Something New, Something Blue

These are my "new" chairs.  My Dad got them for me at an auction.  I love them; I can't help loving them.  They are a temporary pick me up.  I will happily use them until we get to the point in our renovations and lives where we buy a grown up table that hasn't been cast off by anyone else.  Until then I'm happy to be able to sit at a table to eat my supper, do crafts with the kids and just look at and enjoy.  Who can't help but smile when they look at that color and pattern?

Choosing Joy

Today I'm up against quite a few household tasks that I'd rather ignore. Today it is overcast and the kids are a bit stir crazy. Today I'm sore and tired from work I did yesterday that I don't feel appreciated for. Today I am overwhelmed by the list of to dos and I feel weak physically and mentally. So I can choose apathy or I can choose joy.

I choose joy.

Choosing joy today involved making stuffed french toast even though I already had a sink of dishes piled high.

Choosing joy today involved scrubbing yesterday's grime and callouses off my feet with my foot paddle from my mother's day pedicure, ahh feels good to have clean smooth feet.

Choosing joy today involved playing war with my kids and letting them paint in the house, even though I would have preferred to read blogs.

Choosing joy today involved letting the kids watch a movie and take a nap in the camper, and cozying them up in with their favorite blankets with an Orange Julius to sip.

Choosing joy today involved getting dressed and doing my hair and my face so that I looked better, so that I could feel better.

Choosing joy today involves setting my timer and doing 15 minutes of work here and there then taking rests.

Choosing joy involves sharing my feelings of being unappreciated with my friend Jesus so that his spirit can lift me up and I don't need to rely on words of praise from others, and I can be reminded that my family loves me and appreciates me even when they don't say it. I am even reminded to show my appreciation for them by doing things out of love, not for my own praise.

Choosing joy involves thinking about God's word and how it speaks to my life each day and how I can best choose to live out God's commands.

Choosing joy involves choosing to do right, not just choosing my own way.

Choosing joy involves calling my BFF who likes to talk to me while we clean our houses together (what a blessing)!

That's Where The Joy Comes From
Steve Green

Your life and mine are empty vessels
Waiting to be filled
God is pouring out a joy unmeasured
On those who obey His will
He is the giver, we're the receivers
So what you see in me
Is only a gift from the Spirit of life
Who fills my heart constantly

Chorus:
Every perfect gift comes from above
From the Father of lights
From the Lord of love
This joy that I have that I'm singing of
Is from the Lord

Every perfect gift comes from the Lord
From the Father of lights
From the Lord of love
This joy that I have that I'm singing of
Is from the Lord, from the Lord
That's where the joy comes from
That's where the joy comes from

Thieves may try to rob my treasure
But they don't hold the key
That leads into the sanctuary
Where God's Spirit lives in me
He is the builder, I am the temple
So what you see in me
Is what He is making and safely protecting
Until I stand complete

Inspired

I was inspired by Crafty Crow and their compilation of outdoor play areas. So here's our's

Something New

I did not know that there was such a thing as green bean and pea vermicelli.
This is news to me, but good news. I think it is low carb enough for Mike to eat, and it must be good for a person, and it is my new craving.

I'm noodles for noodles right now. Oh and throw some snap peas and carrots on with a dash of something garlicy and a tiny bit spicy and I will probably lick the bowl. Yum!

Balance

Yesterday was a good day. We had a lot of fun. That fun was balanced off by a few struggles, but that seems to be a normal part of life.

We started off the morning happily and smoothly. Everyone was fed, dressed, educated (well at least we did some calendar time), and happy. Balance that off with the house being a chaotic mess and you get a mommy heading for the escape and procrastination hatch. I shrugged and shut the door on the mess as we headed off to our play date in town.

We met up with a good friend for lunch at BPs. The kids and I ate free! I had email promos for being part of the BPs Email Club and got a free 2 topping indi pizza for the kids and a free gourmet pasta of my choice for me. They were kind enough to let me use both promos at the same time since the expiry dates were rapidly approaching.
After lunch we went to the park for a visit and a frappucino. Balance off the free meal with the cost of the new outfit that I had to buy for one of the kids who was having too much fun at the playground to stop for a little thing like going potty, you get an emergency trip to the store for new pants and undies, but no complaints from the kids (or anyone else for that matter) about leaving the park. Fun times!!

After changing wardrobes we got our weekly groceries. Balance off my heart attack at the check out with a coupon for saving 35 cents a liter on gas as a reward for spending so much in one trip, you get a wife who is unsure if it is a wise idea to share with her husband all the "savings" she found while completing the weekly shopping. "You spent HOW MUCH?!!!" (Now I'll find out for sure if my husband reads this blog!)

After groceries we needed to go to Canadian Tire to exchange Matia's ball glove, I accidentally bought her the wrong handed glove. We hand to stand in line for a good half hour. Balance the long wait with tired children with the fact that the new glove was $2.00 cheaper and hot pink!!!! Let's just say she was ticked, um, pink!

