My Heart

From hearts of innocence

2012-01-18T18:02:00.000-06:00

come words of simple beauty.

Last night we took turns praying for things/people that were on our hearts.

Bug wanted to pray for his sister, Rush.

His words were not many but so pure, simple and beautiful.

"Dear God, please help *Rush* turn and run back to you and have her make *4x4* run with her."

* 4x4 is my current blogname for Rush's boyfriend, at least until I can think of something a little better...who knows it make stick..

Sometimes you have to dig

2012-01-17T20:59:00.000-06:00

through life that is...
No one ever said to me that because I became a Christian my life would be sunshine and roses and I am so very fortunate to not have had that misguided, preconceived notion looming over my head, especially this week.

Christian marriages have ups and downs and arguements and disappointments; children misbehave, act up...run away. Our houses aren't always spotless, our hair perfectly coiffed; we get runs in our stockings and, if you ask Lisa Bevere, sometimes our shoes don't even match and sometimes, life throws things at you that you never dreamed you would deal with (like when Rush ran away or..).

Take, for example, this past week. Dear friends of ours have been faced with the unthinkable, Our son, LilB, has been faced with the unthinkable. His very good friend, and the son of the couple, I mentioned, was shot and killed on Thursday in a tragic run of horrific events that are just too complicated to delve into at this moment. He was a military man, a daddy, a husband, a friend, a son and his death is living a hole in everyone's life that was touched by him and his giant personality.

No, life is not perfect or a cake walk because you decide to be a Christian - don't let religion tell you otherwise. It won't always be an easy walk but what differs is how you dig through it. The father of the young man, stood up in front of the congregation of his church 2 days after his son was shot, declaring the goodness of God. That is how I want to be able to respond out of brokeness and grief. Mr. Long (sr and jr) you are on my list of heroes...

What wonders my eyes have seen

2012-01-10T20:20:00.000-06:00

I have always valued the ability to look into the heart of someone by looking into their eyes. My grandfather taught me that from a very young age. I saw so much depth, so much joy, so much love, so much life and so much life lived in his own pale blue Scandinavian eyes.

I look into eyes every day and I have seen some ooglay things on the inside of peoples' eyes but it never changes the beauty of looking deep into their eyes and seeing their life.

Yesterday, I had the ~~pleasure~~ immense joy of taking care of one of our 101 year old patients and I, as I do each time she has come to the clinic, fell madly in love with her, as she is the sweetest, teeniest, dearest little grannies. As I reached to put dilating drops in her eyes, I got choked up. In a split second, my mind raced in a flash slideshow of all the things her eyes have seen since 1911. The world has changed so much in her years here. I long to be able to capture the wisdom, life lessons and stories of these people, these pillars of strength and resilience...

Think about it. She has gone from no phone to facetime in her lifetime...there have been a lot of bumps in that road. I am getting emotional now just thinking about it.

So many wonders her eyes have seen...

P.S. I have learned the secret to a long life from Miss Julia, as I call her; change your own lightbulbs. Last year, on her 100th birthday, she was standing on a kitchen chair, changing her own lightbulb. In other words, never put off doing what you can perfectly well do yourself because you just feel like getting someone else to do it for you...live until your purpose is up.

Dear Toby Mac,

2012-01-09T16:32:00.000-06:00

My son, he's 8 and he thinks the world of you. He looks up to you as a role model; he dresses like you. He poses in pictures like you, sings like you. He has formed part of his identity around a man he thinks is a pretty cool dude and who he is pretty sure loves God just as much as he does and I admit, you portray an image that is cool and endearing and Godly and, I know you are only human so I don't expect super human acts of perfection but...

Please be the real deal. Please be being genuine and authentic. I am certain you are. Almost 100% certain. It's just...I'm his mom and I have seen the adoration in his eyes as he studies your moves on youtube, shows me that this is how you posed in a picture, diligently works at getting an outfit put together "just like Toby's" or proves yet again that the lyrics to your songs are etched deep into his precious mind.

Please don't do things that will simply and blatantly disregard the admiration you have earned from young guys, like my Bug. Again, I know you will make mistakes; it's not that...

It's just... please be the real deal...

Thank you for being a fun guy, with oodles of talent, that my son, who has music in his bones, can look up to just...well, I've said it all ready...

"Peace out, gangstah" {grin}

Family Jewels

2012-01-07T11:23:00.000-06:00

And, no, I am not referring to Gene Simmons' show nor am I referring to pre-teen boys affectionate term for their...well, y'all know what I am not referring to. What I am referring to is something that BigDaddy said to me after an amazing New Years Day visit with my cousin and her spectacular family, my aunt and uncle and my dad (all are equally spectacular).

On our way home, BigDaddy's eyes brimmed with tears as he quietly told me how amazing my family is. (yes, I ended the sentence there {Grin}) He said family events, in his family (moreso when he lived with his dad) involved eating, his dad and uncle getting too drunk and fist fights breaking out, threats of more severe violence and all that fun jazz.

My cousin and I had not been face-to-face in 21 years (to the day in fact) and it was as if we had never been apart, never a lull in conversation, joking, laughing, teasing...

My family loves to tease.

My family is ever increasingly precious to me and they bring me such joy and peace. I pray that your family is like that as well, that you know they are there through thick and thin, through joy and sadness, through laughs and tears, that time, distance and age shall never seperate you from those you love, that someone can look at your family and wish that that was what they had and that you never, ever take it for granted!

Anyway, getting back to my cousin, has anyone checked out her book? (the one I referred to here) We have read and re-read this book countless times...count.less!!!

The good news is...there is all ready another book in the works...not sure what it will be called or what it will be about or what the message is but, I can tell you this...it will be FAB. U. LOUS!!!

Arise and Shine

2012-01-06T10:20:00.000-06:00

Things happen quickly around here; I am a person of action. I, after all, come from a church of action. You don't just talk about it, you don't just dream it; you get up and you do it.

So, last week, it was asked of me if I were able to attend this amazing conference that takes place at World Revival Church (if you haven't checked this ministry out before, you really should) for ladies. This meant a lot of time off work and just after our doctor getting back from holidays but, I have managed to get the time off and a bunch of us ladies are driving down to participate in a lifechanging (and I don't say this loosely) event called Arise 2012.

I am so excited to go. Not only do I know how amazing and fabulous the keynote speaker, Kathy Gray, is but I also know that she can preach something fierce! You will not be sorry to sit in a Kathy Gray sermon; she is full of life, preaching with vibrancy, authority and fire! Not only that but, two pastors that I know, locally, including my very own pastor, will be speaking at one of the day sessions.

There is still oodles of time for you to get your registration in and make your plans to go! I know I would LOVE to have you there...maybe even meet some of you in real life (well, those of you I haven't all ready met =D ) The link on the words "Arise 2012" will get you there to learn about the conference; the link above that gets you to World Revival Churches homepage where you can learn all about their incredible ministry. (this is the same church that hosts the interactive church services once a month that I told you about, where churches from all over the world partake and participate in)

Check it out, gangstahs! =D

5 Question Friday

2012-01-05T23:44:00.004-06:00

1. What is the weather like where you are and do you like it? Heh! I just sort of answered this question here as we have been having "stuhrange" weather for this time of year.

Let me see, our weather is about as reliable as the weatherman him/herself. Summers are either uber dry or you get webbed feet, and can range in temps from 20 C to 35 C, as an average. Falls are crisp and painted; Winter can be extreme (unlike this year, as outlined in the linked blog). Spring is puddles, puddles and more puddles, throw in one last major blizzard about April/May and then the nice weather comes out...

It may sound crummy, unreliable & not very inviting but, it is the weather I have grown accustomed to. Each season has its own special beauty mark...just one question though, WHAT is with the mosquitoes?! Anyone else have mosquitoes big enough to carry off small children?

2. When you're sick what do you seek comfort from?

It depends on the sickness but all in all, I want my Dad. I remember how he would stroke my forehead as a young child when I didn't feel good and his voice was soft, soothing and comforting. BigDaddy has tried but, in the height of an extreme fever, I may or may not have said to him, once or twice, "Just get me my dad! You can't do it right!" . Poor guy, and yet he still puts up with me.

3. What do you need to do before the end of the month?

Save up enough money to go to the Women's Conference I will be blogging about in a few days down in Kansas City, Mo. Arise 2012 at World Revival Church (if you wanna find out before my post)...maybe even a little bit of {quiver of anticipation} shopping money.

4. Have you ever served on a jury?

No, I got called to jury duty one time. The accused was charged with (and eventually found guilty of) attacking a corrections worker in the jail he was all ready serving a sentence. When asked if I could be impartial, I had to inform them that several of my family (including my mom and brother) are corrections workers and, NO, I could NOT judge him with an ounce of impartiality (word? no? seems like it to me)

5. If you could be any animal, what would you be and why?

You have stumped the unstumpable (very much a word! Well, now it is!)

Ok, my animal is really a bird (counts right?). I would want to be an eagle. An eagle is a symbol of strength, beauty, authority, freedom and grace. An eagle can sense a storm coming and instead of running and hiding from it, he flies right into the center of it, using the currents of the storm to rise and fly higher ( I want to be able to say the same of myself, instead of running from the storms of my life that I used them to rise and fly higher)

I heard once, whether it is true or not is irrelevent to me because the image of it is just too beautiful to care,but it was stated that eagles will fly toward the sun when predatory birds are in pursuit, or have wounded the eagle, in order to lose them. I would like to be able to personify that in my life. That when predators are in pursuit or have launched their attack on my life, that I can fly directly to the "Son" and find my safety.

So...there you go...I thought I had no answer but I kind of like my non-answer answer...what say you?

You want to join in the fun? Hop on over to MamaM's blog, see her answers and read the answers of some other fantastic ladies!

Well, the weather outside is ________

2012-01-05T21:53:00.002-06:00

You finish the sentence.

I know the Christmas song states it as "fightful" and... depending on your perspective, one could say it is so right now but...

Here in northern Canada, January usually brings us -40 degrees Celsius with winds that cut to your bone marrow and whip snow like teeny little ninja stars; where children brave the elements just for five minutes of fresh air by wearing about 8 layers of clothes and their scarves pulled up to their bottom lashes and their toques (snow hats) pulled down to their top (creating prime conditions for frosted lashes). Bug calls this look being made into a ninja.

Well, this winter we have had, perhaps 2 days of weather that made you snuggle down and shrink into your scarf. The rest of the days have been -10 C (14 F) or warmer and that was great for a time, albeit an unsettling visual as we are desperately lacking quantities of snow...

Now that it is January it is incredibly unsettling, while I still enjoy the warmth and not feeling like my appendages will shatter or fall off as I contend with the elements. Today, for example, was +1 C (33.8 F)... with rain, more like British Columbia weather (think Vancouver). Tonight, the rain has turned to a thinly veiled sheet of glare ice covered in slush and rain puddles. I drove 34 km/hr (which is roughly 62 mph) on my way home. If I dared to go even that 1 km/h more, I fishtaled, swerved, and slithered on the ice like an eel through water... (gross visual)

I have never lived a winter like this one, at least not in my remembrance. Some of our cute little old-man farmer patients tell me 1989 was similar...another told me 1967 in BC was the same.

It's unsettling. You may think I am insane but...the cold serves a purpose. Viruses die. We get enough snow to sustain moisture the following farming season. Viruses die...did I mention viruses die...

Anywho, I am not all "freaked out and stockpiling canned goods and buying generators" unsettled but it just seems weird

So far away

2011-12-29T12:11:00.000-06:00

On Christmas Day my cell phone rang and my heart leapt to see that it was my dear cousin, Svein, calling. It was this time last year that he became a real part of my life...not just a name and picture of a small boy with his two brothers. He became someone I have come to love very dearly and to hear his voice on Christmas Day was a lovely sound to my ears (and to my heart).

On a sidenote: how long does this scraggly, mop-head phase last on boys...I liked when we "had" to get his hair cut every 3 weeks...he is still cute and all but a little scruffy, no?

I Call This Meeting to Order

2011-12-28T20:06:00.000-06:00

Ok, I didn't really say that but...I should have because it would have been so timely.

