Sunday, January 24, 2010

Things to do while preparing for a colonoscopy

(I did NOT think that would ever be a sentence I would write.)

  • catch up on all of my favourite blogs.  There are some good ones out there ladies and gentlemen. 
  • make a to do list.  and then make another.
  • watch Come Dine With Me (one of my new favourite shows )
  • dream about all the food I can eat tomorrow (seriously...we've got a list of restaurants we'll stop at on the way home from the hospital)
  • plan the redecoration of the dining room.
  • ignore my husband who is eating in front of me (did I mention I'm very hungry? I haven't been able to eat since Midnight last night)
  • plan my glamorous outfit to wear to the hospital in the morning

Seriously, this stuff tastes disgusting. 

And I need food.

Friday, January 22, 2010

Safe places.

When you and your husband are each others only safe space, the only place where you can feel like yourself, the only place where you do not feel judged for the choices you have made (or not made), the only place where you can be really and truly real, when it feels like the rest of the world doesn't get you or any part of your world, your real world, when you feel like there is no one else in the world that cares for you - it's supposed to be a good thing.

But what happens when, because you are each others only safe place, you end up taking the rest of the world, everything that's bothering you, the weight on your shoulders (and the one on your heart) out on that person?

What do you do then?

Wednesday, January 20, 2010

My Grandma.

My Grandma got a computer for Christmas and has been emailing me almost every day this week. 

It makes me happy.

Tuesday, January 19, 2010

Sorry.

I have so much to catch up on!! I'm 2 weeks behind on my Memory Mondays, I'm one week behind on my Month of Sundays and I still haven't taken pictures of my layouts from this past weekend. 

Yup. I've been pretty busy.  Like I said in my last post, Helmut brought home our new buffet.  It's GORGEOUS.  I'm so happy with it.  But now we're picking paint colors and trying to figure out how to decorate now that we have a whole big wall with NOTHING on it. 

I also went shopping at Value Village, and found this:



I think she's beautiful.  It's going to be my new scrapbook desk.  We've rearranged the basement (and when I say we, I mean ME) and she lives down there.  It's quite small, but Helmut is going to build a leaf that comes off the back with a table leg...does that makes sense?  I'll take a picture when he's done.

Justin (who is currently out of a job) is going to take it in to Helmut's work and sand it down for me, so that I can paint it.  I'm not sure what color...any suggestions??

I can't wait!

I promise I'll catch up on everything this week!


Sunday, January 17, 2010

Another busy day...




I am starting to feel a little bit more than a little bit overwhelmed.  It's only January 17th. 

It's been an incredibly busy week and I'm looking towards another busy week coming up. 

But, I'll be back tomorrow with pictures of my Month of Sundays and a few other layouts from our online crop this weekend. 

Sweet dreams.

Thursday, January 14, 2010

Dreaming...

I'm dreaming of a hot cup of tea, a warm snuggly blanket and my journal and pen.

maybe tomorrow.

If I have time in between putting all of our stuff in my brand new buffet that now lives in my dining room.

I really do love my husband.

Thanks baby.

Wednesday, January 13, 2010

yesterday

It felt really weird not blogging yesterday, but I just needed to take a personal day.

Quite frankly, I'm in a bit of a funk.  I'm overtired and having a hard time wanting to get up the energy to do anything.  I'm on edge, and things keep irritating me (like my husband chewing in my ear right now.  I am trying very hard not to get up and leave the room). 

I just need some time to myself.

Monday, January 11, 2010

I'm supposed to be doing a post about three friends who have helped me through a hard time. 

I've been sitting here for an hour and a half, and I'm still trying to find the right words.  This is hard.  Reliving my past is hard.  I don't like thinking of those times (the really dark times) very often.  Hardly ever in fact.

I'm going to try again tomorrow.

Good night dear void.

A Month of Sundays



This is my second entry into my Month of Sundays project.  I've been experimenting lately with circles. I really like using all different sizes together.  So, I figured for this little entry, I'd embellish exclusively with circles.  It's not my favourite layout ever, but I'm okay with it.  This project is really about the journalling  and the process for me.

The last Christmas gathering of the season...


This will be the first of a few posts this evening.  I'm playing a bit of catch up tonight. 

Saturday, we had our last Christmas celebration with Helmut's side of the family.  We went sledding first at St. Vital Park.  It was a great evening!  I only took my little point and shoot, so the photos are not the greatest, but I don't care, because we had fantastic time. 


Helmut and I actually got to take a couple slides together!




Magda and Justin taking a self portrait.  Cute!



