. We have.........

hand in hand, heart to heart, soul to soul with God as our anchor, as our guide.....

We have given it our all!

We have learned how to love, laugh, cry and through it all. I am more in love with you now then I was, I intend to keep falling in love with you with each passing year. No matter what they may bring.

If we can make it through this past five years...I say BRING ON THE NEXT HUNDRED!

 

As long as you have my hand, my heart and soul! I will continue this walk.

Thank you for this past five years. Many more to come!

 

Since the first till now we have added 2 gorgeous children into our home. Our daughter has a father, a man she can look up to, learn from and love and loves her more than the moon and back! We are also pregnant with our fourth child! And the Lord has blessed us in so many ways!

 

Praying for each of you, may you be a blessing today to others as much as you are blessed!

Stacey Homemaker

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5eSo04WA_JM 

 



Whats in a language Pt 3

Whats in a Language….

 

Its not how we speak!  Sometimes its in the feeling behind the words. Ever talk to an Elder and listened to their stories….the way their eyes light up, or their voices get louder or softer to really emphasize their point.  The way the hand gestures are? If you have not had the pleasure, you should try it sometimes. I mean really listen, open your heart, your mind and your ears.  Watch, what happens is purely a miracle to behold. Treasure that moment , for all too quick time with our Elders is fleeting and fading….and whom will be there to share the stories, the wisdom, the knowledge of an entire life lived to the fullest?

When I was a little girl, I had a Papa, he wore a cowboy hat faithfully everyday (even when he napped!) He had cowboy boots on and the jeans with suspenders. He was magnificently tall, he hung the moon and the stars in my little grandbabies eyes. I sat at his feet while he played his guitar and harmonica(which was attached to the top of his guitar) and sang. I still remember the sound of his voice, and the smell of the room and the feel of the songs. This is how his legacy lives on in me. I learned to play the guitar. I learned to sing. I knew that what ever I learned I wanted to share with my children.

Well, this past year has been a whirl wind of learning, frustrations, hurt feelings and Lord knows….anger!

I was so excited because this year an amazing Elder and a good friend of mine were teaming up to do a preschool language program. (Because we homeschool this meant that myself, my 8 yr old, my 3 yr old and 1 yr old would be participating) Also on Mondays and Tuesdays in the Fall was Language class and guess what my husband attended them with us!

I was sooo excited to start. First, I had to get a Statutory Declaration signed my my biological mom. You see I was starting all of the paper work to get my Status. The little white card that tells you what band you belong to, and that says Hey you are Native! Yuppers here we go!

She refused to sign it, she needed to sign it because my dad was never placed on my birth certificate. It was an emotionally draining situation that blew up my a thousand percent each moment. A drama that could surpass any on television.  Albeit, she has her own personal reasoning, it was hard to walk through and harder because it left a lot of questions of the paternity and if the man I have know as my dad (for 28years) was my dad. It was a very hard, emotional situation. God, was my focus because without my faith in Him and what was to be would be…..I might have had some other things that happened.  At times, the hurt would spill into an anger that consumed my heart, it made me want to lash out at her. It made me so tired, drained, it made me feel like I belonged nowhere. God gently kept telling me that I was I was His daughter and He had it in His Will.

Now, let me tell you. Although, I knew for better or worse God had His ways and reasons……this sent me for a hard hit. I felt lost, looking at my dad, at my family members, the resemblance’s I had once seen so clearly were hazy. Like it was murky water that I couldn’t quite see the same as the clear crystal blue they were before.  I was afraid, afraid that a man I grew up with, lived with , fought with, respected and loved, a man that I so knew was my dad, our tempers, how we talk, how much we talk! All of these things were in question. I had been living in our sweet gorgeous valley, for two years! Two years pouring into our language, learning our culture, meeting cousins, auntys, uncles, friends.  Don’t get me wrong, it was not wasted time. It was cherished moments, and loved moments. But if I was a LSIB what was I?

