Today, after our normal breakfast of pancakes (thanks, honey!), The Girls asked if we could have a "lazy pajama day".
I, of course, said, "Definately!" So, here I sit, at 1:30 pm, The Girls all in alone time, still in their p.j.'s, and I, in mine. Probably, when they get up, we will all have showers, and put on some clean pajama's... a perfect day!
In other happenings...I don't know if I say this often enough, but I have a really great husband! This week, we had some crazy things happen, and even though I freaked out a bit, he never wavered. He seeks this Lord for guidance, direction, and wisdom, and then, he keeps on. Not stressing or fumbling about, but justs keeps on. I appreciate his faith in the Lord, and it encourages me to not look to the left or to the right, but keep seeking the face of the Lord. Yup, he's a good man!
Saturday, February 28, 2009
Friday, February 27, 2009
Happy Birthday, Baby!
Today, my baby is 2 yrs. old! Can you believe it? I can't! Art and I were talking about this very thing last night, and I realized....I've never had a 2 yr. old and not been pregnant. That is crazy, as well. First time for everything, I guess!
It seems like just yesterday (pardon the cliche!) when I was rushed in an ambulance to the hospital, praying that my labor would stop so she wouldn't be born 10 wks. early....laying on the couch napping with her after a feeding...watching her do all the firsts - smiling, sitting, crawling, walking, talking... I wonder what firsts this next year will bring for Ellie Mae. It's been fun to get to do things together as a family, and not having to stay back and take care of a baby. A whole new world, I think!
Anyhow, we won't have Ellie Mae's 'party' (I use the term loosely....4th kid, turning 2...not really a party!) on Sunday when Art's sister will be able to join us for the celebration. We'll have cake and candles and pictures.... And then I shall post them (off my back, people!). That's all I have to say for now. Hope you all have a great weekend!
It seems like just yesterday (pardon the cliche!) when I was rushed in an ambulance to the hospital, praying that my labor would stop so she wouldn't be born 10 wks. early....laying on the couch napping with her after a feeding...watching her do all the firsts - smiling, sitting, crawling, walking, talking... I wonder what firsts this next year will bring for Ellie Mae. It's been fun to get to do things together as a family, and not having to stay back and take care of a baby. A whole new world, I think!
Anyhow, we won't have Ellie Mae's 'party' (I use the term loosely....4th kid, turning 2...not really a party!) on Sunday when Art's sister will be able to join us for the celebration. We'll have cake and candles and pictures.... And then I shall post them (off my back, people!). That's all I have to say for now. Hope you all have a great weekend!
Monday, February 23, 2009
25 Random Things About Me!
So here's something I did on Facebook, but I thought I'd post it here in case you missed it... Once I started thinking about it, it was kinda fun!
1. I will always be young because my husband is 10 yrs. older than me!
2. I love candy
3. I lived and travelled in Europe for a 9 months
4. I have 30 cousins, 10 sets of aunts and uncles!5. My girls have 14 cousins, 4 aunts and 3 uncles!
6. I took piano, violin, flute and trumpet lessons as a kid
7. I drove 1 hr. (each way) every day to go to high school
8. I had a horse named Alex for a number of years who I showed
9. I have had probably 22 ultrasounds throughout my pregnancies
10. I never took swimming lessons, but love to swim/play in the water
11. I have never cleaned my shower (Art does that!)
12. We have had 9 cats since we've lived here...but only one seems to survive
13. We're on our third dog, since living here.... first 2 died (we didn't shoot them), and now Moses
14. This is my first Alberta winter not being pregnant or nursing (we've been here for 8 1/2 yrs.), and I've been freezing!!
15. Bloody hell, this is hard to come up with 25 things about me!
16. I grew up in the Vancouver area and NEVER want to live there again. It's beautiful, but crazy!
17. I always wanted to have daughters...I'm not too sad we didn't have any boys.
18. My best friend has the same birthday as my daughter, and her son and one of my other girls have the same birthday...how crazy is that?! 2 shared birthdays!
19. One of the things about being a mom that drives me CRAZY is cleaning the bathroom, and then the girls go brush their teeth and it's a nightmare once again. Toothpaste and water everywhere! Well, that and trying to get shoes on and get out the door.... And washing the floor. Every time I wash it, I'm sure, someone drops a plate full of food, or glass of milk....it may be a conspiracy!
20. When we first were married, I couldn't stand going to garage sales. Now, I love garage sale-ing...especially if you find a good one! Usually, in the summer, I will make pb&j sandwiches so we can have a 'picnic in the van', and we'll load everyone up and drive around in the country on a Thursday afternoon/evening, going to different garage sales.
