Running Up the Down Escalator

Not literally, not today at least. But yesterday I could have sworn that someone had put our entire life on one of those darn things, and it was definately going in the wrong direction.

It was a series of random, unrelated events that left my head whirling at the end of the day, searching for some meaning in a rather pointless day. 

Strangely, I actually did acomplish more than I thought I did. 

Despite the lawn mower dying on me - twice.  The second time it was for good.  

The whipper snipper wasn't so depressing, it just ran out of string but man I hate trying to refill those things.  

Gabriel's drawer periodically gets stuck and yesterday I wasn't taking any more of its crap...so I did the reasonable thing and kicked it until it fell apart and we could get at his clothes. "Thanks Mom!"

By the time Eliana got home and asked to play in the sprinkler, I didn't have much fight left in me so I thought, "Sure, why not".

It was actually pretty fun watching them scream and run around in the water....until they disappeared around the corner for 2 min too long.  When I went to investigate, I found my back porch covered in sunscreen and being used as inpromu ice rink.

Sigh.

Although I was defiantely frustrated at different points through the day yesterday, I noticed something that has changed in my own heart.  I was thankful.  I was thankful that these were the big problems of my day - fighting with machinery and cleaning up messes.  I was thankful that I have my husband to address these obvious 'blue' jobs that now need attending. Mostly I was and continue to be thankful that God is working in my heart and life and changing how I look at the my life.  It is SO easy to let seeds of discontent sneak in to our days  - I think especially in the mundane, dreary type problems that come our way.  My prayer is that God continues to grow a thankful heart in me, so that my eyes can see the beauty for the thorns.  Choose the fullness, instead of emptiness.

Thanksgiving Hunt...

I wish I could post a picture of my something more impressive than me struggling to see down the scope of Ed's 22 but it is where this story starts.

As I mentioned a few weeks ago I am trying to get my CORE course so that I can go bow hunting.  An unfortunate part of this training is that I have to learn not only gun safety but actually how to handle a gun - safely.  I would much prefer just learning a theoretical knowledge of gun safety but for some reason they expect me to touch them and stuff.  Ed has just been tickled pink by this because since we have been married he has wanted me to be ok shooting guns.  The bottom line is though I don't like guns.  This weekend I had to suck it all up because as Ed pointed out - I am not going to inspire any confidence in my ability if I am holding the gun with my finger tips during my practical exam.  I couldn't argue with that.

Ed, my dad and I went up a local back road and set up our own little shooting range.  Ed and Dad were sighting in their 30-6 and 303 (just in case anyone out there knows what that means).  All I know is that I NEVER want to shoot those things. They are loud and big and loud. Did I mention loud?  Anyway I got to shoot the .22 instead.  My biggest obstacle?  The scope.  Yup.  Did you know that those things are tricky little bast***s.  Took me a good ten minutes of squinting and trying each eye - trying both eyes - moving forward and back. Ugh.  I eventually figured it out but not before I felt like a 2 yr old trying to wink for the first time.

I did eventually end up shooting the gun and even hitting the target - although not on the little bird that Ed drew for me.  Just all around it like a ring of impending doom that never arrives.

So as we drove down the mountain I was feeling pretty good about myself.  I held a gun and although I sucked at shooting it, that's ok because I want to hunt with my bow. When we got back to home base Ed and I spotted a male pheasant.  With one look the hunt was on.  I grabbed my bow and strung it while Ed grabbed the arrows.  I passed my bow off (because I don't have my licence yet and didn't want to poach) and so began our Thanksgiving impromptu hunt.  It ended up looking more like two crazies running around a hedge always a couple steps behind a loud flapping and squawking bird but it was blast.  It was the inspiration I needed.  I will continue to learn about stupid guns so that one day I can shoot my very own thanksgiving pheasant  - with my bow.

Happy Thanksgiving All

Kate

Hulk Yop and a New Blog

So with returning to the life of a stay at home mom I have decided to take on more projects than it is humanly possible to ever complete.  Sounds logical right!?

Anyway one of these 'projects' is a collaboration with some of my Brazilian Jiu Jitsu peeps.  We have created a blog that is trying to feature easy, healthy recipes that work for normal people.  I am going to throw a link onto my blog here but I thought I would share my latest installment here with all of you because every mom/parent should have one of these recipes up their sleeve!!

