Here I am...

Once again I took a completely unintentional blog break (okay I take quite a bit of them). I actually don't mean to but sometimes I'd just love reading other people's blogs...but really can't think of anything to write.

Things also have been pretty busy the last little while. I'm working 4 days a week at school...which I love. Really what could any single mother want more than to work at the school where your child attends!!

I have been feeling so great since the summer as well. I did go through a trying period...God really used that to get me trusting and relying on Him more...something I must admit I'm still working on. He truly shows me His faithfulness daily!

I'm hoping to soon get back into my sewing and other stuff...I so wanted to have mostly home made gifts for Christmas presents (yeah that isn't going to happen). Although I will have to find an ornament craft for Michaela and I to work on...we did the cutest one last year that I found in Country Woman magazine.

I really have to tell a story that happened last week. I had brought my minivan into the shop to have a leak checked out. I was a little worried about the cost of this...and it was taking quite a bit of time. A friend and I prayed about it then I phoned the shop (about 5 hours after dropping it off), they said it was just finished and I asked if I should prepare myself for coming in to pay the bill. The service manager let me know that the problem was covered under my warranty...there would be no cost. GOD IS GOOD!!!

Biting the Bullet

Well after my last post, things kind of went from bad to worse. I really felt like I was in a pit and couldn't get out.

Four years ago I started a medications called Effexor XR for anxiety, I was not happy to be going on it but it really helped me a lot. I had often talked to the doctor about getting off of it...but the time never seemed right. Well this spring we decided that I could try and come off. Now you can't just stop taking this medication...you need to go down in dosage very very gradually. I was able to completely stop taking it in June, I felt such a sense of accomplishment.

After this last week I decided I needed to go back to the doctor and start up again. I spent a great deal of time in prayer and the Word, while I would like nothing more than to be free of any medication I know that right now I do need to be on this medication.

The first little while on this drug is tough, there are side effects...I'm just waiting for them to go away so I can start feeling normal again!!

On thing that makes me very happy is having Jen here with me!!

Time

I'm amazed that it has now been 2 years since Ron passed away, I'm not sure where those years have gone. I can see them in the difference in Michaela, how she has grown in these last couple of years...it breaks my heart that they have been without her daddy.

I'm feeling very down right now, for the last little while things have been pretty tough. We went on holidays, which was very good...I got to visit my family and Michaela got to see her grandparents. We were gone for nearly 3 weeks and that seemed to be a little too long to be away from home...I just really wanted to be home!!

When Ron passed away I discovered that he had very little life insurance, not something that when you are in your thirty's you think too much about. There was enough that I figured I wouldn't have to work and would be able to focus on Michaela for a couple of years...those years are done...and so is the insurance.

Now I'm responsible to support my little family on my own...that really stresses me out. I will be working at Michaela's school and really that is the biggest blessing that I could have been given. I know that I could find a job that pays much more and has more hours...but for a single mother working where your child goes to school is ideal.

I'm not sure what the future holds for me, I've been in prayer for God's leading. I want my life to be in His will and pray that I will be more dependant on Him.

Show Us Where You Live

So for the first time I've decided to participate in Show Us Where You Live Friday that Kelly at Kelly's Corner hosts.

Let me start by saying that I love my yard, it is child and dog friendly...that is what it most important about the back yard. I told Ron after he got sick that I liked out big yard when he was the one cutting the grass...when I have to do it I don't love it so much!! I now have a friends son cut my lawn! This picture is taken from out balcony...we also have a lower deck (so great for BBQs).

When Ron was sick he couldn't be left alone and wasn't able to get out (other than out on our balcony)...without a lot of effort. We decided to get Michaela the swingset for her 4th birthday...if we couldn't take her to the park we'd bring the park to her! She got the trampoline for her 5th birthday...it is a great place to play! The little blue shed is going to eventually become a playhouse...that is the plan anyway.

This maple tree our care group got and planted last year in remembrance of Ron, it was very touching...we call it Daddy's tree. This picture isn't very good, oh and you gotta love the heavy duty stakes keeping it straight.

