The holiday... or as Gwen would say, shagfest in Vancouver! hahaha

It is official that we will have a small romantic gettaway, paid primarily through airmiles, and I can't fricken believe it! We are going to Vancouver and although it is hard to believe, it will be my first time on an airplane! So there is a little nervousness mixed with the excitement but mostly all excitement. We will be flying down, 2 nights in a hotel and just relaxing as much as we can in 3 days. The last night we are probably going to stay at Adam's Grandma's house and come back the next morning. So, as this is our first trip away together and will be my first time away from the kids for more than a night, I am pretty stoked. It may seem like not long to some but this is a big deal for me of course and it will prepare me for more travelling in the future.
God bless to you all!
Heading to the carnival tonight. The kids can't wait!

New blogger!!!

Yippee, she finally did it! My sis made a blog!!! Here it is! So check it out and comment often. Hope she keeps it up as she is heading out of town and I will miss her so much. This will be great to keep in touch. Love you Virgie!!!

Update

Well, today I have found out the great news that maybe we can lay some flooring in the basement soon. ASAP in my thinking, but we will see what happens. The problem with the cracks will cost about $100,000 for the Strata to fix so instead they have decided to do a "hope hope hope" fix. Hard to explain but, I am feeling good that at least if we have any problem with it again it will be up to the Strata to fix it for us. So, I just can't even wait!!!

We got our couch and the kitchen set for the kids yesterday. The couch looks nice. I think I am going to be really happy with it. I would take a pic but I am leaving it in the wrap until we have floor and walls down there. So, our house is officialy too full for comfort! It has been for a while but now the kitchen set through it over the edge. I am ready to be done with this. Yippee, we are on our way!

The new news is that Adam and I are in the midst of planning a little trip for the 2 of us. I am getting concerned though because we were going to do it on airmiles but we have not finalized anything yet and we are running out of time to get the tickets. More to come on this topic as we get some final plans made.

I need to make lunch for the monkeys so I need to go. God bless you all!

School

Well, I had forgotten to mention, for those who don't know yet, we got Joshua all registered for school! I am so excited that he will go this fall! But, the price is a bit steep, even with the 50% off that they give us for the first year. I dreamed last night for about 3 hours of my decition to take him out and put him in public school. In my dream he was devistated and crying because he wasn't going to school with his friends and he was so scared and he wouldn't learn about God in the other school. It was so hard to see, even in a dream, my little man's heart broken. Anyway, this was only a dream, but the reality is, I guess I am nervous and it is showing up in my dreams, as to how we will find the money to do this, even though we know we have to. So I need to dwell on this


And he said unto his disciples, Therefore I say unto you, Take no thought for your life, what ye shall eat; neither for the body, what ye shall put on.
The life is more than meat, and the body is more than raiment.
Consider the ravens: for they neither sow nor reap; which neither have storehouse nor barn; and God feedeth them: how much more are ye better than the fowls?
And which of you with taking thought can add to his stature one cubit?
If ye then be not able to do that thing which is least, why take ye thought for the rest?
Consider the lilies how they grow: they toil not, they spin not; and yet I say unto you, that Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these.
If then God so clothe the grass, which is to day in the field, and to morrow is cast into the oven; how much more will he clothe you, O ye of little faith?
And seek not ye what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink, neither be ye of doubtful mind.
For all these things do the nations of the world seek after: and your Father knoweth that ye have need of these things.
But rather seek ye the kingdom of God; and all these things shall be added unto you.
Luke 12:22-31

I will not have a doubtful mind. I know that God is the one who wants this for our children and we need to remember that He will make sure we have enough. And we did get a pretty good income tax return, Thank God for that, and we are using some of that to pay about half the tuition in advance. Can you all pray for me when you think of this, for peace of mind and provisions. I would greatly appreciate knowing that others are thinking of us. I find that consciously I know that we will be fine, but subconsciously my silly fears come out in my dreams. They are silly, because it is not a huge number that we have to come up with but I just know that we have to, I don't want to back out.
Just my thoughts for the day. Hope all of your day is blessed by God. Relax, and don't worry!

