SNOW DAY!!!

This is the day kids live for. SNOW DAY!! My son is celebrating the fact that he can be a bum all day today and lay around in his underwear. He was kind enough to wake up his sisters at 7:30 a.m. just to tell them they don't have to wake up because school has been cancelled. I on the other hand have to go shower and get ready for work (I don't mind because I love my job and it's right here in town so I don't have to travel far) , so I think I will give them a few chores to do while I am away...maybe, just maybe they'll actually get done too. Only time will tell!

A Christmas Story...

Once upon a time.....in a little cottage, in a little kitchen, on a little table there was told of a baby born who would one day be King!!!

The villagers were shocked and amazed and wondered who this King could be.

Could it be Elvis they wondered? Surely he is not the king they speak of....

(in case you didn't notice, this one has "Elvis" hair and so named Elvis)

An angel appeared and assured them that Elvis has left the building and won't be coming back. He then told them that this King they heard of was named Jesus and He would be the Savior to all mankind. They should worship Him and bow down to Him and He would lead them into righteousness.

Everyone rejoiced and sang praises to God.

There was great peace in the cottage and everyone had a wonderfully blessed Christmas!

THE END

Merry Christmas from our home to yours!

Family Pictures

While my husand was home I gathered everyone together and had my brother-in-law take some family picutres of us. We don't do this often enough, everyone complains the minute I start talking about it, but sometimes I just do it any ways because I want to and I'm the mom and they have to listen, it's just the way it is. So... here is one of the better ones, I think I'll use it for our Christmas card this year...

Missing him

Well, it's been four days since my hubby left us for Wabowden. I'm sad, I missed him approximately five minutes after he left. On the bright side, he will probably be home for Christmas and he had a good trip out there, he made it safely. That makes me happy. The kids miss him too, but seem to adjust quickly despite the fact that we all want him to come home and stay home. I look forward to Christmas more this year because he will be here again and the kids can hardly wait, some how the gifts just don't mean so much to us this year. It's funny how life gets put into perspective when a loved ones away for a long time. If all we got for Christmas this year was our father and husband home to stay, I really believe that the kids would be happy, I know I would. There's lots of reasons for me wanting him home, but the bottom line is.... I just want someone else to shovel the driveway!!!

Two weeks in another land

Oh, I thought it was another land, but it turns out that my husband was home and we were actually here, in the same house, same town and around the same people. It's funny how one person can change the way you do things so very quickly. Don't get me wrong, I love and adore my husband, but he was gone for eight months then home for two weeks. Some how during the last two weeks my life changed, not necessarily in a bad way, just different. We got together with family, friends, took the kids out etc. it's not like we secluded ourselves or anything, it just added a new dimension to life, one that we, unfortunately, had gotten used to not having around. So, now he's gone for a few days, then back home to pick up his car, then gone again to his new home in Wabowden. He should be home for Christmas by the sounds of things and we are definitely excited about that! But for now we have to get used to not having him around again, I don't like it, but we do what we must, right?!?

I was asked to do this meme by a few people quite a while ago. My hubby was home for two weeks and for two weeks we've been running steady. It's funny how one person can put such a different twist on your life and how you live each day. Any way, he left today and so now I thought I would take some time for myself and actually do this. So, here you go....

8 Things

8 things I’m passionate about:
God
my family
my friends
scrap booking/ card making
babies
Carribean food
entertaining (although I haven't done a whole lot lately)
watching my kids in their different sport activities

8 things I want to do before I die:
see my family grow to love God intentionally
see someone close to me be set free
I would love to see Africa
Adopt a child
work in an orphanage
live to see my great-grandchildren
have a vacation home some place quiet and close to water
go back to Trinidad and Tobago

8 things I say often:
stop fighting
go to bed, I mean it, go to bed, didn't I just say, go to bed???
Praise the Lord!
stop picking on your sister/brother
clean up that mess!
I love you!
Really!?!
yes, you can have a friend over.

8 books I’ve read recently:
Because I'm REALLY bad at remembering titles of books I'm not going to list any except for the one I just finished reading.
The Bible

8 songs that I could listen to over and over:
Any praise and worship song, I love to listen to praise and worship!



