Resolutions.

I have made many resolutions over the years. Resolutions to get healthy, to work out, to learn to snowboard, to be 'more girly'... needless to say, most of my good intentions quickly fall to the wayside as life's hectic pace flings me into fast forward with simple day-to-day living.

Over the past couple weeks my mind has been twirling with ideas, of resolutions for 2008. Mainly ways to divert my thinking onto mindless yet productive tasks ("learn to crochet" or "learn to garden"), hobbies I've always admired but never would commit to do because of my self-consciousness ("learn to play guitar" and "take that French class I've inquired about 4 years running and have never actually signed up for"), past times I've started but have let sit on the 'back burner' while I deal with laundry or laze on the couch ("start and actually finish reading a book!", "finish all of those scrapbook pages")...

Well friends, I am writing today to publicly commit to a huge endeavor!

And NO I'm not training for a marathon (sorry Margaret- you inspire me, but I'd much rather stand on the sidelines and hand you water than get sweaty myself! Besides- this is Saskatchewan, anything that requires me to leave the house to 'train' between the months of October and May is not on my 'maybe' list!

Nope- this is an endeavour that will hopefully have a profound and long lasting impact on our little town and the little people that live in it!

After discussing it with Grant, I am going to create the Reece Ryde Memorial Foundation.
This foundation's purpose will be to raise funds to purchase items to enhance the lives of children in our community. The first 'to do' item is to build a park for children ages 2-5. Other 'to-dos' are to purchase items for the First Responders and Fire Department (assuming they have a wish list- but what small town group doesn't!?!)
I have looked into the costs of park equipment... and my only comment on that is: "yikes".
There is some insanely fun park equipment out there. But even a modest park is going to run about $30,000. I still have to approach the Town Council to see if they would be willing to accept the gift and if they would provide a site for the park (hopefully close to the existing school park which is for 'big kids' (5-12) that way parents have a one stop play area.
I've been scouring the catalogues picking out items that Reecey would have liked. Lots of rock walls and swings!

So there you have it, I'm committed, and to quote myself "it's official".

On a side note,

I truly wish it to be known how deeply touched Grant and I (and our families) are to read the comments, emails, blog posts, letters and cards we have received. I remember a few years ago, while dealing with the sadness of the loss of a co-worker and friend from breast cancer, I often thought, do my friends know just how deeply I care for each of them, although we may only catch up every few years?
Now I know.

We want each of you to know you are in our hearts, each of you in a special and unique way, and thank you again.

Below I am going to attach another video of Reece (just a tidbit- but we took almost 10,000 pictures on our camera 95% of those of the girls, since May 06!)
this particular video is brought to you by popular demand, and had apparently changed the way Auntie Erin hears the rain in BC :) And I'm thinking down the road perhaps the Reece Ryde Memorial Fund will have to raise funds for a spray park!

Much love.
Ange & Grant






FYI- She is saying "NO!...SPIKE!" at the beginning. Spike is the dog at her sitters that she liked to boss around ;) Dunno where she got that bossy streak from?!