I also, started having weird memories flooding over me, dreams that felt soo real. Memories I had long since forgotten and pushed aside. I had a very hard growing up. There  were good times but a lot of scary, angry hateful, spiteful moments. These were consuming my sleep.

My husband and I talked about it, prayed about it and decided to lay to rest. We got a DNA test. Now just so anyone else out there knows these tests are not cheap. It cost us $700 just for a scrape of the inside of my cheek and my dads. Yes, I know there is a lot involved with this process but it cost us a lot of money. It was worth it. To know for sure that my dad is my dad! It gave me clarity and although it didn’t stop the emotional rollercoaster I had been riding it did give closure to a question that he had kept locked away in his heart for all these years as well!

Now for applying to become a First Nations Status Card holder……ugh and sigh and allot of praying! They tell us, that the DNA is not good enough! That I must have my birth certificate changed over to have my dad added.  So we think sweet simple I have my dna test this should be a breeze…think again! Stats Can will only change the Live Birth Registration to add my dad if my mother signs the documentation. Which, she refused to sign anything! So we hired a lawyer (just to let you know, no we are not made of money but we felt that this was an investment in our family!) so we buckled down and didn’t spend money on anything that we didn’t 100% need! We had been blessed so that it wasn’t such a harsh burden! The lawyers says that INAC cannot do that. They cannot legally require a birth certificate, that a DNA test is admissible as one in the same with my birth certificate.  So, we called to see if we could go around all of this, turns out we can pay to go to the court house and see a judge explain situation and prove our case and have him stamp the birth certificate…..we don’t have money for that. We have three children at that time and really couldn’t do it. So we researched and talked to the lawyer. For all legalities the INAC cannot legally refuse the dna test. So we submitted anyways!

Then the waiting game….

During this waiting, we had the priviledge of learning our language! I learned from an Elder that sometimes its ok to not have a regular school type setting. My 3 yr old son would not sit in circle and just wanted to play. This beautiful woman told me to let him….boy oh boy it took a lot for me to do that! And you know what she was right….he learned more language from osmosis than anything! It made my heart sing! My Elder is a beautiful woman, I enjoyed sitting on the floor and listening to her teach and gleaning and learning! I learned more than a language, more than a culture I learned a love for people and a love for my life. I believed God gifted her to me at the right exact moment.

My dear friend, she is an amazing teacher. She helped me learn to calm down, to soak it in and to let things happen. She has six children all under the age of 14. She is a super hero mom. She worked along side of this beautiful Elder and I tell ya I was gifted an education of language and an education of motherhood, compassion, love and determination. This education is far more precious than anything I have ever learned in school! For you see my dear friend, although I know she is a closet superhero, she is a normal mom, good days, bad days amazing days! I have been blessed to get to know  her and learn from her. All at a time where I felt I was a failure in so many ways! God gifted me amazing women, mothers, grandmothers….friends and He knew that I needed them.

 

I also was gifted the opportunity to learn how to make traditional ribbon shirts, moccassins, and yarn bags for berry picking! We had so much fun! We forged friendships with other moms, and I tell ya nothing surpasses the laughs, the smiles and the amazing time we all had!

For you see a language is nothing without the people in which speak it. A people is not really a people without the love, laughter, faith, confidence, strength of who they are!

I am a born again Christian, I love my faith!

I am a Lower Similikamean Native woman! I love where I came from!

 

I will teach my children about God, about Christ and along side it all I will teach them of their heritage, language, culture! I will teach them to love others, to serve others, to be kind and to always always help when you can. No matter who the people are! For God called us to love one another, not just those you think deserve it! He called us to love one another and to serve in love! Forever my children will learn from example and from what we do.

 

Go listen to your Elders, hear with your heart, visualize the story. Fall in love!

Another post, will be my status situation for now, learn your heritage, learn your language! Learn Learn Learn!

Praying that this post encouraged!

