Sunday Afternoon

This past Sunday we went to the Waterfall Park to try a new (for Nolan) playground.  I took my camera...

getting ready to go

he loves slides

and i love seeing daddy slide with him

too old for this... until we ended up racing down the slides

on to the waterfall

hey, there's me!

my big and my little

So happy to have these shots.  I love my family and will treasure this capture of this moment in our lives.  Thanks for looking!

Cousins

One of the most fun parts of our last trip to Winnipeg was seeing the two little guys hit it off and play together. The older they get, the less the year and nine months between them will matter; this was the first time, though, that Nolan was old enough to be interested in some of the same things as Zach.

Zach pushing Nolan in the toy stroller.

And switch!

Hug!

Nolan & Solomon

All the cousins together!

Scrapbook Sharing Saturday

It's been a while since I've done many traditional layouts, since I did all last year - Nolan's first year - in Project Life style, but I found time to play around a bit...

I had these pictures printed to do for a long time - Zach here is the same age Nolan is now.  So fun to see!  Oh, and I have a new found love for Washi tape.  So great to use

Playing around on New Year's Eve...  And some baker's twine - another favorite product.

And a great shot of my kids playing in the backyard. 

So good to have these done and slipped into my album.  I've got a couple more pages on the go and a bunch of photos to order, so hopefully there will be more to show soon.

Knowing the Consequences

We had a girl come home yesterday with apologies the first thing out of her mouth.  She did something wrong, she knew it, and she was sorry. 

She was afraid of how much trouble she'd get into...

...but yesterday evening ended up being one of the best family nights we've had in a long time.

We discussed the issue over supper, but when it came time for the discipline, we asked, well, what are the consequences for that?  And she knew.  So, well then, that's what you have to live with.  No need to yell, no need to berate you for making a wrong choice, you just need to live with what you knew was coming. 

And then we went off to get ice cream to celebrate being done level 10 swimming.  Because just because you are being disciplined for one thing doesn't mean that we shouldn't celebrate when you do things well.

It struck me this morning that this was a great example of the Old Testament being relevant today; I'm reading through Joshua, and just passed where Joshua re-read all the blessings and curses, all that Moses commanded and wrote, as a reminder to all the people.  What he read would have included all the laws with their corresponding consequences, and what we know as Deuteronomy 28, which is a clear summary of the consequences for obedience and disobedience. 

God wanted his people to know what would happen as a result of certain actions.  He wanted them - he wants us - to be able to choose wisely.  Does it help you make a right choice when you know what the fallout will be for the wrong one?

That's the idea behind our consequence list at home here.  We all know what will happen for {most} infractions, and there's the hope that maybe that might help a better decision be made.  It certainly helps as parents to not have to come up with something appropriate on the spot; it was thought through and decided already when there was no high emotion involved.

This time the wrong choice was made in spite of knowing the consequences... and living with the consequences will help the right choice look better next time.  Hopefully.

What's YOUR issue?

Last week I got a 'begging letter' from the Bible League, wanting funds to place Bibles in schools in the newly formed country of South Sudan.  It's so great that they have been asked to place Bibles for the children to use to learn to read; what a fantastic foundation for the new country, to educate their young from Scriptures.  I have such a love for Scripture and a desire for people to have access to it.

These last few days we've been gathering up stuff to contribute to my in-law's garage sale; they are raising money for a missions trip; a team that my mother in law is on is going to Cambodia to work with those abused by trafficking.  She has a passion for young women at risk and taken advantage of, and is stepping far from her comfort zone to do something about it.

I also heard recently (on a Christian radio station while we were in Winnipeg; wish we had one of those here!) about an African village who just got a well, saving women and children hours of walking to get water, freeing up those hours for a chance for education, opening up the possibilities for their futures.  Water is such a basic need and there are many groups passionate about helping provide that for those without.

I am following along with We Are Blessed, a blog by some friends I met through the Youth For Christ California Spring Break trips.  They have three natural children, one adopted, and are in the process of adopting three siblings from Ethiopia.  Seven kids!  They are passionate about this, and are doing things to change lives.  Amazing.

What is your cause?  What is your issue?  What makes you frustrated, irate, uncomfortable with your comfortable life?

I read a book a couple years ago called Zealous Love: 

Zealous Love is a response to some of the world’s urgent needs in light of Christ’s great love. Through first-hand accounts and up-to-date facts about eight global issues, Zealous Love uniquely provides readers with the information, inspiration, and involvement they crave to personally make a difference in their world.

