Christmas: Step One

It's time to fill those shoeboxes again.

The Samaritan's Purse is collecting for Operation Christmas Child next week from November 18-24 so there's still time to participate.

You may remember from last year that we really enjoy this campaign.

I  struggle to find charitable activities for the babes but this one is great.

We again went shopping for our "friends".

The trip was a success in my books since I only once had to talk Fiona away from an item and remind her that we were not looking for ourselves.

Cedric was determined to unpack rather than pack so we'll give him another year to get in on the action.

This year, in the green spirit, we reused some old shoeboxes {including the one from this post} instead of picking up the branded ones.

I was told last year that when the kids receive their boxes they especially take joy in the personal notes.

So we made sure to take extra care to make them really special this year.

And sure enough, creating these cards ended up being our kids' favourite part as well.

"Track and Shield" Inaugural Race

A slightly more positive event from the weekend for you today.

On Sunday morning we ran our first race of the season.

The Edmonton Police Foundation Half Marathon 5K.

{Though I do love how our medals say half marathon. 

It was tempting but I just couldn't lie to you guys.}

It was a great day for running {this was prior to our late April snowstorm} and the race kicked off at Fort Edmonton Park, a great venue.

It was so nice to get out as a team.

I was even able to spring this photo-op on everyone before they could put up a fight.

This event gave me a chance to chat a bit more with Cecile {painter} and Gabe {bodyman}.

Since I do most of my work for the shop from home I don't get this opportunity often.

Gabe talked a little about his kids and their involvement in track and field.

I was never big into the sport but have fond memories of these events in my younger days.

As I was recalling this conversation today it hit me like a ton of bricks.

"Track and Shield" is THE name for this venture.

Sorry "Team Shield", you're out.

The Beginning of Our Giving

“From what we get, we can make a living; what we give, however, makes a life.” 

~ Arthur Ashe

Running season is fast approaching.

For some it never left.

 I'm not that tough anymore.

When in University I woke up at 5am 7 days a week year round to run.

Those days are long gone.

I really tried to get to the indoor track a couple times a week.

 And I got owned at strollercize whenever possible.

But nothing beats running outside, especially since we're lucky enough to live down the street from Mill Creek.

You may remember that last year I ran the Melissa's 10K as my postpartum-get-back-in-shape goal.

Other than that I ran only for fitness.

This year will be a little different.

 Jason, Chloe {our partners}, Jeff and I have committed to running as many charity races this summer as possible.

{We are also hoping to rope a few employees in.}

It's important to all of us to give back to our community.

We are not yet in the financial position to give dollars so we're giving what we can, time.

Now don't forget, this is a precious commodity around this joint.

We're not busting at the seams with spare time either.

Today I signed us up for our season opener.

We'll be running the Edmonton Police Foundation race.

It's a half marathon but we'll be crushing the 5K.

Go Team Shield Autobody!

{I did say season opener after all.}

I'm partial to the idea of the races since we also get the health benefit.

I would love to hear of any other ways we can be of service though.

Anyone know of charitable events that a could use some extra bodies?

My Evening With Oprah

You know, just an intimate gathering of, I don't know, 10,000?

That's a guess obviously but you get the point.

The seats were packed with Edmontonians but we weren't alone.

There were people that came from out of town, out of province and even out of country.

All to catch a bit of the magic that is Oprah Winfrey.

I didn't even consider buying tickets.

As you know, we are not in the position to be spending on such luxuries.

Then out of the blue {though Oprah says there's no such thing} my Mom calls me up, informs me that she's going and invites me along!

{Thanks Mom, extra thanks since I just now noticed the ticket price.}

I wore tights you guys, a skirt and tights, any excuse to get dressed up you know.

Wonderful Husband came home early to give us lots of time to get settled.

We took a back route and made it to Rexall Place in record time, leaving an hour to get settled.

I thought at first that this would land us in a deserted arena.

Not the case.
At all.

The place was buzzing.

Bottlenecks were forming at the doors.

Line ups were forming at the ladies restrooms, prompting some of the mens to be temporarily converted.

Either everyone was really excited to see Oprah or the punctuality was due to the abundance of X chromosomes {sorry guys, it's a little true though right?}.

Maybe a little of both.

I mean, this was an important night.

