And we thought we were busy???

As young parents? It would seem not, compared to today’s activities and responsibilities. I gained a whole new appreciation for my son-in-law today. Yesterday he acted as an assessor (not really judging but giving helpful critique) for the DI (Destination Imagination) program. Today he made French toast for the kid’s breakfasts, while he was helping them pack their lunches. Suzanne and I drove them to school, forgetting Lexi’s backpack, then started our day with a visit and coffee where we saw our friend the Starbuck’s manager Shannnon working very hard. James was home working on his Japanese game Easy Peasy Japaneasy.

He and Suzanne both learned to speak, read and write Japanese during their 3 years teaching in Tsukumi on Kyushu. The Japanese did not originally have a written language, so they borrow the Chinese Kanji as their base to create their own characters called Hiragana for Japanese words. They added new characters called Katakana for foreign words. James has invented and developed a word game to help learn Hiragana the phonetic Japanese language. He has had games printed and is working on the marketing at present. He lent 5 games to the girls school for testing now. Brilliant. Hana says the feedback is that her Dad’s game is really cool.

When Suz and I got home, I volunteered to drop off the backpack containing lunch and daytimer and do the recycling while they both worked. Gibson’s has an extensive recycling program. While I was shopping around town, James, a Volunteer Firefighter, was called out to an accident scene, then dispatched to the girls school beside his fire hall, to set up and secure a Helicopter Medivac landing site.

While Suzanne and I went to school at 2:30, James was collecting door prizes around town for the Firefighter’s Dinner later this month. He is an extraordinary fundraiser for the BC Lung Association - When You Can’t Breath, Nothing Else Matters.

He has done the Sheraton Wall Centre - Climb The Wall for 2 years now ( a popular Firefighter’s Charity). In this event, firefighters ( wearing full ‘turnout’ gear and SCBA) from around the lower mainland climb the 48 stories of the Wall Center in downtown Vancouver raising money for their Charity. He did this in a little over 11 minutes.

James also raised extras funds by organizing a fundraiser at Smithy’s, a local restaurant on the waterfront in Gibsons.

This evening Jody came for Grey’s Anatomy but we visited instead. James was playing around on the guitar that he made from a Quail's Gate Wine Box. Sounds great. I figure that both he and Suzanne have 3-4 full time jobs in addition to being parents. Her’s are Author of 4 books, List Broker, Speaker and Life Skills Coach.