21. When we lived in Abbotsford, our rent was $300/mth. for our (dungeon) basement suite.
22. My grandparents had a dog named Dutchess when I was a kid. One summer, we went to go visit, and Dutchess was gone. I asked my Grandpa where he was, and he told me he went off into the woods to die...I was sad. It wasn't until I was married, and we were talking about Dutchess with my grandparents one day, and my Grandpa said, "Went off into the woods to die?! I shot Dutchess!" That may have scarred me....
23. I love to bake!
24. I miscarried between Abby and Molly, and my girls, especially the older two, will talk regularly about 'Levi'. If they are exceptionally tired, they will cry, and say, "I miss Levi!"
25. I LOVE being married! I have a great husband, and we have lots and lots and lots of fun together! He makes me laugh, a lot, and tells great stories. You wouldn't always know it, since he's a quieter man, but he is hilarious! He is a great dad, and a great husband, and I am a better woman for having married him.
26. This isn't really about me, but it's funny, and since I used #15 as "Bloody hell....'. When Art and I got engaged, he had a box labelled "Girls, girls, girls". In that box were pictures of the (many) girls he had dated over the years...some of whom he couldn't remember names of. We got rid of the "Girls, girls, girls" box not long after that....
1. I will always be young because my husband is 10 yrs. older than me!
2. I love candy
3. I lived and travelled in Europe for a 9 months
4. I have 30 cousins, 10 sets of aunts and uncles!5. My girls have 14 cousins, 4 aunts and 3 uncles!
6. I took piano, violin, flute and trumpet lessons as a kid
7. I drove 1 hr. (each way) every day to go to high school
8. I had a horse named Alex for a number of years who I showed
9. I have had probably 22 ultrasounds throughout my pregnancies
10. I never took swimming lessons, but love to swim/play in the water
11. I have never cleaned my shower (Art does that!)
12. We have had 9 cats since we've lived here...but only one seems to survive
13. We're on our third dog, since living here.... first 2 died (we didn't shoot them), and now Moses
14. This is my first Alberta winter not being pregnant or nursing (we've been here for 8 1/2 yrs.), and I've been freezing!!
15. Bloody hell, this is hard to come up with 25 things about me!
16. I grew up in the Vancouver area and NEVER want to live there again. It's beautiful, but crazy!
17. I always wanted to have daughters...I'm not too sad we didn't have any boys.
18. My best friend has the same birthday as my daughter, and her son and one of my other girls have the same birthday...how crazy is that?! 2 shared birthdays!
19. One of the things about being a mom that drives me CRAZY is cleaning the bathroom, and then the girls go brush their teeth and it's a nightmare once again. Toothpaste and water everywhere! Well, that and trying to get shoes on and get out the door.... And washing the floor. Every time I wash it, I'm sure, someone drops a plate full of food, or glass of milk....it may be a conspiracy!
20. When we first were married, I couldn't stand going to garage sales. Now, I love garage sale-ing...especially if you find a good one! Usually, in the summer, I will make pb&j sandwiches so we can have a 'picnic in the van', and we'll load everyone up and drive around in the country on a Thursday afternoon/evening, going to different garage sales.
21. When we lived in Abbotsford, our rent was $300/mth. for our (dungeon) basement suite.
22. My grandparents had a dog named Dutchess when I was a kid. One summer, we went to go visit, and Dutchess was gone. I asked my Grandpa where he was, and he told me he went off into the woods to die...I was sad. It wasn't until I was married, and we were talking about Dutchess with my grandparents one day, and my Grandpa said, "Went off into the woods to die?! I shot Dutchess!" That may have scarred me....
23. I love to bake!
24. I miscarried between Abby and Molly, and my girls, especially the older two, will talk regularly about 'Levi'. If they are exceptionally tired, they will cry, and say, "I miss Levi!"
25. I LOVE being married! I have a great husband, and we have lots and lots and lots of fun together! He makes me laugh, a lot, and tells great stories. You wouldn't always know it, since he's a quieter man, but he is hilarious! He is a great dad, and a great husband, and I am a better woman for having married him.
26. This isn't really about me, but it's funny, and since I used #15 as "Bloody hell....'. When Art and I got engaged, he had a box labelled "Girls, girls, girls". In that box were pictures of the (many) girls he had dated over the years...some of whom he couldn't remember names of. We got rid of the "Girls, girls, girls" box not long after that....
