Tuesday, January 30, 2007
Thoughts for the night
Why are you crushed down, O my soul? and why are you troubled in me? put your hope in God; for I will again give him praise who is my help and my God. Ps 42:5
Whatever stands against you, it is not as strong as our God, it can't even compare. If we stand strong in God and do what is right by Him, he will show his power and give us the Peace that passes all understanding! The victory is His and His alone! Thank you God for all you have done!
Monday, January 29, 2007
Loving Literature and Loving God
I wanted to share my two favorite parts. The first about literature and the second of Clive's growing pressure to believe. (Mother-in-law, Shirley, has since given her her copy!!!!)
Saturday, January 27, 2007
A blast from the past!
Me in the "employee lounge" at Timmy's after my shift, enjoying... an iced capp, the first year that they were around! This outfit I am wearing may not look super cool to all of you, but those of you who know that I adore music and clothing from the 60's, would understand why this is packed away, in hopes that maybe Annabelle will be just as odd as her mommy when she is 16! I loved these overall bellbottoms and leather jacket and would wear them all the time... as a matter of fact, I still would be wearing them if I wasn't 5 sizes bigger now!
My couple years of strangeness. I do not even remember having those, oh so cool, gold curtains! But, we still have the ash tray that the candles are burning in right outside on out deck for visitors to use.
The gang... I recognise all but one. Not sure about that first girl but then there is Henny, me, BJ, Sirena, Clara, Bekki, Christy, Ruth, Chris, and Rich. Those were some days!
Me and my sister Virgie on one of our holidays. We had planned a trip to Ireland and bought the backpacks and saved most of the money but my other sister Bernadette planned her wedding for our holidaying time so... we shortened it and took a train to Edmonton. we really didn't want to miss the wedding, especially becasue we were in it! And we were very inexperienced with backpacking anywhere so it is probably good we went there instead of Ireland. We staying and camped in Jasper and they were pretty much the coldest nights I have ever had. We were bundled so much and still were too cold to sleep. Also, realizing that we had over packed, by a lot, we found a box and sent about 1/4 to 1/2 of our stuff back to mom. Stayed in Edmonton 10 days and had a great time! I still dream of going to Ireland... maybe with my hubby one day!
Last but not least, me and my girl, Sirena, in front of my car I had for my first year of driving... I am 16, she is 15. We met when she was 14 and I was 15, she came to know Christ shortly after. What a true blessing this friendship has been. I love you Sirena! She always called me, "my Char". I loved it! Look at us Sirena... I can't believe it is us.
Thursday, January 25, 2007
Wednesday, January 24, 2007
Facepaints, Friendship, and Love
So here are a couple pics of Joshua with his face painting that Ruth did in Sunday School class this week. He wanted pictures because he loved it so much! It was a little hard on him, the thought that he had to wash his face before bed. I think that Ruth has quickly become a favourite teacher in the class for my kids because of the face painting. We all enjoy it.
Last night I was waiting for Adam to come home from prayer. I was getting pretty tired and it was around 10pm... that is pretty early for me to be getting tired but anyway, I was. So, he came in and had had a really nice night. Then he threw me a pack of mentos and said, "I got you these from Walmart" I gave him a bit of an odd look and he said "don't you like mentos, yeah I just thought that I would get you a pack at walmart." So I said, "Why were you at Walmart?" "Just thought that I would get you Mentos" He says with a smile. Okay... So I was trying to figure out what was going on when he sat down. He said, "I know our anniversary isn't till next month but I wanted to get you this to wear out to dinner." So he handed me the box. What a sweety, he spent a portion of his i pod savings on this neclace for me. Totally unexpected and total surprise. God sure has blessed me with a great man. This is not a great picture, but you get an okay look at it. It is real rubies! I don't have much for jewlery so this is quite a treat for me. Makes me... feel like a woman! haha Love you Babe!
So, that is all for tonight. Have a great night and God Bless!
Monday, January 22, 2007
Update and lovely pics by Star!
Our basement is clean! Finally the guys from Hydra Mist finished doing the cleaning and sanitizing. I am so glad. That means that the fixing will start soon. Yippee!!! It looks like crap down there... but not for long!
My friend Starla came over a few days ago and took some picture, especially of Belle, to be possibly hanging in the Clever Cub's Den store that has newly opened up in town. It will be great advertising for her photography business. I was so excited as I love when people say that my kids have some special quality that they love to photograph. In this case of it was Belle's hair (It is loosing a lot of curl but still has a few beautiful ringlets) that was the thing she liked and I was more than happy to have her come and take the pics. Thank you so much Starla for taking the time and doing the boys pics too. So awesome! So, thought that I would post my favourites of the pics she took. They are beautifully done. What an awesome photographer!
