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........Where has the time gone?  Hard to believe January is over and we are well on our way into February.  Life does continue on and for that I am very grateful. 

Children are all doing well.  School is going good for them. They are learning so much especially my African children who cease to amaze me every day.  God has poured his blessing upon these two who have struggled tremendously to understand "Canadian" school and life.  They are a joy no matter the trials because God chose to bless our family with a heart for adoption....and care for "the least of these"...and they are no longer "the least of these"...but have a mom, dad and family who love them now and forever...we are their forever family.

While thinking about this post,  I contemplate where the weekend went.  It was quiet and not much happening but still full of God's promises and grace.  We are blessed with lots of food to bake, cook and eat. 

Children who enjoyed their mom playing "road hockey"...and a mother who didn't mind the fact that her daughter missed the ball and the stick landed on "said mothers" knee cap.  But she milked the pain all evening and enjoyed daughter caring for her mother out of guilt.  No, not true....my daughter is a jewel to me and though she felt bad as her mother hobbled around, we still had lots of fun and enjoyed a movie night and tea together.  It was great exercise and now my boys want me to play all the time because I scored 5 goals.  Okay, I rock in this game! 

I am grateful for a husband who always has time to wrestle with his kids...a time to separate the boys from the men...and my boys are growing up so fast that one day I will blink and they WILL be young men...but for now, I relish in their child play with a dad who loves them so.

Sunday was amazing as always...we are studying the life of Joseph...so many different angles our pastor is coming from...the understanding of this part of history has been wonderful to say the least.  Worshipping with God's people is a joy I look forward to each week.  A time to reflect on the week...the mercy we are given by our God...the mercy he shows me everyday...the love he pours upon me and my family....and a day set aside as Holy....a time to praise God for everything..and know that he is still on the throne reigning from above...and looking down with love to His people who deserve death...a sinner such as me...saved by Grace.

Also, Sunday a day set aside for family...a time for visiting.  This was our day with my niece and family.  Talks together so deep that a smell permiated my kitchen and then the realization that there was still a loaf of bread in the oven, long since done.  Ahhhh!!!!   And then thankful for a husband who said he would still eat it...and said "it was good".  The good life!

So now, another week is upon us...a time to set in motion the daily routines of life....laundry that I am previleged to do because I am blessed with many  children...food to prepare that invites my dh home after a long day at the office and a way to say 'thank you" for providing for our family and for his willingness to do the same thing over and over again every day...and doing it with a joyful heart.  Thank you schatzi.....time at home every day with Stephanie as she reminds me daily of my often failures as a mother...failures to understand how her mind works...but knowing that God never makes mistakes and that she is formed exactly the way she is to be...and a mother who is kept humbled and at the feet of Jesus everyday because of her and inspite of me....and for the glory of God I have been called to be her "mom"...and no matter what..she loves me!

So as I embark on this new week, may God continue to use me...refine me...and work out all that he has planned for me...and may I see through His eyes the teachings that lie before me each and every hour of the day...and whatever is willed in heaven may he make it so on earth today!

...because

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CT7x3VnrqbA

Why?

...because

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6V0rgrt1nTM

He is my everything!

Thank you everyone for your prayers, support and wonderful comments.

We are all doing fine.  Had my Dr's appointment and I just have a little high cholesterol...just slightly above the norm...but knowing my doctor he just doesn't want it to rise anymore as I've never had High cholesterol before.  Because the numbers are still very low and only slight elevation he wants me to change my diet a bit. 

I am not really a "meat" person...I'm definitely not a vegetarian but I do love my carbs....so I will eat a few carbs and protein...but mostly vegetables and salads...and stay away from too much sugar as well.  I am so grateful to God for this news.

Tianna is doing great.  We skype'd with her last night and she said she truly felt our prayers.  God is working in the lives of our young people...our next generation, and oh how satan hates that.  It's just a reminder to me how much our children need to be covered in prayer on an hourly basis.

