One Month Until...

until my dad arrives from British Columbia. I am getting excited! He will be in Ontario from December 20th until January 10th. He will be visiting between his sister, my sister, and me, as well as time with old friends. So he will be in and out during that time.

Cory installed new lights in our family room, and they make such a difference. It used to be very dark down here, but now it is brighter. I am not much from dark rooms. I like things to be well lit.

We had snow on Friday... it actually stayed on the ground over night. But it was all gone Saturday morning. I am not ready for snow to stay, so it can just wait a month or so!

Things are going well. Cory is enjoying his new shop and is changing things here and there to make it his own. He has been really busy so that is great.
We are getting our new fence in the back yard sometime this month. I can't wait! It has been five years since we moved here and I have been staring at that ugly falling down fence since then, just waiting for the day we could build a new one! I think it will be beautiful, and so nice not be looking into the neighbours' yards through the chain link.
Cory is off today, so we have a couple of fun things planned... going to the market this morning, and later he is going to watch a movie with Dean while I go to see Eva and the baby. I haven't seen them in a month! Aniela will look so different I bet!

Good News

After a week of worrying about it, we have an answer. He is going to another shop to be the manager there. It is farther away than the one now... maybe 40 minute drive. He used to work there and really liked it! So everything is good! Thank you Lord!

Still Nothing

We still haven't heard anything. Apparently, a couple of big wigs had some meetings today, so maybe something has been decided. Cory came home very frustrated and down. So many things hang on this... we might lose our van which is a company vehicle... for managers... officially he will still be a manager, but one without a shop. He will lose his cell phone... same deal there. We are worried about our benefits... Adria's orthodontist expenses... we still have several more months to pay those. It seems so unfair. I just keep praying that the Lord will work it out. It is not fair to Cory to leave him hanging... the shop closes Monday. The poor man should know where he is going. I have the dreaded feeling that they are going to let him slip through the cracks and he won't have a job at all.

No Answers Yet

We still don't know anything. They talked about various options at the meeting, but nothing concrete. Now I am getting worried! And I don't have the energy to explain it all here. But I do know that the Lord is with us!

Meeting in Windsor

Cory is at a meeting tonight in Windsor. They are closing his shop, and they are trying to figure out where to move Cory. There are not any manager positions open right now. Who knows what they will do with him, but I just keep praising the Lord that they are not planning on giving him the boot! I have been nervous all day, wondering what is going on at this meeting. I do not know when to expect him home.

Blah!

It is just a little over two months until my dad arrives from B.C. He will be here over Christmas and New Year's Day. I can't wait to see him... it has been two or three years since I saw him last.
Today is Wednesday, which means class at church tonight, and the supper before. Cory and I sell the tickets for the meal, so we eat whenever there is a slow time in the line. I love our class... it is about prohecy. The chairs are so uncomfortable though! I can hardly stand up when the hour and a half is over!
I have been up since four o'clock this morning. I will probably be sorry later today, but I do love getting up before everyone else and getting a head start on the day. Makes for much less chaos later on.
I am just waiting for more daycare kids to arrive. They are late.

It's Not My Thing

Just a thought this morning about people (me included) saying... no I can't do that or I don't want to do that... it's not my thing.

Isn't obedience to Christ often about...
doing what is not my thing?

Quiet evening at home

This is a photo of Cory's reef tank in the living room. This is Shark Bait. He is a clown fish. And the anemone is George. They are best of buddies. Shark Bait protects George for all he is worth. Funny! They say only about 50% of clown fish will hook up with an anemone is captivity, but in the wild, they all have anemone friends. It is so funny to watch this little fish try to beat up my husband's hand when he is in there cleaning or whatever.

Well, it is Friday! We had pork chops and green beans for supper. And the last of the pumpkin pie. Now we can get back to good eating again.
Tommorow Cory works in the morning, and I will go with him to work. Just across the street from his shop is my favourite grocery store. So I visit with him for a while, and then walk across and do the shopping and he picks me and the groceries up when he is done at noon. I love doing it this way... no need to make an extra trip to go shopping. And we get to spend some time together.
Adria is babysitting tonight for a couple from church. They have gone to a hockey game and taken their two older sons with them, and left the one year old at home in bed! We are a hockey crazy town here! There are no tickets available for the entire season of our hometown team.

