A Mature Mama.....Write On!

Boy Marries Girl - Part Two

2012-01-17T20:39:00.000-04:00

I promised some time ago to do a couple of posts about our son's wedding this past summer. If I didn't mention it before I loved it! Not just the getting married part but I loved the details. It was a summer backyard wedding and in my mind simple is superb. Here are some pics of my favorite details:
The pictures were taken by Anne's Sister Emma you can find her website here

This was the sign at the end of our driveway. Anne's brother bought a house and tore down some out buildings that Anne made into signs. Loved them and kept them to repurpose!

Anne's Grammie drew this fingerprint tree for the happy couple. As you arrived for the wedding you left a fingerprint which they then had framed and kept as a keepsake of their special day.

Can I say that the whole place was decked out in bunting that Anne and her sister and mother made and hung. The cool thing about this is that Anne's cousin took all of the bunting and actually made it into a quilt and gave it to her at Thanksgiving....so special.

This was Emily's tree house that was all decked out
for the special day complete with flower boxes and
bunting. It was also the entrance to the photo booth.

To honor the kids and give them a reminder of the special day Anne put together these special coloring books and a fresh brand new package of crayons for them.

There was also a photo booth for people to have pictures taken so that the Matt and Anne could have a pictures of their guests as keepsakes. This was one of my favorite photo booth pictures of Anne's Grandparents. One of the blessings for me in this union is the rich Christian heritage that Anne has and an answer to a prayer that I have prayed over all of my children.

These were bookmarks that the happy couple had made to give everyone as a keepsake. I loved them and a lovely touch.

All of the plates were biodegradable and very eco friendly.

Even the canned pop which was put into an old trunk and a huge wicker hamper was unique and added a nice touch.

Feel the LOVE!

The cake was to die for cake with blueberry filling and a scoop of lemon sorbet from Maine that Anne's Mom managed to get here without melting! Yuppers a full slice and I was soooo glad.

The Food well was awesome cause my awesome DH made it cause that is his thing. There was pulled pork sandwiches, chicken, burgers, salmon, salads...I think everyone left full!Here are some pics:

Matt and Anne wanted a day where family and friends could come together and celebrate their love. They wanted it to be like a big backyard barbecue that their family and friends could enjoy and they totally nailed it. It was very special day that celebrated the happy couple and honored their relationship in Christ. It was perfect. Mama-in-law out!

5 Year's Since Gotcha Day

2012-01-15T20:54:00.000-04:00

REPOSTED FROM CHINA JANUARY 15TH, 2007

Today was the day that we met our daughter Emily for the first time. We were up at 4:30 so we could meet at 6:00, check out of our hotel, be checked in for our flight at 8:40 a.m. Guangzhou is about a 3 hour flight from Beijing and we were to pick up our babies at 2:30. The anticipation was unbelievable. We were an hour delayed out of Beijing so we knew it would be tight getting to the hotel once we arrived. When we finally landed there was much clapping, many tears and much fast walking to get our bags and get on the road. It was kind of like the amazing race. if you have ever seen that show and the fruitcakes that lose it when under stress - well yeah that was me. My poor family. I think it was nerves, I'm not sure but that drive from the airport to the hotel and then rushing like crazy to put a bag together to get back to the bus in a 5 minute turnaround (which was about a 30 minute turnaround for the Chaisson's) hence my meltdown. We were the last on the bus -but oh well we did our best given the circumstances. It's a good thing my family loves me. We were so emotional driving to the Government Affairs office. When we arrived it was incredible. I get goosebumps even typing this. Families filled several buses with brand new babies and other families walking out with babies. As we walked in many of us were overwhelmed with emotions. Mike taped it all so I'm anxious to see it again. We went into a little room and waited about 10 minutes. The suspense was awful. Then they started bringing our children in one by one. What a sight too see these dear people who either are unable to have biological children or chose not to...see their wee ones for the first time was unbelievable in it's own right. The group we are travelling with has great people it was a pleasure to share in their joy. Emily was the last baby to be brought in so by the time she came there were some screaming babies but your prayers worked and God is Wonderful! She just looked at us ...look around and didn't say boo. She was nervous and her heart pounded like crazy, I could feel it through her chest. We just took it easy and didn't overwhelm her. She was so curious. What a sweetie. She fell asleep and when she woke up she allowed the boys to hold her and Matt got her to smile. What was crazy in the panic to get there the diaper bag we brought had everything but a change of clothes and oh yeah bottles! It was a good thing that others shared. Mike spent an hour with the orphanage director asking questions and we got our cameras back that we sent. Emily was really sick for the past couple of weeks and lost weight so she is pale and smaller which is funny because she is easily the biggest baby in the group. She is determined from what we can see and smart very quick to copy what you do. I would say though from a motor skill perspective she is at about 10 months. She is just crawling a little but can pick things up and loves to bang them together ( a budding drummer). She played all night I bathed her fed her and she went to sleep. I'm typing this in the wee hours of the morning on the 16th and she is still sleeping soundly. She smiled at us last night and she loves the boys. When she sits with them she throws things on the floor then looks at them as if to say "dah....I've dropped something and you're not picking it up for me?" My pleasure has been in watching them. They both fell in love instantly and Mike just kept saying "you're my baby". I am overwhelmed really by it all. What an incredible gift she is from the Lord. After we lost our baby a few years ago and I thought he didn't answer my prayer. I would have never imagined he would do so in this manner and I would have never imagined he would care for us in this way. Today is a new day with our family and we are now a family of five and we can't imagine it any other way.

I Saved Over $300 Doing Laundry

2011-11-14T14:46:00.009-04:00

All of you women out there reading this will relate to the idea of laundry is a fact of our lives. Not that men don't do laundry however I am convinced that they figured out long ago that if they ruined a couple of batches of clothes on purpose they wouldn't be allowed within ten feet of the washer again! "Oh Babe...how was I supposed to know my red long johns would turn all your white blouses pink"! Laundry is an expensive affair. The bottles are getting smaller and more "concentrated" but surprise surprise the cost has gone up and up. Big box chains understand the draw of cheap laundry detergent and it is why they use it as their biggest loss leader to get us laundry dazed women in there. Well thanks to the Duggars (the family with the 20 kids) I am no longer singing the laundry detergent blues. In 2011 I decided enough was enough. Michelle Duggar makes her own for 19 kids so why not me for my two that are home now. I found their recipe online and started making my own and as far as I can tell it has saved us over $300 this year and the year isn't even over yet.

You will need:

1 bar of Fels Naptha Laundry So

( you can use any laundry bar soap-I got this in Houlton however you can also order it online for just over a buck a bar)

1 cup of Arm and Hammer Washing Soda

(not baking soda. I found it at a Co-op)

1/2 cup Borax

Essential Oil ( I use Orange)

4 Cups of hot tap water

STEP ONE: Grate one bar of laundry soap

STEP TWO: Add 4cups hot water put on stove on medium heat until the soap melts.

STEP THREE: Fill a 5 litre pail half full of hot tap water. Add the Borax, Washing soda and soap mixture stirring thoroughly until it all dissolves. Then fill up to the top. Let sit covered overnight. This mixture will gel not quite as hard as jello but you will need to stir it the next day.

STEP FOUR: Pour 1/2 of this mixture in an empty laundry container mixing 1/2 soap mixture with half water and shake well. It is always a 50/50 mix no matter what container you use. I had a Pampered Chef large juice container that works lovely but that's a bit expensive I just happened to have it. Add 10-15 drops of essential oils (Bulk Barn sells them) per two litres. I have a front loading machine and fill the drawer to maximum.

Viola - Ten litres of laundry soap for just over $3. I bought $15 worth of supplies and I have enough to last me until the end of 2012! Ridiculous the money made on soap.

Suds alert - there aren't any. I was a bit stressed at first wanting a washer bin full of suds but this soap doesn't suds up. No worries though it does clean your clothes really well. Also for all of you sensitive skin types this hasn't bothered any of us.

So that's my money saving tip - a bit of work involved but well worth the effort and savings. Next week I'll tell you how I saved a goob on dryer sheets....Mama out.

Brilliant Cookie Idea

2011-11-08T23:54:00.009-04:00

Those of you that know me personally know that a domestic goddess I am not. As a matter of fact I am not a domestic anything. I do try however. While searching the Oprah site (yes I wrote Oprah) I stumbled across a video for a cookie dough recipe and at the end of the video there
was this handy little trick. It was brilliant so I thought I would pass it along. I apologize to Oprah because for the life of me I can't find it again so I can't give the credit where it is due but somewhere deep in the Oprah site is the author of this so I lay no claim to it at all.

Like I said I am not domestic at all however I do LOVE to bake. I'm not very good at it but no matter what I make my family gobbles it up in one night. I'm not kidding. If I make one dozen cookies gone. Two dozen cookies gone...you get my drift. This is my solution to that problem. I made chocolate chip cookies and doubled the recipe. I baked two dozen and then did this....I bought eggs for the cookies in a see through container. I think the camping egg containers would also work but for these I used the container that the eggs came in. I simply scooped each egg

holder full (did I mention I did wash this container with soap and water). I then folded one side of the container over.Then closed the whole thing and viola a neatly packed stackable for the freezer cookie dough container. How awesome is that!

Now if I want one cookie I can bake just one cookie. If I want a dozen I bake a dozen. It got me thinking that with Christmas just around the corner how awesome would it be to yes bake some cookies but what about if you froze a bunch of your dough instead of the cookies themselves. You would always have fresh cookies for your guests as well as having that yummy smell in the

house when they arrive. I love it. I think you could probably freeze the dough on cookie sheets too and put them in plastic containers like you freeze strawberries....oh my goodness I am out of control. Options lots of options for lots of cookies freshly baked whenever you want them. Sorry for the poor quality of the photos stupid iphone not really sure how to focus it yet!

Did I mention I've been on a diet so anyone want an egg carton full of cookie balls...hee hee. Mama out.

When Boy Meets Girl

2011-10-04T18:03:00.000-03:00

When Matt was a teenager at Camp he met Anne. I liked her from the first time I met her. A very very nice girl. They spent years at the same camp

serving Jesus together. They had a great friendship first. Anne lived in Halifax going to university and Matt lived in Fredericton going to university. One in NS and one in NB. They'd hang out with each other off and on and friendship eventually led to a decision to start dating. That was one of the smartest decisions that my boy has ever made. As a mother I have prayed for over ten years for my son's spouse. Although I had never met her God did. I prayed that she would love him "huge" and that he would love her "huge". I prayed that God would select exactly the right girl that loved Christ like he did;that he would pick a girl that was strong (because he is) and could stand on her own; I prayed that her family would love and embrace him and that he would love and embrace them in return. I prayed that they would respect each other and encourage each other. I prayed that he would protect and cherish her.I prayed that they would be able to smile and enjoy each other no matter what. God is so faithful in his answer to this mother's prayer.

While I was Christmas shopping last year Matt and Anne surprised me at Toys R Us after he popped the question. He went with Anne to the top of Citadel Hill and after a totally sappy and romantic speech he asked her to marry and him and the rest is history. I left out the part about me howling and crying at the Toys R Us. I might have jumped up and down and I'm pretty sure that one of the gals from church who happened to walk by thought I had lost my mind. I did -with HAPPINESS!!! What an awesome couple they matured into!

On August 20th, 2011 they said "I do" and have begun the rest of their lives together. I didn't speak at the wedding because I left it up to my DH but if I had said something it would have been this: I have been blessed with a wonderful son (two actually) who loves me and I love him. He is kind, compassionate, smart, determined, confident, loving, Godly, a leader and serves his country gladly. He has brought into our family a beautiful daughter that is smart (did I mention she is going to be a doctor) loving, sweet, kind, Godly, strong, devoted and compassionate just to name a few of her amazing qualities. We are thankful for them both.

The day they were married it was no wonder I felt like my heart was going

to explode with happiness. The Lord says: Behold, children are a heritage from the Lord, the fruit of the womb a reward. Psalm 127:3.

"Our cup runneth over"! Mama out.

Photo's by Emma Poliquin

Please Please Please I Need SLEEP

2011-08-12T00:05:00.005-03:00

I have had insomnia before, therefore, it is not a shocker that I now have it again. However, this time it is different. Those of you who have suffered sleepless nights you can sympathize with me and you know the drill. Dead tired, crawl in bed, try try try to sleep. No sleep. ZZZZZZZZ sound of significant other sleeping beside you. Tick tock, tick tock (not really who doesn't have a digital clock in this day and age but work with me).

Where was I- tick tock, tick tock. As each hour passes you become more and more frustrated, more and more anxious. Until finally at about 3:00 or 4:00am you finally sleep.

Not this time. As soon as night falls I am waking up. I'm as wide awake at this moment 12:36am as I am in the middle of the day. Not a bit of sleepiness, drowsiness, absolutely nothing. I have moments during the day when it hits me that I might like a nap but then that passes...who has time to nap! I have lost my ability to sleep - is that possible? I am on day 3 of about 2 hours of sleep a night. Day one I just wasn't sleepy. Day two...before I realized it the time was 3 am and nothing.

Last night out of desperation as I lay in my bed (looking similar to the cartoon above) I remembered the happy pills I took years ago to fly - did I still have them? I was sure I did - if I could only find them. So there I was at 3:30am up to my elbows in drawers and medicine cabinets. I emptied old make up bags and finally at the back of the bathroom cabinet (the one you need to be on your hands and knees to reach) I found an old travel bag and viola happy pills. The last time I went on a hunt like this was for Zantac on a night of particularly bad heartburn or when I was a smoker and crazed for a cigarette. The dilemma was this- should I take one - half of one or none at all. One for sure would knock me out but I needed to get up early. None I ran the risk of not sleeping at all and I needed to get up early. A half a pill seemed just right so a half a pill it would be. I swallowed the pill and waited for the magic to happen and happen it did. Sort of. (Probably had something to do with them being 3-4 years old) There I laid becoming more and more like rubber - wide awake but unable to move or have much control over my legs or arms. I staggered back and forth to the bathroom - I was unable to read - I was unable to think - and ironically I was also unable to sleep. I finally crashed at 5:00am. Did I mention I had to get up at 7:30 which on it's own wouldn't have been so bad but now I had a happy pill hang over. It's been a very long day.

Tonight, I've opted for writing instead of taking drugs. It hasn't worked either just like the happy pill didn't work last night but at least I feel better and I can move my fingers and toes - and yes I am also very very much awake! Sigh did I mention Son#1 is getting married next week I suppose I could go as a Goth yes I might have to rethink my outfit!
Mama out (I wish).

Say Yes to the Dress

2011-04-12T23:54:00.003-03:00

I have been watching Say Yes to the Dress long before Son#1 got engaged. However, it took on a special meaning after our families engagement announcement. I had the pleasure this past weekend to go wedding dress shopping with Son#1's lovely fiancée, her sister and Mom. Now I've seen the show and I've seen the mother in laws who say "No" to the dress. I wanted that our lovely daughter in law#1 got exactly what she had always hoped and dreamed for. I wanted to be positive and to edify and to not pressure at all in any direction but to be there for support and love. That was the plan anyway. Can I just say that in the show when the bride comes out and it's exactly the right dress..you know the part when everyone blubbers and breaks into the ugly cry. Yuppers that was me. It totally isn't fake on the show it is totally for real. I felt so bad for dear Anne when my waterworks set off some in her Mom and sister and all I could think of was "oh dear heavens what if she hates this dress and now I'm putting pressure when I was trying so hard not to.....stop crying JULIE..". You know you are in trouble when the bridal consultant is quickly leaving to bring you the big box of Kleenex. Sigh I am a huge sap. It didn't help when I tried to say grace the next morning morning at breakfast and express how thankful I was for this girl and her family and descended into the ugly cry again. What is my problem..I'll blame it on peri-menopause because surely I'm too young for menopause and too old to be pregnant. Happiness is a funny thing. Happiness is when your Son finds a girl and falls in love and she is just right for him. That is happiness and apparently my happiness manifests itself in non-stop snotty crying. Should be a great wedding...can I just say that there will definitely be a box of Kleenex somewhere near me...with me...on me....well you get my drift. And if all else fails I do have my beloved "happy pills" that make everything right. One happy sniffling Mama out.

Scared Out of My Wits

2011-03-28T22:15:00.005-03:00

DH and I have been somewhat addicted to Netflix...well I have been the one addicted and I've just lured him into my sin! Have you ever been scared so bad that you really thought your chest would explode...you know the kind that takes you loads of time to "come down from"? I remember as a kid lying on my bed reading and hearing a banging on the underneath of my bed and thinking "I'm not hearing anything...I'm not hearing anything". As I mapped out my escape from my room I counted in my head one...two...three....took a breath and slowly dropped my legs over the side of the bed and bolted towards the door only to be grabbed from under the bed by my brother and dragged screaming under the bed. I remembered firsthand tonight what being that scared felt like. While watching a Jurassic Park type series tonight with DH...in the middle of the part where the velociraptor...clicks and is about to eat someone...you know the type of scene where you are riveted to the tv and the music is ominous and somebodies gonna die... just then I heard click click on the ceramic in the hallway. Just like the bed episode.. I had that same type of thought process..."I'm not hearing clicking in the house...I'm not hearing clicking in the house"...and you guessed it there WAS clicking. I caught movement out of the side of my eye to the left just as the velociraptor was about to eat someone out of the corner of my eye to the right and as I curled in the fetal position and stiffened like one of those goats that fall over with fright said in my lowest most terrified voice...."there's something in the house"! It turned out to be our dog who was supposed to be outside but somehow got inside unassisted just in time to scare the living daylights out of me and I in turn scared the living daylights out of my DH. He laughed afterward saying "where is Julie...well you see we were watching tv and the dog came in and now she's dead". So here I am now - I'm supposed to sleep with my adrenaline at the level of an Olympic sprinter just before a gold medal race. Not a chance and now that I think of it....I'm now down here alone and have to shut out the lights and make it upstairs....there is no clicking there is no clicking...stupid dinosaur movies. Mama almost out cold.

Here, There and Everywhere

2011-03-27T20:02:00.003-03:00

I got a call from Son#1 saying he was safe on the ground. Really on the ground??...think think...I'm forgetting something obviously...yes he was going to Hamilton on a course and he was flying there. I am totally losing it. The one time he actually remembers to call me when he arrives and I forgot he was going anywhere. I have four kids and two of them are not living in the same place as me. Son #1 lives in another province and travels here, there and everywhere. Son #2 is on an internship at a church in Indiana. Both gone for now. Daughter #2 is in China and Daughter #1 is with us. I wasn't prepared for how different it would be with just the three of us instead of five of us. I'm not prepared for six of us when that happens. Son#1 is getting married and his lovely will be an awesome addition to our ever growing family making it seven....shrinking and growing. Funny how that works. Shrink a little...grow a little....I guess that is how it works. This parenting thing is always changing and I wouldn't have it any other way - yes this way they would all be here not there and everywhere! Mama out.

Life is Good

2011-03-25T14:40:00.005-03:00

I was reminded by my sister-in-law, Cindy, this week that I haven't been updating my blog and to "get with it". So Cindy this one is for you! We experienced a death in our family last week with the loss of my DH's step father. With the funeral just a few short days behind me I've come to realise that funerals are more for the living than for the dead. It is an opportunity to put closure on a life and to transition into a time without that person. It is a crossroads of sorts. I met John the year after I met my husband. He made me laugh, he made me mad, he made me question, he made me get over stuff and this week he made me cry. He said something while in palliative care that I have been thinking on. He told a family relative when she indicated she had a sermon to prepare...he told her after thinking for a moment to talk about "Life is good". Now this is a man who was ravaged by lung cancer, had days to live, battled many things in his life but dwelled on Life is good. Is it? Good? After much thought here's what I think....Life IS good. Yes I could make more money, own more, laugh more, eat more, see my kids more, clean more, speak more, fix up the house more, travel more or make more of a difference however....for the most part Life....this life...right now..IS good. What a difference it would make if that was something that we owned and believed...Life is good. Life is good. Look around you. Look outside. Look at your family or friends. Look...smile and believe that "it is good". We have forgotten how simple "good" is.

"It is good to have walked by oneself five hundred miles in twenty days and one pair of boots (never needing the cobbler till the very last day) without any training and with a fairly heavy knapsack. It is good to have seen something on this and many other occasions, sometimes alone, sometimes in company, of the secret of the sea and the lessons of the land from Scilly to Skye; from the Land’s End to Dover; from the Nore to the Moray Firth; from Dartmoor to Lochaber; and from the Weald of Sussex to those Northumbrian lakes that lie, lonely and rather uncanny, under the Roman Wall. It is good to have attended evening chapel at Oxford, then gone up to town and danced all night (the maximum of dances with the minimum of partners), returning next morning and attending chapel again..."From “Conclusio ad Diversos,” the final chapter of Notes on a Cellar-Book, George Saintsbury (1920)

Rest now John. Thank you for the lesson. Mama out.

Somebody Has To Say It...

2010-11-21T20:03:00.004-04:00

I didn't realise that it is natural for girls to want children. It wasn't until I began to watch Emily even as a baby pick up a doll and love it and try and care for it that it became evident to me that the maternal instinct seems to just be inside of us girls. As we grow we dream of meeting our prince and having children and that as a mother we will be the best mother ever. We will dress up these little children, play with them and they will love us and all will be wonderful. However, one day you wake up in a pair of grey sweatpants with your hair in a ponytail with puke on your shoulder, fingerprints on your pant legs and boobs leaking milk at every child that even looks in your general vicinity. I titled this "Somebody has to say it" because well somebody has to say this - just because we are women does not make us naturally good caregivers for children and being a mother is hard. Now don't get me wrong I love my kids but I realised very early on in my oldest sons little life that there was nothing natural in me concerning mothering. It was work and when I felt like I was going to explode if I had to spend one more day in the house I realised that maybe just maybe I wasn't cut out for it. I hated cleaning, I couldn't cook, I was lonely and I was starved for company. I got through the baby stage three times and my kids got through it unscathed but I vividly remember thinking "What is wrong with me". I've since learned there was nothing wrong with me or my kids I was just better suited for the boardroom instead of the babies room. I LOVE my kids and as they grew we got along much better. The older they got the better I got. We laughed, fought, yacked, and hung out. We still do actually even though one is 21 and just got engaged (to an amazing girl by the way), my nineteen year old challenges my thinking every single day and makes me laugh like no one else and Emily and I are just two chicks who hang out now. She tells me not to be rude and we giggle and shop and well we just have days with just the girls. I say all of this because I know there are Mom's out there beating themselves up because mothering wasn't what they expected (it's the hardest job I've ever had) and their emotions betray them, and girls we are great at giving ourselves a tremendous guilt trip. Guess what girlfriends you are normal. It is totally normal to question, it is normal to want out and it is totally normal to have to work at it. We leave the house and put on the happy Mom face and well girls it's time that we are honest and say there are days when we believe we are not good mothers and we compare ourselves to the yummy mommies as we drag around our excess baby weight for 2o plus years and wonder where we went wrong. Well I'm fessing up that it took me a while to figure it out and there were days when I didn't think I could make it but the rewards are amazing. Three kids and one on the way from China and each time I'm with my kids every grey hair they gave me was totally worth it. So stop beating yourselves up if you are...your kids will grow and it does get easier and one day like me you will look back at the mistakes and the wrong thoughts and realise you are human girls and you will figure it out. If you're reading this and want to encourage other Mom's out there post a comment and encourage another Mom to hang in there - Mama out.