(Shawna this reminds me of your shrek smoothie - the one with the avocado...I think that was you right?)

Hulk Yop

I think with the name 'Hulk Yop' I am probably violating all sorts of trademarks but that was the magical nickname that tempted my kids into trying this green smoothie.

The inspiration and base of this smoothie is from Super Dave's Breakfast Energy Smoothie.

So here are the rough proportions - 

I first blend the spinach, banana and probably 1/2 c almond milk (I am sure you could substitute regular milk) - Blend really well!!!! No one likes little spinach leaves in their teeth.

Then add a scoop or two of protein powder and about 3 large spoonfuls of Greek yogurt

This time I also added some frozen peaches.  Strawberries work really well too.

Again puree that smoothie until it is, well - smooth!

Then enjoy!

I thought I would post picture evidence of my kids loving their  "Hulk Yop".  This has been a great discovery for me because my little guy generally will not touch any vegetables with a ten foot pole - and strangely enough the same seems to go for most fruits.  He has always been a meat and dairy sort of guy so finding a way to sneak even a small portion of veggies into his diet feels like a milestone achievement. lol

The Call of Robin Hood

The picture above is the long bow that I made this past year.  Kind of a random hobby to pick up on its own but this hobby has a history....

It all started when I was probably 5 or 6 - I watched Disney's Robin Hood.  You know, the one with the fox.  I was enamoured by this show right from the start and quickly Robin Hood became my hero. Dress up days, games and any other outlet I could find featured my hero.  

As I grew I didn't play Robin Hood anymore but I expanded my horizons and dove into books about King Aurthur and his Knights, The Musketeers and other swashbuckling adventurers. It was the stuff of daydreams and I just loved them.  I also got to spend my summers out at camp, and of course my favourite activity was archery.  I have never been amazing but I have always enjoyed this link to the the stories and characters I read about.

Fast forward to adulthood and I still read books about some of my favorite characters, still enjoyed doing a little archery when the opportunity arose but it wasn't until Ed read 'Hood' (by Stephen Lawhead - it is the best book on Robin Hood I have ever read!) that things really got going.  Ed totally got my mini obsession and instead of laughing at me dove right along with me. (Thank you Lord for soul mates!)  Soon Ed was suggesting we try to make our own bows...it didn't sound too difficult.(Ha!) We did all the research online and then bought the materials and the rest is history.

I might be the SLOWEST boyer in history - this bow literally took me 6 months.  Not because they take this long but because I kept getting scared it would break.  In the same time Ed made 4 wooden flat bows and then two fiberglass bows.  His last fiberglass bow was a work of art.  So beautiful.  It inspired me to just suck it up and finish my bow.  True to my Robin Hood inspiration I wanted to make an English Long bow.  Although design wise I cheated a little, (I backed it in bamboo) I succeeded in the end.  The bow is made of bamboo and red oak, is 6 1/2 ft tall and when you pull it back it has a draw weight of 35lbs. It is such a cool feeling shooting it and I am pretty proud of my accomplishment.

I am planning  to make another English Long Bow this winter and Ed has started his third fiberglass (a takedown recurve) bow.  Some how Ed has convinced me that it is a good idea to get my CORE course (pre hunting course) so that we can go hunting together one day.  I never would have thought I would ever do such think but here I am half way through the book and starting to get excited about my first hunting trip (probably next year).

Anyway I hope you have a beautifully random and messy day

Kate

Domesticating...

Ok I know that domesticating is not really a word but I feel that it has sums up my last week and a bit.  I am sure that as time goes on the novelty of being at home again will wear off but in the mean time I have been busy baking up a storm, cleaning, organizing and generally embracing all things domestic.

Its so fun hanging out with my boy and picking up Eliana from the bus and hearing all about her day and actually feeling as though I have the energy to interact with them.

I got a chance to make Lemon Meringue Cupcakes this past week for my moms birthday and I loved them.  The cupcakes were awesome and filled with lemon curd put them over the top.  My  mom is not really into really sweet desserts so I used real meringue on top of the cupcakes instead of the 7 minute frosting the recipe calls for.  I found this recipe through Susi Kochen und Backen's Blog and if you want to give it a go click here

Although I don't have any photos  - I also got to make bread this week.  I used just white flour this time but my goal is to start using organic grains from a local farmer to start making bread for the family on a regular basis.  For those of you who know my husband probably know that he does not like bread.  The one exception to this rule is if it is homemade.  I don't know what it is but he gobbles it up. Anyway if I can find a recipe I am happy about I will definately be posting it. :)

Eventually I would like to use the same idea of using local grains to make homemade pasta.  I have made it before and its not that complicated.  Concidering the amount of pasta we can eat I think it would be one more way to phase out wheat (at least over processed wheat) and bring in more nutricious grains.

