Monday, December 20, 2010

Well, this post nearly did not happen....

When blogger crashes 4 times while trying to load your page you'd think I'd give up but never!

Well actually sometimes I do

Fairly often

but....nevermind all that


So this evening was wonderful! This morning the Monkeys and I were out for 4 hours (packed jam sandwiches & veggie sticks came VERY handy for lunch in the car) and only got to 3 shops. Oy! People are crazy!

Tonight on the other hand was such fun. As we did last year, we took the kids to Dollarama to pick out gifts for each other and the parents. So Daddy took Magoo to buy for the girls and I and I took the girls to buy for Magoo & Daddy....

Watching them pick out their gifts are so cute! It is really amazing what you can get at the dollar store! I think Magoo got a peek of his gift but it will all be good in a couple days.

Then, as tradition dictates, we went out to Tim Hortans for hot choco and donuts. This year's flavour was "double chocolate candy cane" and they were delish! Mummy was good and didn't have a donut, just a teeny tinny taste of Monkey's one.



Then we headed to the "nasty grey box" store for cream and ended up spending $50. That is part of the reason I hate that store. But it was all stuff we needed....except for the 6 suet balls for the birds when all we needed was one....but it was a six pack....and.......um......you get the idea I'm sure.

We managed to find a mini checker board for Magoo's sock and so everything is done.

YAHOO!


WE SHALL REJOICE


oh wait.......slight problem, Hubby's stocking is still half empty.....argh!

That's all for now. OWBS class prep is calling (more like screaming) my name. So if you don't hear from us for a couple weeks don't be surprised. Then again we may pop in....if blogger lets us!

Happy Holiday!

Friday, December 10, 2010

P31

Oh how I love our P31 classes.

Really we should have them more then once a month....maybe in the new year we shall increase the frequency!

Last night was a instead of a class we held a celebration of 2 of the very special ladies that are being baptised on Saturday evening. So we had purple "baptism balloons", our signature hot chocolate (crushed candy canes and a million marsh mellows) in Grandma's china cups (she would be so pleased), and served each other by washing each others feet, oiling them and polishing them! Such fun.

Bibles open,

Nail polish,

Filling a jar to send to another precious Olive Plant out West,

"Even so, Come" Cd blasting,
Chocolate brownies,

Sharing Fav Verses,

Impromptu hymn singing...with no sheet music,

Birthday Cake (baked by the birthday girl unknowingly because she thought it was for me!),
Discussion over different Bible bindings, versions, etc,

Chocolate pudding mint amazing thingy dessert,

A shared letter from my Grandpa George (instead of a class)...that I've only ever shared with Hubby. Yes, I teared up at the end.....but I'm so glad I shared it with these ladies, they are so dear to me. The letter was my grandparents gift to me for my baptism. Full of insights and good advice and lovingly chosen verses woven through.

Man, there's gonna be buckets full of happy tears tomorrow evening!

Off to mail cards, teach homeschooling lessons, drink tea and oh yeah eat breakfast!

Friday, December 03, 2010

What do you have when you take 9 ravens 6 yrs old and less, 1 very wimpy king, various narrators in ingenious cosutmes with english and indian accents, 2 live cows and 2 Jezebels?
>>>>>>>>>


>>>>>>>>


>>>>>>

HILARITY!

The play practice was tonight, and I just have to say that Sis A. has done such an amazing job!

Everything went perfectly.

Well except for:

Elijah had no um, costume on after he took off his mantle to strike the river (must remember to pack a robe for that poor man for tomorrow)

1 of the ravens (AKA: Monkey) sat down beside Elijah and proceeded to put the KFC bucket on her head.

Jezebel's robe kept falling down....and looking more and more realistic for her part(bobby pins are required).

And half the cast was downstairs eating pizza when we were looking for them to sing the last song.

Tomorrow will be amazing! I will of course have hubby take loads of pictures, which of course cannot be uploaded because in the time that it would take I could get 3 children dressed in winter gear, buckled into the Mazda, drive to Timmys, drive back, undress 3 children out of winter gear, eat Timbits, drink a double-double, get their home schooling done (for a Friday) and VOILA it still would either

A) be downloading

OR

B) CRASHED!

You get the picture.....(pun so completely intended!)

And get this, I went to Timmys to ask for some empty un-used timbit boxes for use in a "children's church play" (for ther avens to give to Elijah) and they said:

NO (assume olde lady snooty voice) "it is against our policy because someone could eat something else out of them and sue us"

excuse me, this is for a children's play...duh

(assume olde lady snooty voice) "I said it is against our...."

yeah, never mind that coffee I was ordering....I'll make it at home.

I tell you what in the world is this world coming to! oh yeah....itself!

I'm off to sew 2 Jezebel headpieces (SLIGHT procrastination here) and find some clothing for poor Elijah so the poor man is decent tomorrow!

and pack my blood red sandals for Jezebel to use,

and pack some Advil,

oh and some chocolate,

and head to bed,

on second thought I'll have the chocolate now and THEN head to bed.

ta ta!

