Tid Bits of my trip

Home sweet Home!! It's so refreshing to come home after some time away. That first night in your own bed, the first morning shower in your own tub (every shower we had in the course of our trip SUCKED!), and the first cup of coffee looking out your own window on your own street, you wonder why you ever left. Then of course come the loads of dirty laundry, the unpacking and putting away, and the reality of your daily household duties set in, as well as the reminder that you can no longer eat the take out and greasy foods you've been eating non-stop for the last four days if you plan on continuing to lose your baby fat. But hey, we won't get into that...

Onto the car ride...

Both our children were nicely veggetized by the portable dvd players we borrowed from my father-in-law. Each child came equipped with their own hypnotizing tv screen, which seemed to limit the whining and "are we there yet"s.

Had an overnight stay at my hubby's grandpa's, which gave him a chance to meet our latest addition, and us a chance to break up the 9 hour drive. Baby had a hard time falling asleep in his new play pen, and my hubby and I barely slept a wink. When it didn't sound like trains were driving right through our room, it was either baby snoring, the bed being way too small for my 6 foot something hubby, or the fact that it was a billion degrees in our room. Either way, grandpa tried :) and we love him.

My hubby found this picture of himself on his grandpa's fridge, lookin all hot and rebellious. This is how I knew him when we dated in highschool.

Do you think he's changed much?

Finally got to Winnipeg and met up with my parents. It was so cool to have my uncle, my sis and bro-in-law, us, my parents, my other aunt and uncle, and my cousin all staying in the same hotel.

We had supper at a restaurant on the Provencher bridge. It was neat to eat on top of the river.

So tired....leave us alone.....

Spectacle much? (Everyone meeting my not so new babe for the first time, and might I add, I was super impressed with how little he made strange with my strange family)

On Saturday afternoon we took the kids to Tinkertown, a fair just outside of Winnipeg. It was awesome that my little one was now big enough to join me on my favorite childhood ride, the Tilt-a-Whirl!

Go us!

Oompa Loompa Oompa Dee Doo....

Look mommy! One wheel!

Us at the Forks...

We took the kids to the Childrens Festival to kill some time before we went to my cousins wedding.

Us all dolled up!

It was a gorgeous wedding and the bride was beautiful! The reception was super fun, and my sis and I got jiggy with it the majority of the night. Dancing to classics like C+C Music Factory, Aerosmith and good ol' Aqua, is where it's at people.

No Elishah, we didn't forget about you.

Finally, the last day of our trip came to an end, and we found ourselves back in the car and on our way home.

Cheers mates! I am so done with this post!

Snagged this from Janelle, thought it would be fun :)

A - Age: 23

B - Band listening to right now: haha....Madonna. Now you know my dirty little secret! ;)

C - Career future: Hairdresser

D - Dad's name: Rick

E - Easiest person to talk to: my Sis

F - Favorite song: Right now? Different kind of free by Zoe Girl

G - Gummy Bears or Gummy Worms: Bears

H - Hometown: Saskatoon

I - Instruments: piano, guitar, voice

J - Job: Wife and Mommy

K - Kids: 2

L - Longest car ride ever: to Nebraska! (who the heck drives to Nebraska?)

M - Mom's name: who knows...

N - Number of times you've been in love: too many to count, but with only one man... and I fall in love with him over and over!

O - Optimum time of day to work: Just before everyone gets home! haha!

P - Phobia[s]: Feet, public bathroom germs and bugs whos bites draw blood

Q - Quote: 'People with children, and people without, both feel sorry for eachother.'

R - Reason to smile: I am forgiven! I am accepted! I am loved! I have purpose! I carry light! I have children! I have a man who loves me unconditionally! I have the joy of learning to live for others, and am free to mess up! Wouldn't you smile?

