Wednesday, June 2, 2010
Little Bumps
So, I got some semi-good news today which is making me feeling pretty good. I can't go into details because he doesn't want me to, so I'll stay silent. I will say that God is good. He leads the way. He has a plan. He provides. The little bumps along the way make us stronger and allow us to handle the bigger things yet to come. So, for now, it's a little bump, and I continue to pray that it doesn't get bigger. Maybe it's just a reminder at how precious this life is and how He is in control... always. How we must put our trust in Him and let the journey lead us to where He wants it to go. I thank Him for my family and all the blessings of my life.
Tuesday, June 1, 2010
Lunch Date
So, I took my boy on a lunch date today! Haven't done that in forever. It was special!
I asked him last night if he'd like to go out for lunch today, and he didn't even hesitate. "Sure!" he said with a big smile on his face. I think he actually still likes me!! Yippee.
So I picked him up from school and we went to Swiss Chalet for lunch. It was nice. We talked, just the two of us... no interruptions - well, other than the food :-) He had a big vocabulary exam this morning that had been stressing him out for days, so now that it's over I think he was feeling pretty relaxed. I just thought he deserved some special time with mom... OK, mom needed some special time with her boy!
It just felt right... me and my boy... wish I could keep him small... gosh I love him!
I asked him last night if he'd like to go out for lunch today, and he didn't even hesitate. "Sure!" he said with a big smile on his face. I think he actually still likes me!! Yippee.
So I picked him up from school and we went to Swiss Chalet for lunch. It was nice. We talked, just the two of us... no interruptions - well, other than the food :-) He had a big vocabulary exam this morning that had been stressing him out for days, so now that it's over I think he was feeling pretty relaxed. I just thought he deserved some special time with mom... OK, mom needed some special time with her boy!
It just felt right... me and my boy... wish I could keep him small... gosh I love him!
Friday, May 21, 2010
Survey Says
Friday, May 28, 2010
Haven't done one of these in a while, and I thought it might be fun to read it again in a year or two to see what's changed... maybe my hair will be grey by then, or I'll have a new scar... hope not though.
1. ONE OF YOUR SCARS, HOW DID YOU GET IT? Calgary Canucks hockey game in grade 11... slapshot to the face, just below my right eye... knocked me out... a bunch of stiches and a dad who had to take pictures of my big black eye. The only good thing was I got to see the Canucks dressing room and a guy I had "crushed" on a few years before (Mark Astley) was playing on the team. Why I recall that, I do not know!
2. WHAT IS ON THE WALLS IN YOUR ROOM? Which room... OK, I'll pick one... my bedroom... photos of each child (Meghan... in her grad dress, Andrew... in his grad suit, Christopher... as a baby only a couple weeks old, and Katie... as a baby about 4 months old), two professional pictures of me pregnant with Katie, a great big wedding photo of Bruce and I, a dried flower arrangement (I know they're out of style) of flowers we received when Carly died.
3. DO YOU SNORE, GRIND YOUR TEETH, OR TALK IN YOUR SLEEP? I don't NORMALLY snore, and yes I grind my teeth.
4. WHAT TYPE OF MUSIC DO YOU LISTEN TO? Country, Classic Rock, Christian Worship and in no particular order.
5. DO YOU KNOW WHAT TIME YOU WERE BORN? Not the exact time, but about 4:00 PM on a Friday.
6. WHAT DO YOU WANT MORE THAN ANYTHING RIGHT NOW? Do I HAVE to spell it out loud? That would be inappropriate :-)
7. WHAT DO YOU MISS? Could there be an easier question? MY MOM!!! Every single solitary day!!
8. WHAT IS YOUR MOST PRIZED POSSESSION? Another super easy question... photos and videos of my family!
9. HOW TALL ARE YOU? 5"7 1/2
10. DO YOU GET CLAUSTROPHOBIC? Not usually
11. DO YOU GET SCARED IN THE DARK? Depends... I like to sleep in the dark now, but I hated the dark as a child though.
12. THE LAST PERSON TO MAKE YOU CRY? Hubby
13. WHATS YOUR WORST FEAR? Something bad happening to my children
14. WHAT KIND OF HAIR/EYE COLOR DO YOU LIKE ON THE OPPOSITE SEX? dark eyes, dark hair
15. WHERE CAN YOU SEE YOURSELF PROPOSING / BEING PROPOSED TO AT? Well, since I'm already married, probably not a good thing to be thinking about :-)
16. COFFEE OR ENERGY DRINK? COFFEE of course!! Those energy drinks are evil.
17. FAVORITE PIZZA TOPPING? Greek pizza
18. IF YOU COULD EAT ANYTHING RIGHT NOW, WHAT WOULD IT BE? An assortment of cheeses and crackers with many varieties of good wine!
19. FAVORITE COLOR OF ALL TIME? PINK PINK PINK PINK PINK
20. HAVE YOU EVER EATEN A GOLDFISH? Not likely!
21. WHAT WAS THE FIRST MEANINGFUL GIFT YOU'VE EVER RECEIVED? Life!! I must admit, I stole this from someone elses list, but it's a good one.
22. DO YOU HAVE A CRUSH? Oh yeah!
23. ARE YOU DOUBLE JOINTED? Sadly no
24. FAVORITE CLOTHING BRAND? Tommy Hilfiger, Eddie Bauer
25. WHO IS THE HOTTEST FEMALE/MALE CELEBRITY? Hmmmm... so I had to go to the "People" website to get some inspiration. Here's my list... Keith Urban, George Clooney, Johnny Depp, Chris North, Matthew McConaughey, and Josh Duhamel
26. DO YOU HAVE A PET RIGHT NOW? Not including a husband and kids? Yes... Jackson the cat (he's a little evil) and Sam our dog (he just a sloppy love bug).