The front yard I keep pretty simple...and someone trying to get in the picture! Most of the plants are in containers, I do have some roses planted...and they are gorgeous.

I just cut these yesterday...even Buddy had to get in the picture (I think my family likes the camera or something)!

We call this the upsidedown tree, I'm not sure what it is called. I got it a couple of years ago on sale, I just love the look of it. The branches just hang down, in the spring it flowers and now it has little berries.

There is my yard, I love it...especially when the sun is shining!! Time to get out and enjoy it!

Summer Holidays

Okay so it has been a while since I posted...I know big surprise!!

Last you heard I was planning on getting a lot done around here and guess what...I've done pretty good at it! I did get my spare room in order...yes pictures would be awesome...anyway! It was done in time for my friend Jen to visit and have a real room to sleep in, it isn't painted yet but that can be done when I actually have some time!

Not only did I get Oreo's cage outside (which he loved...because he could escape)! I've given him to a home that wanted to breed rabbits for food...on the condition that they wouldn't eat Oreo!! I figure he'd be happier getting to make babies, because that was not going to happen around here! Also I absolutely adore this family and I know he will be well cared for!

I did get my drawers cleaned out...and I even remembered to take pictures of it!

I emptied out all of my drawers onto my bed...and then began the big sort.

These are the bags that came out...one of garbage, one for donation and one for consignment. Ahhh it is so much nicer now!!

I also got my computer armoire cleaned out...these place has been driving me crazy for quite some time. I just keep my printer in there because I use a laptop. It became a catchall for so many things.

Before...everytime I used my printer I had to take down the paper sorter tray.

After...so much nicer...and a big bag of garbage out of there!

In all that we also went camping for 10 days!! Oh it was so much fun...even if our stretch of wonderful hot weather ended 2 days after we started!! We did get rained on quite a bit and it was at times a little chilly...but we had a blast and weren't ready to come home!

Today is Canada Day, we had a wonderful time at the parade and then a BBQ at my brothers...I found this material that I had bought on sale about 4 years ago.

My Canada Day Princess!!

Getting it all Done!!

So for the last few weeks of school the kindergarten class with be attending school full time!! That gives me 3 days a week at home alone...ALONE!!!

So I have a few big projects (and several small ones) that I'm determined to have completed by the end of the school year!! I figure if is is in writing then I'll actually get it done...I may or may not take pictures!

Get my spare room in order, clean it out and get a bed and stuff in there..actually make it a spare room instead of the storage room it is. I'm not sure if it will be done by the time Jen visits...but maybe or probably not!

• Get my family room area organized and have all of Michaela's toys down there.
• Get Oreo set up outside for the summer...Rabbits in the house kind of smell!
• Little organizing projects - these should take about a hour each:
• clear out my computer armoire
• clean out the craft room - again
• clean and organize my dressers
• get my books organized
• finish all my filing
• organize my pantry cupboard
• organize my kitchen closet and cupboards

Once these things are done I will feel so much better and my house will be so much better to live in!!!

Well I'm heading out to help my friend do some painting and maybe get to plant a few more flowers in the garden!!

It has really been that long...

Wow I didn't realize that it has been that long since I posted...wow time sure gets away from me!

Of course I did have a trip to Disneyland in there as well, kind of an excuse.

We had an amazing time there, I just love visiting there...it is like being a kids and playing all day long!

We had a big group of us there, my two older sisters and some of their families...there were 15 of us in total!! It was so much fun and of course while we were there it was Michaela's birthday...so we had to do something different how about a Build a Bear party!!!

Things have been very busy around here since we got back. Back to school, work, getting the house in order, getting the yard in order...I'm ready for summer holidays!!!

Dreaming

We little while ago I had a post about dreams...it wasn't very positive. Some times I just like to live my day to day...not looking too far into the future (except down when I only have 8 days till Disneyland)!!

