Please help a local Langley family out by purchasing a raffle ticket!

As a wife, and mom to six kids I couldn’t imagine being a little child and losing my Mom, or my kids losing me or my husband.
Are you able to help a local Langley family out? There is a fundraiser for the family of Melissa White. It’s on the front page of the Langley papers today, so please read on for more info.
I am asking for people to please buy a raffle ticket to support the White Family of Langley, BC, and to please forward this post to others! 
Thank you so much,
Cathy xoxo
::
Fundraisers for Langley family show growing community support

Melissa White, a 30-year-old Mother of 3 from Langley, BC, died of a rare combination of ALS and FTD in March of this year. Through the fundraising efforts on behalf of a former neighbour, the community is rallying around the family to show support.

Langley, BC – It’s difficult enough to imagine the emotional strain a young family would endure when Mom is suddenly not there anymore, but when you top that off with the financial burden of suddenly raising children on your own? Its more than most of us could bear.
Melissa White, a 30-year-old Mother of 3, was diagnosed with ALS (also known as Lou Gehrig’s disease) and Frontotemporal Dementia (FTD), making her one of the youngest people in North America to be diagnosed with diseases that typically target people between the ages of 40 and 60. After a 13-month battle with the illness, Melissa died on March 2nd, 2012, leaving behind her husband and 3 children under the age of 6.To ease the burden on the White family, Anita McCarthy, a former neighbour of the White’s, decided to pull the community together in an effort to raise funds for Melissa’s family. Anita has secured Corporate sponsors, prize donations, and pulled together fundraising events to support the family.At this time, there are three ways to help the White family:

·      The Melissa White Legacy Raffle presented by the Rotary Club of Langley – Raffle tickets can be purchased with cash at the following locations (please see below for prize list):
o  1) PetroCanada – 200th Street & 72nd
o  2) Color Me Mine in Langley
o  3) Future Shop – Langley Bypass
o  4) Nestle Toll House Café – Guildford Town Center
o  5) Scotia McLeod – WhiteRock
o  Or through email and bank transfer at http://whitefamilytrustfund.weebly.com/buy-raffle-tickets-now.html
·      Fintastics Cuts for Kids in Surrey (101-15905 Fraser Highway Surrey, BC V4N 0Y3. (604) 593-5150) is donating a portion of their proceeds to the White Family from May 26th to June 2nd, 2012.
·      Melissa White Legacy Event and Auction:  To be held on June 24th, 2012 at Burger & Brew at Fort Pub. This event is currently Sold Out, but those who cannot attend may still bid on Silent Auction donations by viewing Silent Auction items online starting June 10th, 2012 at: http://whitefamilytrustfund.weebly.com/silent-auction-items.html <http://whitefamilytrustfund.weebly.com/silent-auction-items.html>

As word spreads, there has been a growing media interest in Melissa and Jeremy’s story, including a story that made the front page of The Vancouver Province on May 28th, 2012. For further information on the Melissa White fundraisers, please contact Anita McCarthy directly at 778-552-4873 or:Anita McCarthy

Melissa White Legacy Event
Website: http://whitefamilytrustfund.weebly.com
Facebook: www.facebook.com/MelissaWhiteLegacyEvent <http://www.facebook.com/MelissaWhiteLegacyEvent>
Twitter: @4TheWhiteFamily

officially recovered from my quad injury!

After six weeks of absolutely no running, I am finally recovered from my quad strain! It was very hard not to run the BMO half. (I have decided that is not the race for me LOL) It was worth it to do nothing in order to heal my injury. It is hard for me to do NOTHING. I like to be active. Totally worth it however! Today was my very first run and walk! Yay!

I hired a coach, and her name is Suzy. She put together a personalized plan to help me get back out there, and to reach my goal of running again. Injury free.

I really want to run and and finish a really important goal this fall. In order to do this, I am SLOWING DOWN. Yes, I am. I am changing my attitude, and just getting out there to run. slowly. slower than I have ever run before. I really want to complete a marathon, and I have had the dream of running ultras in the future. In order reach my goals I need to slow down, and build up my endurance. Spend more time on my feet. It is all about endurance. In the past I have been all about speed. And where does speed lead me? To injury. To injury. To injury. It is not working so well for me. Too many disappointments in the past.