The appliances from God!

It is just a reasonably simple set but brand new! And the sink too! I am so happy to have them, it is a joy like I never imagined to be able to do my laundry! Thanks to my mom's help, I didn't have to go to a laundramat while we waited but it is still so nice just to go in my own basement and do the laundry.
Deep freeze. I love it!
Nothing in it yet but I will be going shopping and stocking up this weekend. I can't wait! And we can feel free to catch lots of fish again okay Adam?!? hahaha, as if he need permission.
The box for the kids, I will make them a house that they can paint soon! They are fort kids for sure!
And an overall look at the, not so much progress. Yes, that plastic is all that goes between our place and our neighbor's house. Not cool! I am praying for the rest to go quicker than it has so far. God bless you all and have a great night. Oh yeah, and of course... the Canucks did it and I am so glad. We move on!!!

Head shaving!

Since my mama is out of town, I thought that I would post the head shaving extraveganza... Just did this after church.
New clippers came with this cape, so handy!
Dark stuff Joshua, light is Joel of course. Cutie #1
Cutie #2

I love just hanging around

Sam helped by swinging the kids for quite a while



What a nice time just to hang around with friends! Love it!

Fun times with Daddy

The last couple months when Adam is asked to do sound at church, he has been walking to church. It is quite a way so he leaves early. He has really been enjoying his ipod this way and gets some extra time to himself and a bit of a work out. This week he decided to ask Joshua to go with him. I was hesitant as it is a long walk for an adult let alone a child and I was not sure that Joshua would be able to do it. But, he was so so excited that I thought that I better not step in. Adam got Joshua up at 6:30am, after he had showered and was ready.

Joshua had his breakfast,

Obviously Adam didn't fix his hat but he looks none the worse for wear. They listened to the ipod with a splitter for the headsets so they could each enjoy the music. So cute, taking a break.

On the bridge, what a cutie pie. Adam said that after the bridge Joshua said he was getting tired so Adam gave him a shoulder ride the rest of the way.

And there he is, pleased as punch as they arrived at the church. How cool! I loved it when Adam got him to give me a call when he got there. He sounded so proud. Fun times with Daddy.

4:20

Couldn't help but notice this 4:20 in the bible after the hoop-la of 4:20 lately.

Lamentations 4:20 The breath of our nostrils, the annointed of the Lord (our king), was taken in their snares- he of whom we said, Under his shadow we shall live among the nations. (Amplified Bible)

If you are bound by the snare of drugs may you find freedom and escape through the blood of Christ.
God bless

New washer, dryer, deep freeze... and updates of the like

I never thought that I would be so happy about doing my own laundry! It is a blessing I can not get over today. I felt like crying just starting my first load in my brand new washer. We are so blessed, that a flood and so much distruction can result in blessing after blessing after blessing.Yes, I am frustrated that it is taking so long, but each step there is a new joy in me. I can see God's hand in it all so clearly now.
So the concrete guy came to look at the cracks in the floor and he said that the floor is just fine. That this is normal and the problem is that there is bad dranage, most people already know that about this area so I don't think I have to expain about the drainage quality in clay. So anyway, there needs nothing done to the floor, but they are probably going to have to dig all around the units that have the cracks especially and put drain rock in there as it is not done properly. These buildings were built in the late 60's I guess so the code wasn't quite as good back then :) . So, I have to wait and hear back, but in the waiting period I am pleased that he said, there is really no point in even sealing the cracks as the water will find the places that the concrete is thinest and come through anyway. He said that a lot of people try to do that because they don't have the money to deal withthe drainage problem but it is pretty much a waste of time as the water will find its easiest entry point. And if they fix the drainage issue then it will just drain away and the cracks will never be a problem! I am praying a lot in this matter as the Strata will now have to vote if they do the work or not and find where the money will come from. I just want to put my floor down again and have a basement.
I am going to go down stairs and take some pics of my new appliances. Then I will post them.
Hopefully I will have something more exciting to post soon, this is overtaking my thoughts and my life. But I did make it out for a little time at the park yesterday with Jenny which was such a blessing! I was so tired and worn out but it was just nice to go and see the kids play and get together with a friend. Sometimes I feel so house bound, I am not really though, I just need to go out more. God bless you all today.