8 things that attract me to my best friend
He’s funny
He’s a good father
He’s very handsome
He's a good provider
I love his hands and his eyes!
He's honest
He's intellegent
He’s a man of great morals

8 things I’ve learned this past year:
that I'm stronger than I thought
that being a "single mom" actually sucks
that absence does make the heart grow fonder
that my God is an Awesome God
that my faith is stronger than I knew
that hospitality is something that God wants me to get better at
that my faith in God can take me places I never dreamed of
my kids are growing up way to fast

some people who can do this meme but do not have to:
Becky
Joyce
Rox
Tara

Happy, happy, happy!

In five short days my hubby will be home for two whole weeks! The kids and I are so very excited! We have not seen him for eight months now and we miss him so very much. He has been up North for to long and we want him home, but this will not come to pass for some time yet. He is moving shortly, but not here, he is going to Wabowden. I know, where's Wabowden you ask. Well, actually I know where it is, we've lived close to there before, but it's still up North and it's stilll not home with us. We do however have two weeks with him and for that we are thankful and excited. So, if you think of us, please pray not just for strength and patience, but for his safety so that God can return him to us healthy, happy and whole.

Thanks in advance for all the prayers that will be sent up and also for those that have already gone up!

Love

I love my husband, my children, my family, my friends....

I love that I am blessed, not because I always feel blessed, but because God says I am. That means even when I don't feel like it, I am!

I love it that God is good and only good, that He is only capable of doing good things and He only wants good things to happen to me. That means all the bad things in my life are not from Him, but He can take the bad things and turn them into good things.

I love it that when I feel down or discouraged about something He brings someone into my life that says or does just the right thing to make me feel better. That means He was thinking about me and wanted to cheer me up.

I love the feeling I get when I encourage someone or say just the right thing at the right time and the person I said it to says thanks, I needed to hear that. That means that God spoke to me and I became His hands and feet and spoke His truth to someone and He was not just thinking about them, but He chose me to reveal Himself, that's pretty special.

What do you love?

Drums for sale!!

Ok, so here's the deal... Last Christmas Keanu won a set of drums from CHVN during a Christmas contest they were having. He had to send in an email to them telling them what they wanted the most for Christmas and the worst gift they ever recieved was. So, I went online with him and he dictated to me what he wanted to send in.

His biggest wish for Christmas was that his dad would be able to come home and spend Christmas with us, which happened and made our Christmas perfect.

He also had to tell about one gift that he got that he considered his worst gift ever. He chose to tell of the time he got Superman boxers in his stocking. I denied ever giving him anything like that, but really it was true, he did get Superman boxers in his stocking for Christmas. My only excuse is that really I didn't give them to him as things in their stockings techniquely come from Santa, not from mom and dad.

Any ways, of course Bob Duck thought this was hillarious and talked about it several times on the air last Christmas, I got a great chuckle out of it and Keanu was thrilled to have a drum set.

So the reason we have drums for sale now is that he has decided he does not need them any more and wants to sell them. If you know of anyone out there interested in a starter set of drums you can get them to email me or call us. Here a few pictures of the set, have a great day everyone!!!

Exciting yet hard...

Watching your kids grow up....Exciting yet hard. Does anyone else feel that way?? I love my kids, I love seeing them grow up and become the people they are meant to be, but I really, REALLY want them to stay little. I want them to always want me around, to always need me, to always think I'm the coolest mom ever. They won't and that's ok too, but it isn't always easy.

A few weeks ago, my son asked me to straighten his hair, so...I did. Yesterday some of my family members saw that picture and said he looked like he was 16 in the picture and when I took a closer look at it, I had to agree. Which got me thinking about him actually BEING 16, which mad me sad and scared all at the same time. My oldest daughter WILL be 16 in just two short years and that scared me a bit too. Why does time have to go by so very quickly? It seems like one minute your changing diapers and the next your teaching them to drive! Wait a minute wasn't I just 16 a few short months ago? (wishful thinking!?!)

Well, here are the pictures he took of himself that make him look way to old. What do you think?

