"...What it means to be a woman..."

Last night, I went with a few friends to see the movie, "Secretariat".  Wow....loved it!  There was so much to pull out of that movie....many things that I will ponder over the next few weeks.

One of the lines I loved was when the main character, Penny, was reunited with her hubby after being apart for some time (she was with the horse, going to different races, and he was at home with the kids and his job).  He said something to the effect of, "You have taught our daughters things I could've never taught them.  You've taught them what it means to be a woman..."

I love that!  As I am raising my own daughters, I find myself thinking (often at inopportune times!) what it is I want to impart to them.  What it is I what them to know...about themselves, about what being a woman means, about who God is.  All of these things play into the daily interactions that I have with these four little ladies.  I want them to know that they are loved - both by their Mom and Dad and by God.  I want them to know that God has given each of them different dreams and aspirations...He's created them to be unique.  I want them to be confident in who they are in Christ.  This, ultimately, is the most important thing that I can teach them, because, I believe, if they know that....really know it, then who they are will stem from that.  Behaviors can be altered, but it's these things that are so important to get into their spirits.

I have so many more thoughts on this, and could go on and on, but my glamorous life of being a woman is calling..."Dinner is ready!"

The Prairies

I got in touch with an old friend this week who is moving with his family to Saskatoon.  From the coast.  That's a big move....we've done it (well, we only made it to Alberta, but you know what I mean!).  As I was writing back an update to him, telling him that's we've made the move to the prairies as well, I was reminded, once again, of how I love it here! 

Growing up in the Vancouver area, we were used to beauty.  We had the Rocky Mountains (beautiful!), the Pacific Ocean (beautiful!), and could never image leaving our family and friends (beautiful!).  However, God had other plans for us.... and here we sit.  In Alberta.  Small(er) town Alberta, none the less.  I must admit, when we did the deed, and moved here, I felt like I had finally come home.  For years, Art and I had dreamed about living in a smaller town, where the pace of life was a little less hectic.  In fact, we used to have a "mantra" that we would chant when driving around Abbotsford... "Small town mentality...small town mentality..." to keep us from going crazy with those drivers.  We moved here, and fell in love with the beauty of this part of our vast country.  Seeing the sunrises and sunsets....the northern lights....acres and acres of wheat and hay and canola fields...pastures of cows...and hay bales.   We had the opportunity to move back to the coast numerous times, but we just couldn't bear to leave this land we love.  It's like it was in our blood!   We felt like we had moved to Eden.  We would find stuff on the side of the road ALL the time (a bungee strap is a bungee strap, people!), we build some amazing relationships with people that accepted us and loved us (which, after now knowing us for 10 yrs., some of them still love us!), we bought a home in the country, with a shop....something that we could only dream of, at that point.... I don't know....it was just right. 

Even now, after we've been away from home, when we drive back into Alberta, I always have a big sigh, and think, "I'm so thankful to be home!".  Enjoy some pictures of the place I call "home".

Ah, the Smell....

....of poo.... Yup, it's true.  I said it.  Poo.  Otherwise known as manure.  Yesterday was a beautiful fall day.  I had some errands to run in the city, so off we went, wasting the beautiful fall day.  When we arrived home, in the country, it smelled like....poo.  And you know what?  I kinda liked it.  Let me explain...

I always talk about how great it is living in the country. And really, it is. I wouldn't have it any other way. However, there are realities of living in the country. Like having to go to the dump to take your garbage. And, when the power goes out, we have no water. And, in the spring and fall, for a few days, it smells like poo. But that's alright....if it means that I live in the country and the farmers are working their land, and it's not my septic tank which has overflowed into my basement. We have to take the good with the bad, people.  So we smell poo.

Being Quiet

I find myself being quiet these days.  Taking some time to reflect.  Pray.  Be.  I must say, I have been enjoying it.  For being the extrovert that I am, the older I am getting, the more I find myself craving these times of quiet.  I go for a walk up our "holy hill", and sit in the chair that my husband carried up there for me.  I watch the sunset.  I sit in the dark.  I go for a drive.

It's so easy to get caught up in the doing....keeping the house clean, laundry done, meals cooked, keeping up relationships.  But I find, that in this quiet place, I am happy just to sit.  To not have the phone ringing off the hook.  To realign the things that I want to invest my time and energy in.

I woke up this morning, and during my shower, watched the sunrise....and a coyote rummaging around the base of the apple tree...until Moses was let out!  I couldn't bear to turn on the lights, it was so beautiful!  Each of the girls came in at one point during the shower, and stopped short, taking a moment to gaze upon the beauty of the moment.   I am so thankful this day, for having the time and space to stop.  And take a look around.  And be quiet.

The Love...

...of my life. Here he is. I love this man...with my whole heart...

Finally!

For about 2 years, I have been looking for a square cake plate.  And this week, I finally found....two!  Of course, I HAD to buy them!  And they can be stacked to be two-tiered....love it!

New Shoes

Abby picked up these babies in Calgary on the way home from the mountains. They light up and sparkle...Ellie Mae also got a pair. They are super cool! 

Thanksgiving Weekend

This past weekend, we spent the weekend in Canmore with my parents. The weather was fantastic, and we so enjoyed the beauty of the Rocky Mountains! We spent some time walking through the shops in Canmore, went for a few walks, did LOTS of swimming (I was a prune by the end!), and the Girls favorite part, going up the gondola in Banff.  We also spent some time with my aunts & uncles from Calgary, as well as one of my cousins.  We were pretty impressed with ourselves - we had a whole turkey dinner which was cooked WITHOUT an oven!  Thanks to everyone for your contributions for a yummy dinner!