Anyway I'm feeling a bit more positive about dreams, a good friend of mine got me to admit that my dream has always been to live in a log cabin and raise chickens (yeah you can all stop laughing now)!! I know it is crazy...but there has always been a bit of me who is drawn to that lifestyle. Who knows...someday God may surprise me and haul me out into the country!!

Michaela is a bit sick today, she was snuffly and stuffy yesterday and this morning she has been a bit feverish and has thrown up a few times...we're just hanging out at home and having a jammy day (we'll I'm going to try and get the cleaning done today).

We had a wonderful Easter weekend. It was so relaxing (which is why I need to get my cleaning done today)!! She has a spot on her face so I'm being paranoid and checking her all of the time to see if it is chicken pox (or chicken pops as she calls it).

I've been doing a lot of sewing lately, I'll have to take some pictures to prove it!! I made a Cinderella costume to take to Disneyland and a Hannah Montana dress (just a regular dress in a HM print)!! I've been loving it, my sister gave me her old serger almost 2 years ago and now I'm finally using it...WHAT TOOK ME SO LONG!!! It is the best!!

Well I'd better get some chores done around here! I promise to post pictures of my sewing projects!!

Love This

I just love Mandisa and this song really speak the truth!!

Dixie Cat

Something sad happened to us last night, our little Dixie cat was hit by a car and we had to have her put down. Now Dixie was no ordinary cat...I seriously loved that cat.

There is a great story that goes with how we ended up with Dixie. Michaela and I were visiting a friend and we wanted to go to the animal shelter to look for a dog...Michaela had already decided to name this dog Dixie. So on our way to the shelter we were prayer for God to show us the dog that would be perfect for our family.

When we got to the shelter we discovered that it was closed, there was another woman there who had found a kitten at the dump and was dropping her off...the rest is as they say history...

We decided that God must have wanted us to have a Dixie cat instead of a Dixie dog. Ron was so happy when he came home from work to see this scared little kitty (Ron was a cat person...I'm the dog person).

We all loved her so much, she was the typical aloof, snobby cat...I seen a magnet that says "dogs have owners and cats have staff" this is what Dixie was like. She was a sweet cat...but she came to you to be pet...not the other way around. She knew that this was her house and she over looked everyone who came in by sitting on the railing overlooking the front door.

What makes me the most sad is she was Ron's cat, it is like losing another piece of Ron. We have such great memories of her with Ron...of course no pictures to show you.

We will miss her so much, I'm not sure I would get another cat...who are we kidding I know I will but I'm sure it will be a while.

One day I was in the kitchen and turned and seen her just sitting in the sink...like it was perfectly normal!

Last Christmas once again I was in the kitchen and she had climbed into my shelves...not sure why she went there but I think it had to do with the little fish tank on the bottom left of the picture.

A Funny Thing Happened at Work...

Today I was working on doing an ad for the two major newspapers in our province. I was dealing with a woman in Calgary, we exchanged a few emails...she was so great to deal with!

We finished up our business and then she mentioned that she grew up in a town close to where I live...I grew up in the same town. I let her know that and let her know when I graduated...she graduated the same year! Turns out that I worked with her mother and we knew each other...how funny is that.

It totally made my day...just having something like that happen really blessed me.

Yesterday I took Michaela skiing with the school, she wasn't too fond of it...okay she cried most of the time. She tried stayed in her lesson for about an hour when we decided she had done enough. Someone thought that maybe I should have skied as well...I said then we both would have been crying!!

What is Your Dream?

When I was at Breakforth one of the speakers spoke about our dreams...and how we should be living our dream. How we should be praying that God wants us to live our dreams...blah blah blah!

That is pretty much how I felt about the session. I've had dreams...heck I was even living my dream. Then it was taken from me, how do you dream again after that? One evening with my friends we were talking about our dreams...I told them that I don't have one. Why would I want to struggle to get where I'm living my dream and risk having the rug taken out from under me. My desire is to live in God's will, to be obedient to Him and to be a servent...does this require having a dream?

