Gabe had not been home since Christmas 2018. We saw him and Shannon several times in 2019 (including for their wedding and then a trip to Hawaii with them). But then Covid hit, and green card procedures slowed down (and once you apply for a green card you can’t leave the country). We are grateful for Zoom and FaceTime so we could see them during the past 2 years , but we were so excited to see them in person.
We headed to church
On the Monday we were excited to welcome home Elder Fiore! It was fun to have him home for a bit during Covid, but we were more excited for him to be home from his mission overall.
We had a different homecoming since the COVID restrictions still limited access to the airport – so we went to the parking lot.
It was still the sweetest reunion. There is something pretty special about the reunion after a mission – especially knowing all the challenges and growth that he had experienced.
I spoke with him as he was leaving for the airport to come home:
Then we were all there waiting with signs:
He was easy to spot – being in a suit with tons of bags!
Mission accomplished:
It was a sweet reunion between him and Rachael. If you have followed this blog long enough you will know that they met years ago at a church conference. While they did date, they also had big plans for themselves individually. She wanted to be an au paire in France for a year (which she did in 2018) and they both wanted to serve missions. He was called to Tahiti, she was called to Thailand. He completed it in Calgary, she completed it in Vancouver. So after 3 official years apart, they were reunited and it was a touching reunion.
Hugs all around (although I missed a few!)
We headed home (stopped off at our church leader’s home where Elder Fiore was “officially released” from his assignment as a full time missionary) and the craziness of having everyone home began!
And leaving the teens with a bang – the same way he is leaving behind his “Elder Fiore” days . We are excited to have him home in less than 2 weeks! I think that missions put you on a fast track into adulthood, so while Zach is getting out of his teen years only now, I think his progress into adulthood started a little while ago!
I’m sure I will write a post about my thoughts about his mission when he returns, but for now I will say that there are many things I admire about Zach that really radiated through when he was serving. Here are a few ( in no particular order)
I love that he is a connector. He wants to connect. He wants to share his life. He wants to know about others. He wants to be a part of something bigger. He wants to serve. He wants to talk. He wants to listen. He strive to be in tune with the Spirit.
He has a sincere desire to be better and is open to feedback. And sometimes my feedback is “chill, you are awesome the way you are” and sometimes it is “buck up, bunny”, lol. I love that he is concerned about learning the most that he can, making sure he is appreciating things, and wanting to improve. I love that he can listen to feedback – evaluate it – push back when he doesn’t agree, but accept when he knows it is helpful and coming from a good place.
He is so so so funny. He makes us all laugh. In letter, in person; alone, in a group; as Zach or as Elder Fiore. He has some serious funny bones in him. Ridiculous boy.
He is smart. He has a natural desire to learn and he will put the effort in to learn. He has a thirst for knowledge and will dig deep to get it and gain understanding. Then he tries to use it – so he won’t forget it!
He is kind and considerate. He is always wanting to know how you are doing, how others are doing, if there is something he can do to help. He is very compassionate too – and I have seen his level of compassion and empathy soar while on his mission.
He is a big dreamer. He is a goal setter. He is a planner. He goes after what he wants. He is determined to make it happen. Success for him is inevitable.
He is a hard worker. He is willing to put effort in. He will not shy away from things that are hard, he will put the hours in and he doesn’t like to be idle.
He is fun and interesting. He is interested too. You will not find him saying he’s bored. He will create adventures. He enjoys doing things – whether it is sports, or games, or travel, or any new adventure, he likes to enjoy himself in doing.
He is savvy and wise. He gives good advice. He is a good listener. He is not afraid to give the unpopular opinion. He thinks things through, weighs out the pros and cons. He apologizes. He forgives.
His faith. I love how his faith is so interwoven in his life. He is not afraid to share how he feels about his Saviour or the Gospel. He is not afraid to embrace other people’s point of view either. He is a great example of Christ like love as he tries to love and accept all – even those who differ with him. (But that does not mean he won’t try to talk to you about it all!)
