so thankful

This past weekend was Thanksgiving in Canada, and in trying to keep my mind focused on Being Thankful, I made a list of all the things I can thank God for. (I couldn't sleep, so I got out of bed and made quite a list!) **in no particular order**

*Thankful for my children. They are amazing. I get absolutely giddy when I think of them and their personalities! I love them and want to squeeze them all day long! Sometimes I think, 'man, they can't get any better than this!' but I know it will. There will be more things to discover, more events to go through, and new things to learn. They excite me!

*Thankful for a van to be able to take the kids to school, to visit friends, get errands done, to offer carpooling… I love the freedom it gives me.

*Thankful for my family & friends who keep me sane, who love me despite my short-comings and foot-in-mouth syndrome; who care for me, who encourage me, and give me Joy.

*Thankful for my husband who loves me unconditionally. He amazes me and I am floored by him. He is so smart and kind and wonderful. He cares for me, loves me, encourages me, helps and supports me, and makes me laugh. I absolutely love him and am giddy at growing old with him. I hope I never lose my excitement & amazement for him. He is my Joy.

*thankful for my neighbours who care for me. We have been blessed with having Jenny & Steve next door. My friendship has grown this year with her and I am so pleased. We are alike in many ways, so our conversations have uplifted me, grounded me, brightened me, changed me, and made me feel "Normal".

*Thankful for my church. I love Jericho Ridge! I love Pastor Brad. And I love Meg, and I love everyone we meet! I feel At Home there. The kids love it and we've made friends. God is Good and we are so happy to be a part of a church who thrives to change and grow as a community. Love. Love. Love this place!!!

*Thankful for friends who call unexpectedly. I love being pleasantly surprised. It makes my day knowing that someone cares for me and is thinking and wants to connect with me.

*Thankful that I am still learning things about myself and being surprised. I love that!

*Thankful for Nathan, for being such a good "half brother". He holds a special part in my heart, having grown up with him. Having him become a good friend to Jono has been so wonderful; a little strange at first, as I never would've predicted it, but I am so grateful. He has been such a wonderful addition to Jonathan's life and I love seeing how it has effected him. It's good to see him be able to not only share his talents and interests with someone else, but to be able to build up in areas he's needed encouragement in. It's wonderful to see him have a positive male model—even if he sometimes deals in grey! (lol) I love that Jono has someone who he can spend time with.

*Thankful for the opportunity to join SU! I may be only breaking even, but I am able to support a (healthy) habit and have fun! I love SU! and stamping and have gained confidence and direction and a happiness.

*thankful for LCS and my parents for the chance that my children can attend there. LCS has been such an amazing experience and I am happy to be a part of the school. I am giddy that Abi is surrounded by godly things. I know I can't protect her, and am very aware that attending a Christian school doesn't stop you from being badly hurt, but I know that I can trust this school. The teachers are wonderful. I lvoe knowing that Abi will get a great education and learn how God fits into Everything in our lives, and I am so excited to watch her grow. I can't wait until the boys can go there too!

*Thankful for Teacher Michelle! She has been a great friend to me and make me laugh. I have loved her from the beginning when Abi was in preschool 3 years ago. (wow, that long ago?) I love that she's teaching Kai now. She is so understanding, caring, patient, fun, creative and I have learned so much from her.

*Thankful for our ST Linda (didn't think I'd ever say that!) for spending time with Kai, for showing an interest, for her suggestions, and for teaching me as well. She is bridging the gap between us and our communication barriers with Kai. I am grateful Kai is where he is; that we are able to get the therapy.

*Thankful for FB. Sounds silly, it's true, but I am SO HAPPY and Giddy to have reconnected with much of my family. I have waited YEARS for something like this! I LOVE LOVE LOVE everyone of my friends & love getting know family members I haven't seen in over 10 years. I am so happy and want to hug everyone right through the scren! Facebook was made for people like me. (so was some medication, though, too, LOL!)

*Thankful for MWP for all the girls who have supported, encouraged, loved, prayed, and cheered for/with me over the year. They mean so much to me and are very much a part of my extended family. I am grateful for their friendship. They've kept me sane as well!