I think it is great the people have dreams for their lives and if they know that it is God's will for their lives then I think that is wonderful. For now I don't have one, right now I'm living where God desires me to be...I don't know what it will be tomorrow, next week or next month. I don't know if I'm just protecting myself from the pain that I've been through, but we had dreams, plans and all that...they changed.

10 Years Ago Today

February 19, 1999 I met the man of my dreams...I was out with a group of friends and he was out with another group of friends...I asked him to dance and the rest is history.

I've been kind of preparing myself for today, Michaela had school and I had to work. I've been feeling a bit off today because I'm wondering if this is where I'm suppose to be, am I doing what God wants me to be doing...this week I've been really working on making sure I'm living in God's will.

So I'm at my desk and my friend comes into the office, now this woman is an amazing woman of God. She is so beautiful inside and out...not that she would ever admit that she is gorgeous...but whatever! Anyway she came to me with a devotional book she was reading and showed me today's devotional written by a woman named Sandra P. Aldrich she lost her husband to brain cancer when he was 39...WOW.

This verse really spoke to me,

Your Maker is your husband - the Lord Almighty is his name - the Holy One of Israel is your Redeemer; he is called the God of all the earth Isaiah 54:5

So I'm reading this book and just started crying...not the nice little teary cry...no, the big sobbing ugly cry! This was just want I needed, I needed to feel that God was there with me, I needed to know that He is going to look out for me...but I also need to make sure that I am communicating with Him. I know that right now I'm where God wants me to be, I will trust him to guide my decisions, I will trust him to protect us and provide for us.

The crazy thing is that she didn't know what meaning this day had for me, she had no idea. God amazes me when He does things like this...He is so good!!

The Dangers of Working at a School...

Oh now don't worry...I'm not talking about the obvious. No weapons, violence...diseases...no for me the danger is this little guy...

His name is Oreo, he was the class pet for one of our classes...unfortunately this class had a child that is allergic to pet hair (and apparently this includes rabbit hair). Now being the, oh what's the word...sucker...no...caring person...yeah that is it, caring person. I said that if no one else wanted to take the rabbit home I would take him...but if anyone came forward they could take him...and then I was off to Breakforth for the weekend. When I came back to work there was Oreo....in his cage...on my desk...excellent...

Now Michaela was pretty happy about this turn of events...me well I was a little uncertain. His cage was way too small for this guy and I knew he would need a new one. I googled making a rabbit cage and came up with this beauty (here is the tutorial):

You know these wire cube storage things...well this is the first step. I picked up a couple of packages of these (they make 3 cubes per package)...

I also had a set of them assembled that I wasn't using anymore.

Get a package of these handy dandy zip tie things (I used just over 100 for this project).

Start connecting the squares, I made this one 3X3 on the front and 2X3 on the sides (make sense)?

Just keep attaching one square to the other....till you have all the walls (you can put a roof on it as well if you'd like...I did but only because I have a cat that I didn't want jumping in the cage).

Don't forget to leave an opening for the door (basically just attach one side of the centre column of squares...again I hope this makes sense)? I also had an extra cat house thing that fit perfect and there were two little hidey holes for Oreo...the top one is his favourite. I put in a couple of wooden dowels to support another level (he doesn't go up there much).

I made a little second level with the wire squares and attached one of those boot trays with a carpet piece on it.

See how much more space he has in this cage, it is perfect in the downstairs kitchen (my basement has a suite that we don't rent so this area was perfect). He just loves his new house, once spring comes around here I will be setting up a hutch for him in the back yard, there will be a bigger area for him to run in.

This project was so easy and not that expensive and the result is amazing, it is so easy to clean (of course he is litter trained...didn't even know you could do that).

Breakforth

Oh my word did I have a crazy, wild and wonderful weekend!!!

I'm still recovering from this...

I went to a conference called Breakforth it was very powerful and convicting. There were so many people and amazing concerts, speakers and worship leaders. I got to listen to Erwin McManus, Wayne Cordeiro, John Eldridge. The worship leaders were Brenton Brown, Matt Maher, Paul Baloche and Brian Doerksen. I also got to see MercyMe and Michael W. Smith in concert. Quite a line up...and this isn't even the breakaway sessions!!

