This was a week of really really high highs and really really low lows.
I always wanted to live here. As a little girl playing MASH with her friends the 4 places I always chose were Kelowna, Vancouver, Penticton, or Paris.
After we had HBear I felt like we were at a major turning point in our lives. Ninja had just ended his air traffic control career and I had just graduated university. I was working at a great job but had not settled on a specific career yet.
Then one night while I was in bed I heard some loud banging/popping and I shot out of bed! I raced into each HBear’s room but she was fine. Ninja was at work and Java was right beside me but didn’t look like there was anything out of the ordinary with his family so I went back to bed. The next morning I read that there had been a drive-by shooting in front of the bank at the end of our street.
We decided to move that very day. 6 months later we were living in our dream location. Paradise. Penticton, British Columbia!
On Monday morning I opened up my news feed and saw an alert. In my small town of 30,000 people we were told to stay inside! The whole city was on lockdown and a gunman was on the loose. In the end there were 4 people that lost their lives before the shooter turned himself into the RCMP.
We have been told that we should be grateful, this was a targeted incident not a random shooting spree. To be honest, I am grateful but I am also… Scared.
My sense of security has been callously stolen from me. My innocence has been ripped out of my grasp. I have fallen off the cliff of the rye field. I can’t believe that happened! I can’t believe I had to have that discussion with my children! I can’t believe that 4 people in my very small community lost their lives to a gunman in a shooting spree!
Tuesday was like an emotional hangover. I woke up in a fog. SBean has been very clingy and wants to know where we are at all times. I don’t blame her. If my sense of security was rocked so hard I can only imagine what is going on in her 6-year-old mind. I am scared that my children are going to grow up in this world but I am also sad. How did we get here? How does it stop?
These are questions I will be asking myself for a long time but until I find the answers I will continue to teach my kids to be kind and to be cautious but to go out there and enjoy all that life has to offer but never take our safety for granted.
So, if Monday and Tuesday were the lowest part of my week Wednesday was definitely my highest!
On Wednesday, I turned 40! I woke up and my first thought was… I wish my Mom was here to celebrate this milestone with me. Ninja and the Girls decorated the whole house with streamers, confetti, and balloons! It made me smile because I am so damn loved and so freaking lucky!
After I dropped the Girls off at school I drove right up to see Mom. It was grey and rainy and it matched my mood. I brought her a flower to celebrate her. She brought me into this world and she prepared me for the ups and downs that life would present to me. As I sat beside her grave I cried. My eyes were closed but the tears just kept rolling down my face. And then… I felt warm. I felt like my Mom was there with me giving me the most comforting hug and I could feel her warmth surrounding me. I opened my eyes and there was a single beam of sunlight streaming between two cedars and basking me in it’s warmth. It was amazing. To the left it was gray and cold and to my right there was nothing but. shadows but on me it was bright and sunny. It changed my entire day.
I spent the day enjoying my own company! I walked the beach, enjoyed the sunshine, read a book and received wonderful gifts and messages from friends.
My in-laws, Dad, and Dad’s GirlFriendJ came over for dinner and Ninja made me most incredible mouthwatering Châteaubriand I have ever had in my entire life! Recipe to come!!!!
After dinner the kids surprised me with a scavenger hunt! On the hunt I collected 7 gift bags. When I had found them all I opened each one.
WHAT?!?!?!
For real? How lucky am I! My Dad even bought us tickets to Hamilton!
I am so excited! This is my dream holiday! I can’t wait… 26 more days! I can barely sleep I’m SO excited!!!!
Over the weekend I got to watch the Girls enjoy their Easter egg hunt, enjoyed a fantastic Easter meal and my In-Laws and watched the Girls dominate at the Kiwanis Dance Festival!
It was a week. A week that started off with sadness but turned into one of the best weeks ever! I am so lucky to be loved by so many wonderful people! I am so lucky to have an amazing family. I am so lucky to have the BEST Husband in the entire universe!
Thank you for all of the warm wishes! I just know 40 is going to be a good one! ❤️
You can hear all about my reaction to New York on our latest episode of How Was Your Week, Honey? Ep 115: Ok, Now I’m 40! Check it out HERE!
I have noticed that I have a LOT of recipes piling up. I cook most nights but I only share 1 meal a week with you all. That means there are lots just piling up and waiting to be shared! We had this meal a few weeks ago but it was easy, delicious and worth sharing before it gets too nice out and people are only thinking about grilling. This is a healthy dinner with a TON of flavour. It is also nice because it is a complete dinner. Try it and let me know what you think!
Honey Ginger Pork with Rice & Green Beans
1 cup basmati rice
2 tablespoons oil, divided
2 pork tenderloin, cut into medallions
3 cloves garlic, pressed
1 tablespoon ginger, grated
4 cups green beans
1/4 cup honey
2 tablespoons rice vinegar
1/3 cup salted roasted cashews, chopped
In saucepan, cook rice according to package directions. Fluff with fork; keep warm.
Meanwhile, in large nonstick skillet, heat 1 tbsp of the oil over medium-high heat. Season pork with salt, pepper and garlic powder.
Add to pan; cook, stirring often, until no longer pink, 4 to 5 minutes. Scrape into large bowl.
In same pan, heat remaining 1 tbsp oil over medium-high heat. Add garlic and ginger; cook about 30 seconds. Add green beans and 1/3 cup water; cook, stirring, just until tender and water is evaporated, about 4 minutes. Scrape into bowl with pork.
In same pan, add honey and vinegar, bring to boil. Cook, stirring often, until slightly thickened and golden, about 2 minutes. Return pork, green beans and any juices to pan; cook until heated through, 1 to 2 minutes.
Divide rice among 4 plates; top with pork mixture and cashews.
This was a crazy week! Check out all of our adventures below!