Karisa and JJ are doing fine as well.  They were here yesterday and it's amazing because JJ is quite quiet when it comes to his faith...He's more shy to pray in front of people let alone talk about God with non-christians.  But Karisa told me that after they got home, JJ asked her if she wanted to pray as he felt he should.  So they sat on the couch and HE prayed...wow, God is moving and I am so grateful that my children are growing in the Lord and through difficult times, God is always there.  They have  a heart for Him and I am a blessed mama. 

On the adoption front, a few things have changed.  Things I cannot discuss on open forum right now...but suffice to say we probably will not be adopting this little girl through the RMI as God is leading my husband on a different path...and one that promises to be exciting beyond belief.  Please pray for us that God would move in exactly the way we are praying.  And hopefully I will have news to share with you very soon.  I am over the moon with excitement.

Please listen to this song...this has become my favourite song.    We sing it in church and I cry everytime because the words are so powerful.  God is unchangeable...unstoppable...and in the good times and bad He still sits on the throne...and NOTHING and I mean NOTHING passes the eye or hand of God...and when His people cry out....He is still there...because he is the same yesterday, today and forever. Amen! 

This is the God I serve....and I am humbled to be his servant...I am his daughter and he died for me...he gave up everything for ME and YOU...you are his children and his hearts cries for the babies of Haiti...for the people of Haiti...for the orphans of the world...for all the lost of the world...But  His love never changes....so be encouraged...he is Yahweh... HE IS GOD ALONE!!!

Be blessed.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OICArFHAa9c&feature=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9xPzTSpbYmk&feature=related

***It might take a little time to load...but be patient it's worth it.

Please go and read this.....couldn't have said it better myself. 

Sory folks but I completely forgot to post the winner....today has been a crazy, crazy day!!

.....and the winner is Deblyn. 

 Thank you everyone for your comments and prayers.

Deblyn, please email me your address so I can get your prize in the mail.

Have a blessed evening everyone!

Hi Everyone out there....we heard that Rebecca and her dh are fine...they are safe but have lost everything.  All children accounted for except two.  One of them is her dh brother...and one other boy.  So they frantically are searching for the boys.  Their home and everything are gone.  We are so grateful to God...and praying, praying for EVERYONE who has been impacted by this devastating quake.  Thank you so much for ALL your prayers and emails.  Like I stated before and lots of times..you guys rock...you guys are absolutely the best friends anyone could ask for.

On a different note...Tianna found out that she definitely will be going to Thailand for her outreach part of her YWAM trip...but her boyfriend will NOT...they are sending him to China.  Dd is strugging a little with that...but Ken and I totally agree and support their decision.  I think it's better that they are separated for this part of the trip.  I know that God is completely in control and the leaders truly feel this is what God is asking of them.  They know these two are boyfriend and girlfriend and feel it's better they are not together.  There will be 7 other young people going with Tianna as well.  Ken talked with her about all of this and I think she will be okay...she just had herself convinced they would be going together.  But I also know that once she has time to think and pray, God will give her peace.  We are so excited because our one son is from Thailand and I think that will be an awesome experience for her.  We just love the Thai people...they are a wonderful people...and treated us so well, while we were there.  I know there is a lot of work to do in that country, and I'm humbled that God is calling Tianna there...even if it's just for three months...who knows what the future holds.

Well, that is about all for now...making homemade pizza for dinner and watching our Road to Avonlea series...so should be a quiet evening.  I think Karisa and JJ are coming for a quick visit before their date night.  JJ says he hasn't seen the kids for a while and wants to "hang out"...what a great SIL we have.

Don't forget the Giveaway..... it will end on Sunday...so leave a comment and your name will be entered.

Hi Everyone:

Our prayers continue to go out to all the people of Haiti...for all their loved ones everywhere.  My nieces' husband has a sister who runs an orphanage in Haiti...I think the town is called Gande Goave and the family has NOT be able to reach Rebecca or her husband.  Rebecca just got married to a Haitian the week before Christmas.

Please keep praying! 

Thank you!