Wednesday, December 01, 2010

Children have such a gift.

They show you things that are as plain and simple and real as the nose on your face.

Today they taught me to have fun again.

Yesterday Magoo asked "Mom can we set up the winter village tomorrow?"

My reply "We do that on December first, so you can wait"

To which he responded non-verbally with a look of "Mom's lost it again!"

Yeah, today is Dec 1, so yes we set it up. It was such fun! Usually I'm all a basket of nerves, worried they'll drop and break something....so Helper picked all the fluff off of the trees, and Magoo unpacked it all (yes, the china ones) and

Monkey was asleep.. (maybe that had something to do with the fact that is was fun!)

So we set it all up, listening to their "serious conversation" about where the "pet shop" and the "school house" should go was amusing, but very insightful.

Yes we have some broken people....missing heads....that sorta thing. However that is from the move, not the actual helpful hands.

and since we are STILL on dial up (the "click on a link and go and make a cuppa and then come back and see if it loaded yet") no pics, but someday!

I'm off to write a Bible school curriculum on Biblical Archeology.....and turn a Rahab costume into a Jezebel one.

Oh gotta share this. So we headed to the seasonal aisle in WalMart (I hate going there but it was cheapest) for gold beads and such for the Jezebel costume....and so we're at the check out and the lady goes

"So you're decorating your tree today"

"We don't have a tree" Helper replies

"These are for a Church play" I explain

Puzzled store clerk "Mary wore beads?"

"Um, no its for Jezebel." I further explain



"Have you heard of Elijah? We're doing a play on him" Helper helps out

Oh dear, I think we confused that poor old lady.

Oh well, us three girls laughed all the way from the moment the store door closed behind us until the were drinking hot choco as a treat for surviving shopping at this time of year.

Monday, November 22, 2010

Mondays are so

MondayISH

aren't they?

Today it poured rain, and I was thrilled. We've had so many nice days, that lately we've spent more time inside and out and although normally I would simply love that....we are still unpacking.

So today started with a lovely sister inviting herself for tea (which I love, but no one really does that anymore) and then the girls and I emptied all....and I do mean ALL of the kitchen drawers and re organized them. Each drawer still has the same main purpose, but all those "extra" items that had snuck in are now in their own little homes.

The master bedroom is finally box free.

The linen closet is finally box free.

AND we had a hot chocolate party. I love being a Mommy to wee ones, hot choco parties are such fun, and the giggles are even better then cookies....well we had those too!

oh, and for those of you who don't mind the mundane. We have had an addition (or maybe 2) to our home...






















MICE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Friday, November 19, 2010

It's time to celebrate that answered prayers of a wonderful couple and shower them and their adorable child with blessings!

I LOVE hosting events....don't you? I think it is in my DNA thanks to my Grandma! so tomorrow from 2-4 we will have a house full of lovely ladies.

Menu
Flower Sugar Cookies
Fancy Sandwiches Mini Lemon Cheesecakes
Truffles
Veggie Sticks with Onion (to die for) dip
Scones with Jam & Cream
Coffee
Tea
Lemon Water
Have you noticed how expensive party decorations are....such a rip off! Usually we decorate with cheap flowers, but with the season being WINTER we are going for the easy and simple white & pink bunches of balloons, pink Toile on the table, Grandmother's china & crystal plates, tea service, etc. I had really wanted to do a favour of some sort, but even the smallest added up to a lot when there are 20 guests.
On that note, I'd better run, the fridge needs to be filled with goodies and the flours need a good scrubbing....and the children need to be played with.
God Bless

Thursday, November 18, 2010

MENU

Wed: Veggie Stew with frech whole wheat bread
Thurs: Dinner at friends....Yeehaw!
Fri: Beef (leftovers) & Veggie stirfry with Basmati rice
Sat: Roast beef (re-heated in crockpot from the massive one done last week) with potatoes, carrots, peas & corn (gravy & bread)
Sun: Veggie Stew with cheese & ham scones
Mon: Roast Chicken
Tues: Orange chicken (leftovers) & veggie stir fry with Basmati rice

Wednesday, November 17, 2010

Have you ever had one of those "Bad, no good, terrible" days?

One of those days where you seriously consider jumping into bed and hiding from reality under your covers?

Yesterday was one of those days. Little things seemed to add up, piling untop of each other, pushing other concerns out of the way and fight for my attention. Why is it that as women, emotional concerns effect us so much?

I'm positive that this is one of the many reasons that God, in His mercy, brought Hubby and I together. D has this amazing talent, that when I fall and collapse into little tiny fragile pieces. He can pick them up, and like putting a jigsaw puzzle back together, gently sort through the mess and push the fractured pieces back together again. Gluing and taping them with kind words, Biblical advice, nurturing hugs and volia! I am whole again.

Kids are great for that too.

So are Sisters.

But no one can help to quite the extent or in the same manner that a husband can.

A phone call to him, a dinner made for a Sister with a sick infant, an hour and a half spent at our favourite little library in our old town....and soup (always soup) with cheese scones for dinner and I felt better.

oh, and husband booked a weekend away for our upcoming tenth anniversary. Maybe that had a little bit to do with my coping....maybe a large bit!