Stacey Homemaker~

Focus on the Family: Fight Right , Marriage Seminar in Kelowna, BC

Focus on the Family Presents:

Fight Right with Dr's. Les and Leslie Parrott

Kelowna, BC

June 15, 2013

 

 



Well, I have to start off saying that I came across the seminar from the Thrive Magazine that gets mailed to us from Focus On the Family. I instantly was excited and ever sooooooo eager to go.....

 

My wonderful husband on the other hand (although absolutely loves me) thinks that our marriage is awesome(which I completely agree with) and thinks that a marriage seminar really is not needed.

 

Although, my hubby also knows that anything to do with learning is worth a look into. So I did! Found out location, date and time. Found out that the two hosting the seminar both are Psychologist's. And are Parents and have been married for 14 years.

 

Just so happens, that this seminar landed the day before my birthday (what a bargaining chip that God gifted to me). I also found out that the start time was at 7pm. You see our store is open 6 days a week, 9-5, and Kelowna is 1 hour and 45 mins away from our town, that leaves a wee little wiggle room to stop for a coffee too! You see, you have to get all your facts straight before negotiations. LOL

 

Also, we have three gorgeous children, 8yrs old, 3 yrs old, and 1.5yrs old......hmmmmm who to babysit....we rarely rarely rarely ever go out anywhere....last time was when my mom (adopted) was living with us in November.

 

So, I phoned up my mom! She said, YES!!!!!!!!!!! so my husband was ever so wonderful to indulge me for my birthday present! The tickets were very affordable as well, $15.00 each ticket! Yeah!

 

We had all of this figured out by the end of April, for you see I am a planner LOL......then we hit a slow bump in our road for the store, the money really wasn't where it needed to be....our must haves needed our full attention and our wants needed to be put on hold. You see, the gas, and to eat is not the cheapest, and at $1.40 a litre for gas....we were just gonna to not go....

 

My husband was devastated and really wanted for us to go because he knew how much it meant to me. I held strong and said it wasn't a big deal. Next year we could go. (we both know that I was utterly heartbroken.) We offered to give the tickets away. We prayed and thanked God for the blessing it could be for someone else. We prayed. I prayed to have a thankful heart despite circumstances.

 

I picked up the phone, and called my mom, to tell her that we had to cancel. And although my voice was light and cheerful she knew something was up.....After explaining our circumstances...God used her to bless us. For she now knew what I needed for my birthday....

 

I also found a surprise, my big brother (adopted) was flying in from Calgary to visit with us for the weekend....What a blessing God gifted us. For I would be honoured to spend my birthday and Father's day with my wonderful family!

 

The day before everyone was to arrive, I had a midwife appointment.....I had lost one pound(I have only gained 2lbs in 15weeks), and my blood pressure was phenomenal(which also is such a blessing) then came our test.....Could not detect our precious baby's heart beat...although our midwife was optimistic she was worried so she scheduled us for a rush appointment the following Thursday. I also had to be scheduled for a OBGYN appointment (a must have after having bp issues in the past, I must be deemed fit for midwifery care by a specialist) :(.......

 

God was in this too. Sean and I prayed. At first, I was sooo worried. Then I prayed, I gave it to the God that holds my every best interest at heart and for His Will to be done. I decided right there that no matter what may happen God's Will to be done, and if it is His Will for our baby to return back to Him then it is meant to be.

 

This weekend was meant to happen at the exact moment when we needed it the most. My mom came up the next day, that night her and I had awesome quality time and drove to Kelowna to pick up my brother from the airport. Then we Had the seminar the next night and then the next day was my birthday and it was one of the best yet! For you see, my dad and my grandparents came for dinner. God gifted me amazing family around me....he gave me love and strength!

 

So, lets get back to this seminar.....

 

First of all, I have to really say that I am very impressed on the location that Focus on the Family chose. It was soooo easy to find and get to. It was right off the highway! That was sooo nice....and great for my hubby!

