Thursday, December 27, 2007

Joy and family and a couple extra pounds....

What a wonderful couple of days. Our Christmas always starts on Christmas Eve as Kev's family celebrate in the German (?) tradition of opening all the presents etc after dinner on Christmas eve. It's pretty magical.

Super Sister-in-law (I think that may be her new name) came through with the most amazing dinner! She wins hands down as the cook of the season!

Yes, even the dogs joined in the celebration. See we're "those" dog people now!
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We mostly watched her work her magic (I think Amelia took this one)
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and hung out getting Christmas cuddles from our last baby. (Can I still call her a baby once she's four?)...
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At the kids table, crazy mayhem ensued...
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So it was pretty much business as usual:)
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We have a tradition where Papa reads the Christmas story from a huge old coloring book that my hubby and sister-in-law colored as kids. It was touching and precious this year to have the four older boys each take a turn with Papa in reading. I remember when they were tiny boys and could barely sit still long enough to read through even a page and here they are, on the cusp of becoming young men... amazing!

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And then came the crazy, exciting present bit! They were all pretty excited. We don't go overboard on presents but they all loved everything so much it was fun to watch!

Here's the, "oh, I can't believe how much I love it!" face...
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followed by the, "waaaaaa-whoooooo. You rock! You totally rock" dance and song....
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Wonderful, magical evening.

The second half of our Christmas tradition started when we came home to fill the stockings with my mom and dad and brother.

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"And the stockings were hung by the chimney with care...."

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In the morning, we got up too early and had a wonderful day of more gifts and more food.
My dad took the pictures so hopefully I'll have them later!

It was a great couple of days filled with love and family.

Sunday, December 23, 2007

Merry Christmas!

I just finished my 4 pies and am going to start on a cake and maybe venture onto these. If you don't hear back from me it's because my bum is suddenly much too big to get into my computer chair:) From the sounds of it, it will be well worth it. Seriously check that blogger out! I may have to try everything she chronicles but I plan to pace myself because it don't wish the diabetes and heart disease on my nearest and dearest.

We have tried, just like every year, to make this season less about "stuff" and more about our faith. As usually I am failing miserably. I wonder if everyone feels this way or is it just me? I am failing to pass on the importance of Christs birth to my precious, sugar filled offspring. Will they even know why we race around like crazy people for a month, buying, buying, buying? Can they feel that underneath it all should be a deep sense of peace, joy and mostly love? That we give gifts because the greatest gift of all was given to us? I'm not sure but I hope so.

I hope this Christmas is filled with love and joy for you and yours. I pray Gods peace and blessing for those who I know are grieving this season. May you be able to rest in God's great love.

Over here we will be celebrating our savior's birth in the fashion we've grown accustomed too. It mostly involves a revolving door of family and tons of food. I can't wait! My poor sister-in-law has taken on the unenviable task of Cooking The Turkey. Yes, she may need psychiatric help at the end.

"Merry Christmas from our family to yours!"

Friday, December 21, 2007

Trying this again....

So I was going to tell you about our day of Christmas performances. I wish I had pictures of the younger kids doing theirs but it's hard to capture it anyway. I think there might be video but seeing how fast we get on that stuff, it could be next year before that makes it's way OFF the video recorder! It's probably less painful for you this way anyway. Their my kids so it's my job to sit through all this and love it but not so much for anyone else.

My middle two have been practicing and working on a Christmas production "The Mystery of the Manger" since October. The big unveiling was on Sunday. Son #2 had a dancing role and choir duty while daughter #1 sang in the choir. Although wonderful, Isaac's dance was so quick that most of our guests missed it (I didn't and thought he was amazing) but no one missed the larger than life blond girl singing in the front row. I'm not sure if the choir director told her to sing loud AND smile but whoa nelly! She was like one of those badly dubbed martial arts movies from the 80's. So cute and hilarious. I had quite a few people come up to me after and tell me they loved watching her. She's a born performer that one!

It was like every Christmas production you've imagined. Poor singing by the soloists, the sound was terrible, you could hardly hear many of the kids talk BUT it was wonderful! Because it was my precious kids and for me, they were wonderful.
The extended family was somewhat underwhelmed, I think, but...I thought my kids shone like stars because...that's my job:)

I was surprised actually by how much Isaac enjoyed it. He is the kind of kid that you have to make do things because he hates them and doesn't want to but once you get him into it, he enjoys himself so much and does a great job. It's exhausting for me at the beginning but worth it in the end.