Yesterday, while BigDaddy and I were getting our scrumptious deals, we also went for a nice, childless meal. At said meal, we talked about 2011 - failures, successes, almost successes (which, yes, are totally different from failures and most deserving of their own category. You. Are. Welcome.). We then talked about the upcoming year - our desires, hopes, dreams, restructuring, goals...

A family, and a home, is kind of like a business...once in a while you really need to revamp. You know, see where you've been able to hit it out of the park and see where you hit the foul balls.

Does your family do that at all? You know figure out that you need to tighten your grip up on the bat and pick your pitch?

Shopping Success

2011-12-27T23:00:00.002-06:00

or as I like to say... WOWZA!!!

Boxing ~~Day~~ Week shopping has never been something I have ever done a lot, or any, of but I may be sold on the notion of it as of today. We hit the mother load! Other than all I could seem to find for tops was sweaters. {What? Do we live in northern Canada or something? grin}

One mall and one other store (read Old Navy) later and we had spent $260 and bought:
1 pair of jeans
1 dress coat for BigDaddy
3 t-shirts
2 dress shirts
3 dressy scarves
1 sweater
2 cardigans
1 pair of brown boots (flats)...
and a partridge in a pear tree...

Ok, ok, maybe no partridges were purchased but that is still quite a bargain. I, being the ~~cheap~~ frugal gal I am and loving a deal, just HAD to tally up the regular prices of all these items (less the partridge of course) to see just what kind of a deal we walked away with AND the grand total of said purchases at regular price was (drum roll please...ok, could you at least imagine there's a drum roll?)

$640...

I think I could just get used to this Boxing Week sale shopping...

Merry Christmas, to ME!!!

2011-12-24T16:32:00.000-06:00

Have I told you I have a great boss? Have I? Because really, he is. Dr W and his wife are, if I dare say, FAN-freaking-TASTIC!!! I mean, not only are they paying for our schooling this year but... and this is a HUGE but (NOT "butt", c'mon, work with me people), I just opened the envelope they left in my mail slot at work.

I could tell there was a gift card in there and it wasn't just a kindly written Christmas greeting on a winter scene cardstock. It was sitting so pretty in my hand and when I opened it, it got even prettier. It most certainly was a gift card but it was more than that. ~~It was a~~ It is a $450.00 gift card to a shopping mall in a city just a hop skip and a jump from here.

Add that to the nice steakhouse gift card Rush and her boyfriend (trying to think of an intername for him...), the Subway gift card BigDaddy got for his birthday and the Tim Hortons' gift card I got for a gift for a friend and you are talking one nice, leisurely way to spend a fabulous day-long date (where I just happen to be able to buy myself oodles of clothes!! :D)

Picture it (I am reminding myself of Sophia from the Golden Girls), BigDaddy and I hop in the car, grab a coffee for him, a hot chocolate (supreme - meaning whipped cream and chocolate syrup) for me, drive to our destination, shop a bit, feed ourselves with a tasty, healthy Subway sandwich made to perfection by a qualified "sandwich artist", a bit more shopping, walking, discussing game plans and what-not for 2012, and then a soft-lit, overly priced steak with baked potato and asparagus...

Sounds a bit euphoric if you ask me...

P.S. It is Christmas Eve evening and I am on my way to church service with my family and then to enjoy the magic that is this night. From my house to yours, Merry Christmas! Enjoy each other. Don't tear into those gifts in the morning but savor every moment, capture every memory in your heart, etch it forever in your memory banks and stay safe.

It's here

2011-12-23T16:19:00.001-06:00

The cards are - mostly - out, the tree is up, the baking is done, the gifts are bought. There's a poinsetta sitting on a speaker near my front window and the 10th annual gingerbread house has been constructed and assaulted with candies of various design. Yessireebob, Christmas is here. Now, if only I could get around to finish wrapping presents or we may be starting a new tradition...environmentally friendly gifts with no wrapping paper just close your eyes and...SURPRISE!

I Miss You?

2011-12-21T11:14:00.002-06:00

Ok, really, it isn't a question. I miss writing on this blog, interacting with you.

Life has really bowled me over lately. Not in a bad way. It has, for the most part, been great - just uber busy. Work, school, kids, kids school, church, photography...all good things...they have just taken up more hours in the day than I have had to spend and so, something had to go and...

I confess, as much as I miss you all, this was the first on my chopping block. I don't promise to be here every day (I did just start school last week) but I do promise to be here more than once a quater. :D

I can't eliminate this all together; I discovered that. I miss the writing. I miss the seeing what y'all are up to and the friendships. I plan to rebuild those friendships.

Forgive me...? Still want to be my bloggy friend? :)

I hope this time of year finds you in the midst of loved ones, making memories that will last a lifetime.

I WILL be back...

Interactive Church

2011-11-19T17:18:00.000-06:00

Yeah baby!

This was the experience of a lifetime AND...
It is going to happen every 3rd Sunday!

What is it?

Through this wonderful invention that has connected us all together, the internet, we connect with, right now, 6 other churches from around the WORLD having the SAME church service at the SAME time! It was phenomenal!!!

We participated in a church service where, when we looked at the screen, we saw friends who live a 24 hour drive away, hearing and singing the same song we were, responding to the same message we heard.

Doing it again this Sunday! Can't wait to join with two churches in Kansas City, another church from the same province we are in, a church in Holland, a church in Finland and another church that is just joining us for the first time this month...

If I ever get my butt in gear and get some pictures uploaded to picassa; I will get them on here for you to see...I have some catching up to do don't I?

Having a party

2011-11-18T17:12:00.000-06:00

In just over a week my baby girl turns 11. EEEE - LEV - EN!!!!! For reals! What does an 11 year old want for a party? Sounds like a spa party this year! Nope, not going to the spa but, we are purchasing face masks and nail polish and watching a Hilary Duff movie, eating grapes and berries and cheese and crackers and a bright blue cake with orange and pink gerber daisies piled on top of it. These daisies will also be strewn across the living room.

Guest bags have bath bombs, lip balm, book marks, dessert gums, sparkly pens and maybe some candies...

Did I tell you she is going to be 11? I think I may have just (literally) felt 4 or 20 gray hairs pop right out of my head... Again, for reals!

Going to School

2011-11-17T17:05:00.001-06:00

Yeppers...going to school and I am kinda sorta freaking out...sorta...just a little bit... I will still be working full time and doing distance learning. The great thing is the rest of the girls I work with will be taking the same course at the same time...I have study help... YAY!!! The course? Certified Ophthalmic Assistant. The benefit? Aside from learning oodles about the eyes and all that pertains to them, we will be made members of a profit share of the doctor's company AND he will be flying us to different conferences twice a year to get us "edumicated"... first conference on the list will be in the spring of 2012 and it sounds like it will be Chicago... Fall's conference? Vegas, baby.

Go on an Adventure

2011-10-21T00:01:00.001-06:00

I absolutely need to tell you about a children's book I just bought and read to my children. The author has no idea that I am doing this, although I could tell her. More on that in a bit.

This book is so much more than a children's book; it is an opportunity to open discussion up between parents and their children about fear, change and letting go AND it is an opportunity for the parent reading the book to learn about fear, change and letting go.

I can honestly tell you that I cried reading this book. I cried for three reasons.
1. There is a wonderful message of learning how to let go, to accept the things that need to change and to not let fear rule you.

2. Reading this book I could hear my Grandmother's voice in my head "reading" it to me as this was written in a manner that my beautiful grandma would tell stories - the poetic descriptions that made the story dance with life in my head.

3. My cousin wrote this book and I am so incredibly proud of her because it is PHENOMENAL!!! Now, I know what you are thinking now. You are thinking that I am promoting this book simply because my cousin wrote it but you couldn't be further from the truth. If my cousin wrote it and it was mediocre, or sucked even, I would tell her it was a great book and never utter a word of it to you all.

This is a matter of MY integrity. I am taking the opportunity to share this book with you because it is truly a great book with a great message that is presented in a soft, loving but clear way that your family will fall in love with. I know we have fallen in love with it; as a matter of fact, we have read it 5 times since getting the book on Monday (and we have not been home most nights...it has come with us!)

To get your very own copy follow this link to Amazon.ca http://www.amazon.ca/Leaf-Maxine-Spence/dp/0986860603/ref=sr_1_sc_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1319173744&sr=1-1-spell. Not from Canada? No worries. Amazon.ca will ship to "almost any address in the world".

Since my last post

2011-09-27T20:38:00.001-06:00

There has been a concussion, a change of schools (not due to the concussion), a "could have been broken" sprained ankle that is preventing Jellybean from participating in her volleyball team for about 3 weeks, oh a volleyball team acceptance, a new trumpet player added to the school band, a new drumming student added to Mr Dean's music students, 2 new children added to the Saturday morning swim lessons and a gigantic family potluck planned for when my cousin, Svein comes to visit us this weekend, from Italy.

We also have a real ugly leak in our main floor ceiling that is irritating me and yet, somehow not getting fixed. Me thinks we need to remind the maintenance people...

So speaking of Italy and Svein and family and eating...mmmm eating... {kidding}

In 1 1/2 days (that's two sleeps, people!) I am going to the airport to pick up my cousin and meet him face-to-face for the first time ever! Pretty freakin' stoked about it - pardon my strong wording. :D

We are having the afore mentioned family potluck, letting him drink Canadian beer (this is a special request), perhaps taking him to buy a cowboy hat, he will see my my grandparents homestead and their gravesites and learn as much Canadian culture as he can in 4 days...

Jam packed!

And that being said, I am on my way. Laundry needs done. Grey hairs need covering and a "could have been broken ankle" is needing iced and elevated because I have no way of knowing how to keep that energetic one still for long, duct tape may be needed. {grin} Oh and a lovely sign to take to the airport saying "Welcome Svein. Yes, this is your crazy family" in Norwegian is needing to be made...

I promise pictures as soon as he leaves. We have 4 days and I am not going to spend any of that time on a computer. I know you all understand! :D

Big sigh of relief

2011-09-13T22:52:00.003-06:00

Yes, three weeks into school and the routine of things is getting back to being normal. There are new things on our routine. New school schedule, new work schedule, new schedule of being home/away for Daddy, drum lessons, swim lessons, a pay schedule for Jellybean.

Yes, she is watching her brother for the hour between the end of the school day and the end of my work day. I am not about to ask her to do it for nothing but, given that she is a part of the family and is helping the family out by doing it, she is getting paid cheaply but it is "a lot of money" for someone her age - according to her.

I like routine and that is why Fall usually brings me comfort. You can rely on your meal plan because the weather will, 99% of the time, cooperate with your meal plan. You can rely on Tuesday evenings being drum lessons so a quick easy supper is needed and Saturdays being swim lessons right after lunch so an early, lighter lunch is required and a planned snack brought for the car ride home.

I love Summer, very much but, I find by the end of it I have lost all motivation for meal plans, cleaning schedules, and have all but lost control on the ins and outs of running a smooth household.

This year has brought new challenges with schooling, New school. New school system. New dynamic of children and new mindsets of children at the school. Jellybean is experiencing racism and I think, although not substantiated yet, that that is the root of the issue with Bug being beaten up 3 times (that I know of) since the beginning of the year. The biggest challenge for this mama is to not run to the school and feed the guilty boy to his parents on a nice platter and to just keep in contact with teachers and principal and documenting EVERYTHING... Ev-ery-thing...even if it is miniscule by itself to take to principals and school boards, if needed. I have pictures of bruises and cuts and scrapes at the ready should this become a pattern and not a simple growing pain of getting to know a new school, the new kid and a bunch of new students who all ready have a natural order to their friendships.

It is also hard doing it without BigDaddy but we are learning to adapt. He has been gone 4-5 weeks out of the last 6 and will be gone the next 2 on top of it. It stinketh but it could always be worse.

So, here I am Big sigh of relief escaping my lips as I sit, realizing routine and normalcy is beginning to settle into the walls of this house again...although we are a bit on the excited side with a countdown going to the day my cousin, Svein, comes to visit from Italy! The countdown is at 16 days!

A glimpse of a world outside her own

2011-09-07T20:05:00.000-06:00

2 months and 19 days before she turns 11, Jellybean has experienced something I wish no one ever had to experience...ever. It is a hard lesson and not something easily processed but Jellybean has experienced her first bout of racism. There is no such thing as prejudice in this house; I am a bunch of different nationalities and races. Some of our best friends are, we have been told, different races. Yes, it has been pointed out to us. I see people for their heart, that is what matters and that is the attitude we have taught to and marinated our children in.

