mornings with jesus

This came across my newsfeed on FB and I had to repost it here!

it is a super funny video that just needs to be considered for our pre-morning worship at church! Church Appropriate Dance Moves  << click on this link here

Who doesn't need a good morning dance to get yourself into the sprirt of worship? I personally love The  Resurrection  and Crush the Serpent's Head and Holy Spirit Free Style and Jesus In The Temple (throwing those tables) and Lot's Wife (salt salt salt salt...) and  The Pentecost...so many fun ones!  

"no, I'm not going to puke!"

I wonder if I could do all five minutes of it? Forbidden Fruit at least gives you a bit of a breather...So many great dance moves I need to learn!!!

This is filled with all kinds of awesome!

http://www.worshiphousemedia.com/countdowns/47397/Mornings-With-Jesus-Countdown  is the full URL, if you need to look it up)

Thankful Thursday

Welcome back to Thankful Thursday, a feature started by Louise at Talk Nerdy to Me, where we look back over our week to remember our blessings.  It is so good to see the good things that have happened, especially if you have had a particularly tough week. Being grateful is good for the soul. Here are just a few things that I am thankful for...

1. flowers and starbucks

I love it when my Hunny brings home Starbucks to surprise me. It was even nicer when he got me flowers too! I have had a rough three weeks (dumb thyroid) and he's been cranky and stressed with end-of-the-year work projects, so this was to make up for it.

2. my little pioneer

Bryn had to bring in a 3D model of a planet he was studying, so we made a paper mache of Neptune to finish off that Unit in Theme. The same day, his class started a new theme: Pioneers! They went for a field trip to Lochiel School, a historic schoolhouse built in 1924. The grade three classes go there for the day to see what life would've been like back then. The school teacher is strict and even gives a child the strap (in the hallway...no one actually gets it for real, but they make the sound of it and the kids all jump!) and makes one wear a Dunce cap! What a bully! :)  They write on slates and stand and sing God Save the King. It's fun!

3. santa party

We had a fun time at the Santa party held by the Elks last weekend. It was a fun afternoon!

4. farewell to Mike

Okay, so I'm not very thankful that we had a send off for our Youth Pastor and his family this past weekend at church, but I am so thankful that he has found a good church where he can work full time (we aren't very big yet at Jericho so many of our positions are only part time, which isn't a lot for a young growing family) Mostly I am thankful for the huge role that he played in our church in the 3 years as our Youth leader. He grew the youth in numbers and in closeness to eachother and in their relationship with God, and that means so much to me.

We are going to miss Pastor Mike and his family!


5. matching pjs

I am thankful that I get to babysit these cuties every now and then. And how can you not be thankful for matching pjs? So cute!

6. pj and hot lunch day

I am always thankful for hot lunch day!  And every kid loves pj day at school! What's not to like about this day?
7. coffee with Nat

I am so thankful for my friend, Nat. Our sons were in preschool together and we've grown our friendship as well. I just love the simplicity of her, and her honesty and her strength. I find myself optimistic and energized after I see her!

8. paper mache

Somehow I missed the childhood wonder that is paper mache, but my husband didn't, so when Bryn had to make a 3D project of planet Neptune, he pulled out that trick. Rhys graciously let us use his basketball (my kids don't really play with sports balls anyways) and the boys covered that up one evening!  

Paper mache is messy business! (silly me, I forgot to take a picture of the after project!  You can sort of see it in #2 posting, but that's as good as it gets!)

9. perfect teeth

Abi had a teeth cleaning this week with a different dentist (ours wasn't in, I guess.) and not only does she not have any cavities (yay!) but it was also mentioned that her teeth are perfect! People pay lots of money to have teeth as neat and evenly spaced as hers! 

I am thankful that she has good oral hygeniene. And maybe it isn't that big of a deal, but I have a mouth full of crazy teeth and it's always bothered me, so hearing this makes me pleased. And relieved! And thankful!

10. Friendships

This past weekend was a busy one. Abi had a birthday party to go to, and Rhys had another one. It took some juggling with rides, since these were conveniently planned at the same time as other events, but they worked out. I am thankful that they have friends to celebrate with, and that they feel included and loved. I am also thankful for family who are able to step in a help with pick ups and such!