I know it is cheating by adding one more, but the one thing about Zach I have truly admired is his complete authenticity. It doesn’t matter who you are – you get Zach. You see it in his weekly mission email to everyone (sometimes I cringe at some of the things!) , with his friends, with his family. His mission president, his companions and the people in his missions – both Tahiti and Calgary. You are always getting the same Zach. You know where you stand. You know where he stands. And you see his love shine through it all.
Happy birthday to this incredible boy I am blessed to be a Mom too. I can’t wait to see what you will continue to teach me. Thank you for continuing to invite me into your life and leading the way on so many things.
Sam was 2 when I met him, so needless to say, he has changed a lot!
But there are still some of the same things that stand from when he was two!
Here are 16 things I love about Sam:
He has an enthusiasm for life – that has been there since he was 2!
He has a great smile.
He is always willing to help – and even sometimes does so without asking!
He is curious – a trait he shares with his brothers and his dad
He has a good sense of humour. He can be silly and goofy and keep us all laughing.
He is sporty – whether is be soccer, or biking, or skateboarding
He loves music! He has gotten really into some old stuff and he loves talking about it, listening to music
I love that he shares the interest in music with his Dad
He has been teaching himself bass guitar – how cool is that and how talented is he for teaching himself
He is smart! (Although as with all our teens – if only he applied himself more… lol)
He still maintains his passion for cars, FQ, planes… And now he has certainly added music to his passion!
He is such a good eater. Although he will pass on some things when given the option – he really will eat anything. So easy…
He is a very grateful kid – always says thank you and shows his appreciation.
He is a good brother. I love how he has his own unique relationship with each sibling.
He is a social guy – he can talk to anyone and everyone. He’s good at conversation and can read a social situation well.
He is kind and caring – you see if with everyone that he interacts with. He has a big heart!
Sam rolls with life. He will soon be “an only child” around here as everyone is flying the nest. I’m not so sure he will love all the attention on him, but luckily he is a good sport. Happy Birthday Sam! We are so proud of you and love you more!!!
Hard to believe that I met Gabe before he turned double digits!
He was charismatic, confident and so comfortable talking to adults! That has not changed as he officially heads into his mid twenties!
What a whirlwind of the past couple of years! Marriage, graduation, acceptance into law school, frustrating green card applications, COVID, not being able to come home… so much happening! The ups and downs of life – he has taken it all in stride! We are so proud of everything he has accomplished and the integrity and hard work he has accomplished it with! He has really tapped into his strengths, faced his fears head in , and we are so excited to see him thrive in this next stage of life in law school!
We are also super super excited to have him and Shannon come home in a few weeks! Never will we have to wait so long between seeing them again (now that he has his green card!)
Let me share with you 10 things I love about Gabe (in no particular order!)
1. He is hilarious. He seriously just makes you laugh and laugh. He is entertaining and his energy is contagious!
2. He is hardworking. Not always the case… haha. But that’s what makes it even more incredible. He was never “a student”, then he became “a student” – through hard work and perseverance. He upped with work ethic and saw the benefit of how far he can take himself!
3. He is filled with knowledge. He knows so much about so much!
4. He is curious – this has always been one of my favourite things about him – his curiousity for everything! He is not afraid to not know, and he will go find out.
5. He is a very loyal family guy. I see it with Shannon – his love and commitment to her is so strong. And I see it and feel it within the CDF family. He never misses connecting with us twice weekly, is always quick to respond to texts, and sends them regularly (often including funny things, past memories, photos; cares about what’s happening with his siblings and is investing in their relationships too). I have no doubt that he will always be there for everyone he loves.
6. He is passionate – about his beliefs, his work, his dreams, his interests. He will achieve anything he wants
7. He is a great husband (from my perspective lol). He is supportive, caring, committed, interested, vulnerable and dedicated. They really have grown together and are such a good partnership.
8. He is articulate. I’m not surprised at all that he is going to be a lawyer! He is an eloquent speaker and has great critical thinking skills.
9. He is humble. It’s a beautiful quality to have. He seeks feedback and advice, seeks ways to grow and learn. He apologizes, he forgives, he puts his guard down, he shows vulnerability. I see this in his faith and spirituality as it has grown over the years. It’s a tender side.
