Knitting Soccer Mom!This Little Piggy Went to Market! Just a picture of my newest Finished Object - a knitted piggy - and SO soft! Her name is Petunia The Many Faces of my Little ManFirst Game!We had a Mother's Day dinner for my Mom, Auntie Pauline (sisters) and special friend Andrea. My mom had to make the gravy because she's much better at it then I am, but otherwise I think the dinner was pretty acceptable. We don't often get to visit with my Auntie Pauline and Uncle Dennis as they live across the country in BC. We do take advantage when we are able! My Auntie Pauline has been a special influence in my life and I cherish her. (She taught me all about nail polish, make up and such girlie things!) (my daughter entertains the ladies by blowing bubbles with them)After dinner the ladies stayed home to do the dishes and the men took my soccer son to his first game. When he got home he came bursting through the door shouting "Mommy, Guess what! We got SNACK at soccer!" He was so thrilled! Turns out they won their first game, too - but that clearly wasn't the important part to him. He was just so glad to play and be a part of the team. Here he is, breaking away from the pack with the ball - he's a fast little kid!
 Science ExperimentWith the receipt of some flowers for Mothers Day (white carnations) we decided to attempt a science experiment which we had been talking about for a little while now. The carnations were cut and the children added red, blue and yellow food colouring to the water. Now they get to document and keep track of the colouring process! I love science! Mother's Day My Children and II was gifted this morning by my oldest son with a cute pair of silver heart-shaped earrings. He picked them out himself and even paid for them with his own money. My daughter gave me a key chain with coloured turtles on it - again, she paid for them herself. They even went to the scrap book store and each picked out (and paid for) papers to make me a card each. What increadible gifts! I am SO touched by their thoughtfulness! I am honoured to be called "Mother" to these three amazing, beautiful children.
Thank you, children, for the blessings you are to me daily.  My Mother with her two daughtersHalf way!Just a quick update for our supporters - our support hit the half-way mark this month! We are at 50%, and so excited about it! God is just so good. Support continues to come in unexpected ways, which continuously reminds us of God's provision.Can I tell you a little story? We have been having problems with our computer, which we take with us, for about a year now, and we knew it was "on it's way out". We've been pricing computers, watching adds and sales, trying to figure out what is the best computer to get to suit our needs.... figured out that a mac (which neither of us knows anything about) is probably our best option... with the exception of the price! Well, about 3 weeks ago our computer crashed it's final crash, and we knew we couldn't wait any longer. We went to a local computer store and he suggested that we ask about "display model" computers -- ones that were set out for customers to play on, but no longer on display... so we asked in our city and found one for $1,300.00. (regular price 2,400.00) It was missing the main disk for programs, so if anything happened to it we'd have to repurchase all the programs because there was no cd.... we decided that it wasn't as good a deal as it sounded because of that. meanwhile... I had issues with my camera and returned it (under warrente) to my local camera store. They called back to say that it was fixed and ready - but it was shipped back to the wrong store (about 50 mins from where we lived). We decided to go pick it up instead of waiting the 2 weeks it would take for it to be shipped back to our city. While we were there, we stopped into the computer store in the same plaza.... we found the same computer WITH the disk... asking price of $1,000.00 (store display, discounted) We picked it up, knowing that we would need it, but not knowing how we would pay for it.... computing on faith! Saturday we received a gift -- it is The PERFECT amount to cover the cost. God is SO good! I sit here, typing on a new computer that is NOT crashing, just totally amazed. He had to work out all the details perfectly - there is no way we could have figured it all out ourselves! God IS so good - and INCREDIBLE! Mending FencesThanks to the encouragement of my wonderful, Godly mentor and a lot of prayer I took a step today towards healing some hurts and mending some fences. Why is it so difficult to sort through differences and understand each other sometimes? I find the longer I let things "sit" the easier it is to pretend they don't exist.... I praise God for His strength both for me and the woman I met with. With His grace we parted as friends and as sisters. It is my prayer that we do not allow anything to come