Thanksgivng Day

We had our Thanksgiving dinner yesterday. There were just seven of us, and we had a 22 pound turkey! We planned it that way so that we would have lots of leftovers for turkey sandwiches all week. Cory loves turkey sandwiches! That makes it easy for me trying to plan lunches this week. Yesterday was such a beautiful day!
Today we have been very lazy! Not doing much of anything except cleaning up from last night, and getting ready for the week ahead. I wish every Monday was a holiday! Back to the grind tomorrow.

Sunday Evening

We have had a good weekend. Friday night, I went to a concert a church, and Adria and Cory stayed home together. Saturday, we got lots done around the house and then ran a few errands. My niece came to sleep over and we went to Ben Thanh restaurant for supper with her and my mom and dad. Dad loved it! I know he will be back. Good reviews all around.
Sunday was church and then we did a little grocery shopping for desperately needed items. Then spent the rest of the day relaxing! Woo Hoo! I love days like that. Back to the grind tomorrow. I have to come up with some craft ideas for the daycare kids. Thanksgiving is our theme this week.

Early Friday Morning

It seems that I don't have much to write about lately. I seem to go through periods of talkativeness and then periods of quiet. I come here to my blog and just stare at the empty page. I am glad today is Friday and my husband doesn't have to work tomorrow, so we have a real weekend. The weather has turned a little cold suddenly, although it is supposed to warm up again tomorrow. I thought we might have to turn the furnace on last night, but we managed without it.

Wednesday

We have switched internet companies, and gone from satellite tv to digital cable. My husband dear bought himself a new tv... HD compatible. He is in audio/visual lalaland! I couldn't care if we even had a tv, but he sure enjoys this stuff!
What else to tell you? There has not been much of any import happening here recently. Hmmm... can't think of anything, so I will say adios!

Adria's new do

Here is Adria's new hair do. She got bangs cut and the stylist spent a long time straightening it with the flat iron. I think it looks great.

Woo Hoo!

My two daycare sisters just got picked up THREE HOURS EARLY! So that leaves me with two boys, who are much better behaved when the girls are gone! It's going to be a nice late afternoon for me. Not so much of that "pick up time chaos".
It has been a dark, rainy day... which is something I love once in a while. The hot weather seems to have gone. Cory doesn't work tomorrow, so I am really looking forward to spending time with him.

Set me as a seal upon thine heart, as a seal upon thine arm: for love [is] strong as death; jealousy [is] cruel as the grave: the coals thereof [are] coals of fire, [which hath a] most vehement flame.
Song of Songs 8:6

Today is one year since my brother-in-law stopped drinking. His wife invited us and other family members over to celebrate. We brought a couple of gifts and a card and told him how proud we are of him. It was really good and I thought it was brilliant of his wife to plan this little get together for him, so show that his family supports him. We are proud of you, Dean!

Thursday

This morning, the kids and I are will be off to playgroup. It is at a local church... two hours of thirty plus kids and their caregivers in a big room with lots of toys. I have only been once before and I found it stressful trying to keep track of my four kids. But I will try again. Maybe it will get better. I am feeling pressure from one of my families to go, and I am perhaps a little resentful. But on the other hand, it is a fun change of pace for the kids. We went last week on Thursday, and on Monday, all the kids had colds, so I am wondering if they caught it there. I don't want to have sick kids all the time. Well, I am just hoping that I like it better today. Then we come home and eat lunch, and then it is naptime and the kids sleep well since they have been so busy! So that part is nice.

Tuesday

Well, there is not much new to share today. Life goes on as normal. The weather is hot and sunny, with cool nights. So nice! The daycare kids are behaving themselves so far this week. We are having steak on the bbq tonight for supper. Last night I made pan fried fish, which is one of our favourites. Our Wednesday nights start at church again tomorrow, so I don't have to worry about supper on Wednesdays until May! Woo hoo! We have a supper at church for a great price (I think it is $3.50 for an adult) and then we have classes and youth programs. We are taking a class called "Things to Come" Can't wait! They are offering one this time on money management from a Biblical perspective. There is a divorce care group. A prayer ministry. And a few others that I can't think of right now. We usually take the class that Pastor Wilson teaches. He is our retired Pastor, and a wonderful teacher! Lots of meat!