10. I’m totally biased but Gabe is so much like his dad! And since I am fully and completely smitten with his dad, then you know that being like his dad is the highest compliment I can pay Gabe! The wisdom, the passion, the loyalty, the humour, the goofiness, the commitment, the frustration, the hard work – they are very similar and I love how they are so invested in each other and their relationship. Beautiful to see.
I am so grateful that I have been around long enough to see Gabe grow from a little boy into the amazing man he is today! And I look forward to watching him continue to become who he is meant to become! Happy 23rd birthday! Love you more!!!
Well it certainly has not been the best grade 12 year. No sports, no activities, no dances, no in class school pretty much:(
But, having some solid, fun, good friends makes all the difference. So there was a lot of bike riding, spike ball, basketball, bonfires, backyard hangouts, hockey (in the don valley too), cottage getaways and lots of stuff I have no clue about lol. The “high council of mothers” as the boys call all the moms are only privy to some details!
So having no prom and no grad was a big let down. However, things lightened up a bit so at the last minute a couple of parents pulled some stuff together. The boys went over to one house to meet up and take some pics and then headed to meet the girls at another house.
Funny though, the house where they all met up and ended staying the night was the same house that hosted the 150 people for Zach and Zandra’s grad. So many things have changed – but a small crowd was still fun. They got to hang out as a group one last time before they all head off to summer jobs, then various universities or gap years (a bunch of them are taking a gap year to work/travel including Josh).
Covid has not been easy of these kids, but they made the best of it and we are so proud of Josh and thrilled this crazy online year is OVER!!!
Looking forward to the amazing adventures he has ahead of himself!!!
It has been month and months since I have done a catch up post. Mainly because my phone is filled with work photos (I write things on my white board during sessions and then send photos of the board to my clients). But my in between pics are not so exciting either…
There are more of Zach, who being on a mission, tends to take more pics and I have a blog that I upload everything on so he sends me them. Although I’m sure Gabe & Shannon (who lived in NYC for a month and have vacationed in Florida and California) and Zandra (in Hawaii and vacationed in California) have load of photos on their phones too. The little boys are in bed, in front of screens or out – so how many photos can you take of that! Lol
And bcs there are so many of them, and bcs when I try to upload them they upload in random order, think of it as a giant collage – with a story behind each picture, which hopefully I will remember for life:)
What is captured in all these photos?
Zach moving from Lethbridge to Airdrie, lots of zoom calls, life as a missionary, changing comps 4 times, giving talks at church, snowy Calgary, friends he meets there, mission president love, owls, family history
Lots of Reggie love, sunning, sleeping, playing, walks
Rob and I headed up north for a week and got to do some beautiful hikes, then the weekly neighbourhood walks, lots of walks in the Don, some patio time
At home church, dinners, snacks, Valentine’s, Easter, B-days, back to church for bit, Vaccinations, online school, podcast recording, webinars, hanging with friends, passport picture flow…
Although this blog has been sorely neglected, this man has not been. Haha.
Life marches on and we have found ourselves immersed in so many things – good things for the most part.
We are feeling the shift of our lives, direction and focus as we have navigated lots of change over the past few years. Good and bad.
As our family grows (in age and technically number as our kids start finding life partners), Rob and I are taking a look at what the next phase of our life is going to look like, as we transition to even more kids flying the nest – building their own adventurous lives. And it is super fun and super crazy to think that Rob is turning 50 today!!!!
I met this man smack in the middle of our thirties. Having both gone through divorces it kinda felt in one way that we had been set so far back into our 20s, and we felt like we could never play catch up to get us where we both wanted to be.
When you find the right partner, there is no need to catch up with anything. We have just been in the same rhythm, sync, groove. We have had to deal with so much drama, heartache, set backs AND so much laughter, fun, adventures and thin moments. Life has been good and kind. Life has kicked our butts. But there’s no one I’d rather love and share, and laugh and cry, and argue and disagree with than this incredible man. We are caught up to where we were always meant to be – together – building an incredible life and chasing our dreams. It is exciting and it is scary to think that Rob is entering is 50s and I am close behind! Where did time go?
But it did and he has a lot to show for it.