So "today is a new day with no mistakes in it" (Anne of Green Gables). We slept in (the hydro went out yesterday, and the clocks were reset to the wrong pm - am time) whops! but everyone worked together and Magoo got to school on time and Husband to work on time (we ate banana bread in the car for breakfast...yum!). The girls and I set off for grocery shopping and to pick up fleece for one of the craft sessions at OWBS this year.

Grocery shopping was extra fun (we love that task anyways) because we are hosting a shower for a extremely special and dear to our hearts Sister & Babe. We are doing a honey theme (if you know the baby you know why....think about it) and found everything needed except for the honey comb, which I can pick up still from a local farm.

I had wanted to do an elaborate bee hive cake that I saw in a magazine....but I think cookies will do perfectly fine!

The girls are working on letters and sounds in the dining room, and I have ever so many more tasks to complete before we can sit down for story time....so off I run.

Hugs to all you Mothers & Sisters out there.

Monday, November 15, 2010

I have this pet annoyance.

If someone says they are going to do something and don't show up. It bugs me, doesn't that bug you?

The painter never finished the house, so he's come back twice. Both times he said he'd be here at 9:30AM and both time he didn't show up until 2PM!


So today, he was supposed to be here, at yup, you guessed it...9:30AM and he never even bothered to show up!

After calling Hubby and getting my priorities all back on track, we had a good day. The problem today was really that I haven't had a chance to head to the library in almost 3 weeks! which for us is amazing because we usually go twice a week (Tuesdays & Fridays) and for those who know me in "real life" I am a book-a-holic! and love to read.

So instead we unpacked...yup still doing that! and organized our new craft cupboard. It is the corner cupboard in the kitchen with 2 lazy Susan's and is now full of unpacked craft & activities. The girls had tea, and the whites got washed and hung out to dry.

Tonight is a Bible School meeting at our house, so we must clean, and sister's class is here tomorrow morning...so we must clean the basement up for the children's class.

I'm trying what my Mom used to do. There was a huge roast on sale the other week, and instead of cutting it up (it's been frozen) I am roasting it all (covered in salt, pepper and garlic) and after having roast beef dinner tonight with mashed spuds and corn & peas (bizarre for midweek) I am going to cut it up into slices and chunks and store the precooked stuff for latter over the next week.

We'll see if that saves me any time in the long run.

Well that washing needs bringing in, a diaper needs changing and spelling list's need to be reviewed....oh and a 2 year old needs to be taught to obey. Oy

God Bless

Saturday, November 13, 2010

Do you get the Kraft magazine? It comes out quarterly and usually I look at it and fall in love with all of the recipe ideas, and that's it. Nothing gets baked, stirred or cooked....

But I've fallen into a dinner cooking rut and so this week we've tried 2 so far, and loved both of them! Actually 3 because 1 was a dessert....that was so good.

Tonight we had Slow Cooker Orange Chicken

Toss 8 (boneless skinless) chicken thighs in 3 Tbs of flour in your crock pot

Add 1/3C orange marmalade, 1/3C BBQ sauce, 2 Tbs soy sauce and 1 Tbs fresh grated ginger (the only fiddly part of it)

and you leave it for 3-4 hrs on HIGH, 6-8 hrs on LOW

We had it with stir fried veggies (onion, broccoli, grn pepper & mushrooms) and rice and it was delicious! Now it says it serves 4 but it easily served us 5 (and our kids eat a lot) with leftovers...so I'd say it serves 6.

Thursday we tried the "Creamy beef & noodle bake" from the current issue and it was good too. Again it said it served 4 but obviously these are American portion sizes. We had salad with the dinner and I doubled it because there were 9 of us...and we had 3 servings of leftovers. It was good, but not company-ish enough for me, but it was yummy and creamy. We served the "Chocolate-peppermint stripped delight" for dessert and it was amazing....and yes you should put the extra crushed candy cane pieces on top. We left it out because frankly I forgot...and it could have used the extra mint flavour. You can find these recipes on the Kraft Foods website (google it).

After crushing what was needed in Ziploc bags (and having them brake through and go everywhere....sticky flours are us!) I noticed in a flyer last night that the bulk barn sells CRUSHED candy canes....so this week I am going to buy 3-4 Cups worth and store them in a caning jar for the season. After all I have a bulk barn coupon, so what better use could it be put to!

I see many uses for this new baking staple...think "candy cane hot choco!"

On the house front (yes it is a war zone) the mudroom is clean....and BEHOLD we had a tile flour, I frankly couldn't remember what we put in since it was covered in everything that was dropped there. See it is our main entrance to the house (from the garage), for us anyways, and the coat hooks are in there...and since the shoe bench is in the garage the kids can't reach to hang up their coat....argh. AND it doubles as the laundry room (L-shaped) so I had to organize it, and unpack the 6-7 boxes that we'd stashed in the closet in there during move in. So now we have a system, and I've decided I'm just going to hang up their coats for them.