I found a neat resource today about grains so if it is something you are curious about check of this link to Recipe Tips here

Have a Beautifully Messy Day

Kate

Read the Instructions!! (Adventure in Making Homemade Tapioca)

Man do I wish that I took a picture of my kitchen a mere half hour ago....

It all started with feeling ambitious this morning and itching to try something new in the kitchen - actually scrap that - this all started because of food network and shows like Master Chef that have filled my head with the crazy notion that my culinary genius is being hidden from the world  - and - I  - must - break - free!

To say the least I may have inadvertently concocted a primordial soup that, now that I released it down the drain, may spawn unknown horrors in the bowels of our dear little town.  Sorry all.

To get down to the facts let me share with you what I have learned about making homemade tapioca

1. Read the Instructions!!!  - When it says 1 cup to 3 cups of water DO IT.  If you happen to do what I did which was 1 BAG to 3 cups of water you may have to use every pot in your cupboard to contain the ever expanding mass.

2. Tapioca has NO flavour - Again, surprise, surprise - consumerism has failed me.  The tapioca that you get for a dollar is super yummy and is flavoured. Not so in the real world.  Its just goopy little translucent balls - So I dug out every bowl I had and made custard, from scratch.

3.  The Goop - Ok so as mentioned in #2 tapioca produces large amounts of goop.  Especially when you fail to follow the instructions.  In order to salvage the tapioca itself from all the goop I employed the following tools: goop sieve, tapioca scooper, tapioca spoon (to get it out of the scooper), goop catcher bowl, goop cloth, goop scrubby and goop spoon and scoop holder.  Despite my best efforts my kitchen was covered from one end to the other in goop.  It has since all gone down the drain...don't think Ed would be particularly pleased with that decision but lets hope it doesn't come back to haunt me.

4.  Buy Tapioca for a Dollar - Seriously, at the end of it all, it tastes virtually the same.  Well at least it will to my culinary audience of Ed and the kids.  IF Gordon Ramsey shows up at my house I would happily make it from scratch but I have a feeling he would just end up yelling at me anyway.

Stay tuned later this week I want to try Lemon Meringue Pie from scratch.  Should be fun - yellow goop!

Hope you are having a beautifully messy day

Kate

It's A New Fall...

Wow... It seems a life time ago when I was blogging regularly!  Last fall I returned to work and with that all my motivation to be on my computer when I came home abandoned me.  After a summer of fun and sunny days I am looking forward to this fall and being a stay at home mom again. Gabe and I get to hang out, while Eliana is super excited to start grade one.

We have enjoyed a beautiful season of rest and rejuvination and even though things are changing once again I am trying to let my heart be at peace and remember that 'God knows where we are going'.

We have listed our house and with that comes this emotional roller coaster that I am not entirely convinced I need to be on.  Every time I feel myself getting tense about the future and all the uncertainty I just keep reminding myself that God knows where he is taking us (or keeping us) and regardless of the future I need to live today. I am really good at getting in my head and living out the million alternate realities - trying to reason out the best situations and courses of action but that is so exhuasting. So I thought I woud try something new - just trusting.  With the little, with the big.

Ha! Sounds so beautifuly simple doesn't it.

Not a very illustrious first blog after months and months away but I just wanted to stretch my fingers a little and just start :)