Let me tell you a thing or two about him.I will start with what an incredible father he is. I think some of our kids may have an inkling that he is a good dad (but remember how you thought of your parents when you were in your late teens – early twenties, lol – but having lost my own father years ago — I see that appreciation of parents only really really comes as you age and even become a parent yourself -so no worries if they are still a wee bit blind to that still….!!) But “good dad” doesn’t describe the care, the thought, the concern, the pride, the desire, the love that this man has for each of his kids – his biological kids and his step kids. He is the best of the best.
He is the most awesome husband. Honestly, there is no one I’d rather spend time with. Being cooped up in the house for 15 months and he’s still my favourite person to “come home to” . He’s just the best mix of everything I love and even everything I don’t love 🙂 He’s kind, caring, thoughtful, honest, and so so so smart. He listens and processes, he’s always trying to think of different perspectives to share, is so super wise with his advice and humble enough to be open to learning and teaching. He owns his mistakes, and is quick to forgive. And he can drive me absolutely crazy too:)
Have I said how smart he is? And so well respected. Working from home – I can sometimes overhear some of his calls with work. He is such a leader and thinker. He solves problems and he encourages/pushes his team to become so resourceful. He has taken on a new role and is such a great boss and has so much to offer and I hear people constantly expressing appreciation for his contribution and leadership.
He has such a good sense of humour. He can make me laugh and he is always willing to laugh at me (in the nice way). He gets a kick out of so many things with the kids too – often laughing like a little kid at something silly that they are sharing.
He is generous. He will share, give, offer support in whatever way needed. But he is most generous with his knowledge and wisdom. He will give you fish, but it is much more important to him to teach you how to fish. He doesn’t just hand us all the answers even though it is much easier to that – he wants us to understand the whys and the whats and the hows. So he will take the time to explain things…to make sure that you get it so you can build up your confidence, your resourcefulness, and knowledge too.
He is committed. He holds his commitments – to family, to friends, to work, to church. He is a family guy, he is a service guy, he is a hard working guy. You can count on him. He is the definition of loyalty.
He is full of integrity. You can trust him. He is honest. You know what you are getting with him. He is who he is. He will show it – even if sometimes that shows his weaknesses, he is ok with that. He is real.
He is full of so many different passions which makes him so interesting to talk to and listen to. Art, cars, music, sports you name it, he knows it. He will share and learn and get lost in many of his passions.
He puts others first – although I have been pushing him more and more to remember to put himself first too. He has always sacrificed a lot for his family. At times it was his career advancement to be home more with the kids; his income to pay for costs that seemed to come out from every corner; his passions – so that others could pursue theirs, and his time – constantly available to help whenever. In his wisdom though he has also learned that sometimes he needs to put himself first and fill his own cup. I love that he wants to take care of others, but has the wisdom to know that sometimes that is not the best way.
He is just fun to be with! He is up for doing anything. He will chill, hang out, or get out and do things. He will talk, listen, and vent. He will bike, hike, stare at the stars or ski. He is the best travel partner. I love all our adventures together. I love how he wanted to show the kids the world-and still wants to share it with them. I love how he continues to want to see the world and is up for any adventure I suggest and comes up with some pretty cool ones on his own.
I could go on and on. And in my mind and heart I do. I am so grateful for everything that Rob is and so blessed to have him in my life. How I was blessed with such goodness is beyond me. But I’ll take it. Over and over. As the years march on – I am excited for us to continue to grow old together; decades and decades and into eternity.
Our last family photo taken in April 2019 at Gabe and Shannon’s wedding!
Well last year was supposed to be the first birthday away from home, but given COVID, Zandra was home for her birthday last year.
So this is the first year she is away for her birthday and it is the year she steps out of her teen years and into young adulthood! Woo hoo! 20!
Crazy, crazy.
Crazy is probably the best way to describe this past year! Lots of changes with COVID and the upheaval it caused for all!
Zandra rolled with all the punches. Not fun to have to return home from Hawaii to live back at here and just do school online, but she did.
She worked in the summer, and then ventured off to Kingston, Ontario to continue online school while living with her friends who were attending university in Kingston. (I’m giving all the background as this blog has been sadly neglected, and there were lots of changes!).
