Fun on Friday!! (38)

As I was doing my laundry this morning I thought about some of the things that I've learned in my many years of doing laundry.  I don't want to contemplate the number of loads that I've put through...it's a very big number.  Anyways, here's what I know for sure:

Checking pockets and shaking things is a REALLY important part of laundry.  In doing so you may avoid washing some of the following objects:

• money
• tools
• nuts, bolts and screws
• pens, crayons and pencils
• ipods
• MP3 players
• panty liners
• headphones
• wallets
• cell phones
• kleenex
• paper clips
• magnets
• important receipts
• cheques
• small toys  and....
• Bibles (yes, I washed an entire Bible once, made a huge mess)

I realized there are also some things I've learned about plumbing.  If your toilet isn't working properly you may discover one of the following in there fouling up the system:

• apples
• watches
• small trucks
• plastic cows
• lentils
• diapers

yup, we've had all of those in our systems...

If you are smelling something odd in your home and you have small boys, you might find urine in some of the following locations, just follow your nose...

• pails of nails hidden in a corner
• the pile of coal where the old chimney used to be
• vases
• crocks
• pop bottles or cans
• toy buckets
• my personal favourite (only because it didn't happen to me!) the shampoo bottle - yes - shampee!  I'm sure my friend Darcy was really thankful it WASN'T shampoo!  I laughed for days over that one...

I hope you've had a few chuckles and learned a thing or two about living with boys in large quantities.  I solemnly dedicate this post to Holly and Darcy Van Loon, our partners in raising many boys in one home, I'm sure they could add a few more things to this list - except for laundry - Holly's way more diligent than I am on that front!

They look so innocent don't they?

And I can't post without a few gifts of grace from God over the last day of two:

• waking up to "Be Born in Me" by Fransesca Batestelli - love that song, an excellent way to begin a day
• Lizzy dancing to some great songs this morning in the kitchen
• working on a particularly funny paragraph assignment with my son - it's good to be able to work, laugh and actually accomplish homework with him.  That kid has a great sense of humour.  When his older brother contributed it made the whole process even better.  A lovely breakfast moment.
• sewing for the first time in my sewing room yesterday.  IN the process Abby was doing homework on one of the other work surfaces, Lizzy was painting on the high counter, Sam was being creative on the floor and the other boys were playing PS3 where I could see them and hear what they were doing.  How I love having everyone engaged in a space in a happy way.  Delightful
• the song I'm listening to right now, "Sing Over Your Children" by Matt Maher - such an amazing song out of the scripture in Zepheniah - You sing over your children, you take delight in us.  How amazing that He sings over us...even when we find cows in the toilet!

Christmas 2011 (33)

All of my Christmas events are now officially over.  Unfortunately, I have a cold and so am feeling a little under the weather as well as exhausted from all the late nights!  These minor discomforts are far outweighed by the blessing it has been to spend time with the family and friends that have graced our home these last few weeks.
I have to count the highlights so I can remember all the glorious moments that will now become part of fond memories of Christmas 2011.

11.  there have been some stunning skies morning and evening over the last week - God you are an amazing artist.
12.  My son and husband created a craft room for me in the basement that I am looking forward to moving into
13.  which means all the sewing stuff is finally out of my kitchen!
14.  the glorious mess that I'm going to start cleaning up today which is a reminder of...
15.  the blessing that I have the resources to house that many people at one time
16.  that I have this family whom I love
17.  that they were here!
18.  I am thankful for laughter as we share stories
19.  playing games around the table
20.  hugs
21.  Sam's gumball cellphone invention idea
22.  the fact that my mom and dad have celebrated 50 years of marriage
23.  my brother's widow and her husband who continue to be part of the family - keeping his kids connected with us
24.  All the work my kids did to help me prepare for this weekend
25.  Backing up to New Year's - having the Van Loon family here for a couple days was such a blessing.
26.  Going to participate in blessing a dear friend who is getting married.
27.  The friends my niece and nephew brought along that feel like part of the family.
28.  Spending time with Kelly's family all together at his mom and dad's.
29.  Seeing great-grandma on Christmas day and the lady who thought we were singing in Ukrainian
30.  Friends who know your heart
31.  The intimacy of hearts connected by One Spirit
32.  My eldest daughter - she is such a blessing to me.
33.  My little Biblegirl!  God Lizzy a Biblegirl costume and she loves it!

beginning again

My first post of the year!  I hope it will encourage you to take time this year to count the things that bring you CLOSER to the Creator.  Every year the Lord gives me a word to signify what this year will be about.  This year the word He whispered to my heart was CLOSER.

Closer to Him

Closer to my husband

Closer to my children

Closer to myself

Closer in my relationships

Closer to my goals and dreams

Closer

Abby and I sat and finished our 1000 gifts for 2011 just the other day and began another list.  So it's only fitting that I link you over to A Holy Experience to see the dare that she is calling us all to.  A dare to find joy through thanksgiving.  It's time to live fully, by giving thanks, drawing CLOSER to the author of all gifts.

Blessings in this new year.
Come draw close!

So I'm going to start at 1 again, just because I am!

1.  The shepherd/farmer and son are putting together the work station that we got a super good deal on!!
2.  So I'm thankful the bed broke otherwise this wouldn't be happening today.
3.  Having kids that are willing to clean.
4.  Beautiful fabric to cover the ugliness that is our downstairs couch.
5.  Tutorials that teach me how to do a better job of making that covering.
6.  All the nieces and nephews that will arrive for a big sleep-over tomorrow night
7.  Celebrating 50 years of marriage with my parents!
8.  Celebrating 20 years of marriage for us - who knew time could go by so quickly.
9.  Getting February 2011 books finished.
10.  The prayer chain at churhc

HAPPY BIRTHDAY SASHA!!!!!