S - Song you sang last: My daughter's bedtime song

T - Time you wake up: Between 8:30 and 9

U - Unknown fact about me: I once pinched the tip of my nose for an hour with a set of pliers thinking I could make it smaller

V - Vegetable you hate: beets!!!!!

W - Worst habit: Speaking before I think

X - X-rays you've had: My back and my wrist

Y - Yummy food: Taco time mexi fries with tons of hot sauce, Saskatoon Asian stir fry and vietmese rolls with tons of hot sauce, cheese and chocolate milk

Z - Zodiac sign: Blah, I don't place my destiny in the stars, I place it in the hands that made the stars

Picture Post

Blue eyed Baby

Brown eyed Beauty

US

Baby's first pickle

Playin' it cool on the merry-go-round

Poker faced on the train

Smiling on the inside on the ferris wheel

In the last few weeks I've received various emails regarding the rising gas prices. All of them full of strategies on how we can force the gas companies to lower their prices. I'm wondering why there is no uproar regarding what the effects of our gas consumption has on our environment, but only what effects our gas consumption has on our wallet? We have plotted plan after plan, to get these gas prices to go down, so that we can continue to use copious amounts of gas without it emptying our pockets. Are there not other options? Car-pooling, taking the bus, walking more and generally using less gas are all reasonable and feasable solutions, but unfortunately we all seem unwilling to sacrifice our standard of living.

My life these days in point form....

- I had my last two wisdom teeth pulled a couple of weeks ago. I had to go back to the dentist a week later because of a 'dry socket'. He put some clove mixture in the hole that tasted so gross that I took it out as soon as I got home. My hubby gave me heck for driving all the way to the dentist for nothing.

- I threw my back out on Wednesday. It was so bad that I was crying and popping T-3's. It's such a blessing having a massage therapist in your extended family (my brother-in-laws sister). I guess my back just had it, too many strains and it just gave out.

- Our basement is finished! There are still many 'little' things that need to be done (ie: baseboards, window frames...), but it was finished enough to get our tv and computer back down here. It is so awesome having my living room back, and having my bay window wide open again.

- My baby is getting more and more skilled at his new trick. He'll crawl to the other side of the room in no time at all. My hubby lowered his crib this morning, just in case he decided to learn to stand up without telling us.

- I've been loving the weather, and I've been loving walking around my new community. Thanks to my walking buddies (my sis and Carol) for making it so much fun, and thanks to my big lug of a son for adding that extra 1000 lbs in my Baby Bjorn when I'm looking for that extra workout.

- I won $25 on a scratch and win bingo ticket!

- God is good all the time!

My thoughts today...

Am I in the business of building bridges,

or am I employed by the demolition crew who burns them down?

See yourself as your Heavenly Father sees you...

Washing you is not a chore, but a joy...

The dirt left behind in the water goes unnoticed...

Only the pure and simple beauty of His child, as we become clean.

I picked up this tag from Erin! I altered it a wee bit......enjoy!