Zandra headed to Kingston for the semester
She had a great semester living in Kingston and feeling more like a student! She was home for a quick Christmas break and then made the decision to head back to Hawaii to continue online school there! Who wouldn’t want the beach and the sun, and of course the real lure… a boy! Shortly after her return to Hawaii she had some exciting news – that she had gotten engaged and they are excited to plan their lives together! We are looking forward to meeting Illyah once the COVID mess is cleared up a bit:)
So in celebration of all things Zandra on her special day, here are some top things we love about her:
She rolls with the punches. It has been a tough year – but she has come out of it stronger and more resilient.
Her beautiful smile. It radiates warmth and love and beauty .
Her contagious laugh – she can get all silly and giggly and light up a room.
Her commitment to working hard. Despite all the ups and downs, she has managed to balance her school work, getting awesome grades and collecting a scholarship each semester! Yay Zandra! Leaves her more money for that yummy Hawaiin food (vegan, of course).
Her writing skills – she is a full journalist now as she writes for the school paper and has had published some great articles! I know writing has always been a passion for her, so it’s so fun to have a job that focuses on your passion!
She loves her doggy and all animals in general (although I’ve seen her freak out over some bugs, lol).
Her hugs – boy, do we miss them around here!
Her creativity in general – she has had the opportunity to take some art classes at school so has been able to wow and impress with drawings and her usually painting are always amazing (she is taking painting this semester too). Dancing and singing too, she is an artist at heart!
Her knowledge of all things makeup and self care. She is always in the know of the newest products. She gives the best tips!
Her huge, loving, sweet, giving heart. She wears it on her sleeve. She is sensitive, caring and kind. Such a beautiful soul.
These are just a few of the amazing things about this incredible girl! We miss her around here and hope that we get to see her this summer! But we know that she is having fun, creating adventures and collecting memories along the way – we couldn’t be more proud or love her more than we do!
Happy Birthday Sweet Pea, Zandra B!
A little blast from the past of our own beach memories:)
I can’t believe that we have another child entering the world of “adulthood”.
My baby Josh is turning 18. Crazy. CRAZY.
This is a weird year to turn 18 and it has been a weird year all around. Not quite the graduating senior year that I think he imagined. But I think Josh has made the most out of it all – he has a really nice group of friends and they have managed to create some pretty fun times despite COVID days.
That can start as the first thing I will write out of the 18 things I admire most about this little bunny of mine:)
He has made the best out of a strange year. He hasn’t complained much, just kind of rolled with thing. Josh can be very very stubborn, but he can also be super easy going and chill -especially with his friends.
He is a great friend. He is fun, loyal, and kind. When he had his appendix out – his buddies all biked to the hospital to bring him a card and a drink even though they couldn’t seem him due to COVID restrictions. They told him that he was with them in spirit as they biked through the city as they did very night this past summer
He is smart. Ahhh… “if only he applied himself”. Josh is a naturally smart guy. he picks up on so many things. I often think he’s not listening – but then will reflect it back later. I can’t wait until he “applies himself ” more, lol.
He is very empathetic and compassionate. He is a sensitive guy and I have noted that despite his chill exterior, his compassion runs deep.
He is also quite insightful. There have been a few times this past year where he has shared some observations with me and I have been very impressed with his level of awareness and insight.
He gives the best hugs. I don’t even have to beg him for them! He gives them and they are solid!
He is a sporty guy. This has been a tough year with regards to all sports being cancelled. It has really really sucked. But, despite official leagues being cancelled, Josh has found a way to get out there daily and exercise and play sports – whether it be basketball, football, shinny or even just biking! He gets out to move.
He loves to travel and is fun to travel with! Although we are seriously bummed because we had delayed his 16 trip and were planning on going this spring – but with COVID that has been cancelled too. We will definitely find a time to make it up – it is top priority (for me at least lol – he’s realistically content being with his friends lol).
He is super funny. He makes us laugh all the time! He brings a fun energy into the house!
He is a good brother. There is something about when all the kids are together. There is a certain energy and bond that truly warms my heart.
He is his own person. He is who he is wherever he is. You know what you are getting with Josh. There is no pretending!
He is fiercely independent. Try giving this kid a ride. He does not need it. He likes to do things on his own (even through it would be easier if his mama helped him, lol!!)