On being a Great Auntie

I am a Great Auntie, not just because I'm GREAT (ha, ha), but because my nephew and his wife have a sweet little baby boy. He is so cute, and happy all the time. I babysat him this weekend and had a blast. There's a lot to be said for watching someone else's little one and then giving them back to their parents and sleeping through the night without being disturbed.

I've always loved being an Aunt, there's something really special about that title, being a Great Aunt, it just makes me stand a little taller and hold my head up a little higher. It's special and I love it.

This is my sweet, sweet, little "great" nephew, look at these pictures and tell me he isn't one of the cutests things you've ever seen....

One Year Older

Yesterday was my oldest daughter's 14th birthday! I love her so much, she is so very intellegent (did not get it from me!) She's beautiful, funny and kind. It's hard to believe that before you are a parent that it is possible to love someone so strongly. This girl took my heart from the time she was concieved, even before she was born I began to love her. I was so excited about her coming into my life and am thankful that God chose her for me!!

Jacqueline, we've had so much fun laughing and learning together! Here's to many, many more years of joy!

Happy birthday Jacqueline! Your dad and I are so proud of you! Have a blast being 14!!!

Love, Mom

Horses are so much fun!

Kenya and her cousin got to do a little horse back riding this last weekend with their Uncle and Auntie. This happens every once in a while and is most definitely one highlight of their summer. Kenya absolutely loves horses, so did I when I was a kid, so maybe she is a little more like me than we thought!

Keanu's Birthday Party! Fun, Fun,Fun!!

Just thought I would post a few pictures from Keanu's big party. Everyone had a great time and he got WAY to much money from all his friends. So, as the all the good mennonites say..........a good time was had by all!

11 Years ago today I had an adorable baby boy!

Today is my sons 11th birthday! It's hard to believe that it's been that long already. The time just goes by so very quickly sometimes. My husband was gone for training to become an RCMP officer so I was at home alone with my three year old daughter and pregnant with Keanu. My wonderful oldest sister came in the delivery room with me. She was soooooo awesome! Her kids were all quite a bit older but she remembered all of the breathing techniques and everything! I really enjoyed having her there with me even though after he was born she held him and wouldn't give him to me!

He's having his big party tomorrow at Corner Stone with lots of his friends. I like that place, it means I don't have to have 15 eleven year old boys running through my house and that, my friends, is a true blessing!!!! Don't you agree??

Happy Birthday son! You are a true blessing and I am very proud of you. Love always, Mom

Crazy Busy!!

Let's see, I've been working two jobs, taking care of my kids and trying to tend to my house (all though I haven't been to sucessful) cut the grass, gone to "The Sound of Music" oh yeah, and had the police and fire fighters in my home.

I took my girls to go see the Sound of Music on Wednesday night. It was something that I really wanted to see and thought they would enjoy it too. My son is in Winnipeg with his Uncle getting spoiled rotten, so I figured it was a good opportunity for a girls night out. Only when we got home around 12:30am we found that not everything was the way we left it. Shortly after we got in the phone rang, it was my dad, I figured if he was calling that late at night something must have happened to my mom. No, she was fine, he just wanted to let me know that the police and the fire fighters oh yeah, and some centra gas guy, had been in my home while I was gone!!

Here's what happened...I had a carbon monoxide detector plugged in an outlet in my bedroom and my bedroom window was open. While we were away, it went off and my wonderful neighbor who just happens to be a Winnipeg fire fighter heard it and called for me through the window. When he didn't get a response he thought he would call the police and then come into my home to make sure we weren't all in here dying or of course worse, dead! But the police decided to call the fire fighters from town so they came too!! What a great deed, don't you think??? Well, they looked through all the bedrooms and found that no one was home and we were indeed safe, but to make sure that we would stay safe when we got home they had to call someone to test the air quality in our home so, hence, some Centra gas guy was also in my home while I was joyously listening to "Raindrops on Roses and whiskers on kittens..." By the time we got home they were all gone, oh, did I mention that the police called my husband in Gods Lake Narrows because he is also a police officer and they thought it was a good idea to call him to see if he knew where we were.