*Thankful that despite the feeling like my body is failing me, I have a well-abled body to complain about. That I am able to see my children accomplish things. That I can hear the music that moves my body and connects me to God. That I can touch the soft skin of my babies and the roughness of my hardworking husband. That I can smell the food that I cook (or buy!) and can eat it. I am thankful for my freedoms and for the land I live in, the generation that I am a part of, and that I have the ability to be active. May my complacency break me.

*thankful that my heart is still able to recognize the MANY MANY Blessings God has given me even when I endure my very common "EHH!" days. Thankful that God doesn't NEED me to do a thing, but LOVES me enough to WANT me to. Thankful that He blesses me abundantly. Thankful that sometimes, in my mind, I can not JUST Fly, but I SOAR.

I asked the kids what they were thankful for, and these are their contributions:

*Thankful for my Mom & Dad because I love them. ~ Abi

*Thankful for Abi because she plays with me. ~Kai

<3

Awesome Video

I came across this YouTube video today that I just have to share with you. It is awesome and powerful and brings tears to my eyes. I can't help but feel encouraged and joyous watching it, even though I know how it will end. Jesus is our ultimate lover. He will go through anything to save us, reach us, bring us to His arms. Even die. I LOVE how the character Jesus stands in front of all the temptations that were shielding the girl, and takes the abuse. And how he triumphs over them.

Have a watch:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cyheJ480LYA

here are the lyrics:

Everything
Artist: Lifehouse

Find Me Here
Speak To Me
I want to feel you
I need to hear you
You are the light
That's leading me
To the place where I find peace again.

You are the strength, that keeps me walking.
You are the hope, that keeps me trusting.
You are the light to my soul.
You are my purpose…you're everything.

How can I stand here with you and not be moved by you?
Would you tell me how could it be any better than this?

You calm the storms, and you give me rest.
You hold me in your hands, you won't let me fall.
You steal my heart, and you take my breath away.
Would you take me in? Take me deeper now?

How can I stand here with you and not be moved by you?
Would you tell me how could it be any better than this?
And how can I stand here with you and not be moved by you?
Would you tell me how could it be any better than this?

Cause you're all I want, You're all I need
You're everything,everything
You're all I want your all I need
You're everything, everything.
You're all I want you're all I need.
You're everything, everything
You're all I want you're all I need, you're everything, everything.

And How can I stand here with you and not be moved by you?
Would you tell me how could it be any better than this?
How can I stand here with you and not be moved by you?
Would you tell me how could it be any better than this?

How can I stand here with you and not be moved by you?
Would you tell me how could it be any better than this?



may you be blessed by this and may His love be made more real.

Happy WCMD!

Today is the First Annual World Card Making Day…and I didn't get to create much. *pout* Oh, but I did make 12 birth announcements for my SIL, who is having her baby in 3 days, so that counts. I've told her I'll make 50 and I've done 22, with 12 ready to put together and 16 to go… phew! I'll post a photo of them soon…once I get one taken! I read on Beate's blog on how she takes her amazing photos, so maybe mine will start to look more professional. Can't promise anything, but well, I've been surprising myself lately!

I was so excited about WCMD since I first heard of it through Stampin' Up! (one of the major supporters of the event) and was planning on hosting a stamp event at my house, and even wrote the date on the calendar so that my DH couldn't complain. But as the date grew nearer, I became less prepared (I really don't like things at the beginning of the month as moving from one to the next is not easy. I see one calendar month and only that month and forget to connect that the next months' things need to be prepared when the current one is drawing an end as to make a smooth transition to the next. *sigh* I never learn! lol) Then DH claimed the day we're having dinner at the ILs that day! It was obviously an American who came up with October 6th as WCMD, as no Canadian would chose such an event to fall on their Thanksgiving Weekend! (roll eyes) So in the end, I had to cancel my event. phooey. *pout* But maybe I'll be able to plan something else soon…

If you are interested in learning more about WCMD, check out the official site. Click under the header "create" for some cards you can CASE (copy and share everything) made by sponsors. Then stop over under "share" for cards that were uploaded by many talented cardmakers who participated in the event. Inspiring!

I LOVE this card for it's simple and beautiful design made by KJ0915



And just because I want to get one of Mine in….here is one I did for my Mom's birthday back in April using Petals & Paisley DS paper, Doodle This stamp set, Double Line Doodles stamp set, Vintage Violet c/s (retired) all from SU! Oh, and the magnets, I made those too!