This weekend was also the great "winter gear" wash and sort time....and surprise surprise Micah's out grown his, why I never thought of this before boggles the mind but I digress. So remember those baskets I got to organize the linen closet for "staging" the last house...they now hold hats (stuffed with a pair of mittens each). 1 for Magoo, 1 for the girls to share, and 1 large one with all the scarves (if I EVER mention knitting more, someone please break my knitting needles!!!!) and hubby's and my stuff.

Other then snow pants (which I cannot find anywhere in his size) Monkey also needed boots...so we sat in the store and tried on boots (our trusty second hand store) for HALF AN HOUR only to come home and discover.....I bought size 7s and we already had that. We needed size 8-9 and they had none so we are keeping the new boats ($5) since they are wider then the ones we had and giving the smaller ones away.

Oh the things we put ourselves through as mothers!

I always get into the organizing mode before winter...do you? Thursday Monkey "helped" me sort all the girls hand me downs and all their toys and we filled 1 bag of garbage and 1 bag to donate....so now we can manage with their broken dresser. 2 girls, 3 full size drawers and 2 mini drawers = must be organized!

Well, I have a Bible school kids program to organize and classes to write so I'd better be off.

God Bless

Wednesday, November 10, 2010

Remember back "in the day" when we posted our weekly menu, well we're trying to get back into the scheme of things, and since Thursday's are now grocery shopping days, here goes!

Thursday: Creamy Beef & Noodle Bake
Chocolate-Peppermint Stripped Delight (can you tell we're having company!)

Friday: Veggie Stew, Whole Wheat bread, butter

Saturday: Slow-Cooker Orange Chicken

Sunday: Slow-Cooker Soup & Grilled Cheese

Monday: Baked Potatoes & BBQ Sausage

Tuesday: Veggie Stir Fry & Rice

Wednsday: Veggie Stew with Cheese Scones

The other night I was so annoyed, just completely frustrated....and so I went out with a cuppa to watch the sunset over the next door farm field of harvested soy beans. Even though my frustration was from the 3 Monkeys I had to share the beautiful colours of God's sunset with them...

So we bundled them up in 2 quilts that were made by my great-grandma (the girls shared of course!) and watched the sky turn mauve, bright pink and floresant orange.

And this mother went back inside the house feeling completely peaceful.

Friday, November 05, 2010

Outside my Window:
3 C slush falling from the sky

I am Thinking:
Thankfulness for unnumerable blessings

I am Thankful For:
Precious time spent a wonderful niece over from the UK

From the Kitchen:
Mushroom quiche & veggie stew

I am Wearing:
The warmest sweater in my closet!

I am Creating:
Nothing, absolutly nothing...the sewing machine is broken!!

I am Going:
To the Prophecy Day

I am Reading:
The Acts of the Apostles

I am Hoping:
This cold leaves our family soon and we all get better!

I am Hearing:
"Mummy my nose ouchy"

Around the House:
"Return of the Exiles" CD

One of My Fav Things:
Sipping pipping hot tea with the kids

Monday, September 27, 2010

Well, we are finally online again, though on dial up so it is very slow....we'll have to wait for a couple months until Highspeed will be in our area and then we can post some pics.

What a wonderful September we have been given. The children simply love the freedom of living out in the country proper. They can choose their outfits and get covered in mud and Mummy really doesn't need to care about what the neighbours might think because they are farmers themselves! Our days are full of mudpies, pretend firepits made by Magoo to "warm" us, bike rides, hikes down by the river..etc.

Our trees that we planted have all survived except for the 3 birch trees. The grass was planted by an 80 yr old farmer that we used last time we built, and now it is up 2 in in places.

Fall is in full swing, with the Maples a glorious red and the sumac trees a bright yellow....I had assumed they would go red like the sumac bushes, but nope.

Magoo has not had to go to the hospital for the first time in his life in the fall...thanks be to God.

This was Helper's first school year, and oh does she ever love it! Mummy loves it too as then she naps again on the other days! It has tiaken me a bit to get used to not having her around 2 days a week to help with Monkey, but we are getting into a good routine.

Sister's class has also started up again, and we are contiuing our studies in the Psalms (I think we will be doing that for atleast another year as well!).

So life preety much is continuing as it has been in our little place of sojourn. And since we are only 1/2 unpacked and getting on fine I can't wait to have a huge garage sale int he spring!

Take care and until next time

Friday, September 10, 2010

Yes, we are moved in,

Yes, we are internet free for another 2 months

Yes, I'm asking for your patience!

We are enjoying:

Mud!

12 apple trees planted

fire pit in the making

7 min for the Hall and school

Bliss and thanks be to God for this unspeakable gift!

Tuesday, August 10, 2010

oh dear me!

Has it really been 2 weeks?

Our summer is simply flying by, hence the neglect of the blog, and the chlidren need to be kept out of trouble, hence the neglet of the blog, and when you are feeling a wee bit down you don't always want to share it with the whole world....guess I just did anyways!

