Four Things

B'cos I'm bored (altho' my head really feels like it wants to lay down) I'll do this, but I'm changing it up a bit!

Four jobs I've had:
-McDonald's (for 4 years)
-Humane Society
-coffee shop server
-worked in a brewery in Ontario (by far the BEST job I've ever had)

Four places I've lived:
-Hornby Island, BC
-Peterborough, Ont.
-Les Cedres, QC.
-Regina, Sk. (and of course PA)

Four TV shows I love:
-Scrubs
-Survivor
-CSI (the original)
-Criminal Minds

Four places I've visited (been):
-Bolivia
-Florida (layover on the way to Bolivia)
-California
-Chicago (2 week bus ride down there)

Four of my favourite dishes:
-lasagna (with spinach & meat)
-chicken cordon bleu with wild rice
-good ol' Kraft Dinner always satisfies!
-a big juicy, cheesy burger with bacon

Four sites I visit daily:
-Vandermeander
-Randall Friesen
-Dooce
-Chez Gavin

Four places I'd rather be right now:
-Hornby Island
-in bed
-East Coast of Canada
-somewhere warm, not hot, not cold, but warm...

This morning at Mom's we didn't watch '10 Questions we ask about Sex'. We watched another Marriage Uncesored video about being a 'pain' to live with and how we can lighten up our home lives. It was alright, but honestly, I was looking forward to learning about sex.
Next week there will be a panel of 6 people giving book reports on books relating to sex/marriage/relationships. Could be interesting. See you next week!

Nothing

The day started out pretty well. For once I wasn't the first one out of bed. Trust me, those 5 extra minutes were totally worth it!! Breakfast was good, we got all dressed up to take Gus out to the Little Red for a walk. When we got out there the sun was still coming up over the trees, the snow was sparkling and the air was fresh. It was a nice moment. Then Callah fell out of the sled and scraped her chin (on what???) and Matthias' feet started getting cold. By the time we reached the van again, both were crying, Matthias was curled up in the fetal position. I was left wondering what had happened to the beautiful morning that was greeting us not that long ago. Never fear tho', nothing a Pepsi slurpee couldn't fix.
The afternoon was lazy which was nice, the evening was spent with Great Grandma eating her favourite KFC.
And tonite, I just have this feeling that something is lacking. Like I felt when I was 16 and wondering what life had in store. If I would ever get over this feeling of ... of... nothing. So right now I'm just sitting here at the computer listening to my music and feeling this nothing. I wouldn't say it's something bad. It could be thought of as peaceful. It's just nothing. Do you ever feel like that? I'm sure it'll go away. Tomorrow is a new day, with new opportunities and new ways to grow, new chances to enhance the life I lead. I just hope I'm up to the challenge and accept them.

I love being a Mom

There's times when I really love being a Mom, and one of those times was this morning at Moms. This morning we had an "Ask a Mom/Woman" segment. It was alot of fun, there were some really good serious questions and some funny lighthearted questions. Alot of information was shared and ladies really opened up. Made me really glad to be apart of something like this.

And don't forget! Next week we watch a video on S-E-X!!

Another thing happened today that made me glad I was a mom. My daughter, bless her little heart, got into our butter dish. Not just once, but twice! The second time she had this soft, melting butter all over her hair and face, down the front of her shirt, in her hands and on the back of the chair. What made me glad I was a mom, was that I was busy making supper when she did this, so her father had to clean her up!

What was that?

As I was sitting downstairs doing my blogging rounds, I suddenly hear a scream, "MOM!!!" So I bolt upstairs to my room where my son is suppossed to be sleeping and he's crying and sobs out a "there's a bead stuck in my nose." No problem, I quickly push it out and calm his shaking little body. "Don't ever put anything up your nose. Never. Okay?"
"Okay" came his timid reply.
"Okay, now go to sleep."

If only all problems could be solved that easily.

Amazing

I know I've been missing for quite some time. Last week I watched an amazing show that I wanted to write about, but then I got sick, and so I'm finally getting better and here I am! If you haven't seen March of the Penguins, see it! It's amazing what these little guys (and gals ) go thru to mate. The whole movie I kept saying "amazing", b'cos it actually really was! It made me laugh out loud, it made me cry, it totally moved me. Clearly one of the best films I've seen all year. I cannot rave about it enough. See it, if you haven't already. What's funny too is that penguin sex has been a topic I've been hearing alot of lately. I first heard it last summer when Steve and I were reading a book called Blue Like Jazz. One of the chapters was all about penguin sex. Then a friend of mine wrote about it on his blog (but I can't find it now) and then this movie came out. It's all very interesting.