Saturday, February 21, 2009
My New Favorite Thing
So, it was Valentine's Day last Saturday. A day that we don't normally celebrate too much. Sure, we get the girls a little something, but I've always told Art, "Don't buy me flowers...they are a rip off on Valentine's Day!" I awoke last Saturday morning to flowers. Very sweet of my husband. He also got the girls flowers, which, of course, they loved! In the afternoon, he very much surprised me with a little gift. Something that he has, that I have been coveting since the day he got it. Something that will make my life better. Something that is new, and makes me think that I am not 'behind the times'...
Yup, an iTouch. My husband bought me an iTouch. It's so cool!! We can sync our calenders, so we both know what's going on in each other's lives. I can put in my To Do lists, my grocery lists, play games, let my girls play games....oh ya, and have every CD we've ever owned in that bad boy! Art spent the last week putting all our music on for us. It's the coolest toy ever. And it will help me to be more organized! I love it with my whole heart! Definitely my new favorite thing! Thanks, honey! Oh, and we got to go on a date. To an adult restaurant (The Keg), and hung out together. All in all, a fantastic day!
Yup, an iTouch. My husband bought me an iTouch. It's so cool!! We can sync our calenders, so we both know what's going on in each other's lives. I can put in my To Do lists, my grocery lists, play games, let my girls play games....oh ya, and have every CD we've ever owned in that bad boy! Art spent the last week putting all our music on for us. It's the coolest toy ever. And it will help me to be more organized! I love it with my whole heart! Definitely my new favorite thing! Thanks, honey! Oh, and we got to go on a date. To an adult restaurant (The Keg), and hung out together. All in all, a fantastic day!
Thursday, February 12, 2009
A first
Today, I took the little girls over to a friends house for a bit of a playdate. Not a big deal, really, to anyone....but the girls. Not Ellie Mae (she's fairly oblivious still!), but Molly. And Olivia (her friend). Both girls have been...longing....to play together. This is a fairly new friendship for the two of them - they only played for the first time a few weeks ago. But since then, I think they've both been living in expectation of the next time. Which was today. It took a little while, but they found their groove. Just before we were going to leave (of course!).
So, Olivia's Mom asked if Molly could stay for the afternoon. Normally, Molly still naps, but as I thought about it, I thought of what I would want to do. If I had a friend that asked if I could come and play, even though I was tired, I would still go and play. It's what I love to do....play! So, Molly got to stay for the afternoon and hang out. Man, was she excited. As I left, I realized that it's the first time she's got to go, away from me, and play with a friend. She has a friend! How fun for her!
How I hope that she grows up, surrounded by friends who love her, and whom she loves. Friends that will be there for the good times, to have fun and play, but also when things get a bit tougher. Friends who she can lean on, and love, and who tell her maybe what she doesn't want to hear, but what she needs to hear. Friends who love her! That is one of the (many) things I wish for her.
So, Olivia's Mom asked if Molly could stay for the afternoon. Normally, Molly still naps, but as I thought about it, I thought of what I would want to do. If I had a friend that asked if I could come and play, even though I was tired, I would still go and play. It's what I love to do....play! So, Molly got to stay for the afternoon and hang out. Man, was she excited. As I left, I realized that it's the first time she's got to go, away from me, and play with a friend. She has a friend! How fun for her!
How I hope that she grows up, surrounded by friends who love her, and whom she loves. Friends that will be there for the good times, to have fun and play, but also when things get a bit tougher. Friends who she can lean on, and love, and who tell her maybe what she doesn't want to hear, but what she needs to hear. Friends who love her! That is one of the (many) things I wish for her.
Wednesday, February 11, 2009
100th post
Do you believe it? I made it to 100! This marks my 100th post....so, all you skeptics, take that! I've even put some pictures on, at times. Yup, I've done good.
This weekend, my Dad was here. It was fun seeing him, and the older girls enjoyed their coffee dates with him. Ellie Mae, however, was very funny. She dubbed him "Nanny". She would stand at the bottom of the stairs, and yell, "Nanny! Nanny!". I'm not sure where she got that, but it was quite humorous! Even now, as he is gone, she still asks for "Nanny!"
It was also Art's birthday on Monday. Since he's not a big party animal, we had a quiet family night, which he enjoyed, and I made him his request of homemade pizza for dinner, and a killer good chocolate cake with raspberry filling. Probably the best cake I've ever made!
As I was thinking about him, and his birthday, I was so thankful. Art truly is a godly man who loves the Lord and loves people. He extends grace to people like no one I know, has such a generous spirit, and truly strives to live by example. He's an amazing Dad and husband, and I really am a better woman for not only knowing him, but marrying him. I definitely married up!! I feel so proud to live my life with him. I love that people are drawn to him, not necessarily for his charm or charisma, but they are drawn (though they may not know it) to the Spirit of the Lord IN him. Yup, it's true. Truly, he is great! And I love him. Lots and lots.