27. WHAT KIND IS IT? Jackson's a CAT, just a CAT. Sam is a Springer Spaniel Golden Retriever Cross.
28. WOULD YOU FALL IN LOVE KNOWING THAT THE PERSON IS LEAVING? Absolutely!! Life is too short to NOT embrace love... we're all "leaving" at one point or another.
29. WHAT IS THE BEST WAY TO TELL SOMEONE HOW MUCH THEY MEAN TO YOU? Tell someone how much they mean to you!
30. SAY A NUMBER FROM ONE TO A HUNDRED: "a number from one to a hundred"
31. BLONDES OR BRUNETTES? A mixture of both perhaps?
32. WHAT IS THE ONE NUMBER YOU CALL MOST OFTEN? My hubby's cell phone
33. WHAT ANNOYS YOU MOST? People who don't keep promises!
34. HAVE YOU BEEN OUT OF THE COUNTRY? You bet!
35. YOUR WEAKNESSES? There's too many to list!
36. MET ANYONE FAMOUS? Nothing that sticks out, however I did eat in the same restaurant, at the same time, as Kevin Costner!
37. FIRST JOB? Kresges Diner Counter... YES, my first job was in a "cooking" environment... go figure!
38. EVER DONE A PRANK CALL? Often... but not in a few years :-)
39. DO YOU THINK EVERYONE OUT THERE HAS A SOULMATE? YES
40. WHAT WERE YOU DOING BEFORE YOU FILLED THIS OUT? Well, I was supposed to be working... tee hee hee
41. HAVE YOU EVER HAD SURGERY? When I was 5 and 7... had my ears pinned back because they stuck out... I looked like a sugar bowl when I was a baby. The first thing my mom said when I was born was "look at those ears!" God, I miss her!
42. WHAT DO YOU GET COMPLIMENTED ABOUT MOST? My organizational ability!
43. HAVE YOU EVER HAD BRACES? Nope, but there's still time.
44. WHAT DO YOU WANT FOR YOUR BIRTHDAY? Healthy children, husband, dad, brother(s), friends, and ME! Oh, and maybe an i-Pad!
45. HOW MANY KIDS DO YOU WANT? No more than I have already, thank you very much!
46. WERE YOU NAMED AFTER ANYONE? Yes, my two grandmas... MaRINA (mom's mom) and ElizaBETH (dad's mom)
47. WHAT IS THE BIGGEST TURN OFF OF THE OPPOSITE SEX? Nagging
48. WHAT IS ONE THING YOU MISS ABOUT HIGH SCHOOL? The DRAMA for sure!!! Because it REALLY wasn't drama, although I thought it was at the time. Ahhhh, to go back to something so simple!
49. WHAT KIND OF SHAMPOO DO YOU USE? Tresemme
50. DO YOU LIKE YOUR HANDWRITING? I do!
51. WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE LUNCH MEAT? Tuna Salad
52. ANY BAD HABITS? TONS!
53. ARE YOU A JEALOUS PERSON? About certain things, yes
54. IF YOU WERE ANOTHER PERSON, WOULD YOU BE FRIENDS WITH YOU? Hope so!
55. DO YOU AGREE WITH FRIENDS WITH BENEFITS? Not for my kids, that's for sure! :-)
56. DO LOOKS MATTER? Sadly they do. Hey, I'm just being honest.
57. HOW DO YOU RELEASE ANGER? Oh nooooo, I don't release anger, I bottle it up inside me and wait for the cork to pop!
58. WHERE DO YOU LIVE? In McKenzie Towne, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
59. WHATS YOUR MAIN GOAL IN LIFE? To see my children grow up to be happy, healthy, well adjusted adults with families of their own that I like!
60. WHAT WAS YOUR FAVORITE TOY AS A CHILD? Fisher Price Garage Set and LEGO.... I should have been a boy I guess!
61. HOW MANY NUMBERS ARE IN YOUR CELL PHONE? 10 (1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,0) HA HA
62. WERE YOU A FAN OF BARNEY AS A LITTLE KID? There was NO SUCH THING as Barney when I was a kid!
63. DO YOU USE SARCASM? NEVER! (Typical answer I know)
64. MASHED POTATOES OR MACARONI AND CHEESE? Mac and Cheese
65. WHAT DO YOU LOOK FOR IN A GUY/GIRL? Passion
66. WHAT ARE YOUR NAMES? That's a dumb question... "MOM, MOM, and MOM"
67. WHATS YOUR FAVORITE BAND/SINGER? Van Halen, Scorpions
68. WHATS YOUR FAVORITE TV SHOW? 1. Modern Family; 2. The Good Wife
69.WHATS THE BEST WAY TO DEAL WITH YOUR ENEMIES? Life is too short to have enemies
70. WHAT'S YOUR FAVORITE ICE CREAM FLAVOR? Coffee or Maple Walnut
71. DO YOU HAVE ALL YOUR FINGERS AND TOES? Yes, and I have nice toes!
72. DO YOU HAVE A COMPUTER IN YOUR ROOM? In my bedroom? No! Although my laptop joins me there once in a while.
73. PLANS FOR TONIGHT? Hibernating... it's cold, wet, and was snowy! Yuck!
74. WHAT'S THE FASTEST YOU'VE EVER GONE IN A CAR? All the way!! HAHAHA. That was a LONG time ago... hee hee
75. DO YOU WANT EVERYONE TO ANSWER THESE QUESTIONS? I'm not asking these questions, so no.
76. WHAT ARE YOU LISTENING TO? The sound of the fireplace beside me, TV on in the back ground... Christopher's watching Corner Gas reruns.