between us again. The LORD is GOOD, His mercy is everlasting and his truth endures to all generations. Psalm 100:5Joining the leagues of "SOCCER MOMS"!This evening was my sons first soccer practice! He's been begging to play for about 2 years and is just so thrilled to be on a team this summer! He was delighted to receive a BLUE jersey -- with a lion on the front! The grin on his face was permanent as he sprinted onto the field with a dozen other blue clad seven year old boys. It promises to be a great season! Cough.... Cough..... Cough......Seems like everyone in our house has been sick! It started with the baby - first grumpy from his teeth, then fever and coughing.... then on to my son... now me.... and my daughter has just begun. Seems like we've been sick more often in the past year then EVER before -- almost every other week some one seems to have SOMETHING. I hope the heat of the summer burns up all the germies in our house, I'm getting "sick" of people in my house being sick all the time! :)New ChallengesI was asked to speak to our Ladies Bible Study group, and after much prayer, I agreed. The ladies range from young married and moms of young children all the way up to senior ladies. I felt so inadequate to stand before them this morning, but was burdened by the message God gave me to bring - it wasn't at all what I was preparing, but as I prayed about it, God changed my focus. The main message was about mentoring (discipling) and the importance of it. So often I think that we allow other believers to just "be" in the church, without the accountability or encouragment that mentoring provides. Paul implores Titus to encourage the older women to teach the younger women - not just about the Faith (though that is part of it) but also about being good mothers, wives, and keepers of the home. I am so blessed to have had a mentor growing up to encourage me to walk in Godliness, and I am even more blessed to have a mentor today who is not afraid to challenge me and ask the tough questions. Older women, teach the younger women. Younger women, teach the teens and pre-teens. Don't assume they will just "become" Godly Christian women. Help them get there!Lacey Just finished these light lacy socks from the newest Patons sock book. (and a testiment to just hoe much traveling we've been doing lately, since I mainly just knit in the car) I love how they turned out, and so does their recipient... a very special "tea" friend of mine! A Trip to Lake HuronJust Like Mommy!My daughter has been asking for matching dresses (one for her, one for me). I thought it would be fun to have something special for Mother's Day, so we went with SKIRTS (my choice) in PINK (her choice).I think they turned out rather well! Mine is a little shorter then I'd prefer, so I might add something to the bottom yet, but otherwise, pretty good! (and not so bad for PINK) My sewing Mamma will be proud!  Do what I SAY, not what I DO!My littlest one is 16 months and we've been working on teaching him TABLE MANNERS. (ask for food nicely, put your bowl on the table when you're done eating, don't throw your food on the floor -- basic stuff). Tonight at supper he gobbled down his food in his usual cave man style, not leaving a bite uneaten. Then, as I watched proudly, he lifted his bowl up the way we've taught him to show that he is done.... but to my horror (and the other children's amusement) he then pulled the bowl to his face and licked it out! When he was finished he plopped it on the table with a grin.I sat shocked (and amused) that he had done that, wondering where he could have learned it. My husband was quick to answer my unspoken question "Look, Sweetie, he's copying you!" I had to admit that the day before I'd done exactly the same thing when I thought no one was looking..... OOPS! Even at this young, tender age they are taking in more then I realize!  A B C D E F G, H I J K elemenopy! Q R S T U V W X Y and Zed!I'm so proud of my daughter! She is really learning her alphabet well and is starting to learn the sounds, too. She just loves school -- especially the poems and crafts! Like a FishMy sweet 4 year old daughter has been very interested in swimming for about a year, and just loves the water, so today she started lessons for the first time. She did very well and the teacher asked me again if I was sure this was her first time in lessons! She just jumped right in and took off! I think she'll do very well in swimming, like her Uncle Paul. There's Nothing like a Visit with an Old Friend...I posted HERE about my sons feeling upon missing a very special play date with a friend he has been missing. Today was the "make up" date, and what a wonderful day it was! We celebrated a birthday and enjoyed a visit -- the kind that you just can't have over the e-mail or over the phone. I even had the opportunity to attend the local home school meeting with my good friend - what an amazing