GrEightful

We survived a crazy week, and have embarked on another crazy week! Still so much to be grateful for in the midst of the craziness! :o)

This week I am grateful for:

1. A day with my kiddos! I was supposed to have two interviews on Wednesday, but due to the crazy snow storm, they were both canceled. Actually one was supposed to be with the RCMP and they called me and told me not to come in as the road conditions were pretty bad. Who can argue with the RCMP. So I stayed home and kept the kids home with me. We played a lot and we even all took naps.

2. Modular classes. John had a modular class, which is a class in a week. He loved it! It was so challenging, revealing and discerning. It was so awesome to come home and find him completely on fire for the Lord and to hear about the ways that God has been working, moving and speaking to him. He also had an amazing Prof. who was full of spiritual discernment and who seemed to know more about his heart than most people who are supposed to. He also offered to be a reference for John on any Ministry positions in the future that he may look at.

3. New recipes. My Mom and Bill brought up a whole bunch of veggies for us. We had a bunch of beets that needed to be used up and then our neighbours also gave us some beets from their garden. I made Borscht for the first time and we LOVED it! I made so much, we have bags of it in the freezer for later.

4. Challenging messages and amazing testimonies at Church. We are doing a series at our church called 'Do Something'. I will share more on it later.

5. 1 Terabyte Hard Drives. Yup, we bought one and I backed all of my pictures, scrap book layouts, resumes, cover letters up and I can sleep a little easier! I love that Hard Drive that we got too as it is compatible with both PC and Mac and does not require re-formatting. YAY! Not to mention it will handle the new USB 3.0. (does that sound a little techy---I had a customer ask me if I was a geek--I am not there yet, but the learning curve on computers and technology is incredible).

6. New possibilities and opportunities that are on the horizon. Even if they do not go through, it is nice to know that they are out there.

7. The end of October and that Halloween is over with, so that now we can focus on Christmas.

8. New ideas and ways that God has been speaking to me on. Check out my blog tomorrow for a new announcement regarding this. I will give you a hint---it will be my first give-away ever!!

And I couldn't resist posting a few picks of my incredibly adorable kids. See what happens when I spend the day hanging out with them----I have more time to bring out the camera! :o)

Simple Woman Daybook #8

I think the last time I did one of these was in August.....so I am a little over-due!! I am so thankful it is Friday! This week was long, and so tiring! I can not believe how extremely exhausted I am! Last night I was in bed before 9:00 pm. John was trying to talk to me and I could not keep my eyes open!

For Today . . . October 22nd, 2010

Outside my window... It is dark, cold and crisp, but a full moon is shining brightly.

I am thankful...for a lot right now. My beautiful kids who are sleeping and whom I miss so incredibly much while I am away at work. My wonderful hubby and all of the things he does for me. I came home to butter chicken in the crock pot, basmati rice on the stove, oven toasted pitas and homemade spinach dip that he made himself and it is amazing!! He did all of this and then ended up having to go into work, so we didn't get to enjoy it with him.

I am thankful...for an awesome God who lavishes us with unconditional love, grace and mercy--even when I don't deserve it.
I am praying...for a lot, a real lot, but most importantly a JOB!!!!!

I am praying...for the upcoming week that is so incredibly crazy for us. John has a modular (course in a week), the kids will be at the day home all week, I have an interview for a gov.'t job and have to work.

I am also praying for.....direction and wisdom to know where God wants us to be, His will for our lives and for Him to open and close the doors that need to be opened or closed!

I am thinking...about all the things I need to accomplish tomorrow and about what I am going to do with my kids by myself tomorrow.

I am also thinking....about a few new developments that God has placed in our laps.

I am celebrating...that I survived this incredibly long week.

From the kitchen...my hubby's wonderful cooking!

I am wearing...jeans and a t-shirt.

I am reading...the Bible, and an awesome book by Francis Chan called Crazy Love. Our small group is doing the Bible Study and it is really challenging.

I am hoping...that I will get some time to do some scrap booking soon.

I am hearing...just the fan. I can't sleep without a fan, and now I have our whole family hooked too!

I am creating...absolutely nothing. I would like to start a project that I would like to make for Christmas, but I never have time or energy.

Around the house... it's a disaster. I can't keep up with work, kids and searching for jobs.

One of my favorite things....seeing God work in other people's lives.

A few plans for the rest of the week...nothing much for the weekend. We need some family time!

Here are a few picture thoughts I'm sharing with you....

How I love these two! This picture makes me smile and melts my heart! So them!

Trying out some new 'actions'! Check out her new bangs--I wasn't sure at first, but I really like them on her now!

Thanksgiving with Mom and Mr. Bill! The kids adored having them! I love these pictures too!

So many things to be thankful for!

