Pumpkin Carving

Sunday afternoons have become a ritual for Mike's clan and mine to hang out - this past Sunday we carved pumpkins. Everyone was so unique and it was really fun AND MESSY!!

Blessed Beyond

How to say thank you to someone when it just feels like those 2 words are not enough???

I was blessed today by someone - and I mean blessed BIG TIME - today is was with money (yes!), sometimes its by a card, sometimes its by a phone call, etc etc. But whatever the means, I am truly blessed! I guess what I would want that person to know beyond the THANK YOU which seems so lame . . . is that the blessing runs deep. I prayed this morning that God would take care of us this month. My car is having some major issues and is in the shop, the rent needs to be paid tomorrow, Levi deperately wants his football teams hoody, Madison and Levi need winter boots and snow pants, Colton needs a new winter coat, and the list goes on. The kids have never gone "without" but as a mom, you want them to have the best.

God made me a promise when I first moved back to Edmonton, I mean the "clear, loud, no doubt it was God speaking" kinda promise and that was "I PROMISE TO TAKE CARE OF YOU"! I have doubted that many times and He has fulfilled that promise many many times . . . how cool is that.

THANK YOU to the person(s) who blessed me today, YOU ARE LOVED and may you be blessed abundantly for your kindness!

THANK YOU to my FATHER for always keeping your promises, and giving me more than I ever deserve, I LOVE YOU!

Pain is Beauty . . .

My good friend Ryan passed on a saying to me several years ago . . . "pain is beauty". It generally refers to pointy toed shoes that look great but that litterally alter the structure of your feet, or your daughter crying as you brush through the tangles in her hair, or eyebrow, lip, and bikini waxing (yowza) . . . are you gettin' my drift? In those tense moments where you need or want to look good, just remember to say "pain is beauty".

Ok, as i was chuckling to myself today thinking of that silly saying, it made me think seriously about life, or perhaps Holy Spirit was just speaking quietly to me on my way home from work. The pain that I have been through, or what each of us has journeyed, is to make us beautiful . . . it is what refines us and sands down the rough corners (ouch).

So the next time you vainly say to yourself, pain is beauty, pain is beauty, as those perfect new earring cause your earlobes to redden and swell . . . think of a painful moment in your life that has given you strength of character, that has helped you relate to someone else hurting, and that has enabled you to see someone so unlike you as someone created in God's image and only because "you've been there". What Satan has wanted for evil, for pain, and for hurt . . . God totally wants to turn that into something completely beautiful!!

Yes, pain IS beauty . . . if we allow it to be.

ONE word about my friends . . .

So my friend Brandi gave me an idea for a blog, she says . . . "list all your close friends and use one word to describe what you love about them...and you can't use the same character trait more than once!" So Brandi, here goes . . .

Michael: loving, smart, confident, accepting, real (oops, just one word, sorry :-)
Colton: unique, Levi: sensitive, Madison: joyful, Meghan: innocent, Sydney: emotional, Sandy: learned, Audralee: diva, Ryan: loyal, Jessica: tender, Erin: shopper, Brandi: caregiver, Kelly: driven, Devon: passionate, Meaghan: funny, Ian: abstract, Jeff: mellow, Andrea: organized, Blake: real, Beau: loving, Maria: informative, Carolanne: growing, Melisa: chatty, Michelle: content, Monique: sweet, Victoria: lovie, Caleb: kissable, and so on and so on - I LOVE ALL OF YOU and I know that there are many more I could mention . . .

Levi is playing PeeWee Football this year - he is a defensive-half-back, and on the punt return/kickoff return special teams and has also played running back a few times - he actually made a 90yd run in Calgary - woohoo - good job Lee!! He is enjoying playing very much and has done great for a Rookie. Playoffs start this week . . . GO CHARGERS GO!!

Answer to Mike's Comment

So, Michael indicated that he would like me to tell you my thoughts on life, love, the pursuit of happiness, X-men 3 and when I am planning to get married . . . so here goes . . .

Life . . . I love my life (for the most part :-), I love being a mom, I love being 35 and am excited for the future and all the surprises that God has in store!
Love . . . it's too big of a word . . . how I love Mike and how I love my kids are such a different thing, or how I "love" a certain movie, or "love" good food - perhaps I have mis-used love, over-used love and haven't given enough love . . .
Pursuit of Happiness . . . just sounds plain cheesy - sorry Mike!
X-men 3 . . . havent seen it yet.
Getting Married . . . hmmmmm, yes I plan to get married, yes I believe in marriage, yes hunny . . . just be patient!!

The Random Blog

Well . . . you see I havn't posted for a while and really could not think of something worthwhile blogging - that is really pathetic I know. So, I am just shouting out a hello to my friends and my dedicated group of readers - love you all and hoping to have something profound to say in the next day or two!

Maybe someone could give me some blog topics, maybe things you would like to know my opinion on (or perhaps you really dont care about my opinion :-), or something about me or the kids . . . lets try it out!

Ciao for now . . .

PS. since this is a random blog, I've included a random pic of our buddy Cameron in Ontario - the picture totally makes me laugh!!