77. LAST THING YOU DRANK? Ice tea, lots of ice
78. LAST PERSON YOU TALKED TO ON THE PHONE? Bruce
79. THE FIRST THING YOU NOTICE IN THE OPPOSITE SEX? Probably their eyes
80. WHAT DO YOU LIKE TO DO IN YOUR SPARE TIME? Read, scrapbook, and make loooooove
81. FAVORITE THING/PERSON TO HATE? I try not to hate anyone... it's a useless emotion. However, I do hate the taste of butter by itself... YUCK!
82. FAVORITE MONTH OF THE YEAR? July
83. WHATS YOUR FAVORITE TYPE OF CANDY? Gummy Raspberry candies... can't remember what they're actually called.
84. HAVE YOU EVER REALLY AND TRULY HAD A BEST FRIEND? ABSOLUTELY!!! I know the typical answer is the husband, and he's my friend too, but my bestest friend is Janet who I've know most of my life!
85. WHAT IS YOUR HAIR COLOR? Brown with blonde highlights
86. EYE COLOR? Blue
87. SHOE SIZE? 8 1/2
88. FAVORITE FAST FOOD PLACE? Icky... I hate fast food most of the time, but once in a while I like a McDonald's Big Mac!
89. FAVORITE RESTAURANT? Many!! Macaroni Grill, Olive Garden, Caesars, Hitchin' Post
90. DO YOU LIKE SUSHI? I've tried.... NO
91. LAST THING YOU WATCHED? TV?
92. FAVORITE DAY OF THE YEAR? Christmas Day
93. PLAY ANY MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS? Not very well, but I'd really like to take piano
94. REPUBLICAN OR DEMOCRAT? Canadian!!
95. KISSES OR HUGS? Lots of both please!
96. RELATIONSHIPS OR ONE NIGHT STANDS? Weeeeellll... relationships it has to be
97. WHAT WAS THE LAST THING YOU BOUGHT? Lunch
98. DO YOU HAVE A LOW SELF ESTEEM OR A HIGH SELF ESTEEM? Low
99. WHAT BOOK ARE YOU READING? Mindless trashy romance novels
100. DESCRIBE YOUR LOVE LIFE I need more love
Haven't done one of these in a while, and I thought it might be fun to read it again in a year or two to see what's changed... maybe my hair will be grey by then, or I'll have a new scar... hope not though.
1. ONE OF YOUR SCARS, HOW DID YOU GET IT? Calgary Canucks hockey game in grade 11... slapshot to the face, just below my right eye... knocked me out... a bunch of stiches and a dad who had to take pictures of my big black eye. The only good thing was I got to see the Canucks dressing room and a guy I had "crushed" on a few years before (Mark Astley) was playing on the team. Why I recall that, I do not know!
2. WHAT IS ON THE WALLS IN YOUR ROOM? Which room... OK, I'll pick one... my bedroom... photos of each child (Meghan... in her grad dress, Andrew... in his grad suit, Christopher... as a baby only a couple weeks old, and Katie... as a baby about 4 months old), two professional pictures of me pregnant with Katie, a great big wedding photo of Bruce and I, a dried flower arrangement (I know they're out of style) of flowers we received when Carly died.
3. DO YOU SNORE, GRIND YOUR TEETH, OR TALK IN YOUR SLEEP? I don't NORMALLY snore, and yes I grind my teeth.
4. WHAT TYPE OF MUSIC DO YOU LISTEN TO? Country, Classic Rock, Christian Worship and in no particular order.
5. DO YOU KNOW WHAT TIME YOU WERE BORN? Not the exact time, but about 4:00 PM on a Friday.
6. WHAT DO YOU WANT MORE THAN ANYTHING RIGHT NOW? Do I HAVE to spell it out loud? That would be inappropriate :-)
7. WHAT DO YOU MISS? Could there be an easier question? MY MOM!!! Every single solitary day!!
8. WHAT IS YOUR MOST PRIZED POSSESSION? Another super easy question... photos and videos of my family!
9. HOW TALL ARE YOU? 5"7 1/2
10. DO YOU GET CLAUSTROPHOBIC? Not usually
11. DO YOU GET SCARED IN THE DARK? Depends... I like to sleep in the dark now, but I hated the dark as a child though.
12. THE LAST PERSON TO MAKE YOU CRY? Hubby
13. WHATS YOUR WORST FEAR? Something bad happening to my children
14. WHAT KIND OF HAIR/EYE COLOR DO YOU LIKE ON THE OPPOSITE SEX? dark eyes, dark hair
15. WHERE CAN YOU SEE YOURSELF PROPOSING / BEING PROPOSED TO AT? Well, since I'm already married, probably not a good thing to be thinking about :-)
16. COFFEE OR ENERGY DRINK? COFFEE of course!! Those energy drinks are evil.
17. FAVORITE PIZZA TOPPING? Greek pizza
18. IF YOU COULD EAT ANYTHING RIGHT NOW, WHAT WOULD IT BE? An assortment of cheeses and crackers with many varieties of good wine!
19. FAVORITE COLOR OF ALL TIME? PINK PINK PINK PINK PINK
20. HAVE YOU EVER EATEN A GOLDFISH? Not likely!
21. WHAT WAS THE FIRST MEANINGFUL GIFT YOU'VE EVER RECEIVED? Life!! I must admit, I stole this from someone elses list, but it's a good one.