Other news for the day is that I went to the clinic b/c I am so SICK of being dizzy!!! I've been dizzy every single day, feeling crappy, for over a week! I was so determined it was something drastic. Not too sure if that's b/c I hate to think of it being something simple or b/c I am paranoid or a hypochondriac or something, but c'mon, why shrug something off as a common cold when you can hypothesize on whether or not you need to go to the ER!!!! LOL *wink* I had seen my own doctor on Tuesday and she just shrugged off the dizziness (as well as my other plaguing symptoms) with a caution to not "stand up too fast!" (roll eyes) Suddenly last night it occurred to me that maybe, just maybe, this was only a Simple Thing!!!! And I recalled having sore ears and a sore throat about 2 weeks ago….. h'mmm….. *blush* Sure enough, this new clinic doctor has told me I have an Inner Ear Infection! Yay!!!! :p She actually looked into my ears, nose and throat and got me to follow her pen light with my eyes, and MAN! that made me dizzy!!!! ugh! So I'm on gravol for that, and need to pick up some antibiotics for the infection. I am SO glad to have this figured out. I was really starting to wonder about me!!! Especially after my doctor told me that my thyroid came back as normal and regulated and my iron looks fine, and she even said my pee is normal (dang, I shouldn't have drank so much water and peed so often before my apt, I think I sqwered the results!!!! OF COURSE it looked normal! I was at the doctor's! Grr!!!!!) But yeah…. I'm rambling, aren't I? It's the infection talking. I'm sure of it! Why else would an exhausted sick girl climb OUT of bed to go on the internet??? LOL

Other GREAT news: My wee baby took some steps on his own today!!! He has learned to stand on his own in the past few weeks, but isn't confident all the time. He is desperate to be on the GO though, so he'll attempt some steps now! *GLEE!!!!!* Laying on the couch at MILs, I saw Bryn take 4 hesitant steps and I was watching him with large doe eyes, wondering if he was actually going to make it all the way to his Auntie Jenn!!!! She was wondering the same thing! We were watching him in excitment and silence encouragement. (we didn't want to say anything and break the moment!!!) But he plunked to the floor after his 4th step! How exciting! I'll have to make sure to have my camera ready tomorrow in case he tries a repeat!

WOW! It's midnight! Eep! Where did the time go? I must head back to bed. My ears are itchy and I'm getting dizzy and I hear that Bryn has woken up, looking for his bottle. Have a wonderful Thanksgiving weekend.

oh yeah, he's a boy!

My sweet darling adventurous boy has changed. Oh, he's still sweet and darling, but his advernturous side has taken a strange turn. This week he has discovered….WORMS. Yeah, the creepy, slithery things that come out after a rainstorm to litter my sidewalk. UGH! Now, on a regular day I have nothing against this little things (are they considered insects???) but Kai has taken a sudden interest in them. He has come into the house several times this week, showing off his newest discovery!!! What makes this all so shocking is that this is the Same Boy who just a month ago, could not STAND to have his hands dirty and gross!!!! And now, here he is, digging in the muck in the yard and pulling out wiggly creatures!!! And worst of all, he wants to bring them inside!!!! Eep! I'm not too sure why and what he plans to do with them, but I am so terrified that he'll leave them in his room or his bed, or worse... mine! And I'll come across petrified worm casings. {{{shudder}}} So I've been trying to remind him gently that the worms need to stay inside, and in my garden (well, whatever you call those planter boxes with carcasses of withered plants) where they can help things grow. (although I know nothing will save those flowers…) So far he's listening….

*sigh* So I guess this is where it begins. Where my son starts to do more and more "BOY" things. Creepy things. Gross things. Annoying things. (*roll eyes* he already likes to show me his "wee-wee" as often as he can, with a wiggle and a giggle.) Oh wonderful! :p My heart goes out to Abi, who must endure TWO brothers!!!!!

surviving BTS

Well, it's been two weeks plus a day and Abi is settled into school, and Kai is back in preschool and my house is much quieter and more enjoyable! I don't think I'm getting any more done, lol, as I spend most of my time on FaceBook or catching up on sleep, but well, I'm sure that will come!