I have shifted my attitude, and it feels so right!  I want to run, and so this morning I went on my very first run with my friend Twila. We did a nice 5.52 km in 45:16. Our average pace was 8:12 km. Anybody who knows me as a runner knows this is absolutely slow. But you know, the pressure to perform is gone! Thrown out the window. This is the year I will run a race to complete. I am not a superstar runner, and probably will never be one. I just want to run. Burn calories. Feel good. Fit my clothes. Stay healthy and sane. Be a role model to my kids! Running does this all for me. Besides, when you run longer and slower you burn more calories. :D

I have a plan in place to run 3 times per week only. I can cross train a couple of days if I want. Max 5 days per week for me. In the past I have been know to run almost every day. Yes, a little bit too much. :D

I feel so good right now. I am post first run on my program.  I do not feel any pain. My quad feels GREAT! I have a big smile on my face, and I feel so encouraged that I am doing things the right way this time. I have learned my lesson! FINALLY!  It just took me a long time to figure stuff out.

Thank you Twila for the great run this morning! Beautiful morning! May long weekend! AWESOME!

I have decided to just run on my own for the time being. I know if I go back to the Running Room I will want to run faster, and run with my old friends. I simply must step back and do my own thing for the time being. It is time to do this! Reach my goals FINALLY!

scary mommy moment: fire under the kitchen sink

::The box of matches that started the wee fire under the kitchen sink::

I experienced a really scary mommy moment this week. As a mom to six kids, I have scary mommy moments. Too many to count, too many stick out for me, but this week we had a scary moment with a fire that was started by our six your old in our kitchen garbage (located under the kitchen sink cabinet) Living in the cabinet would be our fire extinguisher, paper bags, cleaning chemicals. You name it, you will find it under that sink. Below us live our tenants. Scary stuff!

My sweet number five daughter decided to get down the first aid emergency kit (or perhaps it was taken out of the highest cupboard by a sibling, hard to say when you have six kids!) We didn’t of course see that happening as we were literally footsteps away in the dining room with our realtor, getting our place listed on the market! Of course we were all distracted with paperwork. Some of the big kids were outside playing as it was a beautiful evening. Some of the kids upstairs. Parental units busy, and distracted. That is exactly when things can go wrong! Like a kitchen fire! It only takes a few minutes for tragedy to strike as I have an Aunty who burned down her kitchen with a kitchen fire! Thankfully our realtor asked for our drivers licences, and so Cliff had to get his from the kitchen, as that is where his wallet was. Cliff saw smoke and freaked, the realtor and I come running in and there is smoke all in the kitchen and so we start to panic, looking for the source of the smoke! There were no kids to be found around the kitchen.  Hubby opened the kitchen cabinet which was closed, but there was the most smoke in that area of the kitchen.  Imagine finding your smoking plastic garbage can!  Fire found,  THANK GOODNESS. My heart was racing, the what ifs started. My hands trembling! Now to find out who did it!! So unnerving to know that in maybe another minute or less the whole kitchen or worse could have been on fire!

In a large family how do you find out who lit the match? Well, you just go searching around the house for the “guilt-ridden” face. Which was our sweet six year old. Her face, and body language indicated it was her.

Where did she get the matches? Well in our emergency kit (usually in the very highest cabinet lives the first aid emergency kit) One of the other kids, or possibly her got a bandaid out and left the bag on the counter. Easy for anybody to explore the contents of the bright red bag.  She most likely decided to look in saw the small box of wooden matches in there (the box in the photo above was the box–read the message on the back of the box!!) She most likely struck the match, and then…it is now burning! Throw it! Throw the match into the garbage can. Watch the match light the contents of the garbage on fire! Get a glass of water and try to put it out. Smoke! Close the cabinet, and run away! Nobody will know I did it! Nobody will notice, right?! Well, thankfully we did!! Oh my goodness! Heart attack city!

Thankfully everybody was OK. Nobody was hurt. Nothing in the kitchen was ruined except for the garbage can that was melting, and a clear wine glass that broke earlier that evening was BLACK and my hubby said the garbage can was HOT!  It taught me you can never be too careful. I don’t even recall those matches being in there!  Kids are so curious,  and accidents and tragedies can happen so quickly. I am just so thankful it wasn’t worse.