Thanks be to God that we finally have a moving date. yes it is a month late, yes I am going crazy but on the other hand staying with the Sr. household has been amazing.

Oh I have been taught ever so many lessons in our 3 month stay here. Patience with the children, a softer voice, priority shift back to the Bible, getting back to Bible reading in the morning, the wisdom of gray hair, perfect scones, complete service to others....the list never ends.

And......Monkey has at this momment escaped downstairs so the rest of this post must now wait...again.

Please have patience with me!

Tuesday, June 29, 2010

Another Day, another cavity

Well for Magoo anyways. Our kids are those bizarre children that LOVE to go to the dentist, I mean what's not to love about a place where you get to wear heart shaped or race car sunglasses, watch an animal movie while your teeth get checked and then play on an indoor play fort while waiting for your sibling??? Pity they don't do that for adults!

Finally (in a long time) today has been one of those days where everything seems to go as planned. Correction....as closely related to planned as it can possibly come with 3 Goons 7 and under. We were even 30 minutes EARLY for the dentist so enjoyed a lovely stroll through the quaint village where their offices are and picked up some loose pumpkin spice black tea and a chilled "mango cheesecake tea" (which was very yucky in case you were wondering) with the three of them in toe.

Magoo has gotten into the summer routine and Helper just follows his lead, so now it's all good. Monkey is in fact.....prepare for it......................SLEEPING~!!!!! A miracle has occurred!

This past weekend was spent watching a beloved sister in Christ, friend and cousin prepare for marriage. what a wonderful (though exhausting) weekend that was. Hubby even took Friday off to help with the driving as we had to drive into Toronto with G20 traffic and I don't do well with more then a dusty red ford pickup in front of me and a couple goats wandering across the road!

The house is coming along, for those who care, and they should be bricking soon. I'm thinking the green from our old house in the main and girls bedrooms, greyblue (brittany blue BM) in the main areas and a deep blue/grey in Magoo's room and the main bathroom...thoughts?

Well the laundry is calling, the kids are playing and I've devoured the 2 "Rocky Mountain" chocolate clusters that an amazing sister in Christ sent all the way from Alberta....Love You!

So back to life we go. When Monkey gets up we have our Bible study time to do. We are on the letter C in our Alpha-Bet Creation Scrapbooks.

God Bless!

Monday, June 21, 2010

A Basket of Love

After the past 2 weeks I am beginning to realize that my imagined sense of life getting easier was a joke! But a good joke at that. For the past 2 weeks my wonderful God given Husband has been wiring speaker cable through the new house, this way we can add speakers through out the house over time so that classical music and Bible stories can be played and listened to while we go about our daily tasks. After all who stays in one room for longer then a few fleeting minutes! I've been wondering if there was a way to add subliminal messaging....."I love to make my bed" "I love to scrub the toilets" "Yes, Mummy, of course Mummy" but then they would be working on me too!

Joking aside, the children and I have been enjoying heading over to the house on days when Husband is going there right after work with dinner and a picnic blanket.

We spread the quilted blanket out on what will be our living room and open a darling wicker basket with a hinged lid that we found at an antique market and unload a portable feast for the senses.

Each night we try to include a surprise for Daddy. Tonight it will be freshly picked strawberries from the farm across the road. Local chocolates picked up on the way, iced coffee and watermelon cubes have also been hidden in the car until dessert time when one of the kidlets is selected to go and retrieve our surprise.

This got me thinking about the simple, small acts of Love that sometimes get overlooked in our fast paced society. That longing gaze across the room at your spouse, ruffling your sons' hair, kissing the forehead of the cuddle-bug, preparing special favorites for meals (even octopus hot dogs!), picking up the dry cleaning without being asked, helping a little one with their responsibilities, really every moment of our day to day activities has the opportunity to be an act of love to our family and friends and ecclesia.

Do we take the time?

Not just the time to show our care and love but do we activitly seek ways to help, sooth, comfort, put a smile on someone else' face?

Perhaps that should be our daily prayer.

My Grandfather used to say "Ask God to show you what needs doing, and then ask him for the strenght to persevere."

What a wise man he was. I pray that we will be joined together again soon at the Resurrection!

Now the kidlets and I are off to pack the picnic basket....such fun!

Monday, June 14, 2010

Wedding Outfits

Oh my vanity! Oh my sweet vanity!

Husband told me that it was time that I spent some time and money and got a dress for the upcoming wedding of a very dear cousin, friend and sister in Christ. If only it was that simple!

The girls and I spent nearly six hours at the large mall in the next largest city. Nothing, NOTHING! either it was immodest on the top yet long, or it was nice and simple on the top and barely covered my hips! Oy only 2 weeks, actually less, and therefore no way is there time to sew a dress.

So instead I'll phone around and see if I can borrow a skirt from another sister. Or dig through the closet and try to find a skirt without a stain on it.

The imporant part is that the flowers are all ordered, and the pins and only floral tape needs to be picked up.

Now if only the G20 traffic would let us even GET tot he wedding.

Oh well, time to put these silly and pathetic cares away and focus on my blessings.