So that was my week. How was yours? I would encourage you to start up your own lists, they really are a good way to look back over your week. Especially if it's been a hard one. It's so good for your soul to see the good in things and be thankful.

Thankful Thusday

Welcome back to Thankful Thursday, a feature started by Lousie at Talk Nerdy to Me, where we look back over our week to remember our blessings.  It is so good to see the good things that have happened, especially if you have had a particularly tough week. Being grateful is good for the soul. Here are just a few things that I am thankful for..


1. B-day Parties

We put off celebrating Bryn's 8th birthday until this month since having a party in summer is hard to have friends come to. We hosted it at the pool and it was perfect! Although maybe the Most Boring party for us parents (we sat there and watched them swim; we didn't have to entertain any kids this time!), the boys loved it!

2. Youth Group Start Up

Fusion started up again for Abi and the youth of Jericho Ridge this week! Their kick-off event was supposed to be a scavenger hunt, but with the pouring rain they had all day and evening, it was cancelled and they extended the glow bowling party at the Clover Lanes, which is near us. I love that Abi has her group of friends and enjoys youth group! (they go on their annual youth retreat this weekend!)

3. Babysitters for E and R

With B's party at the pool this week, we had to find something to do with Rhys and Eden. They would love to be in the pool, but they wouldn't be able to keep up with the bigger kids' games, and we wouldn't be able to keep them safe in the pool while also hosting a party (even if we didn't have to do much in the end for the party). I am so thankful my mother in law was able to come and stay with them. 

I am also very thankful for my parents for coming and keeping Eden company so that I could go on Rhys' class trip to the Applebarn this week! This is my first field trip without preschoolers, and I was so excited to go! Which brings me to my next thankful listing:

4. Apple Barn Trip

All of the kindergarten classes went to Taves Family Farm (AKA the Apple Barn) for their first field trip and it was so much fun!  It was so wonderful to be able to go as well, even if we had a lot of rain for the trip.

I loved that I was able to go on this trip too. I think I was just as excited as Rhys was! My parents told me to let them know when the next field trip was...I think they are okay with watching Eden again!


5. Card Making Class

I don't know if I've mentioned this before, but I love to make cards. *snicker* okay, so I may have mentioned it once or twice!  I have a friend who teaches cardmaking with Stampin' Up!, and she was hosting a few stamp-a-stacks this week. (That's where you make a stack of cards in one evening. We made 9 in total)  I love Amanda's creativity in making these and designing and setting up this class! She has a few more classes coming up, if you are in the Langley area. Look up Amanda-Independant Stampin' Up! Demonstrator on FB!

6. Free Stuff!

I found this nice piece of furniture outside of a house down our street with a "free" sign on it! I was so excited! I was able to convince my Hunny to take a look at it with me and to haul it up the street to our house. (it was heavy too, ugh! and we had to carry it up the stairs too!) We have been keeping an eye out for a new dresser for Rhys and Eden, and this is perfect!  I love it's size; it's low enough for the kids, and long and deep for clothes. It will go into the boys' room for R and B to use, and E will get B's old white dresser! Hooray!

It has a few scratches, and you can see some of the wood is chipped in the middle at the front, and the top is covered with a laminate, but it really isn't in too bad of a shape. I am hoping I can just sand it down and do a bit of repair work, slap some more paint on it and call it a day.  We shall see.

Hooray for free answers to furniture needs! I never find free stuff on the side of the road that I need! (or if it is something that I could use, I go back to pick it up and it's gone. Dang!)

7. Timmys

I had a funny moment this week at Timmys...their debit machine wasn't working very well and it wasn't accepting my card to pay at the drive thru, so the guy says to me, "It's ok, you can come back and pay later. You come here often enough!" I thought that was sweet, yet also embarrassing! I apparently come often enough that the guy recognizes me! (I did find the correct change in my purse in the end though, so didn't need to return later!) haha. It was a nice start to my day!

I am thankful for the chance to be honest and for the fact that someone I don't know personally considers me trustworthy enough to leave without paying. He's right: I would've returned! I would have felt guilty if I didn't and would end up having to get my Timmys pumpkin spice muffin at a different location!