Today, Jellybean's heart broke because a young friend of hers as decided that Jellybean is no longer her friend because Jellybean is white. She doesn't understand, and I know nobody does, the mindset of racism.

I explained to her that she is always to remain nice to this young lady, to offer a smile and to pray for her. I also told her that she does not want to be friends with someone who judges anyone based on skin color.

I am new at this and so, I am requesting your help, your advice...anything else I can tell her, anything else I can do when/if there are future events

My Head has been Spinning

2011-09-06T21:41:00.003-06:00

I know a lot of times I come back from a blogging sabbatical by saying how life has just been busy, and it has, but this sabbatical has been more about shock and grief. My dad began dating, and married, a lady 20-some years ago. The majority of my life. A couple weeks ago she chose to walk out of my dad's, and our, life.

There has been a lot of grieving over what was, over what we thought was, over what never was and what never will be.

My biological mom, emotionally left us when I was 8. I am not going to go into the details of how or why, because I will not speak ill of her; she just did. When I was 13 years old, she chose to leave our home for good and our relationship has never been a true mother/daughter relationship since. I fell in love with my step-mom as a mother figure, knowing that there were things that weren't perfect in that, seeing that there were differences in relationship between her kids and "his kids". I turned blind eyes to it because in my heart I just really wanted a "mom".

There have been, as in every relationship, little things that added up to become a giant, out of control ball of rolling goop. I am not going to say it was heavy handed on one side or the other because it takes two to dance, right? That being said, I have now seen two moms walk out of my life.

You may say something like "that doesn't have to be" and that's what I said too but circumstances and her words/actions have dictated that, no, it does have to be. A choice has been made.

In the last two weeks I have cried more than I care to admit. My whole life one of my biggest desires is to have a relationship with a mom; even as a woman in my 30s, I desire that relationship, to have "those talks", those lunches, those moments... I pray that will come.

The ladder, the bannock and the doorknob

2011-08-17T23:44:00.004-06:00

Now I know you are dying to find out what those three things have in common on a day like today and in the same story no less so I will quit with the lollygagging and get on with it.

Today is my birthday. I know! I don't look a day over ssshmooshhmmmmttthirtymmumbleseven...fantastic! Because I am NOT a day over...well, that number. No I kid. I have no shame in my age. I have worked darn hard to get that number! :D

I tell you that to set the theme because Jellybean was in her room doing a few things and preparing for my birthday celebration that she had planned. Yep, just me and my two littlest kiddos today.

The door to Jellybean's room has, apparently, been sticking. This I did not know until AFTER today's kerfuffle. So, somehow, don't ask me how; her door got jammed shut, absolutely bonifiedly stuck! As in LOCKED. IN. HER. ROOM. For over an hour my baby was stuck in her room while her babysitter and brother, downstairs, thought everything was cool.

She couldn't get their attention so she opened her window and finally got the attention of someone. Bug ran over to the neighbors to get a mom, who called some of our guy friends, two of them, to get Jellybean out. In the mean time, she was a smidge hungry because what else do you do in times of being stuck but have the desire to eat bannock? {mmmm bannock} She was talking to a friend out the window who decided Jellybean needed bannock and through the, at the moment, screenless window, she threw some bannock up to Jellybean. {I couldn't have made up this story if I had tried, people!}

The two men could NOT get Jellybean's door open so one went to get a ladder, climbed up and into Jellybean's room and blammo, she is now free and has no doorknob on her door. But, she is able to go in and out of her bedroom at will. :D

Jellybean's biggest fear? That she would have to climb down the ladder.

The text I got from the babysitter? "I just want to let you know that Jellybean was in her room and door was stuck. Now she is safe." This made no sense to me at work. In fact, I just sort of shrugged it off until I got home and managed to get the full story. This is a definite Wedding Story, probably Grad story, first date story, fourteenth date story, tell-her-children story...interweb story...

Things I have learned today. You really can get locked in your room even if your door doesn't have a lock and Jellybean is afraid of ladders. Oh, AND the flower called Birds of Paradise is absolutely gorgeous! (I received a lovely bouquet from my friends at work today)

Seriously, People! No way I could make this up {grin}

Because I grew up on a farm that's why!

2011-08-10T09:58:00.000-06:00

"Mom, why do you like to catch frogs like boys? Girls aren't supposed to like catchin' frogs..."

We had a lot of fun in the midst of watching/playing a soccer game the other day. We caught frogs and gave them Spanish names. I don't know why they had to be Spanish. It seemed like the right thing to do at the time...because it was funny and made the kids laugh.

I will follow on the path after you

2011-08-09T21:29:00.000-06:00

A couple weeks ago we celebrated the 50th anniversary of one of my aunt and uncles! What an example of love and of what marriage should be! So thankful to have them in my life!

Top picture: Making sure he was cutting straight lines in the cake...humor is one of the keys to this dynamic marriage!
Middle picture: The happy couple
Bottom picture: smooching is another key...{grin}

Thank you, Auntie & Uncle for being so in love with each other and being such an excellent example to us of what love is and of what it looks like! I love you!!!!

He's got da music in him

2011-08-08T19:53:00.000-06:00

Bug is always dancing...ALWAYS... and by always I mean always!
His sister caught him dancing at a wedding ceremony when he thought no one was looking...boy was he embarassed when he knew they had been watching him the entire time.

He dances as he is walking, as he eats supper, in the car...dance, dance, dance. And it doesn't matter if there is music playing or not...it's in his bones...

Because summer is all about fun

2011-08-07T13:50:00.000-06:00

BabyK at the local fair in their town...

To capture a moment

2011-08-06T13:47:00.000-06:00

We recently discovered that one of my uncles is very sick. He has just been diagnosed with aggressive stage 4 double lung cancer... Not good. The good part is that he still has strength, right now, to enjoy his family. A couple days ago he started his second round of chemo and has just now begun to lose his hair.

Knowing this, his children, who were all together for a rare moment this past couple weeks, decided that we should take a day and get some family pictures while Uncle still has enough strength to do so.

It was such an honor for me that they asked me to do the photographing. It was a beautiful day, complete with being with my family and sharing time and a nice meal with them.

A couple of shots from the day...

Auntie & Uncle

My cousins and their fabulous spouse!

One of my cousin's children

Uncle and "the sons-in-law"...they were totally oblivious to the fact that B was being a terd... I love my family!!! :D

Gorgeous!

Beautiful!!!!

"So this is love..."

Minus one son

What a card! I love his smile...it makes me happy.

I loves me this boy!

2011-08-06T11:27:00.000-06:00

Happy Friendiversary

2011-08-05T09:14:00.000-06:00

18 years ago, I lay in a hospital room, having just had a beautiful baby girl (one who will all know as Rush). A young lady bounded across the room to her bed across the room from me, her boyfriend fooling around using the wheelchair. She had just had a baby boy. We introduced ourselves and the rest, they say, is history.

18 years of friendship. 18 years of laughter, tears, silliness and support.

Thanks, Shea, for being born on the 5th, making a way for me to get to know you and your amazing family!

Love you Crys! Too bad we live so far apart happy friendiversary wings would be in order! :D

Time sure flies

2011-08-04T10:25:00.001-06:00

when you're having fun!

When I met this beautiful young lady she was just a baby; she would snuggle with me and giggle. She wrapped me around her tiny little finger. I have watched her grow from a squishy cheeked baby to an absolutely gorgeous young lady with an amazing sense of humor! I wish we could spend more time with you...know that we love you to pieces!

Crazy, fun-loving girl!

Happy 14th bday, BabyK!!!! (July 28th)

They say it's your birthday...

2011-08-03T20:14:00.000-06:00

...ok, ok...I promise you I will not sing! It's just...it's just that I {sniff} practiced and {sniffle} worked really hard and...nah, just kidding!

Anyway, back to the birthday thing.

Today just happens to be a very special day for my dear Rush. Today she turns 18 years old. Holy guacamole, Batman! Did you say 18?!?! Yes, I sure did! 18 years old. She said on facebook "Well, it's official. I am old." Pardon me my dear but I am double your age so what does that make me... ha ha ha...

We had a wonderful birthday outdoor bbq for her on Monday (for my American friends, that means 'grill' not real bbq). What was on the menu for an 18 year old's meal of choice? Steaks - medium rare, stuffed potatoes, salad, multi-grain bread with asiago and artichoke spread and angel food cake with strawberries and strawberry icecream. Yumalicious.

Once I got home I realized that I didn't get a single picture of me with my girl but I did get some shots...still on my camera but here's one from my phone!

My beautiful 18 year old girl! What a delight you are! I am so thankful our relationship is growing stronger and stronger, that you feel you can call me and talk, that we laugh and have fun again. My heart is full of so much joy. I thank God for where we have come from, where we are and where we are headed! I love you baby!

My beautiful girl!

Never Satisfied

2011-07-28T00:33:00.002-06:00

Why is it that we as women (primarily women, some men too) are rarely satisfied with our looks? Why is it that after 3 children, 3 c-sections & 4 pregnancies I am just as unsatisfied with my body as I was when I was a 20-something year old with a 5 foot 6 inch frame carrying a mere 100 lbs?

Why is it that, as a mother of 7 and grandma to 1, I can't look at my rolls, lumps and jiggles with a sense of pride and accomplishment? Have I not, in a sense, earned each and every one of these stretch marks and these hips that don't fit well into the latest trends? Why must we constantly run the race to beauty with the proverbial carrot dangling in front of our noses that we will never quite reach?

With maturity does one not gain insight into what is truly important, what is truly worth being sought after? Evidently not. Perhaps I just have not reached maturation {grin} but I thought that at my, nearing, 37 years, that I was at least a bit closer than I was at 16. It seems, however, that I have some sort of a glitch - instead of maturing, the self-image part of me has been retarded, stunted.

Let the record show, we are moms. We are real life people. We don't have personal trainers, personal chefs, personal stylists, personal nannies to care for our children so we can dedicate countless hours to our waist-lines, botox, yoga, nail appointments and what-not. I can not allow myself to think that is an image I want for myself - it is unattainable {maybe that is why so many celebrities, um, losing their focus on reality.} For the record, I do not have skilled airbrushing personnel to ensure that my every appearance is flawless.

I am flawed. You are flawed. I will never be model thin, at least not again. I wasn't even happy with myself when I was. And I shall never strive for my happiness to be wrapped up in appearances. Appearances are as fleeting as the next gray hair. I do know that I am needing to shed a few pounds. Not a lot. But in order to be at a nice "healthy" weight, I would like to see approximately 35 pounds gone.

I'll let you in on a little secret though...

...I certainly am not going to let my joy or my happiness ride on 35 pounds...not anymore

And the beat goes on

2011-07-22T18:54:00.002-06:00

and on and on...

That's what happens in the house of an up & coming 8 year old drummer with a passion for a beat...

...and loud. Yes, he has a passion for loud.

I know many of you know just what I am saying, especially one friend/reader in particular who has a few musicians (boy ones) living in her house. (While you're here, reading, follow the link and pop by her blog. She is a fantastic storyteller with some uber amazing makeagain recipes that will leave your moouth watering.)

Back to Bug, currently he is downstairs drumming away. He's got a good beat going and is so loud the fish are swimming to his soundwaves...wish I were kidding. They may have even tried to cover their ears with their fins...(ok ok...they don't have ears).

P.S. Why does it seem the only time my children fight is when I am trying to get ready for church?

P.P.S Why do I seem to feel the need to look at the floor to yell at them if they are on a lower level than me? Do I think they can see the "angry face" and make them listen quicker...

Yes, that is what it is like in our house...at least tonight...Heh, I won't front. My life is great and I enjoy most moments. I have joy that is limitless but, we have "family moments" like every one else...it's all in the way you handle things right? If you can end a fight with both opposing parties laughing with each other, it is a good moment.

Wedding Antics

2011-07-22T09:32:00.000-06:00

Love this shot of Bride and her Daddy...like I said the thread that ran through the very fabric of this wedding was fun & laughter.