Brett spent most of the night snowboarding on the sleds. He loves to be outside!



Khai loved hanging out with all of his brothers and cousins.  He did not stop the whole time!



Dekkie made me carry him back up the hill EVERY time.  He is heavy in all that outerwear!



This one is my favourite.  Even though I'm in it.

Like I said, we had a great night! Thanks guys!!


Sunday, January 10, 2010

Light

I have decided that "Light" is going to be my word of the year for 2010. 

Yes. It took me several weeks to figure it out.  But I have decided.  It's definitely "Light".

Genesis 1:4
God saw that the light was good, and he separated the light from the darkness.

This word goes really well with my personal goals for the year.  I know I haven't shared those ones yet, but I'm working on a way to share without getting too personal. 

Come back tomorrow for my photo of my "A Month of Sundays" layout, and my Memory Monday post.

Sweet dreams!

Saturday, January 9, 2010

January 9th. To-Do List.

  • finish up some last minute Christmas stuff for our gathering tonight
  • if I have time, start cutting fabric for the other half of the duvet cover.  I would like to finish it sometime in the next few days.
  • make up our bed and generally tidy the rest of our bedroom. It's the last place upstairs this morning that isn't tidied already.
  • practice piano with Khai.
  • figure out what picture I'm going to scrap tomorrow.
ready. set. GO!

Friday, January 8, 2010

Down time.



I started this little camera case today while Khai was at a playdate this afternoon (and Declan was napping).  Worked on it some more while watching Brett at a basketball tournament; and completed it at home while watching "Murder, She Wrote" (yes.  I watch that show.  every day.)

It's all crocheted (front and back) and has no lining inside.  What you see here in the picture is pretty much it!

What do you think?

Thursday, January 7, 2010

Ecclesiastes 7:10
Do not say, "Why were the old days better than these?" For it is not wise to ask such questions.

Wednesday, January 6, 2010

The fruit of my labour...

Here's what the fabric I bought yesterday has become...




...one half of a duvet cover.  It's for the old duvet that was on our bed before I bought the new one on Monday. 

This will be my extra blanket for when Helmut steals the other one in the middle of the night.  I see it folded in thirds and laying across the bottom of our bed. I can't wait to finish the rest of it!

Still trying to decide how to close it...I don't want to do button holes.

Here's what the fabrics look like up close...



I really like how this turned out. 

And apparently, it's big enough to cover 3 of the kids... : )





Inspire me.

I want to be inspired.

I want to look at something beautiful not be able to speak.  I want to be choked up with emotion.  I want to be affected.

and then...I want to create.

Tuesday, January 5, 2010


I bought fabric today.

Hoping to make something out of it tomorrow. 

Too many ideas. My brain hurts.

MUST GO TO SLEEP!

Sweet dreams.
   

Monday, January 4, 2010

Teachers.

Some of my most favourite people are teachers.
Some of my most favourite people have been my teachers.

I can honestly say that I have been profoundly affected by several teachers.

Grade 11 English.  Mr. Smart.  In a year that was particularly hard, he gave me an outlet, a safe place to share my opinions and confidence.  He inspired me to just be myself.  And I didn't want to be me for a long time before that.  He passed on last year, but he will always hold a part of my heart.

Grade 1 Language Arts. Mrs. Shute.  We used to have to write in these little journals saying what we did over the weekend.  I could never finish my sentence in the time alloted (partially because I was too busy talking to my friend Kellee) but she ALWAYS knew what I was going to say. I ran into her last year at Costco.  She knew who I was. Still made me feel special.

Grade 11 Physics.  Mr. Friesen.  Physics was (and remains to this day) my favourite subject, and it's all because of him.  He made it fun and easy to learn.  But most of all, he was accessible.  That meant the most to me.  He always had time for questions and explaining.  As an adult, I started attending the same church as him, and he is now a friend of mine!

And finally. Mr. Crosson.  He taught me gym in junior high.  He has had the most impact on my life. He helped to make me into the person I am today. 

I've been sitting here for 15 minutes on this last one.  I can't even put into words how he has affected me.  I kept in touch with him after I left the school that he taught at.  I invited him to come to my baptism, and he came.  It meant a lot to me, seeing as I hadn't seen him in over a year.   I kept in touch with him after I moved to Nova Scotia and back here to Winnipeg.  He's offered advice and guidance when I needed it the most, and in a way that was neither condescending nor pushy.  He's helped me gain perspective on so many things and to this day sends me an e-card on any and every holiday.  He has become a dear friend, and I am grateful that he is in my life.

I appreciate you Brent.  Thank you for taking the time to make a difference in my life.