The Psychiatrist is In

2010-06-19T08:57:00.004-03:00

Mike and I were on a drive deep in the heart of rural NS last night. It was a beautiful night and we decided to just drive somewhere. We stopped at a little school for Emily to play when she had one of those "I need to pee NOW" moments. Not being a child who will do that business outside let alone in the middle of a country village. With not a bathroom in sight DH and I just stared blankly at each other with the "oh oh" gaze that we parents get from time to time. As only God can do the door of the school opened up and a man and his wife (the caretakers) were leaving for the night. SCORE one bathroom. An hour later I knew they voted NDP, that they were married for 38 years, they lived together in Ontario before they were married, his first car was $1300 and he was turned down for a loan for $300 and who co-signed for it. I know where he works and did work specifically the years and companies.....need I go on. I love living in Canada...I love that for some reason wherever I go folks tell me stuff that most people only tell their spouses after 2o years of marriage. Like the woman at Walmart that asked me when I was in a rush what the fuzzy mohair sweater looked like and proceeded to tell me she had a husband once who did things to her, I can't repeat. When DH came looking for me after an hour and found me with this slightly larger, emotionally upset women...he just shook his head and graciously allowed me to bow out of the situation. Waitresses, flight attendants, bank tellers and the list could go on - total strangers reveal within mere minutes things that would make Howard Stern blush. It was a great night and I'm not complaining this couple was typical of what makes up rural NS and I loved them. I remembered that I really am a country girl at heart. So the next time you go out with me don't be surprised if you find yourself alongside me getting to "really" know the people that cross our paths. I should have been a cop or a psychiatrist! Mama out.

Writers Block

2010-03-15T21:04:00.003-03:00

Well it's been a while. I can't believe I've been somewhat underground since Halloween. Lots of changes and challenges over the past year. Today is the one year anniversary of Mom's death. Seems like only yesterday that I saw her and I can't believe it's been a year. Over this past year my family has been redefined and looks and feels completely different than last year. In some ways it is the best it has ever been and in others the worst. I'm learning about relationships and what a real one is all about and focusing on my relationship with Christ and what that looks like because all of my others will reflect that. I started a new job in January, and I've been settling into that. Baby girl turned 4, Son #1 is doing great but still living away and Son#2 is going to be the best Pastor ever. My life has turned upside down in the past year but all for the best. So now I need to move forward and just leave it all behind me and not even focus on the future but really embrace today. We are not guaranteed tomorrow so today I will enjoy all that God has blessed me with. Mama down but definitely not out!

The Ghost of Halloween Past

2009-10-31T20:30:00.004-03:00

Well another Halloween has come and gone. It made me think of Andrew and just how much he disliked Halloween as a kid...who am I kidding he still dislikes it. Every year I would dress up my two little boys in these elaborate costumes that took forever to make and take them by the hand to go door to door to not only "talk to" but "take candy from" strangers. "Mommy you want me to talk to that man"? "Yes yes....go on up and go in his house he has candy for you"!This year with the H1N1 scare I contemplated dressing Emily up as a surgeon just so she could wear the gloves, scrubs and face mask. I have visions of parents all over the city wiping down each treat with copious amounts of Purell. You know the spray that they spray your bowling shoes with...that's what we all need. Yum! Andrew liked red gum balls, plain Hostess chips and Eatmore bars. First most gumballs given come in packs of four with different colors. Hostess chips not a problem and I have never seen Eatmores given out on Halloween. Needless to say as our little lambie would go...no be dragged to the door some poor homeowner would no doubt say what a cute little boy what are you? Andrew usually put the "a mutant ninja turtle - moron" look on his little five year old face and assess the treat situation like they had placed a neatly wrapped turd in front of his face. "No thank you I don't like licorice". "No thank you I only like red gumballs". "No thank you I'm allergic to apple juice". All the while Matt is opening his pillowcase and begging...."I'll take it I'll take it"! At the end of each Halloween night Matt would count his treasure trove of treats that would make any dentist scream in terror and Andrew would turn his pumpkin upside down...count his four gum balls and 5 bags of chips because that was all that fit in the pumpkin and vow to not go out next year. We stopped trick or treating a couple of years later as it was just torturous and started doing something fun on Halloween night - a movie, or bowling or whatever Andrew wanted to do and then would buy Matt whatever candy he wanted...and Andrew finally got his Eatmore bars. This year when I was getting ready to carve the pumpkin Emily said "No it's too scary". When I wanted to get her a costume "No thank you I no like trick or treat". You can see where this is going. We spent the night with friends last night who gave her a huge bucket of stuff...oh it was filled with cheese....yes I said cheese and chips and candy bars...and fun stuff....Emily dug down deep and with delight hauled out all the cheese and counted each one delighted in this whole Halloween gig if it meant a bucket full of cheese! Cheese...mercy. Let's just say not too many folks handing out cheese this Halloween..but Uncle Jimmy and Auntie Shelly are her heroes now! Don't be alarmed if you don't see us on Halloween we're probably holed up at home eating Eatmore bars, cheese cubes and heaven only knows what else! Donairs...yes that that would make Andrew smile! You now know why I have come to dislike Halloween myself!

When to stop buying diapers?

2009-10-29T20:17:00.003-03:00

You would think that I would be able to remember how I stopped wearing diapers on the boys. Yes I know that they are 18 and 20 years old but they are my only point of reference for Emily. Here's how I knew they had reached certain milestones. Matt walked up to me one day, handed me his soother and said " I don't think I need this anymore". "Okey dokey"...time to get rid of the soother. Andrew was able to put his bubba on the second shelf of the cupboard (without a stool)...no problem, time to pack away the bubba -no conflict. Emily still wears a diaper at night. Two days ago while she was using the "facilities" she realised that we were out of TP and from the washroom came this yelling little voice - "Hey we need toilet paper". The next morning when I removed her diaper she promptly went down stairs and told Mike - "Daddy you need to go to Sobeys - I need toilet paper and diapers...I want Cinderella diapers". That night when we picked her up from the babysitters from the backseat came this nagging voice "Daddy did you get my diapers"? Rule #45 in potty training if your child can give directions to the grocery store, order diapers and follow up with you to see if you got said diapers...yes it is time to stop buying them. Good to know. Mama out.

Dog Biscuits...really

2009-10-28T23:42:00.003-03:00

I was at a women's Bible study a few weeks back when a sheet of paper was passed around asking everyone to bake 3 dog biscuits. Yes 3 dog biscuits. I had never made dog biscuits before but hey if they needed them how hard would it be to make 3 and everyone else in the room had signed up so hey sign me up too. It wasn't until days later in a conversation with someone they mentioned having to schedule in the time to make 3 dozen biscuits that the light bulb went off! 3 Doz biscuits aka 3 dozen...not 3 dog...sigh! It gave me a chuckle at our grand opening to think...imagine would you like a bowl of chili and oh we have this dog biscuit to go with it...what a loser I am sometimes...but it was good for a huge laugh. Let the record show that I was willing to do it! Mama out.

The Difference between Mothers and Fathers

2009-08-28T20:49:00.007-03:00

Emily asked me to build her a tower. I thought I did a pretty decent job she was happy and for an hour I was her hero until DH came home and decided that this was not an acceptable tower and well he could do better so he built this monstrosity.

The decision was to build his version of the Sears Tower. Mine well mine was sub standard actually mine is what most Mom's would build in between everything else that has to be done around the house and DH's was what most men would build. Now DH is out and the Sears Tower toppled with a humongous crash which for the record can be added to the things that have made my heart skip a beat and my tower is no longer "da bomb" and well did I mention I hate blocks. You see if mine falls down it takes two seconds to put back together if "the Tower" falls down I need an engineer to rebuild it. I was thinking that I would buy a Litebrite for Em but after this show of competitiveness I'm sure whatever I made...off the top of my head I'd say a heart wouldn't compare to the New England Patriots logo DH would probably make. So I'm leaving the building to him and the hair care to me and everything will be just fine. I respect single parents for this very reason they need to be mother and father and do things that might not come naturally to them. When it's just one in my house anyway the little tower is what happens. I think we need to do a better job of loving on these parents and loving on these kids whenever we can just to even things out a bit and maybe give a them a bit of a break sometimes. Why not find a single parent in your sphere of influence and do something nice for them this week to encourage them I'm sure they would appreciate it! Mama out.

Bedtime is Crib time?

2009-08-27T19:09:00.003-03:00

Wow I can't believe that this much time has passed and I haven't posted. Just goes to show you that old habits die easy not hard! Life is moving along and Em is growing like a weed. Her new thing is that DH is "dah man". "Daddy you're the best king ever"! Yes he is...yes he is. I've been thinking that I should be putting Em in a big girl bed but well she loves the crib and the whole she hasn't figured out that she can get out just yet seems to be working for me. So what if she will be almost four. I figure Son#1 had a soother until he could talk in complete sentences, Son#2 had a bubba at night until he was 7 why not sleep Em in a crib until......well....just until I can have an adult conversation with her around the whole "don't even think about getting out of that bed a hundred times"conversation and "while your at it could you take that diaper off too". Not quite sure when I'm going to venture into the diaperless sleeping. That is the worst. I remember Son#1 was brutal - in and out and in and out and in and out of our bedroom and up and down the stairs and crying and...well you get the picture. Em can sleep in the crib until she's twelve I don't care. I remember waking up and Son#2 would be a centimetre from my nose and just about give me a heart attack and I was 27. I'm 45 now I will have a heart attack! No I think the crib is lovely just lovely. It amazes me at just how laid back this mature parenting is. No pressure...no pushing....just chillin with the family. We are so not the scheduled, say a thousand words, participate in every thing parents that we used to be. Somehow maybe Em got ripped - but I don't think so. There is plenty of time for all of that really. Family is what we are trying to push, to be with and enjoy your family and to know what it means to be part of it. Yes plenty of time for that other stuff and plenty of time to be in a big girl bed I say who needs the conflict. Not this mature Mama. Mama out.

On the Move

2009-06-01T11:14:00.004-03:00

Now isn't this a handsome couple! This is Son #2 with his prom date Kayla. This weekend marked another milestone in our home. Another prom down and another graduation on the way. We are so proud of Andrew. Andrew loves God and has some pretty definite plans around what he wants to do with his live. He received a full scholarship to University and is just heading into this young adult male portion of his life. He has his head screwed on just right and is about to embark on his journey of independence from us and we couldn't be happier for him. I look at this picture and can not believe where the time has gone. In a blink we are here. I've not been writing much because of some bad ju ju happening in my extended family since Mom's death and it has been disturbing to say the least. As I look at this picture I realise that this is what part of my life has been about. Raising Godly men and women and doing the best that you can for a Creator that entrusted this child to us. This stage in parenting is always the worst because as they begin a life independent of you there is this release back to God with the prayer "let him be all he can be for You". "May he fulfill his every purpose that You have created him for and may he soar to heights that only you can take him". Life is about focusing on the positive and not the negative life is about moving on...I am moving on past my extended family and the mess surrounding my Mom's death.....Andrew is moving on past the years of high school and adolescence, Matt is moving through his career as an officer serving our country and Emily is moving past the trying threes, Mike is moving along with us supporting, praying and finding his place alongside of us. The point is we are moving and that is ever so much better than standing still and stuck in the past...Moving that's where our family is right now on the move and I couldn't be happier. Will it all be smooth? No way and what fun would that be! Mama out.

2009-04-08T19:05:00.002-03:00

This is Son #2 and DH (Dear husband). We got some really really good news today for Son #2. He's always done well in school and carries a great average. Through this whole sickness thing with Mom I haven't been in my right mind and not as sharp as I usually am around this stuff but he missed the deadline for entrance scholarships for every school he applied to. I felt so frustrated at myself and felt so bad for him because he has worked so hard. He kept saying "it's ok Mom God will work it out". Today he got a call from one of the universities he applied to offering him a $7,000 renewable four year scholarship! It is incredible because he didn't apply for anything. He missed the application deadline but just like he kept saying "God will work it out Mom", well He did. I don't know why I get so shocked. Where is my faith for goodness sake. We have faith but do we have faith with CERTAINTY? Son #2 had certainty and God faithfully rewarded him. I love when that happens. Mama out.

True Colors

2009-04-07T16:20:00.004-03:00

All the colors of the rainbow and what are yours? What is your true color that is shining through? I've been thinking about this today. Mama Out.

Life after Death

2009-03-31T10:33:00.002-03:00

It's taken me quite a while to be able to actually sit with a clear enough head and begin to write again. February and March have been a blur for me. With Mom's sickness and then her death it has somewhat consumed me. Like walking through quicksand it seemed like the more I moved the more I sank so I just stayed still. I am like a caterpillar coming out of a cocoon all weak and fragile but changed. Death will do that to you like no other thing. I have thought much over the past several weeks since Mom's passing and I am thankful for so much. The picture that I have posted is of all the cards you sent to her when she was sick. How she loved getting these letters, they were wonderful cards filled with pictures, love, along with the assurances and promises of God's word. She would say "make sure you thank these people" and I did but I want to do it again...Thank you from the bottom of my heart for just giving something for a sick Mom to look forward to during days when all of the news was bad. I am thankful that I listened to that little voice in my head that said...get people to send cards and to tell your Mother what you think of her. I wrote the previous post and my sister read it to her and she knew without a shadow of a doubt that I loved her unconditionally. I am thankful that I was able to pray with my Mother and she is with the Lord right now! I am thankful that I was able to make her porridge, thankful I knew she loved me, thankful I was there when she died and thankful oh so thankful for the Mother I had. I'm ok now because Mom and I were ok. I have my family and I have my church family, friends and a heavenly Father that holds me in the palm of His hand...so my life will go on as it is supposed to. What I will take from this is all the good that my Mom was and all the positive things that happened throughout this experience and I will live as Mom would have wanted me to. Live and grow and learn and love and whatever else is in between with passion and with conviction and with purpose and with wide open abandon. Everyday is a gift my friends and we are guaranteed nothing other than this moment that we are in. Let's make the most of those moments and not waste a single one. Mama out.

An Open Letter to my Mom

2009-01-28T10:29:00.005-04:00

Dear Mom,
I have thought about doing this for quite some time now. I have always wondered why as humans we wait until after someone is gone to let them know how much they have meant to us. So I've decided that while you are still here that I want you to know some things that I have never told you. I can not tell you how often I have thanked God that He placed me in the care of a great mother and a great father. I used to think that it must have sucked for you to find out you were pregnant for me. I tried to put myself in your shoes. You had already given birth to 9 children. Your youngest was just entering school. You were 42 and I'm sure wanting some peace and then I arrive, number 10! Someone told me once that God places children with parents because He needs their exact DNA to make the exact person He needs in order to fulfill His purpose for that person in this world. I'm glad that it was your DNA and Dad's DNA that God needed. Our upbringing, circumstances and our choices are the final recipe that shapes who we are in Christ. The older I get and the more I observe you and learn about your life and Dad's life I see qualities that a person can only hope for. You are a natural nurturer. You have cared for people your entire life. There isn't a memory that I have of you that I don't remember you looking after someone. I remember how you bathed me and lovingly dried me off and would take that big ole powder puff and dress me. I loved that. I felt so loved and was so sad when as I grew that it inevitabley had to stop. I have my own powder puff now that I bought when my children were young and I did and do the same thing for my children (only Emily now it's pretty hard to powder puff a 19 and 17 year old)!. It made me feel safe and I wanted them to feel safe. I remember the awful nightmares I had as such a young child and still occasionally have...but here is what I remember most...creeping into your room...pulling back the covers and curling in close to you and knowing that I was safe. I know that you were the next best thing to a single parent and that you endured so much alone. Things like the death of a child, raising five boys and four girls, moving from your home and the loss of so many family members including the man you were married to for 59 years. You actually weren't alone though, even though Dad was away and eventually went away you always had and have your heavenly Father that was always right there with you as He is right there with you now as you battle your heart failure. You are an awesome cook...unfortunately that didn't rub off on me but it did on some of us. So many of my memories revolve around food because it was so stinking good! I remember how you would make me porridge and to this day if I need to feel comfort I pull out a pot and make it the way you made it with milk and butter and sugar and all the stuff you shouldn't have but I don't care. I remember how awesome it was that when the milkman came you would buy me chocolate milk and Beep just because you knew I loved it. Your life has been a life of sacrifice Mom and I remember so many. I remember the day you took out an old wool sock and pulled silver dollars that were obviously special to you and you asked me to use them to buy something for us. I remember the houses you cleaned in order to provide for us and how our own home was always spotless. I remember how much you love to do laundry...good thing I guess...again something I wish I did get from you! I never remember a day in my life that when I walked through your door at supper time there wasn't something cooking. I remember the lunches you packed for me and how they had all the things I loved. I remember the Christmases that you put so much time into and how exciting it was to get up and come down over those stairs and see if Christmas had really arrived. I remember how you got up early and made bread to have money for us and the smell that always lingered in our house of the different types of bread and rolls...no wonder I love bread so much it brings back such memories. I remember how proud you were when I graduated from High School and how sad you were when I moved out. I remember how sad you were when I moved back in. You both welcomed me back though. I remember how much you love my children and have treated them like you yourself gave birth to them even though one came from halfway around the world you have never shown her anything but the love a grandmother has to give. My kids love you Mom more than you will ever know. I remember how both you and Dad made us proud of Newfoundland and how that is our heritage. I remember the day that I drove you back to English Harbour West for the first time since you left your home 50 years earlier! I remember how you laughed and cried and remembered a time so long ago. I remember the sound of your voices and how you didn't sound like the other Mom's and Dad's but it was such a sweet accent. I remember the wisdom that both you and Dad tried to instilled in me. I remember how I always loved that my parents were older and wiser than all the other parents that my friends had. I remember how every decision I have ever made I asked your thoughts on and you told me the truth even if I didn't want to hear it. You come from a different time. A time when it was much more difficult for women. I remember your tears and stress wondering if Dad would come home safe and sound from sea. Mom you are the strongest woman I have ever met. You have been through circumstances that would have crushed others yet you have persevered. You are in one of those battles right now with your health. Mom I love you. Mom I love all that you have done for me. I wouldn't change one second of my life. I wouldn't trade you and Dad for anything. You have made me who I am today. I remember how no matter what I did you encouraged me. How no matter what I wore it looked great and how no matter what I tried to make you said it was good. I remember how mouthy I was and how I tried to drive you both crazy at times but somehow we got through it. You are one of the most generous people I have ever met and because of you I try to be the same way. I love you Mom like you will never know but I want you to know that although your life has been filled with hardships that were sometimes bitter sweet that it has all been worth it and that you can take comfort in the fact that God says "you have run a good race" and that you "have finished well". Thank you Mom from the bottom of my heart for all the sacrifice, laughter, provision, caring, nurturing, hard work, encouragement, support and love. I am who I am today largely because of the influence of my parents. I love you Mom, I always have and I always will! xoxoxo

Chinese New Year and Two Year Anniversary

2009-01-27T00:54:00.006-04:00

Happy New Year...It's now the Year of the Ox. We are going out to celebrate with the Zee's and the Lai's and the MacGregor's on Saturday night. We are still getting our feet wet with the whole Chinese culture thing. We have decided that instead of us try and teach Emily which would end up stereotyping the culture that we would make sure that she had some good Christian Chinese families that would take her under their wing and teach her what it means to be Chinese because well they are Chinese. We will teach her what it is like to be a daughter, a sister, a grand daughter, a niece and a Chaisson. It has been two years since God placed Emily in our arms and we are so blessed truly blessed to have her in our lives. I can't imagine life without her. She has melted our hearts and she has brought so much joy into our lives. We see Emily as Emily. We don't see Chinese. I know that sounds odd but we don't. She is just our daughter who we are thankful for each and every day that we see that smile and her "Good Morning Mom"! Oh how things change but in this case it was definitely for the better. Mama out.

Bananagrams

2009-01-11T21:23:00.004-04:00

I bought this game for one of the boys last year for Christmas in their sock. We never opened it we never played it. We were snowed in today and as I was looking for something else I ran across this. After much much much cajoling, threatening, eye rolling Son #2 and DH agreed to play with me. We're addicted! I love this game. It's sort of like scrabble but much faster and much more fun.

It's an anagram game that will drive you bananas!! It's fast, fun, requires no pencil, paper or board. All you need is a flat surface. It comes with 144 letter tiles that come in a yellow, cloth banana zip bag. Not sure about the whole banana theme but it's compact enough to chuck in your purse. All you have to do is select some tiles and form your own collection of connecting and intersecting words (crossword style).One hand can be played in as little as 5 minutes. It can be played solitaire (1 player ) or up to 8 players. It get's very competitive and intense especially with my two "must win at all cost guys". Emily liked it too just to pick out letters. I searched it up on the internet and it was selected as the Top ten toy at the International Toy Fair. Very addictive...very fun. Hey if it pries the folks away from the tv for an hour I say yahoo! Mama goin bananas out! What are your favorite games to play?

Breastfeeding

2009-01-07T20:47:00.003-04:00

There has been "much talk" about Facebook deleting photos of mothers breastfeeding off of their private photo albums. I listened today to a radio program featuring the two Canadian women rallying the troops across the Globe to cry outrage over them not being able to post these pictures to their own private site. Let me start by saying that I breastfed both of my boys (sorry Son #1 and #2 if that grouses you out). I think it is a wonderful, natural thing to do if you are able to. Here is what I didn't do. When I was in public I didn't haul out my boob and breastfeed in the middle of a mall, or family function, or restaurant or any public place for that matter. I actually didn't even feed my babies "all out" so to speak even in my own home. Yes I am modest but the main reason was out of respect for the people around me. I was very aware that some people were uncomfortable with it. That doesn't mean I didn't breastfeed in public I just covered myself. I really don't see the big deal. Why should others be forced to look at this in a public place if they don't want to? Why do I have to go elsewhere when a blanket solves everything. Do I agree with Facebook..probably not. It is on their Facebook profile photo album but guess what they own the company. If you want to post pictures of your bare breast feeding your snooger booger go start your own company and write your own rules or protest and stop using Facebook. It's always to the extreme in Canada always to the extreme. A small group of individuals in this country wants to do something so therefore...everyone must bend no matter how uncomfortable we all get or whether we agree with it or not. Let's see some people were uncomfortable with me praying in school so now I can't. So guess what...works both ways. What do you think about it?

Why Teenagers Shouldn't Build Snowmen

2008-11-24T00:10:00.005-04:00

It snowed like crazy here on Saturday and Son #2 upon my prompting took Emily outside to make her very first snowman. Well a large head with a massive tongue...baby eating head. This is why teenagers shouldn't make snowmen...especially baby eating ones. Em loved it...can't say I did but I did have to chuckle at his creativity. Love those kids. Mama Out.