8. cheap costumes

My Hunny and I took a quick coffee date this past weekend and found some great costumes at a thrift store for the Youngers to use at Halloween! They were perfect and not too bad for prices. ($25 for two)  Eden loves her Pegasus costume and Rhys is happy with his dragon/alligator/crocodile costume, even though we will still need to add pieces to his.

9. Clean Teeth

It was Kai's turn at the dentist this week, and since it had been a while since he had been (*blush* you really don't notice how much time has gone by until you look back at records. Oops!) we were a bit worried about the results. After his x-rays and cleaning, I was so pleased to hear that all was well! No cavities! The dentist is happy. I was happy. It was a relief! We could see on the xray that he has two teeth that will be falling out soon too! 

10. Kleenex

I am thankful for kleenex as it is softer than paper towels, which is what I was using first to blow my nose! I caught a cold this week (I blame Abi, who started it!) and feel stuffed up and sneezy and achey. ugh! 



It has been a good week and I have a lot to be thankful for. How about you? Take a look back and start your own list.

Thankful Thursday

Just a few things I am thankful for this week...this feature was started by Lousie at Talk Nerdy To Me. It's a great way to look over your week and see the blessings you've had and be reminded.

1. Apples

Our Pampered Chef Apple Pealer Corer Deluxe came out of our drawer this week!  The kids had fun using it and slicing up all of the apples in the house!  As much as I am annoyed that all of our apples were used up in one afternoon, they were eaten at least!  I have found my kids will eat more (and better) when it is done in a fun way such as this!

2. Baptisms and BBQ

This past Sunday was our Fall Kickoff BBQ at church, where we celebrated a baby dedication and two baptisms; one being my Abi-girl!

Such a wonderful day. I am so thankful for this church, for the encouragement from her youth pastor Mike, for the teaching she receives at school, the love and training she feels in our extended family, but mostly for the way He is evident in her life.  I am so thankful that He has claimed her as his child and breathed His breath upon her.

3. Cookies

Who isn't thankful for cookies?  I had some over-ripe bananas that needed to be dealt with, so I thought I would try out this recipe for "healthy cookies" a friend posted on FB. Who the heck names a cookie "healthy cookie"? So I have chosen to name them something more obvious, like "banana oatmeal applesauce no sugar cookies", cuz I'm creative like that!

Don't you love my staged table? I had fun with that one!  I may attempt to stage more often.

My cookies looked nothing like the healthy yummy-looking cookies in the photo I saw online, but hey, that's okay. They didn't taste as good as the picture looked either! haha.  They weren't bad, just lacking. But I also altered the recipe with what I had in my cupboards. They are chewy, so my kids weren't into them at all! I asked Eden as she took the first bite if they were yummy. She screwed up her face and said, "They're not yummy! Here, you can have mine!" haha.

I ate them all but didn't feel bad about that! I will have to try them again with the correct ingredients! Want to try them out yourself? Here is the recipe:

Healthy cookies - 3 mashed bananas (ripe), 1/3 cup apple sauce, 2 cups oats, 1/4 cup almond milk, 1/4 cup raisins or nuts, 1 cup good chocolate chunks,1 tsp vanilla, 1 tsp cinnamon. preheat oven to 350 degrees. bake for 15-20 minutes. NO SUGAR!

I made mine with regular milk, no nuts (we don't like cookies with nuts in our house) and I didn't have any chocolate chunks...not having chocolate was a big downfall! I attempted to substitute chocolate pudding, but that wasn't enough for me!


4. Deals

I try to shop second hand because I'm cheap, but I don't go too often, and I don't see too many amazing things. Apparently the more often you go, the better items you find. So I'ce been told! Go figure.  I was super excited when I scored awesome deals at Bibles For Missions Thrift Store this week!

A shirt for myself, a pair of shoes for Abi (or me, teehee!), a new-ish purse for me, a boardgame and some paints! Hooray! All for just $11!

5. Excited Kids

I signed the Youngers up for swim lessons this week! They are very excited! It doesn't start until the beginning of November, but that's what happens when you put off registering so long that the class in September fills up! But the weeks will go by quickly!

6. Funny faces

Eden is so silly sometimes!

Right now, Tim Horton's has their Smile Cookie promotion on. The cookie is only $1, and proceeds go towards local charities, so they are for a good cause. Plus they are also quite yummy! But they are only around from September 15th until the 21st, so get yours while you can.  H'mm...I wonder if cookies can be frozen for a later treat?