 

We were greeted with amazing and smiling faces. A very warm welcome. We were able to get right into the line for the "picture". Focus on the Family set up a photo shoot for all of the couples. Ours is right at the top of this page. I thought it was so very nice, and what a thoughtful was to commemorate our time at the seminar. I don't know about you but we don't have many pictures at all with both of us in the same photo...unless its our family photo...once a year! lol. So I thought this was a very wonderful addition to the seminar.

 

The seminar had a big screen that was displaying "marriage facts" in a power point for our viewing pleasure while we waited for it to start. Dr. Les and Leslie Parrott are extremely humorous, and warm and very friendly. Sean actually laughed....genuinely laughed at their illustrated stories and analogies on marriage. They were soo fun and animated. We really enjoyed how much fun they were.

Here are my notes.

 

Fighting or Conflict

• every conflict (or almost every one) can be traced back to perception
• Perceived Threat or Perceived Neglect

MEN AND WOMEN ARE DIFFERENT

 

GOALS OF CONVERSATION

MEN: Report talking

WOMEN: Rapport

 

Report:Give a spoken or written account of something that one has observed, heard, done, or investigated.

:An account given of a particular matter, esp. in the form of an official document, after thorough investigation or consideration

 

Rapport: a relationship of mutual understanding or trust and agreement between people.

                    :a close connection marked by community of interests or similarity in nature or character

 

You can clearly see why we sometimes have conflict....LOL!

 

Approach to problems:

MEN: want to fix or solve (instantly)

WOMEN: want to explore, talk, feel

 

KNOW YOUR FIGHT TYPE PERSONALITY

Are you a low flexibility, high flexibility, low expressive or a high expressive?

 

Are you a competitive fighter, collaborative fighter, cautious fighter or a conciliatory fighter?

 

C ooperation: fight for a win-win

O wnership: own your share of the pie

R espect: steer clear of belittling

E mpathy: step into each other's shoes

 

**Romans 12:18**

King James Version (KJV)

¹⁸ If it be possible, as much as lieth in you, live peaceably with all men

 

WHAT TO AVOID:

1. Critisim
2. Defensiveness
3. Contempt
4. Stone walling

XYZ FORMULA

 

in situation X, when you do Y, I feel Z

 

Withholds: are things that you didn't tell your spouse during the week. They can be good or bad.

 

Sharing Withholds: had to happen with in the last 48 hours

One Positive: spousal response is a simple thank you no more no less

One Negative: spousal response is a simple thank you no more no less

One Positive: spousal response is a simple thank you no more no less

 

Do not talk about the withholds now for 30mins give yourselves some cooling off time before discussing.

 

This is all the notes I had. I honestly have to say that although I loved the seminar it was extremely entertaining we both expected more from University Professors and Psychologists. Expected more meat with all of the fun and simplicity.

 

We were also a little discouraged. Focus on the Family is such an overtly "Christian" Organization, and there was very little about God in this seminar. We prayed prior to the second half of the seminar, and praying for the hearts of the spouses. That was really it. We expected that since it was hosted and put on by Focus on the family that the seminar would be how to work through your fights with God, from a biblical perspective. That was just not how it happen.

 

We loved it though, and had a wonderful date night. The night was entertaining and fun and light hearted. Hoping the seminar in November is more biblically based!  I would also like to purchase the Parrott's books, because I know that's where the meat and potatoes is! I just have to save up for them!!

 

Thank you for reading and may it be a blessing to you.

Stacey Homemaker~

http://www.focusonmarriage.ca/
http://www.focusonmarriage.ca/speakers.php
http://www.lesandleslie.com/ 

 

 

 

Whats in a Language......Whats in my own.....Part 3

Good Afternoon, Photography courtesy of Shelly Boyd

 



 Good Afternoon,
Praying that today is filling your heart with joy and gratefulness that we are almost into the summer!