Friday, January 19, 2007
Some catching up on the thoughts of our life
Things are fine around here. I feel the basement is starting to come along. I just can't wait to have the fixing-it-up on the go. I feel so odd with no walls and floor and with having a whole lot of junk just thrown where ever in our house. The hardest part is that because we live in a condo and our neighbor's basement flooded, too, we have the bottom 2 feet of our basements open, just plastic seperating us. The days to follow the flooding I was having a lot of bad dreams, dreaming people were coming in our home while we were sleeping and I kept having to fight them off and I was so scared. So of course I prayed, prayed a lot, now the dreams are gone but I still dislike the feeling of having our safe little home open to our neighbors, although for the record, our neighbors seem like very trustwarthy people and also, people who would not harm pretty much anyone. I guess it is just all about being together in our little boxes of safety, no one coming in unless invited, no one seeing in unless let. Weird how that is. I realize more and more how the security of a home is a real need for people. I wish this would not be so strong as I would love to be more open to new people and even strangers. I guess it is my protective nature as a mother, too, which I believe God gives us for a very good purpose. I won't worry, and really there is nothing to be scared of. I need to tell myself what I tell the kids, "don't be scared, remember that Jesus is right beside you". Sometimes I forget about that. There is no reason to fear.
We celebrated Joshua's fifth birthday. Just 3 boys came and it was so relaxing and fun! I love small parties. I think that 3 is absolutely perfect. What a truly fine blessing that boy is in my life. I can't believe that it won't be long till he starts school. I am really excited as I know that he is more than ready and it will be a great thing to have more time to concentrate on the other two. I absolutely feel that Joshua was a blessing, something that I really needed in my life for my own faith developement and a gift from the heart of the Father to me. I love him so much! I will never forget the feeling I had when I first held that baby in my arms. It was very much a day of beautiful dreams coming true. A mother at last! I will be posting pics of the party soon.
Well, although it seems like foolishness to some, I have been trying to loose a little weight, with some success already which is a huge accomplishment for me. As most people know, before I had my babies I never had to worry about weight at all and I have grown to absolutely LOVE food. I can eat a lot if I want to and if it is good food I see, I really want to. It was a bit of a rude awakening over the past year gaining 10 pounds when I thought that I still had the metabolism of a teenager, so... although I always said I wouldn't, I decided to go on a low calorie diet. Nothing really strict but lowering my calories just a bit so I could loose about 15 pound... low and behold, after just less than 3 weeks, already I have lost 6 pounds! I was shocked to see that it was that quick. I should, I pray, have no problem reaching my goal by my birthday in March! If I don't, no biggy, I just want to eat healthier and a little less. I want to be an example to my kids of self control in this area, not overindulgence, sometimes even to the point of gluttony. I want them to know how to eat healthy and in that I know they will feel better and have more energy for life.
We have had our friend visiting from Alberta, Steve and Lorraine, with their little ones. It has been such a blessing to have the chance to catch up with Lorraine and to see our kids play together was so great. They are leaving this weekend, it will be tough to see them go. Their little girl got the flu last night when they were at my house. I loved just being able to be a help to them and to help to care for their children. What a blessing family and friends are. I, unfortunately, was just enjoying our visit and was not taking pictures so there are none to be seen but, I did enjoy these last few day imensely. Thank you Lorraine for lots of catch up and a friendship that carrys on even through miles of distance and years of absence. I love you guys and your family is absolutely beautiful!
In the last few weeks there have been a few people who are closely related with our church, pass away. We had a funeral, but a joyous one, for one of these people a few days ago. It was a celebration of her life and a "going away party" as she had requested. She was saved and going to see Christ. It was so nice, but I couldn't help but shed some tears in the "preparing to meet her beloved" part of the picture show. She was such a beautiful woman and had such a sweet spirit. I have been a little choked up this last couple days thinking of her but also, of course there is a sense of joy in that she is free and with the Father now. It is kind of helping me really appreciate the plan of what is to come. Lynne gave such a great analogy of a balloon (our earthly body) filled with helium (our spirit). After we pass away, our body lies empty but the spirit is free. She popped the balloon and said, the helium is not gone, it is just free. And it gave me great peace in my heart. I know the facts, and I know that the spirit seperates from the body and goes to be with Christ while the body stays an empty shell but I guess I just never thought of it like, the spirit is actually trapped until the day it is let be free. That really it is the true form that the spirit should be outside the body, not the way we are now, all confind to our flesh and apart, somewhat from God. Lynne, if you are reading this, thank you for that. You are so faithful in your aproach to God and you really helped in the lifting of my heart. You are such a blessing.
As it is getting late and I want to spend some time with God before I hit the hay, I will sign off. I hope everyone is well. Night night and God Bless!
Shopgirl and Last Holiday...
Adam was working tonight so I thought that I would rent a couple movies, first of which I watched tonight, Shopgirl. Okay, so I was looking for kind of a romantic comedy because hey, that is a good kind to watch when Adam doesn't have to suffer through it. I had no idea what this was about and thought that it looked like that kind of movie from the front. If you ever have been told, 'don't judge a book by it's cover' in this case, a DVD, This is the prime example! I thought that there would be some laughs, lightheartedness, love and romance, etc. I was not impressed though. It was quite serious, sad almost depressing in parts. It was not funny, not romantic besides about 2 minutes in the whole movie and left me feeling a little distrot. Just a thought for you all, if you are going through the video store and see this and think that it may be good, try it if you like but it is pretty longish and be prepared not to have great feelings afterward. Also, I did not look at the ratings, it was rated R and so there is a bit of explicitness I could have lived without. Anyway, there are my feelings on that!