A Point of Clarity

2008-11-20T11:32:00.002-04:00

Ok...I got a call from Son #1 today about the whole pooing in the pants thing....I should add she was wearing a diaper! Don't worry I'm bad but not THAT bad...Mama out

Unpotty Training

2008-11-19T20:35:00.002-04:00

Now you have heard of potty training but this past weekend I decided to unpotty train. Well not really but almost. I'm directing the actors for the Christmas play at our church and I had Emily with me. There is this really intense scene...you know the one when Joseph has just found out that Mary is pregnant and he isn't the father...well Don was deep into that scene when I looked at Emily and she had "the look". Now I couldn't walk out so I motioned for her to hold it. Her eyes gave me the "are you kidding" look. So I just whispered...go ahead a poo in your pants I'll clean it after the scene. I got the "are you kidding" look again and then okely dokely. Poor Emers. I'm such a bad mother some days. Just a bit of a setback though. We had a poo in the pottie today so all is back on track. Mama out.

The Call

2008-10-31T14:43:00.002-03:00

I got the call this morning from Son #1.... "Mom it isn't a gun it's a weapon". Someone hold me back. Sorry Mattie.... You say tomato I say tomaaaaaaato. Of course he is talking about the "weapon" in the last post I did on his basic training bunk. I chuckled because it made me think about the time the school called for Son #2 because he brought a weapon to school in Grade one. DH and I quickly headed off to the elementary school in shock thinking that somehow our precious little lambie had obtained a lethal weapon and could have killed himself or someone else. When we arrived at the school there was our sweet little angel (NOT just looked like one) sitting around a table of three adults with the weapon in question sitting in the middle. An automatic full assault Power Ranger Ray Gun. He borrowed it from a friend. We all know why from my earlier post. He had great fun pretending to annihilate all the girls on the playground until his teacher walked around the corner and became collateral damage. It was a serious offense! I'm not kidding... they were ready to have him psychoanalyzed. They were concerned because when the teacher took the gun that he kicked her. Now I must tell you in all of the years that the kids were in school this lady was a piece of work. Short and stocky with a major knot in her face. Well when she grabbed Son #2 and accosted the weapon from him he kicked her in the shins. She told me this with great delight I'm sure because she thought that Son #2 would be mortally wounded by us. She had this smug look and before I knew it my lips engaged before my brain and well "I told her if she talked to me the way she was now talking to him I would have kicked her too". At this point DH just wanted to get the weapon the boy and the wife and get out of Dodge. After Son #2 and I went to anger management (not really but almost) we took back the very dangerous Power Ranger Ray Gun to the next door neighbour and brought the boy home. I hugged him. Told him not to shoot girls or kick teachers - kissed him on the head....patted him on the behind...told him to go outside and have fun. We are so serious with our kids sometimes. So thanks Matt for making me remember that and yes sirree it is a weapon and not simply a gun and don't point it at anyone, don't chase girls with it and if you were here I'd kiss you on the head and pat you on the behind and tell you how proud I am of you. Ok I wouldn't pat you on the behind...well maybe it's a nice tushie. Sorry Sorry...Mama out.

Gas Masks not Halloween Masks

2008-10-29T18:44:00.002-03:00

Not many people know this about me but I am terrified of guns. I won't get into the whole story but let's just say that it involved a rifle, some blanks and my stupid brother. Enough said. Ever since I have been terrified of guns being pointed at me. Now I know your thinking who points guns at you (other than my stupid brother...he knows I love him in spite of it). I mean any gun - plastic or otherwise. So I spent most of my young motherhood banning them from the house. Banning Lego guns, Nintendo guns, video games with guns. Nothing violent. I was absolutely adamant much to the "boys" chagrin! Emily thought it was great to point water pistols at me...they mysteriously disappeared. So now that you know the background you can appreciate the chuckle Son #1 got from sending me his bunk picture from basic training. He thought I would like a picture of his gun and gas mask...oh like any good mother I was happy about the whole toothbrush and deodorant but a GUN! Mercy. They gave him a GUN! Let's just say I'm glad he's there and I'm here. He loves it of course. What other testosterone filled male wouldn't. So there you go you can spend your whole life trying to get your kids to do something and well this is what happens. Good thing I love him loads! Mama ignoring the whole gun thing out!

Apple Picking

2008-10-21T20:15:00.007-03:00

We went apple picking a few weeks ago at a U-pick in the Annapolis Valley. It was our first outing in ages with little kids. It's amazing to me how things never change we just get older but a kid is a kid they never change . I love watching Emily when she sees things for the first time like an apple on a tree. So simple. Things we take for granted but children bring wonder back into. Emily was so excited. "One more Apple Mom....One more Apple". We went on a tractor ride. Try squatting on a 2 1/2 inch board when you haven't squatted since you were sixteen. Now try that when you are bumpy, bumpy along the apple orchard. Heaven help us. Wait until we get our next little girl. We should be almost 50. I hope it will keep us young and who cares if we forget we have kids and can't remember their names...that's what Son #1 and Son #2 are for to check in on us periodically. Mama still eating apples out!

Bloom Where You Are Planted

2008-10-14T13:28:00.005-03:00

Having eight months ago left a 10 year career to pursue other opportunities that I felt I was to plant myself in over the next half of my life left me today evaluating am I doing what I wanted to be doing. One of those areas was to start a non-profit organization addressing the world's orphan crisis and the other was to have more time with my soon to be three year old daughter and to work with my DH. I turned 44 this year so therefore qualify as a mature mama. The time I expected to have not working away from home full time has not materialized like I thought it would. Surprise, Surprise. I found myself getting frustrated because I wasn't planted where I necessarily wanted to be every day and then I heard this quote. "Bloom where you are planted". What a great saying. Instead of worrying the days I'm home about doing something else I need to bloom with my daughter, son and husband. Isn't that the way we guilt ourselves as mothers or fathers sometimes. We forget that there is no more important job. I can say this because as well as having a three year old I have a seventeen and a nineteen year old. They have bloomed into two incredible young men. Sometimes I kick myself and say don't be too proud but it's hard. I know that things can change in an instant. I am all to aware of that and things that were once well can turn instantly upside down. I think as individuals if we bloomed where we were planted more often we would grow in our faith, our skills, our families, our careers and a myriad of other things. I'm home today with a sick baby and will be all week. I am going to bloom at home this week and love every minute of it. Mama out.

Modesty

2008-10-08T14:45:00.005-03:00

A good friend of mine sent me an email today because I have a daughter. I love that it was a guy who sent this to me. I love that this guy and his wife are soon going to have their own daughter and he is thinking about this stuff. Modesty in our young girls. I had a conversation with my boys over the last few months. Separately, but about the same thing. I am one of those Mom's much to the dismay of my sons who asks lots of questions about what they want in a relationship....who likes them, who do they like. Now I have a daughter. Completely different beast. She is a beast too some days. Gotta love her though. I loved the simplicity of these few guidelines that if followed should help any woman young or old to do a modesty check on themselves.

"Four Guidelines for Modesty":
1. If you have trouble getting into it or out of it, it is probably not modest.
2.If you have to be careful when you sit down or bend over, it is probably not modest.
3.If people look at any part of your body before looking at your face, it is probably not modest.
4.If you can see your most private body parts or an outline of those parts under the fabric, it is
probably not modest.

These were taken from Michael Hyatt's blog.

I love the simplicity of them. I love common sense which many in our society today seem to have lost.

"If you think these guidelines are helpful, you might want to pass them along to the young women you know. Evidently, not many are getting the message elsewhere."

Well said and a good place to end. Mama out.

Photo-Deviant Art - LaVolpe

What I Learned Last Week

2008-10-07T21:28:00.005-03:00

As a mother who has started all over after the age of 42 with a lovely little girl from China I am sometimes between three worlds. The world of a kid in university, the world of a kid about to finish High School and the world of soon to be trying threes. Last week was well one of "those" weeks. I thought that I would look back on the week and list my lessons learned:

Snot from a three year old or a seventeen year old is still gross
You can't be in two places at once well
If the baby stops drinking bottles don't give them to her just to get some quiet time
Cartoons aren't like they used to be
Fox News Rocks don't watch anything else
Sea salt and table salt aren't the same but too much of either is still bad
Sick kids at any age are draining
When you stay at your mothers you feel like when you were young and that's OK
Don't take your mother for granted because when she's sick it doesn't feel good
Chestnuts hurt when you put them in your pocket before you take them out of their prickly coating
If your baby falls teeth first on your nose it hurts and it bleeds
Don't go to a movie if you don't know what it is about you can't stay and watch it
Write down your commitments no matter what because you WILL forget them
Don't watch yourself on the Internet
Watch where you are walking because babies put bad stuff on the floor
Drink more water not more tea

I could go on and on. Thank goodness this is a new week. Mama out

Oh the Difference a Week Makes

2008-09-22T22:42:00.003-03:00

Oh the difference a week makes. We went to Indiana last Tuesday and our son was a civilian attending university. We came back last night and in the week we were gone he was sworn in as an officer cadet and voila this is who we came home to. He's so serious! We truly are so proud of him. Please remember him in your prayers. He will be in basic training until Christmas. He will be in the best shape of his life assuming he doesn't eat like crazy. He is definitely my son because his big excitement was the food they fed him where his training takes place! This year while he is in university and while he works his way through basic training and moving forward with his pilots licenses his schedule will be very very full. He can't go to church until December. So all you out there that know him and can contact him through Facebook do this Mama a favor and encourage him every so often and ask him the hard spiritual questions. He has a couple of accountability partners he has put in place so he understands the importance of having people like that in your life. Podcasts are awesome because now you don't necessarily have to be in the building to hear the message and go to church but fellowship with other like minded people of faith is so important. God is at work in his life and I'm excited to see how he will grow over this next year. My kid rocks...but I'm biased. This is a great time in his life. He's driven and loves God and wants to serve his country how awesome is that. Mama...very proud...out!

I....Son #1

2008-09-19T23:44:00.011-03:00

... do Solemnly swear I will be faithful and bear true allegiance to Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth the Second, Queen of Canada, Her Heirs and Successors according to law, forever. So help me God."

Well he finally did it. Son #1 is officially an officer candidate for the Canadian Armed forces. We are so proud of him. Truly we are. As freaked out as I was about the whole thing the reality is that our son wants to serve and protect his country. What an incredible calling. What better place for a young man who loves Jesus. What an incredible opportunity to live out his faith. What an incredible opportunity to serve. We are overjoyed for him. He has wanted to be a pilot since he could talk and now he is one step closer to living his dream. I love that he has never wavered from what he believed God called him to do. Here is what sucks about this though we were not able to be there. He has been waiting forever for this call and of course we are in Indiana when it happens...grrrrrr....oh well I'm guessing the last thing he needed was his Mama blubbering in the background but I wish I was there. It was kind of like the big award he got in Grade Twelve and we walked through the door just after her received it! Ah well he knows we are crazy about him. Pray for him y'all as he begins boot camp on the weekend. I won't see him for three months because he will be in training until December and with university, flying and that well he has enough to do. We love you Matt and think you will make an incredible officer. Proud Mama out.

Traveling without the kids

2008-09-17T23:33:00.002-03:00

It has been years since DH and I traveled without the kids and here I am with my nose stuck in front of a computer. It's awesome how Emily is adjusting without us. She has settled in with childcare and still has big brother to attend to her every need! I think that it is healthy for her to know when we leave we will be coming back so that she can keep that sense of security in knowing that every time we walk out the door we are not leaving forever. It's good to know that she is adjusting and adjusting well. DH's niece is being a surrogate Mom and doing a fine job. All on the home front is good and all here in the beautiful United States of America is just fine too. I love it when things go well. Enjoy it I say because I know all too well in an instant it could all change! Mama out.

Referral Dates Change

2008-09-06T23:47:00.004-03:00

China Centre of Adoption Affairs is the organization that facilitates all adoptions within China. The process is such that when you want to adopt from China you send all of your paperwork to this office. This office then reviews your information and gives you a log in date. Our log in date for Emily was August 25, 2005. We received a referral package with Emily's picture in November of 2006. Each month the CCAA releases the dates of the dossiers that they have approved for adoption and have successfully matched children with. It's pretty exciting. This process has been at a snails pace since we came home with Emily. Just to give you a sense of how things have slowed. In November of 2006 they approved dossiers for families including our date of August 25th,2005. It is now September 2008 and they have approved this month the dossiers registered from February 1st - 9th, 2006. It has moved only 5 1/2 months in almost two years. If that rate continues it will be another six years before we return to China for a sister for Emily because we registered again last August. Do I believe it will be that long. No way! Things slowed because of the Beijing Olympics. Now that the Olympics are over it isn't any coincidence that the dates moved 9 days in one month this includes more days than what they have usually approved. It will be interesting to see if next month it moves even more. All you adoptive people waiting and reading this out there do not despair it will get better and before you know it you will be there with your heart child in your arms. Mama out.

Energy Drinks

2008-09-01T21:21:00.005-03:00

I have always loved to drive. I think it was a control thing but if I wasn't driving I wasn't going. I say was because the older I get the more I hate it. In keeping with the whole well kept woman thing I've become very very comfortable with being chauffeured from place to place. I sit in my passenger seat and instruct whoever is driving, I help choose the music and point out any unforeseen obstacles. I'm into the "Driving Miss Julie" thing. I really rather enjoy my new role. Therefore, when I realized that I had to drive back from Ingonish yesterday I wasn't looking forward to a five hour drive. Son #2 and Baby girl kept me company. Now I forgot to mention the whole sleeping in the car thing. I could never sleep but seems the older I get I just can't stay awake. Are you starting to get the picture? Can't stay awake - doesn't like to drive. Let's just say after only an hour all I wanted was a nap. I struggled big time just to make it to the Irving station and hoped that a bathroom break and walking around would help. I thought that I would have to pull over and nap. It didn't help that the rain teemed down. So I send Son#2 into the lady at the Irving and told him to get me an energy drink. I know I know...me on an energy drink. It's like giving a squirrel an upper. DH just giggled and said good luck. How bad could it be? Son #2 after some threats went and got it for me. After I downed the bottle about the size of the shampoo bottles in hotels I thought I should read the side effects. Problem is though the bottle was so small it could have said your teeth would fall out I wasn't reading it. I guess middle aged people don't drink these things. Son #2 warned me of the redness and hot skin. So what else is new this is menopause in a little teeny tiny bottle. After about an hour my pupils were the size of dimes and there was no way I was going to nod off. At hour number 8 after we were home the little bottle wore off. I crawled into bed and woke up at 9:00 this morning. It is kind of like liquid happy pills. Pills to calm me and liquids to keep me awake...yeah baby this being on the ragged edge thing isn't so bad as long as I keep this stuff around! MMMMAAAAAMMMMA....a little jittery out!

Toilet Licking

2008-08-26T20:50:00.003-03:00

Well my little sweetie has taken up a new habit while we have been on vacation. It is stemming from my attempt to pottie train the child. I should preface this as saying I am the most laid back person on the planet when it comes to this kind of stuff. Son #1 pretty much pottie trained himself because he was so old he figured it was time. The soother he sucked on stayed in his mouth until he finally walked up to me one day and said "I don't think I need this anymore". True story. Son #2 was pottie trained by my mother in law (I love that woman) and had a baba until he was seven. Twelve thousand dollars later and he still has work to be done on his teeth. I have yet to meet a ten year old with a soother, with a baba, with a diaper or not able to talk. I hate conflict around this stuff because honestly I don't care they will figure it out eventually. But the "girl" well they say girls are different from boys. I decided I should do the pottie thing because it seemed that everyone else was. Temporary insanity. I diligently put the little princess on the "pot" every hour on the hour. We bought pottie stickers, pottie dolls and party hats for when the blessed event happened. Which was far and few between. All I have succeeded in is making her addicted to bathrooms. She relishes a new place so she can see what the pottie looks like. No matter where we go she wants to pee on the pottie. She isn't successful that often but sometimes she "gets it done". What is disturbing me is the disgusting habit she has picked up along the way. She has started licking the toilets. Yes you read correctly. She either sticks her face on it tongue fully extended while I am locking the door or sticks her hands in the water and licks all of her fingers while I am trying to get the diaper off. It sends me off the deep end! Which of course is why she is doing it. She gets a reaction from me as if I have been jolted with an electric shock. Grouse Grouse Grouse. I've decided that pottie training is for the birds. If she is still wearing a diaper in high school well then we have a problem but for now I can't take the licking thing...LICKING TOILETS give me a break. Mama out.

Lost in Ingonish

2008-08-16T11:01:00.001-03:00

I have yet another new addiction in my life. I think that I was possibly one of the few people around that had never ever seen an episode of Lost. I remember many a time that we would be engaged in an activity of one sort or another and have to halt because one or two couldn’t possibly stay because “I can’t miss Lost”. I would think twits. I don’t watch much tv. When I first left my job I became a tv junky and decided unless I wanted to be 400lbs and pasty white I had best find another hobby. I’m still pasty white but I kicked the habit so now I just watch a few carefully selected “good” programs. You know the ones I mean – How to Look Good Naked – The Biggest Loser – American Idol (woot woot) – Extreme Home Make Over- The Amazing Race (woot, woot, woot) and of course an occasional Oprah. I don’t watch Oprah much anymore I’ve had to boycott her because she’s gone weird on me. But that’s pretty much it. I was at one point in my life addicted to CSI. Another time I was addicted to Star Trek. I unfortunately passed that along to Son #1. I am usually a reader not a watcher. Last week we were at Blockbuster to rent a movie. We’d seen pretty much everything that looked interesting. Son#1 and I passed the “Popular TV Show” aisle and scanned to see if we could pick something out. We had already cruised through House whenever I visited him at university last year so we wanted to pick another one. As I scanned the titles....Friends ?– Nah.....House ? Been there done that. 24 Hours? A possibility. Lost? NO...Maybe...Seems popular....oh why not. Lost is about to start season five. Lots of potential to watch four other seasons over the next year visiting at university. The rest is as they say is history. That was Tuesday. This is Saturday. I have been travelling back and forth to Blockbuster getting my fix. We left for Ingonish on Thursday with the usual supplies however I added one extra to the list. Six DVD’s of Lost each with four episodes. I thought that would last me until Son #1 came next week. This is Saturday we came late Thursday night. I only have two discs left! I love this show. No wonder the twits wanted to leave when we were out doing stuff...I don’t want to leave the trailer. DH and Son #2 are watching the Olympics at night and as baby girl sleeps I’m balled up in the bed with my mini DVD player two inches from my face saying things as I watch like....WHAT! YOU HAVE GOT TO BE KIDDING ME! NO WAY! I’ve laughed – I’ve cried – I’ve covered my eyes- I’ve jumped just about out of my skin. I am completely and utterly addicted. I have to take a break today. My ear is killing me from the headphones in my ear. We’re beaching it today the sun is magnificent and it’s a beautiful Ingonish morning. I can’t wait to see Son #1 on Thursday to tell him how much I love him, to spend the last few days of his summer vacation with him and well did I mention he’s bringing my next fourteen DVD’s of Lost with him. Mama Lost in Ingonish Out.

Lobster Rolls, Naps and I'm Lost for Lost

2008-08-12T22:18:00.005-03:00

I ended up spending the afternoon with my Mom, baby girl and Son #1 today. We stopped and picked up a couple of lobster sandwiches. She's been craving one so I thought why not I can force myself to eat a lobster sandwich. Thirty dollars later! Thirty dollars for two lobster rolls. Now this is almost exactly what it looked like. I started to wonder only in the Maritimes can you take a can of lobster mix it with some Miracle Whip loose pack it all in a HOTDOG bun and charge $13.89 plus tax for it. I suppose... a very rich man once told me that "profit is not a dirty word" and apparently he spoke to someone in this establishment as well. I ate the sandwich in a nano second and laid back in the lazy boy to watch Season one Disc one of Lost with my elderly Mom and Son #1. I don't know what it is about my parents home but I don't last there very long without wanting to go to sleep. So I spent the afternoon curled up on the floor with Emily and Mom curled up on the couch snoring away with the "boy" just shaking his head with the volume up to hear what was going on with the show. Just for the record I'm now addicted to that TV show even if I did sleep because I watched the same episode the night before. Pathetic but what else do you do after about 14 straight days of rain....Mama water logged and shack cracked but loving Lost...signing out to go and watch Disc two of Lost....woot woot.

Home for a Few Days

2008-08-10T21:43:00.008-03:00

The forecast in Cape Breton is rain until Thursday. DH was coming home for the week and we decided to take a break from the rain and come home for a few days too. I wanted to see Son #1 and my Mom and well I'm getting a bit shack cracked or RV cracked. We have done everything we possibly can do in the rain. It hasn't rained continuously and there have been a couple of afternoons where the sun has come out but the temperature isn't above "holy crap it's cold" yet. It didn't matter to Emily though Son #2 and I took her for a walk to the beach at the end of the campground. It was just so amazing to actually see the sun! Emily decided that she had had enough she stripped off her clothes and decided to go for a dip in the freezing lake water. The little brook that we usually wade across well you will see in the pictures wasn't something we were going to attempt. The seaweed...oh my glory mounds and mounds of it covered the beach. The stink...ewh....I wasn't too interested in walking through it because you never know what washes up with it. I'll leave it at that. If you look at the beaches the sand is gone and only the rocks remain. It actually looks like rock beaches and it looks like the rocks are on top of the sand but actually it's the sand that left not the rocks that came. I've posted some picks for you to see of our first sunny afternoon! Enjoy - Mama out!

The Sun is Finally Out!

2008-08-06T13:51:00.006-03:00

We came to Ingonish a week ago tomorrow and as I look out the door of the library finally some sunshine! Who knows how long it will last but hey you need rain and sun. We went to Chetticamp yesterday and bummed around the trail. It hasn't rained in Chetticamp which is odd it just goes to show on one side of the mountain rain and on the other side no rain. What was incredible is the shoreline and the incredible sight of the waves and waterfalls. We talked to a couple from Ontario yesterday and they didn't want the rain to stop because they said that they couldn't believe the beauty of the ocean. So one persons whoa is anothers ecstacy. I love it here rain or shine it really doesn't matter to me. We just do other things depending on the weather. I'll post some of the wave action pics they don't really show them justice and a couple of my favorite pics so far. Mama from Ingonish out.

Waves at Ingonish

2008-08-02T14:19:00.007-03:00

I finally left for vacation on Thursday. I ended up driving the 5th wheel up Cape Smokey for the first time. I don't know exactly how high it is but I would guess at 1200 feet...don't laugh if that's way off! It wasn't that bad at all. Both boys were with me and of course baby girl. The truck engine sounded a bit like an airplane about to go into full flight but all and all it wasn't so bad. We actually got a site with a fire pit. How awesome is that! I had a dream last night that it snowed...if that gives you any indication of how cold and windy it is here. But you know what cold and windy means...WAVES BABY WAVES. DH arrived yesterday and my three men donned their black seal like outfits and headed for the waves. Now DH had a wee bit more trouble donning the "suit" this year but perseverance paid off in this instance! It blessed my heart to see the three of them laughing and giggling and getting the snot pounded out of them in the nasty Atlantic. The water was as warm as bath water...really...I kid you not. I'm still a bit spooked over the near death drowning experience I had a few years back so I decided to be the photographer until the waves die down a bit. All and all it was awesome to have our whole family together even if it was only for a day and a half. Emily has started to call her dad Mike...hee hee. That's gotta stop. She loves the beach hates the water but that will change...all the more reason for me to lose this stupid phobia. That's it keep checking in for updates from the most beautiful place on earth..usually....Mama out.