We left off with my failure of my first Nyselxcin class....and if you remember correctly I learned quite a bit from and it was the harder class to begin with! :)

In January, my eldest daughter and I began Nyselxcin Naqs which is the beginner course for our language. I loved this class. Now by no means was this class easier. LOL! This language has a lot of guttural sounds, clicking, even the way you breathe is a specific sound when that sound comes out.

I am telling you this was harder to learn than singing for me. The joy I received from learning our language is indescribable. I felt that I fit in, I was welcomed, I belonged and in time I could really be good at it.

At this point I am now feeling not the overwhelmed anxieties of who I was because a piece of my heritage was molding with in my heart. This class was being taught by a wonderful woman, whom believes that anyone wanting to learn should be encouraged and helped as much as you can. Both her and our elder teacher are the most amazing women. I have to say I have never met two woman work so hard for something, with such passion and strength and love. These two taught me so much about myself and about where I came from. The knowledge is priceless and I can never repay them for the price would be far to high. They are worth so much to me.

 

You see our language was going extinct and from the efforts of a few (but growing now) people they are growing, thriving and teaching. I am so proud of all of the hours or effort behind the scenes that go un noted, un documented. The Hours the amazing ppl put in writing proposals, record audio, writing booklets for our amazing children, songs, curriculum, stories......I know from personal experience how much they work. I have to say each one of them deserves a medal for how much they do!

This class we  as an entire class were able to get to lesson 10 before the time was up. And this class I passed!

By this time I was so blessed with many friends and family. I was blessed with my children learning this gorgeous language that comes from our heritage.

 

 

We learned greetings, numbers, food, family tree, and so much more. It made me want to become bilingual and teach my other children as well. So all that summer we practiced until even my 3 and 1 year old understood the words from the lessons 1-10 at least to hear and understand.

 

 

At this time I was trying to obtain my status.....because my parents were so young when I was born there were a lot of misunderstandings yuppers some arguments and what have you, so when I was little I did not receive my status.

 

When I was in high school because alot of stressful situations and fighting occurred again I was unable to get my status.

 

 

When I was born my father was never added to my birth certificate. Which poses a problem when I am older and trying to get my status.

 

As it stands INAC requires that your birth certificate says who the father is. This is just to apply for your status.

 

Because of difficult situations with my mother this was a stressful, hurtful, and extrememly emotional painful process to go through.

Also, I live in the city in which my parents were when they got pregnant with me and where a lot of their growing  up was!

 

So you can imagine stories and rumours and so much else! It was very scary and even some things from my mother made me question whether my dad was my dad.....

 

 

It was an extremely traumatic situation with a fair amount of stress. My beautiful, thoughtful, caring loving husband, God and good friends and family really saw me through it!

 

We got the paternity test and it came back 99.999% my dad was mine!!!!!!!!!!!:) :) 

The relief was indescribable. It was wonderous! Unfortunatley,INAC said they needed my birth certificate changed...and wouldn't you know it! In order for my bc. to be changed my birth mother had to sign the live birth registration for it to be changed......

A door closed, slammed shut frustration, agony, anger my resolve was now slowly falling. Seeking God for strength, endurance and perseverance.

God sent me my husbands love, my husbands grace for my emotions, my husbands arms to hold me through the tears, my husbands ears to listen to the crying, the anger, the disappointment the fear and my husbands amazing faith in God our Creator to hold me steadfast and on the path!

God gave me my amazing Husband!

Well, for today I feel that will be enough. I have talked your eyes off lots probably.
Until next post,
may you be blessed today and may today you equally be a blessing to others.
Stacey Homemaker~

Photography by Shelly Boyd,
www.salishschoolofspokane.org
www.interiorsalish.com

Whats in a Language....Whats in My own......Part 2

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f2FIXyvfD_c

Way', (hello)!

I am praying that today is a day that you have been gifted the ability to enjoy our beautiful creation. That when you woke up this morning you could count at least one item to be thankful for!