22. DO YOU HAVE A CRUSH? Oh yeah!
23. ARE YOU DOUBLE JOINTED? Sadly no
24. FAVORITE CLOTHING BRAND? Tommy Hilfiger, Eddie Bauer
25. WHO IS THE HOTTEST FEMALE/MALE CELEBRITY? Hmmmm... so I had to go to the "People" website to get some inspiration. Here's my list... Keith Urban, George Clooney, Johnny Depp, Chris North, Matthew McConaughey, and Josh Duhamel
26. DO YOU HAVE A PET RIGHT NOW? Not including a husband and kids? Yes... Jackson the cat (he's a little evil) and Sam our dog (he just a sloppy love bug).
27. WHAT KIND IS IT? Jackson's a CAT, just a CAT. Sam is a Springer Spaniel Golden Retriever Cross.
28. WOULD YOU FALL IN LOVE KNOWING THAT THE PERSON IS LEAVING? Absolutely!! Life is too short to NOT embrace love... we're all "leaving" at one point or another.
29. WHAT IS THE BEST WAY TO TELL SOMEONE HOW MUCH THEY MEAN TO YOU? Tell someone how much they mean to you!
30. SAY A NUMBER FROM ONE TO A HUNDRED: "a number from one to a hundred"
31. BLONDES OR BRUNETTES? A mixture of both perhaps?
32. WHAT IS THE ONE NUMBER YOU CALL MOST OFTEN? My hubby's cell phone
33. WHAT ANNOYS YOU MOST? People who don't keep promises!
34. HAVE YOU BEEN OUT OF THE COUNTRY? You bet!
35. YOUR WEAKNESSES? There's too many to list!
36. MET ANYONE FAMOUS? Nothing that sticks out, however I did eat in the same restaurant, at the same time, as Kevin Costner!
37. FIRST JOB? Kresges Diner Counter... YES, my first job was in a "cooking" environment... go figure!
38. EVER DONE A PRANK CALL? Often... but not in a few years :-)
39. DO YOU THINK EVERYONE OUT THERE HAS A SOULMATE? YES
40. WHAT WERE YOU DOING BEFORE YOU FILLED THIS OUT? Well, I was supposed to be working... tee hee hee
41. HAVE YOU EVER HAD SURGERY? When I was 5 and 7... had my ears pinned back because they stuck out... I looked like a sugar bowl when I was a baby. The first thing my mom said when I was born was "look at those ears!" God, I miss her!
42. WHAT DO YOU GET COMPLIMENTED ABOUT MOST? My organizational ability!
43. HAVE YOU EVER HAD BRACES? Nope, but there's still time.
44. WHAT DO YOU WANT FOR YOUR BIRTHDAY? Healthy children, husband, dad, brother(s), friends, and ME! Oh, and maybe an i-Pad!
45. HOW MANY KIDS DO YOU WANT? No more than I have already, thank you very much!
46. WERE YOU NAMED AFTER ANYONE? Yes, my two grandmas... MaRINA (mom's mom) and ElizaBETH (dad's mom)
47. WHAT IS THE BIGGEST TURN OFF OF THE OPPOSITE SEX? Nagging
48. WHAT IS ONE THING YOU MISS ABOUT HIGH SCHOOL? The DRAMA for sure!!! Because it REALLY wasn't drama, although I thought it was at the time. Ahhhh, to go back to something so simple!
49. WHAT KIND OF SHAMPOO DO YOU USE? Tresemme
50. DO YOU LIKE YOUR HANDWRITING? I do!
51. WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE LUNCH MEAT? Tuna Salad
52. ANY BAD HABITS? TONS!
53. ARE YOU A JEALOUS PERSON? About certain things, yes
54. IF YOU WERE ANOTHER PERSON, WOULD YOU BE FRIENDS WITH YOU? Hope so!
55. DO YOU AGREE WITH FRIENDS WITH BENEFITS? Not for my kids, that's for sure! :-)
56. DO LOOKS MATTER? Sadly they do. Hey, I'm just being honest.
57. HOW DO YOU RELEASE ANGER? Oh nooooo, I don't release anger, I bottle it up inside me and wait for the cork to pop!
58. WHERE DO YOU LIVE? In McKenzie Towne, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
59. WHATS YOUR MAIN GOAL IN LIFE? To see my children grow up to be happy, healthy, well adjusted adults with families of their own that I like!
60. WHAT WAS YOUR FAVORITE TOY AS A CHILD? Fisher Price Garage Set and LEGO.... I should have been a boy I guess!
61. HOW MANY NUMBERS ARE IN YOUR CELL PHONE? 10 (1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,0) HA HA
62. WERE YOU A FAN OF BARNEY AS A LITTLE KID? There was NO SUCH THING as Barney when I was a kid!
63. DO YOU USE SARCASM? NEVER! (Typical answer I know)
64. MASHED POTATOES OR MACARONI AND CHEESE? Mac and Cheese
65. WHAT DO YOU LOOK FOR IN A GUY/GIRL? Passion
66. WHAT ARE YOUR NAMES? That's a dumb question... "MOM, MOM, and MOM"
67. WHATS YOUR FAVORITE BAND/SINGER? Van Halen, Scorpions
68. WHATS YOUR FAVORITE TV SHOW? 1. Modern Family; 2. The Good Wife
69.WHATS THE BEST WAY TO DEAL WITH YOUR ENEMIES? Life is too short to have enemies
70. WHAT'S YOUR FAVORITE ICE CREAM FLAVOR? Coffee or Maple Walnut
71. DO YOU HAVE ALL YOUR FINGERS AND TOES? Yes, and I have nice toes!
72. DO YOU HAVE A COMPUTER IN YOUR ROOM? In my bedroom? No! Although my laptop joins me there once in a while.
73. PLANS FOR TONIGHT? Hibernating... it's cold, wet, and was snowy! Yuck!
74. WHAT'S THE FASTEST YOU'VE EVER GONE IN A CAR? All the way!! HAHAHA. That was a LONG time ago... hee hee
75. DO YOU WANT EVERYONE TO ANSWER THESE QUESTIONS? I'm not asking these questions, so no.
76. WHAT ARE YOU LISTENING TO? The sound of the fireplace beside me, TV on in the back ground... Christopher's watching Corner Gas reruns.