Strike a pose, ladies

Vogue

Pie Are Squared

2011-07-22T00:08:00.000-06:00

No they aren't; they are round but, that was the theme of today. Today my baby, my youngest, my Bug turned 8 years old. I know! That's what I thought when I woke up this morning to! Kind of a 'Where in the dickens have the last 8 years gone and who was driving that speeding bus?' Maybe Keanu Reeves and Sandra Bullock got a hold of my life and turning it into a spinoff of Speed.

So anyway, back to the Pie Are Squared thing... We had a couple of the birthday boy's favorite things: his favorite kind of "pizza pie" and for dessert, his favorite kind of pie. He has all ready had cupcakes (this past Sunday) with all his buddies and he had a sleepover with one of his best buddies last night.

This boy, this young man, who turned 8 has a heart of gold, whose smile can capture you in a moment where you are frozen in time, whose eyes are so blue, so kind, so innocent, so full of love you can fall into them and never want to leave, a boy who has music locked into the marrow of his bones. He is always dancing, always singing, always drumming...

This young man, whom I adore...Happy Birthday, Bug. I'll love you forever. I'll like you for always. As long as I'm living, my baby you'll be.

There was a food theme to his birthday this year. Jellybean didn't have the money to buy him what she wanted so she scrounged what money she had and bought him a chocolate doughnut. The bride from this past weekend's wedding brought him over her favorite dish as a child, sunomono salad (this but without the crab or shrimp).

Other than that he has birthday money and gift cards to spend, new rollerblades and his buddy who just moved has informed me that he is sending him a tackle box with a couple of hooks. He will be so excited by the gesture and the knowledge that his buddy, now two provinces away, did not forget about him.

Fun...Fun...Fun

2011-07-21T23:38:00.000-06:00

From beginning to end this wedding was about fun. The bride & groom were officially married last year but being a fun-loving couple, they wanted to share the joy with their friends and family. There was the grand entrance of the attendants boogying in to "Eye of the Tiger", the bride being driven to the aisle by her dad on a Harley Davidson and the laughter that filled the park they were married in. All thread through the wedding the atmosphere of F.U.N.

It was also the very first wedding I shot on any kind of official basis.

The bride writing out the groom's vows from her phone.

Smooches on the Harley

Anxiously awaiting the arrival of his bride

Walking down the aisle with her daddy.

Flowergirl and beautiful daughter of the bride.

Yes, she read her vows off her phone; it would not have been their wedding if there were not moments like this.

Mr & Mrs

Shoot 'em, blow 'em up and hang 'em

2011-07-19T22:40:00.001-06:00

Gee, photography is a violent hobby...

...but I really like it! :D

Just shot my first wedding this weekend...it was a lot of fun...

...pictures to follow - eventually...there are a LOT to sort through... {grin}

Sounds of Summer

2011-07-06T09:34:00.001-06:00

"I need more ammo now..."

Yes, in my house, and I am certain yours, in some form or another...

The ammo?

H2O...

The floor...?

Soaking wet with slippery footprints of children and daddies running in and out with bottles, buckets, cups, & water guns to fill.

I love the laughter that floats on the words... "I need more ammo...", "he got me..."

The bottom fell right out of it

2011-07-05T15:59:00.000-06:00

The plans that were in the works... the ones that I said I wasn't going to give details about at that time just in case... well, the bottom did fall right out but I am completely ok with it. I know that things happen & don't happen for a purpose and I have the choice to be upset by it or to roll with it. I like to try to be more of a "roll with it" kinda gal.

Sure, don't get me wrong; there have been moments that knocked me to my knees, perhaps even to my butt but I tend to not let it keep me there. I am a fighter. I love me a good fight. Knock me down and I come up swinging. I just happen to have turned my life around enough that now when I swing it's with prayers and not with punches. {sheepish grin}.

So, what do I do with this bottomless chance? Let it go. Move on. God has a reason, a purpose...there is something better in the not-so-distant future. I just know it!

"If you don't stop it, I will leave you here forever"

2011-07-04T12:27:00.000-06:00

Pardon me but I am getting on my soapbox for a moment. Hope I don't trip getting up there :D

Anyway, I heard a mom say this to her child while my kids and I were sharing a Chicken Nugget meal. {gasp! yes, I did take them to Mcchokenpukes}

What, you may want to know, was this horrible child doing that his mama was willing to threaten leaving him there forever? He was whining. WHINING! {GASP!} I know! The horrors. Now, when I say whining I mean it in the most trivial way ever because I can not stand whining... CAN NOT STAND IT!!!! Nails on a chalkboard is pleasurable to my ears in comparison to whining. This little boy, who was sitting right behind me, was not even whining enough to have been an annoyance. It was, in fact, more of a whimper than a whine and it was one time.

I am wondering how secure this little boy will feel as he grows up hearing, "If you don't stop it, I'll leave you here forever"? I mean, what happens if he actually does something a little more serious; you know, like break a window with a foul ball or something...

I can't imagine telling my children, empty threat or not, that I would abandon them somewhere. I want my children to know that my 'yes' means yes, that my 'no' means no, that my 'I love you' is unconditional and that my words have weight, merit and truth behind them...that I will not carelessly throw words around nor will I carelessly throw them around (metaphorically).

We, as parents, need to be be people of our words. I can not say to my children 'I love you' and in the next breath say 'I love pizza'. My children are of such greater value to me than dough with cheesy topped goodness - no matter how tasty it is. I have a strong like for pizza but I can not classify my relationship with pizza as love (unless you count that pizza loves to hang out with my hips & waist but that is pizza's issue {grin}). I think people throw words around much to carelessly - especially words like 'love' & 'hate'.

I can say that there is no one I hate...well, maybe mosquitoes but even with them I think it is more of a strong dislike. Really, they have their purpose somewhere in the grand scheme of things, right? Right? Horse flies...still a strong dislike...very, very, VERY strong dislike. There is not one person I hate. There are most certainly people I would rather not spend a whole lot of time with but hate... nah....

Do I have a serious fondness for chocolate? Oh yes indeedy...do I love it? Not on your life! I love my family. I love my friends. I love God. Love Justin Beiber? Nopers! Not even a little bit...

I guess what I am saying, as I step down off this soapbox, please watch the words when talking to children or not. Our words carry a lot of weight to them and I don't want to cause harm to someone because I am flippantly throwing words around without realizing the cost...

....*end soapbox rant*...
Please, carry on with your day... {GRIN}

Fun in the Sun

2011-06-29T14:00:00.000-06:00

Yay!!! Summer is here! New routines. New goals. New opportunities.

This summer has presented itself with a lot of little changes for our family, a lot of things to look forward to. One of those things may even get us in a pretty good financial position. It is not 100% set in stone so I will let you know more about that as it unfolds...

1 more month and I get to meet my cousin who is travelling here from Italy. Words can not even begin to define just how freaking excited I am.

Our church services have been changing me in ways so deep I can't give merit to it with mere words jsut yet.

We have finally come to an end, in Canada, of a way too long postal strike which turned into a lock-out...but it is finally over and with its end comes our Income Tax check - finally... We sent it in ions ago but they needed proof of our charitable donations...red tape, red tape and more red tape and a postal strike/lock-out later I open my mailbox each day seeking that ugly brown envelope...{grin}

Hope the summer has found you well, enjoying life, your family & your friends...'til next time.

My Life in comparison to Simba (yes, from Lion King)

2011-06-22T18:53:00.000-06:00

Remember in the movie where it is Simba and Rafiki? You know right after the whole Mufasa in the cloud scene? And Simba says something about how things are changing...I can't remember his exact words. Do you know how many years it has been since I watched the miovie? Sheesh (grin)

Anyway, Rafiki says something about change being good... and then I remember him hitting Simba in the head and saying "you can either run from it or learn from it".

All that non-sensical drivel to say, there may be some changes around here my humble abode. Big changes. A lot of getting used to changes but, if they come to pass, we shall make them work and it will be good and everyone will be happy...right?

Stranger...

2011-06-21T23:58:00.000-06:00

It has been a while since I darkened the door(?) of this interweb blogville kinda place we sometimes try to hang out at.

I've been working lots; which will make up for the two weeks off in July we have as the doctor is on holidays.

I've been working a few shifts here and there at a jewellry store as well so that I can help build up our nest egg to get a down payment on a house and...the owner of the store is a friend of mine who I love to help out by giving her a day off once in a blue moon.

I was working on a powerpoint....in the middle of fever-induced craziness... yet, it turned out very lovely. There was some stress there that I really, really tried to not get stressed out over but...one of the parties was a little tardy (ahem - grin) in the providing of pictures for me to work with. I would love to tell you I didn't stress but I did. I must be transparent with you...{grin} It all worked out though. Woo HOOOOO!!!

We had a graduation and an awards night. Jellybean got awards for most improved student, highest average and best attendance. Bug got an award for best attendance. Pictures to follow but I must get them onto the picassa site first.

Oooo, there was a conference in there as well. I have also, since the conference been spending oodles of time with my "sister" and another friend. Been having a blast giggling with them again...for real life. :D

Saturday we will be going to the town BigDaddy grew up near and celebrating his little granny on her 90th birthday! Yay... will be lots of fun I am sure - hearing old stories as family members reminicse (why can't I spell that word tonight!? Argh!)

Anywhoodles, off to slumberland...just a hop skip and a jump away from blogville...

When the husband is away

2011-06-08T12:10:00.000-06:00

No, no, no...the wife doesn't play. Not this wife! But what happens around here when the husband is away is, the wife gets sick, the kids get sick, someone sideswipes the car, the car breaks down, the keys fall off the keyring in the car and the family is locked out of the car...

Yes, this is just an example of some of the things that have happened when BigDaddy is gone with his job. He usually travels one week and is home the next. This time of year he is gone all of one week, part of the next on and off... schools are getting ready to shut down for the summer and they are in need of network administration/computer repair/whatever other computer needs arise (you know like the school being broken into and the entire IT dept being trashed).

We miss him to pieces, take care of whatever mishaps arise while he is gone and usually all this mama has to do is throw a roast in the slow cooker first thing in the week and we have enough leftovers to make meals from for the rest of the week.

Heading off now to make some chicken noodle soup for little Miss Jellybean; the school called me at 9:30 this morning... BigDaddy had been on the road for an hour and a half. Ha ha ha.

Perhaps I need to pray pre-emptively when we know he is leaving against every silly little thing that tries to bring us down. {grin}

In the midst

2011-06-05T06:45:00.001-06:00

of a conference week at church...so far it has been a phenomenal week! George Woodward spoke on opening night (as well as day sessions on Friday and Saturday). Pastor Francis Armstrong ministered Friday and Saturday evening as well as day sessions Friday and Saturday. Today our very own Pastor is preaching this morning and Pastor Francis will be ministering to us again this evening...

A schedule like this is a bit difficult to keep on top of at times...thank God this is not the way things are for us every week...at least not right now. I, for one, am certainly not ready to be stretched like this on a regular basis. It has been a bit challenging, especially since I was under the weather for most of the week before and all of this week; BigDaddy being gone didn't add to the ease of things either.

Our laundry really needs done here but, this is what we have done to keep on top of what we have done, which, other than laundry as been most things. I cooked a nice sized beef roast. Potroast one night, leftovers with potatoes the next, rice and leftover beef the next couple. We don't eat that terribly much if BigDaddy is gone. Cooking once, eating 5 times is a HUGE bonus - HUGE! The fact that I make sandwiches for the kids' lunches and freeze them helped alot. Lunches were made in 3 minutes - juice box from the cupbaord, apple and carrots from the fridge, a sandwich from the freezer and a granola bar from their snack boxes.

As soon as the kids got home from school they did their chores and their homework; supper was then ready. We ate and were out the door. Yay!

Now if only there was a little gnome or something that would come and do my laundry for me...at least fold the stuff I did manage to get done...

Marco...?

More Fires

2011-06-04T08:14:00.001-06:00

What a year this has been!

Spring is always bad around here for fires... we had the fire that destroyed a town a province over, a fire near us that raged for quite a few days and now, a northern community has been evacuated due to fires that have been maliciously and strategically set by someone all around the community. People have been airlifted out, evacuated to safety but the fate of this community is left in the hands of time, the wind and brave fire fighters...

God, your will prevail!