Go RVing

2008-07-30T23:53:00.002-03:00

Forecast for the weekend....

Thu

Fri

Sat

Sun

Tomorrow we head off for our 12th annual trek to the Cape Breton Highlands. I was checking out the weather on Son#2's Ipod....a sea of rain. Rain Thursday, Rain Friday, Rain Saturday, Rain Sunday . But guess what it doesn't rain in the Highlands. That's my story anyway and I'm sticking to it. No rain baby no rain. DH will join us later cause work is heating up and well good thing cause it looks like it's the only thing heating up for the weekend. God is good. I figure if it rains like it says it is somebody must be praying pretty hard. Mama packing up the umbrellas - out.

It's a squirrel party!

2008-07-29T21:38:00.002-03:00

We are finishing up our last minute stuff getting ready to head off to Ingonish. We had squirrels living in our trailer for the winter. The little critters had quite the rodent party frolicking from drawer to drawer. Eating whatever was left in the trailer that they could gnaw their little buck teeth into. Oh the nut shells it was like a Sunday morning at a bar in downtown Halifax that served shelled peanuts. I had visions of this guy and girl squirrel whooping it up all over our trailer. They even ate one of my wooden spoons and the poop...everywhere. I have been two days washing and disinfecting everything. We know there was a boy and a girl because well they had babies. DH was cleaning out a drawer and I tried to warned him there was "something" there. "No there isn't"! Oh yes there is - two deceased baby squirrels. Apparently when they aren't putting their stupid nuts in my cars carburetor they are making whoopee in my trailer and chewing up my stuff. So I said it once and I'll say it again..."squirrels gotta die"! Mama out.

Stuck then Unstuck!

2008-07-27T22:17:00.005-03:00

Yesterday I told you about our stuck trailer. Oh it was stuck bad at the bottom of our driveway. Now usually...who am I kidding I always have an opinion. This time I decided it was best to keep my mouth shut, stay in the house and mind my business. I went to church this morning and just prayed when I got home all would be well. It's a great way to go through life sometimes. Just tell yourself it's all ok and then viola sometimes that is exactly what happens. I had visions of the whole Ingonish thing being simply us camping in the backyard. I thought I'd post a couple of pics. DH rocks he got it unstuck. Ingonish here we come! Mama sleeping a bit better tonight...out.

Oh How the Time Has Flown

2008-07-26T21:18:00.008-03:00

This is my nephew Billy Joe and his new wife Leanne. We went to their wedding tonight. It was in Hubbards and was one of the nicest outdoor weddings I've been to in a while.
This is Jenna their daughter isn't she a beauty! She is my great niece. One of the nicest parts of the wedding was when during the ceremony Billy-Joe and Leanne included Jenna and said a vow to her that they would always love and honor her. They even gave her a little ring too. It was so touching. The wedding was in a barn. All I know is the next house I buy is definitely going to have a barn no question. What a great spot for a party. They roasted a pig. I tried to ignore the fact it was walking around this morning and it had a spit shoved up it's butt!
Did you catch that I'm a great Aunt. I know I know you think I'm too young for that. I am but there are some sweet kids in our family. This is Cameron. Cameron is going to be finishing up his final cancer treatment in November. I've told many of you about him and in fact I've had some of you have prayed for him. One handsome dude! One fighter. God is good and we are trusting that this last treatment will be his last treatment!
These are five of my great nephews. My nieces all had boys! Must run in the family because I had two, my sister had three, my other sister had one and here are five more! Gotta love them.
Little Blondie's. Family is so important I am discovering. Time flies by and before you know it these little ones are growing and growing. I guess that is to be expected. I didn't get a shot of my nephew Jamie's daughter. Mmmmm...not sure how that happened? I'll have to get her the next time around. I had a great time tonight because I got to see so many of my siblings and their children and their children's children. I don't know if I say this enough but I love love love coming from a large family. We aren't perfect and we tick each other off at times but that's ok that's to be expected that's normal. I'm up early for church tomorrow. I'm playing at two services in the band so I'm going to call it a night. DH has our fifth wheel trailer stuck in the driveway...don't ask. I have all the confidence in the world in him that when I'm finished this blog it will be out and pointing in the right direction...otherwise instead of Ingonish we will be camping in the backyard. Ho Hum. Mama out.

Oh the Humidity!

2008-07-25T22:56:00.003-03:00

It was 37 degrees with humid ex today...98F so of course today was the day I decided to clean the house and get caught up on some laundry. Yes that was wise. Lets move and bend and turn on the dryer all day! Yeah that's smart. The only good thing is I think I perspired oh about 25lbs off of myself. Not really but mercy at one point sweat was rolling right down the middle of my back. How's that for a visual. I remember once a great lady rebuking me and saying "Julie...boys sweat - girls glisten. Boys get hot - girls get warm". I don't think this women had entered into the land of menopause. Oh yes I did glisten from head to toe. As a matter of fact I'm sure they saw me glistening from the airplanes flying overhead. I went to the hardware store tonight and hung out around the portable air conditioner. I convinced myself for a nano-second the $599.00 plus our beloved 13% sales tax was worth it but I snapped out of it as my body temperature lowered. I'll be in Ingonish soon in my air conditioned trailer. I will not be back any time soon. Maybe Fall when this heat is over. I am not a warm weather girl. I'm a spring if it isn't raining, Fall if it isn't raining and winter if it isn't freezing raining type of girl. This is not for me. I wonder if skinny people mind the heat like us over weight, 40 somethings? Those are the chicks who are glistening those are the yummy mommies...whatever! Well I'm going to attempt to go upstairs now and take my new $19.99 Honeywell fan with me. That's the difference between a stay at home Mama and an executive Mama. If I was still an executive I'd be unpacking the $599.00 air conditioner right now but the new stay at home Mama is glad to have the fan and a baby girl that appreciates the sacrifice. Oh she'll appreciate it because I'm already practicing my speech...yes I am. Mama- glistening in the night air - out!

Movie Night

2008-07-25T00:06:00.003-03:00

Son #1 treated me to a movie tonight. I think he just wanted to get me out to a 3D movie so he could see me have multiple heart attacks with the little black 3D glasses on. The movie was good don't get me wrong but there was a couple of times in the movie I nearly landed in his lap. I tried putting the glasses up...I was ok it was blurry but that's how my nearly 44 year old eyes see now anyway. "MOM put the glasses down". "Fine". It was a good night though and good for a laugh. I love being treated by my kids. I figure they could treat me every night of my remaining lifetime and still owe me two million dollars but they are worth every penny. As crazy as it gets at our house by times I thank God always for my children and the blessing they are. Don't get me wrong they are a pain in the butt however I was the biggest pain in the butt that ever lived with my parents. No wonder my poor mother has every conceivable ailment that was written about. I know they must tee hee about my frustrations some times because whatever I am receiving I know what I gave them was way above and beyond anything I might be experiencing. My DH would still say I'm a pain in the butt but that's tough he has to live with it hee hee. I wish someone had told me what you dish out you will probably get back I might have behaved better. Oh well too late now. All and all my kids "today" are doing fantastic and today I am going to bed with a smile - Mama out!

The New Cleaning Lady

2008-07-22T22:56:00.006-03:00

If I had to describe my house right now I'd call it a house of horrors. What a stinking mess. I had a brainwave yesterday to purge some stuff. Well you know what that means. The stuff you go through gets pulled out and placed from one end of the house to the other as you decide is this a toss, keep or toss item. Add to this a 2 1/2 year old that decides to help by dragging said stuff from one end of her world to the other. Add to this a nineteen year old that is sending me over the edge with laundry that he finally decided to pick up off the floor in his room and dump it in the laundry room. Add to that a days worth of dishes because I've been out since 2:00 and the teenagers are minding the house. I am now sitting at the only spot in my house literally where there is room to place something. I need to go with my DH tomorrow morning to do pics for him so I won't be home until about 10:00 so add to the mess more dishes and said baby who is now feeling better running through the house like a loon bag. Let's just say a wreck my house is a wreck. I have a window of three hours tomorrow to get it ship shape because we all know that it's about this time that dear old aunt Edna decides to visit for the first time in ten years and wants to surprise you and just shows up on your doorstep to which you have to click off the lights, crawl on your belly to the door and pray its closed and then lay in the fetal position hoping she goes away and won't walk in. I had someone cleaning my house on Fridays for years but well that was when I had my job making the big bucks....I had a terrible realization today....I'M NOW THE CLEANING LADY!!! Serenity now. Mama ignoring the mess for one more day and off to bed oh and p.s. don't come visit because well I won't let you in.

On the Ragged Edge!

2008-07-20T18:08:00.003-03:00

I play in the worship band at church as a fill in. It's a long story I used to play all the time but felt that God wanted me to step back...anyway I digress. I played this morning. After watching The Dark Knight last night I was a bit off going to bed. It has been so muggy this past week. I tossed...turned...tried sleeping at the opposite end of the bed....my feet in my DH's face didn't go over well....two pillows....three pillows...one pillow...I hate the pillows...feet are tingling...oh my mind is whirling....1:00....1:30....2:00....2:30....I must go to sleep....I have to get up at 6:00. Some time after 2:30 I dosed off. I'm really really trying not to take the happy pills. That's not what they are for they are for my terror in the air when I fly. So I am up at 6:00 because I'm somewhat excited about playing this morning. I jumped in and out of a couple of vehicles determining which one is going to cost me less for gas and after I ironed the whole households clothes I headed off to church. Somewhere between here and there my nose decided to bleed. Did I mention I wore white pants this morning. Anyway nothing 10 minutes in the bathroom didn't fix. Of course now the issue is the big ole wet spot. At one point one of the band guys was talking about a girl-friend not girlfriend and said he wasn't sure if she was on the ragged edge or not. Ragged Edge? You know Menopause. That's it! Light bulb moment. I'm on the ragged edge. That is a perfect description and you know what people on the ragged edge are like...EXACTLY. Now picture that person...sticky with the humidity, overtired from lack of sleep, shack cracked with the not so well baby but praising God praising God...I'd rather be on the ragged edge in Canada with my family than anywhere else. God is Good.

On top of Everything Now a Rash!

2008-07-19T23:22:00.003-03:00

I didn't post yesterday because we had a yummy yummy did I mention yummy dinner at our good friends Jim and Shelly's house. It was sooooooo good. I ate way too much but hey it's good to splurge once in a while especially when you are with good friends. Emily sure does love her Uncle Jimmy and Auntie Shelly. We stayed just a bit too late and I crashed with a full belly I know I know not wise but oh well. Emily woke up today with a rash on top of the fever on top of the pain in her back and on top of having her bum hurt. We went back to the doctor who wasn't too concerned at first then decided maybe he should check her out. He said "she has a fever" duh yeah that's one of the reasons we are here....four days of it. Her throat was red and one of her ears looked like it might be getting infected. At least now we have antibiotics. Hopefully by Monday she will be on the mend. Pray for Emily she is a trooper but she just isn't herself and I'm sure she is sick and tired of being sick and tired. We want to go and see DH's new Great Nephew but wouldn't dare go near because we just aren't sure what she has and we want to make sure that it is not contagious. We saw The Dark Knight tonight. Good movie but dark...hence the name. It was intense. That's it for today. Mama out!

Still Battling a Fever

2008-07-17T22:08:00.004-03:00

I've been out of commission for a few days. Emily is still sick. She woke up with a fever a few days ago. I was a bit spooked because of the whole near death experience she had with the head whack so I took her to the walk in clinic. They didn't think the two were related but her fever is still high and this is the second day. She isn't herself and she whimpered most of the afternoon. Today she seemed OK but by 6:00 her temperature was almost 103. I asked her if there was anything hurting and she said her back. When she went to pee this morning she cried so now I'm thinking she might have a kidney infection or a urinary tract infection. Both I have never had or have I ever dealt with it in Son #1 or #2. If her fever is still there tomorrow I'm going to take her back to the clinic. If anyone out there knows anything about this in babies can you put a comment or email me and let me know what I should be looking for and how does it get fixed. That's it for tonight I'm off to bed early probably to toss and turn but I'm going to give it a good shot anyway. Mama out!

Oh Sweet Babies and Sweet Menopause

2008-07-15T22:54:00.004-03:00

I snapped this shot at the beach in Michigan City. Isn't she so cute. Whosdavingo is the brand name of the t-shirts Son#2 is designing. I say that he could use this cutie patootie for advertising! She has such a look in those eyes. It is so humid in our next of the woods tonight. I can see it's going to be quite another night of up late because I can't sleep. I want to know why we were never warned about how menopause would change us. Hot then cold and tingley legs not to mention the whole I want to kill someone one minute and love them the next. I blogged about an accident that Emily had on my Straight from the Heart blog. If you read it you will be happy to know she is doing much better. Actually a menopausal woman is kind of like a two year old baby. One minute they are up and the next minute they are not so up. Babies scream...I scream. Babies can't remember to count to ten or their alphabet and suddenly neither can I. Babies don't pee in the pottie...I almost can't make it to the pottie anymore. Babies are up every four hours I'm up every four hours. Babies drool I think in one of those flashes I'm having I'm drooling. Babies get diaper rash we get prickly heat! Babies toot and giggle...we toot and giggle. Oh...and somethings are the reverse...babies get teeth we lose them. Babies grow taller we are the incredible shrinking women. Babies grow hair we lose our hair. Can you tell I need sleep. So there you have it we aren't going through menopause we are reverse aging just at a very rapid speed. Mama up way past her bedtime signing out.

Back to work

2008-07-15T00:46:00.002-03:00

I was back to work today really for the first time since my trip to Odessa. I'm praying about going to China in January or February to visit the orphan villages there run by the Phyllip Hayden Foundation. A friend's daughter wants to go and I'm thinking if she goes I may use the opportunity to go with her and help her get settled in. I have to pray about it though. I'm contemplating perhaps looking at taking a team with me I just need to contact Tim in China to see what the need is. Also later on in the year I want to also go to Uganda to visit the Watoto children's village as well. I need to understand why these villages work so we can replicate it when we begin to construct our own villages. Anybody interested in going to either of these places...start praying and we'll see if God opens the door for it to happen. It's always more fun to travel in a group!

Back at It

2008-07-14T01:05:00.005-03:00

We finally made it to our own church service today. Not that I haven't been to church just not ours. The music was great and the sermon thought provoking. It is odd in the summer though because I didn't really know a whole bunch of people because of all the services meshing into two. We did see some good friends though we hadn't seen since I left for Odessa which was awesome. I'm playing the next two Sundays which is awesome too because I haven't played in so long. Hopefully it won't show. Well it's late, and I'm wiped so this is Mama with a short short post down and OUT!

What a Blessing

2008-07-12T22:04:00.002-03:00

Did I mention that my good friends Jim and Chris built us a wicked awesome shed. Oh yah way over an above what I expected which is stupid because they are the most awesome builders ever and why wouldn't I expect that from them. What a difference just to have a place to put a lawnmower...hey this thing is so big we could put ten lawnmowers and still have room left over and it even has a window...just because I wanted one. God has blessed us with incredible friends that are always there for us no matter what. We spent the day digging up plants. This place is like a jungle. Someone and not me had the brainwave here to plant about 5 of the most invasive plants on the planet on this property. As soon as I think they are gone about five more of the crazy things sprout up elsewhere. Goat wart is one of them. Evil Evil plant I'm sure brought from Satan himself to choke off and kill anything beautiful from God. I am almost winning the battle. What is it with the tall dandelions? The short ones are bad enough but all of a sudden big mutant tall ones are everywhere. I am so tempted to spray...oh...don't get your knickers in a knot you environmentalists....I won't but oh how I miss the days of pesticides and green lush yellow flower free lawns. I know we were growing a third eye but at least it was green grass and not yellow flowers we were seeing with the third eye. Mama going to bed to rest her aching back out!

Dolls, Dolls and more Dolls

2008-07-11T20:07:00.003-03:00

I survived my mammogram. I knew I would. I did however forget that not only do they flatten you front on but then want to flatten you side on too. The poor little technician was about four feet tall. She almost needed a foot stool and certainly her arms could have been a few inches longer. It was kind of funny because she kept saying look up not down. I wanted to look down I was fascinated that you could squash yourself like that and sideways too! I went to my favorite hangout Guy Frenchies waiting for my business to fluff back up again and found a big ole pink container full of Barbies all shapes (well only one shape) and a "boy" barbie and baby barbies. Clothes and accessories. I scooped the whole lot up for $2.5o. Too bad they didn't make an overweight Barbie. You know like the Dove models - not 120lbs but look fine and realistic. Not the perfect Barbie shape but maybe a Barbie with a muffin top and some stretch marks and while their at it what about some varicose veins. Sorry Sorry you have to admit it though it would be funny. So Emily and I sat down to dig out the girls. Before I knew it an hour had passed, Emily was long gone but I gave each of the girls a new hairdo and co-ordinated their outfits and lined up the shoes. Emily loves them! Hee hee. In four short months I've gone from running the Atlantic region of a busy propane company to playing Barbies by myself at the kitchen table. Gotta love it! Much less stress if they bug you just put them in the pink box! Update on Son #1. He passed his medical and is good to come home tomorrow. It's a done deal now he just has to wait to hear when he starts. He's hoping September. Thanks so much for your prayers and encouragement. Mama off to pack up the Barbies for the night!

Tomorrow is Mammogram Day!

2008-07-10T15:40:00.004-03:00

I had a weak moment a few months ago. Now don't get me wrong I absolutely understand the value of a mammogram that's why I'm going to have my second one done. However, the second is significant because the first time I went I didn't know exactly what to expect. I couldn't book locally so my hubby drove me to the mobile exam clinic in a remote country location. The mobile exam clinic was simply an RV parked in the mall parking lot where women went to have their boobs flattened. So now that I know what I'm in for I'm not really looking forward to it. That's why subconsciously I booked it so long ago perhaps hoping I would forget it. No such luck DH took the message off the phone - concerned look - "do you have a mammogram tomorrow"? Ahahahahaaaaa....they confirmed the appointment! Now the joke after the last one was he was going to haul our 5th wheel down to the local mall and hang out a shingle. His concern this time I'm sure is..."do I have to drive you"? This is one of those things I guess I'll drive myself to. I'm blaming Eve for this one. Actually I blame her for all the crappy stuff us women have to endure. Periods, painful child birth, the whole submit to your husband thing and I've decided I'm adding mammograms to the list. Some day when I am in heaven I'm going to give her the old palm to the forehead and say "girl...were you stupid or something...do you realise what we had to do". All joking aside this being a mature mama has stuff like this involved. When I was in my twenties and a Mama all I worried about was what little outfit I would look good in and the boys and I did our thing. Now well between the support bras, support hose, support undies, mammograms, regular check ups, sleeping pills, cold sweats, hot flashes and twitchy legs, and that was just last week - Poor Emily will be going through puberty but I say good luck because what I'm going to be going through will trump that baby! Mammogram day...oh happy day. I should say in all seriousness that we are blessed to live in a country where these are available and I know too many family members and friends that have been dealing with this insidious disease. So for them I will endure this because what they have to endure is 100 times worse than this. If you know someone who has had breast cancer or is current suffering from it why don't you take the time today to just say a prayer for them. In my case I think of Linda a good friends wife who is back battling her second bout of this cancer. Pray for her and her family. So here at home Mama's enjoying her pain free boobs while I can. Mama out and soon to be all out!

I'm Finally Back Home

2008-07-09T19:55:00.003-03:00

Well my friends....hope you hung out on my Straight from the Heart blog while I was travelling to the Ukraine and to Indiana. It really was an amazing time. I won't rehash all that's taken place because you can read it all there. So if you haven't gone to that site the address is on my favorites or you can just type in www.straighfromtheheart.typepad.com. Good news today from Matthew our oldest son. Remember he wants to join the Canadian Air Force. Well he has been away since Sunday for flight crew selection. It's a pretty gruelling set of tests to determine if he can be a pilot in the Canadian Air Force. Today was the big day to find out if he passed or failed and well....HE PASSED....YAHOO! We are so very proud of him. There were fourteen applicants trying to qualify and he was one of only three people who were chosen to pass. God is so good. We prayed big time for him. We wanted him to be calm, cool and collected. We really placed it in God's hands because it is so difficult to pass that we figured if he did then it's meant to be. He now goes onto the aviation medical testing part of his entrance. The last hurdle for him. I'll keep you posted but we are thrilled for him. If you could say a prayer for him for this last part of the testing I know he'll feel it (hee hee in more ways than one)! It has been his dream since he could talk and to see it possibly come true is exciting. Andrew turned seventeen today. Where has the time gone. I felt for him because sometimes it seems he is constantly sharing the spotlight with Matt but he's such a good kid he understands. Birthdays are big deals at our house and he just wanted a small family thing so that's what we gave him. Emily's glad to be home. Mercy she was a fuss bucket the other night when we got back. She had a wild temper tantrum at 3:00 in the morning. I sat with her for quite a while and contemplated bringing her to bed with us because I was so so tired but I didn't give into the urge and decided...she's dry, she's fed, she's cozy....she's just having a hissy fit so I kissed her told her I loved her and left. Let's just say her voice is still gruff today because of the screaming temper fit she had but we persevered and she finally went to sleep. Parenting is not easy sometimes. Our instinct is to always coddle and cuddle and make everything perfect but there are times and that night was one of them that wasn't going to work and it takes some tough love. Story ends that she survived, we survived and she's back to her normal self loving her bed time and relaxing at the end of the day. It was a tough couple of days for her all the driving we did. Two good news stories for our family. Mike's neice had a baby boy - Aiden too exciting first great grandchild he was born prematurely so if you can remember him in your prayers they would surely love to have him come home. My sister got baptized on the weekend. I'm so proud of her! I have been so excited to see how she is growing in the Lord and I can't wait to see how God's plan for her life begins to unfold. That's it for now. Mama out at home and loving it!

2008-06-15T00:39:00.002-03:00

I leave for Odessa, Ukraine on Monday morning. I am very excited and nervous about the trip as I've never traveled that long and that far without my family. I saw this picture of Potemkin Stairs located in Odessa. I had flashbacks to China and the Great Wall. I still chuckle when I think of those old people leading me near death down the stairs. This is like a Rocky moment though can't you just see me running up those stairs, jumping with my fists raised in the air at the top! I think not. Anyway just a reminder that you won't see a post on this blog for 10 days. All of my posting will be done on our Straight from the Heart blog. Address is on the sidebar but just in case it is www.straightfromtheheart.typepad.com . Follow along as I travel the Ukraine discerning the orphan needs in that country. Oh as a side note I had to stop taking the crazy birth control pills. If you haven't read the previous posts you might want to. I was out of control absolutely out of control. I have a secret for you. Men think that women are moody and unpredictable. I just want to let you know the problem with young girls and young women...heck middle aged women is if they are taking birth control pills....IT'S THE PILLS! Mercy thank goodness I came to my senses. That's all for tonight and the next time you hear from me it will be from the Ukraine! Mama getting ready for the plane out!