There are so many things to be thankful for. With this past weekend being 'Thanksgiving', it was a good time to reflect on the things in my life that I am so incredibly thankful for! Even though these past few months have been such an incredible emotional roller coaster, we are still so extremely blessed. We may not have all of the riches, material goods or money in the world, but we have what is truly important not only for what is needed in this short life which is but a blink of an eye, but for what is needed in looking toward the true treasures for our life in eternity.

So my 'Thanksgiving' list for 2010 is:

1. The Lord, my God, my creator, and Saviour! Where would I be if I didn't have Him!

2. The Bible. An amazing book with amazing words. How God speaks to me during times when I really need to hear from Him most.

3. An amazing husband who is sacrificing so much so that he can provide for his family. He truly is an amazing man.

4. God's Mighty Warrior Zechariah Rueben Gooch!! Picture him yelling this with his God's Mighty Warrior Armour on. I love this little boy to bits and pieces. He is such a character and brings so much joy, light and evangelism to our lives!

5. Gigi, God's little Princess who is also such an amazing little girl, who I love so incredibly much. She is such a funny, spunky little character who brings so much joy and love to our hearts too. She makes me smile!

6. My sister, brother-in-law and adorable nephews. They are such an amazing support to us and an amazing part of our lives. We are so incredibly blessed to have them, to Skype with them! We really do miss them a lot!

7. A nice visit from my Mom and Bill. We were so incredibly spoiled by them and really enjoyed having family around to share Thanksgiving with. The kids were over joyed. Mom and Bill had their share of dancing, doing puzzles and just playing with our kids. When I told Zech that we had to say good-bye, he told me he didn't want them to be so far away! John and I also enjoyed looking at their Europe pictures and downloaded quite a few of them on our computer to look at. It was so neat to see where my great grandparents grew up, the church they were married in and see some distant relatives. What an amazing trip they had!

8. Visits with some good friends. Time to chat and catch up. Wish we had more time, but it was nice to have our first visitors stay with us!

9. An amazing small group back in Calgary that continues to love, pray and just be a huge support for us. We are so thankful for them and blessed beyond! Love these guys so much and the fact that we can Skype in with them.

10. Finding a good church and hearing some amazing, thought provoking sermons that were oh so timely!

11. Fellowship with new friends and connecting and getting to know one another a little better.

12. A roof over our heads, food on the table, clothes in our closets and fresh water from the tap. How we take those things for granted when there are millions who don't even come close to having the luxuries that we do.

13. Great news for my hubby and his quest to complete his Education. What a roller coaster this has been, but so glad that the Lord really came through for us, for him. I am also glad that finally there was some accountability and humility shown in a situation where a lot of untruthfulness and lack of communication was shown.

14. An awesome new book and bible study. It is so challenging and timely too!

15. A job, even if it is not exactly where I pictured myself being. I am grateful none the less for bringing in money and being able to help support my family.


I will have to get some pictures downloaded soon, but will share a few older ones! :o)

GrEightful!

I can't believe it is October already! The weeks are flying by, probably because we are so busy and I don't have time to do anything lately--not even blog.

So much to be grateful for this week:

1. Our beautiful little boy celebrated his 4th birthday. There is not a day that goes by that I don't marvel in the fact that we are so incredibly blessed to have him in our lives. I think about the rough pregnancy and the times that we were supposed to have lost him, and I am so incredibly grateful that the Lord has blessed us with this amazing little guy. He is truly loved and has taught us so much. He is one cool kid and we are pretty blessed to have this opportunity to raise him, guide him, lead him and just be with him--what an amazing gift from God!

2. Skype dates with my sis and family. Watching the boys in their matching batman p.j.'s! Seeing how much Emmett has grown and his adorable little smile. Loving that my sis and bro-in-law take the time to keep in touch with us!

3. Phone calls from loved ones and watching my kids light up when they speak to them! I believe that the whole town knows that Grandma and Mr. Bill are coming soon!

4. A visit from great friends (hoping that I will have more time as they come back through this week) and seeing how much their little ones have grown. Our first visitors!!!

5. An amazing small group. We are so blessed that the Lord brought them into our lives and allows us to continue to be a part of this fellowship through Skype! We have needed this so much and are so incredibly grateful for them!

6. Miracles. The fact that when we trust in the Lord, He will provide for us in the most incredible ways.

7. That our little man does not have diabetes. We had to have him tested in Emergency this week due to some symptoms that he has been complaining about for a bit now. The teachers, and our day home noticed some signs and told us about them too. However, he is cleared--praise the Lord!!! We still need to get him into an Optometrist and figure out what is causing him to tell us that his eyes don't work! So please pray for us!

8. A great day, with some great company. Seeing my little man's face shine as he played with all of the kids that came to his birthday. He had such an awesome day! He thanked John and I so many times for his birthday party and he kept asking everyone if they were having a good birthday. So cute. Gosh I love this kid!

GrEightful

Wow, this week just seemed to fly by and there have been some really big changes and adjustments for our little family. There may not be as many blog posts, nor pictures lately, but I will try.