77. LAST THING YOU DRANK? Ice tea, lots of ice
78. LAST PERSON YOU TALKED TO ON THE PHONE? Bruce
79. THE FIRST THING YOU NOTICE IN THE OPPOSITE SEX? Probably their eyes
80. WHAT DO YOU LIKE TO DO IN YOUR SPARE TIME? Read, scrapbook, and make loooooove
81. FAVORITE THING/PERSON TO HATE? I try not to hate anyone... it's a useless emotion. However, I do hate the taste of butter by itself... YUCK!
82. FAVORITE MONTH OF THE YEAR? July
83. WHATS YOUR FAVORITE TYPE OF CANDY? Gummy Raspberry candies... can't remember what they're actually called.
84. HAVE YOU EVER REALLY AND TRULY HAD A BEST FRIEND? ABSOLUTELY!!! I know the typical answer is the husband, and he's my friend too, but my bestest friend is Janet who I've know most of my life!
85. WHAT IS YOUR HAIR COLOR? Brown with blonde highlights
86. EYE COLOR? Blue
87. SHOE SIZE? 8 1/2
88. FAVORITE FAST FOOD PLACE? Icky... I hate fast food most of the time, but once in a while I like a McDonald's Big Mac!
89. FAVORITE RESTAURANT? Many!! Macaroni Grill, Olive Garden, Caesars, Hitchin' Post
90. DO YOU LIKE SUSHI? I've tried.... NO
91. LAST THING YOU WATCHED? TV?
92. FAVORITE DAY OF THE YEAR? Christmas Day
93. PLAY ANY MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS? Not very well, but I'd really like to take piano
94. REPUBLICAN OR DEMOCRAT? Canadian!!
95. KISSES OR HUGS? Lots of both please!
96. RELATIONSHIPS OR ONE NIGHT STANDS? Weeeeellll... relationships it has to be
97. WHAT WAS THE LAST THING YOU BOUGHT? Lunch
98. DO YOU HAVE A LOW SELF ESTEEM OR A HIGH SELF ESTEEM? Low
99. WHAT BOOK ARE YOU READING? Mindless trashy romance novels
100. DESCRIBE YOUR LOVE LIFE I need more love
Wednesday, May 19, 2010
A Little Reminder
Life is busy. We forget to blog... for 8 months!!! Well, I'm back and I don't really have much to say, but felt a need to just write. I'm in a good place today, feeling happy with life and incredibly blessed to have two healthy children who I love more than anything in this world! I forget that sometimes... actually I forget that a lot, and sometimes it takes a little reminder for me to remember how very lucky and blessed I truly am. Sure, life is busy... there's stresses at work, stresses at school, and stresses at home... but that's all part of the journey, right?
I have been following the plight of a 5-year old "princess" who lives in Arizona. Her name is Gabriella, and she is on an incredible journey. A friend of mine on Facebook brought her to my attention about a year ago and I've been following her story ever since. She just got a sparkly new heart on Monday!!! And here I am worrying about things like school, tests, attitude, finances, and where to go on our next family vacation!
Yes, it's moments like this when I realize that God has blessed me over and over and over and over again. It's moments like this when I hug my children a little bit tighter and with a little more feeling. It's moments like this when I want to just sit and watch them sleep, or look them in the eye when they're telling me a story, and really listening to what they are saying.
Yep, sometimes I just need a little reminder.
I have been following the plight of a 5-year old "princess" who lives in Arizona. Her name is Gabriella, and she is on an incredible journey. A friend of mine on Facebook brought her to my attention about a year ago and I've been following her story ever since. She just got a sparkly new heart on Monday!!! And here I am worrying about things like school, tests, attitude, finances, and where to go on our next family vacation!
Yes, it's moments like this when I realize that God has blessed me over and over and over and over again. It's moments like this when I hug my children a little bit tighter and with a little more feeling. It's moments like this when I want to just sit and watch them sleep, or look them in the eye when they're telling me a story, and really listening to what they are saying.
Yep, sometimes I just need a little reminder.
Tuesday, September 29, 2009
Baby Boy Turns 12
I really don't know why I can't be more regular with my blogging. I LOVE reading other peoples blogs, but I always forget about my own. Too many other things going on I guess.
I think today I just want to talk about things that are happening in my life right now.
My baby boy (OK so he's not a baby anymore) is turning 12 tomorrow! 12, can you believe it? I keep telling him "no more" and "enough is enough" - he's not supposed to be growing up this fast. I really wish I could just bottle this time in life and carry it with me everywhere. I was looking at Christopher last night as he ran around the house in his PJ shorts and no shirt. His body is really changing, with everything becoming more defined. It really hit me that he's growing up, and I must say that I'm not crazy about the idea. I plan to keep him young for as long as possible. My one consolation is that he's still crazy about his mom, especially at night when it's time for bed... that's when he gets all soft and cuddly... and tends to want to talk about everything... it's the best time of the day!!!
So, we will celebrate his 12th birthday tomorrow with dinner at Caesars Steak House. He has been wanting to go there, but it's super expensive. We decided that we would celebrate our three birthdays (Bruce's, Christopher's, and mine - all within a couple weeks of each other) by splurging on dinner at Caesars. As a bonus, Christopher doesn't have school tomorrow, so he gets his birthday off - lucky guy! Too bad I have to work... boo hoo... that sucks!