I jotted the eight issues down in my journal, took the time to think through which ones make my heart beat faster, and took with me one reassuring thought:  God has wired us all differently.  Each of these issues are important because each one is counter to how God created the world to be, and through love, each would change.  To look at the list is to get overwhelmed, though, if we try to figure out how we can make a difference in so many huge areas spread across the world.  The good news is that we don't have to.  Doing anything is great; trust that as others do their anything, God will make changes in real lives.

I sew stuff that sells.  As income trickles in from that, I choose where to send my tithe, what need to contribute to.  It's a small something, and maybe where it helps most is to get me thinking again of where life is unfair, and praying for change.

Here are the justice issues raised in that book:
Unclean Water
Hunger
Education
Trafficking
Inequality
Refugees
HIV/AIDS
Creation Degradation

I'm pretty sure that was the list in order of how I viewed their importance to me; you would probably switch some around.  I would add to that list these causes that God calls people to be passionate about:
Spreading Scripture
Adopting Orphans or Fostering

What are you passionate about?  May you find time this week to contemplate that and what small thing you can do to make a difference.  "The Lord works righteousness and justice for all the oppressed." Psalm 103:6.  May you be blessed as you make yourself available for him to use to work righteousness and justice for the oppressed.

If you have a teenage girl.

I read a couple of posts this week that I thought were worth passing on; if you've got a teenage girl, be sure to check these out.  They are probably worth the read if your girls are younger or if you have boys, too, just filter accordingly!

Emily at Chatting at the Sky wrote One Thing Your Daughter Doesn't Need You to Say addressing the pressure our kids feel to be a good example - pressure from themselves or from us.  It hit home because I know there have been times I have expected M to be an example to her friends that don't know Jesus.  She offers a great alternative; the freedom to just be themselves.

As a follow up to that, she wrote 12 Things Your Daughter Needs You to Say.  Lots of good stuff in there, too. 

Go read, be encouraged in your role as a parent, and inspired to raise up your children to Godly lives.

Recipes for Nicole

A while ago I posted about making these two cookie recipes from my childhood; today I'm sharing the recipes!  Go bake and enjoy, and be warned: there is nothing healthy about these.  Just yummy goodness.

Butter Cookies
(Grandma Schneider's specialty - she puts two together with icing in between.)


2 cups margarine
2 cups brown sugar
2 eggs
vanilla (1 tsp)


3 cups flour
1 tsp baking soda
pinch of salt

Beat together margarine, sugar, eggs, and vanilla.
Add dry ingredients and mix well.
Bake at 350 (until edges brown).
(Make small balls!  1/2 batch made 58 cookies or 29 sandwiches.)

Pecan Puffs
(Aunty Joan's recipe - she usually puts a bit of icing on the top.)

4 tbsp sugar
1 cup margarine
2 tsp vanilla
2 cups flour
1 cup pecans, coarsely chopped

Mix all ingredients
Roll into balls
Bake 1 hour at 250 F.

The Week That Was

We went to Winnipeg for the long weekend and found that this short week sped by! We did get lots of errands run and had some pretty good backyard time, and even a short bike ride.

It took a day to get him used to the helmet, but he loves bike rides, so now he's happy to see it come out.

We found a park to play at while M was at piano, and played on this slide for a solid 20 minutes.

For spring soccer, the girls play outside, but on great turf fields.  Monday's game was early enough for Nolan & I to go to; we have to miss the later ones.

Silas (he's the one in front) brought me a deck of cards from France, and I broke them in playing our 'family game' Pounce.  It's always a good time - little K was doing a great job keeping up!

Media Star!

This past Monday was Music Monday:

Astronaut Chris Hadfield and Barenaked Ladies frontman Ed Robertson have collaborated between earth and space to co-write the official song for Music Monday 2013. The end-result features Hadfield playing the song from the International Space Station, while Robertson and the Wexford Gleeks, a TDSB school choir, join him to unite in song with schools and communities across our nation.  

At 12 pm Eastern Time and at the exact same time across Canada (...11 a.m. Central Time...) schools and communities from coast to coast will be united by the Music Monday theme song, “ISS – Is Somebody Singing.“

(quotes from the Music Monday site.)

 Madeline's school was one of the ones in SK that was participating, and had some media coverage of the event.  She said there were just a few students interviewed, and she was interviewed twice!  I got the links from her music teacher and wanted to share with you - enjoy!!

News Story - (in English) - This link also has the video with the song. 