A Sampling of Pictures from my Photo 101 Final Project on The Power of Three

2008-06-13T13:12:00.001-03:00

From one pill to another

2008-06-09T23:14:00.002-03:00

Ok so you are not going to believe this. I'm having let's just say issues that some women have. Enough said. I went to my doctor for a remedy and her solution was two months of birth control pills. BIRTH CONTROL PILLS! Bwahahahaaaaaaaaaa.....slappppp......hahhhh....snort....Son #1 borrowed my car the other night. He comes in horrified with a little packet in his hand. "What are these". Oh...I enjoyed this. "Birth Control Pills". You don't want a little brother or a little sister." Ha ha...He just stood there with these pills in his hand. Little did he know what was yet to come. I haven't taken birth control pills since I was 21 years old. When my doctor told me to take them I just said "well I did take them at one point but they didn't agree with me". Now I remember why I can't take them. Everyone in my house is hiding. No one will talk to me. I have been fantasizing about how I'm going to wallop each and everyone of them. It's kind of like PMS on steroids, baby blues times 400. What was she thinking. I am going through some kind of peri-meno something anyway. Now load on top of that birth control pill induced rage flying around the house. It's so bad I recognize it but really can't stop it. Sort of like when you have your wisdom teeth out and they are ripping out part of your mouth and well who cares...it's the opposite. I know what's going on and oh yah I care. Now here is the particularly hilarious part. I'm headed to the Ukraine in a week. On a plane - those who know me know that I hate to fly. I get stressed and hateful leading up to the flight. It is a red-eye flight I can't sleep on a plane. So birth control pills on top of happy pills makes Mama one sleepy eyed,crazed plane passenger. Remember the commercial about the stewardess who quit smoking and was yelling at everyone- Oh yah I can relate to that. Oh my what am I ever going to do. The Bible says it is better to be on the corner of a roof that live with a quarrelsome woman. Mmmmm....I surpassed quarrelsome two days ago. Pray for Mike and the kids the only one safe right now is Emily. Apparently little girls get grumpy just like their Mama's do. Birth control pills at my age what was she thinking! Mama out (to lunch)!

Up and At Em'

2008-05-31T22:36:00.003-03:00

I'm awake and happy pill-less. I actually didn't take one I was so freaked about feeling drugged the next day I decided not to. Surprise, Surprise I actually fell asleep two nights in a row. Yes. Of course I'm wide awake now but that's ok I've had two half decent nights sleep. Great church tonight. They had baptisms. There was a boy named Joseph and a girl named Brooke. They are brother and sister. This young girls story that she told was so compelling and raw. She started by saying that she had a tough life. Bear in mind this was a young teen. Her parents had been divorced, then years later they got back together. She felt lost because her parents fought all the time and she said in her bedroom one night she decided that she couldn't go it alone anymore. Her brother looked like someone from the tv show Intervention which actually was his story. Recovering drug addict. Recovering alcohol abuser. Recovering from many many vices. He wasn't twenty I don't think. Great tattoos though. They started coming out to church on Saturday nights and the lives of their entire family has turned around. Then there was the grandma who after being dunked raised her arms like she had just watched the end of an amazing race that came down to the wire and who she was rooting for won! She did the fist pump in the air going Woot Woot! Great music, great stories and great message. I realised something else today. We pray and hope that God shows up. What I learned today is that He is there long before we ever arrive. He has checked out the place beforehand and He's there anticipating our arrival. The question is do we see Him or do we go about hoping and praying that He will show up. Not only is He already there but He's just waiting for us to believe and to see Him. I saw God in the faces of these children today. I saw Him in the face of the grandma. He was there oh yah He was there! How can you sleep when you have seen God reflected in the faces of His people. Awesome! Mama out.

Bring on the happy pills

2008-05-29T22:33:00.003-03:00

I have given up sleeping it seems. Night after night I am awake, wide awake at twelve, one and even two o'clock in the morning. Late nights make Julie a very hateful, cranky person. I am finding myself looking at people now and imagining the horrible, terrible things I would love to do to them for seemingly simple things like turning left in front of me or not making my breakfast sandwich toasted on a twelve grain bagel lightly buttered with egg and cheese and no meat. Yes no meat seems simple enough doesn't it. I'm ok. My family isn't though. They have been my entourage of late desperately carting things to and from the car, making supper and tip toeing around the bear who apparently has taken up residence in the house. I found myself the other night taking Son#1's keys...can't even remember why and for a nano second almost threw them in the lake. Oh I need help. Son #2 snapped me out of it. "Mom Mom...over the top". We did finally laugh in the end but for 30 seconds I nearly had to dig out the wet suit that probably doesn't fit me anymore and go snorkeling for Honda keys. Oh I need to sleep and tonight my friends I sleep. I am so taking a happy pill. I know I know they are just for flying but well occasionally I have caved and taken one for sleeping and well this forty something year old needs her zzzz's. Tomorrow I might even smile! Did I tell you I joined a gym and have a personal trainer...yah I'm hiding from her. She keeps calling wondering why I haven't come to the gym this week. I'd go but she scares me and well the whole hateful thing and exercise doesn't mix. Well maybe it does Son #1 keeps telling me it's a commitment, make it a priority, you can do it...blah blah blah. How about you swim to the middle of the lake and let's play who can find the Honda keys...kidding kidding. I did finally apologize today after a week of terrorizing my family it's bad when you start to wonder "did I just say and do that". But tomorrow tomorrow is another day and tomorrow I will have slept. So night night all...forgive me for the happy pill relapse but the sleep will be sweet. Mama about to be somewhat drugged signing out!

Maria Sue Chunxi Chapman

2008-05-27T22:49:00.002-03:00

I have been thinking about the Chapman family ever since this tragedy hit their family last week. I was with Matthew in Halifax when Mike called me. I was overwhelmed with emotion. I can't even tell you why. Of course I thought of our Emily and all the other beautiful children who came home with us from China. I thought of Andrew and how his life would be forever altered if that had been him. I thought of the Chapman's and their incredible outpouring of love for the orphans of the world. I thought of their daughter Emily and of Mary Beth and how devastated they must be. As I read the account of what happened my chest tightened with each and every detail. I cried. I cried at the restaurant with Matt, I cried all the way home. I cried and cried and cried for a little girl I didn't even know. For a little girl who had such a tough start in life and it just seems so unfair to me that it should end this way. I know God didn't do this but it happened. I know that God is in control but it is at times like these that I just sigh and wonder why? The Chapman's are incredible people. They are extraordinary Christians who put up and do and do and do. They love God. I guess believing in God doesn't guarantee us a tragedy free life. It's important to realise I guess that we can't be in a place that we want the tragic things to happen to unbelievers. It isn't about the haves and the have nots. It isn't. I remember struggling to forgive someone and whining because of something good that happened to them and God rebuked me pretty hard showing me that I was jealous of his grace. I can't want to arrive safely at death but when I see something like this happen. Anyway you get my point. I still love God but this is one of those times when an answer just doesn't seem possible. I remember being in a play about John and Betty Stamm and how they were killed in China as missionaries. I asked the same why. I guess that's the thing about a relationship with God is we can ask why. I'm sure that there will be many families who will adopt now because of Maria. Certainly the $100,000 that's been raised already in her name will go to providing a child for many other families. I'm sure that good will come from this it always does but oh baby the hurt that has to happen. Pray for the Chapman's in the "successfullness" of our lives a week from now we will move on but it is then that they will need our prayers most. Little Maria how sad. No more can be said.

Environmental Portraits

2008-05-22T22:04:00.009-03:00

I'm in week number six of a ten week photography course. I'm loving it. Each week we are given an assignment to take photos. We are to take hundreds...at least I do. We then each have to bring in four that we critique. This week my assignment was to do environmental pics and the four below are the four best. An environmental photo is a pic of a person that you can tell a story about them or something about their personality or profession by the picture. The top two favorites were picture #1 and #2 but all four got good reviews! Hope you enjoy them as much as I did taking them.

Gary Carson. First Picture I took as I was setting my
light. I snapped this just as he was asking me if I wanted
to see his tattoo. I love this picture. I love Gary too. Great
subject. My teacher absolutely loved this because he said
a Jewish tattoo makes him think of the holocaust and all the
bad memories but when you glance up at his face it's a great
happy face. I agree. Ask Gary about his other tattoo on
the other side...hee hee...

Pastor Donald. Poor Pastor. This was after 400 pictures
and about 2 hours can you tell? I paid off because the
composition is good (so my teacher says) and who wouldn't
love that face. It was a toss up between Gary and Donald
as the fav's but Gary squeaked by to take the #1 spot.
Guess you need a tattoo Donald!

Son #1! Doesn't he look mean and fighter pilotish. Funny
thing though that hole beside him housed a bird and well
when it flew by my head let's just say....never mind I hate
critters especially ones whooshing by my head. Angle was good
because it made him look evil! Oh Yah!

My friend Haley....isn't she b.e.a.u tiful! It was a toss up
between her and her father but well Jerry she's prettier
than you and my instructor really liked it. I'm going to get
Andrew to do some post production on this with photoshop
and it will be even more rockin.

I hope you enjoy the pictures.

On a sad note. Pray for the Steven Curtis Chapman family. Their youngest daughter Maria was killed in a motor vehicle accident on Wednesday. Maria was the third daughter they adopted from China. She was five years old. Her brother about my Son#2's age accidentally hit her while backing down the driveway. She died on the way to the hospital. She is with the Lord now but her family and many who care about them are devastated for them. They will need our prayers. The full story and a video about Maria is on his official website but don't look if you aren't prepared to cry your eyes out. I've been crying off and on most of the day. Mama sad today signing out!

Pop Culture and the Church

2008-05-18T12:56:00.003-03:00

http://newsok.com/themes-about-faith-leap-from-big-screen/article/3244460/?tm=1210983363
Follow this link to read the newspaper article that Tim Stevens participated in discussing the use of pop culture within a church service. It is a contentious issue with many Christians and he explains a couple of movies and songs and how they used them. Mama out.

Pop Culture and Movies

2008-05-18T12:32:00.001-03:00

We went to see Prince Caspian on Friday loved it. This interview references Tim Stevens who wrote Pop Goes the Church and using pop culture in the church. It was the book I proofed before it was printed. A bit of an explanation how pop culture is used.

Has a month passed by???

2008-05-03T10:15:00.003-03:00

Is this not the greatest picture? One of my favorites from my photography course that I'm taking. So let's see what's up? I finished work and although emotional on the day I left the next week was much better. You don't realise how much your job defines you. I started working with DH (oh...this is Dear Husband not D*##@ Husband) crack me up. Well it could be the other one depending on the day but 99% of the time it's Dear. After being fired a couple of times and not leaving he gave up. I am actually really really enjoying it. I have an office at the new Re/max offices in Dartmouth and so far so good. I think I like the fact that I just have to get "my" work done and not have to think about 140 ish other people. I guess my job had more pressure than I realised at the time. You know what they say a change is as good as a rest. I'm still praying about a job opportunity I've been meeting with someone so if you could be praying God's will in this that would be awesome. I'm still going to stay working with DH part time though because it frees him up to do what he does best. He's an awesome realtor! However, I'm a bit biased. Superior Propane had a going away dinner for me which I so appreciated. It truly was lovely and I have to say no matter what , they have treated me like gold since the day I walked in the door. Some hiccups along the way but hey who doesn't. It was nice to see everyone again (well almost everyone...sniff sniff) and actually our President and my boss came as well which meant a lot to me. So here is how good God is. I wanted a GPS for my car but with the whole unemployed thing and about $5000 extra I opted not to. My team (I love them) got me a GPS for my car. Awesome one that can be removed for Geocaching....oh yah baby. The other thing that I desperately needed for the trip to Odessa was a new lens for my camera....long story but mine got broken again. It still worked but kept falling apart but again with the whole unemployed thing. The leadership team of Superior gave me A NEW LENS!! You see God looks after absolutely everything....even the seemingly unimportant. God is definitely in the details. I can't tell you enough how special this was for me as an evening and how it gave perfect closure to an incredible career with an incredible company. They are going through change now and with change comes hurt and the parting of ways and sometimes bonehead decisions however at the core of this company are solid, good good people. I love them all. It is time to move on and I left that dinner knowing yes I did the right thing. I started a camera course and love it. Imagine me sitting through a 2 1/2 hour class and being engaged and not twisting in my skin. Every week I'm there and every week you will see me somewhere snapping pictures. I wanted to learn how to use the camera before I went to Odessa. Hopefully it will improve my pics while I'm there. Son #1 had an awesome year in school....just one more mark and hopefully it's enough that he will make the Dean's list. Hey he got an A+ in Calculus!! I failed that sucker 3-4 times. I've blocked it from my memory. I'm actually here moving some of his stuff back. He does his flight test on Tuesday for his private pilots license. Pray for him all of you. I joined a gym. Ok...get back up off the floor.....I'm actually going and it's ok. I am in the ladies part which translates into a whole passel of overweight middle aged women who are nasty. I keep out of their way. It's a battle it's a battle. Son #2 is just fine still making me laugh outloud all the time. He keeps me grounded. I've started writing on my book again. Chapter two. Progress. Don't forget to check out my Children from the Heart blog....the link is in the links part of this blog. It's all good. I'm just trying to daily take the next right step. I saw the new Ironman movie loved it....loved it.....also check out the new books I've read and am reading. So there you have it...Mama in a flooded out part of NB signing out....

Reminders of China

2008-04-02T18:22:00.004-03:00

So zoom in nice and close on this. We connected this week with a family from PEI who just got back from China with their new ambino...mmmm...quail eggs and feet, oh and I'll have some beef fried veggies with my tooties. Crack me up. Who wants to eat this. I think that there are nails on the toes...gagging now. Oh I miss China! Emily has been sick sick but seems to be on the mend. I've reached a new low since I have been somewhat trapped in the house with a sick baby I'm slipping into well I don't know what. Poor Mike came home today to find me watching Oprah eating a bag of nachos in my flannel nighty. Heaven help me. I have to get out of this house. Emily is well enough I'm going out tonight even if it's only to the grocery store. Emily is getting sworn in tomorrow as a Canadian Citizen pretty exciting. Let's hope she is even better tomorrow. I'm getting too old for this stuff. Not really but it's been a long time since I hung around in my nightdress. Must be at least yesterday bwhahahahaaaaaa. Ok I am losing it hopefully the nighty for some pants and human contact. If you don't hear from me for a while for goodness sake someone come look for me. Poor Poor DH. Oh did I mention that I went away with Son #2 this past weekend and had the pleasure to overhear some seventy bordering on the high side of seventy year olds get frisky. Talk about your nightmares. First that I had to hear it with my Son! Second that I have to worry about doing THAT when I'm almost 80! Crack me up. You had to be there to appreciate it but if you see Son #2 ask him about it but don't unless you want to pee yourself laughing. Mama getting dressed....really....and going out if I can pry DH and Son #2 off the crazy Rock Band. What have we become....Mama out!

What is the Mature Church?

2008-03-28T14:15:00.004-03:00

I had the privilege to be selected to proofread a manuscript called Pop Goes The Church. The author is Tim Stevens and he wanted some people to read through it and offer comments before it was published. It is published by the way and if you want to be challenged about Pop Culture and it's use in the church definitely pick it up and read it. Just don't blame me if it totally challenges you and ticks you off. It's meant to. I also hope that if you read it it will provoke in you thought, discussion as well as action concerning how you may be perceiving today's culture and how it should be used by the church and what it can teach us about what the world is engaged in and why.
I've been reading Tim's Blog and he had this great explanation of what maturity is within the context of the church as explained by his senior Pastor Mark Beeson. I've copied it below so these are Mark Beeson's words not mine.

"Maturity = Immaturity

Three days ago Rick Warren proffered this question for me to mull over. What is the mature church?

I knew immediately how I would respond: "The 'mature church' is the church filled with immaturity."

Anywhere in the world, whether plant or animal, the clear delineation of maturity is the ability to reproduce. Immature animals can't reproduce. Immature plants can't replicate themselves. The definition of maturity is being fully ripe, fully aged, so the connotation of maturity is obvious. Where you see maturity you'll observe new life, babies and immaturity all over the place.

Maturity desires reproduction. Maturity tolerates juvenile behavior (from juveniles) while training its progeny for success in life. Maturity means little [babies] running all over the place.

If you attend a mature church, be prepared for immaturity. Where you find mature Christians you'll find little babes in Christ running all over the place. In fact, if you have been looking for a church where everyone tithes and everyone serves--you're not looking for a mature church, you are looking for a dying church - aged, impotent and bereft of spiritual newborns because everyone is mature.

Few things are more disturbing than a flock of adult believers standing around complaining that no one has come to Christ while refusing to do something that might result in new life. So when you bump into someone who acts immature at one of our services, don't complain, and don't be surprised. Instead, thank God the mature in Christ are busy delivering newborn babies to the family of God.

What do you think. Do you agree with this definition? I love it! Mama out.

Breaking through the Wall of Fear!

2008-03-18T13:52:00.002-03:00

Well my friends Friday was my last day at work. I realized much over these past couple of weeks concerning my ten years at work. When God pressed upon our hearts to shed all that was familiar in November apprehensively I said yes but whoa baby was I afraid. As my departure date loomed in January my anxiety level increased for two reasons. One I was in the middle...looking back at what was and looking ahead at what was to come. When I was asked to stay the extra 8 weeks I thought it was God's will. It definitely wasn't. The minute I said yes to staying I in essence turned back towards familiar and even though the anxiety subsided sadness replaced it because deep down I knew that wasn't the right direction for me but to turn the other way I smacked into a wall of fear. Essentially I stayed in front of that wall and stared at it. Friday I jumped through it and now I'm on the other side and oh how awesome it feels to have moved beyond that familiar place into the land of "who freakin knows" but it feels much better here than there. God is teaching me to be in the now and live each day that He gives me one day at a time and I welcome it I look forward to it. I don't know what God has in the future for us but I know whatever the mountain is He will either equip me to climb it or simply speak it to move it I'm just going to enjoy the journey. Big steps is what we are taking, big scary steps. We are about to engage on the journey of a lifetime and that is so much better for me than what I was doing before. Not that what I was doing before wasn't important because I have lifetime friendships with some incredible people but we are stepping out of our comfort zone, outside of the four walls of our church and we are going to try and make a difference in this world for Christ. Update on Mom....she is still in the hospital but should be out today. My sis is still sick so continue to pray for her and Emily is on the mend. Easter is around the corner and my family will be together again...can't wait. God is good. I'll leave today with Ephesians 2:10 "For we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do." Have a great day....Mama out!

New Blog is Up and Running

2008-03-08T22:30:00.004-04:00

My new blog for Children from the Heart is up and running. I have added the address to the Link section on the sidebar so all you have to do hopefully is click and go. If that doesn't work the address for it is http://straightfromtheheart.typepad.com/ . Most of you know this but we began a non-profit organization called Children from the Heart. God has been so incredible I wanted to be able to share with all of you the miracles that He is and will be performing. It is a forum for me to be able to discuss the orphan crisis in the world today. The blog is called Straight from the Heart because it is not only straight from our ministries heart but straight from my heart as well. Please let me know what you think of the blog by leaving a comment so I know if y'all made the shift from this blog to that blog. Not to worry though I'm keeping this one. I have goobs of people that read it now and I'd miss just yacking about motherhood. Please pray for my Mother and Sister. Both are very sick with pneumonia. Also we just found out on Friday that our Emily has pneumonia too. So add these three to you list and I'll keep you updated on how everyone is doing. All are pretty sick. Thank goodness for the folks at Seaside Community Church. They have been providing meals for my sister and Mom for the past three nights. I love you all and that's what I love about good church community. Our own StoneRidge has been incredible to us over the years and are always there when we need them. I'm done work on Friday and can't wait to see what God has in store for us! Too exciting. Remember check out the blog and pray pray pray for my sick family. Have a great night...Mama out!

Movin on

2008-03-01T15:36:00.005-04:00

As promised!
How's this for red, red, white, white...red....bwahahahaha

I found out on Friday that my last day at work will be March 14th and I am so looking forward to the next phase of what God has planned. I am taking a couple of weeks to pray about it and decide what next. We don't often get the opportunity to reinvent ourselves. I feel 18 again. Speaking of feeling younger. I've been walking around thinking I was 44 turning 45 in July and feeling bummed out. Guess what I was wrong. I'm only 43 not only do I get to reinvent myself but I feel like I added two years to my life! Talk about a dork. Son #1 comes home tomorrow. We had a flash war at the house today because he let me know he's working all next week. I wish just once he would be lazy (not really). He loves to work and well how awesome is that but I was looking forward to seeing him and finally getting that family portrait done. Mark this down...we will be getting that stupid picture done before he leaves supposing I have to drag him at 6:00 in the morning. I miss him loads. I haven't seen him in almost 8 weeks. He heard back from the Air Force and is headed to air crew selection in Toronto next week. So pray pray pray for him. He will do great and is being positive but it will be a gruelling 5 days. I am about to start another blog for Children from the Heart. I'll announce it and put the link up on this blog. It should be ready in the next couple of days. Son #2 designed it for me gotta love that kid. I just need it to be operating properly which I'm having issues with. If you look at the new Widget I added to my blog on the books I'm reading you'll see that I'm working through the book " A New Earth". It's taking some special kind of grace to read it. I want to read it though because thousands of people obviously searching for something spiritual are reading this and raving about it and I want to see where their heads are. Obviously there are goobs of people wanting to find the Life's Purpose. It's a great opportunity I think to take something big in pop culture and perhaps cross reference to being a Christ follower or better yet cross reference it to the Purpose Driven Life. Anyway it's quite something. I attached the picture above from the summer. If you have been following my blog you'll know that I've been meaning to but was always at the wrong computer. Gotta love those bellies...hee hee. Thought you would all like the laugh in the doldrums of winter...summer is around the corner. Heaven help us! Mama out.

Rock Band - Oh Yah!!!!

2008-02-22T22:05:00.005-04:00

Ok so Son#2 has been wanting the Xbox game Rock Band forever!! We have said no just because he really doesn't need something else to distract him. No. Well home he comes last week with a report card with a 95 average with humongo hard courses so since he's such a good boy why not. Now we did not buy this he has had Christmas money saved just waiting for us to cave. Well we caved today baby! If you have never played this game or seen this game what a hoot. You get a fake guitar, a microphone for karaoke, and a fake drum set and drum sticks. Oh my glory what a blast...just so you know Son #2 is the Johnny Guitar hero guy and DH is the leader gorilla man singer and yours truly is the cool chic drummer. Let's just say we just spent the last hour with DH writhing and gyrating around the rec room singing his heart out Mick Jaguar style with Son #2 rockin it out on the guitar and well Mama rolling on the drums. I can honestly say I am soaked in a sweat. Like no kidding my hair is wet and my arms are sore and my one leg found a muscle it didn't know it had and with my back being sore what in the name of goodness was I thinking. Poor Son#2 imagine him being cooped up on a Friday night with his forty something year old overweight parents transporting themselves back into the 80's. What a belly buster. I can't remember when I've laughed so hard. I feel a rock band party coming on. So if you see bizarre shadows coming from our downstairs it's just Mama's family rockin it out baby rockin it out! Update on my book - Introduction is complete. First Chapter is complete. Second chapter is half done. I have five people doing the proof reading for me initially. Once I am completed my entire thing which should be in about 6 months I would say if I keep on schedule I will be looking for more people to read through the entire thing for me so if you are interested please email me and let me know. I appreciate your continued prayers on this. Finally an update on the second adoption. My prediction is we will travel January, 2010. Just my bet right now. Oh we are trying to pick a name...here are potentials.... Ellye, Ella, Sophie, Lilly and Lucy....I'll take any ideas so feel free. Well that's it from our house tonight. Mama's rockin out for the night.