We are still struggling with the perfect gift... it's between a drum set (I know, I'm crazy) and a basketball net. Katie's going to buy him a gun... yep, a gun... a PELLET gun. What am I thinking??? Christopher had the opportunity to play with a friend's pellet gun a few weeks back and so I thought that would be a cool gift for him... even though I hate the guns in his video games. This seems different though, because he'll use it for target shooting. I'm not sure if I'm making a mistake or not, but I feel quite comfortable with my decision so that can only be a good thing. HOWEVER, if he shoots his sister, even once, he's DONE!
I think today I just want to talk about things that are happening in my life right now.
My baby boy (OK so he's not a baby anymore) is turning 12 tomorrow! 12, can you believe it? I keep telling him "no more" and "enough is enough" - he's not supposed to be growing up this fast. I really wish I could just bottle this time in life and carry it with me everywhere. I was looking at Christopher last night as he ran around the house in his PJ shorts and no shirt. His body is really changing, with everything becoming more defined. It really hit me that he's growing up, and I must say that I'm not crazy about the idea. I plan to keep him young for as long as possible. My one consolation is that he's still crazy about his mom, especially at night when it's time for bed... that's when he gets all soft and cuddly... and tends to want to talk about everything... it's the best time of the day!!!
So, we will celebrate his 12th birthday tomorrow with dinner at Caesars Steak House. He has been wanting to go there, but it's super expensive. We decided that we would celebrate our three birthdays (Bruce's, Christopher's, and mine - all within a couple weeks of each other) by splurging on dinner at Caesars. As a bonus, Christopher doesn't have school tomorrow, so he gets his birthday off - lucky guy! Too bad I have to work... boo hoo... that sucks!
We are still struggling with the perfect gift... it's between a drum set (I know, I'm crazy) and a basketball net. Katie's going to buy him a gun... yep, a gun... a PELLET gun. What am I thinking??? Christopher had the opportunity to play with a friend's pellet gun a few weeks back and so I thought that would be a cool gift for him... even though I hate the guns in his video games. This seems different though, because he'll use it for target shooting. I'm not sure if I'm making a mistake or not, but I feel quite comfortable with my decision so that can only be a good thing. HOWEVER, if he shoots his sister, even once, he's DONE!
Wednesday, May 13, 2009
In the Blink of an Eye
Wow, blogging 2 days in a row... I'm impressed with myself :-)
Today, I find myself in a spiritual state of mind and closer to God. I'm not really sure why, although I'm very thankful for it. I think maybe it's because of some stuff that happened yesterday. One of my Facebook friends posted a prayer request for her friend's little girl who is five years old. They just found out this week that she needs a heart transplant. Wow, doesn't that just stop you in your tracks. From what I've read, the little girl was born with a heart murmur, although there was no cause for alarm as this is quite common. She went for her regular check up in March and there was some enlargement of the heart so they did further testing. So, it's now May and they find out that she's in need of a new heart. What a life-changing month and a half, and so totally unexpected! My heart and prayers go out to this family. They live in Arizona, but will need to move to Los Angeles once she's on the "list".
Obviously, this kind of news always makes you think about your own life, and for all my complaining and whining about things, it all pales in comparison to what this family is facing. I thank God for reminding me that my life is so wonderfully blessed - and a husband with a broken arm, and a daughter who's beyond cranky in the morning, is NOTHING.
"My soul finds rest in God alone; my salvation comes from him. He alone is my rock and my salvation; he is my fortress, I will never be shaken." (Psalm 62:1-2)
Today, I find myself in a spiritual state of mind and closer to God. I'm not really sure why, although I'm very thankful for it. I think maybe it's because of some stuff that happened yesterday. One of my Facebook friends posted a prayer request for her friend's little girl who is five years old. They just found out this week that she needs a heart transplant. Wow, doesn't that just stop you in your tracks. From what I've read, the little girl was born with a heart murmur, although there was no cause for alarm as this is quite common. She went for her regular check up in March and there was some enlargement of the heart so they did further testing. So, it's now May and they find out that she's in need of a new heart. What a life-changing month and a half, and so totally unexpected! My heart and prayers go out to this family. They live in Arizona, but will need to move to Los Angeles once she's on the "list".
Obviously, this kind of news always makes you think about your own life, and for all my complaining and whining about things, it all pales in comparison to what this family is facing. I thank God for reminding me that my life is so wonderfully blessed - and a husband with a broken arm, and a daughter who's beyond cranky in the morning, is NOTHING.
"My soul finds rest in God alone; my salvation comes from him. He alone is my rock and my salvation; he is my fortress, I will never be shaken." (Psalm 62:1-2)
Tuesday, May 12, 2009
My Mother's Day
Well, I'm about as good at keeping this blog up as I am my journal. Busy busy is my only excuse, and not a very good one at that.
Mother's Day was nice... church... followed by a lunch date with my family at the Hitchin' Post in High River. I think it should be profiled on "Drive-Ins, Diners, and Dives" on the Food Network. This little slice of heaven has become a family favorite and my pick for Mother's Day for the last 2 years. Picture a little shack (and I do mean shack) on a corner, in small town High River. Gravel parking lot, cars and people everywhere, and a 1/2 hour wait for the food because the place is so small it can't handle the crowds any quicker, BUT... it's well worth the wait!
My menu of choice: cheeseburger (nice soft bun with a big chunk of onion inside), fries (seasoned with an amazing seasoning salt), and a thick and creamy rootbeer milkshake. Ahhhh, it doesn't get any better.
My Mother's Day gift... a new DS Lite and Scrabble game... love it!