 A great view while shopping!

 The wisky jacks....

 feeding them....swedish fish!

 The sign reads, "It is unlawful to feed wildlife"  Hmmm...I wonder if wisky jacks count as wildlife?!

 Of course, a pre-Thanksgiving dinner nap!

 The kids table

The rest of the family

The New Decor

Oh, how I love fall!  It's my favorite season.  It's amazing how with the change of seasons and decor, my house instantly seems cozy and warm and a place where I want to curl up under a blanket and read a good book!  Enjoy!

AWANA

We have waited to this day for a looooong time!  This year, all of our Girls are enrolled in AWANA.  So,

one night a week, Art & I get to go on a mini-date night.  Just the two of us.  For an hour and a half.  And hour and a half of bliss!  It's only taken 9 1/2 yrs., but we're finally there.  Date night.  With no babysitters....'cuz the kids are all out.  A beautiful thing, friends....beautiful!

The Playhouse...the part that almost killed me!

So perhaps y'all are sick of hearing about the Playhouse.  To be honest, I am a little bit sick of it too.  However, I'll continue to tell you about it....darn it.  And here's why.  'Cuz it's cool...and all encompassing...and I almost died!  Here's the story:

So.  The roof was done.  Now, it was time to put the tin onto the roof.  And you know how to do that?  By climbing up on the roof and putting it on.  Here's the pictures:

There's my fantastic husband on the roof of the playhouse.  My fantastic husband who HATES heights.  Up there.  On the 12/12 pitch roof.

Doesn't he look happy?  Well, he was.  Kinda.  Until he told me that I needed to help him.  And to help him, I needed to move the freaking long 50 ft. ladder from the front of the playhouse, over very muddy and uneven ground with roots sticking out everywhere, where it is very slippery.  Let me tell you.  I learned something about myself on this day.  I learned that "Ladders are my nemesis."  Truly, they are!

Art tells me to move the ladder.  And I think, "No problem.  It's a ladder.  I've moved many a ladder...  And I've watched him do it a hundred times.  And I'm a strong cookie!" 

That's where it all started.  I tried to move this thing.  And let me tell you.  It was heavy.  Very heavy.  So I moved it about 2 ft., when I realized, "I cannot do this.  Really.  I cannot."  So, I proceed to tell me husband that.  And he tells me that I must.  Instantly, I am annoyed.  Really, I'm tough.  But the ladder is tougher.  So Art starts telling me what to do....in a language that I am sure is not English.  I do not understand a blessed word that he is saying.  Which I keep trying to tell him.  And he keeps insisting that I listen...which I do, but cannot understand....

Anyhow, to make a very, very long story short(er), I finally move it to the back of the playhouse.  Where I think have to climb up the ladder to the very top rung.  And by that time, the clamps that Art put on there to make sure that it stayed away from the roof have moved.  So his genius idea to fix this is for me to climb up the ladder (to the very top rung), let go of the tree which I am holding on to for dear life because it's right beside the ladder, push it away from the tree house (really, Art?  Really?!), and move the clamps.  Of course, I am in my right mind.  So that is never going to happen.  Ever.  We compromise...somehow...and I end up at the top of the ladder, helping him get the first row of tin on.

I climb down the ladder, relieved to be done with (trying to) work with my new found enemy, and my wonderful husband (love him!!  didn't really like him at this point), tells me that I need to move the ladder back.  To the front of the playhouse.  Really, Art?  Really?  Do we need to go there again?!  I, of course, being 'strong like bull' finally get it back to the front....and he climbs down, and I proceed to fall in to a sobbing, frustrated mess.  I truly was a hot mess!  After the release of that, I gather my wits about me, and we move on.  But this one thing I know:  my wonderful, fabulous husband will never ask me to help him with a very large and unruly ladder again.  So, in that sense, I suppose I did accomplish something!

The bugger about the whole thing is that I watch him use this very same ladder all the time, and every time he moves it, I think, "Dang!  That looks so easy...I'm sure I could do that!"

Who knew that a ladder could by my nemesis?!  We learn something new every day.....!

Frustration

So what did y'all do this past weekend?  Wanna hear what we did?  Well, I spent the whole, entire weekend outside looking for this:

We even had one of these to help

We had friends over Friday night, and Art was taking some pictures of them.  I was his handy assistant, and at one point, I gathered up some leaves to throw for the pictures.  After I threw the leaves, I put my hand in my pocket and realized that my ring was missing.... So we started to look right away.  Nothing.  Then, the guys went and bought a metal detector to help us look, which we spent the rest of the weekend doing.  Nothing.  Bah!!  These is nothing more frustrating than looking for something that is lost.  We took apart our entire house, looked in every drawer, fridge, freezer, garbage....and still cannot find my wedding rings.  I feel fairly sick about it!  However, now that we've looked....and looked....and looked....I've started to ask God for a miracle, and for my ring to just "show up" somewhere....Please!

Fall is Here!

A few weeks ago, we got our first frost.  I had to take a picture of these giants, because, to me, they just looked so ashamed....like they couldn't stand the cold.  Poor things!

 And then, it got even colder!  So I was out, in the pouring rain, trying to harvest these bad boys before the cold got to them!  Wouldn't you know it, as soon as I came in, it stopped raining!  The next week, I had the Girls wash up all my sweet pumpkins, and they are now situated all over my house!  Pumpkins are my favorite thing to grow, and this year, I wasn't dissapointed with the amount that we picked!

 Another sad, sad sunflower...