A Potty Party

2008-02-16T13:10:00.004-04:00

Big day for baby girl. She's been saying for quite some time now pee and poo poo in potty(can you believe I'm actually writing about this!). So I bought a potty, a dolly that pee's and a dolly potty. No success! We make psssssing....sounds, run water, notta nothing. Go figure I'm in the shower the other morning and put her on the toilet. When I came out of the shower she was buzzing around the bathroom and I happened to glance in the toilet...oh yah baby...big ole poopy! The house erupted in excitement. "My Daddy" had to look at it. Then Son #2 had to be ousted from bed (did I mention it was 6:45 in the morning..hee hee) to look at it. Stickers were given out and the potty party was under way. Too stinking cool considering those of you who know me I am low low stress when it comes to my kids. Son #1 had a soother until one day he handed it too me and said "I don't think I need this now". Son #2 had a baba baba until he was seven ( and 10$k in braces....mmmm...wonder why). I think my mother in law trained Son #2 and I'm sure Son #1 just decided since he was old enough that the toilet was where he was supposed to do his "business". This whole actually training the girl...well we'll see. There is something to be said for just figuring it out on your own. Low stress, low maintenance, low planning and low effort now that's parenting 40 something year old style. Mama at the potty signing out!
"

What a dayz!!!!

2008-02-08T20:51:00.000-04:00

This has been one of those days - you know the kind that you just can't believe what keeps happening. It started out like no other morning I've had in a while. I actually got up just after five and got dressed to go on the treadmill. Now I'm going to tell you and this is true true true. Whenever you decide that you will start something new, do something you have been meaning to do or just make an overall change you can be guaranteed things will go incredibly wrong. Now the only time this is an issue is when you aren't braced for it. Well, I was so braced for it because when I closed my eyes last night I knew that today would be "the day". I got up, got dressed headed downstairs flipped on the light in the rec room to have the two crazy dogs begin to bark and bark and bark and bark...so no problem, I'm ready. Simply put them out before I get on the treadmill. Not problem like I said. I start running - well who am I kidding - I start strolling along with the headphones on but I'm up and I'm moving. Apparently the dogs kept barking but well I had my ipod in praisin God on my morning stroll but my DH had my back and he got up and let the dogs back in. He even managed to get in the room without giving me a heart attack as I saw him coming. I was roasting because the new heating system works great and I was even able to get the window opened by DH before he left. My next goal was to work on my Beth Moore study. Which was incredible, a glorious half hour of studying the Word and doing soul searching and understanding my faith. I decided that afterwards I should go take my shower. When I went upstairs DH wasn't there. Oh well , he must have gone down to run too. I showered, got the baby up, bathed and dressed. I was having a great morning. I went downstairs and by now it was 8:00, I wasn't working today. It was odd that DH wasn't back. I went downstairs but no DH and he obviously hadn't been on the treadmill, I went upstairs but he wasn't there either. I then proceeded to spend the next 5-10 minutes trying to find my DH. I jokingly thought crap maybe the rapture happened and I'm still here? So after I couldn't find him, I woke Son #2 up to tell him that DH was missing. He found him IN BED!! In bed. He never sleeps past 6:00 ever. Well turns out the mini Pepsi's he's been hoing into just before bedtime kept him up all night. This was the start of it. Now we're late and Son #2 informs me that he must be in school before a certain time or the teacher will have a bit of a fit. He's stressed so now I'm starting to get stressed and DH is out of sorts. We head to the vehicles, DH carrying the baby but I forgot my purse. I go back in the house only to hear the loud scream of the baby I look up and DH is standing in front of me snow all over him and snow all over the baby...the baby is screaming and they are darting looks at me as if it is my fault and well both DH and baby apparently did a half gainer in the driveway on the ice. Everybody is ok now except Son #2 who isn't necessarily concerned that his family may have broken something but he is more concerned to not be late. Now you know when you're late it is inevitable that you will get behind someone doing the speed limit but it seems like a crawl. I am one huge ball of stress by the time I arrive and drop Son#2 to run into the school. I need a coffee but I'm going to Starbucks so I pass on Tim's. You see the other thing I'm bound and determined to do is write for a couple of hours on my book today. So off I go to Starbucks oops I need money and must go to the bank machine...temporarily out of order.... well who needs the bank machine to be in order that would be easy. Luckily I have $5 that will get me a small something at Starbucks and I stress small. By the time I get there my table is gone..you know the only table that has a plug beside it but well two ladies were sitting at it and their cups are empty...sweet. I know the drill - get the coffee ,sit beside them and sort of make them uncomfortable until they leave. Just sit really close. I open my computer to work off of the battery and well of course it won't boot up it needs power. I'll wait. I can read my book. I have a granola bar...I'm good....I'm at Starbucks, I'm going to write ,I have a coffee it's all good. Forty five minutes later, I freezing because apparently Starbucks can't afford heat and they are still talking....what is their problem? I decide maybe if I get up and call Mike and walk to the garbage can in front of them they will catch the vibe. That was when IT happened. IT is that I looked down to the floor for something and my breath caught in my throat. As I looked at the floor what I saw facing back up at me..two different shoes! Here I was in the middle of Starbucks with two different shoes on! Two different shoes on! Not just two black shoes but two completely different, completely different colored shoes on. One black and one light brown. Did you ever have a nightmare that you went out in public with just your bra on or in your underwear. Well now I know what that feels like. If I had been standing there with my underwear on my head I wouldn't have felt less conspicuous. What an idiot how do you leave the house with two different shoes on and no on notice? Me not notice? I'm sure that I gave many a chuckle this morning as I walked around like a knob who couldn't dress herself. This was not going to stop me though. I'll just write at home. I walk to the car like..."yah whatever, I know I meant to put these shoes on" get over it. I went home. But I am not defeated. I spent the next two hours writing. Ha, take that! I will perservere. The rest of the day was great I spent it at the Christian Academy. I needed to go to Vogue to buy me some new glasses. After I was "handled" by the lady there with my eye measurements she apologizes for the cold she feels like she is getting....AAAAAACHOOOOOO....her not me. Great just what I need a rotten cold and it's too late she's already touched me and everything I've handled. Oh well I have Purell in the car. I leave the store immediately to disinfect. I met DH who dropped off Son #2 to B-ball practice. We went out for supper with the baby girl and all was good. As we drive away from the restaurant...baby girl begins to make noises like I haven't heard before... arrrrrhhhhhhhggggg.... ahahahahahahahahhhaaaaaa.....arrrrgggggg....strain grunt. Sniff, sniff...mmmm...smells like poo. We were going to Chapters anyway and by the time we are in the door she smells like an open sewer. Now any other day it would be normal but when I took that stinky baby into the washroom and took off her diaper well I can't imagine a baby passing that! I kid you not it was the exact size of a fastball. I'm not sure how it came our perfectly round like that and I couldn't imagine an adult pooing that let alone a sweet little China doll. It was so big that well I thought I shouldn't put it in the garbage because it was obviously a weeks worth of poo and it stunk like crazy...I should flush it down the toilet. I carry it the few feet to the toilet and proceed to drop the stupid thing not in the toilet but it bounced all over the toilet and just kind of stuck there to the toilet seat. I know, I know it's grouse but mercy enough already. I take the diaper and put it in the toilet. Now if you can imagine the baby laying legs straight up in the air crap on her butt....me trying to wipe crap off of the toilet only to have it smear from one end of it to the other, crap on the baby, crap on the change table, crap on the toilet, crap on my hands. Oh yah like I said enough. I clean it all up and her up and me up and sanitize myself and her again. I just want to read a book but now we have to go because I've spent our Chapters time in the toilet with Emily. She did have time to grab an Elmo book that costs a small fortune and decides that it must go home with her and as we remove it from her hands....mine mine.....mine... we head for the door. DH goes ahead and well I am a very well kept woman and I think he has gone to put baby girl in the car and pick me up because it's cold and all. I look up and there he is again with the baby? I proceed to get snotty and say why couldn't you just pick me up...it's cold...blah blah....blah...once he could get a word in well...apparently I had the keys to the van...open mouth...insert foot. So I'm home now. For the record I have rewritten this five times not because I want to get it right but because the internet keeps crashing and I have lost my connection about 17 times now. I sat down at 9:00 and now it's 11:00. I'm going to bed thank goodness. The day is over and well it was one of those dayzzzz....but I exercised, drank water and wrote just like I said I would...I was determined and like all new plans if they go wrong we fall into writing oh whoa but not today, I won the day even with all the oppostion. I must be onto something important because why else would all of this get thrown at me today so I wouldn't do what I said I would, but I won baby I won....today :0)...Mama victorious signing out!

So Many Firsts

2008-01-27T00:08:00.000-04:00

Bought a new car for the first time

Celebrated Gotcha Day Anniversay For the First Time

Celebrated Christmas as a family of five For the First Time

I can't believe it's been so long since I've posted but then I can't believe how things have changed since I've posted. God is good people God is good. The last time I wrote I was just heading back to work. I have loads to catch you up on and this is a post about "for the first time" or FTFT. Emily started at her babysitters "for the first time" and loves it. It has been a blessing to have her in such a loving home. What a difference it makes to not have to be concerned about her. One of my worries about going back to work was that I would be caught up in the "land of familiar" and when the time came to leave and pursue Children from the Heart vigorously well I wouldn't be able to leave. God worked that all out for me. My job that I had when I left changed considerably with much much travel and hours of work. I was given the option to work on a project for a year or to leave and well after much prayer God made it very clear I was to leave so well soon I'll be unemployed (FTFT). Now you would think that would stress me but it doesn't. God has had his hand on our family for quite some time now and we have diligently been trying to walk with Him not before or behind. It is the scariest place to be and the most wonderful place to be. So I'm out of the boat again and in the water but it was so clear that God wants me away and clear from anything that is familiar and comfortable for me. I no longer play in Arise...the Christian band I have been playing in. Again, God asked for this and I spend months saying no. I figure well if he can sacrifice His Son for me I can sacrifice this great love that I have of music. So there you have it as of now I have no band, soon no job but it's the happiest I've been in ages. How crazy is that! Emily dressed up as a bumble bee for Halloween (FTFT) I don't think she was too too keen on it!We celebrated Emily's 1st 2nd birthday home (FTFT). She was so so cute. We had Christmas (FTFT) with Emily and we travelled to Sugarloaf with two other families. Great ski vacation. Emily wasn't too keen on the daycare with little Felix, and Hans and Frans in their unitards and baby Ugs. No skiing for Emily this year but she will next year. Can't wait. We celebrated New Years. Well we didn't actually celebrate. Emily barfed we gagged and cleaned and we fell asleep at 10:30...hee hee but it was good. Son #1 bought a new car (FTFT) and finished his first semester at university. Son #2 is hanging in there with his basketball. We celebrated Emily's Gotcha Day (FTFT) and tomorrow will be the anniversary of her arrival in Canada (FTFT). I am at times overwhelmed at God's hand on our lives. There are days that I am overwhelmed at the happiness that I feel. In good times and in bad as long as I remember He is in control it's all good! Well it's been a long time since I have posted so hopefully I'll get back to a routine. I checked my post last year on January 1st and the good news is that I finished my 15 week Bible study as research for my book and I have completed the introduction and the 1st chapter. We have formed our charity...Children from the Heart and we will have our board meeting (FTFT) next week. DH is away this weekend with Son#1 flying (FTFT) with him and skiing for the weekend. It's great for them to spend time together. That's all for now it's late and I need my beauty rest...lots and lots. Mama writing on and going to bed!

Thanksgiving in the Wide Wide Open

2007-10-20T22:19:00.000-03:00

A few years ago we packed up and went camping for Thanksgiving. We went with some friends and cooked our turkey over an open fire. It was one of my most memorable Thanksgivings. So why not repeat it I say! We packed up the trailer and met the Schmu's and Clatt's at our second home in Ingonish. Friday was a beautiful day. The last time we went for Thanksgiving there were four trailers in the whole place...not this time. Much, much more activity! The great thing about having cooked turkeys outside once you can figure out how to fix what didn't work last time. We had a better cooker and smaller turkeys. It was nice because Son #1 and Son #2 were there so we actually got to spend Emily's first Thanksgiving together as a family of five. I love camping for that holiday because it makes me so thankful for so many things. For my family, for God cause we are in the wide wide open, for friends, food, sunshine, yams, my health, did I mention yams. I'm posting some of the pics from the weekend. Hope you enjoy and don't get too hungry....Mama visiting Son#1 signing out for the night!

Yes I am alive

2007-10-04T22:26:00.000-03:00

Well it's been just about a month since my last post. What's new...well Emily started daycare a couple of days ago. She is pretty weepy...big sigh.....I hate it. The daycare is great I'm just struggling with the whole putting her in an "institutionalized" setting again. Major heartbreak. Our sitter had a baby and will Emily will eventually go there but this is to help Emily get caught up developmentally but I'm not sure if I'll make it. She's fine - I'm not.

We are moving right along with our charity. We are in need of an accountant for our board so ya'll have to be praying that God will send the right one along to us. Our name is official. Children From the Heart. We have made some incredible contacts and we are taking it one day at a time walking through one door at a time.

We had a reunion of the families who went to China together last weekend. It was great to see the girls all together again. What a blessing to see them growing and so so healthy. We've been cutting trees in our back yard. Picture my DH, a chainsaw and a rope tied to the bumper of a truck....well let's just say we could write an article now on the "Redneck Guide" to chopping down trees. What would Jeff Foxworthy say...."If you cut trees and tie them to the bumper of your truck....yyyyyoooouuuu might be a redneck"!

I'm taking an incredible bible study with Beth Moore at the church on Wednesday mornings. It's called Believing in God...pretty appropriate for what we got goin on lately. What else????Oh my Mom just celebrated her 85th birthday which was nice. Son #1 isn't dating "my girl" anymore...sniff sniff...I knew it was too good to be true. If you think about them please pray for her and for him. Breaking up isn't easy and even though they parted as friends pray that feelings and hurts would be healed. Son#1 is flying high literally. He flies three days a week and is loving life at university. He's doing well in his courses. After I got over the gasp of paying my first tuition for one of the kids I'm okey dokey now....Son #2 is doing great in school as well. We just take it one day at a time and pray pray pray them through their days. Basketball tryouts are next week. I'll let you know how that goes. I have another big prayer request. Good friends of ours just received news that their 1 year old has CF. Please pray for Ryan and for Gary and Rachel (his parents) that they can keep their eyes on God through all of this. They are an incredible couple and they will get through this but it's their first child together and well those of you with children can just imagine the heartache. It has become clear to me this week that you can have all the material possessions in the world, all the success in the world, seem to have it goin on in everything but if you don't have your health and if your kids don't have theirs well none of it matters really....you would trade it all in an instant. We are headed out for Thanksgiving in the 5th wheel....I can't wait. To be under the stars and just spending time being thankful for all that we have had the opportunity to experience this year. Family is a great thing. It makes you able to handle anything that comes your way. What else.....I am back to work November 1st....big sigh again. Don't get me wrong I am thankful for my job and I am thankful for my friends at work but well you know....big sigh. This time has gone much too quickly. Emily got to meet her aunt from Virginia today. They bought a summer home in Riverport a number of years ago and I finally was able to go there. I really enjoyed the day and Emily was very comfortable with her as well. I have to pack up the trailer tomorrow early so I'm going to sign off now. I posted my new favorite song...hope you enjoy. Mama almost on the road again...signing out.

Fall Back....I'm Back

2007-09-06T21:29:00.001-03:00

Well I've been computerless for quite some time now. I'm back from my trip to the Promise Land......Cape Breton! I spent pretty much the month of August beachin it. What a relaxing time. Hope you like my new summer song and video...this was what I listened to oh about 1700 times. I like to think that I'm the girl in the video...only a little heavier with lighter hair...minus the sofa and the guitar. Yah just like me... on the beach anyway. Em and I stayed part of it by ourselves and we've had friends come and go all summer. Son #1 is all moved into his new pad. He called me this morning to tell me he was off to his first class. School started yesterday for Son #2 all is well. I go back to work in 6-8 weeks. Can't believe how quickly the time has flown. I've added some of my favorite pics from the summer hope you like them as much as I do!! Sorry there was so many I took about 600 so it was good to just put these in. For those family members checking this from "away" it will give you an update on us.

I do have another golf picture that involves a whole bunch of guys with no shirts but I'm gonna save that one all on it's own...0h you folks in the pic be very afraid! Not much new. I've finished my bible study and have the intro and one chapter compiled for my book. Fourteen more chapters to go but I'll get there. We have four board members for our Children from the Heart Foundation and we are almost ready to go with this we need a CA though so if you know anyone please let me know. Please pray for both of those things for me. Music ministry is about to start I feel like I haven't played in ages! mmmm what else oh found another critter yesterday. Well I didn't praise God. It was cold cold cold yesterday and I wanted a fire in my fireplace so called my DH to "look after me" remember I am a well kept woman. He chopped up some kindling went to the fireplace opened the damper and got up. He walked into the laundry room. I decided I wanted to light it not being a patient one...where did he go anyway....I heard "I'M LIGHTING THE FIRE". That loud. Now I'm not used to having voices raised at me. "What"? "I'm lighting the fire". I could tell from his face he wanted me no where near the fireplace. I instantly knew..."What is in the fireplace you don't want me to see". "Never mind". Shrieking...."What is it"!!!!! "Don't worry...it's dead". Shrieking louder...."What is it". "Well".....he says....when I opened the damper something fell on my head. I almost fell on the floor at that point. "What is it"! A dead BAT....Oh mercy if I had lit that earlier like I was going to I would have first pee'd myself, only I wouldn't have realised it until after Emily woke me up from the faint to which I would have left the house forever. Bats in the Belfry...at least the stupid thing was dead. I pictured the house full of them when the fire lit. My brother asked me if I had bat houses. Now apparently we must construct condos for the fury black critters now but at least they eat bugs. Serenity now serenity now. Mama off to sleep with blankets over her head....signing out.

On the Road Again Day Six and Seven

2007-07-31T22:37:00.000-03:00

Day Six - We drove and drove and drove and did I say we drove. Emily did really well in the car but I'm sure she wishes she were home sweet home. DH and I picked up a book on the way outside of Buffalo. I spent the day reading to my sweetie. Here is some of what God is teaching us on our road trip. About dreams. God has placed in everyone a dream. Did you read that? God has placed in everyone a dream. Everyone's is different but everyone has one. You may have buried yours long ago but it's there. DH and I spent hours talking about our dreams and where we are in our lives and what's next on the horizen for us. That's what this trip was about it was about DH and I connecting our dreams and then handing them all over to God. We had intended to travel to Woodstock but there wasn't any hotel rooms available so we stayed at the Whitehouse Best Western in Bangor. It was a nice treat to stop driving at a decent hour and the room they gave us was an older room with a big old four poster bed. Just a relaxing night.

Day Seven: Up early and off to Bristol to pick up the boys. We got there about 11:30. We missed the boys. We wished they were with us at the Amusment Park but they are doing so well at camp. Both boys came running to the car to see the baby and she was ecstatic to see them. Me too. I do love my boys. Son #1 is growing so much in his faith. He has grown this summer in leaps and bounds. I can't believe it's almost over for him. I'm hoping he'll be able to spend a week in Ingonish with me. Son #2 is excited to go home but is leaning towards applying to work at camp next summer too. I would miss him but I know it would be good for him. That's a whole year away though and we'll cross that bridge when we get to it. It was nice though that the girls in the kitchen miss DH. He loved working with them at family camp and was an encouragment to them and why not he's a great guy. We took the boys out for stuffed crust pizza and Son #1 was able to take a couple of hours and go with us. Great end to a great week. We were touched this past week. We are not the same people coming back that started this road trip but that's ok. We are excited to see what God has in store for our family. All we know is that no matter what we are willing to do whatever absolutely whatever He requires of us to further His needs. That's scary to us but freeing at the same time. Please pray for us over these next weeks and months as we pray about discisions that will move us forward to fulfill God's dream for our lives. I'm off tomorrow again with the trailer. I'm not sure if I have internet access so if you don't hear from me I'm still around just riding a wave somewhere on the Atlantic Ocean and will catch you up when I get home. Or who knows maybe you'll hear from me sooner. Mama home and down for the count.

On The Road Again Day Five

2007-07-30T02:23:00.000-03:00

What a day today was. It's late now because I'm trying to catch y'all up on what we've been doing. If you haven't noticed by now...there are two more posts under this one so start on day three and read up. By now if you've read the other posts you understand why I haven't updated cause we've been flat out. If there was ever a doubt whether we should have come or not (which there wasn't) today was everything God intended it to be for us. We got to church on time....great facility. The pictures you are seeing are of the children and what I want you to realise is that these children were thrown away. Some discarded on garbage heaps. It is an incredible thing that Tim Baker and his wife Pam are doing. We are so blessed to have been included in this weekend. I couldn't possibly put everything that happened in this blog and will have to hook up in person with all of you if you want to know more just let me know but I'll give you some highlights. God is incredible....I know you know this but do you know on our way to church this morning I was putting my make up on in the car and well I was starting to look like Tammy Faye Baker with the whole mascara thing. I had a whole conversation with myself about how I need an eyelash brush and will have to buy one and see if it works. Remember this for later it is relevant. We arrived at the church and were assigned a host family who were lovely and stayed with us all day. We were prayed over. We heard Tim's story. Stephen Curtis Chapman is a good friend of Tim and Pam's and sent a video for him which was nice. Stephen's third daughter Maria was a PHF Baby. This foundation looks after special needs orphans....fixes them as Tim would say and then finds them permanent homes. Incredible family. We had breakfast....listened to Tim tell his story and the incredible things that God has done in their lives....incredible incredible things. Again too much to go into details here you'll just have to treat me to a tea some day!! We had a lovely brunch and then attended a church family picnic. It was during the picnic time that we met a family from Ohio...originally from Connecticut who are in the process of doing the exact same thing we are. We talked and talked. They have seven children 5 biological and 2 adopted, one from Siberia and one from China. He is a Pastor and they adopted but like us not through Tim but came to this function like we did just because they felt God wanted them too. Guess what... they were one of the big reasons we were to go. Incredible how similar our stories are and his dreams and visions are the exact same as mine only he was able to help me work through some big holes that I didn't know what to do. We spent over an hour talking with Tim and Pam working through our dreams and he is such a tremendous help. I wish all of you could have met him. We left there so pumped. God clearly confirmed that Children from the Heart is something He wants done. He gave us a verse in Revelations 3 "See I have set before you an open door and no one can shut it". So there you have it. We are stepping out once again in the faith that God has opened this door we will go through it no matter what because this is our heart and this is what we are prepared to offer ourselves to for God's purposes no matter what. I'm going to be looking for help to get this off the ground so if it is something of interest to you let me know and I will tell you "the plan". Please look at the faces of these children. Please pray for them that they will not have the spirit of abandonment linger with them as they grow. Pray that they will come to know the Lord at a young age. Pray for their health most of them have health needs. Also please pray for our trip home. Adoption is a wonderful thing. It is not God's plan B...it is His plan A. We are all adopted into His family and these children deserve a chance. I have also attached a group photo.....a group photo of the kids...ignore Emily's screaming in it...end of a long day for her....and a pic of Tim, Pam, Wendy and Larry (in that order left to right) the two kids are Wendy and Larry's. You think we are brave...Wendy and Larry have a thirty year old and a 27 month old. I love it. Well gang it's almost 2:00 am. I was too excited to sleep and wanted to let y'all know we are safe and sound slightly outside of Buffalo right now. Everyone but me is sleeping safe and sound and I am about to follow. Oh....the eyelash brush. When we left I got in the car and pulled a bag of chips out of my welcome bag...and out came....you guessed it....an eyelash brush. Can you imagine. I'm shedding a little tear right now because our God is so amazing that something as small as an eyelash brush was a detail that he worked out for me. Who puts eyelash brushes in welcome bags...God does! It's Mama looking fine with the new lashes somewhere near Buffalo...over and out.

