Serendipity Six is just the place for me to pour out all those things on my heart (or in my head).

Who am I? A self-proclaimed Janeite (that is, preoccupied with all things Jane Austen) and hopeless romantic with an ever-growing addiction to Jamberry Nail Wraps,  I will never pass up the planning of a good party, or playing with the idea of a DIY room makeover.

An imperfect mom of 4 beautiful children – I’m ultimately trying to do my best by them and my wonderfully supportive husband. Born and raised in a small Northern Ontario town – we relocated to the metropolis that is Calgary, Alberta, in the fall of 2012. With my Bachelor of Education, as well as an Honours Bachelor of Arts in Sociology, I am passionate about all things “education”, holding a soft-spot in my heart for languages and the importance of early-learning. We moved to Calgary with my teaching career in mind, but of course, serendipitously – another plan has transpired. We were given the amazing gift of two beautiful twin boys and are now in the process of discovering what our “new normal” will look like.

Here is what my heart looks like on the outside:

My husband – K. My high school sweetheart, he pushes me to be a better mom and wife, all the while tolerating my ambitious dreams and embracing my crazy ideas – always doing what I ask of him (thank goodness he is handy with a hammer, and is a closet perfectionist). He is a man of order, which is made difficult by my clutter-filled paper trail that seems to follow behind me wherever I go…

Our beautiful daughter – Gigi.  At 7 years old, she has always been our “old lady”. An old soul with the biggest heart of anyone I’ve ever met, she can’t seem to help but take on the whole world’s worries. When she’s not worrying about the lady at the market who is selling her paintings to be able to afford groceries, or worrying about her mother when her two littlest brothers are both crying and dad’s not home yet, she can be caught fixing her hair in the mirror, or dancing to the beat of whatever song happens to be on the radio. She believes in the power of prayer, and I am trying to keep it that way for as long as I can.

Our oldest son – Zee. At 4, or should I say 4.5 as he constantly corrects me, he is my little man, who would never use the word “little” to describe himself. High-spirited and self-assured – he thinks he’s figured out the ways of the world, and will let you know when you’re wrong (which is often). An aptitude for all things athletics, something he gets from his father, he could spend all of his time either playing a sport or watching it on television. Catch him at the right moment and he melts into this gooey mass of hugs, kisses and cuddles. He’s become the perfect playmate for his sister, soul mates, in my opinion, (which is good because with the arrival of their younger brothers – they’ve moved in together and are now sharing a room).

Our newest bundles – Fin and H. Since the moment we found out we were having twin boys, life has not stopped being interesting. Everyday is something new, and we have enjoyed getting to know their distinct little personalities, while simultaneously type-casting them – playfully mapping their lives out for them, just too excited to watch it all unfold from the sidelines. Fin – the laid-back, rather easy-going one, and H – our firecracker.. so far they have carried out the roles they played while they were dancing around in the womb. Time will tell for these two.

Thanks for coming along for the ride with us as we try and see the serendipity in every new day – and please feel free to keep me accountable as this is something I have decided to do for myself and for my family – a way to constantly remind myself to be patient with these 4 beautiful gifts that are all depending on me and to let go of all of the things that don’t really matter.

– Much Love.