The above link, is to a song that people in the Nyselxcin Language have for a Greeting song. I love this song. I am currently putting it into my preschool program for my two youngest children in the Fall.

So, yesterday we left off on my family and I moving to a gorgeous Valley and starting to come into knowledge of our Heritage!

Through some stressful, thankful, tearful and frightening events we as a family needed to switch up our roles. My husband was unable to find work here in the Valley. The work here is so different than what he has ever seen. For you see my gorgeous 6 foot 3 inches Blonde haired hubby is a city man! Through and Through....(he used to iron his jeans lol).

It was a tough go. We were blessed with my Dad giving my family a place to stay, while we found our feet. So, I found a job. I was terrified. You see I went to college when I was 18 I graduated with a 3.99 GPA in Legal Office Administration Assistant, doubling with a Accelerated program for Office Administration Assistant, but.....that was 6 years before this time. And I had gotten pregnant before I was able to get a job in the workforce.

I found myself sitting at a Desk in a First Nations Immersion Band School. I saw the culture, the language, the people, the children and fell in Love. This new journey had just begun......now don't get me wrong. Working in any job full time for me is not what or how I want our lives to be. My prayer is that we are blessed with myself at home raising and training and educating our beautiful miracles and doing the best we can. For this season in our life I went to work. And we feel nothing wrong with that.

We also were blessed with our third pregnancy during this time. So while I was on Mat. Leave our eldest daughter and I were able to attend a language class.

We had an amazing time, being taught by one of the Elder's and an amazing teacher. We learned, and loved so much this language. Now do not get me wrong this language is one of the hardest, confusing, and at times down right nerve wracking I have ever attempted to learn. But in my heart I found peace. I found a new meaning to the word language. Falling in love with words and teaching my children became an everyday at thing a passion that started deep with in.

Now believe me, this language and culture is a beautiful and most unique entity. I have had so many welcoming, joyful and heartfelt moments over learning this language that words cannot even describe.

Now I took one of the harder courses first. Now....boy although I had so much fun I don't recommend doing the harder course on anything before you do the beginner course. Although, it was so much fun, and I learned so much. The road was difficult and a wee stressful at times.

This also the first time in my life that I had completely failed at something. I went strong into our final exam at a 73% I studied hard. I thought I had this in the bag.....then the final came and oh boy my brain turned upside down and eeeeeeek.

I read the questions wrong. I translated from Nyselxcin into English instead of reading the Nyselxcin and then answering in Nyselxcin....Oh Nelly I tell ya. It was not the easier thing.

When I got that test back.....I wept and I smiled. For I may have failed the course but in the lessons that I gleaned while learning.....This journey was just beginning. :)

When I was growing up. I really didn't learn what parenting was..
I honestly thought it was something to survive and not something that continues through to thrive.

While in this first course...my teacher was (and is) such an amazing role model. The lessons I gleaned from our conversations really helped me grow as a mother, and as a woman. Our Elder teacher gave me the gift of imperfection. You see I am somewhat of a perfectionist. Specially in academics(for reasons that will have to wait for another post). For this beautiful, patient, wonderment of a woman gave me the time, strength and encouragement to practice and that time is what counts and not perfections.

For anyone that knows me, knows that I am my own hardest critic, my own worst grader, and also my own best optimist...for everyone else that is....
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FQzKJkHJz_U
The above link is one of the stories that we learned in this first class.

It was so much fun, and so amazing to learn the words. It is here that I knew God wanted me to learn a piece that He knew I needed to find.....

For today, I believe that will be enough of writing for me.

I pray that my journey of self discovery and my language will encourage you to go out and learn something new today!
May you be blessed and May you equally be a blessing to those around you. Remember it doesn't have to be much, for most have not enough. But when you look hard enough all of us have something we can bless others with!

Stacey Homemaker~

www.interiorsalish.com
For all of your Nyselxcin Needs this is your most wonderful and amazing site! And the youtube links above gives you a wealth of amazing language videos.