Another day is coming to an end...and this day was truly a gift from the Lord, as all days are no matter the situation...at least that is what I am learning.

I ended up spending an hour waiting in the doctors office for what I thought and turned out to be, a bladder infection.  Thankful that it was caught at the very early stages.  Yes, one might not think that sitting that long and then spending time in a line up waiting to fill one's perscription as a gift from the Lord...but it made me think long and hard about other women in third world countries who (I'm sure) have had bladder infections before...but they have NO doctors....can you just imagine the pain they must go through....or if they are able to head to a clinic, they walk all day just to stand for the rest of the day in a line up and are not even promised to make it to the front of the line before closing...so they just camp out where they are hoping to see the doctor "tomorrow". 

We here in this country are blessed beyond words.  And so as I was driving home, I just started praying for all those people who don't have access to medicine...cleaning drinking water...or who might have access, but must walk for hours and sometimes days, just to make it to a clinic.  My heart aches for all those who suffer...and while I take my antibiotics...my thoughts are "what can I do"...and so I pray as I don't know what to do...but praying that God will show me how I could possibly help.  It's such a big task...but if each of us just does one small thing...it can truly change the world.  Isn't that why Jesus came in the first place...to change the world...to pay the ultimate price....paying for our sins...the sins of the world.

Anyway, I continue to pray for guidance every day...wisdom to make a difference in my little part of the world.

On a different note...we talked to Tianna on Skype again...so nice to see her and grateful for the advancement in technology that permits us to see her and talk with her everyday...at least for a while.  As when she heads for Thailand those times will end.  But grateful for "today".  Tianna is doing well, and learning so much at school and during her lecture times.  Her time is limited with Jared, but she seems to have bonded quite well with the girls and leaders of her group.  One exciting thing....and a little bitter sweet.....is that she has decided to be baptized.  It makes dh and I a little sad because we won't be there to witness it...even though Jared will video tape it for us.  But not quite the same.  Nevertheless, I know it's something she has been thinking about for a while.  But I think she was too nervous at our church as the service we attend has over 1000 people and she couldn't handle the stress.  Now, it will be a much smaller group...more intimate and less stressful for her.  I know God is leading her life and if this is something He is calling her to do, then we support her and will be praying.  Dh is quite sad because it's something we always want to be part of...not only when our children have come to the Lord, but baptism.  Anyway, God is moving and that's what we pray  daily for our children...that they would be mightly used by God for His kingdom.

Well, I'm off to have tea with Anika...have a blessed evening.....and don't forget the Giveaway (check previous post)

A wonderful Lord's Day to each of you..... I sit here sipping my tea and trying to get rid of this self-induced headache resulting from reading the most amazing book I have read this year...oh wait, it's only Jan.10th. Well, it's the first book of the year, and wow, oh wow!!!  I know what you're saying..."she always says that about books she reads"...yes, it's true, but this is unbelievable.... I think my headache is not only from focusing my eyes on the text, but from tears that flow because of the text.

I started reading this book yesterday afternoon..but did take a break to have a movie night with the hubby and kids...but continued reading it after church...and just put it down now as I think my brain and eyes were going to explode.   

But before I continue bragging about my latest reading acquisition....our family got to Skype with Tianna and Jared last night...oh how wonderful to see her face and know she is well.  They had a wonderful flight.  Tianna did have a bad nose bleed on the last leg of the trip.  As they were beginning their decent into the Sunshine Coast, her nose started to bleed and because she left us with a very bad cold, her sinus's started to hurt....she said the pressure was so bad that she thought her one eye was going to pop right out of its socket.  The pain was very intense, so her and Jared just held hands and started to pray....and the nose stopped bleeding and the pressure subsided enough for her to handle the pain.  Once landed she felt better.  She is seeing so quickly the power of God and prayer and calling out to Him every minute of the day.  We know this is just the beginning of God revealing himself to her and the rest of the team.  She is sleeping in a house with 11 other girls...her room is the garage with three others.  She feels blessed because it's the coolest place in the house.