Anyway that's my opinion. Now this is what parenting is all about! If only it was that simple! One of the Mom's from MMO (Bonnie Malenfant) is going in tomorrow to have her twins. She has a 2 yr. (almost 3) old boy now. Pray for her. I think she's going to need it!

Otherwise this past Mom's was suppossed to be with a guest pharmacist. I hope you asked her lot's of questions. This week should be alot of fun. It's Ask A Mom/Woman. So bring lots of questions that only a Mom would dare ask and hopefully (which I'm sure there will be) another Mom will have gone thru the same thing and be able to offer up some words of advice. Like this for instance taken from a friends blog. Thanks Dixie!

Well I hope you all have a great weekend! Stay warm out there!

Marriage

Steve is upstairs watching Hockey Night In Canada, and I just don't feel like hockey tonite, so I'm doing my "blogging" rounds and I came across this post courtesy of Toni.

What is it about making promises?

I've just heard from a Christian guy I know through a forum that his wife wants to try a separation. While there are reasons for this that are obviously complex, all the evidence I have is that he both was and is determined to be good for her and still loves her very much.

Don't people make promises when they get married these days? Like "in sickness and in health, 'till death us do part'" or similar.

Or maybe there are new vows that can be taken, along the lines of "as long as your bank balance holds out" or "as long as your skin is smooth and your breasts firm".

It seems weird to me that you can promise one thing, but as soon as there's an issue then it's OK to renege. After more than 24 years of being married, I KNOW there are times when you'll drive each other nuts, but what were your promises worth if they can't keep you together through that. I'm not talking about domestic violence or infidelity here, but the sort of strain that is normal at times in any marriage. How is it that promises have so little value - or we walk with so little integrity - now?

I'm not sniping at anyone in particular in this. I know BOTH sides of a marriage have to want it to work before it can. I just don't get why they won't. Let me say that I do honour and respect those that DO stay together through their differences and difficulties.

When you wake up in the morning...

...and your pants are overflowin'.
Diarrhea .
*toot toot*
Diarrhea.

Callah has had diarrhea since yesterday about 3:30 pm. It's not pretty. We went for supper at a friends house and both our kids wound up pooping in their pants. Callah through her pants and Matthias in his pants.

What a night!

pasta cheese sauce, ice cream and peppers

I was so right the other day when I said I was a freakazoid. This morning at Moms I gave my Thought For The Day (which my secret goal is to place on here every Tuesday) and I literally freaked out. I was so nervous. I think I popped a vein. I started out holding my paper, but I couldn't read it I was shaking so bad. So then I placed it on the stand and shoved my hands in my pockets, to which my foot automatically started twitching for dear life. Like it honestly tried to disengage itself from the rest of my body! That was the longest 5 minutes of my life!!

Anyway, here it is:

The holidays are finally over. How was everyone's holiday? I hope good. If they were anything like mine, you need another "holiday" to get over the last holiday. It seems like I had family for like 3 weeks straight. Not always good and fun times, some tense and sickly (literally, my sister came up for New Years and was sick the whole 4 days she was here) but overall they were good.

There were the priceless "mastercard" moments like when my son Matthias opened a present that was a horse trailer pulled by a tonka truck (horse included) and the delighted little voice "Oh my goodness!! I loooove it!"

There was also the sickly sweetness of chocolate EVERYTHING in our house. My daughter knows exactly where we hide it and she'll go over to the cupboard, jump up and down and point. Like she needs more sugar.

