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

From one pill to another

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'

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

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

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

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

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

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???

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

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?

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!

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

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

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!!!!

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

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!!!!

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

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

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!