Have a beautifully messy day,

Kate

Gabriel's Story

Once apon a time there lived a little boy named Gabriel that was a sweet but mischievious little guy. He liked to ask questions while his mommy was busy working. If she didn't answer him, he would just ask louder and louder until she would turn and look at him and say, "What!?!" Gabriel's mommy loved him very much but had a hard time doing more than one thing at a time, which you usually need to do when you are a mommy.
Gabriel's mommy wanted to try something new and so instead of trying to get her work done fast, she decided that Gabriel could sit on her lap and help her.  Gabriel seemed to like this plan and sat still for about 20 seconds.  Then he found that he could reach the keys and wanted to help typojnglk;sjl;s hisdkl storyknl;kn.  Gabriel's mommy didn't like this development so instead she read him the begining of his story.  Gabriel like this very much and sat sooo still his mommy wondered if he was going to fall asleep.  Gabriel had no plans of falling asleep but he did like to use his mommy's are as a pillow. He even made sure that his mommy could not move her arm away because he like his pillow so much.  This made typing very hard.  Luckily a hero lives at Gabriel's house.  It is his older sister named Eliana.  Eliana sometimes got tired of playing with Gabriel, which was usually when Gabriel visited his mommy; but on this particular day, just when Gabriel's mommy thought she was not going to get anything done, Eliana asked Gabe to come outside and blow bubbles.  Gabriel jumped down from his mommy's lap and ran off to play.  Gabriel's Mommy sat and worked dilligently for 5 whole minutes before Gabriel came back inside saying, "Mommy, Mommy, Mommy...."  Gabriel and his mommy are working hard on learning to talk to each other nicely.

A Valentines Gift...

This is one of those stories that just HAS to be shared.


First off I am going to share a photo of an artifact from my early teens.
When my parents moved a couple of months ago I found a bin of notes and who knows what else that I had saved over the years. On sunday morning Eliana brought me the bin of notes and this little note was the first one I pulled out.

 Feel free to take time to snicker and laugh now.....

Okay here comes the cool part

That's right, back in 1995 - I was 14 - and in my cheezy, over dramatic doodle something cool happened. No matter if you believe that you were destined to be with your spouse or if you are more inclined to think it was a matter of chance and choice.  Either way this is still cool.


To me it speaks of a God that knows where we are going.  He is not blind or lying when he says that He knows the plans he has for us.


I have to say that this little gift has added something special to this Valentines day, not only am I married to my best friend and the greatest guy around but I know I am exactly where I am meant to be.

Crafting Genius

  So I thought I would inspire you all with my crafting genius.  The holiday season is when crafters come out of the closet and paste their beautiful creations around their homes and share them with friends and family.


Well this is me sharing...although you may not want to follow suit - I thought you would want a chance to admire our fine work.  Although I can't take much of the credit Gabe and Eliana did most of the original artwork. :)

Morning Devotional...

Well after my long absence from blogging I am apparently making my comeback with a rather personal reflection but it is God's work that I know that He is working out in more than just my life. So welcome to my morning devotional. Tomorrow morning I will be sharing this at the staff meeting at my school - I covet your prayers in this.


I don't now about you but there are seasons in life, or perhaps it is just a fact of life, that is full of sorrow as well as joy. I so loved Linda's reminder last week about counting our blessings and keeping our eyes on God's goodness and faithfulness in the big and small things. With that very premise in mind I wanted to take a peak at a slightly different angle of this - being able to see God's goodness and faithfulness even in the midst of our own pain and suffering.
Obviously in our communities right now we feel the weight of sin - the overwhelming sorrow of loss and I know in a much less dramatic circumstances I have sometimes found myself equally disillusioned by what I have perceived was a lack of God's goodness. I have been reading "One Thousand Gifts" by Anne Voskamp and I wanted to share the quotes that struck me so profoundly that I felt that gut wrenching guilt because I knew her honest voice was echoing the voice in my heart.


Ann relates the beginning of her journey of living a life of thanksgiving by sharing her honest feelings about trusting God - even as a Christian


"Is this the toxic air of the world, this atmosphere we inhale, burning into our lungs, this -No, God? No, God, we won't take what You give. No, God, Your plans are a gutted bleeding mess and I didn't sign up for this and You really thought I'd go for this? No, God, this is ugly and this is a mess and can't you get anything right and just haul all this pain out of here and I'll take it from here, thanks. And God? Thanks for nothing. Isn't this the human inheritance, the legacy of the Garden?
I wake and put the feet to the plank floors, and I believe the Serpent's hissing lie, the repeating refrain of his campaign through the ages: God isn't good. It's the cornerstone of his movement. That God withholds good from His children, that God does not genuinely, fully, love us."