Oh and the littlest girlie even had a part. The 3 and 4 year olds went on before the bigger kids and knocked everyone's socks off with their incredible cuteness. They had a little poem to recite which Amelia knew at home but I noticed as I watched she didn't say on stage. AND a song. I think they stole the show! SO CUTE!

Everyone migrated over to our house where we had lunch and the older boys did something that involved this:
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and a bit of this:
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I think Amelia (the three year old) took these.

....and then it was off to cousin #1's Christmas production. In this one the small kids were safely used as sheep with, I noticed, no lines and everything went without a hitch. Can you still say a fourteen year old is cute? Cuz he is! I was so proud!

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I'm pretty sure he was a shepherd.

But look at the audience...

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Yes this is what we're dealing with folks! They managed to sit the whole time AND listen ( I think) but I'm pretty sure they have enough sugar coursing through their veins to cause diabetes is weaker souls:)

Monday, December 17, 2007

Of cake and architects etc...

I'm a binge blogger. I do so great and then...nothing.

I'm a binge eater too. My mil made a cake for the lunch I hosted yesterday. She was totally sweet about leaving it for me so today...I ate it. ALL! Well, everything that was left anyway. I didn't eat much real food. Just cake.

YUM!

Oh and I DID NOT run:( So for those of you impressed by my wonderfulness (not a word but I can use it if I want!) don't be.
BUT...

It was worth every bite. Seriously mil makes the best cake ever!

Oh, we had an architect to our house today to do a consult on what we can do with the "crazy" house, as we affectionately call our home. The first meeting is just an brainstorming thing where we tell him what we want to do and our hopes, dreams,crazy insane ideas,wishes and he (kindly) tells us we're insane he then drew out some concept stuff that blew our socks off. Since I'm NOT the money person in our relationship. I turned to hubby after he left and said, "I so want them to help us do this". And he said, "Do you understand how much money they cost?"

Of course I don't. He's been married to me for 13 year this should NOT be a surprise to him!

Anyway, he blew our complicated little plan away with his equally complicated but much more logical ideas and then when we are convinced he understands and loves us breaks it too us that he costs a boat load of money to manage our renovation. Hubby figures between himself and my brilliant bil (who runs a Commercial construction company and actually knows what he's doing) they can go solo on it.
No huge coin to architect dude for pretty booklet of ideas which will later turn into more large dollars for detailed drawings etc. and I get to live through yet another renovation. I did willing choose it this time though so I have no one to blame but myself.
I can imagine how amazing our beautiful little acre of trees and lawn will look in the end though so...that does help.

On other fronts And because I'm being to panic....

Who else is not done their Christmas shopping? I was doing so well but I am down to the last few and I seem to have stalled out. HELP!

Friday, December 14, 2007

I think I'm loosing it a bit. My groove. My drive to run. I'm still running but not as far. I only ran 6 k instead of 10 on Monday and for 45 mins on my tread mill Thursday instead of my hour outside. I think this would all be fine if I wasn't eating so much but I just helped eldest son to polish off a bag of M & M's. Have you tried those new dark one??? YUMMY!! Worth every bite! YUM.


So I want to stay in shape but I also want to enjoy my holiday and the food is a big part of that. Is this just going to be a constant tension in my life? I don't think I'm quite ready to give up chocolate, wine or the odd cookie.

I guess what I'm saying is that I'm trying to find some balance. A way to be fine with the way I feel and look while NOT sending the wrong messages to my kids, especially my daughters. I want to be able to enjoy a great meal with my friends and family without talking about how I have been "bad" or shouldn't be eating it. I also want to be able to turn off my craving for sweets when the season is over.

Mostly I'd like to do more of this:

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This is from our family walk last weekend. We just put aside the baking and the house cleaning and went outside.
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Maybe that's my answer. Just get outside and stop worrying so much about the whole food thing.

Tomorrow's going to be a crazy busy day BUT it will start with a nice long 11 km run followed by our tradition of a coffee and muffin. I can't wait!

Thursday, December 13, 2007

sorry for the rant....

The meeting with my teacher went great! Kids are all good and the war hammer table was a HUGE hit! YAY kids!