I had a friend of ours (a firefighter) talk to our daughter about matches, and fire safety at school the next day. I don’t think she will do that again. However, there are other curious kids in my family. Now we know better! Lesson learned. Hopefully that is the first and last time we have to worry about matches and fire. Never play with matches, kids. Don’t leave matches around, parents.

 

 

the three hour room clean

This is a before and after blog with regards to my two eldest daughter’s room. They share this room. And what a mess it was! Here is my before and after of their room. I spent a total of almost 4 hours in there. It was worth it. :D

So, having six kids obviously cleaning, and maintaining a home is quite the undertaking. Even though I stay on top of a lot of stuff, there is always a room that is not up to “my standards” of living. My husband does a lot around the house too. I am very blessed with a hands on guy. I am very thankful. :D

In my younger days I was a bit of a neat freak, and I also worked as a house cleaner, and a “chambermaid” back in tha day. So, yah. Having a large family with six kids, I have had to lower my standards, and just “go with it” but sometimes I cannot. After the kids went to school, and I couldn’t stand how awful the “big girls” room had become. It was giving me some anxiety. Well OK, A LOT of anxiety. So I took 3 hours and took care of business in there. I am pleased to report that almost 2 weeks later, it is still looking pretty decent. Go girls!

running on empey is back again!

Just how many Empey’s can you fit into the mac photobooth? Just about 8! :D

Well, after days and days Running on Empey is back online. A few technical glitches that were solved last night, and finally worked today! Whew! I have so much to blog about, but it is dinner time, and well the evenings around here are a bit crazy! Today I started a 60 day challenge. I will blog more about that too soon! Today is day one.

Expect some new posts this week! Have a great week ahead! Happy Monday.

Cathy xoxo

p.s. I finally had time to photograph cherry blossoms! I have been wanting to for a few years! I had my chance yesterday in Vancouver when we were celebrating my nephew’s 2nd birthday.

catie and coco had their hair done (finally)

Getting things done in a large family take some planning. Hair appointments are a big job (as are dental appointments, and ortho appointments) to get done. In the past I have sat there, as all six kids have had their hair done, sometimes one at a time, or two at a time. I have now learned that it is better to take a couple or a few at a time (max) and book them in with two or three different stylists so that all two are three kids can start, and finish around the same time. When I have taken all six, the kids waiting get restless, and start playing, or sliding on the floor. Or taking their hair home from off of the floor. Or, making MULTIPLE trips to the washroom, or needing a drink of water from the water cooler. So to save my sanity, have decided two at a time is about right. And feels easier on the pocketbook too. :D

I love it when the kids get their hair done. They feel good, I feel good. And then they don’t look as ratty. ha ha.

One child (number 5….) was upset and whined for the whole afternoon (I am not joking!) about not being able to get her hair done with her sisters.  She didn’t win, but wow, can that whining wear me down. I love you Caroline. xoxo

 

i just need some time

 

 

I had a really busy weekend, and this morning was my doctor’s appointment. It was an appointment for one of my girls, and myself. My doctor and I decided that I should go to physio, so I booked my first appointment for May 9th. He thinks that because in almost 14 days there have been no changes in my quad, that this is worse than a grade one strain. I believe that to be true, as it still hurts to step, and to walk the stairs. The slightest of movements hurt me still. Of course I am upset that running caused my injury. And now I cannot exercise, or use running to relieve my day-to-day stress. And the fact that my race is weeks away. There is absolutely nothing I can do about it, but take this time to heal and to figure out where to go from here. I am thankful for all of the wonderful suggestions, my friends. I am going to take this time to “grieve my loss” of running for now, and to formulate a plan on how to stay in shape, and lose the rest of my weight. This is what I truly want, and this is what I want to work on, and put my focus on. I haven’t been on the scale for fear of what that number might look like. At this point, the number wouldn’t make my day any better. Thankfully my clothes still fit fine. I just know my job is not finished. I have about 34-44 pounds that I would love to lose. So, now I have to figure out a realistic way to do this, and to get healthy and strong in the process. So I can run again hopefully without anymore injuries. :D

I know I will run again. Hopefully soon! Thanks so much everybody for your kind words and thoughts. I really appreciate them all.