encouragement it was -- all about prayer... for our husbands, our children and our selves. I came away refreshed, renewed and reminded of the importance of good friends -- both for us as adults and for our children. God has blessed us so much!!A New Baby is Such a Blessing!A new baby is always a blessing!We had the honour of visiting a new baby and his parents. His parents (and he) are heading to Europe as missionaries and will be a short (visiting) distance when we move to England. We pray that we can be an encouragement to him and to his parents as they raise him to fear the Lord. Numbers6:24-26 The Lord bless you and keep you; the Lord make His face shine upon you and be gracious to you; the Lord turn His face toward you and give you peace  Learning and GrowingToday Jeff and I attended a local homeschooling conference. I always enjoy discovering what's new, and gaining new insights and ideas from more experienced homeschoolers. We were spacifically looking for something to enhance our science program, as I feel that it's not as "exciting" as it should be right now.We enjoyed the conference, but did not find it as.... inspiring as we have other years. Maybe we were feeling blah with the weather, or something of the like. We sat in a few sessions but didn't really get as much out of them as we usually do. All in all, I was a little disapointed - however it was wonderful to catch up with a few friends who were there! We didn't buy much - most of what we will get needs to be ordered, but we did get a good idea of what we need for the next year, so that was encouraging. The children, on the other hand, had a wonderful day with Grandma and Grandpa. They were certainly tired when they got home! A Blessing in DisguiseMy hubby, Jeff, was laid off from work last week. This comes as a blessing in disguise as it has afforded us the ability to spend this past week with his parents. I think it's the longest time we've ever spent in a row. We took advantage of the time, and were able to scheadule in 9 other visits while we were in the area - what a busy time! It was a wonderful visit, and we were very spoiled, but it is always nice to be home again.Singing in the rain!My daughter loves to sing. She can sing for hours, making up songs as she goes along, linkinging songs together, or putting poems to music. It just HURTS!
Teething just HURTS I take so many "cute" pictures of my children, but more often then not, I disregard the "sad" expressions - yet those are important memories, too! As a Mommy, I feel like it is my job to "kiss away the hurts". It pains me to know that my child is hurting and I can't fix the problem. It seems that as they get older there are more and more hurts that I can't fix. My eldest is still, after a year of living here, struggling with missing his friends. We were scheaduled to visit this week, and were unable because he and his sister were sick - so Daddy went alone. My son cried (something very unusual for him). It was a hurt I couldn't fix. I couldn't kiss it better. I couldn't make it go away -- especially since I felt like crying, too. This time continues to be a good transition time for us. We are learning how to lean on eachother as a family, but more importantly, how to take our hurts to the ONE who CAN help with them. There will be many more times in the near future when we ache to visit with a special friend or a family member and are unable. I praise God for allowing us the time to learn how to handle these emotions before we are an ocean apart from those we hold dear. God is GOOD.
50 YearsThis year marks the 50th year since my Mom and her siblings sailed to Canada from England. To remember the event they went out to dinner together - they are very seldom all together anymore due to dwelling distance. (my mom is second from the right) Good Knight!It was "Royalty Night" at Olympians recently, and the children were encouraged to dress up. My daughter decided she had to be a princess, and my eldest desired to be Knighted. We found all we needed to make the costumes at a local thrift store for just over $5.00 - I was very pleased! (I did not make my daughters dress, it was one of our finds)
If you go down in the woods today... you're not going to be alone!The wooded areas around us were filled with people today as tourists flooded into Elmira and the surrounded bush to celebrate the running of the sap at the Elmira Maple Syrup Festival. The CEF Storyhouse Trailer was running at the Festival (my Dad was helping out!) so our little family and my Mom headed down to the festival to check out the fun. It was so crowded that it was difficult to push the stroller! I have to admit that the event, which I thought would be enjoyable for the children, turned out to be less then ideal due to the gross number of people there. None the less we were able to enjoy some of the flavours, including fresh apple fritters and GIANT dill pickles!