I had to laugh as I was trying to get Eden to hold up the smile cookie to her face. I was telling her to turn it around, but she would just turn it sideways! haha. Finally, I had to show her the correct way!

7. Growing up

Eden has learned how to connect the seatbelt on her carseat, so she insists on doing it all by herself each time we go out. Sometimes it is very frustrating and I feel impatient at her slowness (especially if I am feeling rushed...which is often. I suck at timing things!), but I am trying to be more encouraging in letting her show off her skills. She is proud of herself, and really I am thankful that she is growing up and learning to do more things.

8. Hope in front of me

This is a new song that has been playing PRAISE, the radio station I listen to. It's by Danny Gokey and it is so beautiful. I have never watched American Idol (although my Mom does and loves to tell me all about the talented singers on the show. So many have actually gone on to do impressive careers....like Mandisa and Carrie Underhill...and...that's all I can think of right now, but I know there are more!)  Danny was on last year (I think) and this is his first single. With songs like this, I think he may be around a while!

If the video isn't showing up, check it out on youtube! Hope in front of me by Danny Gokey.

9. Independence

Rhys adjusted to kindergarten immediately! My heart is so happy! He wanted to walk to the Middle/High with Bryn after the first week, so I consented.  Last year, Kai and Bryn walked up the street from the Elementary location where I would meet them. (Kai wasn't in the same class as his best friend, and since David's mom works at the middle/high school, he would walk up, and so Kai would ask to walk up with him.) This year, it's just B (and now R) and he couldn't wait to walk up on his own! I think it makes him feel bigger!

I made Rhys wait the first week (I wanted to be able to see him after school and pick him up and share with him his day right away, and get a routine started first) but he was so ready!  It just took me a bit longer! I was a bit anxious this week...would Bryn remember to get Rhys?  Would Rhys want to walk or would he be miserable or refuse to walk? But when I saw them walking up over that hill to the school, my heart was put at ease! They were walking together and B was even carrying Rhys' backpack, and they were both happy!

 There is nothing sweeter than brothers who care for eachother!

10. Helping Hands

Abi popped out her knee on Monday night; she was trampled on the trampoline! I  picked up crutches for her to hobble around on since it was too painful for her to put weight onto her leg; her knee is swollen and tender to the touch. 

(you know your knee may be a *bit* swollen when your shorts are too tight on your thigh!)

We saw the doctor today just to make sure it wasn't hurt worse than we had thought, but he only suggested ice and advil, which we had already been doing. (I thought he'd want an x-ray to be sure, but he didn't)  I am thankful that it is "just" a dislocation and that it will heal over time. (I guess she takes after her father in the knee department. My Hunny popped his knee out at work overextending it a few years ago and ended up needing knee surgery, which he finally got this spring! phew! He can climb stairs and get onto the floor safely again!)

I am also incredibly thankful for friends at the school who are willing to carry her books for her (even her teacher followed her to her locker with her binder after she dropped it at the end of the day!) I am impressed and thankful for her siblings for helping her carry items, and retrieving things for her so she doesn't have to get up, and for assisting her up/down the stairs. So sweet!


***Did you notice how all of my posts followed the letters of the alphabet?  Well, all except the last one. I could not think of a proper title that started with the letter J! If one comes to my head tonight, I will edit it. (feel free to offer suggestions in the comments!) This wasn't intentional until I realized it after my first four posts!

So that is my list. It's the small things that count, right? What are you thankful for? I'd love to know!

perfect day for a Fall Kickoff!

What a day! My heart is overwhelmed with joy!

This morning was our Fall Kick Off at our church, Jericho Ridge, and we celebrated with a baby dedication, two baptisms and a bbq. It was awesome. The sun was blazing; it is was just a perfect day to share it with family and friends.

To top it off, my own Abi-girl shared a brief testimony at the end of the service, and then we went outside for a baptism.  She spoke so clearly and confidently and I was so proud of her. She wasn't too sure what to say, or what words were the best, or how to explain something that she feels, but it came out great! Everyone's story is personal and none is ever wrong. (even if some of us feel it has to contain certain elements to be a proper testimony. I had to stop myself from adding information or pieces to her story as she worked on it, and kept reminding myself to encourage her to say the truth from the heart.)  The power is in Him, and every "proper" testimony just needs to point back to who HE is to us and what HE has done.  And she is able to share that.  