On another note, Adam and I watched this movie a few weeks ago, Last Holiday. It would have been such a great movie to re-watch tonight instead of wasting money on the first one mentioned. If you are looking for a wholesome, warmhearted, movie with a little romance thrown in, this is the one!!! We both really enjoyed it. It is rated PG 13 but I remember nothing that would have really merrited giving it a 13 in the rating. It was funny, and a bit of a different romantic comedy. If you are looking to find a movie of this kind... this is the one.
Hope you all are having a great night and GOD BLESS!!!
Wednesday, January 17, 2007
Thursday, January 11, 2007
Christmas Eve
Joel holding the colouring book that Nana got for the kids. They opened it to try to calm him down. It worked for about 5 minutes.
Opening the colouring book. I am surprised it didn't end up getting ripped as all three were opening together, but it was fine.
Just before supper, Jennifer, Jarred and Stephanie stopped in to give the kiddos these chairs as a Christmas gift. Cute huh?! I love that show they are watching! After Joel was feeling better we had an awesome night of relaxing, stuffing stockings, after the kids were in bed of course, and watching Scrooge, then it was off to sleep for us just after midnight. Nice end to the night!
Thanks a lot guys, the kids love them!
Monday, January 08, 2007
Breaking through the bordom of our blog!
I can't believe my first little one is 5! What a blessing and a half that kid is to me! He is my little faith builder, he always trusts in God, and he loves to share about it. He is also the one who takes care of me when I am sick, he tickles my back any time I want, snuggles, loves me no matter what happens, loves to play games, always makes me laugh. He is just a great kid and I am so blessed to be his mom, so blessed God let him be mine to care for. He blesses me every single day. Just his smile alone brightens my day. I love that little dude!
Joel, Gavin, Joshua and Annabelle during the cookie excitement.
Joel, just playing with dough
Cookies that the kids made. I sent this batch with Jenny and then I made the rest because of the dough problem it was very hard to make them
And here are the rest!
Cookie time with Daddy!
Joel's one creation. I love it! Then he sat down and ate it.
Joshua wanted to make this special gingerbread man so I got him to pose with it.
Yummy blue icing!!!
Tuesday, January 02, 2007
It's been a while!
Starla and Jenny, thanks for wondering! The basement is coming along, slowly but surely. There is much to do and I am a little overwhelmed to say the least! I am making unending lists and can't remember anything it seems. About a week ago the people from Hydra Mist came and dryed the floor where the carpet was and then ripped out the carpet, what a relief! Then today they came and took all the bottoms of the walls and the linolium. weird to be able to look into my neighbors house! They flooded too, so their walls are also gone. It stinks down there and looks really rough! Tomorrow Webbs iss coming to check out our washer, dryer and deep freeze. I have a sinking feeling they are going to say we have to keep the washer and dryer, I am praying that they will say they are too rusted or damaged! Please God! I have wanted new ones for so long. We will see. So, that is where the basement stands. If you pray, please pray it will be a quicker process from here on out. I can't wait to have more space to live and a bedroom that is not piled to the ceiling with stuff! Also it would be nice to just know exactly what is going to be cover by insurance and prices and stuff as we have no money and a lot of stuff to be done!
Anyway, there are lots of pictures, just not on the computer yet. I am so worn out! Christmas morning was great! I mean, exactly what I could have hoped for! My mom slept over. I got up around 6:30 and made the coffee and got breakfast ready to cook. I turned on the christmas lights and music. By that time Adam was up and on the computer. I told him I was going to wake everyone. So,I guess it was around 7:30 I went and woke the kiddos. The gift opening was awesome. The kids were so blessed and so were we. I loved it. So relaxing and so many smiles. The kids were so greatful and they enjoyed every minute of it. Even though, the kitchen set that I loved and wanted so badly for the kids, was bought, then in the flood and was shipped off. There were no more at walmart so, no kitchen for the kids. They didn't even know the difference though. They don't know that even their old kitchen is gone. It was so awesome to have my mom spend Christmas with us. It was really my first time that anyone has ever done that. I hope it is a trend that will stick! I feel so blessed to have my family and so many friends with me during the holidays!
Adam had to work New Years Eve night. I invited my mom and Uncle Lloyd and Grandpa over. It was great! Snacks, games and all the kids made it till midnight and were still happy! My Uncle and Grandpa only stayed till about 10:30 but my mom and me and the kids brought in the new year together with newyears crackers and glowsticks! Pics to come. There is also Christmas dinner at our house and an absolutely awesome fondue party at mom's that I need to write about but I have to get the kids fed and to bed. Hope everyone is enjoying 2007 so far!