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!


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!



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?!




I love watching son #2 when he's the oldest or the only boy. He's really wonderful and truly shines.


I'm humbled and kind of freaked that I've been entrusted with these kids! CRAZY!

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!

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.

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....

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.



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

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!

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!

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....




And a week after they brought Molly home, we went to pick up Bree.

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...

Welcome to our family Bree!!!!!

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!

Kev ended up pulling either the empty wagon or a wagon over flowing with kids. It seemed to depend on the hills.

Totally cute one that I just had to post of my dad and Isaac. Isn't Isaac looking older?!

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!

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.