Ringing in the New Year with Compassion

I have been sick, very sick. In fact this was the sickest I can ever remember being. Already we have had three trips to Urgent Care/the hospital. Finally last night, there was a breakthrough. This is a whole other blog, but to set the stage for ringing in the New Year, well it was LOW KEY and not really eventful.

In fact, we had some appetizers with Mom and Bill and played some 'neon' bowling (neon bowling on a budget from the comfort of your own home---aka pop botttles filled with water, glow sticks and a soccer ball) and hit the sack.

New Years Day I was home alone with the kids feeling sorry for myself and suffering from this retarded flu, or whatever you want to call it. My dear husband was fortunate, or let me say blessed to be able to work for Compassion Canada on New Years Day and what an incredible way to start 2012.

When we were in Saskatchewan, John signed up to become an Advocate for Compassion Canada. That basically means that he can help out at events to raise awareness and get sponsors for these precious, needy children. We are huge fans and supporters of Compassion, so it wasn't a hard decision. When the opportunity arose to advocate at a concert right here in Cochrane on New Years Day he jumped at it. I was still feeling sorry for myself and thinking a little selfishly and wishing he could just skip it and stay home and help me.

He came home and it was an amazing day. He shared that it was the most fullfilling, rewarding day he has had in a very long time. Twenty-two (22) kids now have new sponsors, have a chance to go to school, receive birthday gifts, Christmas gifts, family gifts and most importantly learn about Jesus!! That is so amazing. The way that God moved on the crowd was incredible. Stories of people leaving the church saying that they needed to pray about it, to return only ten minutes later and sign up. This couple got in the car, started driving away (after they had talked with the Compasison advocates saying that they needed to pray about it) and they turned around. He walked up and said what is there to pray about, the Bible, Jesus commands us to take care of the poor. WOW!

So I encourage you this year, 2012, to look at the needy, the poor, these precious children who are our future and consider Sponsoring. It is only $40 a month and a time commitment of writing and establishing a relationship with your child. Compassion has made it so easy to connect and write letters to the kids online now and you can even upload pictures online too. It is also such an incredible learning experience for your kids. My kids pray for their 'brothers' and 'sister' every night without fail. We just finished making crafts for them and they want to send their little messages of love (so sweet to hear what they want to say).

We also received some sad news right before Christmas, that affected us in a way we weren't expecting. These kids really do become part of your family, and when something happens, it really affects you. Our little Yari from the Dominican is moving and will not be living in an area where we can continue to sponsor her. We felt quite devastated and it really caught us off guard. We received this news with our 'final letter' and I worry. Just like a mother, I worry about where she is moving too, is it safe, how is her family coping, will she be able to go to school? All these questions and we have been provided with a number that we can talk to someone. What do you say in your final letter? I sat with the kids yesterday and made some heart decorations that I will send her. I want her to know that wherever she moves and goes to, that Jesus loves her and will always be with her (heart number 1) and that we will never stop loving or praying for her (heart number 2). I hope these hearts will be a constant reminder to her of Jesus' love!

I leave you with this video (in the post below this one) that was shared at the Concert on Sunday. It is a tear jerker, so get a kleenex. As I said, I really challenge you to think about sponsoring a child this year. Make 2012 the year to make a difference in a child's life. It truly is rewarding.

Happy New Year!

Compassion Bolivia footage (as shown at Hillsong Conference)

Eagerly Awaiting....

We are eagerly awaiting an incredibly important day, an incredibly important celebration. I love this picture of my three as it reminds me of that babe, that precious little one so many years ago. I love the expression on Zech and Gigi's face as it reminds me of the anticipation, the joy, that they have for their little brother and that we have in celebrating Jesus' birthday. I love that innocent yawn from Jude as it reminds of us how God chose to be present in this world. Imagine our Creator, the Creator of this world, this earth, descending down on earth in the most pure, innocent, and simple way possible. As a baby, born in a manger. Incredible, isn't!?

We have been playing Mary and Joseph at home. One day Genesis was Mary, Zech was Joseph and I was Grandma (so not ready for that title to be bestowed on me). Mary (ahem Gigi) kept having babies and the stroller was her donkey. She would have a baby and suddenly be ready to have another one. We eventually ran out of babies, so teddy bears worked well too. Of course there was only one special baby that was given the name Jesus. It is so incredibly awesome to see my kids imaginations at work and to see what is really important to them at this present time.

Shopping has been an adventure. We are having a birthday party alright. "Mom, can we buy this for Jesus' birthday, oh how about this, now this is what Jesus would really like!" Innocent enough, but loud enough so most people turn and look, some glare and some smile and some smirk. This is the true reason for the season. This is the real meaning of Christmas and it saddens me to think that it is so forgotten, so looked over. It humbles me that my 5 and 2 year old seem to get it, and are so extremely excited about celebrating His birthday! Now I need to prepare my heart and remind myself that it is all about celebrating HIM!

Happy Birthday Jesus!

Jude at 3 months...