This week I am grateful for:

1. The weekend! Even though I worked a short week, the weekend felt so great and I loved spending some much needed time with my beauties! I just wish John and I had more time together! :o(

2. Family Contracts. Some big changes needed to happen in our family and I read this book--The Key to Your Child's Heart-- by Gary Smalley. We made our own family contract and it has really been helping us--not only us but the kids too.

3. Finding a church and knowing that our kids LOVE it too!

4. Great finds at Liquidation World ($6.00 for a new outfit for Zech)! YAY!!

5. Skyping with our small group!!!

6. God and the ways that he speaks to us and challenges our hearts and minds!

7. Miracles!

8. My wonderful hubby and the amazing talks we have! My Mr. Sexy! :o)

GrEightful

Wow, I haven't done one of these in a bit and I find sometimes it helps me put things into perspective when I am in a funk or feeling down.

This week I am grateful for:

1. Skype - We have had a few Skype dates with my sis and her family, my Mom and Mr. Bill, and some good friends in Calgary. We are also going to be Skyping in to our small group in Calgary--so excited about this and am so, so, grateful for technology! It was also super cute watching my little girl give kisses to her cousins, Aunty and grandma. The screen is a little dirtier now, but it was pretty cute! :o)

2. That I finally got a job. Even if it is not a government job, I just need to help pay the bills and put some food on the table. I am excited to start work as the people I work with are pretty great and also the hours will work out perfectly. John and I are working at the same place (he started before me) and I will do the morning shift and he will do the night shift. We are also working in the same department--it is too funny, but will totally work for us. Plus I will have my own personal trainer--John! ;o)

3. Our little encourager--Zechariah. He is such a sweet little boy and always seems to sense when we need some encouragement and some cuddles! Love this kid to pieces!

4. Little Miss Gigi. She cracks me up with all of her new little antics and new words. She is such a funny girl and I just adore watching her personality develop and unfold. She is one busy, busy, little girl!

5. My husband who is my rock, my support, my best friend, and the absolute love of my life. I am so incredibly blessed to have him in my life. I love seeing him grow, learn, flourish and become the man that God has intended him to be. Pretty amazing sharing my life with a man who loves the Lord as much as I do!

6. An amazing friend who listens, encourages and prays for me as I confide in her and tell her about all of my struggles. What is even more amazing, is how she has went through the exact same thing that I am struggling with and has such amazing scriptural backed insight to offer. God has such amazing foresight! :o)

7. Knowing that God is working in me. In the midst of this storm, I am able to draw closer and closer to Him. I am able to let Him prune all of the stuff that needs to be pruned and discarded. I need a heart change and slowly but surely He is working on me, revealing amazing things to me, but most importantly lavishing me with His unfailing, unconditional love, mercy and grace, which I so desperately need and cry out for.

8. Finding a church and starting to feel a little more connected.

First Days of School

John started school on Monday (yes Labour Day)! We thought that was kind of strange, but apparently they do that here every year. While I didn't take a picture of him, he was pretty excited--you will just have to take my word. Pretty tired too this week as he has been working a tonne! So classes, kids, and working, these are the days of a father/husband/students life! :o) I really love this man I married!

Now for my little man, I can not believe that he has started pre-school. I debated about it, however, in the end we decided to do it because he needs the social development and Daddy would need some more study time if Mommy ever got a job! He is a social butterfly-- our extrovert, however, he stills need to mature socially and I thought this would really be a great way for him to learn and perhaps become a little less 'bossy'! :o) He has been so excited for months now. We went last week 'back-pack' shopping and he had to have the 'batman' one.

His first day was on Tuesday and it was an orientation, so we all went as a family. His first day all by himself was on Thursday and he loved it! Of course when I went to pick him up and asked the teachers how he did, I wasn't surprised to hear that he is the loudest in the class and needs to work on his listening. He is such a funny kid!

He is such a big boy now too. I wanted to hold his hand as I walked him in, but he would have none of that. So when I went to say good-bye to him, I didn't know whether or not I would get a hug and kiss, but he did. Too big to walk hand in hand, but never too big for a hug and kiss--that is my Zech!
No post would be complete without mentioning our sweet little princess. She is quite the little lady. Loves shoes, and loves to accessorize lately with purses, backpacks, whatever. She is also getting in her last two teeth (the bottom i-teeth)--yay! I can not wait until they are in--she has been miserable! She is talking more and more each day it seems. Her newest words are 'cat' and she now makes the 'meow' sound too (there is a reason for this--which I will share later). She also just started saying 'ba bye'. Every time Daddy leaves she gives kisses, and waves and now says 'ba bye'. She also just started blowing kisses and giving kisses over the computer to her Aunty, Uncle and cousins--too cute! She has a few more words that I have to do a post on--it is pretty funny. For now though, I leave you with this picture. She is becoming quite the Daddy's girl!