Jared is about a 15 minute walk away.....thank you Lord. LOL....because they have a strict codes of ethics and no PDA...they are not even aloud to hold hands or kiss goodnight...sweet news to this mama's ears.  Afterall, this is NOT about them...but serving others, and their personal relationship with God.  I asked Tianna if they had kissed yet....LOL....but she just made a face at me through Skype to basically say, no...and how sad it was.  Us, on this side of the webcam almost died laughing.  Oh fun to laugh at our children's lives...we are one crazy family!

I wanted to update you on our "little house guest" as a few of you have emailed and wondered if everything was alright.  Thank you for your concern and prayers...I cannot imagine not having each of you in my life even through HSB...I appreciate everyone of you and all your prayers and support. I will make this a little vague and general in order to protect people.  But our house guest was a little girl from Africa that we were giving respite too...their family just needed a break for reasons I won't go into...well, we kind of bonded with this little girl age 9...but after her three week stay, the parents have decided they needed to disrupt their adoption of both girls...yes, two who are from West Africa.  The grief and hurt was almost more than I could bare...I won't go into details in order to protect not only them, but my own heart as sometimes, our hearts are just between us and God...but suffice to say, I have been grieving in a way I've never done before. 

The little girls will be re-adopted by an African-American family now living here in Canada.  I won't go into details...but I know God is working and has orchestrated this from the beginning of time...we just sometimes take a lot longer to "get it" then need be...but God never makes mistakes and can take something horrible and turn it into something beautiful.  And we know this new home will be beautiful for these two precious little girls..........But now I have a major dilemna..........

 I start reading this absolutely AMAZING book....okay, I'll tell you about it, but you must promise to go and buy it immediately, or at least see if someone else has it and borrow it...it will change your life.  My dilemna is this....I don't know what to do now that I've read this (not finished yet)....I don't know how to move....I don't know how to pray....I don't know how to continue living my life.....I don't even know how to breathe right...and WHY????

 The Hole in our Gospel by Richard Stearns...President of World Vision USA!

You too will never be the same...

As I'm typing this...I got a brilliant idea.  Or maybe the prompting of the Holy Spirit.  I am going to giveaway a copy of this book.  So please leave me a comment, and next Sunday January 17th I will draw the winner. 

So, my headache is gone and now back to my book.  Should have it finished this evening even if it takes me till midnight or later.  But I must breathe first....or I should faint....LOL

Blessing

Hi Everyone...I'm still here.

Life has been so crazy lately and I just have no time or energy to blog.  Our little house guest left and we are having a hard time letting her go.

Tianna headed to YWAM Australia yesterday and we are grieving her absence.  She will be gone six months.  It's seems so surreal.  I walked into her room this morning and wow, my baby has left the nest.  Yes, I still have four at home, but this is different.  Tianna has never been away from home and is a "mommy's girl".  Dh is also having a hard time letting her go...our tears seems to flow at any little thing. 

We are very grateful she has a travelling companion......her boyfriend Jared.  They  both are attending YWAM and then heading to Thailand.  Jared will be in a different base for obvious reasons (Thank you Lord).  But at least they will see each other throughout the day...at meal times and lecture times.  But they have a strict curfew and no PDA.

We received a text from Tianna, they have arrived in Australia and now have a 10 hour layover before catching a flight to the sunshine coast. 

It's been a tough year as I have had to let Tianna go more and more...I have struggled with all the time her and Jared have spent together....It's kind of hard to explain.  But we truly have come to love Jared as a son...he is becoming a wonderful young man who has a heart for God and who loves Tianna beyond words.  Plus his parents treat Tianna like their daughter and we are ever grateful.  They spoil her rotten and have given her so much for this trip that it brings tears to my eyes to see their love for her.  It also saddens me because I have not been as kind to Jared or welcomed him the same.  I don't know why I've struggled so much...maybe it's because she is my last bio daughter to "spread her wings and fly"....even though I love my adopted children exactly the same....anyway, I know God is working in my heart and I also see my children bonding with Jared as well.  He is an only child and struggled with wanting "space" alone with Tianna...well, in this house, space and privacy is something that's hard to find...and nearly impossible till the little ones are in bed...so that has been an adjustment for them also...and caused many a fight.  But it's also been a growing period for everyone...and we are assuming those two will be married in the future...and we would be thrilled to have Jared for a SIL...but thankfully I don't have to worry about that for a LONG time.  I just need to get through the next six months first. LOL.