Unfulfilled Potential

2011-06-03T16:05:00.001-06:00

With this little owie of a sickness I had this last week, I have done a lot of laying down. With that lot of laying down comes lots of opportunity to look at how my stomach looks the same as it did when I was 5-6 months pregnant (maybe I am exaggerating but people, it is not pretty).

Since Christmas, and I feel so ashamed to say this, I have had Jillian Michaels' 30 Day Shred inside my house. 2 months ago I decided I should at least take the plastic wrapping off of it...that is the extent of attention it has gotten. So...I think it is time to get off my wideload sticker, start exercising again, get myself back in shape, drink more water/less soda (which I had been until I needed to IV gingerale - you are welcome for the imagery), eat more carrots and less chocolate...

...Um, does it count if I dip the carrots in chocolate?

No? Didn't think so... here goes nothing but at the same time...here goes everything. Can we get Bob and Jillian to do a program called For the Under Enthused?

Where I've Been

2011-06-03T00:10:00.000-06:00

I've been sick. Real sick. Well...as far as petty little sicknesses like viral infections and colds/flus are concerned not as in something way more serious than that.

But it had zapped all my energy, especially since BigDaddy has been gone. There were still kids who needed fed and reminded to do homework and laundry and baths and...well, you have all been there. I needn't ramble on.

I was feeling well enough to, inspite of not being well enough to go to work, bring my laptop up to my room and get a very good start on the wedding powerpoint for J2s' wedding on June 18. That helped me to feel somewhat productive and feel a little better over the fact that the wedding is 16 days away and I had nothing started! "Almost done" feels way better than "what do I do first"...just sayin'.

I am a wild party

2011-05-24T23:07:00.000-06:00

and no, I am not channeling Kim Mitchell...

In less than one week these two, who you may remember, will be drawing ever closer to their wedding date... on Monday we celebrate with a bridal shower.

I have just completed the planning of the games for this grand event. I am... you guessed it... a wild party!

So what games, you may ask, did I plan to go with?
1. How well does the bride know the groom - a funny look into silly questions about the groom. Ask him 20 questions before the shower and have the bride answer them. See how well she knows her man.

2. Name that food - Pick 5-6 food items, write down the ingredients in each. Read the ingredients for each food item and see who gets the most items correct.

3. A word game using the words "bridal" and "shower". We are writing each word vertical on a paper (one on each side of the paper). The object of the game is to write the biggest word you can think of beginning with the one letter and ending with the other...1 pt per word; 2 pts if you think of one that has to do with weddings or bridal showers.

Three should be enough, heh? What do you think? What is your favorite games for bridal showers? Game #1 I have also seen where the bride-to-be has to put a piece of gum in her mouth for each wrong answer; I am not 100% sure about this because, while it can be funny, I am not certain it is an entirely honorable way to treat someone but that could just be me...

Just do

2011-05-23T18:19:00.000-06:00

Re-structuring our basement...it looked like the garbage dump had thrown up...I only wish I were kidding. I did NOT take any "before" pictures as I am certain my camera would have broken. Again, wish I were kidding.

We moved in here fast which means we packed and unpacked even faster. Things have run amuck and these places are small...the basement just had things crammed into it...piled precariously with hopes nothing would fall...

Well, I have thought about it and thought about it...ran ideas through my head, himmed and hahed about what I could/should do... Today I began to just do. I have thrown out a couple boxes of stuff, a big black garbage bag and have one more of those to go in the trash right now. I moved a few things around and I am on the way to having an area where the kids can bring their few toys (namely Bug can as Jellybean doesn't play toys too often...she is "10 and a half you know".. There is a spot where they can sit and read if they want to or at least bring the book up to their room without having shelves of books in their teeny little rooms.

I will put after pictures up once it is complete...this may be awhile as we need to buy shelving units to safely pile our rubbermade bins of stuff...

I only wish I were kidding about how bad this is...but it will get better...each item I throw out helps...right...right...?

Prayers for a community destroyed

2011-05-16T22:15:00.000-06:00

by wild fires. This town has been leveled by raging fires - destroying countless homes, businesses, dreams...
I have spent most of today on facebook with a friend of mine who lives in Alberta, the province this is happening, organizing a clothing drive to send donations with her mom to help as much as we can, at this time.

I have lost my home in a fire...I know how that feels. I have never lost my enitre town to one... I can not imagine how much greater the loss and devestation must seem to them right now.

I ask that you will join with me in praying for Slave Lake residents and the despair and clean up they face.n Help is coming from all across Canada. If you are wanting to help, please contact your local Red Cross, Salvation Army... there are numerous donation drop-off spots across Alberta, just click here to find one near you (if you are from Alberta).

I pray that their faith does not fail them... that their hope is renewed and strengthened by the generosity of Canada, by the prayers of their peers, by a nation rallying around them...

Just chillin'

2011-05-11T21:20:00.000-06:00

Hangin' around outside the townhouse...my girl, Jellybean was a little shutterbug for a day...

The post in which I give you what I promised

2011-05-11T20:47:00.000-06:00

A photograph of me in my wedding dress out in public this past Friday night and I promise it is on this very post.

What was the event?

I am so glad you asked...well...one of you did. I'm certain of it (grin). It was the 50th birthday and 20 year anniversary of ministry in the north to our Pastor.

Pastors and leaders came, or sent videos, from all across North America.

Pastor Amir Khan from New Jersey

Our local Bond, James Bond...from CRC

Youth coming to celebrate their pastor

This is a picture of all the pastors from the area who were able to attend (11 in all although two are somewhat hidden in the picture)

A Messianic Jewish leader.

Pastor Francis Armstrong

Here's a not-so-good picture of me in the dress as I am scrunching down to "snuggle' my dear friend Riss

Pastor Steve Gray from World Revival Church

Me and two of my girls!!!

It was such a great night! Celebrating a man who pours so much of his life out for so many and celebrating what God has done in his life so far - knowing there is so much more to come!!!

You're wearing what?!

2011-05-05T17:23:00.000-06:00

Tomorrow we have a function, a get-together that I can not name at this time due to secrecy issues that I will most probably be wearing my wedding dress to. Yes, it still fits, thank you very much (due, in part to the fact that I was 4 months pregnant when I got married).
It was a very simple wedding dress - Kate would definitely not have been wearing my dress and I am wearing it out and in public 11 years later.

(oh how happy I would have been to have tried it on and it not fit... you know, like being too big... sigh)

Excited about tomorrow. I will fill you in on all the goods in a couple days!

Perfect

2011-05-04T20:15:00.000-06:00

We've had a lot of sermons in the last few weeks about devotion and "nobody's perfect". What has really struck me though all of the messages is that we as Christians (and even those who view Christians from "outside {for lack of a better word}) view ourselves and other Christians through this preconceived notion that we must be perfect; we can NEVER make mistakes. As soon as someone makes a mistake I hear people all around, from all walks of life, say things like 'and they call themselves a Christian...' or 'obviously they just aren't as devoted as they should be...'

I would like to pose a question. Ok, maybe a series of questions. {grin}

How many of us have watched the Olympics?

How many of us have admired them for their dedication and devotion to their sport?

Let's take figure skating for example because...well, because that's what I thought of first.

Sally is a figure skater. She goes to the rink every morning at 5 AM to practice for 2-3 hours/day (5-6 days a week). She eats the right foods, goes to bed early, misses people's birthdays or other special gatherings if they conflict with her skating schedule or competitions. Sally does all these things and we call her, with admiration, extremely devoted to figure skating.

Sally makes it to the Olympics. Wow! There's a whole other level of devotion to get there, is there not? During Sally's routine she snags her pick in the ice and falls in the midst of one of her jumps, landing firmly on ice, sliding into a not-so-perfectly executed routine. Does that make her any less devoted to figure skating?

What do we do when Sally graciously rises to the occassion, gets herself back in time with the beats on the sound system and carries right on with the rest of her routine? We applaud. We shout 'good for you! Don't let that little mistake bring you down! Keep your eye on the prize!"

What do we, too often, do when that person who catches their pick in the midst of life and finds themselves sprawling across the ice is a Christian? All too often I think we will find ourselves hearing, or saying 'and they call themselves a Christian' or 'who do they think they are coming here?' or 'what kind of a Christian would do that'... We know all the accusatory words that have been hurled at us or towards someone else (perhaps even by us).

Why can't we simply say 'Keep your eye on the prize!' as they pick themselves up, brush the snow off their backsides, and attempt to get themselves back into rhythm with the music coming from the sound system? Nobody's perfect. Let's compare, briefly, Saul and David from The Bible: both men did terrible things but God called David a man after His own heart. Why him and not Saul? David had a different heart response than Saul and David was quick to repent for the wrongs he did.

I think we need to change our outlook on perfection and our outlook on devotion because, afterall, isn't devotion, simply, moving forward and increasing? Does being devoted mean you will never make a mistake? Let's look at the devoted life of an athlete and see if we can change our mindsets (and our judgements...)

*Rush, sorry if we ever made you feel like you couldn't fall, like you had to live flawlessly, like you couldn't measure upp, like there were expectation you could never live up to. We never meant for it to come across like that; we are still learning in this thing called life - just as you are. We only meant to save you from the mistakes we have made ourselves... We don't expect perfection, never have. We simply didn't know how to "save" you from those mistakes effectively.

Update

2011-05-03T17:06:00.000-06:00

Just got word back and the precious young lady I asked you to pray for has a complete and perfect bill of health!!! Thank God!!!
Thank you for your prayers on behalf of her family and her!

For those of you who pray, please? For those of you who don't, whatever you do...please?

2011-04-27T16:05:00.001-06:00

I am not going to say for who and I am not going to name the possibility of what because I don't want to cause alarm amongst anyone, including myself until we know but, your prayers are coveted for a very dear young lady I know.

According to her parents she has not been healing from minor scratches and bumps, not sleeping, she has been excessively pale and sluggish and has a bizarre bone and/or joint issue that no one is certain about and other symptoms.

Her parents are trying not to worry about her until they are able to get her into see her family doctor this Friday. Parents' imaginations can go out of control when there is something seemingly wrong with their child's health. Please pray for them, for quick answers and for a complete turn around in the health of this dear girl's body.

Thank you, warriors!

Spring Cleaning?

2011-04-26T21:52:00.000-06:00

Heck no! I like to call it Spring Purge. I went through my bedroom today - ok, I am still going through my bedroom but it was getting lonely in there and I just neeeded a bit of a blog break. Blame me? No. Didn't think so. {Grin}

I have gotten rid of SO much stuff in there it is... well, shameful really. You see, I tend to prioritize my cleaning in order of visibility, guest visibility to be more precise and ours too I guess. How much time to we spend in our room? How much time of that is spent with our eyes open to see ~~the rubble around us~~ the clutter piling up? Sadly, our bedroom is, then, the very last place ~~on the face of the planet~~ in our home & yard to see organization... heck, let's be real...a broom and dustpan even.

Soooo, today I plopped myself in that room and I vowed to have it ship shape by bedtime tonight. I had a few distractions so I may be pushing bedtime back a smidge... I purged clothes (I still have pants that can go but, I need to replace them with something before getting rid of them), I purged papers and boxes and books and...the list continues...but now, although I truthfully have a few more things to get off my bed as that was the master sorting area, the improvement is almost "bus driver, move that bus" shocking. If Ty Pennington were here with grandiose gestures and shouting, I am sure we would all be crying at the "big reveal".

Alas, I was too ashamed of the state of said room to take any before pictures (no one ever siad I wasn't genuine) so the effect of any after photos will be lessened. You know, if I take any after photos. They can't even be classified as "after" since there was no "before". They could only be "currently" and who has ever heard of that!?

Hoping to get my basement done soon. In need of time to purge that and get some shelving units and all that jazz to declutterify our ugly basement...yep...uuuugly! It is an unfinished basement and in a clutterific of a mess. Moving may be the only fix for that... :-D

And then she made me cry

2011-04-25T20:29:00.000-06:00

Went to visit Rush for Easter...

She made me cry...

Not in a bad way either. She didn't do anything hurtful or mean or say anything nasty or the like. No, what she said was beautiful and heartfelt and touching and made me cry.

Rush wants a tattoo.