1. WAS YOUR FIRST PREGNANCY PLANNED?
I suppose I would've been another kind of stupid to plan a pregnancy at 16! Haha....so no.
2. WERE YOU MARRIED AT THE TIME?
No : (
3. WHAT WERE YOUR REACTIONS?
I was mortified!
4. HOW OLD WERE YOU?
16!
5. HOW DID YOU FIND OUT YOU WERE PREGNANT?
My period wasn't coming so I went to the doctor (by myself!)
7. WHO DID YOU TELL FIRST?
I walked to my friends house (who wasn't home!) so I spilled the beans to his mom, then jumped on the phone with my sister who rushed to get me right away.
8. DID YOU FIND OUT THE SEX?
Yes.
9. DUE DATE?
Dec. 15th 2000
10. WHAT DID YOU CRAVE?
Taco Time hot sauce and cherry popsicles.
11. WHO/WHAT IRRITATED YOU THE MOST?
Probably the fact that I was 16 and unmarried.
12. WHAT WAS YOUR FIRST CHILD'S SEX?
Girl
13. HOW MANY POUNDS DID YOU GAIN THROUGHOUT THE PREGNANCY?
A million... well, 50, but same thing.
14. DID YOU HAVE ANY COMPLICATIONS DURING YOUR PREGNANCY?
No.
15. HOW MANY HOURS WERE YOU IN LABOR?
About 10 hours.
16. WHO DROVE YOU TO THE HOSPITAL?
My mommy and sister.
17. WHO WATCHED YOU GIVE BIRTH?
My mom and sis (who was my AWESOME birthing coach)
18. WAS IT NATURAL OR C-SECTION?
Natural.
19. DID YOU TAKE MEDICINE TO EASE THE PAIN?
Of course, I'm no super human. I had an epidural but all it really did was numb my legs, which made it harder for me to push.
20. HOW MUCH DID YOUR CHILD WEIGH?
7 lbs 5 oz.
21. WHEN WAS YOUR CHILD ACTUALLY BORN ?
Dec. 16th! One day past my due date! Phew!
22. WHAT DID YOU NAME HIM/HER?
Jonah Page.
23. HOW OLD IS YOUR FIRST BORN TODAY?
She is 6 years old! Wow does time fly.....

Ok, so now that you've read all about my unplanned teen pregnancy... now you can be blessed to see God's faithfulness in my second pregnancy!

1. WAS YOUR SECOND PREGNANCY PLANNED?
Absolutely!
2. WERE YOU MARRIED AT THE TIME?
Absolutely!
3. WHAT WERE YOUR REACTIONS?
I was scared, excited, overwhelmed and overjoyed.
4. HOW OLD WERE YOU?
22
5. HOW DID YOU FIND OUT YOU WERE PREGNANT?
I took a home pregnancy test in my bathroom, and awaited the results with my hubby.
6. WHO DID YOU TELL FIRST?
Our parents.
7. DID YOU FIND OUT THE SEX?
No way! and it was the most exciting surprise ever!
8. DUE DATE?
September 23rd 2004.
9. DID YOU HAVE MORNING SICKNESS?
Not really.
10. WHAT DID YOU CRAVE?
Fruit and Milk.
11. WHO/WHAT IRRITATED YOU THE MOST?
My sore back.
12. WHAT WAS YOUR SECOND CHILD'S SEX?
Boy!
13. HOW MANY POUNDS DID YOU GAIN THROUGHOUT THE PREGNANCY?
A million... well 45, but same thing.
14. DID YOU HAVE ANY COMPLICATIONS DURING YOUR PREGNANCY?
I had severe lower back/tail-bone/SI joint pain from conception until delivery.
15. HOW MANY HOURS WERE YOU IN LABOR?
5 1/2 hours.
16. WHO DROVE YOU TO THE HOSPITAL?
My hubby!
17. WHO WATCHED YOU GIVE BIRTH?
My hubby (who was my AWESOME birthing coach) and my sis (who was my video taper!)
18. WAS IT NATURAL OR C-SECTION?
Natural
19. DID YOU TAKE MEDICINE TO EASE THE PAIN?
Of course, I'm still no super human. But again, my epidural didn't work at all! I wish I would'nt have gotten it, then at least I'd be able to say I did it drug-free.
20. HOW MUCH DID YOUR CHILD WEIGH?
7 lbs. 3 oz.
21. WHEN WAS YOUR CHILD ACTUALLY BORN ?
September 19th! (Yay for 4 days early!)
22. WHAT DID YOU NAME HIM/HER?
Daniel David.
23. HOW OLD IS YOUR FIRST BORN TODAY?
He's 8 months!! Wow does time fly.....

What a blessing it is to look back and see God's hands on my life. What a blessing it is to be a mom of two! What a blessing it is to share a testimony that fairy tales come true, and that there was a prince out there just for me! It's been encouraging to reflect on where I've been and where the Lord has brought me and my growing family. Be blessed today, God is not finished with us!!