On a more somber note, this Mother's Day was my second one without my own mom, and God, do I miss her. She's in my thoughts daily, but even more so on this day. As mom's go, she was the best, and I can only hope and pray that I can impact my own children's lives the way she impacted mine. Mom, I miss you soooooo much, I love you sooooooo much, and I thank you for being such a wonderful mom to me!
Mother's Day was nice... church... followed by a lunch date with my family at the Hitchin' Post in High River. I think it should be profiled on "Drive-Ins, Diners, and Dives" on the Food Network. This little slice of heaven has become a family favorite and my pick for Mother's Day for the last 2 years. Picture a little shack (and I do mean shack) on a corner, in small town High River. Gravel parking lot, cars and people everywhere, and a 1/2 hour wait for the food because the place is so small it can't handle the crowds any quicker, BUT... it's well worth the wait!
My menu of choice: cheeseburger (nice soft bun with a big chunk of onion inside), fries (seasoned with an amazing seasoning salt), and a thick and creamy rootbeer milkshake. Ahhhh, it doesn't get any better.
My Mother's Day gift... a new DS Lite and Scrabble game... love it!
On a more somber note, this Mother's Day was my second one without my own mom, and God, do I miss her. She's in my thoughts daily, but even more so on this day. As mom's go, she was the best, and I can only hope and pray that I can impact my own children's lives the way she impacted mine. Mom, I miss you soooooo much, I love you sooooooo much, and I thank you for being such a wonderful mom to me!
Wednesday, March 18, 2009
How Do I Love Thee...
Sometimes, when hubby drives me crazy, I think of all the reasons why I love him. Here's today's list:
- he tells me he loves me everyday (many many times)
- he calls me everyday at work just to say "hi"
- he emails me first thing in the morning asking how my morning went
- he's very handsome
- he's got nice eyes
- I love his arms
- he's got a very cute bum (sorry honey, but it's true)
- he's a good gardener
- he vaccuums
- he cleans bathrooms
- he cooks
- he keeps the kitty litter box clean even though he's not a "cat" person
- he feeds the cat even though he's not a "cat" person
- he makes sure I get up in the morning (actually, I don't particularly like this, but...)
- he gives me lots of time for my "retreats" and actually encourages it
- he picks up doggy doo
- he gases up my vehicle when it's low on gas (Marcie, that one's for you!)
- he picks up the kids when I need him to
- he gets the homework done
- he goes out to get me my Tim's on Sunday mornings before church
- he takes the kids for bike rides in the Summer
- he takes us to the hockey games in the Winter
- he loves taking us on vacation and he always invites my dad to come along... just because
Tuesday, March 17, 2009
Just For Today
I always look SO forward to vacation. In fact, so much so, that I'm consumed with the anticipation of it to the exclusion of everything else. We leave on Thursday by the way!
I tend to forget about today, and what a blessed day it is. I awake every morning (there's 1 blessing) to see my husband and children alive and well, if not always awake (there's 3 more blessings). Each day is a day to celebrate and be thankful for, and I find I'm always looking toward the next day or the next week or the next vacation. Why is it so difficult to "live for today" and to "live each day as if it was your last". Why isn't today "good enough"?
I know that before I know it my kids will be grown and gone... and it will happen fast. I want to focus on each day and the joy that my family gives me... the simple joys that each day brings ... a good cup of Tim's coffee (with just the right amount of cream and sugar), the sunshine in the sky, the hug and the kiss and the "I love you mom" that I get before school (THAT'S the best), the dog who just wants to lick me even though he's been confined to his kennel all night, my favorite song on the radio, a good news story, a superpoke from a friend on Facebook... I could go on and on. I need to stop worrying about tomorrow or waiting for tomorrow and just focus on this day that I've been blessed with. That's it! That's all I have to say. Now I just have to figure out how to do that.
I tend to forget about today, and what a blessed day it is. I awake every morning (there's 1 blessing) to see my husband and children alive and well, if not always awake (there's 3 more blessings). Each day is a day to celebrate and be thankful for, and I find I'm always looking toward the next day or the next week or the next vacation. Why is it so difficult to "live for today" and to "live each day as if it was your last". Why isn't today "good enough"?
I know that before I know it my kids will be grown and gone... and it will happen fast. I want to focus on each day and the joy that my family gives me... the simple joys that each day brings ... a good cup of Tim's coffee (with just the right amount of cream and sugar), the sunshine in the sky, the hug and the kiss and the "I love you mom" that I get before school (THAT'S the best), the dog who just wants to lick me even though he's been confined to his kennel all night, my favorite song on the radio, a good news story, a superpoke from a friend on Facebook... I could go on and on. I need to stop worrying about tomorrow or waiting for tomorrow and just focus on this day that I've been blessed with. That's it! That's all I have to say. Now I just have to figure out how to do that.
Thursday, March 5, 2009
A New Chapter
Well, I just got the word that hubby got "packaged out". Sigh. Not sure how I feel about it yet. There are pros and cons to it. Maybe I should list them... okay, here goes:
Pros
Pros
- He won't have to drive all the way to the other side of the city everyday
- He won't have to go to a job that he dislikes
- He won't have to go to a job that causes him a lot of stress, which in turn, causes the rest of the family a lot of stress
- He can get the kids off to school in the morning
- He can pick the kids up from the bus - they'll love that!
- Much needed repairs around the house might get done - or maybe not
- We really need to paint
- He can go for lunch with my Dad every once in a while
- He can walk the dog more often
- Maybe he'll clean the house
- Maybe he'll have dinner ready when I get home
- He can have an afternoon snooze - once in a while!
- It's almost Spring, what better time to lose your job
- Summer.... he'll get to take it off
Cons
- There's no salary coming in
- We won't be able to take 4 vacations a year (hee hee). Maybe only 1 or 2
- He'll be stressed about not having a job, which in turn, will stress out the rest of the family
Well, there you have it. Definitely more pros than cons, although I think a few more cons may creep in as the time goes by.