But there's also that tenseness that seems to come from couples spending too much "holiday" time together. Know what I mean or am I completely alone here? It's like spending a week together reminds you of every little pet peeve that annoyed you when you first got married. The way he always leaves the seat up. The way he lounges on the couch, drinking beer and watching hockey while you do dishes, bath the kids, and pick up the toys. There's got to be a way that couples can have a week of holiday together and not want to suffocate their partner with a pillow half way thru.

the bible says in Colossians "12Therefore, as God's chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. 13Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you." (Colossians 3:12-13)

"Clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience..." I know that's tough. I struggle with that all the time. Just last week my husband and I were suppossed to go on a date night and the night before he says to me "we can't go out tomorrow. I just remembered Canada is in the semi-final playing Finland."(World Cup of Hockey) I could have easily slaughtered him right then and there. Instead, I clenched my jaw, and went to bed. Later when he came in, I faked sleep as he tried to cuddle. Like you ladies have never done that??

The next day we were at each other like cats and dogs. Until we agreed to give each other an hour of time away. He went and played hockey. I went for coffee with a good book. That time away can be so refreshing. Even if it's only an hour or half an hour. During those stressful "holiday" times we can't forget to take care of ourselves and in turn care about those around us.

Compassion, kindness, gentleness and patience. We can do these things. It just takes practice, time and a little help from God.

So there you have it. Next week a pharmacist from Victoria Square pharmacy will be on hand to answer any and all questions you may have. As for today's title, tonite we had pasta with cheese and green pepper sauce. My daughter, being the ever graceful eater that she is, lost half of it in her bib. Later, when we were having ice cream and brownie, she creatively brought forth the noodles and cheese, mixed them all together and ate it! Look out Martha Stewart!!

A Lesson In Color

"Mommy, what color is this?" asked Matthias, as he points to his horse.
"Brown." I say
"Oh." he says. "Like poop."
"Yeah," I laugh. "Like poop."

Don't forget, if you live in the Prince Albert area, the first Mom's Morning Out is tomorrow morning!!

Freakazoid

Last night as I was laying in bed I remembered that I had "voluntold" myself for the Thought For The Day at Mom's next week. The first one of the year! What was I thinking???? ARGH!!!!! Just thinking about it gave me butterflies in the pit of my stomache and sweaty palms. I can't do this. I can't be a leader infront of a crowd. This goes way beyond doing a simple TFTD.

Sigh....
It's going to be a long year.

Hockey Sucks

Looks like we're putting that date night on hold. Apparently Team Canada plays in the semi-final tonite of the IIHF World Cup.

How come I didn't know?

One Day Left

All our family has gone. We now have one day left of holiday alone, together. So where is my husband? Why he's out playing hockey, then he's going over to a friends house to play poker! Of course! One day left....

Well my folks and sister came up for New Years. Unfortunately my sister came down with the flu the night she got here and it's just clearing up now, in time for her to go home. My parent's stayed with my Grandma so I didn't see them a whole lot, we did manage to get in a nice walk with the dog this morning. Steve's brother, wife and 7 yr. kid came up too. I have a problem with him, the brother. So there were a few tense moments, but I didn't spend alot of time with him, even tho' he stayed here in our house. The magic of that makes this New Year seem good already.

Tomorrow we'll take a few moments to relax and treat ourselves to a night out. Alone. No kids. That should be good, and I'm looking forward to it. I can't think of a better way to start off a new year. The kids will be back to normal nap hours and bed time hours now. Maybe then we'll have some peace in our home. That and the lack of chocolate in their systems. Tomorrow we're taking down the ailing tree. I can't wait to get rid of all those pine needles. The tree stopped drinking water almost 2 weeks ago. It's hurting. It's time is done. We'll miss it. But then Matthias can open up his final present. The big one we've been hiding downstairs. It can take up residence where the tree is now. I hope he likes it.

I'll keep you posted.

She's Alive!

This morning Callah came up to me with a new sweater she wanted me to put on her. So I did. Then we went into the livingroom where Matthias was playing.
"Hooray! Hooray! She's alive! She's alive!" he said.
I thought to myself, of course she's alive, I just put on a sweater for pete's sake.
Then he tried to run her over with a doll stroller.

The Best Christmas Gift

The best Christmas gift I received this year was having my son toilet trained. Finally it just kicked in!!!