Who have you BLESSED today?This week we discussed BLESSINGS in our ladies Bible study. Forgive that you might also be forgiven....In our ladies Bible study this week we discussed FORGIVENESS. We talked about anger, malice and bitterness. We discussed how bitterness can eat at your soul and destroy you. We were encouraged to ask God to search our hearts and reveal any anger or bitterness in us, and to FORGIVE those who have wronged or offended us. I can appreciate the value of not retaining anger - not becoming bitter, but it struck me today, as it never has before, why it is so important to FORGIVE - and not just say the words, but to truely FORGIVE, no longer holding any hatred or malice in my heart against ANY other person. I'm not seeing 70 times 7 ... ok, who has a calculator here? Yup, you're right - that's 490 times we are COMMANDED to forgive for the same offence. Do you think Jesus is really expecting us to keep track? What he is saying is simply "keep on forgiving and forgiving and forgiving and forgiving and forgiving..... " If we want to go to Heaven with our sins (transgressions) forgiven then WE MUST KEEP ON FORGIVING.
Easter Sunday302. Christ the Lord Is Risen TodayText: Charles Wesley, 1707-1788Music: Lyra Davidica, 1708 Tune: EASTER HYMN, Meter: 77.77 D 1. Christ the Lord is risen today, Alleluia! Earth and heaven in chorus say, Alleluia! Raise your joys and triumphs high, Alleluia! Sing, ye heavens, and earth reply, Alleluia! 2. Love's redeeming work is done, Alleluia! Fought the fight, the battle won, Alleluia! Death in vain forbids him rise, Alleluia! Christ has opened paradise, Alleluia! 3. Lives again our glorious King, Alleluia! Where, O death, is now thy sting? Alleluia! Once he died our souls to save, Alleluia! Where's thy victory, boasting grave? Alleluia! 4. Soar we now where Christ has led, Alleluia! Following our exalted Head, Alleluia! Made like him, like him we rise, Alleluia! Ours the cross, the grave, the skies, Alleluia! 5. Hail the Lord of earth and heaven, Alleluia! Praise to thee by both be given, Alleluia! Thee we greet triumphant now, Alleluia! Hail the Resurrection, thou, Alleluia! 6. King of glory, soul of bliss, Alleluia! Everlasting life is this, Alleluia! Thee to know, thy power to prove, Alleluia! Thus to sing, and thus to love, Alleluia! Good FridayThe Wonderful CrossMatt Redman When I survey the wonderous cross On which the Price of Glory dies My richest gain I cound but loss And pour contempt on all my pride See from his head, his hands, his feet sorrow and love flow mingled down Did e'r such love and sorrow meet or thorns compose so rich a crown O the wonderful Cross, Oh the wonderful Cross Bids me come and die and find that I may truly live Oh the wonderful Cross, Oh the Wonderful Cross All who gather here by grace draw near and bless your name Today we remembered Jesus Death on the cross at our Good Friday church service. Following the service we headed back to my parents for lunch - and the traditional EGG HUNT - even the baby got right into it, thanks to Auntie Ann who practiced with him yesterday!  We then donned our winter coats and went on a "spring hunt" (new life). It was a walk around the area looking for signs of spring. We didn't find very many! The snow piles are still pretty high. What we did find: - tiny shoots of green grass coming up underneath the protective bows of pine trees - a few small, hearty flowers and leaves poking up through the snow - lots of MUD - people wearing sunglasses - Roll up the Rim to win cups on the ground - Did I mention all the MUD? - Puddles of melting snow - Bumble Bees - birds singing - ladybugs Wonderful reminders that, though the winter was long, spring is coming... God is Good! 
Carrot ThiefMy daughter decided that she wanted to make Carrot Cake for her grandparents, so we worked on that together to create her masterpiece (she loves to bake!