So, when I got home I had to call my husband and the police here in town to let them all know that we were home and all safe and sound. Then I had to get over the fact that my house was a complete and utter disaster and there were a whole bunch of strangers in it looking through all my bedrooms!!

Maybe the next time I get the urge to do something for myself I'll just sit down and take a deep breath until the feeling goes away.

No Green Thumb Here!!

I'm not a planter, not a good one. I've actually managed to kill a cactus in my lifetime. So, it's always a surprise to me when I put a plant or a seed in the ground and something actually manages to grow, turn green and survive. Last fall I planted an apple tree in our yard and one tiny little grape vine by the deck. I never really expected anything to come of either of them, but to my surprise we actually got about 8 little crab apples on our baby tree and a tiny but beautiful bunch of grapes on the vine. Even though after I planted the grape vine my silly dog chewed it and I'm pretty sure he even peed on it a few times, all that was left by the time the snow fell were three little brown sticks coming out of the dirt. So, even though they really didn't taste that great I'm very proud of the fact that not only is my grape vine green, but it produced one bunch of grapes, one tiny, little, sour bunch of grapes, but they are grapes!!!

Beautiful Pictures!!

I just went to http://www.gracedbychrist.com to enter a contest to win a beautiful picture!! Please check it out and enter too, you will be pleasantly surprised at what you see!

Do Unto Others...

A few weekends ago, we were travelling down the highway, we just turned onto the perimeter when all of a sudden I heard a loud pop and an even louder hissing sound.

We picked up a huge metal stake of some kind, it was stuck way into my tire, so I pulled over to the side of the road and proceeded to move all of our stuff from the trunk onto the back seat so that I could get my tire down from under the van.

I thought to myself, surely someone on this busy highway, when they see a woman with three children stranded on the side of the road trying to get a tire loose will stop and offer help.Am I just too naive, could it really be that we have all become so wrapped up in our own lives and schedules that we can't even stop and help someone on the side of the road?? I'm guilty of it myself, I remember seeing someone on the side of the road one night coming home. My reason for not stopping, it's dark, I don't know who that is, there are other vehicles behind me, they can stop, I was too scared to even stop and help someone.

So, I proceeded to call my wonderful brother, who stopped what he was doing and came to my rescue. We waited for maybe 45 minutes for him to come.

He even had trouble getting that tire down, so I didn't feel too bad. We had to get a new one, the spike was just too big, it ruined my new tire.

Next time I hope I'm brave enough to stop for the person on the side of the road and see if they need help. I'm sure going to try!!!!

What to do in Summer??

We have done a few things this summer. Gone to the beach several times, we went to Killarney for a weekend, movies, parks etc. etc.

I work at the new assisted living here in town, it's officially called the CU Manor, but that's such a dumb name, I can't get myself to tell people I work there, so I just call it the new assisted living building. My nine year old wanted to learn to crochet so I asked one of the ladies living there if she would be interested in teaching her. Well, she was so thrilled that I asked, she was more than happy to do it. So, one morning we went over there and my daughter began to crochet chains. She learned very quickly really, but she needed to practise these "chains" until she had the tension right all the time so that when she went on to crocheting bigger and better things they would look good. She has really enjoyed it, she's practising hard, she's ready to learn more. The result of that is long "chains" of crocheted yarn all over the house, you've got to LOVE summer!!! Truthfully, I am glad she's found something that interests her, it has kept her quite busy during the week. Tomorrow she goes back to learn how to crochet rows, she can hardly wait! I'm really very proud of her because she has accomplished something that she put her mind to and she didn't give up.

I think I'm going to tell her that!! Way to go girl!!

Eight things you may not know about me!!

I was asked to do this meme, I've never done one before but I'm willing to give it a try. So.... here it goes...



The Rules: “Each person posts the rules before their list, then they list 8 things about themselves. At the end of the post, that person tags and links to 8 other people and then visits those peoples’ sites and comments letting them know that they have been tagged, and to come read the post, so they know what they have to do.”



1. The first thing you may not know about me is..I LOVE babies!! It doesn't matter whose baby it is, weather the baby is happy, crying, clean, dirty..... I LOVE BABIES! I work in the nursery at church and it's one of my favorite parts of my week. Up until just recently I've wanted to have more babies of my own, but lately when I hear a baby crying in the mall, or see parents pulling out their strollers from their trunks I'm glad that I can enjoy other peoples babies and then give them back. But I do LOVE them all!!

