My wife Tamara

If I had to explain my wife to anyone in a five words or less I would have to say “Greatest wife in the world”.

Why do I say this you ask, while there are too many reason for me to name so here are a few:

1. She makes me laugh
2. She is caring
3. She can hold a good conversation
4. She makes me try new food
5. She is a great mum
6. She makes me smile when I see her in the morning
7. She makes me smile at night when I go to bed
8. She listens to me
9. She knows me better than anyone in the world
10. She stands by me no matter what happens

Tamara to you I have to say that I love you more today than the day I married you. Everyday, even when things are not going as planed I love you more.

Tamara and I have been through a lot together, and I am sure we will go through a lot more. But know matter if it the times be good or the times be bad our love will grow just as we will grow as a couple.

Listen to sarguys Playlist

One year later

One Year ago Life for Tamara and I changed as Elysia entered the world.

I have to say that the last year been a big blurr. It all began when I drove Tamara to the hospital as she was scheduled to be induced. Over the next 12 hours I sat and watched as the love of my life sucked back laughing gas and screamed in pain. (I was also watching the longest day and Saving Private Ryan as it was the 6th of June).

At around eight at night the Dr. came and said " we gotta get her into sugary ASAP. The next thing I knew there were twenty people in the room and nobody was telling me anything.

Then all of a sudden they took me down the hall to the nursery and told me to sit in a chair. Not knowing what was going on, I sat down. All the while I am asking "can someone tell me what is going on". Finally one of the older nurses saw that I was upset, gave me a big hug, and told me that everything was okay. The baby was in distress and they needed to get her out ASAP. She then told me to sit down and wait a few min for the baby.

Then a nurse entered the room, looked at me and said here is your little baby girl. This was the first time I ever looked at my Elysia. I could not believe how small she was. I can remember thinking WOW she is so beautiful. Elysia then looked up and started to scream. And to my surprise she screamed for the next two hours until Tamara was cleared from post Op.

For the next four days I was a slave to Elysia and Tamara. Correction...I should say for the next twelve months. June 10th, 2009 was a great day, as I got in the car and drove my family home.

Now a year has passed, and I have loved every day. I love being a dad. With every new day comes a new development. But the best part of my day is when Tamara, Elysia and I are sitting down and playing together. It makes me thankful for what I have.

THE DOG

A few months ago my wife and I were sitting around the computer when we decided that it was time for our family to grow once again. We decided that we needed a dog.

So we did some searching and found a "Goldendoodle" out of Manitoba. A goldendoodle is part Poodle and part Golden Retriever.

Our dog arrvied on March 12, 2010, and is now part of the family. With the dog now known as Cody, the fun of owning a puppy started. Peeing in the house, barking, bitting, jumping, and chewing were an everyday thing. Although Tamara said that these problems ARE still an issue.

Last month Cody entered dog school and he is doing great. I know that Tamara thinks other wise but I think that he is a great dog and is going to be a great pet (Someday).

THE DRIVE

The time is 0415 hours, it is cold, dark, and I am alone.

I was driving to work the other day when I noted that my battery light came on in my car. As my drive continued I exited 88th Ave and started my long climb up the Alex Fraser bridge. Once I hit the middle of the bridge my radio died. A few seconds later I lost my heater causing the windows to fog up. So now I have no heat, no radio and, lucky me, my window rolled all the way down in an attempt to UN-fog the window. Just after I rolled the window down, all my cars lights died and I lost all my system gauges. So as I was driving in the dark with no radio with my window fully rolled down I started to freeze. I started to lose all feeling in my hands while I said to myself "HOLY F$#K" a unknown number of times.

I finally made it to work and was able to park the car. Boy was I happy that I had never had to drive like that before.

So now the car is sitting waiting to go and get fixed. I just hope that I can get it from work to the dealership. I hope I hope I hope.

Oh the joys of car ownership. Anyone want a 2002 Civic, slightly used?

Things that come and go

Over the years I have done many thing that I loved to do. But one of the best things I have ever done was join a Search and Rescue (SAR) Team. What is better than Helping people in need?In the year 2000 I walked into a small building and met 8 other people who I would go through training with. Following the six months of training I became a member of SAR and never looked back. I have been to a number of places and been involved in a number of events that have helped shape who I am today.

I will never forget my first search, it was for a little girl named Heather Thomas. This was a large event in the lower mainland that brought out over 1000 untrained people as well as SAR teams from all over Canada and the Western United States. Being a SAR person I was made a team leader and put in charge of 20 untrained people. Now you have to remember that I was 19 years old and had no experience at all, and boy was I nervous. But at the end of the day I got the job done and no one was hurt or lost. This search lasted 3 days, but unfortunately Heather was found deceased in Maple Ridge.

In 2003 Kelowna and the surrounding area were at risk of been burned down due to a large forest fire. Once again they needed the assistance of SAR, and who was there to answer the call? You got it, me. So myself and 3 others picked up a few supplies and hit the road. We spent the next three days getting people out of their homes and ensuring people did not return until it was safe to do so. Thanks to the forest service, the town was saved and we got to come home.

During my time with SAR I got to do a lot of things that others never got to do. I became a Swift Water Rescue Tech, a boat operator and a team leader. I made life-long friends and have so many stories that I will hold onto forever.

So here I am after ten years of SAR and thinking about my future. I have moved on but at the same time I have not moved on. I guess I am finding it hard to close this door in my life because it means so much to me.