Now, most parents would be freaking out, especially any Christian parents I know, would freak right out over this fact. NOT A TATTOO!!!! What can I say to her wanting a tattoo? I have one and I want another. My husband has two and wants another. How can I condemn her for something I have? She got a nose ring. I found that funny because so do I.

Anyway, back to the tattoo that she wants...

She wants to get a tattoo of a monarch butterfly. Why? Because I have a tattoo of a monarch butterfly with the konji for Faith. Her reasoning...she wants a tattoo that will honor the mending relationship that she & I have. She told her dad that her & my relationship has never been better. We held each other and cried - happy tears of restoring relationships.

In honor of this new level of restoration, I may get some touch-ups to mine and, perhaps, add something for my Rush - and I know just the thing some blue flowers...

I am certain I heard a couple of you gasp but that's ok... {grin}

The salad is made

2011-04-23T19:59:00.000-06:00

"What salad?" you may be asking.

The salad we are taking to The City tomorrow after church when we go celebrate Easter with our Daughter Rush, my mom, my step-dad, my brother and his family and my sister and hers!

THAT is what salad.

What kind of salad?
Oh so glad you asked. It is ever so yummy.
Spinach
Field Greens and Herbs organic mix (presidents choice brand)
dried cranberries
walnut crumbs
crumbled feta
canned mandarine orange segments (broken)
Kraft signature olive oil Tuscan Italian dressing

Great just like that or with grilled steak or chicken.... yumalicious!!!

Bits n Bytes

2011-04-20T08:05:00.000-06:00

*there is still snow on the ground but not very much; it is melting very quickly.

*one of the joys to this province we live in is that we have snow and/or cool to cold weather for 9 months of the year. Not cool but what can you do aside from moving (and I am not up for that at this season in my life)?

*these April snows (and sometimes the May snows -shudder) are perfect for snowball fights and, if enough falls, snowmen! That is s abig plus!

*Bug got sick two nights ago - very sick, very suddenly and was one pretty wiped out little boy. His only symptoms were an incredibly high fever, no appetite and those wonderful nightmares that come with fevers. To have my boy sleep all through the day, you know the little munchkin is down and out, health-wise.

*The end of July is getting closer and closer and I need to get my butt in gear working on our family tree book. It has gotten as much attention from me as y'all have the past couple weeks. I have quite a few days off in the upcoming week for Easter so I should be able to make quite a dent in my workload!

*Tomorrow we are going to a friend's house for a Newfie Jiggs Dinner! Yumalicious!!! Any of you (besides my friend, Spin) know what that is?

*Sunday, right after church, we are leaving to go to "The City" and will be having Easter Dinner with Rush, my mom and step-dad, my sister and her boy and possibly my brother's family (I am not certain on that part though). Looking forward to it! The Boyfriend may even be there depending on what his parents say; we had a nice visit with them on their anniversary when we took them out for sushi a few days ago.

*I need to get pictures on here again. It has been a long time since I have uploaded any pictures! Yikes! Bad blogger...

What did I tell you!?

2011-04-19T11:13:00.001-06:00

The VERY next day! What a roll I am on!!!

Anywho... funny story... (at least when you work for an eye surgeon)

Bug says to me the other day, as I am trying to take a nap: Mom, open your eyebulbs!!!!

Time flies

2011-04-18T23:00:00.000-06:00

And I am not even kidding one little bit. 14 days since I have been here heh? Yikes. Bad blogger!!! Bad blogger!!! Now,if only there were some way I could rub my nose in the blog or something. {grin}

Work has been going great! I am, however, still learning to get and keep myself organized - between kids, their school, BigDaddy being gone so much, the hours at work, the family tree book I have been working on, church...there's not much time left but for sleeping. Little by little, slow and steady...it is all coming together. Meal plans, grocery lists, cleaning schedules, teaching Jellybean what she can do to help out with supper after school, etc.

Did I mention that the night time incontinence issue we were having at our house just dried itself up? {funny? not funny? my humor is in an odd state of being lately} Shortly after mentioning it a few months ago, it just stopped. No accidents since. Yay!!!!

It snowed here again a few days ago... yep, snow...disappointing but, it has had its perks. Take for example, this instance that happened on Friday night when Bug and I were on our way home. He was being goofy and I, joking with him, told him to quit or I would throw a snowball at him...he didn't believe me. I needed to become a woman of my word and BLAMO {cha! look it up - so a word -grin}, down goes the window, to the roof of my car goes my hand, grabbing a nice handful of snow which I then tossed at my son in the backseat and it hit the mark, landing softly right at his neck where it could escape down the collar of his coat... definitely a 3-pointer!!!

Just finished a week long conference at the church called Devoted to You. My brain is still wrapping itself around all the things I have been learning throughout the conference... It was a great time! I lost my voice...singing, praying... and it was worth every second!

I promise it will not be 14 days until my next bloggingness again... I don't want anyone to swat my nose with a rolled up newspaper or anything...yikes! :D

It's Really...

2011-04-04T17:06:00.000-06:00

...Spring!!! It's really here! That makes me happy and warm and fuzzy... so kind of like bread left out on the counter, next to the window (minus the happy part...is warm, fuzzy bread happy? Meh...)

I am getting more work done on the family tree I am working on. I came up with a nice little form in Publisher that is helping me to neaten it up - ALOT. It almost looks - dare I say - professional...ISH. {GRIN}

Family pictures are rolling in and that makes me happy.

My son was given a new (to him) BMX bike; he was thrilled beyond comprehension and that makes me happy.

I work with some of the greatest gals I could ever ask to work with. We have laughed together, cried together, laughed so hard we've cried together. I couldn't be more thrilled with the friends I have made with my co-workers and that makes me happy.

Guess what?

I am happy.

But guess what else?

I am joyful and that would remain even if all the above things fell away. My joy is not found in the happenings around me. My joy is found in something much deeper. I find my joy knowing that there is a mighty God interceding for me when "happy" isn't around, when easy can't be found, when money is tight, when things seem uncertain... of one thing I am certain... He brings me endless joy no matter the happenstance.

And I am still happy... :D

First

2011-04-02T16:50:00.000-06:00

week of work went great. Lots of learning.

Mental fatigue...

First chance to hop in some puddles this year. Took advantage of it. Kids got soaked.

One is warming up in a hot bath right now...

First day of the rest of my life...

Gonna make it a good one. :)

Thinking of all of you...

Family Roots and all that jazz

2011-03-26T08:59:00.000-06:00

Excited to be going to spend some time with my cousin, Rhonda today! She is hil-ay-ree-us! We're going to get working somemore on the family tree book I have been working on! Yay!

Just got an email back from another Norwegian cousin! Glad to meet you, Ole!

One of my nephews was in the hospital last night. Hurt his... ah, tenders when he landed splitsville on a 2x4. Poor guy! (you're quite welcome for me not using your name as I am sure you don't want this connected with your name all over the cyber space grin)

My brother and I hijacked one of my facebook statuses (on my personal acct) last night with our silliness... I think there may be about 60 non-pertaining messages on that one. Love him to pieces!

It's not you; it's me

2011-03-25T14:02:00.000-06:00

Seriously. I can guarantee that I will be extra quiet around here for a bit - not because I don't like it here and certainly not because I don't love y'all but here is why. Two days ago I was offered full-time at the doctor's office I work at. YAY! This is going to mean a lot of nights until 5, rush home for supper and be out the door for some of our ministry work by 6 or 6:30. I need to adapt and adjust to this new schedule, the new regime, the new structure and that may mean a bit of extra silence for a bit.

So, as of Tues I start full time at the doctor's part of the week doing pre-testing and part of the week doing surgical booking. Looking forward to this new adventure. I will try to check in at least once a week for the next bit - at least...

God is our provider and I am so excited and grateful for this opportunity that He has placed in our hands... Yay God!!!

What a phenomenal day

2011-03-20T15:50:00.000-06:00

And I am not exaggerating in the slightest. This morning seemed like every other Sunday morning... last minute texts to Pastor, to my co-testimony gatherer, getting kids, self and honey out the door in time to do all the preparation our family does on a Sunday morning (waters for Pastor, sound system set-up, that sort of run of the mill, every day, needs to get done stuff... nothing super spiritual, sorry to those who thought I had some profound routine I go through religiously every week. I don't.)

There were some powerful testimonies of healing and some even more powerful testimonies of how God is revealing Himself in brand new ways to the ordinary people of CRC - ordinary, there is nothing extra-special about any of us or anything that makes us more special than anyone else and through our ordinariness (I dub that a real word as of right now - grin) God is doing mighty things.

From the pulpit came words that some would probably be agast to hear from the lips of a preacher but it was the truth told in love and without religiously beating us over the head with monotone words holding no joy or hope. He spoke to us, this morning, about being spiritually constipated, about needing to "work it out", about how "dead religion will just'back you up'". We've all felt it, the pain of, shall we say, blockage, of not having movement or freedom. Spiritual constipation is just as painful, just as blocked, no movement, no freedom. Sometimes we just need a spiritual enema because we are blocked, stuck, impassable.

The congregation was roaring with laughter, joy spilling from the "pews" towards our pastor. There was a freedom and a freshness in that sanctuary like there hasn't been in a long time. Don't let the seriousness of the old, dead, religious system that tells you you have to be serious, you have to be somber, you have to wear black (like you are going to someone's funeral) hold you in bondage. Enjoy life. That's what God intended. He never intended for us to simply endure our time here on earth while we wait to be swept up into some sweet by and by. Live, laugh, love, find joy in the living. God doesn't want you to die for him and stop there. Jesus all ready died for you. Now He wants you to LIVE for Him!!!!

And that is what I intend to do. I intend to live my life with the utmost joy and the utmost genuineness. I have an unfading hope that I can be part of the solution instead of the problem, that there is hope for the generations to come. I live my life for them - not for me - that I may live as to bring hope and joy to future generations by the testimony of my life!

Saving money! LOTS of money!!!

2011-03-16T19:04:00.000-06:00

Why? Well, you see my new best friend (AKA my cousin, S - who totally rocks {you know who you are}) is coming to meet us from Italy in July! Whoooo stinkin' whoooo!

So today, on facebook chat, he tells me that he is buying himself a cowboy hat, a belt, a vest and jeans, stopping at the nearest bar when he gets here, buying himself a glass of bourbon and going to watch the local ladies. (I am pretty sure humor is a strong family gene)

I told him I would have bail money for him and that we would keep our phones on. Pretty sure I'd better start saving now... {grin}

I'm looking so forward to meeting him (and the other cousins that may be coming). S and I will be co-cooking a nice big lasagne since it is, apparently, both our specialty dish... mmm that will be tasty!

Maybe by then he will have a nickname... He needs a cool one. If you have any ideas for my cousins nickname (unless I find out if he has one all ready) you let me know, for now he's the Norsk Rockstar!

And cue scene

2011-03-14T15:27:00.000-06:00

from the Wizard of Oz; you know, the one where the witch is "melting".

Why?

Because I got off work today, I was greeted with the gloriousness of zero degrees and the snow melting at phenomenal speeds. There are puddles EVERYWHERE and I am fighting back the most intense urges to throw dignity and class to the wayside and start splashing in the puddles RIGHT NOW!

So, my first day off this week is Wednesday and I will be off to get us (well, me and the kids) some rubber boots to kick Spring into gear with a fabulous puddle splashing party! BigDaddy probably will not be joining in on the spectacular festivities - not really his cup of tea.

I know there will still be a bit more "winter" but this is the beginning of its end. Take a big whiff of that! You know what that is? That's the smell of digging in the earth to find earth worms, of freshly mowed grass and steaks on the grill!

Woo stinkin' who!!!!

Roar of Zion!

2011-03-13T09:08:00.000-06:00

Check out the lyrics in this song by Kelanie Gloeckler! They are po-wer-ful!!!