My little man is crawling!!!

To: YOU

Date: TODAY

From: GOD

Subject: YOURSELF

Reference: LIFE

This is God.

Today I will be handling all of your problems for you.

I do not need your help.

Have a nice day. I love you,

~God~

HAPPY MOMMY'S DAY

To our mommy's:

May we remember the unconditional love they've shown us through the years, and that even in the hard times, our mother's have helped shape us into who we are today. Flaws and all, our mother's are amazing women, who did the very best they could, and loved us in everyway they knew how.

I'm so blessed to have my mom.

To us mommy's:

May we be encouraged in our destiny as shapers and sharpeners of little arrows, and filled with grace to walk out one of the most important jobs, that quite often goes overlooked and unnoticed.

I'm so blessed to be a mom.

The kids: all excited and ready for Kokums surprise bday party.

Sarah: no idea....

My little family.

Baby's first trip to the Forestry Farm.



Baby's first sunburn.

Baby's first Hummer.

Happy-go-lucky, story of his life up until now.



Elishah Pishah.

No comment.

walking towards the vision, and being faithful in the little things.

"Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master's happiness!"

Matthew 25:23

I love to dream. I could sit here all day and dream, of who I want to be and where I want to go. God gives me glimpses of His heart, and it humbles me to realize that His dreams for me and my family are far greater than my mind could fathom.
A number of weeks ago, God broke my heart for my daughters dad and step-mom. I ached for our relationship to be healed, and for my daughter to be released from my fear and doubt into her destiny as a prophet to bring the word of the Lord to the Ninevah God has placed in her life. God gave my husband and I a picture of what things could really look like, if we lay down our pride, and walk in love and mercy. The dream is huge! But I'm reminded that there are many small steps we need to take to get there, God will not bring the dream to us, we need to walk towards the dream. These steps won't be easy, they will require a daily attitude check, patience and determination to see the Lord's kingdom come. Some things will need to be sacrificed for the greater dream.
Many of us are captivated by our dream, but are unwilling to walk out the little steps that are required of us to walk towards our dream. We sit idle, and lose hope, thinking that reaching our dream is impossible. How could I expect to see my dreams of financial stability and prosperity if I'm unwilling to walk in wisdom and maturity with the money I have now? How could I expect to see my dreams of making a difference in my neighborhood, if I'm unwilling or too lazy build any relationships with my neighbors? How could I expect to see my dreams of getting into my pre-pregnancy pants if I'm unwilling to say no to that chocolate bar, bag of chips, or second helping? I can't!
We must walk towards our God-given dream. He will not bring it to us, He would not be a good Father if He did. The steps we need to take to get closer to our dream will require dying to our flesh and pride and sacrificing short term satisfaction.
I want to walk towards my dream while I'm awake, instead of just dreaming while I sleep. I want to share in my master's happiness.

Nin needs...

Was tagged by Christy,
Google your name followed by "needs" and see what pops up!

1. Nin needs boat repairs
(Well good thing I found that one out!)

2. Nin needs updating
(Sure do, I'm back off to salon very soon!)

3. Nin needs help
(Definately, I can't walk this road on my own)

4. Nin needs help
(Yes I know, I'm so humble)

5. Nin needs to find a date
(Been there, done that, bought the t-shirt, still wear it)

6. Nin needs lots of repeating
(Haha, the story of my poor hubby's life)

7. Nin needs no introduction
(lol)

8. Nin needs a range of different plants for color
(Tried that, killed the plants, got some more, killed them too)

9. Nin needs retirement
(I'm a ways from that, and that's a good thing)

and last but not least

10. Nin has everything she needs
(Finally the truth comes out!)

To Kill a Mockingbird....I mean Robin

Saturday morning, 7:45 am....
Bang....bang.......bang.....
What the heck man.
Hubby rolls out of bed, to find a robin, flying into our window, over, and over, and over.
He comes back to bed.
Hubby: You know what that noise is Nin?
Nin (groggy): Yeah, it's a dumb bird, I've heard a few birds fly into our window before, it'll go away.
Bang......bang.......bang.......
What the heck man.
So we get up, have our coffee and sit in our living room, amused at this robin repeatitively banging into our window. We throw things at the window, and watch it fly away, only to come back a few minutes later, and, bang.....bang......bang.....
We think: What a funny bird.