This weekend, my Dad was here. It was fun seeing him, and the older girls enjoyed their coffee dates with him. Ellie Mae, however, was very funny. She dubbed him "Nanny". She would stand at the bottom of the stairs, and yell, "Nanny! Nanny!". I'm not sure where she got that, but it was quite humorous! Even now, as he is gone, she still asks for "Nanny!"
It was also Art's birthday on Monday. Since he's not a big party animal, we had a quiet family night, which he enjoyed, and I made him his request of homemade pizza for dinner, and a killer good chocolate cake with raspberry filling. Probably the best cake I've ever made!
As I was thinking about him, and his birthday, I was so thankful. Art truly is a godly man who loves the Lord and loves people. He extends grace to people like no one I know, has such a generous spirit, and truly strives to live by example. He's an amazing Dad and husband, and I really am a better woman for not only knowing him, but marrying him. I definitely married up!! I feel so proud to live my life with him. I love that people are drawn to him, not necessarily for his charm or charisma, but they are drawn (though they may not know it) to the Spirit of the Lord IN him. Yup, it's true. Truly, he is great! And I love him. Lots and lots.
Saturday, February 7, 2009
Hittin' it out of the Park!
I've always wanted to be the 'fun Mom' who takes her kids to do fun stuff. However, after having 4 babies, I often think I don't have much fun left in me....until this morning. I was a fun Mom! First of all, Hannah & Abby had a dance thing at the church. A couple of girls in their early twenties decided they wanted to do sort of a worship dance workshop (that's really the only way I can describe it) for young girls in grade 1-4. So, I dropped the older two off...Abby so excited she could bearly sit still, and Hannah so nervous and cautious she could barely move - what a combination!
Then, I took the littler girls with me to do some errands. We were all done our errands with another 45 min. to go, and Molly begged, "Can we PLEASE go to Home Depot?!" (Do you think she spends much time with her dad?!) I had no better ideas of how to waste some time, so I said, "Sure." We walk into Home Depot, and walk around a bit....looking at carpet, tiles, rugs, until...we see the "Kids Workshop" sign. They had a kids craft/workshop going on, and asked the girls if they wanted to do a project. Molly immediately said yes. They put a bright orange apron on the girls, wrote their names on them, and away they went! They screwed, hammered (scared!) and put together a mini football goalpost. Both Ellie Mae and Molly had so much fun! Before we left, I asked if I could get a couple more aprons for the older girls, which they so willingly gave, and we were on our way to pick up the older girls.
All four girls had such a fun morning...none of it involved me actually doing anything other than make them available to have fun. Interesting, isn't it? I think that's sometimes how God works... he doesn't want us to DO anything, but rather, just be available...
All in all, I think it was a great morning.... I was Fun Mom! Hooray!
Ooh - one last thing. Both Hannah & Abby wore their Home Depot aprons to alone time, and Abby asked if they could play 'Home Depot' after alone time. Yup, it hit it out of the park today!
Then, I took the littler girls with me to do some errands. We were all done our errands with another 45 min. to go, and Molly begged, "Can we PLEASE go to Home Depot?!" (Do you think she spends much time with her dad?!) I had no better ideas of how to waste some time, so I said, "Sure." We walk into Home Depot, and walk around a bit....looking at carpet, tiles, rugs, until...we see the "Kids Workshop" sign. They had a kids craft/workshop going on, and asked the girls if they wanted to do a project. Molly immediately said yes. They put a bright orange apron on the girls, wrote their names on them, and away they went! They screwed, hammered (scared!) and put together a mini football goalpost. Both Ellie Mae and Molly had so much fun! Before we left, I asked if I could get a couple more aprons for the older girls, which they so willingly gave, and we were on our way to pick up the older girls.
All four girls had such a fun morning...none of it involved me actually doing anything other than make them available to have fun. Interesting, isn't it? I think that's sometimes how God works... he doesn't want us to DO anything, but rather, just be available...
All in all, I think it was a great morning.... I was Fun Mom! Hooray!
Ooh - one last thing. Both Hannah & Abby wore their Home Depot aprons to alone time, and Abby asked if they could play 'Home Depot' after alone time. Yup, it hit it out of the park today!
Wednesday, February 4, 2009
Faithfulness
I'm sitting in my dark living room, with all the kiddies tucked into bed. Art is out for the evening, I've tidied up my mess from the day, and it is quiet. So utterly quiet. And I love it! I know that if I didn't have the noise, my heart would yearn for it, but when I get these little gifts of alone time at home (usually I have to go out to be alone!), I relish them.