Saturday

We just got finished eating supper. We had take out Pad Thai from our favourite restaurant. Oh, it is so good!
Today, I made some good progress in our bedroom... cleaning out the closet and dusting, vacuuming, laundry, etc. Also, I was able to accomplish much while Adria did the grocery shopping! She did a great job! It has been a good day for me, just staying home and pitter-pattering around.
Tomorrow I am working in the library at church. Cory and Adria are manning the welcome desk in our lower lobby. They are available to answer any questions and direct newcomers etc.
As for Sunday afternoon, no plans have been made yet. I need to decide what we will have for lunch after church, and get that prepared or partly prepared. Then I need to make sure we all have clothes ready for tomorrow.

Here is a photo of four generations of my husband's family. Our daughter Adria, Cory, his dad Jim, and Jim's mom Vera.

Delegating the grocery shopping!

Tomorrow morning, my daughter Adria is going grocery shopping for me. Saturdays, I usually go to work with Cory (he works 8am 'til noon), and there is a great grocery store near his work. So I always get the shopping done, and then we don't have to make a separate trip at another time. So I have talked Adria into going in my place. I have made her a very specific list, and told her she can phone me a zillion times if she is not sure about things. I am going to stay home and get my house in order, as it has gotten away from me these last couple of days. I am so excited. I hope that she has fun, and that I get a lot accomplished! She will time her shopping so that her dad will pick her up when he is done work.
I am so glad it is Friday. Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!

Thanks Steph

Therefore I say unto you, Take no thought for your life, what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink; nor yet for your body, what ye shall put on. Is not the life more than meat, and the body than raiment? Behold the fowls of the air: for they sow not, neither do they reap, nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feedeth them. Are ye not much better than they?Which of you by taking thought can add one cubit unto his stature?And why take ye thought for raiment? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they toil not, neither do they spin: And yet I say unto you, That even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. Wherefore, if God so clothe the grass of the field, which to day is, and to morrow is cast into the oven, [shall he] not much more [clothe] you, O ye of little faith?Therefore take no thought, saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed? (For after all these things do the Gentiles seek:) for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things.But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.Take therefore no thought for the morrow: for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself. Sufficient unto the day [is] the evil thereof.
(Matthew 6:25-34)

Here is Cheesey in quite a predicament! He got himself inside the water pitcher and couldn't figure out how to extract himself. Oh, we laughed so hard! What a goofball!

This is Cheesecake, our green cheeked conure. He also goes by the names Cheesey,
Cheesey Pouffe, and Tube Head. He is an absolute riot to have around. He has so much personality and loves to play and be cuddled and be with his "flock". That would be us! He can say Cheesecake, and we think he is trying to say good bird, but we are not absolutely sure. They are not prolific talkers, but do have the ability.

Wednesday

It was another busy day here chez moi. The ribs were great! The weather was great! I am not feeling very talkative at the moment. Here is a scripture I read today that I am tucking in my heart. Isn't it amazing how God gives you exactly what you need when you need it. And I really need for my heart not to be troubled right now.

John 14:27 Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.

Some of the daycare kids

Here is Sara in the white shirt, her sister Alissa in the red shirt, and Hayden in the blue shirt. Sara turns 3 on Friday. Alissa is 1, and Hayden is already 3. Broden wasn't here when this photo was taken. I will have to get one of him and post it.

More Introductions

Meet Bailey, our nine year old black lab. She had that name when she came to us as a puppy. She was on her way to the pound and Cory brought her home! She is such a well-behaved dog!

And here is Simon le Poo (aka Poo, PooPoo, Simon, Le Poo, Half-On, and a myriad of other terms of endearment). He is five years old, and thinks he is a dog.

Tuesday

I had a good day today. The kids were well-behaved for the most part. I thought I would give you a run down of my day, so you can have an idea of what my days are like.