Merry Christmas

I know it's still a couple of days away, but for us, it starts today. The mother-in-law is coming today and she's staying overnight. Which should be ...well....all sorts of things, but I'm trying to be nice here, so I won't say anything bad...good(?). She's leaving tomorrow, then we leave to go to my parent's home down in Regina. I know what you're thinking. Steve thinks the same about his in-laws. No, not really. I honestly believe that he gets along with everyone in my family. He has had a few tiffs with my Mom, but they've talked about it and worked it out. His family on the other hand...well, I don't want to get into it right now. Happy remember? So we'll go to Regina for a few days and then come home, carrying all our goodies that we've collected. 2 days break then it's the New Year! More food and drink. Thank goodness I got that gym membership!

So as I pause and think about the anger and impatience I felt yesterday, while out doing some last minute Christmas shopping, I think of all of you and pray that you will not honk at too many cars as they cut you off for that parking spot you've been waiting for for 15 minutes. Or you will not loose patience with your kids as they knock off another whole bucketfull of pine needles from your Christmas tree. And you will not flip out at the person in the checkout line in front of you who can't decide whether or not to buy the blue or green fuzzy knit sweater. I pray that you will remember what Christmas is all about. The birth of Christ. Hope you have a blessed Christmas with loved ones. Stay safe and happy this holiday season!

Merry Christmas!!

Something Fun

Okay I admit it, I'm a complete sucker for these things. This is one of those add a #, subtract a # and it gives you a really cool # that has to do with your life. Anyway, follow the steps one at a time. No cheating by jumping ahead!

1. First of all, pick the number of times a week that you
would like to have chocolate
(more than once but less than 10)

2. Multiply this number by 2 (just to be bold)

3. Add 5

4. Multiply it by 50 -- I'll wait while you get the
calculator

5. If you have already had your birthday this year 
add 1755 ....If you haven't, add 1754.

6. Now subtract the four digit year that you were born.



You should have a three digit number
The first digit of this was your original number
(i.e., how many times you want to have chocolate each week).
The next two numbers are YOUR AGE! (Oh YES, it is!!!!!)

a story or two

Tomorrow there is no Mom's Morning Out. It seems like it's the first time in a long time, that I haven't gone. In a way I'm glad. I just keep thinking about all the people I forgot to phone about possible session ideas for the Spring. Some programmer I'll turn out to be!

This evening Matthias and I were sitting on the couch. He reached over and started playing with my hair. He'd throw it in my face, and then back, then in my face and then back. He repeated this several times, each time laughing. Suddenly he got up and went over to his art drawer. He pulled out his scissors. "I'm going to cut Mommy's hair. Okay?"
"No, it is NOT okay!" I don't think his little crayola scissors could even cut hair, but I'm not going to let him try either. This is when the "do not cut your hair" lesson came into play. Somehow I doubt he'll remember this little conversation. But I hope that he does.

A friend sent me this via e-mail today. I've heard it before and thought it was kinda cool.

The University Professor challenged his students with this question: "Did God create everything that exists?"

A student bravely replied, "Yes, he did!"

"God created everything?", the Professor asked. "Yes, Sir," the student replied.

The Professor answered, "If God created everything, then God created evil. Since evil exists, and according to the principal that our works define who we are, then God is evil."

The student became quiet before such an answer. The Professor, quite pleased with himself, boasted to the students that he had proven once more that the Christian faith was a myth.

Another student raised his hand and said, "Can I ask you a question, Professor?"

"Of course," replied the Professor.

The student stood up and asked, "Professor, does cold exist?"

"What kind of question is this? Of course it exists. Have you never been cold?" The students snickered at the young man's question.

The young man replied, "In fact sir, cold does not exist. According to the law of physics, what we consider cold is in reality the absence of heat. Everybody or object is susceptible to study when it has or transmits energy, and heat is what makes a body or matter have or transmit energy. Absolute zero (-460 F) is the total absence of heat. All matter becomes inert and incapable of reaction at that temperature. Cold does not exist. We have created this word to describe how we feel if we have no heat."

The student continued, "Professor, does darkness exist?"

The Professor responded, "Of course it does."

The student replied, "Once again you are wrong, Sir. Darkness does not exist either. Darkness is in reality the absence of light. Light we can study, but not darkness. In fact, we can use Newton's prism to break white light into many colors and study various wavelengths of each color. You cannot measure darkness. A simple ray of light can break into a world of darkness and illuminate it. How can you know how dark a certain space is? You can measure the amount of light present. Isn't this correct, Sir? Darkness is a term used by man to describe what happens when there is no light present."