Arriving home I had a car load of groceries, a messy house to face, grumpy over tired children who only got a taste of a nap in the car, and a hot house with garbage overflowing and attracting flies and other creatures, with one hour to rectify things before DH arrived on the scene. Balance that with running water, a lovely fridge, an easy chili recipe, children who are learning to pitch in even when they don't feel like it, a DH who is not nit picky at the end of a long day and you have a weary woman who did her best with what she had and still feels blessed and happy by the end of the day... oh and deliriously tired!!

Choosing joy is all about balance it seems. Thanks Lord for helping me to find joy in each day.

So Cute! NOT!

Isn't this little rodent just so precious? So cute?


No! It isn't!
This rodent is hiding somewhere in my house, I think. What is it with beady eyed little critters getting into my home? It's poo is twice the size of a mouse's and they rip up garbage like nobody's business! Last time I saw it, it was taking refuge under my couch. I think it got in when some "sweet" child left the door wide open when coming or going. I now have the door open again in hopes that it will leave the same way it came. Bugs are flying in like I opened a roach motel! I bang on the couch every so often with my kid's lacrosse stick, and I will be purging the house of any stray crumbs or tidbits that might make my home inviting to this "sweet little lovable" menace! Is this God's way of helping me not procrastinate on my house cleaning?
The ironic thing is we watched this "cute" little critter play for a good 10 minutes this morning, the kids giving it a running commentary and even naming it Chip, or maybe it was Dale. So cute!
NOT!!!!

Mother's Day Weekend Recap

For Mother's Day weekend I went to my home town for a visit with my Mommy, and the rest of my family too. It was just what I wanted. My mom had mega fun planned for the kids and even let me and my sister escape for a few hours for a pedicure. The kids and I were happily exhausted when we came home, from all the fun. I think my parents may have been happy to return to work for a break! Overall everyone had a great time and we were all well fed. Isn't that what going to Grandma's house is all about?
Before we even got to Grandma's house Dade was delighted to find a bike waiting for him at Grandpa's store. Thanks to Uncle Jonny for putting on the training wheels and a ticker card in the spokes (and vetoing handle bar streamers for a boys bike). Dade took a couple trips around the store but after a crash into a display decided it would be better to ride it at Grandma's house later.

Matia was overjoyed to find my old My Little Ponies collection ready and waiting for her at Grandma's house.

Ending the day with a yummy supper, a dip in the hot tub and some Treehouse T.V., Matia said with a satisfied sigh, "Today was the best day EVER!". When I asked her what was so good about it she said, "I like Grandma's house".

Grandma got a patio set and Grandpa set it up for her on Mother's day. Dade found a use for the boxes.

Some time was spent gardening, though Matia and her cousin have different reactions to getting dirty, to say the least! Let's just say a nap was in order after Matia fell in the fish pond, where as Ava was content to hang out and make mud pies.

Grandma made many special meals over the weekend. We enjoyed Belgian Waffles, Hamburgers (grilled by Grandpa), a Ham and all the trimmings, but the most memorable would probably be the Worms & Dirt for dessert. Ava dug right in, she knew gummy worms were good no matter what kind of gunk was covering them. Dade and Matia were not so sure.

With much coercing they took a tentative bite, and what do you know! It was good, it was very good!

Grandma & Auntie bravely joined a bike gang. This gang was like no other. The leader of the pack was Dade the Dareing who learned that full-speed-a-head is not always what it is cracked up to be. Thank you Auntie for teaching him how to coast and use brakes.
Next came Ava the Adventurous who tried to usurp Dade's leadership from time to time. Bringing up the rear was Matia the Meander-er, who had an exceptional appreciation for the scenery which often caused her to forget to steer, thank you Grandma for keeping her on the straight and narrow.

After a long bike ride and playing at the park it is nice to unwind with a little Hokey Pokey in the hot tub. What? Doesn't everyone do this?

Monday morning dawned bright and beautiful. What better way to spend the time than roller skating in the back yard?

Roller-capades in the making?

A visit with friends completed the weekend. A Tea party on the deck

Followed by a water fight in the yard gave us an appetite for a yummy lunch.

After lunch there was a fun walk

and an escape attempt, "We don't want to go home! We're having to much fun!"...

My sentiments exactly!
Thanks Mom/Grandma for the fun weekend. Hope you can get rested up before we come back again!

Thanks for visiting Grandma & Grandpa!

Though I have no pictures of Grandma & Grandpa, we had a great time with them as our guests. Some of the fun we had included: a wiener roast & smores, going for a drive with Grandpa, a walk down to the creek, throwing rocks off a bridge, eating brownies before supper!, watching movies, taking a nap in Grandma's bed, playing Memory and Go Fish, setting up tea parties, showing off t-ball skills, fixing the car and lots of visiting. We're so glad you came, Grandma & Grandpa. We miss you.