I can't believe that Abi is in Grade One! She is SO BIG!!! She even acts it! Tonight, she came into the kitchen (for the third time since she was sent to bed!) for some kleenex' for her snuffly nose. I mentioned how I was happy she had finally learned to blow her nose, as she had been claiming for years that she just "didn't know how to"! (roll eyes) She responded that now she's in Grade One and has learned so much, "even how to blow my nose!" Oh!! Wow! What a smart teacher she has! LOL *wink*

Kai is back with Teacher Michelle at the local preschool and I am so happy. As soon as I walked into the classroom and saw all the other children, I Just Knew that it was going to be a Good Year for him! I'm so happy! These kids are all just three, so he's a year older, but he is the same height and seems to be at the same level speaking. He fits in great, even Michelle noticed, which makes me happy. I don't know if he'll be ready for Kindergarten next year, but that doesn't need to be decided until Spring. As for now, he'll likely be going to Pre-K, which is just fine with me. **on a side note, he starts Speech Therapy again next week. He'll be seeing Linda weekly like we did in Summer. He's been growing and gaining in vocabulary so much over summer, so I am sure that he will just excell this year! …of course, not before we start getting the government suppliment cheques though! *wink* lol!

Abi's First day of Grade One: (she's so beautiful)



Kai's first day of preschool (I love his smile)

saved by grace

I was just about to publish my last post when Bryn intervened. He was this tendancy to crawl under my feet and play with the cords, which frightens me as well as annoys me! He loves to turn off the power bar when I'm in the middle of something VERRRY Important!!! (roll eyes) Maybe that's his way of saying that it's time for Mommy to get off the computer! *grumble*grumble* Now his latest thing is to pull out the plug for the internet! grr!

I was just finishing up my last statement, when I get the message that a "local connection has been disconnected". (roll eyes) BRYYYYN!!! Then the screen goes black! EEP! A moment later and it is restored. H'mm… Then I smell something burning!

I crawled under the table so fast, and there is Bryn sitting on the floor all happy and oblivious! Beside him is one of our chop sticks with a blackened tip!!!!! I guess when he was playing his favourite game of "wave-the-stick-around-and-see-what-we-can-whack", it connected with the electical socket, which I may add wasn't even completely exposed!!! So now our chop stick doesn't match it's partner! Of course, they are wooden, but the end has an aluminum tip for decoration. One now has a burn mark and two small holes in it!!! Gleeps!

Now, I don't know much about electricity and power and what can and can not happen, but it sure is a scary thought! I can't help but immediately thank my God for protecting my baby from harm and saving our house from a possible fire. He is Good! We are saved by grace in more ways than one.

class list

Yesterday I got to pack up the kids in the rain and drive over in rush hour to Abi's school just to get her class listing. What fun! I only had to slam my breaks once, screeching my tires! But it was all worth it because the two boys slept! :) But next time, I'll just check online. (roll eyes) After all my hard work (and believe me, it was hard work!), I come home and my dear husband informs me who Abi's teacher is!!!!!! >:( I wasn't impressed! (he checked online, which I didn't know you could do! grr!)

Abi is in grade 1J, with Mrs. Jobs as her teacher. Rumour is that she's a good one too, so that's nice to know. The only sad part is that she isn't in a class with her friends!!! I was so upset about that! Not only did we find out a few weeks ago that her best friend, Megan, is being transferred to a new school, but now her other best friend, Katie, is in another class! Now, there are two other girls from her kindergarten class with her (Tia and Robin) and she played with them and likes them (I'm proud of my girl, she's a friend to everyone) but still…. *sigh* I felt like crying on the drive home!

It's funny how *I'm* more sensitive to this than Abi is!!! She didn't even notice who wasn't in her class…but I also did my best to point out the positives. I KNOW that she will have a wonderful year and that she will make new friends, I was just a bit sad for her. You always want the Best for your child, and you certainly want to sheild them from the pains you had, so my Mothering Bear Claws were sharpening!

Just two 1/2 more days until school begins!!! I'm so excited! Not because I want to have my children gone (although that's nice too, lol) but because I just love the back-to-school newness. New teachers. New classroom. New friends. New books. New clothes…. It's a love and joy my Mom passed on to me and I'm sure to pass on to my children. (or Abi at least!)

Have a wonderful Labour Day weekend!