2. I like to scrapbook and make cards. Lately I haven't done a lot of it and I'm not really that great at it, but I do really enjoy it. I got started when we were living in Cross Lake and all the other RCMP wives were into it. We would get together for an afternoon or evening and sit around the table making cards and visiting. It's a really fun way to spend time with friends.

3. I would love to have a few friends over to make supper together and then enjoy that said supper. I think it would be fun cooking and visiting in the kitchen and then be able to sit down and enjoy the meal we created together. Because I'm a big chicken and not sure if other people would think that was a dumb idea, I haven't done it, but I sure would like to.... I think it would be fun. Anyone interested???

4. I love singing and listening to music. It's something I do a lot throughout my day and one of my favorite parts of church is praise and worship. I sing in my kitchen, my car, my backyard. It really embarrasses my daughter, but I love to sing. Sometimes I even dance in my kitchen, especially when I am alone. I just love to praise my Lord!!

5. I like to help....where ever, when ever, how ever. I just enjoy helping people with anything! It gives me great joy!

6. I am a very patient person except at times with my kids and sometimes that makes me feel very discouraged. I am working on trying to be more patient with them, but some days I find it REALLY hard. Can anyone relate???

7. I miss my husband very much! He is working in a northern community and has not been home since April. The kids and I would really like him to come home for a while.

8. I love being back home after ten years of living in other communities. I missed my little town, which really isn't so little any more. (sometimes that makes me sad) Even though it's hard to be back after so many years, I really don't want to be anywhere else.

Now I'm supposed to tag 8 other people. I'm not sure I even know 8 other bloggers, so if you've already been tagged, sorry!!! ( I hope this works, I'm also kind of computer illiterate!)

Mel at http://melodiearmbruster.blogspot.com/
Ruth at http://brianswife.blogspot.com/
Esther at http://estherderksen.blogspot.com/
Shelley at http://shelleyschmidt.blogspot.com/
Stephanie at http://likethenight.blogspot.com/
Goria at http://yesthesearemythighs.blogspot.com/

So there you have it. Have a great day!!!

Back from Killarney

Well, we have been back from Killarney now for a few days. It's hard to get back into the groove of your regular life when you have been away for a while, even if it is only for a few days. (at least that's how I find it)

The kids had a blast, the beach, mini-golf, friends, camp fires etc. Jacqueline got to spend the weekend with two of her very good friends from Churchill, that was good to see, she had a hard time leaving. The water was ok, for most of the weekend, but on Sunday we went to the beach and there was thick, green, slimy algae all over the place. The kids did go in for a very short time because it was so hot, but could not stay in for to long. After they had to shower and scrub every inch of their little bodies. So that was not to enjoyable.

On Sunday I went to church with the two ladies I was visiting. We were going to go to the Baptist church, but got the start time wrong, so ended up going to the United Church. It was interesting to say the least. We were the youngest ones there, no children at all, not even one. I would estimate the next youngest person there to be maybe 65, I think really it was 70, but I'm not to sure. It makes for a very interesting church service, to quiet and solemn for me. I'm thankful for all of the kids in our church, they make everything seem alive.

Well, I'm not the greatest blogger yet, I didn't even take ONE picture while we were there! I did bring my camera along, so that is one step in the right direction, right?? I know, it's very sad, I had good intentions though. So hopefully next time I will do better and have some pics for you to see too!!

Have a great weekend!

The kids and I are on our way to Killarney, Manitoba for the weekend!! A couple from Churchill that both teach in the school there spend their summers in Killarney and we are going to go visit them. The kids are VERY excited, to put it mildly. I hope you all have a wonderful weekend.
I just wanted to share this article with all of you by Max Lucado, it is really inspiring!