Sunday morning, 6:30 am....
Bang......bang......bang.....
What the heck man!
Hubby rolls out of bed, and in his half asleep state, tapes 6 pieces of paper to our window, thinking now the bird can see, it's a window, not the tree that it sees in the reflection. He comes back to bed....
Bang....bang....bang....
We lay there, with our pillows over our heads.
We think: What a dumb bird.

Monday morning, 5:45 am....
Bang......bang......bang......
What the flipping heck man!!
Nin: Go and do something.
Hubby: ugh....
Hubby rolls out of bed, closes our curtains.
Bang....bang.....bang....
Hubby goes outside and tapes paper on the outside of the window.
Bang.....bang....bang.....
Hubby comes back to bed, and closes our bedroom door.
We lay there, with pillows over our heads.
We think: What a @!**#@! stupid bird.

Monday afternoon, we conspire what we think will be a solution. My daughter and I draw and color a big picture of an owl, and hang it on our window.
"Peck" as my daughter has now named him, doesn't seem to be phased.
Bang......bang......bang......
Monday evening, hubby and I conspire what we think will be another solution. We hang a big blue bed sheet on the outside of our window, and tape the owl on the sheet. Feeling a little embarassed, as our neighbors watch us cover the outside of our window with a bed sheet, we feel a sense of hope.

Tuesday morning, 7:30 am....
Bang......bang.....bang......bang.....
What the @#$**$*^%%#^*&&!&!!!!!!!????? man!!!
Out of ideas, I call Petland, and explain there is a psycho robin that wants to drive me and my family insane, is there anyone who can come and kill it for me?
Petland lady: Uh sorry, no....




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(sorry about the delay in the sound)

Jonah's brother and sister sneaking a kiss....

The Lord has been so faithful in displaying His glory in our midst. I can honestly be confident of this, that he who began a good work in me will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus. It has been amazing to witness the love and mercy of Jesus Christ in the relationships He's placed in our lives. The possibilities are without bounds within a willing and humble heart. I look forward to seeing where God will take us in this next season.

It's so easy to love someone who does not upset your comfort! True love is displayed for those who hurt us, those who offend and dissapoint. We can fool ourselves into thinking we're mature when we don't allow anyone to upset our prefrences or challenge us. But it's in the relationships that bring out our true colors that will grow us the most, if we choose humility and forgiveness.

I have set before you life and death, blessings and curses. Now choose life, so that you and your children may live and that you may love the Lord your God, listen to his voice, and hold fast to him.

There is so much more to this life than being angry and bitter! There is a sun so much brighter, there is grass much greener, there is air so much sweeter...

I choose life.

Quick update

1. My little girl has been couch bound since Sunday evening with a sprained ankle. I've thouroughly enjoyed babying and taking care of her.
2. My little guy is not so little. He eats two jars of baby food plus cereal a day. He will officially be 7 months on Thursday!
3. I'm finally at pre-pregnancy weight and it feels great! Shopping is fun again! and just in time for summer fashion! Although I'm not a huge fan of the 80's comeback, and I refuse to wear skin tight jeans, big plastic belts and high heels.
4. Seems my hubby and I have been distracted these days, and have lost our objective. But God has been faithful in reminding us, and giving us the grace to walk it out. We are getting together for coffee with my daughters other parents, to continue planting seeds, and building what the Lord has started. Pray as you feel led.
5. My hubby's aunt and uncle from Edmonton are coming in for a short visit this weekend. I'm super excited to see them, for them to meet our big boy and see our new house. They are amazing people, their generosity and servant hearts are something my hubby and I look up to.
They've taken us into their home numerous times, and each time they blow us away with their hospitality.
6. We have someone working in our basement doing the mudding and taping for us. It's so exciting to see this basement finally come together. My hubby has done such an amazing job at getting most of the work done himself, and saving us a ton of money. But he's no mudder and taper, so enter in: outside help. Hopefully these next stages can pass by quickly so we can get out tv and computer back downstairs. My hubby wasn't able to get the internet working up here, so I can only get on here on my hubby's laptop when he's home. I'm going through withdrawls!