5:00am - time with my Lord (but it didn't happen this morning)

6:00am - washed, dressed, make coffee and tea, make breakfast for Cory, make hubby's lunch, see Adria out the door, see Cory out the door.

7:15am - vacuumed, double checked that rooms were picked up for daycare mode, got kids' breakfast set out, fed and watered the bird, got some different toys set out to grab the kids' attention when they come in.

7:40am - two sisters arrive in good moods and their mom doesn't seem quite as frazzled as usual, get them started on their breakfast, do some dishes, make oatmeal muffins

8:00am - puzzles, alphabet workbook with one, finger painting, playing with musical instruments

9:00am - another child arrives, I wonder where the fourth one is, outside we go to play in the sandbox, colour with chalk, run races, play with trucks

10:00am - inside to get the kids to go to the toilet, end up in front of the tv for 20 minutes, I get a moment on the computer

10:30am - back outside

11:30am - wondering again where the fouth child is? can't the parents phone me?

11:40am - lunch is served - turkey and cheese sandwiches on whole wheat bread, honeydew melon, carrot sticks. After lunch we make paint stamp pictures, using half an apple as the stamper.

12:40am - naptime! I eat and clean up and get on the computer

3:00pm - I wake kids up! Long sleep today! We have story time (our favourite part of the day)

3:30pm - snack time - oatmeal muffins that I made this morning - kids want seconds!

3:50pm - Adria is home finally! She is late! The bus schedule was a little chaotic apparently. They should have it worked out tomorrow.

4:00pm - outside again with all the backpacks ready for going home time!

5:10pm - last child leaves - the fourth one never did get here today! Clean up outside. Come in and talk to Adria about her first day of school. Look at the mess all around and wish I didn't have to deal with it. Get up and look at my list of things to do, and start at the top and work down. Doesn't take nearly as long as I thought. I am back in control!

6:00pm - Adria and I have peanut butter and banana wraps for supper. Cory is at a meeting where they will provide supper. It is nice not having to cook. Now I will continue on with my evening routine and start the whole thing over again tomorrow!

Some people I would like you to meet...

I would like to introduce you to my family. This is me, our daughter Adria, and my husband Cory.

Today is New Year's Eve

Tomorrow is the start of a new school year for my daughter, and it is at this time that I always seem to evaluate, plan, and implement changes in my own life. I love this time of year! New pens and notebooks, new clothes, new schedules, and a new energy or zest for all my goals!

This morning, my husband and I went through all our home files and sorted and purged and got everything organized. It feels really good to have all those papers relegated to the place where they belong instead of hiding out all over the house!

Then we got a call from a lady at church asking if our sister-in-law needs a crib for her new baby, and wouldn't you know it, I have been praying about finding a crib for them. They have a bassinette and a playpen, but haven't been able to afford a crib yet. Then this precious woman phones with a crib to give away. So we went to get it and dropped it off at our sister-in-law's house, and they were very pleased and grateful! Isn't God faithful to provide?!

Right at this moment, my husband is preparing some ribs with a spice rub. They will sit with the rub on them until Wednesday evening, when we will barbeque them. Oh they are so good! We would eat them tomorrow, but he has a meeting for work and won't be home until well past the supper hour.

Our daughter just went to bed. She is so excited about school starting tomorrow! She goes to a french immersion school. Most of their subjects are taught in french, probably about 80% of their day is french. She just started there last year, and she is just thriving on the challenge! You can only start french immersion in kindergarten, grade one, or grade seven. I am really pleased that so chose to go. She started in grade seven, and will continue through high school. With Canada having two official languages, it is quite important to know french in the workplace.

I am looking forward to a new week with my daycare kids. This week, things should be a little bit back to normal, after the last two weeks where I had some changes and upheavals. Can't wait to get messy with the finger paints in the morning! And I can't wait to hear about my daughter's day when she comes through the door after school. She has a long day. The bus leaves at 7:30am. School starts at 8:10am (which is about an hour earlier than most Ontario schools) and she gets home at 3:30pm.

Happy New Year everyone!