8 years ago at 8:08 in the evening I gave birth to an 8lb8oz baby boy.  The first few weeks with him were a little intense...okay, actually all 8 years have been a little intense because he is an intense kind of kid!  On the other hand he is the sweetest little boy with no teeth that I could ask for.  The following are 8 things I love about my 8 year old boy.

1.  He has the most generous spirit - he loves giving gifts just like his daddy.

2.  I love his sweet face - he is just so cute with those big blue eyes and white blonde hair, he's hard to resist.

3.  He is a great leader.

4.  He is a wonderful encourager (he is always the first one to say, "Mommy you're so beautiful" or some other such thing when I get dressed up or get my hair done.

5.  He is a very funny guy, always has been - with his funny face and goofy antics.

6.  Your smile is always just around the corner.

7.  He is super creative - loves building with lego and bionicles!

8.  He is a thankful kind of guy - expressing his gratitude regularly.

I love you Sasha Price Kellan, you are such a gift to us!

Using dad's welding helmet to be a Star Wars dude!  (He is a total Star Wars nut)

On other days he might be a cowboy!  Good thing that horse can't get away!

Happy Birthday 3 year old boy!  Always sharing birthday parties with Christmas events!

4 years old!

There's that translucent hair!

Having fun at Grandma's house!

At graduation with the new glasses!

From birthday #6, when we went to Colorado!  Nice face buddy!

Christmas Day 2011 (1247)

It's Christmas day in the evening.  Yesterday I was feeling pretty stressed.  Our #2 boy was really down in the dumps and that made everyone a little testy.  I finally figured out why though.  The day before yesterday (the 23rd) was the day we brought him home for good 11 years ago.  We celebrated really big (thanks to some generous folks in our congregation) and told him the story of how he came to be with us.  It's not that he hasn't heard it before but that day he picked up on something that he hadn't noticed before.  His birthmom has visitation privileges... and she's never exercised them - this is a bitter pill for him.

He has been very concerned for his birth-parents spiritual welfare lately and now he finds out that she could see him and hasn't - he's mad.  All those little rejection buttons got pushed in a brand new way and he's struggling.

I'm not sure why I'm writing about this tonite, we've had a most wonderful day.  For a change everyone was very satisfied and thankful for the gifts given them.  No one was jealous and comparing with one another.  My husband showered me with wonderful gifts.  We got to visit with family and give gifts to Jesus at the nursing home today....so many wonderful pieces of today...

(1231 - 1247)

knock, knock jokes

looking through the snow to help find lost gifts that fell

no fighting all day

thankful children

beautiful sunset

precious elderly ones who smile as we sing

singing with my husband's family (they're really good at harmony)

giving gifts that are received joyfully

gifts!!

a wonderful brunch made together with my mom and kids

letting our son drive us for the first time

older brother saying, "let's go play" to his little brother

big sister painting little sister's toes

christmas carols

the generosity of my husband

children excited to give

He Comes Anyway

This morning I woke up to the chaos of yesterday's shopping trip in the kitchen along with the baskets of laundry I was going to fold the day before and the remains of breakfast also from the day before that wasn't cleaned up by the people who remained behind after I left in the morning.

I went to light our advent candle and move Mary one more spot along the way to manger when I saw it.  Christ comes despite our mess.  He comes despite our fears.  He comes even when we forget to light the way for Him.  He comes anyway.

As I deal with the mess in my house and in my heart I am thankful that He comes anyway.

Come Lord Jesus

Come Let Us Adore Him

thankful - (1230)

My but I'm tired and uninspired today.  I've had a lot of trouble sleeping lately.  Yesterday I spent most of the day at the computer doing something I loathe.  Combine the two and I've got a headache!  But today I get to go get my hair done and I'm pretty excited about that, it's in great need of some TLC.  Maybe I am, too.  These last two and half months have been quite a ride.  Going here and there and packing and unpacking.  Pretty hard to keep up with the whole thing I must say.

However, I am thankful for many things and I would be remiss not to mention them, because God is good and in Him there is no darkness...

Everything God created is good, and to be received with thanks...God's Word and our prayers make every item in creation holy.  (1 Timothy 4:4-5 The Msg)

1201.  Reading an assignment of my son's and remembering how hard it used to be for him to put a sentence together.
1202.  Grandpa and Grandma, in duplicate, near by.
1203.  good ideas
1204.  weekends full of sewing and creativity
1205.  surprises that turn out well
1206.  enjoying the concert
1207.  my personal massage therapist
1208.  quiet mornings
1209.  hair appointments
1210.  little revelations
1211.   a great find on kijiji that will make life so much easier for my husband
1212.  a game that I can enjoy playing with my kids
1213.  fabric, how I love to create with it
1214.  forts in the living room
1215.  a good night of sleep after not having them for a long while
1216.  our new mattress topper and pillows, what a difference they make to this weary back
1217.  sun shining on the countertops in the morning
1218.  clean dishes in the sink
1219.  empty garbage cans
1220.  beauty
1221.  encouragement
1222.  getting started on a big project, that first step is so hard to take
1223.  my little dog, Mr. Chubbs, I like him
1224.  advice from a master quilter
1225.  learning new tricks of the trade
1226.  coming home
1227.  knowing I don't need to leave soon
1228.  exercise - especially my new workout video
1229.  the fact that the kids aren't watching movies and don't seem to care
1230.  peace in my spirit - I am in a non-anxious state!