Radio-Canada - This one's a video, in french.  Choose the Monday, May 6 link (lundi 6 mai), and it's at 4/4, 2:45.

(I think it's funny that these are both radio stations, but one is a printed article and one is a video...)

Snow Shoveling in Shorts & the First Haircut

With winter turning to summer within days, there was a bit of overlap in the seasons!  Sean spread the last of the big piles of snow out so they'd melt faster, and Nolan was right in there with a little shovel helping.

Just like Dad!

Except with his own sense of style.

"I'll start this one, Dad!"

Ha ha - this one just made me laugh.

A good shot of his hair 'before'...

And a few days later - no snow and a little boy cut!

Skor Cake

I was asked this morning for this recipe, and since I had to type it out to email it to my Mother-in-law, I figured I'd share it here with you.  It really is not too hard, and the results are so good.

The recipe comes from a 'Robin Hood Festival of Baking' booklet from 1998... Wow - I've had it since before M was born.  It's called an Easy Creamy Chocolate Torte, but we just call it 'That Skor Layer Cake'.  Put whatever title you want on it when you copy this; here's the recipe for the goodness:

1 pkg Devil's Food cake mix
2 cups whipping cream
1/2 cup granulated sugar
1/4 cup cocoa
4 Skor bars, crushed

Prepare cake mix in two 9" round cake pans accornding to package directions.  Cool.  Cut each layer in half.  (I do that by wrapping a piece of dental floss around it and tightening it right through.  Works like a charm.)

Combine whipping cream, sugar and cocoa.  Chill 15 minutes.  Whip until stiff.  Fold in 3 crushed Skor bars.  Spread cream mixture between layers and on top of cake.  Sprinkle remaining Skor bar on top.  Chill  until serving.

Enjoy!

What to do with Buttermilk

I made a batch of raisin bran muffins the other day, and the recipe called for buttermilk.  I had 1/2 the carton left over and figured I'd go online to find a recipe that called for buttermilk...  Before I got around to doing that, though, I was flipping through a magazine, and saw a recipe for buttermilk pancakes.  Perfect!  I made them up for Nolan and I for lunch and threw the rest in the freezer to enjoy for later breakfasts. 

 
I did see online that you can freeze buttermilk.  Use an ice cube tray to freeze 2 tablespoon portions, then throw them into a freezer bag.  This is great, because I rarely use the whole carton when I do get one, and then the rest doesn't go to waste, and I don't have to buy a whole new carton for another recipe.

The same article also had two loaf recipes that call for buttermilk... I don't need lots of baking around the house, so I'm looking for opportunities to try both of them, too!

More Thoughts on Prayer Nights

I wrote recently about a prayer night that our small group had; we still had our visiting and eating time, but the bulk of our night was spent wandering to different 'stations' in the house that were set up with prompts for different areas of life to be praying for.  Today I wanted to share with you a few more thoughts on why nights like that are so good. 

• We rarely spend that much time in prayer in one chunk unless it is intentionally planned.
• It reminds of of things we neglect to pray for.
• We get suggestions for different ways to pray for the things we do pray for.
• There is power in being in community, and in praying in community.  We were praying separately, but together.  This was enhanced by our time of communion and feasting together after.
• Praying together helps keep you from being distracted!
• Learning about God is great, but we also need times when we act on what we learn, times of serving him, times when we are with him and seek his face.

A few verses that fit (because everything is better with Scripture!):

• Ephesians 6:18 - And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests.  With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the Lord's people.
• Mark 11:24 - Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours.
• Revelation 5:8 - And when he had taken it, the four living creatures and the twenty four elders fell down before the Lamb.  Each one had a harp and they were holding golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of God's people.
• Proverbs 15:8 - The Lord detests the sacrifice of the wicked, but the prayer of the upright pleases him.

Wishing for you a good time in prayer today.

Photos

It's been a while since I've posted pictures because I got a new phone and have been taking most of my photos on that, and haven't got the system down for getting them on here yet. Glad to finally share these and give you a bit of a visual update on my awesome family.

Our biggest news this week is that M is now a glasses wearer!  She has always had 20/20 vision, but lately was having headaches, so we took her in to get tested and found she's farsighted.  So today is her first day off to school with this new look - hopefully she finds them easy to adjust to.  I think they make her look sharp.

Nolan had fun trying on the little glasses - he'd laugh and check himself out in the mirrors.