You should have seen us in there! We're such a gong show AND we brought the dog. Lucky for me our teacher is amazing. She's flexible and fun and loves the kids (and dog)!

Maddy (my six year old) is not really reading yet which gives me a bit of worry. There's nothing wrong with her brain and she's very bright but oh so stubborn. I think she doesn't like being told what to do? (who do I know like that?) and she wants to be able to do thing well, first try (also... no idea who she gets that from!) The boys also didn't read well until at least grade two and now are both voracious readers, so I do know it will come. It's just hard to wait for it to come and frustrating fighting with her to practice:)

So onto my new rant.

Christmas shopping!

Which actually, I like doing. I love finding the perfect gift for someone, buying it and then watching them open it! I LOVE that! I don't like having a budget but then who loves that at Christmas time but I seem to always find something great for almost everyone.

What I HATE and I mean dislike so much it makes me want throw things and then drives me to drink?
Are you ready?

Shopping with my three year old!

Don't get me wrong, I love my three year old, just not in Winners! 'nuff said!

Tuesday, December 11, 2007

The one where I actually talk about homeschooling...

I am a homeschooler. I know I mentioned it in my profile but if you're like me, you don't read it first thing. I usually remember after I've read a post or two. When I'm thinking, "now, how many kids does she have? Where did she say she's from?"

Anyway, I am.

I'm not one of those outwardly militant, jumper wearing homeschool mama's but that side lurks somewhere in me. (well maybe not the jumper part but I can get a bit militant on an off day). People usually tell me that my kids and my self don't seem like homeschoolers. I'm not sure this is quite the complement they mean it as. OR it could be a serious put down to other homeschoolers. What does that mean anyway?

When I start hearing things like, "Oh wow. You homeschool. I could never do that." Seriously, it's the craziest thing to say really. Like any of us feel we're equip for anything our adult lives have thrown at us. We usually just do the best for our individual families with what we have.

I usually say," I don't feel like I can do it most days either." I'm thinking all sorts of snarky, sarcastic things at them though cuz, that's just the way I roll. I'm not mad really. It's just fun to think up smart alec responses to stupid comments. Try it. It's so fun! I wish I was so quick in real life but then people would not think I'm so nice after all:)

We meet with a teacher once a semester. I guess the government has to check to make sure we aren't actually using our kids for manual labor on the sly or something. My meeting is tomorrow. I'm a bit stressed about it for a couple of reasons.

Number one: I have a ton to do tomorrow and don't really want to take the time to meet with said teacher. I want to run, help a friend celebrate a birthday, hubby is away and I just don't feel like it :)

Reason number two: For those of you who don't homeschool, this will make NOT sense to you but for those who do....

..... how to show what my kids have been learning. What I've found in my years at this gig is that real learning has very little to do with the stuff kids put down on paper. Why is this a problem you wonder? Well, the only way people, like myself who come from the institution of public education, have to measure learning is by the stuff kids write down on paper. Mostly fill in the blank, story writing type drivel that non of us remember anything about now that we're not in school but for some reason was crazy important to have studied and re-studied for years and years. Well we don't do a whole lot of that as you can imagine. Mostly because it's not fun and has very little long term value. I have to admit it does look cool though AND so fun to show people! My girls seem much more inclined in that direction so maybe I will have some "hard copy" to show people in years to come.

Here's an example of what the boys are up to:

The boys have created a panorama for their Warhammer game (It's okay I'm not sure what warhammer is either. It's about painting little figurines and war, no hammers are involved though so, not sure about the name.)
It's a massive thing created out of Styrofoam and paint. This took countless hours and is totally self directed. Cool eh?!
They started with this piece of styrofoam:

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painted and carved and glued:
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and viola! They still want to add to this but here it is so far...
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I think it's out of one of the final scenes from The Lord of the Rings. It's the black gate I believe.
Here's a better angle:
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Can you see how this is a tad hard to represent in a paper answer type form?

Lucky for me they both do well at math and we have bucket loads of that.

Do you think I can get girl #1 to read novels by tomorrow? No. Me either. I guess we'll just keep going along at our own merry pace then.

I love the lifestyle we get to lead as homeschoolers. The relaxed way the kids get to approach life and their relationship with one another and the joy they can take in exploring their world.