For me this lie has whispered in the back of my mind. Through the past couple years I have especially felt myself giving way before this lie. A Good, Sovereign, God who does nothing, while I watch those close to me loose husbands and children - mothers and fathers. While I watch personal injustices go unaccounted for - the widow taken advantage of, the fatherless cast aside. I have felt my heart scream as Anne screams. I just never had the courage to say it aloud. I felt as if I was one before the firing line and the suffering continually hit closer and closer to home. I was afraid if I spoke out against the one with gun the wound would be more than I could bear. But I continued to read...and God continued to speak to my scared broken heart and bring more revelation.


Again I rob another's words that so adequately capture the hope in it all.


"If the rent in the canvas of our life backdrop, the losses that puncture our world, our own emptiness, might actually become places to see.
To See through to God.
That which tears open our souls, those holes that splatter our sight, may actually become the thin, open places to see through the mess of this place to the heart-aching beauty beyond. To Him. To the God whom we endlessly crave."


When we can step back from ourselves, like Linda reminded us last week, we can catch a glimpse of an Eternal God. Who sees the grand tapestry and not the tangled thread. When I step back and take a moment to recognize who I am accusing - I am appropriately reminded "Who am I?" Who am I to know the mind and plans of Almighty God.
So what then?
Even as lately as this past Sunday I was reminded that I need to hold up my shield of faith to protect my heart and mind from the lies of the enemy and that I need to soak myself in the truth of God's word and in who He says he is. To remember that His grace is sufficient, that He loves with an everlasting love, that He is Good, That He is God. In the midst of chaos and sadness - injustice and sorrow. He is still God and He still wants to open our eyes to His goodness.

My Thoughts on Week Three...

To put it mildly this fall has brought a few changes.  On purely an emotional note I feel like I have jumped out of one of Mary Poppins chalk paintings into the real world.
I have been so lucky to have spent the last 5 yrs at home with my two kids but this year was the big leap back into 'real life'.  


Eliana has started full time kindergarten and has been on a permanent adrenaline high.  Her mission has been to makes as many friends and learn as many things as she can. Her teacher assured me that she is adjusting well and is very confidant.  I am still trying to decipher if that means - "your daughter is taking over the class". lol


Gabriel is so lucky to have one of his favourite people as his 'Nanny'.  He gets to stay home with 'Mimi' who has been doing a great job of planning little adventures and doing things that make him feel just as special staying home.  He still is adjusting Eliana being gone and they are so adorable when they hug goodbye in the morning.  


Tomorrow will be day five of my new job and I am totally enjoying the process of becoming an adult again! lol Its great to be working in such a great place and with such nice people.  I am still working on how to carry on life while working...I'll let you know how that goes.  Chances are though if I haven't blogged in a while, its because I am buried under a pile of laundry and need to be rescued.


Ed as always is my tangible sticking place.  I thank Jesus so much for bringing us together and giving me someone who knows just how seriously to take me. 


SO I have to say - so far so good.  There are pros and cons in this new life that we have but I know that God's grace is sufficient and I am confident that we are right where He wants us to be - learning and growing in the ways we need to learn and grow right now.

I Heart Faces - Back to School!

My oldest just finished her first week of Kindergarten...big week in our family.  So this challenge was mostly a challenge of which picture to go with!! I chose this one because the scope of the photo makes her look even tinier and I think every momma thinks their 'baby' is still to tiny to be going to school on the first day of kindergarten!

Apple Sauce Crotch

Last week was Eliana's first week of Kindergarten and the first week of a new kind of life for this family.  Getting up before 7:30 is new for the kids and I but I have no doubt we will adjust quickly.


The funniest thing Eliana came home saying this past week was 'apple sauce crotch'.  Knowing that I was loosing something in translation I asked for the context and learned that every time they sat down at group time they would say 'apple sauce crotch, put your hands in your lap'.  I couldn't decoded it until I conferred with some other moms - sure enough it made a lot more sense as
"Criss Cross Apple Sauce - Put your hands in your lap"
This helps the kids sit cross legged for group time.


I love that I can look forward to all sorts of new adventures and 'lost in translation' moments in the coming year.

Our Family Vacation

We left this past week for our first organized family vacation. We have done lots of other trips as a family but the focus of this one was to just relax and be a family together and I have to say it was the best yet.  We made the short trip to the coast and spent the first afternoon greeting the ocean.  Eliana was afraid of salt water for some reason but after much coaxing and a little squealing she got her feet wet and realized she could live through the encounter.  We rounded out the afternoon watching some crab fishing from the dock and beach combing for shells.