Monday, May 24, 2010

What a wonderful weekend we've been blessed with!

Monkey has discovered bunnies living in our front gardens and watches them each and every evening. It is adorable to watch her running back and forth to the window and back again to Daddy to relate in full action what the Bunnies are up too.

I think perhaps we are finally starting to understand that we need to fit and make room for the children in every aspect of our lives. Today was a "sit in the car and look at brick" day, well for the afternoon anyways. So we stopped in at DQ part way through the list and got everyone some ice cream to keep going.

I've been struggling with getting frustrated with monkey during Meeting time. Especially the Memorial service. The selfish part of me is yelling "this should be my time" but the mother in me is reminding me that no, this is God's time and in His wisdom He has granted us this child to mold and give back to Him in service. Really when I look at it I do still get the exhortation, just might not be able to turn up every passage referred to. This too shall pass and the last thing I want is her to think that Mummy doesn't like being there. Because it is the most wonderful place to be.

The house is coming along. The roof is partway covered in press board and all the walls are up now. Watching the Goons run up and down the gravel lane way, chase birds (this one type the runs everywhere that we call Toronto Birds as they resemble the people that we've seen on the streets there), and exclaim over where they would like to place different furniture items struck me with such a powerful feeling of awe at the opportunity that God has blessed us with this piece of land. I know it is only 2 acres but for us that is huge. Apple trees, pear trees and a chicken coop are on the list. Most of all it will be so nice to get out of a "keeping up with the Jones'" neighbourhood and be able to live somewhere where if all you want to plant is veggies is fine, or if the grass is long that is okay too!

We are nearly packed up. Oh how thankful we are for the many loving hands that are helping us. Older couples in the Truth, Sisters with nursing babes, Families with carloads of children. The blessing hasn't just been in the actual physical labour but the gift of fellowship and love found only in the bonds of the Truth.

Magoo has been struggling a bit with his ashma, mainly because of the high heat (30C today) and humidity. But the silver lining in this cloud is that he has been home since Wednesday and we have enjoyed an extra long weekend. Now that the weather has stabilized he should be fine, it just seems his body takes a while to re-calculate to the heat of summer.

Monday, May 17, 2010

To Blog or not to Blog, this is the question!

Basically now that blogger doesn't let you type in another program and then cut and paste into blogger I'm finding it frustratingly annoying to try to blog. Because you have to finish it all at once, not such a great way to blog for a busy mom!

So as I am the ultimate at procrastination here I am when in fact I should be packing as we move in um, 12 days. Yup, and don't even think of asking how much is packed.

Okay, I'll tell you, 7 boxes.

Oh my, has only a month passed. Opps! So much is happening around here that life is even busier then it's normal fast paced hecticness. Thankfully we have a verse posted (in our bathroom) that keeps reminding me to "Stand Still and Wait upon the LORD"

Last weekend it was "Mother's Day" yet another invented celebration of selfishness. I made the mistake of tuning into CBC (Why when they are so anti-Israel and anti-God...I just don't know) while Magoo was in piano lesson and they had a phone in for mothers about "Mother's Day"

OY!

I cannot believe that these women are mothers! The common thread of ALL the calls was that they wanted a day ALONE, either at a spa, in their bedrooms with a good book, or shopping with friends. NONE of them wanted to be with their children on "Mother's Day"

WAKE UP PEOPLE!

Yeah it got me a wee bit mad. Finally someone phoned in that told them all how selfish they were and that it is a day not about the elaborate gift but hand drawn cards.

Since being blessed with wee olive plants I have found "Mother's Day" a wonderful time of reflection on the passed year and the places where I have fallen short as a Mother and to re-dedicate my life to grafting these wild olives into the Israelitish olive tree. After all they are not truly our children, but God's children. I sipped my coffee in bed with a grin (as Magoo had asked to be woken up to "make" and deliver it to Mummy in bed) and eat my cinnamon roll with glee...and tried REALLY hard not to look at the clock as we had to get to Sunday School on time. A luncheon for my mother and time spent curled up with books with our children was all so precious. The fact that they each choose out a new knitted dish cloth for me told me that the children pay attention to detail and the fact that Mummy can;t knit them anymore because of the ache in my hands.

Those dish clothes mean more to me then a diamond bracelet (that the other moms wanted).

On the house scene they are finishing the walls and putting on the roof (hopefully) this week. We had a picnic dinner there yesterday before Bible class while Magoo and Daddy put in our new mail box.

Well it is time to feed the monkeys lunch so off we go. Perhaps I'll get another procrastination time out on here again this week.

Until then, please remember that being a Mother is not about us but about the children that God has graciously given his servants!

Thursday, April 15, 2010

Just a quick note, if you are on Facebook we are up to day 8 of Israel pics that are uploaded! Yahoo!

On another note, Allergies + Cold = adoring all the wee helping hands in our household!

Thursday, April 08, 2010

The Schedule

Well life is finally returning to our version of "normal". Not only is the house sold (thanks be to God) and sold in 11 days...but we are also done a whole whack of medical testing.