He reminds me so much of my Dad!! So many times he says things and it’s like my dad has said them. He also loves to walk – and walk alone everywhere – helps him clear his mind and think.
He has a strong sense of commitment. If he’s in, he’s all in. You can count on him.
He can be super silly and when he is his beautiful smile comes out.
Conference
He loves loves loves his sweets. He will take dessert anytime, any place.
He is a good storyteller. But you have to catch him in the mood to tell stories. He is super quiet in the mornings (and a touch grumpy, just sayin’) but if you catch him later on, he will sometimes share stuff with you.
I mentioned before that he is sensitive – and that is a part I love as a mama. He remembers the good stuff, can be nostalgic, will allow me to sometimes go down memory lane with him. He’ll let me mother him too – sometimes. He’ll listen to me, tell me I have no clue what I am talking about and then move on.
Boy, do I love this kid. I love him exactly as he is right now, but I am also super excited to see the kind of future he will create for himself. It’s going to be true awesome – just like he is:)
The first birthday of the year in our family! Woot!
Although it has been a bit of a wonky year, and we didn’t actually get to see Gabe and Shannon in 2020, there were pretty some pretty significant milestones – especially Shannon and Gabe graduating from BYU- I!
We also were able to stay connected through technology and had some pretty great calls – whether it be our weekly Sunday night call, our Sunday church-at-home calls, some nice family calls, and even a karaoke call! I also loved being able to have some fun coaching type calls with Shannon too.
But this year – we are determined to see Shannon and Gabe!!
Right now, they are both living in Colorado with Shannon’s parents. Gabe still has not received his green card and because he is in between his undergrad and starting law school in September, he can’t work. So their life right now is in limbo, but Shannon is still looking for work right now.
Which leads me to the first of ten things I want to share about what I love about Shannon:
1.She is a hard worker! She finished up her degree and is now hard at work looking for a full time job. It’s not a walk in the park looking for a job. You have to submit a ton of resumes, complete questionnaires, and jump through a lot hoops – and there is a lot of rejection out there. I know that she will get an awesome job that will be the best one for her – but it takes a lot of perseverance to keep going with a good attitude!
2. You can always count on her to contribute to our family message chat! She is supportive of everyone, and is quick to respond too! She sends thoughtful texts and remembers important events for others.
3. She is super creative! I’ve had the benefit of having her do some work for me over the year and I have appreciated her ideas, and the ability to run with those ideas. Just look at my youtube channel (here) that she recently created and how awesome it is! It was all her!
4. She is generous with her love and kind words. Last year for my birthday she made me a PDF (which I have printed out and keep on my desk) of the 10 things she loves about me! So kind, thoughtful and generous. It really really touched me and I so appreciated it!
5. She is a certified yoga teacher! Woo hoo! She is always learning and interested in taking care of herself and now in teaching others too! She also is quite the cook and baker and likes to be healthy – but enjoys some indulgence too!
6. She is a super supportive and loving partner to Gabe. There has been a lot of uncertainty for the two of them as they have waited to see where the next chapter of their life will unfold! Gabe was busy studying for his LSAT and then applied to law schools all over the country and they both just had to sit tight to see what happened! She has been his true partner and together they are trying to make the best decisions for them!
7. She is a travel nut. That made her shine in my book from the moment I met her. We were supposed to meet up in New York last April and we were so bummed it had to be cancelled:( But she is always up to travel and has some great travel dreams!
8. She is a planner! She had mapped out the perfect NYC getaway for us – found a great airbnb, then planned out the must sees, must eats, cool places to go etc. She is organized and efficient!
9. She is a learner. I love that if I send her stuff to read, she reads it (lol), and she will send me stuff as well. She researches things, keeps on top of things and is interested in things. She is also willing to share her knowledge.
10.She is an advocate. These past few years have been rough ones – especially politically. She has never shyed away from voicing her concerns, her beliefs and standing up to defend them. She fights for democracy, diversity, inclusion, equity and equality. She educates herself and then in turn educates those around her.
There are so many more things to love about Shanon!!
We are so glad to have her as part of CDF family!! I also love that she shows her love of being part of our family too. She puts the effort in – even if we are miles apart.