The next day we bravely ventured into the big city to the aquarium which turned out to be a highlight for the kids.  They were mesmerized by the sea life and in the end Eliana's favourite exhibits were the beluga whales and the jellyfish while Gabriel's favourite was the crocodile.  I loved it all but was particularly thrilled to get to touch a bunch of different star fish (which feel like rough rocks) and a sea urchin (which is really poky). The only one I didn't like touching was a star fish that looks kinda like a sunflower (lots of points) because it was slimy and squishy.

The next day was exciting for Ed and I  - the airshow. It is our third year in a row going and it is so awe inspiring that it just isn't getting old.  The kids loved it too and it was fun to watch them getting into the displays and getting excited for the loud planes (CF-18's!!) and bombs (pyrotechnics :)

Actually after the first set of pyrotechnics was set off Eliana was very distressed and asked Ed, "Why are they bombing Canada??" lol she was ok once we explained it was just part of the show.  Gabriel on the other hand...I don't know if he even noticed the jets sometimes - he just wanted to see more 'bombs' lol I guess that is a boy for you.  There were so many great planes and pilots at the airshow I would be sure to bore you with the details so I will summarize: A-10 is amazing in its capabilities, Bud Granley and his son defy everything you assume about flight, and the Snowbirds put on one of the best shows I have ever seen them do. 

The entire trip we were able to stay with some dear friends which made our evenings just as memorable as our days.  The kids loved playing with 'little sammy' and martina and are still talking about them non stop.  On Saturday morning Leanne and I went blueberry picking and it was such a great way to spend a morning.  While we were out the boys made waffles and bacon so we were treated to a nice breakfast when we got back.  Ed's blood pressure was through the roof but he made some great waffles :)

That evening when we returned home we went to the drive in to wrap our whole trip up. It was a perfect end to a great trip.  I love my hubby and kids and it was a great way to take the time to just enjoy who we are to each other.

Of Chickens

If I had thought about what this summer would hold for us this  year, you can be sure that I thought that there would be more sunny days and fewer chickens.


I wanted to share a few photos of our grown up chicks and proclaim that I would not make a very good farmer. Despite my efforts to remain emotionally aloof to our little feathered charges I got sucked in by how friendly they are!
If they hear me coming they start to peep and all line up at the fence for their feed.  Eliana is packing them around the yard at this very moment like they were well mannered cats.   They rest in her arms or at her feet while Gabe collects flowers for them to nibble on.


Ah the life of a chicken.

Of Order and Randomness

Every once and a while as a parent - your child does something that reflects the essence of who they are, encompassed in moment.

Eliana had such a moment this evening. Both our kids have chores that they are asked to take care of. This evening I asked Eliana to line up the shoes on the back porch. She came in a few minutes later and stated that cleaning up shoes is fun. I didn't think to much of it at the time. She is normally a happy little thing and I had no doubt she completed her chore but this evening I found out why she had fun doing it.

The best way to describe it is that she did it her way. When I saw it I saw a part if herself in her little mini self expression. Each pair if shoes were lined up neatly with one another but not one pair was next to the other. She had some under the deck chairs. Others on the steps and the rest randomly paired all over the deck. This would have been how Gabriel would have paired them if they were scattered in the first place - the part that makes me smile even thinking about it now is that all the shoes were piled by the door. It makes me smile because my daughter is so delightfully and seemly arbitrarily random. I know though that each pair was deliberate - a part of her plan and she had fun doing it. She found joy in the little moments. I hope as a mother I can help raise her to be who she was created to be and not just someone that fits into a mold.
Lord help me.

Welcome to the Farm??

So I am going to choose to share this story with you through the lens that God created me as an empathetic creature.  I am hoping in doing this I will look less crazy and more just like someone who needs to hone her gifting.


Ok, so this is how it started. 
I was born and I loved animals.  Did you know that I once cared for a dead robin for a whole day? Yup I did such a good job that the next morning when I went to check on him he was gone.  My mom told me he had flown home...(good one mom).
Flash forward 25 years.
I am now a photographer and I had a great opportunity to use some baby chickens as a part of a photo session for a family that owns a chicken farm.  It was so fun. (watch for them on my Twisted Lily Blog in the next few days...sooo cute!!)