ROAR FROM ZION

© 2009 Kelanie Gloeckler

VERSE 1:

Our God is an all-consuming fire

Yahweh is holy and His voice is thunder

Open your ears, hear the footsteps of a Lion

Our King is coming, He will roar from Zion

VERSE 2:

Creation groans, heaven rumbles and the earth shakes

Lift up your voices, open wide the praise gates

Sound the alarm, and awaken all the watchmen

Our King is coming, He will roar from Zion

CHANNEL

Lift up your eyes, the Kingdom of God is here

The Spirit and the Bride say “Come”

CHORUS:

Prepare the way of the Lord, hear the Lion roar, ohh

Declare the praise of the Lord, hear the Lion roar, ohh

VERSE 3:

We sing to the apple of the Lord’s eye

Sweet Israel, behold your Messiah

Salvation flow in the city of Jerusalem

Your King is coming, He will roar from Zion

(Repeat CHANNEL and CHORUS)

VERSE 4:

We stand in the place of intercession

Open the heavens and revive America

Let faith arise in a holy generation

Release Your song in us and roar from Zion…

TAG:

Tenors – Open wide the gates of praise, open wide the gates

Sop / Altos – Prepare ye the way…here comes the Lion

Beloved awake…sing, sing, oh Zion

Coming out the woodwork

2011-03-12T13:20:00.000-06:00

Picture it. Christmas time. (those of you who have been with me for a while know we had an adventurous trip home that was anything but what we had planned) But look at that, I digress before I even began to type the post...

I got home to an email from a gentleman who thought we were related. Turns out we are! He's my cousin. Technically he's my dad's cousin but you get the idea! He is from my grandpa's side of the family and that is all I will get into as far as that, given that I have tried to maintain bloggerworld anonimity for the safety's sake. But the cool part is we have been getting to know each other, fill each other in on family and he is planning to come meet us this summer!!!! I don't think you guys want me to use the amount of exclamation marks I need in order to protray how excited I am about this!

Now, like just now! I received a message on facebook (my personal, not blog related) from another second cousin from one of my grandpa's other brothers. I am over the moon with excitement and joy and happiness over getting to know my family... family I have dreamed of knowing since I was a little girl.

$5 Dinner Cookbook giveaway

2011-03-11T14:11:00.002-06:00

I just came upon this site with a contest for the wonderful cookbook I mentioned above, chock full of frugal yet fabulous dinners to feed your family. Contest entry deadline is Mar 13 (if I remember correctly) so hurry to get your entry in!

I know I have my fingers crossed... well, if I crossed my fingers for those kinds of things they so would be!

While your there, check out Canadian coupon Mom's site... I haven't explored it a lot yet (recent find) but what I've seen looks great!

I'm Rubber

2011-03-10T21:41:00.000-06:00

Nope, not going to finish that with "your glue"...

For "family time", BigDaddy and I took the kids to the gym to go walking/jogging on the track. BigDaddy spent a fair bit of time in the weight room but, as the kids are too small to be in there, we spent all our time on the track. Almost 7 trips around gives you a mile. I did 16 trips around. One of those trips was 3/4 around the track at a fastish jog.

Oh, did it sound like I was proud of that 3/4 jog trip?

I would definitely like to have been able to make it all the way... at least once! But that will come. I have never been one to like running. Get me a partner and let's kick the crap out of each other... oh yes, Tae Kwon Do was the sport of my youth. Well, that horseback riding, walking all over the farmyard and any outdoor chores I was assigned to do (you know, like cleaning the pig pen and the chicken coop).

Bug ran just about the entire hour we were there...

Jellybean ran about 3/4 of that hour...

$12 for our family to go in and enjoy a clean, safe place to walk or skip or frolick or do tricep curls or whatever... {grin} Saw my cousin's husband; he coaches a girl's soccer team (or assists, not sure).

I was just thinking though, how much money does it cost to take a family of four to a movie? About $30 for the tickets and then what for popcorn, etc? I really don't know; it has been so long since we have done something like that. A meal for 4 at McDonalds is about $25-$30...but for $12, we went and got some exercise, taught our children that fun can also be healthy and showed them that family time is not simply stuck on a couch or with a BigMac in your face... Yay!!!!

Pretty sure tomorrow my legs will look, and feel, a lot like I am standing on Jell-o...
Just sayin'

The Middle

2011-03-09T17:38:00.000-06:00

is not a place I like being unless it's in the middle of God's presence or in the middle of a good day with my friends and family... maybe even the middle of a good piece of cake. MMM cake! {grin}

Anyway, it seems like I am in the middle of a lot of things today. I am in the middle of a job decision - pretty sure I made the final decision today however, in the middle of a pantry/freezer clean out month, in the middle of a few projects... (one of those projects is HUGE, like making our family tree HUGE for an upcoming family reunion - YAY!)

I find no dismay about being in the middle. I, simply, would much rather be at the end. I am a finisher, a list-crosser-offer. {Don't even begin to tell me that that is not a real word because it so totally has to be! grin}

I have decided to make an executive decision. You know because I am the executive of... of... I am an executive decision maker of my househould (not the)... no more projects will be started by me until I get at least two crossed off my current list.

I better get going here though. I am, after all, in the middle of making supper. {ha ha!}

Child prays for healing!

2011-03-07T19:04:00.001-06:00

Never underestimate the power of our children. This video was taken in Kansas City, MO at World Revival Church

This weekend

2011-03-07T18:59:00.000-06:00

we went drove 4 hours to one of the northern communities for a youth rally. What a time! The youth we met... one young girl in particular and a young man that ripped my heart out... It was a heart breaking time and an exhausting time - fighting against the spiritual warfare that goes on there.

I have some pictures to show once I get them off the computer...

There is a full out attack on my nasal passage

2011-03-03T23:18:00.000-06:00

I am not taking this lightly! Oh no! I brought out my Mr. Clean Febreeze Meadow and Rain scent. {sidenote: how does Mr Clean Febreeze capture that meadow/rain scent. Hmmmm? "'Splain" that to me, as Bug used to say.)

Anyway, this full blown attack, this war of the nasal passages - one of the worst smells I have ever had to smell (and I grew up on a farm that raised horses, cattle, chickens AND pigs and my uncle raised sheep!).

Rotten potatoes!!!!!!

It hits you like a rusty nail through your sinuses, right into the very center of your brain!

And I know you are all wondering 'did the Mr. Clean Febreeze Meadow and Rain scent make your home smell like meadows and rain?'.

No stinkin' chance! {grin} It made my house smell like rotten potatoes frolicking in a meadow with rain....

I think I need to bring out the big guns... tomorrow... me, the rotten potato smell and bleach! {but mum's the word, ok. I don't want the word to get out on the street. No snitching my plan so this deviant smell knows what to expect. mmmkay?}

Why couldn't my house smell like... homemade bread or apple pie or the sweet chili chicken and sushi rice I made this evening... {to clarify it was only the meal I made today. I certainly didn't have time for the homemade bread nor the apple pie... just keepin' it real y'all. GRIN}

Two and a Half men Days with my Girl

2011-03-03T11:00:00.001-06:00

Tuesday of last week we got a phone call. Could Rush come and visit for a couple of days? We got all the bus schedules and such lined up and by Wednesday at two she was here and visiting us. Yay! The two of us went to a local coffee/cheesecake shop, got a couple of slices of lemon meringue pie and had a very good conversation. We cooked up her favorite meal and went off to visit my dad and Jude's and had more laughs!

Rush and one of my dad's dogs, Misty.

Annie, looking for some love and attention...

My handsome and wonderful daddy!

Our visit with Rush was absolutely fabulous. She and I laid on my bed, watched a couple shows on the laptop and just enjoyed each other's company visiting.

Gone to the dogs

2011-03-02T08:19:00.000-06:00

What can I say? The boy loves dogs...

Bug and his sister, MamaJ's dog, Daisy.

...and dogs love Bug...

(Bug and my dad's dog, Misty)

We make cute grandparents

2011-03-01T18:30:00.001-06:00

Seriously. Just look at us. {grin} Abso-stinkin-lutely cute!

A couple pictures from the baby shower

2011-02-28T19:53:00.000-06:00

Only three but only because Blogger is not loading them from picassa very well right now.

Enjoying snuggles and love with her grandma (yep, that would be me.) She has three grandmas after all, but this picture - all me and my girl.

BabyK and Jellybean reacting to the baby food tasting/guessing game. Do I need to inform you that they were thoroughly disgusted by them all or do their faces display their disdain for this culinary "delight"? Oh, except for the Strawberry Dessert... they liked the Strawberry Dessert...

...just not enough to want a jar in their lunches. {grin}

My heart abounds with joy

2011-02-26T23:25:00.000-06:00

Got to snuggle with my beautiful grand-daughter today! Today we celebrated her birth with a baby shower.

Pictures to follow but I just got home and I am hearing my pillow calling to my head... something about belonging together or something. {GRIN}

Last minute guest

2011-02-25T13:09:00.000-06:00

has left me silent, enjoying her company...

Alas, I must take her to the bus depot in 30 minutes and that makes me sad.

Yes, folks, Rush was here for two days. We visited, laughed, ate lemon meringue pie and cooked one of her favorite suppers: meatball stroganoff (of which she made this comment: my stomach can't keep up with what my mouth wants)

It was a nice visit. No strife. No awkward moments. She opened up to me about a lot of things that are going on at my mother's house and they are all the things I knew would because sometimes when you are young, you have an idea of how people will be and it's nothing like what they really are. Just saying...

I hope and pray that my girl finds happiness and true peace in her life. For now, I am so thankful to God for the past two days and how wonderful they were. Love being with her!

My first photshop wedding invitations

2011-02-23T08:15:00.001-06:00

It took a lot of trial and error, a lot of attempts and, admittedly, a few tears and a tylenol or two but I think we finally got it right! Yay!

Why tears? It is very important to me that these two have the best invitations I can give them as close to what they want as possible! You see, these two are no stranger to this blog, having made appearances a few times. I love both of them like they were my own children; he is my oldest son's best friend and she is Rush's...

In which I admit how I broke my hand

2011-02-22T09:34:00.001-06:00

I wish it were a funny story or a brave one or even just remotely cool but, alas, my hand breaking story is lame {except for the fact that it lead up to the day I met my grand-daughter}.

We started off on Feb 9 in the town near MamaJ's home; she was dilating like a mad woman and then... NOTHING! No more progression! Doctor mentioned augmentation or a possible c-section which this little hospital was not set up to do. {Well, they considered doing the c-section there but thankfully couldn't get the o.r. staff in to assist. I say 'thankfully' because the doctor then explained she had only ever seen one in college and proceeded to ask the nurse what she needed to do next. I. Don't. Think. SO!}

Load MamaJ into the ambulance and head here, to my hometown. I will not admit to which traffic violations I may or may not have committed on our (Jellybean and Bug were with me) trip home. I dropped the kids off at my dad's because by this time they had waited at a hospital for 6 hours and it would be a late night yet.

Speed walking through the hospital parking lot and BANG! I hit the ground and with every bone in my body on the way down. I lay there for a bit, seriously hoping someone saw me so they could help me up because I didn't think I was moving on my own. No one came. I decided laying on the ice wasn't fun anymore {wait! It wasn't fun to begin with! wink}. Up I got, with a few scrapes, sore bones (mostly my knees and elbows) and a little bruised pride.

Anywho, off to the maternity ward. No c-section! Oxytocin and fentanyl. Bets were placed on when baby would be born. One insisted Feb 9. 9 1/2 hours after arriving at second hospital, our dear baby was born on Feb 10! (bet lost but not by me). Bet lost about whether she was a boy or girl as well, also not by me as I had all ready bought several too-cute-to-pass-by girl outfits! {tee hee! What can I say, I am an optimist}

Lots of squeezing done to my right hand... never any increase in pain so I never gave it another thought past bone bruise. One week later, the pain was so intense in my hand I ~~"yelled"~~sternly spoke to a patient and knew I needed to get it checked. She is broken, a bone in my hand; it aches when I am at work or have to do a lot of typing (this post has taken me forever to type out). It's not a big deal though. It's not excruciating pain or anything, just more of an inconvenience but heh, I got a beautiful grand-daughter out of the whole thing. I'd say I am still on the winning end, inspite of the fall!

Dear Jonathon Crawford (aka probable scam artist extraordinaire)

2011-02-21T19:24:00.000-06:00

Thank you for your kind email informing me of some mass fortune that some un-named, deceased person you say I am related to has in the vault. Thank you for your "willingness" to share this wealth with me. Your kindness and generosity leaves me completely speechless. Oh the list I have of all I could do with this mass wealth. I am overwhelmed that "good fortune" has put me at the "centre of your life". Your 40/40/20 split of this fortune however, underwhelms me. Dude, if I am the only relative (which leaves me to wonder what happened to the rest of my family and where their emails are) of this un-named deceased person whose wealth is about to be absorbed by the government I have a proposal for you... like more like 95/5... you know, for all your hard work hunting me down and all...