She talked about how she grew up in a Christian home and school, attending church and hearing the stories of God and Jesus so much so that He became some sort of "celebrity" to her!  That sounds different to me, to put it in those terms, but it makes sense in a world where people are elevated to celebrity status, and are "idols" and "liked" and where the goal of many youth today are to become that recognized as well. To say that Jesus became a "celebrity" would be to admit that He became someone to be looked up to, to be recognized, to be followed. A hero. And if she chooses Him to be the celebrity she looks up to, how wonderful!

She mentioned how she was wondering about His purpose for her life, and what direction to go in and feeling lost when she had an asthma attack a few years ago so severe that we needed to call 9-1-1 and where she stopped breathing. It was after she was healed that she knew that God must have a plan for her life!

(with Pastor Brad, our Lead Pastor and Pastor Mike, our Youth Pastor, while Justin gives his testimony)

After the service, we all filed outside to watch the two youth get baptized. (after we picked up our kids from the Kids at the Ridge, which is our Sunday School program. I was worried I'd be late to the baptism in having to go upstairs for the Youngers and then downstairs for B and then outside, but it worked out good! We made it in time!)

(I love that dimple!)

 

I was good listening to her testimony and didn't shed any tears, but listened in awe as she shared her story. It was after she came up out of that water that I cried. But that's okay. They were happy tears. It's good to cry at things like these!

My heart is so happy, so overwhelmed, so full of joy that she has chosen to be baptized and to set herself apart publicly.

 (I love her smile in this one. She looks so peaceful as she is ready to go under.)

 

 

I didn't get to affirm Abi publicly, but I did share this with her in a letter:

You have mentioned how you have been awed at the thought of God breathing life into dust to create man, and how the song "Late have I loved you" by Gungor has meant a lot to you. In 2 Corinthians 2:15, it says that "we are to God the aroma of Christ." Abi, He has breathed His breath on you and set you apart!

I want to encourage you with this passage in Deuteronomy 26:17-19:  You have declared this day that the Lord is your God and that you will walk in His ways and that you will keep His decrees, commands and laws and that you will obey Him. And the Lord has declared this day that you are His daughter, His Treasured Possession, as He promised. He has declared that He will set you in praise, fame, and honour high above the nations He has made and that you will be a daughter holy to the Lord your God, as He promised.

 It is so incredible to know and see how she has chosen to walk in this faith, and how her confidence has grown over the years. There is nothing more wonderful than seeing your child make that decision!

After the baptisms, we walked over and had a big church BBQ at the picnic shelter, which of course, my Hunny was cooking for on the bbq we lend out.  (not that we had a lot of shelter from the sun, it was so hot!) The whole family sat together...we had my parents, my mother in law and her boyfriend, my sister and her family, my sister in law and her family, even grandma T came out! It was so wonderful to have them be witnesses and to celebrate Abi!

 (Rhys looking so dapper in his bow tie!)

 

 

It was a perfectly hot day! The kids played at the park and the waterpark for a bit. (although I didn't think of swimsuits or towels for the Youngers. I let them get wet anyways and ride home in their damp underwear!)

 

 The Fuel group (gr 5 and 6) decided to test the laws of physics in that if you put enough rubber bands around a watermelon, will it will explode? 

It does! Into many pieces!  It splatted on Kai's face, but he was rewarded with a huge chunk to eat afterwards! The Fuel boys thought it was pretty cool! (my Hunny leads that group, and since he grew up in the Boy Scouts he comes up with some funny, and different, projects for them to do!)

For a hot summery morning, it was a great Fall Kick Off event for our church!
The day was perfect and I am so happy to be able to share this day with family and friends. We are so blessed with this girl!

Abi mentioned in her testimony that this song has touched her. It is by the band Gungor, called Late Have I Loved You and comes from Augustine Confessions X.27. It is so beautiful and I have been known to play it really loud in the van while driving by myself! Hear it below.

***Thank-you also for friends and family and JRCC who let me use their photos of the event as well. Theirs are the bright and beautiful ones.  I really really need to get a new camera...or learn how to take beautiful shots on my old falling apart one!!!