Cathy xoxo

putting my runners away

In running, it doesn’t matter whether you come in first, in the middle of the pack, or last. You can say, ‘I have finished.’ There is a lot of satisfaction in that.
-Fred Lebow, New York City Marathon co-founder

 

I wish I had a better blog to write today. And now I wonder why I even put “running” in the title of my blog.  Since I began working on my running on empey blog, I haven’t been out on one run due to my quad strain.  This morning I went into see my Dr. Fix It, and he was hoping that by today (now 13 days without running) that I would be on the mend, and that there would be a huge improvement. Unfortunately, that is not the case for me. I am experiencing a lot of pain in my quad muscle still. Even with Doctor’s orders…the icing/stretching/resting hasn’t helped. It seems as if it is getting WORSE. Worse!

Again this morning I heard more of those words I didn’t want to hear. “I don’t think it is a good idea that you run BMO and the Abby races.” I knew it was coming. I know I don’t feel good enough to run, and it feels like my fitness is slipping day by day.  Everything I have been working towards, crushed. Bad feelings creeping into my head moment by moment. Of course I will not run the half marathons. It would be awful to blow out my quad and then be pulled from the course. That would be awful.  I know when to stop. And today, I stop. For how long, I am not sure.

So, this Monday I have tagged myself onto one of my daughter’s doctor appointments. Probably a referral to physio, and possibly an xray/mri and or ultrasound to figure out what is going on with my left quad. It could be related to this “weird” knee I have always had since I was a little girl. I am of course frustrated, sad. Miserable. Wondering, what the heck am I going to do with myself? No exercise…and how the heck do I stay fit now? How to do I try to maintain the level of fitness, or just stay fit?  And of course all of these feelings come flooding back to April of 2009. The month I stopped running and training for the full BMO marathon because of my IT problems on my right side. I joked that maybe both sides had to have problems and that NEXT year all will be well.

I feel that maybe I am not cut out to be a runner. Funny to write that when all I WANT to be and do is be a RUNNER! I want to be an athlete.  Not just get out there for a jog. (no offence to any of you who jog–I am just highly competitive, and I love working towards goals of any sort!) In September of this year, I was excited just to get out there and run again! I love to RUN. It keeps me sane, and happy. What will keep me happy and sane now? I joked with my hubby this morning on the phone. I told him I might have to take up drinking and smoking. He didn’t think that was very funny. :D

I am not writing this post to get sympathy. I am just writing it out, so I can process my feelings. I am in a place that I dread. Last time I just let myself go. This time I can say  I WILL NOT GO BACK to where I was. I will have to shift my focus to something else. Now, to find out what that is. It is going to take me some time. I thank you all who have texted me, messaged me. Facebooked me. Called me. You all are the best.

What the heck should I do now? I guess I will wait to see what my doctor says, and what my plan of action will be. It is so hard to just sit and wait. I just want to FINISH what I have started. It is hard for me not to be able to complete my goals.

Cathy xoxo

 

is to make a beginning

cathy empey photographer 2012

 

What we call the beginning is often the end. And to make an end is to make a beginning. The end is where we start from. ~T.S. Eliot

I was watching American Idol last night, and during the beginning of the program they used a wonderful quote. I just thought is was too beautiful not to share. It really fits with how I have been feeling lately. I keep having all of these “I will start tomorrow” moments in my life. That can wait until tomorrow. How about I try that next month? All of these “Before” photos, and then not getting to the “After” moments. With me, it is like I am scared to commit to figuring myself out. SO slowly, very slowly I am trying to change this about myself. I get scared. I pull back. I retreat. I hide. SO many questions…What happens if I FINALLY lose all of the weight, and then I have a flabby, hanging tummy of skin? What happens if I cannot afford to get rid of the skin? How come I feel like a failure  most of the time? I have a lot of negative self talk.