I don't like having to prove that they are learning and the second guessing that comes with all of that. There's a lot of faith involved in raising children, multiply that by 10 when you homeschool.

I know I need to spend more time in prayer....

Sunday, December 9, 2007

Tree Day!

It was time! Time to get a tree. I was feeling so out of the Christmas spirit. I could have been my heavy heart (see last post) or just my feeling of being overwhelmed by all I have to do but whatever the reason, I needed a boost in the Christmas directions.

We headed out, in the dark (it gets dark so early here) to cut our own. I'd love to pretend we hiked deep into the snow filled woods to find our perfect tree but as someone who has actually done this as a child, it's highly overrated! We went to a tree farm about 5 mins from our house. Somewhat less romantic but way more practical.

Here is my troupe trying to decide what tree is the most desirable. Notice the flashlight in Hubby's hand. He's always thinking.
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I'm pretty sure the whole trip was all about this for son #1...
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How about this one mom??? Too small? Really? Cuz it seems just right to me!
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After tramping around in the pitch black, trying not to trip on the stumps of already cut trees....
WE FOUND IT!!! YAY! Gather everyone for a picture!
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And yes, we do everything is a group. We are quite the sight everywhere we go!

And then it was down to business...the cutting involved a lot of laying on the ground and hunching over with a flashlight.
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Mission complete! Back to our house for chili. And wine, don't forget that.
Christmas is officially ON!

Thursday, December 6, 2007

This is the one I've been wondering how to write....

It's been a month, a whole month and I've been wondering how and if to write this but I feel I need to honor Callum's short life with a post.

Behind the fun posts about dogs, kids, coffee and shopping is a deep sadness. A grief that is not my own but I feel it all the same. C. who should today be sending out emails of all the crazy sleepless nights and milky sheets that come with the celebration of a new baby is sending instead pictures of her beautiful stillborn son. I should be reading of her labor and thinking back to my own. I want this to be the news I'm getting. I want to go back and make this month all a bad dream for her. Instead we are supporting her in her grief and lose and celebration of a life that ended before it really started. All her hopes and dreams for Callum will never be realized in this life because on October 31st she got the news that every pregnant mother secretly dreads. Her unborn son, the one she agonized over having, the one she aches to hold, had no heartbeat. He was delivered on November 1st. You can read her story in her own words here. Please do. C. is and amazing writer and Callum was so loved and wanted.

I believe that God holds Callum in His arms. That His heart aches as well for C. and her husband and children. I pray they can feel His peace.

Tuesday, December 4, 2007

yummy dinner. time with hubby. wonderful!

Well what a nice evening. Isn't it interesting that the planned events, birthdays, anniversary's, Valentine's Day (I hate V -day but that rant is for another time!) are some times forced and stilted? They're always nice enough but there's so much riding on them. Too many expectations and sometimes the timing is off.

My mom and dad are still in town after watching my kidlets for my girls weekend and they told Kev and I to have an evening out. It was so great! We went for the best dinner ever and had a wonderful chat. I forget sometimes why we fell in love. He's wonderful! So smart and fun. I can't imagine my life without him by my side! Love ya babe! I love that we can talk about nothing, our business, our kids and years into our future all in the same hour. We have so many fun years ahead of us.

We went to The Lamplighters in Fort Langley. My bil and sil told us how amazing it was and we'd tried unsuccessfully to get a table a couple of other times. It seems Tuesday evening on a cold dark rainy night is exactly the time to get a very popular restaurant all to yourself.
We had a lovely bottle of wine and an amazing meal! I had the seared Tuna and Kev had "the best steak of his life!" - YUMMY!


At the same time as we were out dining, boy number one went to his first ever formal Christmas banquet. We dropped him off and watched him go in. He's like me in so many ways but I see his confidence emerging and it that he's nothing at all like his mom. I'm so glad! His good friend couldn't make it so he went alone. He doesn't really know anyone else there very well AND he still had a great time! YAY Levi!

As we arrived our neighbor drove up to drop off his daughter. She's only a year older and is many feet taller but looks 18 while our son looks 10. I remember the days of towering over all the boys. I tell Levi just to give it time but I'm not sure he believes me.

Well, I'd best sign off. I finally get to see the end of The Pirates of the Caribbean - Dead Man's Chest. We went to the cheap theater in Vernon but they had some weird alarm go off just before the end. VERY strange that!