Anyways, this is all the time updating time I have. Be blessed, God is good.

I don't like grocery shopping.

I don't like being stuck in a huge store with windows or clocks. I don't like how there are always certain people who have no grocery shopping etiquette, like move your butt and cart out of the way when there are four people waiting behind you to get by. I don't like how time consuming it is and the sinking feeling you get when you realize two hours have passed and your whole evening has been wasted. I don't like when we get one of those carts that pull in one direction, and how heavy and hard the cart is to turn when it's full. I don't like that you get to take part in another kids screaming fit from start to finish, because they're following you up and down the very same isles. We rarely go grocery shopping.

Results: Today I have no food.

The marvelous and amazing things one can do with their face

A nugget of real-life

God led me a couple weeks ago to publicly share a testimony of His faithfulness, and now here I am, doubting the very things I proclaimed that day. I withstanded the waves at first, but I unfortunately have to admit that in the last couple of days I've been worn down. I've been looking at the situation through eyes of fear. It's come of no surprise to me that I find myself in this time of testing.

As I go to the Word I'm reminded that God never changes. He is the same yesterday today and forever, and as He's been faithful in the past, He will also be faithful today. I'm encouraged today with the story of Jacob.

Jacob's name means "the one who takes by the heel." Jacob grasped his brothers heel coming out of the womb. Just as we grasp our own self-seeking agenda and will, so did Jacob. But God loved Jacob! How amazing that He used such a deceitful person to continue the process of redemption! And as the Lord transformed Jacob, He gave him a new name, Israel, which means "let God rule!"

The fact that God can transform a self-seeking and self-interested person and change him into a world-changer is my only hope. He alone can unclasp my human grasp, and replace it with a faithful grip on the knife He's given me to raise. Will He send a lamb just in time? I believe that He will. It may not appear in ways I expect, but I can trust that it is good, and very sufficient.

Happy Resurection Sunday!

A rendezvous with a pony...

and an encounter with a bunny

Egg hunt

Sporting a new do

PASSOVER

On another note.....We're going to my mother-in-laws for Easter supper tonight. I'm looking forward to relaxing with my other family and being blessed by them. It's amazing how different mine and my hubby's families are. I appreciate their differences, and all that I can learn from them. I AM BLESSED!

My not-so-little one is away this weekend with her dad, then back on Sunday morning for church. Am hoping to enjoy a relaxing weekend with my boys. : )

Wednesday I'm off to the salon with my sis-in-law to get my hair done! I can't tell you what I'm doing......cuz I have no idea! So stay tuned and I'll post a pic of the finished product. But I'm so excited, I haven't had my hair done in like a year, not counting the times in between that I did it myself, cuz that doesn't count. ;)

May this weekend remind us all of the sacrifice that was paid for us IN FULL, and the NEW LIFE that we find in JESUS!

Be blessed, God is Good!

Today...3 seperate doses of some real bad news...here is my answer.

For though we live in the world, we do not wage war as the world does. The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds.

2 Corinthians 10:4

AMEN

Your Hair Should Be Orange

Expressive, deep, and one of a kind.You pull off "weird" well - hardly anyone notices.

What's" Your Funky Inner Hair Color?