I haven't blogged about it, or even really talked about it. Suffice it to say I had been having tremors and spasms on the right side of my face and down my arm and hand. On occasion it even felt like my inner organs were shaking.

So after a Doppler, CT scan and now an MRI we are in the clear and don't have to return for 6 mths (unless they start back to 4-5 times a day again).

According to the Neurological Specialist (big fancy title eh?) It is most likely a connection in the brain that had terminated and is re-connecting itself by finding new pathways through the brain. He even said that the brain is the "final frontier" of medicine and that they really don't understand a lot and definitely cannot explain what has been happening in my brain. I had an episode during the MRI and they could see the neurons (or something) "firing" or talking to each other in the left lobe.

The fact that the brain can heal itself and fix bad connections is simply amazing. God has created us in such a unique and amazing way hasn't he.

The annoying (and maddening) part is that someone decided to send out an email about me....and you know how they get forwarded around and now people think I have a brain tumour. Nope, they checked, no tumor! I hate gossip! Really really hate it!

I am glad that this all happened though. I have finally learnt that it doesn't matter what the house looks like, what the kids look like, what I look like ( or wear for that matter), what I weigh, if I'm stylish (cause I'm not....). All that matters is being a loving and patient Mother, teaching them the Word that they may grow to be godly olive plants set to serve Yhwh!

So that was yesterday. Now life is returning to our version of normal. Monkey is doing very well at being seat trained for meeting. She sits through Bible class and lecture on her own chair and we no longer bring her booster seat for her to be strapped into. Yes, we tried the whole blanket training thing and it simply didn't work for any of our three. If it works for you then great, but our kids aren't allowed toys in meeting so hence the blanket didn't work. This way they understand that they have to sit for the whole service in a chair.

Hr Bible bag is full of interesting Bible and old fashioned (my first little house books) books and some crayons, stickers and a Bible colouring book. She also has a small magnet board and some lace up bear clothing. The most important for her is her small hymn book and Bible and head covering, she loves to sit there with her Bible on her lap (usually upside down) her head covering on and point out how Mummy and Helper and she has one on and point out all of our Bibles (whispering of course)

I love it when the children can get to this stage. We've been sitting out for ages but now I can listen instead of constantly being on top of her.

It has been pouring rain here for the last week, and many family are sick, so we've been making chicken soup by the pot full. Last night we enjoyed this one:

Heat 3 T Oil in pot
Dice and add 1 onion, 1 stalk celery, 1 large carrot, 4 lrg potatoes
Cook until browned
Turn down to a simmer and add 6 C water, salt and pepper to taste

Cook for 1 hour, covered
Serve with fresh bread and butter.

There is another pot of it simmering this morning for Mum as she has the flu.

I've been asked to blog about our 2 Passover Seders but I have no pictures! I will try to tomorrow though.

God Bless

Monday, March 22, 2010

Outside my Window...
Grey skies

I am Thinking...
The house is too quite!

I am thankful for...
The house being sold and wonderful news from dearest of friends!

From the kitchen...
Currant Cake for a tired teacher

I am Wearing...
The blue grey skirt we got in Jerusalem

I am Creating...
Patience

I am Going...
to clean the house up at some point...ha!

I am Reading...
Psalm 24

I am Hoping...
For Yhwh's blessing on a new mother

I am Hearing...
The furnace kicking on

Around the House...
Chaos!

One of my favorite things...
Cuddles with Olive Plants!

Monday, March 15, 2010

The Verse that Kept me up Last Night:

"As arrows are in the hand of a mighty man; so are children of the youth." Psalm 127:4

Some of the aspects that were turning around in my head:

You have to make the arrows straight

The Bow has to be staight

The Aim has to be in the right direction

The Target has to be the right one

I see a huge study coming out of this one. Anyone want to join me?

ps: the house is going.....we're leaving it in Yhwh's hands and praying a lot!

Friday, February 05, 2010

Missing In Action

Our computer keeps producing "the blue screen of death"

and we're packing up the house in anticipation of marketing!

So for the next 2 months we'll be gone

Hugs and God Bless
Hope you wait around for us

Monday, January 25, 2010

Stuff

Man alive we have so much stuff!

I didn't realize how much stuff and junk we had stuffed into the basement...wow! We have filled the Mazda 5 with garbage bags of clothing and toys for charity 3 times, yup THREE times!

"Love not the world, neither the THINGS THAT ARE IN WORLD. If any man love the world, the love of the father is not in him." 1 John 2:15

Okay so after reading that verse (and many like it) it is very easy to clear out this house to get it prepped for sale and that will make moving a ton easier!

Our biggest moving things around project right now is all the books, and for those who have been here that is a huge job! Instead of boxing them up for a year, we're going to set up a library in the basement....Oy

So what stuff are you getting rid of this year?

Monday, January 18, 2010

Random Thoughts

The girls are tucked under quilts in their beds, a cuppa sits next to the keyboard and sister's class is nearly done so here I sit enjoying a few spare minutes in the day before jump starting yet another project.