Monday, December 3, 2007

So good to be home....

It was a fun, crazy weekend away. We shopped like mad women and ate almost nothing and drove through a snow storm but we made it! The wallets are many many dollars lighter and hopefully the kids will love their Christmas presents.

It was funny (as in funny interesting) to watch us on this trip. Two of us were on a mission. We had lists in our head, things to buy, people to cloth and stockings to fill, while two of us were on a girls weekend away, filled with trying random things on, coffee breaks, having their make-up done and leisurely shopping for cool stuff. We would laugh amongst ourselves about this when we met up in food fairs or accidentally in random stores.

Can you guess which category I fell into? I'll give you a hint, I stood for over and hour in Build-a-Bear.

One thing none of us did much of was...enjoy our food. The food was terrible! I'm not much of a foody and mostly it just needs to keep me going but...woah there are some BAD places to eat in Arlington, WA. We had some great chocolate though which (almost) made up for it.

Before last year, I had never taken a trip away with friends. I think it's a wonderful refreshing thing for moms to do. I feel ready to tackle what the rest of the month has to offer.

When I came home and started to read some of my close friend's blogs I realized how trite and sort of flaky my little notes are so, consider this your cookie break for the day. In-between reading of the sorrow and pain and deep considerations going on in other women's brains come to my little place and have a coffee. I am thinking those things, I'm just not sure how to share them in this format.


I also realized, when I got home, that I'd hardly taken time to think, or to pray. I'm not completely done my Christmas shopping but I hope I'm almost there so that I can take the rest of the month to treasure my family and do the things that really matter:) Enjoy the snow! We got some more here and it's lovely.

Friday, November 30, 2007

Off for a wonderful weekend...

I'm just leaving a quicky post. Oh okay, you got me, they're all pretty quick. I thought maybe with all the pictures no one would notice:)

Anyhoo....my sil, myself, a friend and her friend are all heading out on a hunting exposition. We are hunting wild coats, and shoes, and jeans and hope to return with a catch to last us the whole winter through.

I'm so excited about this girls trip! It's funny whenever I go on these things though. I never have time to do all the things I planned to do for me. I wanted to get my hair cut and tweeze my eye browns. You know so I look like a human rather than a mom. I actually don't even think about it much until I'm actually out on my own, no kids in tow.

Seriously, how do those women do it?! You know who I'm talking about those ones in the mall with their high healed boots and skinny jeans, highlights all in place, nails & eyebrows all done. Some of them even have kids which amazes me even more! You know those ones we all look at and think mean things about ("I bet she's not really happy...") because secretly we're green with envy!

So I'm not one of those AND I won't have my kids with me. I'll just be one of the unwashed masses, bad hair, slight roots, hint of a mono-brow... shopping the outlets with my buds.

And I CAN'T wait!! Wish us luck on our hunting and gathering trip!
See y'all after the weekend.

Oh and check out Kristen's blog while I'm gone. She made the trek with us last year and it won't be the same with out her. Miss ya Kris!

Thursday, November 29, 2007

Waking up...

I woke up this morning, stretched and glanced over the sleeping three year old who had come in sometime in the night to see that it was...7:50!!! What?! Then I remembered that really we have no where to be yet today, so I rolled back over and enjoyed waking up.

These are the mornings that make me love homeschooling. Levi does have a class at 12:00 and my sil and I usually run (I will probably just hit the treadmill today) but today we can take our time waking up, getting going. Even the dog slept in.

I think I'll go have a leisurely morning coffee before I officially get started.....

Wednesday, November 28, 2007

I'll try this again...

This whole blogging everyday is harder than it looks. (I can't even seem to do it every day so how would I know right?!)

I'm casting my mind around for something...funny...sweet...profound...There are so many images and thoughts in my mind and heart simultaneously. How do I process all this stuff and stay on track? Maybe I can use this excuse for my lack of any visible forward motion on most days:)

I'm noticing more and more that I am completely motivated by connection with other people. I almost crave it. Both in my off and online life.

I read all my comments and visit their blogs. I have to admit to checking daily to see if anyone else has left a note. How sad am I?! It makes me feel like I'm not just whistling in the dark somehow. I'm not sure if all this counts as "real" but thanks to all of you who are reading and to everyone who's leaving a note:) You are making my day!