Well, this post has become more of a reflection of sorts rather than just a regular post.  I pray all of you are having a wonderful New Year so far. I apologize for not checking in with all my dear friends.  But will get back to normal soon.  And hopefully my blog make-over will happen as well....will see how the next few days play out.

Have a blessed weekend.

Happy New Year Everyone!

My blog is going to be getting  a bit of a makeover...just not sure how or when.  It seems that as 2009 has ended and we are now into 2010, life changes....things happen and it's time to rethink priorities and where life is leading me.  Chapters closing, and new ones opening...doors closing but windows opening....and the big question.... how to incorporate  those changes it into a "homestead" blog?

Since my life does not exclusively revolve around homesteading, I want to try and change it a bit.  There is so much else to my life that has nothing to do with grapes, gardening and making homemade soap.  So, like a just stated...how do I make it work?    I do have a blog at blogspot, but don't enjoy that as much.  Plus keeping two blogs requires time that I'm just not willing to spend behind a computer.  So.......

you will see changes to my blog in a near future.  Check back soon!

Well everyone, another year is almost over and we are preparing for my most favourite time of the year....Christmas.

Our house guest has arrived...Christmas programs, baking, cleaning, laundry, company, shopping, gift wrapping, and everything else that is involved with running a home...my time is now stretched and blogging is going to be slowing down right now.  So I wanted to quickly stop by and wish everyone here...all you my bloggy friends a wonderful and blessed Christmas filled with the true meaning of this season.  

Thank you everyone for the wonderful gift of your friendships...all your encouragement has meant more to me than I can say.  Wonderful recipes, advice and just stopping by for a visit...you truly are the most amazing and terrific blogging friends anyone could ask for.  I will be praying for each of you as the Lord lays you on my heart...and may you feel the spirit move in your lives this season and throughout the next coming year. 

So from my family to yours.....

Merry Christmas to one and all.

Woke up this morning to more snow....not really that much but it at frozen overnight. So I opted NOT to take the kids to school.  Like I posted on Kim's blog...I am truly a chicken when it comes to driving in the snow.  I even cancelled dentist appointments and didn't take the boys to hockey.

Instead we stayed home, got all our work done and the kids and I baked sugar cookies and spent the evening decorating.  I made Shephard's pie for dinner and a cucumber and tomato salad. 

The snow has started to come down now in buckets...and I'm totally freaking out because I have to head to the airport tomorrow morning to pick someone up...and dh is suppose to have meetings all day.  But he is just going to have to cancel them ALL.....because there is no way I'm driving in this alone.  I don't think I will even bother taking the kids to school.   The airport is about 1-1/2 hr drive from our home and the weather is suppose to continue all the way until around noon tomorrow....so I'm already panicking and it's only 8:00pm.  I will be up early checking flights and road conditions.  I even considered heading to a hotel right at the airport this evening...but my dh tried to reassure me that things would be fine....did I mention I DON"T do snow....I mean, I DON"T drive in the snow.

Well, hubby is calling...so I'm off to do Advent with the kids. 

Have a safe and wonderful evening.

Hi Everyone....it's Sunday afternoon, the house is all quiet not even a mouse is stirring....well, I sure hope not. I'm wrapped in my Christmas blanket, sipping my tea while the snow lightly falls outside.  The lights are twinkling  and the smell's of our fresh Christmas tree permiates the upstairs. 