I often feel as if I am not good enough. Why do I do this to myself? Why do I not deserve to feel good? Certainly I would want that for my friends, for my family. My kids. Why do I always have so much self doubt? I practically talk myself out of making healthy changes before I even begin. Or my changes last for almost a day, but then I blow it at night. Maybe I am not making changes that are reasonable? Maybe my standards are to high? I have been having so many conversations over coffee, phone calls and texts with friends and family lately. Trying to figure stuff out. I am so thankful for their wisdom, and insight. It feels good reach out, and to be open to making changes that are lasting. I am slowly changing, growing and evolving. Developing my confidence.

A wise friend texted to me yesterday, and I wanted to share. It might help some of you?

“You are more than good enough at everything you do and are. Doubt is just fear. Fear is crushed by love. You are love incarnate. You are awesome.”

I am tired of living in fear, and self doubt. It is time to shine. Thank you dear friends and family, seriously…you are so amazing.

How will you make your beginning?

Cathy xoxo

a mother’s heart is a patchwork of love

A mother’s heart is a patchwork of love. ~Author Unknown

This morning, I was laying in bed with my husband, and my youngest daughter Coco. She is 4, turning 5 in November, and she is my baby. She tells me that she is a big girl. And she is right, but I have to cherish every moment of her little-ness. I want to remember how she still loves me so, as her Mama. How she presses up against my body. Her head, against mine. Her body, following the curve of my body and her feet, pressed against my hip. Attached, and just a sweet, loving little girl. I wish I could have a photo of how she sleeps beside me. We just linger there until the last moment. Before the chaos of morning happens as it is a school day. Every night she falls asleep in her bed, so easily. She shares a room with big sis Caroline. The visits to our bed is far and few in-between. For quite some time I thought she would always sleep between Cliff and I. And she doesn’t. So, the sneak into our bed I don’t mind at all. I know as my baby girl, she won’t do this forever. Our other kids rarely do.

I enjoy my time with my Coco. I cherish the sweet, quiet moments of our togetherness. When Cliff is at work, and her 5 older siblings are at school, I hold tight the moments of her and I. I miss her when she is at preschool two times a week. I put her in preschool because I know she is attached to me, and I to her…and I needed to be able to get her to Kindergarten in September without me crying. I wasn’t so bothered when my first five went to Kindergarten. Maybe a bit with my first born, Cameron. Oh how I remember that first walk to school…Coco will attend all day Kindergarten in September. That means, no more of this daily, wonderful togetherness. I cherish every moment. Her kisses. Every touch, every giggle, the way she rubs her feet on me. Every sweet touch. Her big smile. Her loving eyes, that disappear when she laughs. Her sweet conversation. Her excitement. I cherish my “baby” as I know she is my last. I hold onto her as my baby. Knowing she is going to grow up. I will really miss this part of my life. I really will. I know I will forever say, that these growing years were the best part of my life. With little ones under-foot.

I am entering a phase of life that most are super excited for. (I will be writing more about all of this soon…) Don’t get me wrong. When all the kids are in school. I DO look forward to having time to myself finally after 13 years of being a stay-at-home mom. This whole next year will have so many changes for me. So many emotions, with my love woven deep into my love for each and every one of my kids. Just hoping and praying that they will grow up to become amazing adults. It is my every wish, that they figure who they want to become, and that Cliff and I can help them in any way we can. We hope that they follow their dreams, and believe in themselves. That is all we can hope for as parents. And hope that they all remember just how much they are loved.

Cameron, my first born will turn 13! Our first teenager in the house. Heading off to high school!
Claire, entering her first year of middle school.
Carly, last year of elementary school.
Catie, last year of “primary” grades.
Caroline, moving into grade one.
Coco, entering Kindergarten.

Where does that leave me? I know my kids will need me for a long time, and need me more than ever as we start the teenage/preteen/tween era around here. I hope we will be ready for it! I know it is going to get a bit crazy (ha ha, who am I kidding! CRAZY town is about to hit!) and my dear hubby is an only child, I keep trying to prep him! ha ha. We will have to have a lot of humour during this next phase of life. :D

All I know is that my love for my family is like the quote above.

“A mother’s heart is a patchwork of love” and this fits how I feel so very perfectly. My heart is so full of love, and happiness.

Life is beautiful! Messes and all.

Cathy xoxo

p.s.  photos above were taken by photobooth today. :D