Nevertheless
by Max Lucado

And the king and his men… spoke to David, saying, "You shall not come in here; but the blind and the lame will repel you," …Nevertheless David took the stronghold of Zion (that is, the City of David).
- 2 Sam. 5:6–7

Did you see it? Most hurry past it. Let’s not. Pull out a pen and underline this twelve-letter masterpiece.
Nevertheless.
"Nevertheless David took the stronghold…"

Wouldn’t you love God to write a nevertheless in your biography? Born to alcoholics, nevertheless she led a sober life. Never went to college, nevertheless he mastered a trade. Didn’t read the Bible until retirement age, nevertheless he came to a deep and abiding faith.
We all need a nevertheless. And God has plenty to go around. Strongholds mean nothing to him. Remember Paul’s words? "We use God’s mighty weapons, not mere worldly weapons, to knock down the Devil’s strongholds" (2 Cor. 10:4 NLT).
You and I fight with toothpicks; God comes with battering rams and cannons. What he did for David, he can do for us. The question is, will we do what David did? The king models much here.
Two types of thoughts continually vie for your attention. One proclaims God’s strengths; the other lists your failures. One longs to build you up; the other seeks to tear you down. And here’s the great news: you select the voice you hear. Why listen to the mockers? Why heed their voices? Why give ear to pea-brains and scoffers when you can, with the same ear, listen to the voice of God?

Do what David did.
Turn a deaf ear to the old voices.
Open a wide eye to the new choices.
Who knows, you may be a prayer away from a nevertheless. God loves to give them.
Peter stuck his foot in his mouth.
Joseph was imprisoned in Egypt.
The Samaritan woman had been married five times.
Jesus was dead in the grave …
Nevertheless, Peter preached, Joseph ruled, the woman shared, Jesus rose ??? and you?
You fill in the blank. Your nevertheless awaits you.

From Facing Your Giants

I hope you all find your nevertheless today!!! Have a GREAT weekend!

Who do we consider family?

I have a dilemma on my hands, one that does not make me feel good. It's one of those times when I wish someone else could make the decision, be the "bad" guy and I could just walk away.

We have a wonderful purebred Yellow Lab named Sulley. We've had him for two years and love him to death. He is cute, funny and very smart. When we lived up North, we had a big, fenced- in yard that he could run around in and be free. The kids were always outside playing with him and spending a lot of time with him. Since we've lived here, they are hardly ever outside with him. Not that they are not outside, they just don't spend time with him, they have to many other things to do, people to see.( I too am guilty of this offense) So.... or poor little puppy, whom we still really do love, is left to spend his days and nights outside in the backyard in his kennel. Oh sure, we do go out there every now and then and let him out to run around, we play soccer with him (which he loves) and we always make sure he has water and food. But for most of the day, he's alone, caged, it's just not fair to him.

Now, we have been puppy sitting a tiny, cute puppy for our friends, they have decided that they are willing to let us have him, if we would like. He is the kind of dog I always wanted, only my husband said, " If we are going to get a dog, we are going to get a REAL dog!! Not some little thing that doesn't even know how to be a dog!"

So here we are, two dogs we really love, one must go for his own good, but it sure doesn't feel good. He really is part of our family and I kind of feel like we are replacing him with something "better". It doesn't really feel good, but I know it's for the best. Sulley deserves to have space to run around and be a happy dog. On the bright side, my niece and nephew just bought a new place on 17 acres and they are thinking about taking him. I know he will be much happier there...... or at least that's what I tell myself!!!

Just Imagine!

Just imagine you were a bird soaring through the clouds, or a giraffe walking through the jungle, how about a lion stalking it's prey, or maybe, just maybe THIS.......

Oh to have the imagination of a child!!!

Back from Camp

So, I picked up my son from camp last night. I missed him an awful lot, worried about him way to much and was happy to have him home even though within the first two hours he was arguing with his sisters.

He had a wonderful time, enjoyed the food, slept well and made lots of new friends. He loved his camp counselors, he had the best ones there don't you know. He even prayed with a group of kids (out loud!!) he says for 3 whole minutes. Put a promise to God on a cross that said he would respect his parents and came home with a great attitude and a happy outlook on life!!!

It's so very exciting to see my children grow. Scary sometimes, yes, but exciting never the less. I'm so thankful that I have God on my side while they grow and learn. Together I know we can lead these little ones in the right direction and help them to be productive, responsible and spirit-filled members of our society. There is nothing more gratifying than that.