Check out what we got yesterday! The kids were thrilled and couldn't wait to get out there!

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We live on the west coast so when we get snow it doesn't stay long. What a fun way to "jump" on the tramp!
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Monday, November 26, 2007

Dogs and kids and other great pleasures...

I'm not sure who said this but I keep running into it so I thought I should share it with you. It was on the white board at the local pool on Friday, of all places.

"Dance as if no one were watching, sing as if no one were listening, and live everyday as if it were your last."

I am struck at how little my life looks like this. I don't "live out loud" in anyway that I can see. I don't think this was always true of me but I learned at a really young age that being expressive was not safe or acceptable.

I watch my oldest daughter and think that she has not learned this lesson and I'm glad. Maybe I haven't passed my fears onto her? She is all personality and it's wonderful to watch. No one says "Maddy? Hmmm. Which one is she?" People say things like, "Oh you're Maddy's mommy!" lol. I love her spirit!
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And her younger sister is right on her heals. The two of them are a force to be contended with. My desire for them is that they grow up being able to fully be who God has created them to be. Without self consciousness!
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My sister-in-law and I took our younger kids and our dogs on a big long walk yesterday. It was a blast and the kids did great! Amelia snapped a photo of us. How great is the light in this one?!
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I love watching son #2 when he's the oldest or the only boy. He's really wonderful and truly shines.
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I'm humbled and kind of freaked that I've been entrusted with these kids! CRAZY!

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Saturday, November 24, 2007

poop on the deck and other strange things...

Saturdays are a bit crazy for us and I know I add to it but I feel like I need to be selfish in this one area. Saturday mornings I run 10 K with my sil and her sil. I'm pretty proud of myself actually as I pretty much never stick to what I've started. I'm an amazingly fabulous starter, one of the very best, but finishing...not so good. So when we started weight watchers last January I knew I could loose the weight and probably keep it off more or less BUT I never thought I'd still be running. We run in the rain, in the frost, in the fog and even in a wind storm (once and probably never again - sorry Ange!) I don't just run. I'm kinda sorta an actual runner - weird!

Anyway, Saturdays are soccer day. It starts early with Maddy at 10:30, Levi at 11:30 and Isaac at 12:30...yup crazy! So if I DID NOT run it would really make things easier but then I wouldn't get to run. And I love it! Or maybe I just love to eat so...I love to run so I can eat and not gain...whatever, same thing!

I love my hubby though, he is happy to do whatever he needs to do so that I can indulge in my fav pasttime! Love ya babe!

Friday, November 23, 2007

What Friday already???

My plan was to write every day. Opps, I didn't even make it every other day - YIKES! Good I don't work for a paper or anything.
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I have so many thoughts swirling around in my head and none of them are really that interesting or witty or even worth writing. Maybe that's more why I haven't written since Tuesday? BUSTED!

I came across a quote in a book I'm reading that really impacted me. I keep sitting down to read it and start at that same line. I'm pretty dense, maybe I need the reminder.

"Now - listen carefully. Forgiveness is a choice. It is not a feeling - don't try to feel forgiving. It is and act of the will."
From Captivating by John & Stasi Eldredge


It's strange that this line would hit me so hard because I don't actually have trouble forgiving people. Anyway, thought I'd share it.
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We meet with a group of people from our church ever second week. It's a great idea actually because these are mostly not people we'd ever really get to know in any other way. We have dinner together as families, do a short bible study together, and pray for one another. It's good but I feel like it's so hard to really get to know each other. That we're always kind of staring out at each other from behind our windows.

It has sort of lead me lately to think about community and connection with other people. How do we form communities? Do they really matter (I think they do)? Why do I never feel like I truly know people or that they know me? Do we ever actually let people in to "know" us? I am shocked and humbled by the blogs I read sometimes. They are so raw and real. People really letting you into their heart of hearts. Is this just something that's easier to do in the anonymity of the blogosphere?

These are my random thoughts for today. No pictures or witty repartee from me:) Chat among yourselves.

Tuesday, November 20, 2007

not every day but...better than before...

I'm trying something new...being consistent. I know, crazy right?!
Okay so only in the areas of reading my bible and writing in my blog.

Where are my priorities?