January 4th.

Back to the grind again.  The kids started school again today and I'm pleased to say that I didn't have as hard of a time as I thought I would getting up this morning.  It helps that our bedroom is well on it's way to being completely organized!

As promised yesterday, here is my first layout in "A Month of Sundays".



Can you tell that I love my typewriter?

Be back later this evening with a few teachers who aided my journey through school.

Happy Monday!
I've got the iron, ironing board, new duvet cover, grocery store run and menu planning all knocked off of my list!
Going to work on the bedroom right away!
Be back later!

Sunday, January 3, 2010

January 3rd.

Well. I did it.  Week one of my "A Month of Sundays" project is done.  The lighting is crappy tonight, so I'll take a picture tomorrow and post it then.  It really is a nice way to spend a Sunday.  Scrapping, spending time with my hubby and kids, intermittently napping and a little waxing maintenance.
It really was great. 
                                                                                                source
Tomorrow's to-do list:

buy and iron and ironing board
find a new duvet cover
get to the grocery store
make weekly menu
wash bed sheets
move bookcase
finish organizing bedroom
get more notebooks from Dollarama

Doesn't that all sound exciting?

Come back tomorrow for the "Month of Sundays" post as well as the start of "Memory Mondays".

Sweet dreams.




Saturday, January 2, 2010

I received an email from my mother in law tonight.  It was entitled "The Charlie Schulz Philosophy".  For those of you who don't know, that is the man who created the "Peanuts" comic strip (as I did not, before I received the email.)

The first part of the email asked the reader to name the five wealthiest people in the world; the last five Heisman trophy winners; the last five winners of the Miss America pagaent; ten people who have won the Nobel or Pulitzer Prize; the last half dozen Academy Award winners for best actor or actress and the last decade's worth of World Series winners. 

I couldn't name more than one or two in most of the categories.  And I couldn't name ANY in others.

Then the email asked its readers to name a few teachers who aided you on your journey through school; three friends who helped you through a difficult time; five people who have taught you something worthwhile; a few people who have made you feel appreciated and special and finally five people you enjoy spending time with.

The point of the email of course is to point out that no one remembers those things that the world places such great emphasis on.  But those people in our lives, who do the little things for you, with you; those who spend the time to focus on you when the rest of the world is passing you by; those are the people that matter.

And really.  It's true. I do remember my teachers, my friends, my family...the people who have made an impact on my life.

And so...being just very recently inspired by the movie Julie & Julia...I've decided to blog about each of these categories.  Starting Monday.  Every Monday for 5 weeks.

Because they really are the people that deserve to be remembered.

January 2nd.



My goals are a bit more personal.  I'm trying to figure out a way to share them, without getting into it too much.  I'll be working on that later today and post the more serious goals later!

Friday, January 1, 2010

January 1st...



We've begun a new year.
New experiences - new goals - new challenges.
I feel both excited and overwhelmed by the prospect of what is supposed to be a fresh start. 

Overwhelmed because nothing is really new.  I was still mad at 12:01 about the things I was mad about at 11:59.  I'm still carrying around the same baggage in my heart and the same weight on my shoulders.  Overwhelmed because I'm supposed to be refreshed and ready to take on the world, when in reality I feel burned out and ready for a real, long holiday.

Excited because there will be some new beginnings - in my attitude, in my routine and in my head  New projects to do, new experiences to share with my family and friends.  A new spring. A new fall.

And one more thing.  I am hopeful.  Hopeful that this new year will bring more good memories than bad (this last year had way too many bad); hopeful that I will connect more deeply and intimately with friends - new and old.  Hopeful that our marriage will grow deeper and more real with each passing day.  Hopeful that our home will be more of a peaceful place for all of us; and that that same peace will enter my heart as I try to deal with still being treated like, and feeling like, an outsider.
And mostly, I am hopeful that God will reveal Himself to me in very real and obvious ways; and also hopeful that I will be able to sit in quiet and stillness and listen for His word and guidance.

As I was making my goals, and my list of things to do in 2010, I was thinking of a verse that could be my banner this year.  There was one that popped into my head after a few days of thinking. 

Philippians 4:13
I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.

I have a feeling I will need it each and everyday.  Which I will admit, frightens me a bit.  But at the same time, it gives me hope. 

So, this begs the question...what is it that I want to do this year??
Well, I have several serious goals, and a few fun "things I want to do in 2010"...but you'll have to come back tomorrow to find out what they are!

Have a restful and blessed day.

Happy New Year!

May your year be filled with new sights, old friends and warm hearts.