Summer Camp

Last week my youngest daughter went to camp for a few days and yesterday I brought my son to the same camp for the week. This is their first chance to ever try something like this as we have been living up north for the past six years and there is no such thing as camp up there. Not many opportunities for much of anything on the reserves, except for hockey, hockey and more hockey. In Cross Lake the kids were skating in July already, because there just wasn't anything else for them to do.

So Kenya, my nine-year-old went to camp last week, came home on Saturday. Had a WONDERFUL time, couldn't say enough nice things about it, wants to work at camp when she gets older. It could not have been a better experience for her, she is hooked. My friends son went the same week. When he got home he was in tears, told his mom she could NEVER make him go back, it was the worst experience of his life. He let her know how hard the beds were, how it was too hot to sleep, the food was horrible, the water tasted bad, the milk was no good and he WAS NOT going back there!

I'm pretty sure we left them at the same camp, we drove together in the same vehicle, but two different outlooks on the same place with the same people at the same time. How is this possible, I asked myself. Then I thought, how amazing it is the way God has made us all so different. He knew from the beginning that if he had made us all the same, with the same interests, the same likes and dislikes, that this world would not be a place that many would want to be. My friends son wasn't wrong in feeling what he did, this camp just is not for him and that's ok. God made us different for many reasons, but one of them, I believe is, so that we can see our world, our circumstances in different ways in order to help each other through the tough times in our lives.

So, let's embrace each others differences, let's celebrate!!

Yesterday I dropped off my son to this same camp. On Friday I will be picking him up. What will he have to say about his new experience? Only time wil tell!!

Be encouraged!

Why is it that christian people, I mean people who really love the Lord, who know what it means to fully trust in Him and believe that He is greater than anything the devil throws their way are being so attacked??

In the last week I've had several friends, people who are very close to my heart, very dear to me, that are being put through such great struggles. Why must so much heart ache come to so many good people? I don't always understand, the other day I thought, Wouldn't it be nice if, once we truly believed in Christ, I mean TRULY believed, we wouldn't have to go through so many great struggles. The occasional up hill battle perhaps, but no more deep down, painful struggles. But, if that really was the way our christian walk was, would we believe that we really needed God at all? It would make it so easy to just live our lives without ever thinking about Him. I believe that when we go through these struggles, this is when God is most powerful in our lives. We live because He does, if we forget that, what do we have left?

To all of my friends and those of you who I do not know and may be going through a rough time in your life: be strong, hold fast, when you've done all else, STAND. Do not let the devil move you, look him straight in the face and say NO, God IS in control, He is here and He will see me though this!

Be strengthened, be encouraged and most of all, through it all STAND!

My Baby is Nine!

Nine years ago today I was in Yorkton, SK, in the hospital having my water broken by my doctor. Six hours later I was being prept for an emergency C-section because my baby's heart rate was dangerously low. A short, but painful time after that my sweet, funny, little girl was born. All I could see of her was a polaroid picture that was taken of her only minutes after she was born. Six hours later after they finally finished all the pocking and proding and they were sure she was healthy they finally brought her to me and I got to hold my little girl. She was perfect, as baby's are, and a short two days later I took her home to her big brother and sister.

Kenya, we love everything about you. Your energy, your great sense of humor, your giggles and your witty come backs. Happy birthday my sweetheart!

Ok, it official... I am a blogger!! My daughter helped me get going, she left for her friends house and was worried I wouldn't be able to go on without her, but here I am!!

What should be my official first blog ? With kids, pets, a husband that lives far away, a God I love and friends near and far I could blog forever.

Today I was out in the yard cutting the grass and cleaning the kennel. I decided it would be a great ideal to let my dog, Sulley out for a run around the yard. What's the first thing he did? Run into the empty yard beside us and wallow in the mud puddles. I always suspected that his grandfather was a pig because he snorts just like one, but this...???

The joys of having a dog!!??

P.S. this is NOT how I wanted this to look, but alas.... I could not figure out how to put the pictures on the bottom of the post! Oh, well, enjoy it any way.