We have had a wonderful weekend.  Friday evening started with our church program....very well done.  Saturday morning we woke to a little snow falling.  Tianna made us pancakes and sausages for breakfast...and we headed to get our tree. 

The rest of the evening was getting ready for our annual dinner of family and me giving everyone their ornaments.  This is something our children look forward to every year...and this year was no exception.  But now it's getting a little more difficult as our children get older and we have added our SIL to the mix and our daughters boyfriend. 

I always try to make each ornament special and relevant to them.  So here are a few of the ornaments given....

Tianna always has her cell phoned in her hand..so thought this was perfect.

...and her boyfriend is into the guitar and also plays at our church sometimes.

...and of course, my dh and his tractor.

...Then Stephanie who is and has "everything horse".

...and my boys who both got the same...as they are hockey players now

...And Anika who is learning to skate.

Unfortunately, before I thought to take photos, Karisa and JJ took theirs home.  JJ's was a Cummins Pewter ornament because he is "everything Dodge and Cummins".  Karisa who is the tea drinker of the family, received a miniture old fashioned tea pot in cream colour and gold trim that reads...."tea time".

Well, the quietness is now over and everyone is heading outside to start a fire and roast s'mores...so I guess I either have to just take pictures or join them.

Woke up this morning to our first dusting of snow this year.  The kids were hoping for more...and I think they might get their wish....more on the way tomorrow.

Had to take the van in "again", as the door is still sticking.  So they ordered a part and should be in by Tuesday....hopefully.  Dh was home so that was nice as I didn't need to spend the entire time at Tim Horton's waiting for my van (which is just a two minute walk from the dealership)....I had so much work to do at home.

I bought six bags of fresh cranberries because they were on sale.  I canned all six bags except for a tiny bit left over that wouldn't fit in the jars.  This is my first time canning cranberry sauce.  I got the inspiration (once again) from Kim....she is amazing! 

Also, because we had our first snowfall, our tradition is always homemade baked beans and fresh bread.  So as not to break with tradition, I made baked beans with chicken and homemade bread.  Also, ate the bit of cranberry sauce...so delicous.  Everyone rated the meal as  9 out of 10. 

My meat also arrived this week and I am now officially "full".  My freezers will hold nothing else. 

The most exciting part of my day...or should I also say, my kids day was this....

Our SIL who is a lineman for hydro took the children up in the bucket truck.  They were up about 60 ft....way to high for me.  BUT, I did go in and made it up about 30ft before I felt ill....I do NOT do heights very well....as a matter of fact, I don't let my boys climb trees...I don't look over someone's balcony if they are anything higher than the first floor. So this was pretty significant...but we didn't have the camera for my adventure....but I had lots of witnesses to prove I DID IT.

This evening we are heading out with Audrey and her family to our church Christmas program.  Should be a wonderful evening.  It's our first official Christmas event. 

Will post more on that later. 

Forgot to post a picture of my cranberry sauce...and now my USB won't work....will try later.

Well, it's 2:00pm in the afternoon here and I am finally home with my cup of coffee.  After dropping the three youngest ones off at school, took Stephanie to the dentist for her six month check-up and cleaning...then headed over to my dentist to pay my daughters bill...then headed over to the doctors office, as he needed to fill out a form so that Stephanie can still be covered under my hubby's medical.  His company has changed insurance providers and Stephanie being an adult needs a doctors note basically explaining (again), that Stephanie is special needs...doesn't work....will never work....can't read and all that jazz.. 

Then headed to the Superstore (even though I was just there Monday)...was  short a few things....and still my bill came to $175.00.  And Monday I spent $250.00 and got a free turkey. Superstore is having a no tax day today and tomorrow...so that was nice.  Then Steph and I headed over to Canadian Tire to purchase lighters, matches and ice salt.  While I was walking to my vehicle....hubby phones and wants to make sure I purchased cold cuts...oh yes, they are on my list, but "No, I forgot....so back to Superstore we go....and come out with a bill over $50.00.  Who sends this girl in to shop?  Usually, dh does things like that...things like, sending him for three things and he comes home with 20...now, I'm doing the same thing.  Oh well, let the snow come...we are set for a month (or more).