The girls and I joined in today as it was "Beach Day" at school and really enjoyed all the bright and cheerful faces as we served up a fun lunch. After reading a simply amazing and powerful article in the Lampstand last night on Mary Magdalene and her spirit of serving others it seemed fitting.

Question though. I find it easy to serve in aspects I love, cooking, baking, writing note cards, knitting, opening our home to others...and less so with other things. You?

Is it service when you are doing something you love?

Something I need to ponder and come up with an answer for.

So this new project....

We're selling the house. So if anyone is interested in a custom designed and built home...let us know!

We never thought we'd be moving from here unless we had too.

BUT we need to be closer to CHC. Right now we spend 2 hours a day in the car. OY!

The Lot is purchased and now we have to get the house set up and prepped with 3 kids in the house!


AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH

I think I need an espresso instead of this tea.

Off I go to start loading boxes!

Friday, January 15, 2010

Winter Photos:



I Love that sequence!


Monkey got mittens and socks

Helper got a knitting bag, mini mixing bowl and candle stick holder


Can you Figure it out? They all had clues from the Bible this year, even on the lifesaver roll and oranges!
"Slightly" excited!
The joint gift, a board game to learn the offerings and Feasts! (picked up at The Temple Institute in Jerusalem!)

ps: Dad & C there are more photos on facebook!

Thursday, January 14, 2010

Weekly Menu

Today was grocery day again after dropping Magoo off at school. It feels good to get back into the routine of groceries on Thursday. This was we have plenty of nice and good things to eat for the weekend while Hubby is home and at the same time don't need to run out first thing on Monday morning. After trying grocery shopping on both Monday(s) and Friday(s) this works well for our family.

Thursday: Chicken fajitas (homemade salsa, plain yogurt - tastes the same as sour cream, shredded lettuce, 1 cubed Roma tomato, stir fried leftover chicken and green & red peppers, onions, taco seasoning.

Friday: Challah bread and beef & veggie stew

Saturday: Crock pot Chili (recipe was a few weeks ago)

Sunday Lunch: Leftover roast beef warmed in gravy in the crock pot with potatoes, broccoli with cheese sauce and pull-apart rolls

Sunday Dinner: Ham and Cheese Melts

Monday: Beef & veggie stir fry with basmati rice

Tuesday: Mince (Scottish fav of Hubby's family) with potatoes

Wednesday: Homemade pizzas (ground beef, green peppers, onions, tomatoes, cheese)

Wednesday, January 13, 2010

The Importance of Important Tasks

While I'm not one for New Year's Resolutions, it is nice to take a chance at the beginning of a new year (and yes it is the Western New Year and not the Biblical Israeli one but that is another discussion for another day!) to sit down and take stock of what we spend or waste our time doing and seeing to and whether these are really important in the grand scheme of life.

I have come to the realization that I keep getting stuck in the Martha Rut. Seeing about and being stressed with the house and not sitting quietly down to good and solid Bible Study.

So after the company left this started to change. Instead of running around cleaning during Monkey's nap time an hour of that is set aside for Bible Study and this week and next that will be preparation for a sister's class on Psalm 16 and Dt 1.

Another thing that has to change is the sheer amount of stuff in our house. I aim to pack up seasonal stuff and put it into storage and to pack up items for donation so that the house is clear of clutter as we are planning to put the house up for sale in the Spring.

Another Important Task which I have found lacking is good time with the children. So the focus is moved off of the house and unto them.

Our weekly schedule needs to be re-done and this is what we are working on right now:


Monday: 2 Loads of Laundry (sorted and put away), Bathrooms, Bread Making
Tuesday: Bedrooms, Wash Linens and Change Bedding, Morning 1-2 hours on library duty
Wednesday: Home School Bee, Bible Study and Home Ec with her. Mend Clothing
Thursday: Scrub Floors and Vacuum, Sister's Class in afternoon
Friday: Bathrooms, Kitchen, Local Library visit

This leaves the weekend free for family fun time and practicing hospitality

Our new daily list:

Breakfast
Get dressed (put on bread to raise)
1st section of the daily Bible readings
Nap time/Bible study
Lunch Time
Chores
Pick up Magoo from school
Homework/Reading together time
Make dinner
Sweep Kitchen and Dining room
Dinner
2nd portion of daily Bible readings
Children to Bed
3rd portion of daily Bible readings
Bed

Thursday, January 07, 2010

The Many Reasons we are MIA right now

Amazing time at Ontario Winter Bible School
Magoo's first week back at CHC
Extended stay by a very wonderful family that is dear to our hearts (since OWBS)
Multitudes of amazing classes by Bro Brian Luke
2 loaves of bread baked and eaten every second day
Stew pot on each morning to make leftovers into lunch
Cookies trays made up and devoured
11 loads of laundry and counting
2 memory verses
Clearing out the house to sell
Evenings full of uplifting conversation and gut aching laughter!

The company leaves on Monday (sobbing) so we will be returning then

Thought I'd end with a verse that has hit me over the past 2 weeks:

"Thine handmaid hath not anything in the house save this pot of oil" 2 Kings 4:2