On the Road Again Day Four

2007-07-30T01:46:00.001-03:00

We were up early and on the go to King's Island today. It's like Canada's Wonderland. We met the folks from the Phillip Hayden Foundation. Gas here is so cheap it cost us 48.00 dollars to fill our vehicle. That's nuts. We drove by this church it's called the Solid Rock Church. They had a statue of Jesus coming out of this lake in front of it and it was like nothing I have ever seen before. It was massive. I attached a picture from their website. We found out the church calls it the King of Kings...but the locals call it the "Touchdown Jesus"...well you look at it and you will see why. Incredible thing. So we missed the stupid exit which made us late surprise surprise. I don't know where we thought we were going....maybe Crystal Palace. We'll park...dash in. Try park half mile away.....get scanned like at the airport....wait in a big line up then try and find people when you weren't where you were supposed to be at the right time. Good news is everyone was late....kindred spirits I love it. God has blessed us in big ways and little ways on this trip. In the line to get in a man 50 people ahead of us looked at me and said would you like a coupon to get 1/2 off your tickets "does a chicken have lips"! Yes sir saved us $50.00. The coupon was good for 6 tickets so we let "our cup run over" into the families behind us and shared with them. Felt good to get it and to give it. Pay it forward baby. Emily loved the rides and I mean loved them. I attached a few photos so you could see how incredibly brave she was. We couldn't go on the rides because apparently now they have a weight and height restriction. Either I was much thinner and shorter when the boys were little cause we always went on with them but not here. Only on the merry go round and the Timmy the Airplane and I will spare you the pics of me jammed into that. She had a great day. We did miss the boys though. Crazy rides. There was one that put two guys...yes guys were the only people in the line up to pay $20.00 each to be strapped into a metal ball with a buddy....attached to a be spring type thing. It was called the slingshot for a reason. These guys shot up in the air about 450 feet with squeals of curse words a mile long mixed with peals of laughter. It was too funny to watch. You couldn't pay me a million dollars to get on it let alone convince me to give someone money to do it. We had lunch at the park and met truly amazing families and kids. It was a bit overwhelming. What beautiful beautiful children. The spirits of these families are incredible. The children just make you want to weep when you see them with their special needs and how happy they are and the miracle that adoption truly is. We left the park at three and we were so close to Cincinnati we decided to drive there...when we were there we were so close to Kentucky we decided to keep on going. You know what's coming we just kept driving. DH's brother is working in Jamestown Kentucky which is close to Tennessee and he has never met Emily and well we couldn't possibly be that close and not go see him. It's been a while and it was so nice to have a few hours with him anyway. He took us out to supper to a place called the Porch. (Oh Vic if you're reading this we left in such a rush I don't think we actually thanked you for supper....thank you thank you thank you)....we ordered deep fried dill pickles...sounds grouse but you know what I liked them. Couldn't eat anything in China but bread up a big ole pickle and I start to drool. The best part

was the Karaoke. The whole time through dinner all the older people in this very small town filed in with their Karaoke cd's in hand and one by one proceeded to sing. They actually were pretty good I thought. A few duds but for the most part I really liked it. Did I mention Emily was a brat...that's another story. We went to see DH's brothers big D A M project he is working on and DH thought he would let DHB drive. Oh baby the tears flew. She did warm up after a while but it was too bad cause she really is cute and doesn't usually chuck food, slap our faces, yell when people are trying to sing Karaoke...you know the drill. It really was great to visit. We did pay for it though. We didn't get back to Dayton until a little after 1:00 and well then Emily was toast for about an hour but at about 3:00 we dosed off until 7:00 cause we had to be at the church by 7:00...yawn....Have a look at the pics ...oh I also stuck in one of the project Big Bro is working on...pretty incredible....hope you enjoy. Mama....on the road out.

On the Road Again Day Three

2007-07-30T01:19:00.000-03:00

Happy Birthday to Me....Happy Birthday to Me.....Happy Birthday Dear Jewwwiiiiiiieeeeeee Happy Birthday to Me! We were up and on the go at 9:45 not too bad considering. Emily slept well last night because there was a crib available and no need for the pen. When we pulled out of the parking lot of the Holiday Inn Emily fell immediately asleep. Gotta love that cause it is easier on her for the travel. She has been a trouper with the drives. Pennsylvania was pretty as we drove through the little bit you see of it there were tons of vineyards. We finally hit the border of Ohio at a bit past 11:00. The food on the road is pretty grouse and we've chewed up nearly a box of Zantec well not the whole box but next to China it's the worst my stomach has felt. So we are in the car almost to Dayton and well we pass an antique mall now I told my DH you know that it is my birthday it would be nice of you to stop. "Oh I'm sorry hon did you want to stop". Ladies you know all of our husbands do it well probably 80% of them zooming by at 140 kms per hour. Hee hee two exits down there was two more bwahahahahaha.....he said "I'd love to stop". Oh my glory. This was like the silk market of antiques. DH had to make some phone calls and I went in with Emily. When Mike came in he said he expected me to be lying on the floor spinning around in circles and well I almost was. There were 800 vendors!!!!!800 cubicles!!!!!800 cubicles filled with stuff that I love!!!!! What an incredible birthday treat. Two hours later they had to kick us out because they were closing but I found myself an awesome oak dovetailed box from England and a wooden spoon. Sounds lame I know....another box Julie....but you know me and antique unique boxes. Best birthday present ever. We checked into the Hampton Inn lovely lovely room. I am so spoiled. The princess and the pea. We went to the mall and then out to O'Charley's for supper. Great bun place. We just said keep em comin...please it's my birthday and I'm eating white bread....."she's crazy"!!! Oh my glory I almost forgot when we were walking through the mall there were Aqua Massage beds. Imagine a cross between Spock's casket on Star Trek, a tanning bed and a car wash all in one. You lay down the lid closes so all that is out is your head and then well the car was starts spraying your butt, neck, legs,feet it was heavenly. I didn't care what people in the mall thought who knows me here right....wrong...Emily does and thought the big casket thing ate her mother...and went ballistic. So my relaxing water thing was me saying "it's alright baby girl...I'm ok.....and talking to her and letting her slap me in the face while the water slapped my butt. Motherhood after forty I'd recommend it to anyone....teaches you to be flexible. All and all a great birthday thanks so much for the Happy Birthdays I got on the road it meant loads to me. I put in a pic of Emily at the dive of a Motel that costs a mission dollars and one of her asking to get in the crib....I can't figure this kid out! Mama down and out in Dayton.

On the Road Again I Can't Wait to Get on the Road Again - Day One and Two

2007-07-26T23:55:00.001-03:00

Day One: We arrived safe and sound last night in Portland. We were later leaving the city because we needed to drop the trailer off to get a few things "done" to it so we were an hour or so delayed. Emily travelled really well and I found out that hey you can pee in your Crocs and it's ok! No I didn't pee myself although I might have today it was close. I took Emily to a bathroom in St. John that didn't have a change table and was a wee bit grubby so I just took her diaper off standing up. I heard "ahhhh" looked around and she was lifting one leg and then the other with puddles of pee on the floor and all over her dress. Not very lady like if you ask me. You should have seen the look on the people in the line up when I came out with a baby in nothing but a diaper. The drive was good but because of the delay we didn't land in Portland until about midnight. Now the Bangor Motor Inn is our usual haunt but well this was Portland. You guessed it. Holiday Inn...booked. Days Inn...booked. Ho Jo's....booked. Quality Inn ahhh...finally a room. I was very good and knew that God had a place picked out for us. Now the next time I'll pray for a room and a room that costs less than the Sheraton in downtown Ottawa! We were ripe for the picking....the guy watching porn on the computer when Mike walked in....well not really but almost I wouldn't have been surprised... gave him a crazy expensive price. What are you going to do when Mom, Dad and Baby standing there looking like dirt and you have the only room in town. I did manage to give him "the look" and get 10% off. I actually wouldn't have minded the price if (now those of you who have stayed at the Bangor Motor Inn will appreciate this) it didn't make the Bangor Motor Inn look like a 5 star Motel. Dump is putting it mildly but hey I'm not going to question God I'll pay my five bits and try to sleep. NOT...you see they couldn't get a crib and I had to use the playpen. Yes the dreaded playpen. This started a half hour scream fest. It was a king sized bed so we just brought her in with us which wouldn't have been so bad but someone must have been teaching her WWF wrestling cause about a half hour into the tossing and the turning it was an elbow slam to my head and a bum slam to the face and a finger up the nose...after an hour of this...yes that means it's now 1:30 I put her back in the pen. Scream fest number two. Oh and the good old barf started again. We tried to let her cry but at almost 2:oo in the morning in a motel that the walls are paper thin and a yard full of Harley's I decided to let Mike sleep and I got up with her. She ate, she drank she watched two episodes of the Cosby's and well with a dropper full of Tylenol (she has a molar coming in honest) at 4:00 we went back to bed. Finally at 5:00 she slept.
Day Two: Mikey looking me in the eye at 8:00 with Baby sleeping peacefully. God truly is amazing...honest and truly. We vowed not to complain about the room because we prayed and that is where God put us...so we sucked it up. I got three hours sleep but did the prayer that "I need to feel like I got twelve Lord" and viola felt fantastic when I woke up. We went to breakfast with the Harley dudes and dudettes. After everyone left we were there alone with an older couple. After idle chit chat it turns out that they are missionaries. He is a physician and volunteers for an organization in Guatemala to care for children who need medical attention. We had a good chat about our foundation Children from the Heart we are starting and our visit to Ohio to meet Tim and our vision for orphan care. God makes no mistakes what a great contact to make. We exchanged our email and will stay in touch. Never never never complain or question God. Everything for a reason. We drove twelve hours today. The baby did fantastic. Now she is here Body slamming DH again but he's actually enjoying it this time. Secretly we enjoyed it the last time. I decided to get an ice cap which in the USA is coffee with ice cubes....grouse but nothing two sugar packets couldn't fix. Now I don't drink coffee and you coffee drinkers need to let people know that it makes you well.....how to say this delicately....stop at every rest stop to run to the bathroom. Oh my aching backside. The sad thing was I didn't figure it out until I ordered and drank another one. It wasn't pretty. In one of the rest stops an Pakistan girl .....oh about 12 asked me if I was Chinese...Now I figured my eyes were permanently squinted after the 50th stop...and I so wanted to say yes but decided against it. Children are so cute. She then proceeded to stare and asked if my husband was Chinese...what is this the grand inquisition....no he isn't we travelled to China to adopt her. Mmmm....don't you have any real children. Yikes....real children....Poor Emily I hope that in time when she can understand what people are actually saying that maybe they will stop talking like that but I doubt it. She's as real as it gets baby. We're missing the kids today. It's different with just the three of us but we did enjoy the day. We finally arrived outside of Buffalo in the middle of a humongo lightening storm and well we got a room no problem and didn't have to sell anything to pay for it and we booked it to Denny's to cram in some breakfast food at 9:30 at night. Life is good on the road. We will arrive in Ohio....Lord willing at noon in time to shop for my birthday present. That's all from the road I am optimistic that Emily will sleep and can't wait to meet Tim and the rest of the families and see what God has planned. Keep us in your prayers and remember to keep praying for Jakie and if you see my friend Christopher tell him Happy Birthday...gotta love that guy.....if my kids are reading this we loooooooovvvvvvvvvveeeeeeeee you loads and will see you on Tuesday. Mama, Papa and Baby in the U S of A signing out.

Road Trip Day Eight and Nine ----Home At Last, Thank God Almighty I am Home At Last!!!

2007-07-09T15:29:00.000-03:00

Whaaa.....Whaa.......zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz....whaa......whaaa......whaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa ......zzzzzzzzz. I think you get my drift about baby girl over the past few days. Son #1 arrived safe and sound. We were shopping at the mall and I decided I must have a hair cut. You ladies out there reading this you know what I mean. Your fine one minute then wham the next if you don't have your hair cut within 5 minutes you'll cut it yourself. After the week I had I deserved it. Low and behold the second that the urge hit to my left was a hair place. In I went and again they just happened to have an appointment. Son #2 took the baby with the attitude and I was led to "the chair". About half way through the cut I actually took to time to lift my head and glance around and well look at the stylists (plural). Singing "on the eighth day of vacation my true love gave to me three obvious lesbians, two emo chicks and a goth lady cutting my hair!" A whole lot of pink, black and other various colored hair. Great just what I needed to end my week from H E double hockey sticks. Let's just say I was the hippest looking 42 year old in the mall. The boys just looked and God love them said..."ah it looks good Mom". Boys went to a movie and DH, Baby and I watched a movie on tv. Oh did I mention once the two other boys got there the baby went to sleep with just a wee whimper, stopped throwing her food so much and well went somewhat back to almost normal. Life just isn't fair I say. I wanted them to feel our pain but noooo not this time. The baby did wake up twice through the night and with Son #1 and I leaving early and Son #2 in the room with her all night DH took pity on him and didn't go golfing. Yes he didn't go golfing he spent the morning with baby girl. Gotta love that guy. Son #1 is all registered for university and we visited the flight school. What a great group. His instructors were young though ...... kind of like a bunch of boys playing a video game if you ask me. I pummeled them with questions and they did just fine with the answers. Son #1 can't wait and I'm really excited for him. I choose to not think about him flying...in spins and engine failures and all the other things they train him to fly out of. They said I'd be free to go up with him and well there just isn't enough happy pills in the world right now to make me do that. I get almost hysterical thinking about it. We pulled out of the campground yesterday and started for home. Praise God home never felt so good. With the exception I now decided to get insomnia. I believe God is testing me. Really and truly I am soon going to lose my sunny disposition. Just to let you know how out of it I am I went shopping for Son #2 today for his birthday. Loaded up the back of the van with his presents and headed to the Mall for one more thing. I moved all the stuff so it wouldn't get stolen and then walked in the mall with my hatchback wide open. God must have known I couldn't deal with this because I was in the mall for and hour and a half and everything was still there. Sitting in the back of my van with what might as well have been a sign that said steal me but it was all there safe and sound. What a feeling when I walked out of the Bay and saw my van hatchback open. Sinking sinking feeling. I went to buy a birthday cake and well proceeded to knock over an Off display. A gazillion little bottles sprawled everywhere. It could have been much worse and well I could have lost my testimony with the guy rolling his eyes at me like "stupid woman". How about this stupid woman clawing out your stupid eyes....just kidding...I smiled and picked it up with the help of the summer student who I am sure just merchandised the whole thing. I am on a 7 second delay so I'm not driving anymore tonight cause I nearly swiped three cars and I'm not exaggerating. It's good to be home....There's no place like home. Oh and an update on Baby girl. We walked through the door.....she ran for her toys......ran all over the house....put on her PJ's......kissed us all good night and is napping as we speak. Who'd of thunk it. We are going again in a week I'll have to load up on the happy pills this time. Anyway I'm home and boy oh boy it feels so good to be here. Mama sprawled out on the couch with the remote....signing off.

Road Trip Day Five, Six and Seven

2007-07-05T20:48:00.000-03:00

Three words....Whaaaaaa.....Whaaaaaaa......Whaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa.......get the picture. We arrived safe and sound in PEI...other than the dead crow no beg thang...but Baby Girl hates and I mean hates the play pen. I'm beginning to wonder if at the orphanage she was put in it for a time out or something because she goes ballistic just if I set it up. Day four and Day five were brutal. Monday was as bad if not worse than our first day at family camp. Finally at 12:30 I packed her and Andrew up in the truck and drove back and forth to North Rustico and not for lobster suppers. Finally she went to sleep. I parked the truck and in my haste opened the door lights blared inside and well I left the lights outside on so...ding...ding...ding...ding....panic....get everything closed...still sleeping. I gently placed her back in the hell pen as I'm affectionately referring to it by now and she was fine for about one minute. I of course in my panic not to wake her I bumped the d....a.....rrrrr....n thing and the screaming started all over again. She screamed for about 1/2 an hour and at about 2 finally went to sleep. I crashed hard. Trailers were packing up all around us the next day. We didn't have anyone near us by the next afternoon. I wish I could say she slept all night but like clockwork at first light which is 5:00 it started all over again. I just brought her to bed with me. The screaming I can take but the barfing that goes along with it is what sends me over the edge. She has learned that well if she screams loud enough she will gag and voila barf city. I do not know how single people do it. I'm not even really single cause I have Son #2 for help but whoa baby he's a good boy cause any other almost 16 year old would have run screaming long ago. I was determined to figure out the problem so I dug out the crib guard from our last trailer and jerry rigged up a bed and plunked her in it for a nap yesterday and well she only cried for about 2 minutes then went to sleep. I wasn't going to get too excited because she was exhausted from the lack of sleep. I put her in it again last night and she slept well and tonight well not so great...we're about 1/2 hour into the crying but it isn't the hard core screaming it was all the other nights. This too will pass. In spite of all the screaming we did have a good time on the Island. All Son#2 wanted to do was shop so anything he wanted I was getting him...but those of you that know him well that just isn't something he is comfortable with but I did manage to get him a few things he was just lookin for the "deal". I bought a new shaker but Son #2 said it looked like 5 boobs on a stick...once I looked at it I realized that hey it did...so we have now renamed it the (all you Christians out there plug your ears)....the tittie shaker. hee hee. Let's just say it isn't something I can even play now without busting a gut laughing...so you won't see it in church unless I can reshape it somehow. Shame cause it sounded great. We rehooked the trailer for the first time today. It actually didn't go too bad. A couple of hiccups but we figured them out. We must look like knobs with our little notebook of instructions I've scribbled down. I missed an exit and had to pull a U-turn which was interesting...and well I took a wrong exit and actually got lost. I was on a back road and well figured we'd be in Doaktown before I would find a place big enough to swing the truck and trailer around and said as much to Son #2. Voila biggest church parking lot in NB I'm sure. God in all his sovereignty placed that church there just for us about 30 years ago that's my story anyway it was cute Son #2 said "God is good Mom..." you betcha. When we arrived this man said wow...my wife would be too afraid to drive something that big...again...no she's not stupid enough to! I am getting the hang of it though and actually backed in with only two tries this time. I will however let DH drive it back on Sunday. I just want my cruise control back. We are in NB now and DH and Son #1 will join us tomorrow. It will be nice to have my boys back together even if it's only for a couple of days. Please pray for DH's dad who is back in the hospital again with fluid on his lungs. Pray for safe travels for DH and Son #1 tomorrow. All's well on the road...I hear little snores and I finally have internet access to update y'all. I'll post prom and graduation pic's when I get back on Sunday. Monday is Son#2's sweet sixteen. Hard to imagine. That's all from the park...trailer park that is....Mama out!

Road Trip Day Three and Four

2007-07-02T20:34:00.000-03:00

Well we made it to PEI safe and sound. Family camp was great but DH was "some tired". He helped out in the kitchen for the weekend. We didn't see him much but the food was yummy and he was a blessing for the girls in the kitchen. Baby girl finally settled down and slept in the pen yahoo. We thought we might have to cut the trip short but no way baby....we are on the road. It's a mother, son and daughter road trip. DH was so tired he missed the exit to Woodstock, missed the exit to turn around to make the exit to Woodstock and well then apparently a crow hit the car....now I know that seems hard to believe that he would hit a crow...no the crow hit us....do you understand the crow hit us....I took the keys and drove most of the way back to Moncton! Thunder and Lightening a go go though. We set the trailer up a bit crooked...good thing because the trailer people forgot to caulk the bathtub...we had slight water issues. Nothing too serious though. DH was up bright and early trying to find a place that sold some this morning. Let's just say I look like a camping hag and could use a shower desperately but I have my make up on baby! I'm at an Internet cafe right now. Getting many many looks about whose the lady with the rats nest on her head. For those of you who have camped with me before....just think of what I looked like in the morning and I am actually out in public like this right now...it's kind of fun. I do have my lipstick on though I'm not completely a bohemian right now. Son #2 and I drove, backed in and set up the trailer. Took 50 attempts to get the trailer perfect on the lot...my perfectionism was a pain today. We did just fine. A couple even came and told us how "brave" we were...I thanked her but said it was more like stupid than brave. We're here in PEI for a few days and we are going to do all the PEI stuff while we are here. I'm looking forward to the adventure. So far every day has been one. Well I need to leave this computer right now before someone I actually know walks into this establishment. It's Mama from the Internet cafe saying so long for now.

Road Trip Day One and Two!