My dear Jonathon, I trust that you can sense the sarcasm dripping from each and every letter typed on this page and I trust that we are able to "establish a trustful collaboration". How about you send me your direct phone numbers and fax number and you can send me some absurd amount of money to get this inheritance into my ~~scamming~~ hands. Please affirm your willingness to collaborate on your little ~~scam~~ endeavor by sending me your photo in your pretty little pumpkin orange jumpsuit.... mmmmkay? Thanks and buhbye!

Sincerely,
"Not buying into you"

original email sent to me:
Hi Xxxxxx,
Hope you are doing good?

I am Jonathan Crawford from England, a legal solicitor practicing in the field of; business disputes and litigation, Will and Estate disputes, inheritance (Provision for Family and Dependents) Act 1975 applications. I am contacting you regarding my deceased client deposit in the sum of four million us dollars currently in storage at a deposit vault here in England. The deposit was made in the year 2005 and his unfortunate death transpired on August 8th 2007. After proper identification of his body, I immediately notified the deposit firm and launched an investigation into possible surviving family relatives to alert about the situation and receive the funds from the deposit firm. Till date, my search has proved abortive.

Sequel to the recent notice received from the deposit vault; failing to receive viable claims, they shall declare the deposit unserviceable and remit to the government reserve thus, the portfolio would be out of reach. I have contacted you in good faith as someone that I can confide in to help receive these funds, acting as a close relative of my deceased client. If this meets with your understanding, I shall prepare the necessary papers to this effect and also provide all necessary assistance till the funds are released. Be rest assured that there is no potential legal liabilities to this cliam. I have done a careful evaluation before contacting you. As a matter of principle, I am in no position to claim these funds, being the lawyer to the deceased hence; I need your assistance in this great endeavour.

Let's share this blessings together, as good fortune has placed you into the centre of relevance of my life. I hope we can be able to establish a trustful collaboration for this project. I have decided upon conclusion, we both get 40% each and 20% shall be utilised for charitable deeds. Please affirm your willingness to work with me and kindly provide your direct phone and fax numbers.

Your prompt response will be highly appreciated.

Regards,

Jonathan Crawford

She's really real!

2011-02-21T16:38:00.000-06:00

I wasn't making her up. {grin} I really truly do have a grand-daughter and here she is, finally, for my interworld/bloggerland friends to "meet" her.

Look at all that blonde hair! She was re-admitted to the hospital for a day and put under the lights for jaundice but she responded very well. Her personality did a complete 180 for her mama and daddy; she's sleeping well and not crying near as much as she was and has taken to nursing like a trooper {however a trooper to take to nursing}. We love her completely and madly! How could you not?

And we get to go see her again on Saturday for her baby shower. Yay!

A little concerned

2011-02-20T23:48:00.000-06:00

over the fact that I kinda have "that feeling" that Rush's boyfriend, of almost a year, is going to be breaking up with her soon. I don't wish that upon her but there are signs... it's what my gut is telling me. I hope it's just bad chinese or something.

Praying for wisdom and rationality for her as a pre-emptive measure. Given the fact that she has run away from home and lived in one other place besides the one she is in since running kind of shows she doesn't deal well with things not going her own way.

Also praying, for my baby's sake, that I am completely wrong; she really loves this boy and he has been somewhat good for her, from what we have been able to see. It's hard to see your children hurting; it's even harder when you're forced to watch from the distance.

Pleasant surprise

2011-02-19T21:12:00.000-06:00

My phone rang a few minutes ago... "Bad to the Bone" by George Thorogood alarming me that there was a call (totally not my choice of ringer but BigDaddy was playing around with my phone and thought that was funny... hardee har har :D). The voice on the other end was a surpirse to my ears... BigBro's voice full of smiles and laughter. Great to hear from him.

Sounds like he is still doing really good on his sobriety! The kids were so excited to talk to him... BigDaddy and I too.

Awkward Silence

2011-02-17T00:05:00.000-06:00

My hand is broken.

I kid you not.

It's my right hand.

I am right-handed.

This is not fun...

...but I am still joyful!

The end.

Would you believe

2011-02-14T14:12:00.000-06:00

I was abducted by aliens, taken to their planet Galoctipus and studied for science?

No...?

Neither would I.

Would you believe that my absence has been due to work, running from work to snuggle an adorable brand new baby until she and mama were discharged from the hospital, sleeping (my body's way of attempting to get back the hours I missed the day before our little snug was born), collecting money to pool together a "money" gift for friends of ours who celebrate their 30th anniversary today and celebrating their wonderful marriage yesterday with a fabulous lunch?

I will get pictures of our grandbaby up here very soon; I promise. I know a couple of you who are "dying" to see her.

Happy "love" day to you all.

It's a...

2011-02-11T12:54:00.000-06:00

GIRL!!!! It's a beautiful girl!!!! Mama and baby are doing wonderfully. Baby was born at 3:26 Am on Feb 10. I will be posting a more detailed post with a picture or two because my newborn baby looks nothing like any OTHER newborn baby ever born {ha ha ha}...she deifinitely didn't look like a scrunched up nose and squishy cheeks sticking out of a blanket... {grin}

Anyway, this granny, grandma, kokom whatever I will be called, is tired, all day waiting for baby, all night waiting for baby then working right after she was born has left me very tired (even though I was able to sleep in my own bed, and for all of, last night).

It's Hammer Time Baby Time!!!!

2011-02-09T08:09:00.000-06:00

On my way! Making the hour and a half trip to a town I don't know very well but that's ok! MamaJ is in full on labor! Contractions are right on top of each other! This baby is coming today, ladies and gentlemen!

Ready or not. Feel old enough or not... Today I become a grandma!!!!!!! Let the happy dance begin!!! Looking forward to meeting you, my sweet little grandbaby!

Jellybean and Bug are ready to meet their niece or nephew, armed with stuffed horses in hands to bestow upon our bundle of joy! I will be back home sometime tonight. Fill you in then! Later peeps!!! :D

Me & my Daddy

2011-02-08T16:13:00.000-06:00

went for lunch the other day - last Tuesday to be exact.

I called him up on Sunday and asked if he would like to have lunch with me, my treat.

Rolled up to his house to pick him up ans it was the beginning of a great afternoon with my dad. It has been far too long since we were able to spend that kind of time together.

Lunch was good, quality wise, but it was the conversation we had once I took him back home that made the day what it really was. After a while my dad started talking about when we were kids and wondering what our lives would be like, what us kids would be like if my mom hadn't cheated on my dad, if she hadn't left us and had we not lived in a state of wounded confusion for so long.

My dad feels he did so many things wrong. He was a single parent dad before that was all that common, in fact, he is the only single parent dad I had heard of until a few years ago.

Anyway, I had the opportunity to tell my dad how I really felt about the job he did. I told him that he is my hero. Apparently he doesn't feel like a hero but I told him that it really doesn't matter how or what he feels about it. He is my hero and I know that he now knows.

So many people have gone on in this life without me being able to tell them the depths of my love for them. I can now ensure that my father will not be one of those people.

And so it is never forgotten, I leave this for the internet/Blog Land to see and hold for eternity...
Daddy, you are my hero. Were it not for you, for the knowledge, wisdom, discipline and love you have given, shown and imparted I would not be where or who I am today. I continue to grow and flourish through your example (past and present). Your sacrifice, your hard work... Dad, you stand amongst the heroes of the heroes in my books. I thank you for your selflessness, for your devotion to hard work, for your determination and dedication... I love you, Daddy and I can not thank God enough for you as my dad!

The post you don't have to read

2011-02-08T07:14:00.000-06:00

you know, because I'm about to whine just a teeny tiny bit...

I don't want to go to work today; I would much rather stay in my bed. Ooooo it was so toasty.
You see, it's cold outside. Not as cold as it can be nor, for that matter, as cold as it has been. For some reason though, the sound of the alarm, this morning, was like bamboo shoots being shoved through my eardrums. (ok, I am surmising; I have no idea what that feels like nor do I intend to find out).

I get to venture into coldness and windchills to start my car, let it warm-up for 10-15 minutes so it is warm enough to drive. I also don't feel like contending with square tires. You think I could make that stuff up?!

BigDaddy is gone, to the very tip of this province and that means he can't go start the car for us; you know, since I don't want to {grin}. I am a blessed woman; when he is here, he takes very good care of me in those regards.

How many times do you think you could call in "allergic to vertical" and still have a job to go to?

That's what I thought. Better go start that car then! Sheesh!
{grin}

BayBabe Watch

2011-02-07T17:02:00.000-06:00

We are on Day 10 of waiting for this baby to make its grand appearance. I'm wondering if we hadn't missed something in the set up or something... you know come celebraties are divas when it comes to what they want in their dressing rooms. Perhaps we are looking at a diva of the future...

Day 10.

BigDaddy is gone for the week... in a community with no cell coverage... He was not happy about leaving just in case his baby girl decided to give birth in his absence. The baby could be a week old before he knows about it....

It will all work out in the wash.

Show Us Your Life - What do you feed your kids???

2011-02-04T15:34:00.000-06:00

Found this over at Kelly's Korner and thought it would be kind of cool to share.

I have 7 children. 5 of them have lived with us on a full-time basis. My 2 youngest "step" children have always lived with their mom.

This is what we have found "pleases" the majority of our children:

Breakfasts:
Oatmeal (with berries or other types of fruit)
P.B & Honey sticks (toast cut into strips)
Toads in a hole
Cheerios
Honey combs
Smoothies (made with yogurt, frozen berries, bananas and milk)
Yogurt with granola and berries and/or bananas

Lunches:
KD and wieners
sandwiches
Orange (tomato) soup and grilled cheese
pita pizzas
pizza subs
homemade lunchables

Suppers:
cubed chicken with dipping sauce
sushi rice (it is moldable - I squish it into balls and they think it's great!)
waikiki meatballs
lasagna
veggies with dip
Beefaroni
shake n bake chicken
spinach salad with mandarine orange segments in it

I have always been fortunate as my children have never balked at vegetables - the occassion type but not veggies as a whole. I have always referred to veggies as nature's candy though. But I have found that children LOVE to dip and dunk foods, especially when they are young. So, when my children were young I would cube chicken breast with a dipping sauce, veggies with dip (ranch, etc), fruit with dip (yogurt, peanut butter, etc) and they LOVE drinks like smoothies (especially if you can make them fun colors). Add lots of blueberries and black berries for a purpley colored one or add food coloring... through in cottage cheese when blending if you are concerned your children aren't getting enough protein or add tofu...

I also hid stuff... if they ate meatballs I grated, very finely, veggies (zucchini, carrots, peppers, etc) and mixed them in with my meatballs or added it to pasta sauce... whatever I could sneak it in. That was more for the sake of my teenage "step"son who came to live with us with the liking of only one vegetable, corn niblets! I can proudly say that for his girlfriend's birthday a few weeks ago, he cooked asparagus, roasted peppers and made a salad!!!!

Offering them repeatedly seems to work. If all your little one will eat is carrots, try to add just a smidge of another veggie with it. As they get accustomed, they will eat more and more and it will become natural to see those things on the dinner plate.

With kids, I have learned the more fun it is to eat, the easier it is to get them to eat it!

Snail's Pace

2011-02-04T13:26:00.000-06:00

Yes, this baby is slower than molasses in January! And given that it was just -43 Celsius here with the windchill perhaps that is providing baby with the incentive to stay curled up right where the little darling is!

But HELLOOOOOOOO

There are people here who have been waiting almost 10 months to meet you...

MamaJ is officially 7 days overdue today. Her patience ~~has wained~~... who am I trying to kid here!? What patience!? {grin} Poor girl is uncomfortable, tired, achy, headachy and just plain old anxious and excited to meet the little bundle of joy that is going to change her life in ways she can not even fathom. {grin}

She has gotten all sorts of strange helpful hints as to how to bring forth labor, including my humourous mockery of some of them in which I told her to place her hands on her tummy and with a firm, authorative voice say "Baby! Come forth!!!"

What kinds of advice were you given at the end of your pregnancy?