As she herself remarked, Oprah has raised many of us.

I have memories at ten years old of my Mom quickly making an instant coffee, grabbing some social teas and settling in for Oprah after work.

I can't count how many times she or I have said, "On Oprah..." or "Oprah says...".

Too many "aha" moments to count.

Now, I promised a little inspiration.

This was mine, I do not expect it to resonate with everyone.

The beauty of this event though, was that there were so many great moments that it would be near impossible to walk away without your own "aha{s}".

~Your life is defined not by how successful you are but by how significant you are.~

This is not a direct quote since I couldn't get it in my iphone fast enough and continue to listen to the wisdom.

I just love the idea that we could measure the "success" of our company not by how many dollars we make but by how we put those dollars and our time back into service in our community.

This very idea came up in a recent planning meeting.

We all had this same sentiment but you can count on Oprah to put it so eloquently.

An Unexpected Christmas Gift

What seemed at first like simply a toy turned into so much more.

Cedric's aunt bought him a playskool walker.

When I set it up {with no cursing, thank you very much} I had no idea that this would be the real gift.

Those, folks, were Cedric's first {assisted} steps.

Shield Au"MO"body

Things are getting a little hairy at the shop.

For once I'm not talking about our constant need to jump in the deep end.

MO, I'm MOt. It's a little MOre literal than that.

Get the drift?

As MOvember is coming to an end this week I thought I'd take this opportunity to share some pics.

Warning, mad MOs coming your way.

Clockwise from top left is Saban, Jason, Jeff and Matt.
Lookin' classy guys.
If Cecile could grow a 'stache I'm sure she would have.
Instead she no doubt did her MOsista duty and gave lots of MOtivation.

Seriously though, it says a lot about this group that they're willing to sacrifice their faces for this great cause.
{They all look so happy to do it don't you think?}
We got a late start on our fundraising so would love if you could help us save face {ha}.
The guys are doing this to help "raise vital funds and awareness for men's health, specifically prostate cancer and male mental health initiatives".
Here's the link to Jeff's MOvember space.

It wouldn't have been fair to include Brian in the fundraising effort since he's been working on this bad boy for 40+ years.

He's really just MOre of an inspiration to MO growers everywhere.

Operation Christmas Child

Parents.

This guy knows what I'm talking about.

{Sorry I've been watching way too much How I Met Your Mother.}

 We want our kids to have it all.

And that's about where the similarities end.

Having it all means something very different to each of us.

I can only speak from my own {and Jeff's as far as we've discussed} point of view.

Yes, of course we want our kids to have great clothes, toys, rooms {within reason}.

But what we want most of all for them is what we have no clue how to give.

I mean, we hope that we are but never really know.

Until it's too late that is.

What we want is to mold them into the best little human beings that have ever walked the earth.

{Is that asking too much?}

We want them to be kind, intelligent, modest, confident, fit and healthy.

Not only that but we want them to be unwavering in their beliefs.

To be fair and without prejudice.

To have more success than they've ever dreamed of.

And to be generous with it all.

If you picked up 10 books on parenting, you would count 59,255,983,025 many contradictions.

There are so many great parents out there but none of them have the magic formula.

{Sorry, they may claim to, but they don't.}

Sure we educate ourselves.

But we can really only hope that we're doing right by these little babes.

We feel their unconditional love.

We see the admiration in their faces.

They think {for now} that we have it all figured out.

And here I am thinking "please don't let me mess this up".

It feels like you only get one chance at that purely clean slate.

Slip up once and it comes right back to you.

That sweet little voice...not so sweet in those moments.

Of course we all make mistakes.

Laugh {or try to contain the laughter} and move on.

Forgiving, that's the other trait I want for them.

Get to the point right?

This week we participated in Operation Christmas Child.

{Part 1 of Operation Generous Child.}

I had seen these shoeboxes in the past and never looked into it.

Finally, this year I did and loved the idea for Fiona.

Earlier in the week we went shopping and she was able to pick out little things for her and Cedric's "friends".

Yesterday we packed up the gifts.

At last, today, we dropped them off.

She was so proud and posed happily.

Cedric was less impressed but I look forward to getting him in on the action in years to come.

Anyone out there have any good toddler charity ideas?

{Year round too?}