Finally, the young man asked the Professor, "Sir, does evil exist?"

Now uncertain, the Professor responded, "Of course, as I have already said. We see it every day. It is in the daily example of man's inhumanity to man. It is in the multitude of crime and violence everywhere in the world. These manifestations are nothing but evil."

To this, the student replied, "Evil does not exist, Sir, or at least it does not exist unto itself. Evil is simply the absence of God. It is just like darkness and cold, a word that man has created to describe the absence of God. God did not create evil. Evil is not like faith, or love that exist just as does light and heat. Evil is the result of what happens when a man does not have God's love present in his heart. It's like the cold that comes when there is no heat or the darkness that comes when there is no light."

The Professor sat down.

The young man's name -- Albert Einstein.

Christmas is officially "just around the corner". I hope you've begun your shopping. This is the time I love. The anticipation of something. We don't put any presents under the tree until Christmas morning. Last year he was speechless when he woke up and we told him to look under the tree, and he saw all these presents that weren't there the night before. It was pretty cool. I'm sure it'll be harder and harder to do that as he gets older. But for now, it's priceless.

Campground Humour

I know I get these crazy forwards all the time. I thought this was cute tho'.

A very proper lady began planning a week's camping vacation for her and her Baptist Church group. She wrote to a campground for reservations. She wanted to make sure that the campground was fully equipped and modern, but couldn't bring herself to write the word "toilet" in her letter. So, she decided on the old-fashioned term "Bathroom Commode." Once written down she still was not comfortable.
Finally she decided on the abbreviation "B.C." and wrote, "does your campground have its own B.C.?"

When the campground owner received the letter, he couldn't figure out what she meant by "B.C." He showed it to several of the campers, one of whom suggested the lady was obviously referring to a "Baptist" "Church" since there was a letterhead on the paper which referred to a "Baptist Church". So he sent this reply...

Dear Madam:
The B.C. is located nine miles from the camp ground in a beautiful grove of trees. I admit it is quite a distance if you are in the habit of going regularly. No doubt you will be pleased to know that it will seat 350 people at one time, and it is open on Tuesday, Thursday, and Sunday of each week. Some folks like to take their lunch and make a day of it. The acoustics are very good, so everyone can hear even the quietest passages.

It may interest you to know that my daughter met her husband there. We are also having a fund-raiser to purchase new seats, as the old ones have holes in them.

Unfortunately my wife is ill and has not been able to attend regularly. It's been a good six months since she last went. It pains her very much not to be able to go more often. As we grow older, it seems to be more of an effort, especially in cold weather.

Perhaps I could accompany you the first time you go, sit with you, and introduce you to all the other folks who will be there. I look forward to your visit. We offer a very friendly campground.

Yours truly,

Camp Director, Hector Collins

Family, Take 2

It's funny. Family can be both a good thing, and a bad thing. Depends on how you look at it. Yes, people can live their lives trying to keep their families together. There are those, on the opposite side, who spend their lives keeping their families apart. I wonder sometimes at my husband's family. If they 'try' to keep their family apart. They have so many problems, that if they really looked at the problems and tried to solve them, it might work and they could be a 'family' again. It's almost like they choose to create more problems tho' instead of fixing the existing ones. Drives me crazy how much problems they have, that they refuse to look at.
Then there's my family, and my Grandma goes out of her way to accomodate my uncle and his family (who want nothing to do with my family) just to try and keep us together. Does my uncle even notice how hard she's trying? Doubtful. He doesn't even care.
Where do we draw the line? When do we stop working on our 'old' families and work on the new ones we are creating and neglecting? Or do we ever? Do we constantly work at keeping (or breaking) them all?

Some friends of ours are taking in their niece-in-law. I think it's a cool thing. Someone in their family is having a rough time, so they've offered to help out and take the toddler in. I know they'll be great at it. They deserve kids of their own. They're creating a different family. Then there are those whose friends are more family to them, then their actual family is. What do you do when you want to keep your family together, but they want nothing to do with you?

Family...it's so complicated. This Christmas, I pray that visiting your families is very uncomplicated and that your able to just enjoy being around them. Enjoy the times with your family.

Political

I'm not one for politics. But when I hear of something that directly involves me, I will read up on it. Here's something for us Mom's to read.