Very very late birthday pictures

As I have not posted in a while I was thinking of pictures to post. Couldn't find many I hadn't posted so here are the yummy ones from my birthday. It makes me so hungry!
In a quick update... our washer, dryer and deep freeze should be here on Friday. I can't even imagine being able to do my own laundry! YAY! And my new utility sink is installed with the leak under it fixed! And on Saturday someone is coming to check out the cracks in the basement floor. Monday our couch and new kitchen set for the kids will be here. I don't have any clue where we will put it though! Hahaha. I just can't believe things are actually coming together. Slowly but surely!
Here are me and my beautiful sis. I will so miss her when she moves at the end of April. I can't imagine not having her around for our frequent visits. But life moves on. Like my necklaces? Annabelle bought those with my mom for me for my birthday. She wanted me to wear them all. Cute!


There's a little eating going on!

Here are some of the food pics from the night. I can't believe how hungry these make me! And, I took almost no pics of the girly fun, but got plenty of food! haha

Jenny's
Christine's
I think this is my sisters
Maybe Christy's?
Tamara's

Mine before I mixed it and made it the most deliciouse thing in the world!
Jenna's
Starla's
And the outcome of the product! hahaha. This picture turned out a bit creepier than I thought. Love you ladies and thank you so much for celebrating with me. You all blessed me so much! God bless! You too Gwen, as you are not a part of the food but were a blessing none the less being there at Tamara's house!

Easter celebrations

You may be catching on that our family happens to really enjoy a good fondue. As my mom has had a lot of school work to do lately and with it tax season and all she has been extra busy, so Virginia and I planned a lot of this dinner ourselves and my mom helped us prepare the food. It was very nice. Oil and cheese fondues going here.


Enjoying a nice family fellowship meal with my mom, Adam, me, Virginia, and Blaine. The kids got a rented movie and are eating in the living room which they love to do as it is quite a treat!


Then on with dessert. My uncle and Grandpa came for delectable dessert of chocolate and strawberry fondues. My sis and I made little cream puffs, minus the cream to dip in the chocolate or straberry also. So yummy!!!

Very enjoyable as you can see by this smile!

Our neighbor brought over some clothes for the kids that her kiddos have grown out of, very handy! This outfit of Annabelle's was in the bags and she has absolutely fallen in love with it! She wants to wear it everyday and needs to show the jacket and hat to as many people as possible. So cute! After church on Sunday we had lunch and then the kids looked for their easter baskets. They were so excited and sat down right away to eat and eat chocolate. I am glad I was a little conservative this year on the amount!

After that we watched the Easter story, read some books and then made these cool eggs. I had previously blown everything out of the inside of the eggs so that the kids can keep them around for a while. Then we painted them. It was then bed time and the end to a very awesome celebration of new life, and the wonderful resurection.
Just before baths, the kids needed a little colouring time in their new Easter colouring books.
The finished product of the eggs.God bless!

The Message of the Cross

I was so blessed, being able to sit in the service today at church! Thank God for great friends who don't mind taking an off schedule turn in the nursery when the schedule just is not working out as planned. Thanks Star. Tim shared on not just the cross but really on the forgiveness and Love of Christ and the faith we are to have to enter the Kingdom of God. I am always so moved by Tim's preaching. Sitting in this sermon, I actually felt my heart remembering my First Love, Christ who won my heart years ago. I felt the excitement in me again that I so long to have all the time. It is amazing that a sermon that really is the basics of our faith, could stir my heart so intensly. It was brought across so clear how much He really did and does love me! We serve such an amazing God.

As it is Easter today, the kids and I are watching the Easter Story on video and have read the book, Miracle in the Morning, The Wonderful Story of Easter. It is beautiful, Joshua really does appreciate the whole story and he has such faith in God, it is such a picture of that child like faith that we are to have to enter the Kingdom of God. What a wonderful child God has blessed me with. Joshua told me this morning that even though he is a little bit shy about people, he wants Jesus to be proud and smile at him so he is not going to be shy to lift his hands and give himself to Jesus in worship. He told me that one of his friends said that it is weird but that he doesn't even care what people think, he is just doing it for Jesus. I say "AMEN!!!" And pray for that boldness to be in me!