Where is SPRING?My wonderful, amazing husband brought me home tulips today, my favourite flower, to celebrate the "first day of Spring"
Don't Feed the Bears!A large stuffed bear (a gift from Auntie Megan for Christmas) sits at the table in a chair beside the baby. He was snacking quietly while I worked on the dishes. I peeked around the corner to check on him...... He's sharing his snack! A Hole in the Middle....What do YOU do when the baby pulls the cheerio box off the table and scatters little toasted oats all over the floor? You pull out some thread and some needles and tell the older children it's a CRAFT!  Those little circles got picked up mighty quickly as the children competed to see who could make the longest cheerio chain with the fallen cereal.  Not only was it fun, it got the cereal cleaned up in record time, and it gave the kids something to snack on while they finished up their school work! Everyone wins! Training them EarlyThe baby is really starting to want to "help". He brings us things he thinks we want, and copies whatever we are doing. He even wants to help with the dishes! He pushed this chair up to the counter and climbed up beside Daddy to "help" with the dishes. He was just thrilled when Daddy gave him a cloth so he could wash some himself! Happy Palm Sunday -- Early EasterAs you may know, Easter is always the 1st Sunday after the 1st full moon after the Spring Equinox (which is March 20).This dating of Easter is based on the lunar calendar that Hebrew people used to identify Passover, which is why it moves around on our Roman calendar. Found out a couple of things you might be interested in! Based on the above, Easter can actually be one day earlier (March 22) but that is pretty rare. Here's the interesting info. This year is the earliest Easter any of us will ever see the rest of our lives! And only the most elderly of our population have ever seen it this early (95 years old or above!). And none of us have ever, or will ever, see it a day earlier! Here are the facts: The next time Easter will be this early (March 23) will be the year 2228 (220 years from now). The last time it was this early was 1913 (so if you're 95 or older, you are the only ones that were around for that!). The next time it will be a day earlier, March 22, will be in the year 2285 (277 years from now). The last time it was on March 22 was 1818. So, no one alive today has or will ever see it any earlier than this year! My FRY GUY Those Ain't DADDY's Jeans no More!Daddy wore out a pair of jeans and offered them to my daughter and I as "material" to "play with". She instantly noticed the big pockets and decided that they would make her a very nice skirt! Down she went to my box of material to find something that would match with it. She just LOVES to decorate and create!Together we came up with this skirt.......   Personally, I've been wanting to get ahold of some nice denim to do a bit of a makeover on my footstool which was wrecked by a previous kitty, so I took the opportunity to stitch a cover for it while I had my machine out....
BEFORE and AFTER
 There is even a pocket for the remote (although the baby keeps taking OUT the remote and putting IN his soother.... I think it's time to do away with the soother! lol)
And finally, After making aprons for my 5 aprons for special gifts this Christmas, I decided that perhaps it was time to make one for myself. Using the leftover denim from the pants, and the leftover plaid from the stool, it came together fairly quickly.  SEW, I think we put the denim to pretty good use. My Mamma would be sew proud!
I have to say, though this really puts a new meaning to the question....
WHO'S WEARING THE PANTS IN THIS FAMILY?  A visit with Auntie AnnAuntie Ann came to visit today! It is always fun when she's around - she has a wonderful energy about her, and a true love for people. She loves to do crafts, so she came over today to help us with some t-shirt decorating! We had lots of giggles and laughs as we let our imaginations loose! Horton-Hears-A-WhoIt was another half day of school today as we went to the Library in the morning for a great "Horton Hears a Who" Party hosted by The Cat in the Hat! { Last Page } { Page 1 of 11 } { Next Page } |
About Me My Profile Archives Friends
LinksFreecycleFlylady Frugal Scrapbooking DISC Personality Test Love Languages Creative Gift Baskets HOPE Exchange Amazing Cakes to make! ASL (sign language) Creative Ladies Ministries Faithfully Yours Bible Crafts for Kids Scrapbooking Layouts and quotes/poems Knitty Home Made Simple 
Recent EntriesKnitting Soccer Mom!This Little Piggy Went to Market! The Many Faces of my Little Man First Game! Science Experiment
|