Anyway at the end of the session these little chick models were homeless.  They couldn't go back into the  barns and risk cross contaminating the barns with whatever 'wee beasties' they picked up in the real world. In other words they were gonna die. Approximately 6 weeks ahead of schedule.

I shouldn't have let it get to me but I just felt for the little homeless chicks.  One short conversation later I was the proud? mom of 6 baby chicks.As I drove home with them sliding around in the cardboard box next to me - I tried to make a plan.

Actually I am still working on it. Mostly its a day by day thing.


Here are somethings I have learned in my 4 days as a chicken owner.


*Puppies laying next to chicks are NOT trying to be cute - they are waiting for the opportune moment to eat them. 
*Respectively if you act fast enough you can grab a chick out of a dogs mouth with no apparent damage other than a mad chick and disappointed dog.
*Neighbours will follow your lead and 'rescue' small baby birds and leave them in your care (Short version of how we acquired Quacker Jack our duck)
*If you live in a small enough town you can literally walk into a convenience store and walk out with a huge bag of chicken feed - and a slurpee.
*Chickens take over your life when you are so afraid of something happening to them you let them sleep in your en suite bathroom every night.


After reading that last one I realized I might just be crazy and need some help. Ah well.

My Littlest Sis...

This past weekend my littlest sis graduated from high school.  It was a great event and such a treat to watch her hit this milestone and celebrate her with friends and family. With that in mind I thought it would be cool to share a little about this girl with all of you.

Megs is one of those people that has a really sweet warm spirit with an extra dose of playful mischievousness thrown in. It makes her a great friend and excellent sister!  We are 12 years apart so growing up I mostly remember a little girl that was as cute as a button and a little on the quiet side but I had left the house before I really got to know the girl that I know now.

I love the change in the in the sibling relationship as you get older.  Once I realized that I couldn't always look at her as that little girl  - I found a friendship that has grown over the last few years.  Meighan has always been a creative being.  She has redesigned her room more times than I can count and I am always amazed how she can pull together colours and textures with such continuity.  Decorating to me at most consists of a coat of paint and often far less - so this skill never ceases to amaze me. lol

In the past few years she has also taken to painting and her work is so beautiful. I love that her style reflects something of herself.  Its always beautiful but some of her images are also strong and striking.  Her strength has been born in adversity.  She wasn't even in her teens yet when she was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes.  Thankfully we live in a country and time that allows her to manage it but it is not an easy burden to carry day in and out.  Although to talk with her you would never know it.  I think its the grace with which she handles it that impresses me the most.  When she could be whining and moping she takes it in stride.  Obviously she is human and has good and bad days but she has more good days than bad and is the type of person that will probably make other peoples day better by just being a part of it.
All of this said mostly I am just thankful to have a friend and sister like her.  We can be goofy and laugh about stupid things and then the next moment we can have a great conversation.  She has helped me with my house and kids so much that I have made a vow to myself that when she reaches this stage of life - I will be there to help!!! lol I am excited to watch her move forward and chase her dreams and figure out who she is and where she is going.  I love ya Megs!!

Of Bullies...

You know when you are young and imagine your adult life - the thought that bullies will still be around may not have crossed your mind.  I know that my young self thought that the days of bullies would be far behind me.


But we grow up and life gets complicated and when a bully stands in front of you as an adult - it can make life that much more tricky. Now instead of teachers and parents there to intervene - your on your own. Of course there are always the police and the legal system but it is easy to say 'it is just not that bad'...until one day it is and now what! The choice to stand up for your self goes beyond sticking your tongue out or pushing back. Hopefully as adults 'we use our words' and begin to create healthier boundaries for ourselves and our families.  In a perfect world the bully would be like, 'oh, wow, I had no idea that my behaviour was so offensive or my actions were having such undesirable consequences' LOL 
Ya right hey! If only it were that easy.  Instead of calming things down it often inflames things even further.  Its hard to watch scenarios like this one because you can feel so powerless. Its hard watching bully's lie and manipulate authority so they look like the victim.
I honestly don't know how things work out from this point; life is not a movie. Things don't work out picture perfect, neat and tidy.  What gives me hope is that although man may not see the whole picture and may not be just - God does and is.


Ps 71:4 "Rescue me, O my God, from the hand of the wicked, from the grasp of the unjust and cruel man"


Ps 22:8 "He trusts in the Lord; let him deliver him; let him rescue him, for he delights in him!"