We are painting Easter eggs soon and reading this book

Which is a story about 2 young children. It has the comparisson between a chick coming out of an egg and the new life of that, to Christ coming out of the tomb... RISEN, and new spiritual life. I just love it to read while painting Easter eggs so that hopefully they will know that this is why we do the Easter eggs, not because a bunny dropped them by.

I did hide easter baskets around the house with a little chocolate in them to celebrate the season, too and of course that was a huge hit! I will post tonight I hope, pics from today and our Easter fondue last night. God bless you all in however you are celebrating this awesome day worth celebrating!

Just a little update, since I have become a blog slacker and I am not proud of it

I am not proof reading this thing because I have to go so pardon any errors. Thanks all.

I was so excited to see a new comment on my blog as I have not seen any since, well, that snowy day... hahaha. So this one is for Jenny, always making sure I am awake in blogland.

I have had such a crazy couple weeks. It has been wearing me down, big time but, God has come to the rescue as I had asked Him and has helped releave the pressure. Well, the day came for our mortgage renewal. Couldn't believe it when we went and got bi weekly instead of monthly payments and uped our payment per month just a little bit. It changed our mortgage from 20 years left to the new and oh so improved, 12 years!!! That was the beginning of the relax starting.

The basement, still up in the air, was stressing me out big time yesterday. So, I told Jenny, I am starting to get pretty down about it. Just after her and I got off the phone there was a knock at the door. It was the building maintenance manager of the strata just stopping by to tell me that he should be able to get a guy in soon to look at the cracks, and that he had a roffer fixing our soffets (sp? no idea) This has been in need of fixing for far too long so needless to say... Thank God, as I have not even been able to think about that since the basement issues. My spirit was lifted a bit and I decided to call the insurance agent and sort out some missing money and ask some questions, like, when all the rest of the stuff is leaving my basement so I can get my brand new washer, dryer and deepfreeze in, yet another blessing just yesterday, the money come from the insurance for that. He said, call Hydramist, so, I did because I was on a roll! Called and asked about some money that was missing... well charged to me and was not all supposed to be. You see, my mom and I worked our buts off to get all our stuff labelled and baged in our basement to save the Hydramist guys some work. After all, it is my stuff and I consider it my responsibility so, I told him we would do that. He said, oh great and I will pay you for your time by taking it off your $500 deductable. So I was extatic. Between the 2 of us we put in about 20 hours! But I was charged the full deductable which left me short for the purchase of the washer dryer, etc. So the guy from Hydramist was apologetic and said that they usually would charge him the deductable and I would pay him so he was not aware that I was chared, so he ran over with a check for $300! That was way more than I thought that they would pay us! $15 an hour! So that rocks! And they are coming Monday to grab the rest of the stuff to go to the dump! Then I am supposed to get a new utility sink and get Aqua to come and fix a leak, caused from workers in the basement, and install a new sink. Then get my washer and dryer, etc delivered. Although we still don't have a floor, I can not even imagine having the relief of doing my own laundry again. On top of that they are paying us back for all the money we payed my mom for soing our laundry. She mostly did it as a favour so it was not much but I wanted to try to cover her Hydro costs at least.

So, I woke up this morning with a huge weight lifted and a bright day ahead. Thank God for things getting worked out and things being on their way.

This is probably a pratty boring post as it is just life, but I will post more soon. We are having a big family fondue for Easter and my sis and I are planning it today. I need to go and get ready. Picks from the birthday to come, although I hardly took any, accept the food of course. Here is one pic to show off how bored some people get. We saw this as we waited at the Mohalk for people getting slushies after supper on my birthday. The water was dripping from the drain pipe into the cup with a little whole in it for the straws and then draining out the straws, and then onto the ground. Pretty inventive people in our town hey??? Hahaha