- weighs 14 lbs. 14 oz.
- is approx. 26 inches long
- wears size 2 diapers
- wears 3 to 6 month clothing and some 6 month clothing.
- He is still an eating machine, and I will even give him a bottle a day too, just to give me a break!
- He has been to three doctors (including the Childrens' hospital) and nobody seems to know why he has the horrible eczema and the diarrhea. We are taking him to a Natural Path soon, as we are so tired of them prescribing 'cortizone' cream to a 3 month old and not getting to the root of the problem.
- He is teething. Drooling like crazy, not sleeping, not feeding properly and his brother and sister both teethed early (3 and 4 months), so why shouldn't he.
- Is a horrible sleeper and we are still not on a schedule. He still cat naps all the time and I want him on a schedule!
- Went and talked with Santa and had his picture taken with him too.
- Smiles, smiles and smiles. Jude is such a smiley baby! Even though he has all sorts of stuff going on with his little body, he has a really great nature about him.
- Loves to talk and talk and talk and has now started blowing raspberries.
- Went to Edmonton and got to see his cousins and Grandma and Mr. Bill.
- Still loves to be on his play mat and hang with his monkey.
- Wants to be where he can see all of the action. He will cry for no reason other than to be picked up and held so that he can see everything.
- Loves when his brother and sister play with him.
- Likes to go for car rides and sleep.
- Goes to Mom and Tots and hangs out with all sorts of babies and kids.

Early Christmas present

I just had to share this awesome early Christmas present. A favourite digital designer is retiring and she is offering a 'Shopping Spree' for only $25. That's right you can buy her shop for $25. Check out Biograffiti here.

I have been wanting to get her Baby's First Album templates for a while now. I have been trying to figure out the best way to get all of my kids albums completed and thought digital would be the way to go. I have traditional pages for Zech, nothing but digital pages for Genesis and now absolutely nothing for Jude. So digital is what I am going to do and then whenever I can I will catch up on some of my traditional albums for the kids.

Want to see what all of my goodies would have cost me if I didn't have this $25 shopping spree....

SUBTOTAL:

$773.38 Discount coupon :

$773.38

DISCOUNTED SUBTOTAL:

$0.00

That's right I just got almost $800 worth of digital scrap goodies for $25. Merry Christmas!

Simply Us right now

A little glimpse of us right now. This blog is seriously neglected lately. I really use it as more of a journal, a record of our life. There are so many moments, conversations that I have wanted to blog but just haven't had the time and they are already forgotten.

For now, this is us, right now, right here and as tired as I am, I wouldn't change a thing. I love my three beautiful gifts from God, they are so precious to me.

Zech loves Kindergarten and today I asked him what his favourite thing about school is. His response was that his teacher Mrs. Hiebert knows Jesus. So indicative of his heart these days. He is on a mission to tell everyone about Jesus. I love how bold he is and I have learned so much from him these past two and a half months. It is amazing how God uses these little angels to teach us!


She is constantly needing 'stuff' on her 'wips'. She snuck into mommy;s purse and got a hold of my lip gloss. I finally bought her some of her own lip gloss and now I have it everywhere. In one day she went through a half a bottle of her lip gloss.

She could not be happier with her babies, her Jude and her Bible! Poor Jude....

My mister smiley! Even when he has been sick, he is still so smiley and cuddly. He is such a little monkey and totally melts all of our hearts.

Jude at 1 month and Jude at 2 months.....

I am behind, go figure! Oh well better late than never. I changed my mind on how I want to do his monthly photos, so hence the reason for two different photos. I originally wanted to get some felt or magnetic letters to put over top of his head each month, but didn't have any and in the end the old saying KISS (Keep It Simple Stupid) kept popping in my head, so I am settling for the pic. of him and the teddy bear which his brother and sister picked out.

Jude at 1 month:

- weighs 11 lbs. 13 oz.
- is approx. 23.5 inches long (it is hard to measure him--I may be way off)
- wears size 1 diapers
- wears o to 3 month clothing, but it is getting tight.
- He is an eating machine! We can not believe how much this child eats!
- loves being in his car seat and going for car rides.
- loves his soother--yay!
- got his first cold.
- had a lot of first visitors to hold and cuddle him.
- is smothered in hugs and kisses from his brother and sister.
- has been a pretty content baby until he got his cold. We sometimes forgot he was here as he just slept through all of the madness!
- loves taking baths.
- has been on a few outings (the park, church, the mall, etc.)
- likes the baby bjorn for the most part.
- is so completely loved by his family! We are beyond blessed.



Jude at 2 months:

- weighs 13 lbs. 6 oz. (a week after this weight we had a check up and he was 13 lbs. 10 oz.)
- is approx. 25 inches long (according to the nurses measurements)
- wears size 2 diapers
- wears 3 to 6 month clothing, but it is getting tight.
- He is still an eating machine, I feel like I should just attach him to me!
- He has been our sick, fussy baby. After his cold he got the stomach flu from me.
- Had a visit to the hospital in Banff where we found out he has Scarlet Fever.
- Has had to take his first bout of antibiotics.
- Is such a gassy baby! Cat nip and Fennel are a true blessing (I know it sounds weird, but it totally calms 'colicky' babies--and he loves it).
- Slept through his brothers birthday and all of the birthday excitement.
- Got to see his cousins again.
- Loves the outdoors and rides in my 'new' to me Chariot.
- First family vacation to Banff.
- Is an extremely hot baby. It is hard to know how to dress him.
- Smiles, smiles and smiles. Jude is a really smiley baby!
- Loves to talk and talk and talk. Daddy and him have had some really long, exciting conversations. Mommy says he has to talk as he needs to be able to keep up with his brother and sister. How did I get such chatty kids?
- Loves his playtime mat--especially the monkey.
- Not on a schedule yet and I am praying that soon you will be. It has been a real rough month.
- Is still completely loved by his brother and sister. They love when he smiles at them now.
- Of course his Mommy and Daddy love him dearly and feel so blessed.

His poor skin looks so rough from his rash that he has. The sand paper like rash is one of the symptoms of Scarlet fever and it could last up to three weeks.