All day, my heart has been so full as I have been pondering how faithful God is. You see, I've been asking Him for some more stuff these days...not stuff, stuff, but stuff. You know? That I would be led by His Spirit and would have the courage to OBEY (that being the operative word!) what He is asking of me. That I would be able, in my own small way, to make a difference in someones life. Not necessarily a big, huge difference, but rather, a small, quiet kind of difference. And He has been so faithful in this journey that we are on to not overwhelm me, but yet to give me opportunity to put my money where my mouth is.... That so encourages me...kinda makes me feel like I am making some progress...
My whole idea of 'ministry' is quite different these days...I used to think, probably mostly sub-consciously, that we could only be recognized as 'ministering' if people gave us that label....pastor, teacher, counsellor...but I have been realizing over the past few years that we are all called to minister to each other. It's called love. We are called to love on one another. And that can look any million different ways. I love that I don't need the recognition of having a label, like "Pastor's Wife". But rather, as a "Cabinet Maker's Wife" I can do all that I have done in the past and more (and probably offend fewer people). So, I will continue on, feeling encouraged this quiet night, asking for more "stuff", and opportunity to put the things that the Lord is teaching me to some sort of practical use.
All day, my heart has been so full as I have been pondering how faithful God is. You see, I've been asking Him for some more stuff these days...not stuff, stuff, but stuff. You know? That I would be led by His Spirit and would have the courage to OBEY (that being the operative word!) what He is asking of me. That I would be able, in my own small way, to make a difference in someones life. Not necessarily a big, huge difference, but rather, a small, quiet kind of difference. And He has been so faithful in this journey that we are on to not overwhelm me, but yet to give me opportunity to put my money where my mouth is.... That so encourages me...kinda makes me feel like I am making some progress...
My whole idea of 'ministry' is quite different these days...I used to think, probably mostly sub-consciously, that we could only be recognized as 'ministering' if people gave us that label....pastor, teacher, counsellor...but I have been realizing over the past few years that we are all called to minister to each other. It's called love. We are called to love on one another. And that can look any million different ways. I love that I don't need the recognition of having a label, like "Pastor's Wife". But rather, as a "Cabinet Maker's Wife" I can do all that I have done in the past and more (and probably offend fewer people). So, I will continue on, feeling encouraged this quiet night, asking for more "stuff", and opportunity to put the things that the Lord is teaching me to some sort of practical use.
Tuesday, February 3, 2009
A Weekend to Remember
Friday night, we had this crazy, amazing wind storm. The wind picked up just after we put the kids to bed, and since it was SO loud, they came out after a little while and we watched and listened to the storm. Do you know what the craziest thing was? We saw lightening!! Lightening in January....it was nuts!! And lots of it!
Anyhow, moving on... Saturday, I got a 'day off'. Art had encouraged me to go out for the day, just get away. So, I picked up a girlfriend at about 10:30 am, and we were off. We just putzed around all day, did some shopping... (of course!), went for dinner. You know, all the fun stuff to do sans kids! It was so nice just to be away and have some fun, not having to watch out for 4 girls as I was trying on clothes in the change room (PS. I think that retail stores have a vendetta against tall, thin girls...I couldn't find anything!!)
When I got home, Art and the girls had a surprise for me..... they had gone to Costco (yup, Art took them all to the store! He said that people kept looking at him, or stopping to talk to him, and they all had this look like, "Either that guys' an idiot or a good dad!". I say, "Good dad!"), picked up a bunch of storage shelves and organized the basement. It was, of course, Hannah and Art's dream day! Organizing and cleaning up, what could be better! What a great man I have, who not only encourages me to get away, but works his butt off while I am gone?!
All in all, a weekend to remember!
Anyhow, moving on... Saturday, I got a 'day off'. Art had encouraged me to go out for the day, just get away. So, I picked up a girlfriend at about 10:30 am, and we were off. We just putzed around all day, did some shopping... (of course!), went for dinner. You know, all the fun stuff to do sans kids! It was so nice just to be away and have some fun, not having to watch out for 4 girls as I was trying on clothes in the change room (PS. I think that retail stores have a vendetta against tall, thin girls...I couldn't find anything!!)
When I got home, Art and the girls had a surprise for me..... they had gone to Costco (yup, Art took them all to the store! He said that people kept looking at him, or stopping to talk to him, and they all had this look like, "Either that guys' an idiot or a good dad!". I say, "Good dad!"), picked up a bunch of storage shelves and organized the basement. It was, of course, Hannah and Art's dream day! Organizing and cleaning up, what could be better! What a great man I have, who not only encourages me to get away, but works his butt off while I am gone?!
All in all, a weekend to remember!
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