Free Class

I am so excited for this class from Jessica Sprague. I just registered and can't wait until it starts. I struggle so much with journalling and telling the stories about the photos I take. I can't wait to learn what she is going to teach us and to start journalling better!! The best part is that it is FREE!!

GrEIGHTful!!

So I have changed my Grateful Eight title to Greightful at the suggestion of my Aunt Elaine! You know it took me a while to come up with "Grateful Eight" and then my Aunt gives me the great idea for an even better title! Why didn't I think of that??

This week I am GrEightful for:

1. A pleasantly warm October.

2. The Keg. We went for supper last weekend and we usually never go to the Keg (due to the price and the portions), however we decided to try it again. They were awesome! They brought Zech a plate full of veggies, crackers and fruit while we waited for our meal (and never charged us for it). What a life saver. He was hungry and when he gets hungry he gets restless and really fussy. He was so good, and he had all of the waitresses stopping by to say hi--little flirt!

3. My husband. I haven't been feeling that great. Zech is just coming off his flew and maybe I got it. However, John is so great with Zech and lets me sleep in when I most need it! He is the best!

4. A two year old and his many ramblings! This morning he was downstairs playing and he was repeating over and over ..... "I'm a good boy, I'm a good boy, I'm a good boy"! It was so funny! He was in trouble this morning and I told him he wasn't being a good boy, so maybe he was trying to convince himself to change! :o)

5. Time to do some digital scrap booking. Even if it was only one layout, that is one more I have to put in my album!

6. Catching up with good friends. We met with Dave and Jeanette and got to see their little Princess for the first time. She is so gorgeous and such a good baby! It was so nice to catch up with some really great friends of ours! We really did miss them!

7. Chatting on the phone with the Vianello's! Even though they are in Europe, they are just a phone call away! They are doing great and adjusting to their new roles. It has been really interesting to learn about Holland and their medical system through Mari. They are very hands off throughout the whole pregnancy. The midwives deliver the baby at the hospital and if baby and mom are fine, they send them home 3-5 hours after the baby is born. However, (this is the best part) they get their own personal nurse for 8 days after the baby is born. This nurse is there to help you and you can consult with her at any time. Mari and Tony's nurse has been cooking, doing laundry, helping out with the baby, and cleaning! I think that is great! The after care is so important, especially when you are a first time parent!

8. Reading the Bible and learning more and more about God's character.

Grateful Eight

I haven't felt much like writing, taking pictures or even blogging lately. All three things that I really do love to do. I haven't touched my camera for two weeks! Can you believe that and I have missed a few moments that I can't get back (although Mel says that I can re-create them--haha--still not the same), so it is time to get out of that rutt and get on with doing what I do enjoy doing!

So I am back with my Grateful Eight!

1. Yes we made the move back to Edmonton thinking that it would be the best move for me to get a job. We are open to God's provision and plan and if that means moving to Calgary we will go there, but for now we are here in Edmonton. I have extended my prioirty to include both Edmonton and Calgary and so far have got only referrals for positions in Calgary which completely caught me off guard (we decided we will go wherever the first position comes up). This has been a hard move, as we really loved Kelowna and the lifestyle in Lake country and moutain bike/hiking country, but we have to do what is best for our family. I am grateful to be close to my family again, but do really miss John's family! Bittersweet!

2. My beautiful little boy, who has been a little sick lately, but still melts my heart and makes me smile. I thank God every day for him and know what a miracle he is!

3. Beautiful baby girls. Trish and Trevor had their first beautiful little girl on Oct.2nd and then Mari and Tony had their beautiful little girl on Oct. 13th. We are so happy for them.

Baby Isabelle Pearl

(Trish and Trev's little angel)

Baby Ruby Matilda Vianello

(Mari and Tony's little Gem)

4. University of Athabasca. John has started and I think he will do really well. He is so excited and just wants to get his degree done--keep him in your prayers please!! I admire his faith, persisitance and courage to do what he feels that God is calling him to do, even in the midst of so much negativity and lack of support and encouragement that he has had to face from certain people. He is such a remarkable, wonderful man of God and I challenge those people to truly get to know him instead of constantly passing judegment on him! God loves us all!!

5. The Bible--need I say more! I am continuously amazed at this Master piece and that God can speak to us (if we allow him to) so clearly and precisely through the Word, the Truth! I am also saddened by the continuous attack on the Bible's validity by both non-christians and Christians alike. The evidence for its validity is both INTERNAL (contained within its text) and EXTERNAL (verified by ancient Bible manuscripts, archaeological discoveries, early Christian and non-Christian writers, etc.). Some of the most recent archaeological discoveries once again proving the Bible's validity are so exciting and mind boggling! God is so amazing!!

6. The freedom to Vote. Some days I look at this country of ours and I see all of the things that are failing,corrupt and immoral and it just seems to be getting worse. I want to see this great country of ours be the best it can possibly be and as Canadians we need to start standing up, speaking out and taking some pride in our country. So yay for everyone that went out and voted.

7. My Dad and all of the wonderful times we did have with him! On Tuesday it would have been his 65th birthday (how fitting that an election was held on his birthday--he really did like politics)! I miss him and think about him often. I really wish that he could have met his grandsons. He loved kids so much and would have been beside himself with his little boys! Zech does have certain personality traits that really remind me of my Dad (I guess that was inevitable since I have a lot of the same personalities traits as my Dad too)! I think about my Mom a lot too. I know it has not been easy for her!

8. My Aunty Elaine. I have been praying and thinking about my Aunt so much lately as she battles breast cancer. She is an amazing woman, with so much to offer and such a warm, caring, loving heart! She is probably the friendliest, chattiest person you will ever meet. So please keep her in your prayers.

Still Here...

We are still here, just been a little busy and well things have been chaotic lately. Still trying to figure stuff out, but am constantly reminded that no matter how crazy, stressful, chaotic, unsure life is, the one thing I am always sure of is God's love and my amazing husband and wonderful little boy.

Also, I can't believe that my baby was two last Friday!! Where has the time went! He is growing way too fast!! We have been practising his age for a bit now, so the other day we went in to "vote" and the lady asked him how old he was and he smiled and said "twooo"--just as we practised! We are still working on his name. If you ask him what his name is he replies very confidently and boldy "me". He isn't completely wrong, but we are working on it and he will say "me" and then "ech". I guess the "Z" is a little hard to say! The long version of his name will have to wait a bit! :o)

I do have some pictures to share of the b-day parties, but am really behind and disorganized lately. So please bare with me as I try and get things together!

HAVE A WONDERFUL THANKSGIVING and take time to reflect on all of the wonderful things we have to be thankful for! God Bless!