Here are Nolan's first paintings!  There is a new Early Years Family Center near us (a 12 minute stroller walk away!) that is full of neat stuff for him, it's open every morning and afternoon (M-F), and is free.  Beat that!  We went last week for the first time with friends, and yesterday afternoon walked over by ourselves.  An hour there sure went fast.

Some of Madeline's new talents - french braiding her own hair, and fish tail braiding.  She did a couple on me the other day, too - that's almost as good as a massage.  Apparently guitar is another new skill, but she just plays at school, so we are looking forward to getting her one at home so she can play more and we can hear her!

This is a typical morning in our house.  Madeline practicing, Nolan getting in her way, somewhere in between pjs and being dressed for the day, with his favorite thing to steal from the fridge - the mustard.

A new friend!  This cat has been hanging around for the last week or so, since I left a bag of garbage on the deck...  The kids both love her, and she's great with Nolan, but she's learned not to come meowing around at night...

Coffee.  Both our kids love coffee.  This one is empty, and decaf.  Should be safe.

This is another common sight.  I take Nolan swimming every couple of weeks, and Madeline has lessons Monday nights, which we all go to (as long as he's had a decent nap!)  At both pools he loves to play in the lockers.  Don't they all?

And snow.  It's going away, finally - from totally covering the swing last week, it's now down to the grass under the swing.  There are still a couple big piles, but I think spring has finally arrived.  Nolan loves being outside and doesn't mind the snow at all; it takes a lot for him to be too cold or tired enough to want to go in.

Have a great weekend!!

The Bake Sale

"Mom, it's our bake sale tomorrow.  I meant to tell you before but I forgot."

I made Strawberries & Cream Pudding Cookies (found on pinterest) that afternoon, got mini cupcakes & sugar cookies baked in the evening, then iced the cupcakes & sugar cookies in the morning, and got them all to school for 10:15 in the morning.

I think that's a gold star for this mom this week.

Career Day at School...

She went as a Ninja.

Small Group Prayer Night

Our small group is made up of four couples.  We all knew each other fairly well before, so have made an easy transition to being a bunch that enjoys our weekly time together.  We had talked about wanting to do a prayer night together, when our time wasn't filled with visiting and eating and watching a teaching video and discussing it and prayer, but simply prayer (...and food and visiting).

I wanted to share with you what we did; it's a great experience, doesn't take much to put together, and is a very worthwhile addition to what your small group does together.

We started with visiting and getting our coffees while everyone arrived and got the kids settled with the sitter, then met all together for a few instructions and an opening prayer.  We moved into a time of personal confession, getting our hearts right before God before we moved into praying for all the other areas.  As each one finished that, they moved on to the stations set up around the house.  We had two of our 8 missing, and with 7 stations, there was always a free one to move to, even though most were set up to allow more than one to be there. 

Each station was for a different area of life that we should be praying for.  We had:

• Children
• Marriages
• Church
• Family & Friends (including work relationships)
• Stress
• Current Events
• World (Global Church and World Governments)

 Most stations had lists of "How to pray for..." that I found online.  The world station had a big atlas, and the current events station was at our computer, open to news sites.  The friends & family lists were mind maps I made using a free site online.

We came back together for our last half hour, and had a time of communion together.  Our teaching video last week was on communion and left us thinking we should do that together; this was the perfect timing and setting.  We had a loaf and juice and talked about what it represents and why we gather together - it was very casual, but very real - and then we kept eating of the small feast we had spread on the table.

It was a very good night.  Everyone seemed quite positive about the experience and want to do it again, even setting it up exactly the same.  I do have a few ideas to expand or tweak it, but they're right - it doesn't have to be re-invented each time.  I have done prayer rooms that had more hand-on involvement, but this way worked well for this type of group.  We may invite others to join us next time we do it, and we would be willing to set it up at the church for the whole church to participate at some point. 

I hope this sparks a desire in you to share a time like this with friends, and gives you an idea of how to go about it.

Hope

I picked the hope mug again this morning.

I showed you these before: the mugs we got from Mom & Dad for Christmas.  The plan was to swap them back out once the holidays were over, but they are still in the cupboard, mid April.  Outside still looks like January, so maybe once it's green we'll do that.

I've gotten into the habit, though, of picking the mug I use based on what I would like to see or feel in my life at the moment.  Often it's the green Joy mug, but the Hope mug sees a lot of use, too, and Peace....  It's such a nice addition to the morning coffee to have a calming thought inhaled in, affecting my whole being.