Here's were I should be consistent if I was a "good" wife/mum

1. laundry. Everyday and folding it! I know you laundry people don't always fold. It only counts if it's folded and in the drawer! (mine NEVER counts!)
2. schooling with my kids. I am a homeschooler and not one of those poster child ones either. I'm the, rather bake, read, run, watch cool movies kind of homeschooler. I feel exactly how the kids do about their school work (shhhhh don't tell them!)
3. vacuuming. HATE IT! and now we have a dog, enough said!

I do have one thing that I have managed to do on a regular basis, for a whole year. Yes, I am as surprised about it as everyone else!

RUN!

I run at least 3 times a week. For 11 Km. Rain, shine, wind storm (almost killed by a falling branch, very exciting!) and cold.

LOVE IT!

Love how I feel after I run.

Love that I am actually capable of doing something consistently. Who knew?!

Here are my running peeps! We may have had a couple of glasses of wine at the time....
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Sunday, November 18, 2007

Am I old now?

Well it's official. I am not longer anywhere near my twenties. How did this happen? I'm not young anymore, which is a strange feeling really. I feel great! Better than I did in my twenties when quite frankly I was mostly pregnant or nursing so...of course I feel better now, but what happened to my face? I mean, don't get me wrong, I'm not complaining about how I look. I'm just different. I don't look ... fresh anymore... I look tired mostly. And wrinkled.
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I did have a wonderful day though. I am surrounded by people who love me. It's wonderful and amazing. God is good! It never ceases to amazing me at the small ways He shows me I am precious to Him. Somehow I have been entrusted with these amazing kids and a husband who loves me very much - WOW!

Okay - sorry enough mushiness.

My mom and dad came down last weekend to celebrate with me. Thanks mom and dad!

When I came home from my morning run yesterday there was a big banner
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The kids had made me. AND presents! I do love presents!

Then that evening my sister-in-law had a birthday dinner for me. It was amazing and she's wonderful! Thanks Randa!
Check her out, single handed-ly delivering the cakes!

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Thursday, November 15, 2007

November 14 and other things going on in my life...

I am not so good at the whole keeping up on the blog thing - sorry!

NEWS FLASH!!!!!
We got a doggie. Yes, you read that right. Me. The super deluxe dog hater of all times, now has her own little poochie. Guess what?! I LOVE her!
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Okay, so i don't love her every second of every day (the random peeing, barking and biting could go away and I wouldn't miss them) but I am really enjoying having a new member of the family!

I am going to have to go ahead and blam this on my sister-in-law though. She said "yes" finally to her hubby and kids when they asked (begged) one last time for a dog.
Here are the girls welcoming Molly to the family....
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And a week after they brought Molly home, we went to pick up Bree.
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The kids are thrilled to have dog!! Levi especially is stepping up. I'm so proud of how he's taking care of our new pet.

The dogs even "played" together...
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Welcome to our family Bree!!!!!

Monday, October 15, 2007

So long since we've "talked" or blogged...whatever...

Wow, it's been a month. A month, since I last wrote. I'm not sure if it's just me but days seem to be racing by so fast I can't quite catch my breath.

I sometimes blame it on having four kids, but mostly its the things we choose to do with our four kids. Soccer anyone? No. Well how about dance? Not your thing? Wanna homeschool? Another great idea. Forgive me for being a bit hysterical about it all today. I was just adding soccer practices and games to our mind bending calendar. Actually writing the whole thing down kind of pushed me over the edge.

I should be making lunch and having the kids do their Language Arts but instead I'm going to do this. If I'm going to waste me some time, I'd better make it productive (well important to me anyway).

Here are some pictures of our Thanksgiving walk from last weekend in Vernon. We went to see my mom and dad and have a bit of low key thankfulness. It was awesome!

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Kev ended up pulling either the empty wagon or a wagon over flowing with kids. It seemed to depend on the hills.
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Totally cute one that I just had to post of my dad and Isaac. Isn't Isaac looking older?!

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I thought this one pretty much spoke for itself. Imagine life with these two?! We don't have many dull moments let me tell you!

Oh and check this out. One of the coolest things about having more than one sib? You can play leapfrog at anytime and anywhere!

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Guess what I'm thankful for?
Thank you Lord for your rich and every increasing blessings!
Happy (late) Canadian and Happy (early) American Thanksgiving. We all have so much to be joyful about.