For now we shall focus on faith. God will provide. "Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own" (Mat 6:34)
Wednesday, March 4, 2009
Ouch!
My step-son, Andrew was in an accident at work on Thursday, February 26th. He had his arm broken - actually more like "crushed". It was (is) pretty bad! The doctors have said that it couldn't have been any worse. Andrew is now 23 (he celebrated his birthday on March 1st in a hospital bed) and he's a airline maintenance engineer. He was working about five hours north of Prince George, it was dark and late and he was moving equipment on a snowmobile when it hit some ice and flipped. Andrew managed to jump off, but his arm was crushed. He was bleeding pretty badly and thankfully someone was standing outside the lodge where he was working and heard him screaming. There was a doctor at the lodge that managed to stop the bleeding which is a blessing. Had no-one noticed him, he probably would have bled to death. They flew him to the hospital in Prince George (a $10,000 ride - WOW).
Bruce (hubby) flew out the day after it happened. Andrew still hadn't had surgery... we're talking almost 20 hours now. He had surgery on Friday afternoon after Bruce arrived. The surgeon thought it would take 2 hours - it took 3 1/2 hours. In the end, he ended up with 22 screws in his arm - ouch!
He was released from the hospital on Tuesday and is now back home in Langley. His mom and step-dad are now with him. The doctors have told him that the pain will be unbearable. He'd been on 3 different pain medications, one through the epidural that went right to his shoulder and then morphine and some other stuff. The doctors have told Andrew that it's going to be a very tough recovery, but they are hoping, with a lot of work on Andrew's part, that he will get full range of motion back.
Nothing like getting a call from a hospital telling you your son has been in an accident. It was pretty traumatic for all of us.
One shining light is Christopher's (my 11-year old) take on the situation. The night it happened, I was downstairs booking flights and hotel for Bruce when Christopher came downstairs and said "I guess you're gonna pray for Andrew tonight?". I replied "You bet! But you can pray for him too". Christopher then said, and I love this... "I already did". It's amazing to see God working in his life... sometimes I don't think he "gets" it, but then he'll say something like this and it makes me even more proud to be his Mom!
Bruce (hubby) flew out the day after it happened. Andrew still hadn't had surgery... we're talking almost 20 hours now. He had surgery on Friday afternoon after Bruce arrived. The surgeon thought it would take 2 hours - it took 3 1/2 hours. In the end, he ended up with 22 screws in his arm - ouch!
He was released from the hospital on Tuesday and is now back home in Langley. His mom and step-dad are now with him. The doctors have told him that the pain will be unbearable. He'd been on 3 different pain medications, one through the epidural that went right to his shoulder and then morphine and some other stuff. The doctors have told Andrew that it's going to be a very tough recovery, but they are hoping, with a lot of work on Andrew's part, that he will get full range of motion back.
Nothing like getting a call from a hospital telling you your son has been in an accident. It was pretty traumatic for all of us.
One shining light is Christopher's (my 11-year old) take on the situation. The night it happened, I was downstairs booking flights and hotel for Bruce when Christopher came downstairs and said "I guess you're gonna pray for Andrew tonight?". I replied "You bet! But you can pray for him too". Christopher then said, and I love this... "I already did". It's amazing to see God working in his life... sometimes I don't think he "gets" it, but then he'll say something like this and it makes me even more proud to be his Mom!
You're Gonna Miss This
OK, I'm new at this. OK, I'm nervous about this. I want to have the "perfect" blog - perfect for me anyway.
I've been keeping a journal since my son was born in 1997, so I think I'll be pretty good at this blogging thing. I love capturing funny moments from my children's lives, and when I look back and read what I wrote, it always provides me with joy and comfort. It's so easy to forget all those "little things" that your kids do, the funny sayings, and the big milestones.
These days, life is hectic and sometimes overwhelming. I always wish for the "next stage", but I know I'm going miss this. There's a song on the radio right now by Trace Adkins called "You're Gonna Miss This" and everytime I hear it I always think "yep, I'm gonna miss this". Here's some of the lyrics:
...Five years later there's a plumber workin' on the water heater
Dog's barkin', phone's ringin'
One kid's cryin', one kid's screamin'
She keeps apologizin'
He says They don't bother me.
I've got 2 babies of my own.
One's 36, one's 23.
Huh, it's hard to believe, but
You're gonna miss this
You're gonna want this back
You're gonna wish these days hadn't gone by so fast
These Are Some Good Times
So take a good look around
You may not know it now
But you're gonna miss this
I've been keeping a journal since my son was born in 1997, so I think I'll be pretty good at this blogging thing. I love capturing funny moments from my children's lives, and when I look back and read what I wrote, it always provides me with joy and comfort. It's so easy to forget all those "little things" that your kids do, the funny sayings, and the big milestones.
These days, life is hectic and sometimes overwhelming. I always wish for the "next stage", but I know I'm going miss this. There's a song on the radio right now by Trace Adkins called "You're Gonna Miss This" and everytime I hear it I always think "yep, I'm gonna miss this". Here's some of the lyrics:
...Five years later there's a plumber workin' on the water heater
Dog's barkin', phone's ringin'
One kid's cryin', one kid's screamin'
She keeps apologizin'
He says They don't bother me.
I've got 2 babies of my own.
One's 36, one's 23.
Huh, it's hard to believe, but
You're gonna miss this
You're gonna want this back
You're gonna wish these days hadn't gone by so fast
These Are Some Good Times
So take a good look around
You may not know it now
But you're gonna miss this
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