This week, this is what I hope:

that spring will come
that M will get through the teenage years without being too scarred by them
that she would be strong mentally & stand strong against the pressure of her peers
that Sean and his business would thrive
that N will sleep through the night one day and not need to nurse to sleep and I'll be able to leave him  knowing he's fine without me
that God will answer prayers for the salvation of friends and family
that I would hold on to joy; enjoy friends and have meaningful work both raising my children and otherwise that this marriage will only get stronger and last forever
that my light would shine
that I would be open to people and opportunities
that God's kingdom would come on earth as it is in heaven
that we would find a dress for M's grad that she loves and that we are happy with
that Sean would find a good friend to spend time with now that one has moved away
that N's cold would be gone soon and not spread to his lungs or ears

I am so thankful that my hopes don't have to remain just hopes, but are prayers that the Answer hears.

A Staycation

Sean went on a golf vacation last month, and while he was off enjoying the sun and hot temperatures in Nevada, M and I ended up having a bit of a stay-cation.  We didn't really plan it, but with all the one on one time (with Nolan...) instead of family time, it ended up being a very nice girls weekend.

We watched Wreck It Ralph.  Very cute.  M rated it an 8/10.  I might go as high as a 9.

We did pedicures.  We got out buckets to soak our feet, all the lotions and scrubbers... and she only wanted to paint her nails...  Ha.  But we both enjoyed it and ended up with pretty toes.

She went to a Regina Pats hockey game with a friend - it was the same night as youth group, so she missed that, but had fun doing something out of the ordinary.

We went shopping, and it was a success - I don't even remember if we got anything; a success in my books is keeping our expectations low and not swinging moodily if something catches our eyes and we can't get it...  Ah, teens.

On the food side of things, I made her favorite Cannelloni one night, and one night she cooked supper and it turned out great.  It was a recipe from my mom and has a note on it: "Don't make when Dad comes to visit!"  What is it with dads not liking Tuna Casserole???

We went to Sake, an all you can eat sushi place on Albert that M has wanted to take me to ever since she went with her Uncle.  Nolan had a bit of a melt down and was a little hard to corral, especially when he wanted to go meet the babies at another table, so it wasn't the best eating out experience, but she was happy to finally get there together.

And that was our little staycation - we all enjoyed our special few days, and were happy to be all back together again after.

For Moms who are Tired

Parenting is hard.  So many decisions to be made, questions to answer, meals to be planned...  Where do you go for help?  What helps you keep sane and balanced?  I have a few places I find encouragement, and this is a collection of reminders that I wrote down in my journal and on my phone when I was struggling with being tired and frustrated.  I've appreciated having them there to read over when I need a refresher - it's like a little time out to get back on track - so I thought I'd share them.

To be a good mom, keep:
* Getting enough sleep. Nap first, then chores.
* Trying again. Each moment / decision/situation is another opportunity.
* Praying. Nothing else will keep you grounded in reality (usually that it's not really that bad) and nothing else gives that hope and peace.
* Anticipating. Plan ahead so you're not faced with decisions and have to say no (ie. after school snacks - have it ready!)
* Biting your tongue against the nagging.
* Firm, and expect things done well.
* Double checking until it's done right - not because you expect perfection, but because you are training life skills.
* Telling yourself to enjoy today.
* Kissing their daddy - let them see you enjoying each other.
* Reminding yourself that it's a good thing that they don't always get what they want.  They need that training for later when they want something they know is not right - they have to know that they can handle the disappointment and that they will get over it.
* Playing.  My stuff will wait - get on the floor and make eye contact.  That is love.  Yes, there is times when it works to work while they play beside me, but prioritize.

Remember that this stage is not forever.  "This too shall pass!"  DECIDE to enjoy each moment you can and see each trying bit as a bit - not as defining the whole day. Yes, he cries - he can't talk.  Yes, he's heavy - you GET to hold him! Yes he naps - Hooray!

To keep yourself grounded, remember:
* Know yourself.  Recognize when it's PMS and cut yourself some slack.
* There has to be some compromise.- when you choose to put the other person first, follow through cheerfully. Don't play the martyr.  Periodically re-evaluate and if the choice is still the same, strengthen your resolve to see it through.
* Stay positive.  Fight the negative thoughts - they have no place in your head.

It's kind of a random collection, but it's full of things that I need reminding of. 

I just got some books on motherhood by Sally Clarkson - has anyone read any of her stuff?  I read a bit of one from the library and thought it seemed like it would be a great purchase.  I'm hoping for encouragement and inspiration to overflow... 

Where do you get your encouragement?  How do you get yourself back on track when you feel 'off'?