So now, after everything is put away....I am here blogging and resting.  Dh took today and tomorrow off and is building me a microwave shelf for the wall, so that I can have more counter space.  I am so excited.  He is making it out of maple....will take a picture when it's done.

Thank you for all your kind comments on my advent wreath.  Dh made it out of maple.  We changed it a bit this year....both of the pieces of wood come apart...they are inter-locked together...and there were spots drilled for the candles to sit.  We didn't like it because the candles didn't sit deep enough...so dh cut the four ends off just past the dowled holes and I purchased those wooden candle holders from Michaels...my boys stained them and varathaned them and dh screwed them to the wood....he also screwed the center together where it locks and we added another candle holder....the only problem now, is the wax sometimes drips down and onto the table.  I have a couple of those glass "things" that you can put over the candle to sit on your holder...but I only have three...can't seem to find any....so will keep looking or maybe we need to change it "again" (next year)!

Wishing all of you a blessed day...and thank you for all the lovely comments.

Today has been very cold...woke up to -7 celsius.  That is cold for here!  I don't mind because I know that the colder the weather, the more it kills all the bad bugs and germs going around...if that's actually true or an old wives tale.

I was quite behind in the laundry department.  Actually, missing one day with my brood can get me behind.  But I managed to get  five loads done so far...even got Stephanie's blankets washed and dried today.

I am making Butter Chicken as I type this...so quick and easy...and everyone loves it.  Anikak wants to bake cookies this evening...so hopefully that will happen.  Usually as the evening wears on,, this mama starts to shut down and can think of nothing but "doing nothing"....or as little as possible.  But it is nice having a daughter who likes baking...I just need to supervise so that she reads the recipe right and uses the right measuring tools.

Audrey dropped off my nativity pattern that I got her to order for me on ebay...thanks to Kim's comment she left me. I am not sure now if we are going to get it finished this year as we have a bit of a family friend emergency and time might not permit.  But will see how it goes.  If not, then next year...Lord willing!

Well, I leave you with a couple of photos of our advent and my gorgeous Son, Ethan!  Isn't he just the cutest guy?  He has the biggest smile...we are so blessed to have  him as our son.

.....no snow.  Yes, the weather man was wrong again.  It has been bitterly cold (at least for here on the west coast).  This morning I woke up to -5 degrees Celsius.

Christmas is coming so quickly....that I totally forgot about sending Christmas cards...that has never happened to me before.  So hopefully I can get our brood together for a Christmas photo this year.

We had a wonderful weekend.  Lots of Christmas baking accomplished....Karisa came by Sat. and Sun afternoon.  We are all enjoying our advent series and the boys love lighting the candles. Dh made the most wonderful beef/barely soup for dinner last night...so nice not to think about "what should I make for dinnner"...I truly am married to the most wonderful guy.

Always wrestling going on in this home....

I think Anika won.

This morning I defrosted all my meat  freezers as my 1/2 cow arrives tomorrow...I'm so excited to have lots of fresh meat in the freezer again....and all organic...that is the best part.

I was reading Kim's blog and they posted a little video of their shopping trip...I couldn't believe they only paid $2.79 (or was it $2.97...will need to watch the video again).for a pound of butter....I paid $3.79 at Costco and thought I was getting a deal.  What do you American's pay for a pound of butter?

Well, I'm off to hockey with my boys....have a wonderful evening...and stay warm.

Well, that is what the weather channel is saying...and if that's the case, I'm staying home tomorrow. We are only to get 1-3 cm... I love the snow, but hate driving in it....I have a feeling the kids are going to be missing a lot of school this winter...as last year I got three vehicles stuck in our driveway, all in one day!  And where we live are lots of hills..and sometimes the fear just grips me...so my best place is sitting home with a fire in the fireplace drinking my new found love of "Christmas Candy Cane Tea"

Have a wonderful and blessed evening.