2007-06-30T22:14:00.000-03:00

I headed off for a summer road trip on Friday. I guess that was yesterday. It's been the longest two days of my life next to Beijing! We bought ourselves a new trailer and I must say that I do love it. However, it didn't look as big unattached to the truck. The trailer salesman sort of spooked me about driving it because he kept emphasising the "sweeping turns Julie or the trailer will come through the back window"....no problem I said. So off we go 1:30 yesterday afternoon headed to drop Son #1 off at camp for the summer and we were booked in for a weekend of Family Camp. DH had to work for most of the day so he was meeting us in Hartland about a 5 hour trip away. We were to drop the trailer in Moncton to head back there for Sunday night. Off we go, myself and Son #2 driving the trailer and Son #1 and baby girl in another vehicle following close behind. First stop Irving Big Stop to fuel up. I had thought very long and hard about how to get through the pump without blowing up said Big Stop by shearing off the pump with the hind end of the trailer. I would be fine...NOT. When I pulled in first wide sweeping turn went fine. Heading for the pump straight in not a problem. Wait....two red neck hairy dudes in a BD Stevens truck sweep in and steel my pump. For a second I think about running over said truck however I am now blocking all the pumps and the entrance so I make a snap decision to go to the middle lane pumps. Mistake. Let's just say when I pulled the truck to the right the trailer went to the left just in time to nearly run over Son #1 as he was frantically waving me to stop. I missed it by oh about 6 inches. Now I am cross ways in the island. Remember the hairy red neck guys now in their wisdom they have moved from the pump they were in and have parked about five feet behind the trailer. As they say in Nascar officially boxing me in. It was about this time I nearly lost my testimony and dragged said hairy guys by the fur onto the pavement but I swallowed the urge and a few choice words I was trying not to think. I would back up a foot....they didn't move.....go ahead a foot....closer to the pump. Now bear in mind that we are three minutes from home. I looked in the window of the Irving and saw two horrified cashiers with their hands covering their mouths I'm sure stifling a scream and preparing to bolt as I was preparing to blow up Enfield. God is good though. A nice man was driving by saw the Kafuffle...and actually turned around at the weigh station and drove back. He approached the truck like he was approaching a pit bull...."Mam are you alright". "Oh I don't know I've jack knifed the new trailer in front of about a million people or so it felt and not exactly sure what to do. I just kept this voice in my head saying....be calm...look like you know what your doing...be confident....."No sir I am not alright". "Can I help"? Yes please. "Now I can talk you through it or I can do it....it was the quickest I handed the keys to my vehicles and well poor Son#2 was still in the van..."don't mind the nice stranger". It was about this time I realized Son #1 had been out of the van which I couldn't see and I remembered we had a baby. I instructed Son #2 to get out of the truck. The nice stranger sent by God in a nano second had everything straightened out....he even said the bad things I couldn't about the hairy ape men. I wish I could say it ended there. About this time Son #2 was yelling for the keys to the van because the baby was well sweltering in the heat. It was about this time that Son #1 through the keys up in the air and proceeded to land them on top of the trailer. Yes you read right on top of the trailer! So after the climb on top of the trailer we were on the road again but after I had a mini meltdown in the Irving parking lot. Now I was hyperspooked. I wasn't stopping again until Moncton. Four stops later after eating a three piece KFC, a Tim's, changed a poopy diaper, a bathroom stop so Son #1 could pee in a marsh...which for the record I told him it was a marsh but what do I know. Now he's driving in his bare feet, it's three hours later and we have reached the NB border Whooo hoooo. By the time we arrived in Moncton, parked the trailer and got that settled well it was 6:30! What a joke. It was so late that DH had made it to Moncton and he left Halifax at almost 5:00. Mercy. We arrived in Hartland at 10:30 yes 10:30 nine hours later, nine hours for a trip that should have lasted 5 max. At about 10:15 Emily started to barf in the back seat. By the time we arrived at camp and our van was stopped she had snuzzled up to me wiping much puke on me. We went into the cabin and washed up the baby the baby woke up and well did I mention she hates the play pen. Poor thing must have thought that we were going to leave her because by 2:00 she was still awake. After rocking, laying down, trying to put her in the bed...nothing worked but DH finally did the job. At 5:30 she awoke howling again well and in our bed she went. She went back to sleep and was rudely awaken by the drop she took from the bed when she slid between the bed and the wall to the floor....just about the time Son #1 fell out of bed with a huge thud waking Son #2 instantly up on his feet. Good Morning and welcome to family camp. That was the end of day one and the beginning of Day two. We did have a great day but well baby girl won't sleep in the pen. She finally went to sleep when we realized the camp speaker was attached somewhere in the vicinity of her window. Every fifteen minutes...."attention family camp campers"! Whaaaaa Whaaaaa.....zzzzzzzzz....."The pool is now open"......whaaa whaaa....I think you get my drift. Apparently she threw up again because when Son #1 went in to finally get her he slipped on it dragging it everywhere. Sigh....She loved the slide, I won one and Andrew won one in horse shoes, speaker is great, music is really good....fellowship is nice, desserts are great cause DH is making them....food...well I love camp food and the whole meal snack thang...I move the pen to a different quieter spot and right now baby girl is fast asleep. I pray that she stays that way until at least 7:00. That's all from the road we are back to Moncton tomorrow. I'll keep you up to date on our adventures along the way....Mama...oh mama needs sleep on the road signing out.

Up Up and Away!

2007-05-30T15:25:00.001-03:00

Well I'm finding myself just a wee bit emotional this month. Happy but bawling all the time if that makes sense. It's all Son#1's fault really. He grew up. When did that happen! How did that beautiful little boy turn into such a fine young man? How did it creep up on me so fast? This post is dedicated to my boy who no longer is a boy but an incredible young man and we are so proud of him. He's in his final stages of high school eagerly anticipating his move to camp and then school. I don't feel bad because he is excited because I remember vividly the day I moved to go to university. I was on my own. I was beginning my life seperate yet still attached to my parents. It was some of the best years of my life. I am so excited for him! The pictures you're seeing are two lasts and a first! His last band concert for Grade twelve last week. Great night. The group picture is the Grade twelve graduating band class. I am so pleased that he stuck it out in band for the time he did. I say stuck it out he really did love it and is now a great trumpet and french horn player. I'm a wee bit sad that he won't be playing at university but he'll have enough on his plate. My prayer for him now is that he uses that awesome singing voice for the Lord that was given him. I won't dwell on that cause he get's it enough from me all the time...in God's timing. I know I know. We went to the co-curricular awards night and he won AV team member of the year. Matt leads the AV team at school which doesn't seem like much but they logged over 1000 hours preparing for any special event that takes place at the school. He led the team this year as a beginning leader and his team won club of the year which is the picture with the "big" trophy. We were so proud of him and he was so proud of the AV team. Finally, the first. Son#1 went to meet his instuctors a couple of weeks ago and well they let him fly a plane. I will never forget the call I had with him after it was over! He got to take off and fly around for about a half hour. The great thing was they let him take his girlfriend and her brother with them. So nice he had others to share this time with him. So yes I'm sad. Yes I am shedding some tears. Yes I am going to miss him loads but like the song says I loaded on this blog...
"Staring at the blank page before you....He is unwritten..(well actually God has it written Son #1 just has to figure it.....Let the son illuminate you...reaching for something in the distance so close you can almost feel it....Live your life with arms wide open...today is when your book begins the rest is still unwritten...."

That's it. That's why I'm so torn. I'm staring at his blank page before him and now I'm releasing him from our care to his own with our support and love and he's holding God's hand now and I just didn't think it would be so hard to let go. I know I have to and I know I have to rejoice in the job we have done and praise and thank God for giving us such wonderful children and well he's just our first to let go. Thank goodness I began letting go about a year ago or well I would be a total basket case right now. I do also think it's a control issue...I'm a control freak...oh I know...surprise surprise...right for those who know me well know I'm a total control freak. I will be praying for him, supporting him, rejoicing with him, continuously guiding him, loving him, laughing with him, definitely visiting him and handing him over for the purpose God put him here for no matter how hard that may be I trust....I continue to trust an incredible God.

A bit of an update on the critters....I"m sorry to report that the pheasant met his maker. He was killed before DH's very eyes at the foot of our driveway....went hurling through the air. DH stopped and picked it up and it died in his arms...sniff sniff...he chucked it in the ditch at the end of our driveway. DH said it was beautiful up close and so soft...I'll take his word for it cause I'm not touching it. Son #2 said last night that tonight Dad has to go bury the chicken at the end of the driveway....too stinking funny...chicken...that boy needs to start wathing the discovery channel. Well DH hopes something dragged it off last night. New critter...we have a hummingbird that is stalking me now. Do I have a hummingbird feeder...no because I'm alergic to wasps and well they attract them. Which is another story we have a big wasp's nest on our house up high enough we don't know how to get it as both of us are afraid of heights and well wasps...so pray that someone knows and can tell us how to get rid of the stupid thing before the two people alergic in the house are stung! Back to the hummingbird it hovers outside our window in the family room and just looks at me. It's like..."what'ch you lookin at"? Beautiful bird it just needs to get a life. Well that's it teary eyed Mama signing out.

First Mother's Day, Baby Dedication, Chocolate and Taranchulas

2007-05-16T21:20:00.000-03:00

I'm back y'all. It's been a busy couple of weeks. Life really is fantastic right now. God is so good! Let's see....first Mother's Day as a family of five!! Friday night we went to Fan's with the other Mom's from China for a first Mother's Day celebration. It is awesome to see the babies grow. The kids are so great. I was up early cause we were playing at church this past weekend. When I came downstairs there was a fantastic breakfast cooked for me complete with menu's, yummy food, and awesome kids. Both wrote me awesome notes. Son #1 wrote me the most beautiful sonnet and Son#2 wrote me the most beautiful poem and baby girl was just there with her cutie patootie face. The kids got me a writing desk but really what touched me was the time they took to put what they felt for me in writing. I was truly blessed. Mother's day was also the day that we dedicated Emily at church. There was 27 babies dedicated! How incredible is that. A set of triplets, which were too cute and baby upon baby upon baby. It was special to be included in such a large group. It was a long time to be standing on stage though. It was nice to look out and see the faces of the friends, our family and the church family that has been such an incredible support for us. Family, Friends and church family who could ask for anything more! Now for some Chocolate....baby girl loves chocolate. We gave her puddin...tonight. Too funny we just put it on her tray and gave her a spoon. She loooovvvvveddd it as you can probably tell in the picture. However, let's just say she was a wee bit hyper. Now for the new critters. Now I call it a new critter even though it was an insect. Well I should say they were insects. Yes my title gives it away. We have spiders. Not little spiders but spiders that stare you down when you see them. They stare you down, circle you as if to say....oh I dare you to try and kill me! First it was the one above the front door. The one that you had to run by to get in the house. My husband came to my rescue on that one. Then there was the one that fell out of the electrical switch when I removed it. Luckily it met it's spider maker sometime last year cause it fell apart into a gazillion pieces. Then there was the one on the steps that when DH killed it you heard it's backbone snap I swear all the way upstairs! Finally, there was the one I inadvertently killed with the Costco 20lb bottle of dishwasher soap when I accidentally placed it on it's monstrous head. When I pulled out the bottle it fell to the floor. One of it's leg that I accidentally tore off was like a crab leg. It was so big it I could see the joint from the big thigh to the spindly part of the hairy leg. It was I kid you not about 3/4 of an inch long....the one leg....shiver.....Where did these things come from and how are they getting in the house. All I can say is if you don't hear from me again it's because I woke up with one on me and had a heart attack. DH says their good because they eat bugs....obviously like me these things need to go on a diet cause they's eatin too much!!I'm also losing my mind....as if you all didn't know it. My poor friend Amy and my favorite baby boy Cam were going to go swimming with us but dummy Julie...sent them to the wrong pool. Can you believe that oh yah...Amy we would love to swim with you just meet us at the Dartmouth Sportsplex...we won't be there but you haul your butt there. I felt so bad....good thing Amy's a good head cause well others would have smucked me in the head.Well American Idol's on and I must go watch. Even though Lakisha's gone...bunch of dummies. American Idol Mama signing out!

Doing and teaching

2007-04-29T14:15:00.000-03:00

I saved these two images to my computer to remind me that we are to be as Christ. Christ did and Christ taught. For those of you taking my P23 study thanks so much for the blessing it has been for me. The teaching part I have thoroughly enjoyed...This week God has been pressing upon me the doing. If you look at the young girls face above...it is an indication of the beauties that are currently waiting in China. Many wait in vain as there is just such a huge need. All too often we know or sense that we are to do something. What usually happens is that through our indecision we end up doing nothing. I made a vow this year that I would cease to do this. That in order for my life to move forward towards what God's plan for my life is it won't happen as long as I stand still. I don't think it says anything in the bible..."seek yea first the Home and Garden channel"...or "seek yea first the computer"...no God says "seek yea first the Kingdom of God". I am humbled by what God has been teaching me lately. I had the opportunity to go see the Watoto Children's Choir last Sunday. INCREDIBLE!! A group of orphans from Uganda travelling the world singing of God's incredible hand on their lives. What an incredible ministry this is in Uganda. God placed on our hearts when we were in China to begin doing something for the children waiting and left behind. The Watoto orphanage villages in Uganda are an incredible example of when Christians act as Christ acts and truly "cares for the widows and orphans". These children said that they had no hope and once they went to these villages they received the hope that only Jesus gives. God has a plan for the lives of the orphans in Uganda and I believe with all my heart that He has a plan for the children left behind in China. Mike and I have made the decision to pursue a trip to Uganda putting together a missions team to see first hand how this holistic approach to raising orphans is working. Please pray that if this is God's will that the finances and doors will open to travel and that the Lord would reveal to us the others who are to go with us. Also please pray that as I begin working on the proposal for the Chinese government that they would open their hearts to this kind of orphan village and that the children's spiritual needs will get the approval of the gov't and moral teaching would be allowed in this country. God is moving and we are attempting to do that which we believe He would have us do. I will keep you updated on our progress.

I'll move onto other things now. Emily struggled a bit with me being away. Four days was hard on her. I've noticed since I've been back when I put her to bed now she cries a bit and she is clinging. However, while I was away she did great. A good friend looked after her for to mornings - praise God for friends- and Emily did great. I had to work this week one day and spoke at a ladies conference this weekend so I am looking forward to relaxing this week. It has been a busy busy two weeks. We went swimming this week. We all ended up in the hot tub because...well...one of the kids had an "accident" in the pool. Poor Bernice one of the Mom's in our group was in the pool after it was "evacuated" and was wondering...."where have all the people gone"...when she got the news! Let's just say I'm sure her feet didn't even hit the bottom of the pool before she was out. So the whole pool was closed down...because of the "incident". Son #1 has me addicted to Vanilla Milk thingys at Starbucks...so stinking good! Can you tell I'm excited he works today so I can get one yum yum...I'm gonna miss that kid when he moves. Where has the time gone. My #1 is moving away...how did that happen. When did that happen! He such an incredible young Godly man...both my boys are. Love em love em! I have a praise item this week at the top of my list is that a dear friend of ours finally finally got the call from the RCMP (no not that call) He wants to be one not run from one...He is leaving Mother's day which is kind of crappy for his wife and cutie patootiest baby boy ever...but God has been so faithful to them and we are so proud of him and can't wait to see him in his Red Outfit...Well I guess they call it something more manly than an outfit but you know what I mean. Well that's it for now I'm going to nap while Emily is napping...yes I've been reduced to a napper but I'll take it...snore...snore....Mama out.

Ladybug sighting, Easter Girl and a bit Homesick

2007-04-18T00:45:00.000-03:00

I'm away in Calgary at the moment missing my family but thought I'd take the time away to update my blog. I love the ladybug picture of Emily and she was a princess on Easter morning. What a time to get my two big kids excited for me so I could have the "perfect" Easter morning for Emily's first Easter with us. It was a wee bit chaotic....let's just say two days after Easter I realised that she didn't open her Easter basket...now what kind of a loser is that for a mother...too funny. Let's just keep it our little secret! I have been in Calgary on business for the last few days...I know I know...it was unavoidable and God has been so good to meet me in my quiet time here. Once I got here. For those of you that know me know I hate to fly. Without my happy pills I am a bit of a basket case. Well top that off with a bit of stress from leaving. Did I mention I have an incredible husband who supports me in all I do and is an awesome Dad! Back to the flight. I'm on the plane and I had to buy business class because the plane was booked so it was nice to be in the big seat. It's funny what I think about during turbulence. What kept coming to me is "I can do all things through Christ Jesus who strengthens me" and since we're going to crash "Thank you Lord my laundry is caught up". How crazy is that since it is actually what went through my mind. Now the turbulence lasted for an hour yes an hour. It started right at the beginning of the flight and didn't stop and well my happy pills were in my purse...IN THE OVERHEAD COMPARTMENT! What was I thinking. Twenty minutes into the bumping around I could feel my face on fire...I'm sure I looked like a big red tomato. I just repeated...the LORD is my shepherd. For an hour I prayed, praised, cried, worshipped and realised that through the bumps is when our dependence on God jumps into high gear. Now the good news is I fly back tomorrow...pray for me y'all that the flight is smooth...I've had enough bumps this week now let's hope God agrees with me...Mama on the move out.

They're Back Just in Time for the Probiotic Challenge!

2007-04-07T10:53:00.000-03:00

One of the things I was so looking forward to when moving to the country was the peace and quite and living with the wildlife. That was before the wildlife took over our life. It started when we lived in Fall River and put up with the attack owl, ghostly loons, suicidal rabbits and well just stupid hosta eating deer. That was the old house. This is a new lake with new critters. There is the ancient deer path that runs across our driveway. You know, kind of like the elephants in Africa well we have a herd of deer in Oakfield. What this means is anytime day or night you may round a corner only to have four or five deer jump in front of the vehicle. I've threatened to have one of our friends bring their gun during hunting season....bwahhahahaha...kidding, kidding.....well not really. Next we contended with the nervous, insane racing pheasant. Yes every so often it runs in front of the vehicles straight down the middle of the driveway at about 40 km's per hour every two seconds turning and looking over it's shoulder with a look of sheer terror in its eyes....just get off the road...crazy bird! Squirrels love to torture our dogs dropping nuts on their heads and well the loons are back. The Canada geese arrived last week....honk...honk...honk.....all hours of the night only! Good thing they are protected like the attack owl was or there would be a few less Canada Geese flying south in the fall. We have a colony of bats that live in our back yard that comes out at dusk. Sort of like Transylvania out back. They love to eat bugs so I'll put up with them as long as they keep eating bugs. However, nothing is as bad as well I'm not really sure what they are. I say they because there are many many many of "them". At about 12:00-1:00 in the morning what seems like hundreds of well let's call them jungle birds perch in the trees outside out window and well make jungle bird sounds most of the night. Now we have gotten used to them but I've also gotten accustomed to the quiet of the winter night. Well spring is here and well the critters have returned. Nearly hit four deer leaving the driveway, the loons are apparently mating, the geese well I'm not sure what they're doing maybe rebuking the loons for mating....who knows but they aren't doing it quietly and well the jungle things are back.....mmmmm....country living. Now that my sleep is disrupted by the critters I can sort of live with this however what is really killing me is probiotics. What is it you say....I wish I had known about a week ago. Son #1 asked me to take the probiotic challenge. It's a certain bacteria that is added to yogurt that is really really good for your bowels. My bowels were just fine thank you! That should have been my first clue! Just eat this yogurt for 14 days and your better than new....right? Maybe? Two days into this I asked Son#1 to look and see what it does to a person. Well warning probiotics may cause bloating and diarrhea. I can confirm that you can change the may to will!! I'm sure my bowels will be fine as will the rest of my family because well you fill in the rest. Mama bloated, sleepless and well belly grumbling signing out.

Thank You For Being a Friend!

2007-03-24T20:21:00.000-03:00

Lola Wan is one of Emily's sisters from China. She is the youngest of the group. How is this for the cutest pic. She's smiling at Son #2 who has a way with the ladies apparently. I Emily and Lola had a hoot playing together. It was so nice to see her smiley face. I took this picture while they were both standing by the fireplace...don't yah just love it! One of my favorite pics.

What a week! It was go go go. Emily tried new things, met new friends and saw some familiar faces this week. We brought Campbell ( Emily's boyfriend) home a little Chinese outfit. How cute does he look. It was too funny because both of them were like greased pigs...slip slidding away. The only way that we could get Cam to remotely want to put up with us girls was to feed him Teddy Grahams. Emily never had those before. Bears with sugar yah..guess who loved them. Now that I think about it I loved them too. We went swimming and Emily loved it. Now I did take my boys swimming years and years ago but my how things change. Like the changing room. I went into the changing room late (I know....don't ask) it was a little further than I thought. I rush into the change room a bit frazzled, you see because I am a well kept woman and usually have three men in tow to open doors, carry bags, well just do what I need done. Mama was on her own. Bags and baby hanging off of me and in the family changing room I go. I quickly find my friends from China who are way more on the ball than I am. They have water diapers...what the heck are they? I will be getting some for this week. They are in their suits and babies ready to swim. Now luckily I had our suits on under our clothes and you will better understand why in a minute. I put Emily on the floor which by the way is wet and there is no where to sit her so on the knap sack she goes. I take off my pants just in time for the guy to walk by.....yes GUY! Since when do the guys and girls change together...I guess that's what family changing room means. Well thank goodness I had my suit on because I would have so dropped my pants with men in the room. Mercy what next. So we make it to the pool and it really was lovely. The water was warm, the company was great and Emily did love it. She chattered her teeth a fair bit but for the most part she loved it. Now getting dressed again was another story. I had the brainwave..."ok Julie dress the baby first". Right - Wrong! Now she's dressed I'm soaked the floor is soaked. Oh and I forgot to mention that the shower was like little needles she didn't like it much and in order to wash her off I had to let the shower hit me...so I was pretty much drenched...hair and all. Did I mention I didn't bring a coat either. Man what a laugh. I had to laugh because I'm soaking wet...trying to get undressed hoping the door won't open or a guy walk in...babies on the floor in the tiny change room...and I get a hot flash. Where are my men to pick up my bags, pick up the baby, open the door...ooops forgot I'm alone. My pants were falling down cause I forgot to tie them, I'm wearing a 2xl sweatshirt of my DH's ...hair wet and flat to my head...knapsack on one aim, swimming bag on the other, baby in front...and me walking with my legs two feet apart so my stupid pants won't fall down around my ankles...all this and steam rising from me as I walking to the van without a coat. Let's just say the Tim's I had later tasted really really good. I so suck on my own. God knows that and that's why he put me with such attentive guys. I have to do laundry next week. Yes I say week because I'm behind a week in it. Does the term mountain of laundry mean anything! Not complaining though I actually don't mind doing it. Oh the pants falling down thing....I went back to Weight Watchers. I gave a big story about the binge and how I wasn't ever coming back and that I probably gained yatta yatta...stepped on the scale and lost 2.8lbs...how incredible is that. That is a miracle! My brother and sister-law hit their goal weight this week...not with WW but another place. He lost 100.5lbs and she lost 52ish lbs. I'm so proud of them both. Son#1's birthday is next week and he'll be 18. I truly is hard to believe that 18 years have passed us by. I'm so proud of him. He just received his official acceptance to school and it's official at the end of June he's on his own. I'm surely going to miss him tons but God has great things planned for him I'm sure so I will release him gladly into God's hands. We had our first playgroup on Thursday which was nice to see the babies playing together. I took pictures but don't have them uploaded in time for this post. Emers had her first night terrors last week. I think it was because she missed a few naps. She loves her sleep and catching a catnap here and there doesn't work too well for her. She went ballistic. I tried calming her for at least 2 minutes. She was hysterical. I finally had to sit her on the change table and take her little face in my hands and tell her "it's ok baby girl ,you're here, you're home". That calmed her enough to at least let me console her. On a final note I sent an email out to everyone I had on my address book regarding a research project I'm doing for a book I'm writing. If you didn't receive a copy of the request and explanation make sure you put your email address in the comments and I'll send it along to you. I'm very excited about it. I've had a goob of people sign up to help. More than I thought would. My hope is to have people young, old, male, female from different parts of the world and backgrounds to participate. Please if your able I promise it will be a blessing. I think that's it for this weeks wrap up. Sorry for the delay in posting I was on the move but this coming week should be better. Oh, I have the Global stuff and our China video that I will be posting on Emily's website this week. I will let y'all know when it's done. Have a great night. Mama out.