I left with my wonder friend Tamara on Friday, we got on our plane..now I'm not much of a flier so this is never my favourite part. We were delayed about an hour...because of that we missed our connecting flight. We were so praying that we would make a close flight...because MercyMe was playing that night and I soooo wanted to see them. We went to the flight that would be leaving only an hour later than our original flight....but we were told that it didn't look good. So we were formulating plans (okay so they may have including shopping in Vancouver). Praise the Lord we were called and we got on our flight!! We landed in Edmonton after a very rocky ride...not my favourite thing!

While we were waiting in vain effort for our luggage Tamara see a fellow holding a breakforth sight...we though maybe they were providing some sort of shuttle. So in our faint hope she went and spoke with him...sorry he was picking up some of Paul Baloche's people. So while we watch everyone else's luggage go drifting by we come to the obvious conclusion that ours didn't make it. But in that time the van driver came up to us and said that Paul Baloche's peeps are going in the limo with him so if we needed a ride he could take us...woohoo!!! So after reporting our delayed luggage (that should be delivered to our hotel tonight) we were on our way! I'm not even going to get into the mess they made of our luggage...lets just say I'm glad that I knew the hotel that the person whoes luggage I got was staying...as she got mine!!

Wow the crowd amazed this small town girl, going in for registration went very smoothly. I decided to head to our hotel and meet up with our friend who we hadn't seen in a while. Tamara said she would save our seats in the main session. I got to our hotel with only a little bit of phoning and getting lost...but Jen and I were on our way to Tam. Okay now for future reference when you are heading into a worship session asking asking your friend to raise their hands is not a great idea!! I had no idea there would be so many people...it was awesome!!

The next little while was walking, walking, walking and more walking...while getting to listen to some amazing speakers in between. We had some great bonding time with each other, Tamara has a way of convicting me in ways that I'm laking in my relationship with the Lord.

The last day of the conference I had walked to my session and seriously the shoes that I can wear all day at work and such JUST DON'T CUT IT AT BREAKFORTH!! My plan was to either buy some Crocs or cut my feet off....I decided that shopping for Crocs would be less messy (and painful). I did find Crocs but actually found shoes that I liked better and they were on sale (yeah my cheap Scottish blood). They were awesome!! I was able to continue the adventure! Michael W. Smith was the last concert and he put on such a worshipful concert...it was so amazing to feel the Spirit in such a strong and meaningful way!

The next day we met up with my nephew Kevin and his friend Michael...seriously two of the funniest people I know!! I just love them so much! We had so much fun at the West Edmonton Mall! After that I finally got to eat at Olive Garden (once again a first for this small town girl)!!

Before we flew our the next afternoon (Tuesday at this point) we decided to do a bit more shopping on our way to the airport...gotta squeeze it all in! We made it in time for our flight to Vancouver and we had a bit of time there before our flight home...we were going for a bit of a walk and passed by a board that said our flight was cancelled!! WHAT!! We were told that our airport had some mechanical problems and they plans couldn't land there....we were going to fly into another airport and but home (this is a 2 hour flight...then a 2 hour bus ride)!! What a finish good thing I was with someone who makes me laugh and who I can joke and cry with.

I have been home for two days now and I can still feel the effects of the weekend...physically and spiritually!! I would do it again in a heartbeat, but this time I'd get my nephew to take time off so I could bring Michaela with me...I really don't like leaving her at home!! If you want to see some pictures go to Jen's site...I didn't bring my camera because it is way to big to haul around!

Pasta Sausage Bake

I've been asked for this recipe many times in the past...so this time while making it I had my camera with me in the kitchen. Now I don't measure in this recipe, so if you need more then just add what you'd like.

I like to use hot Italian sausage, if it is thawed I will remove the casing and break it apart...I didn't take it out of the freezer so I sliced it while it was still frozen.

Brown the sausage then drain the excess fat.

I like to use whole wheat pasta, for us I put half the box in a casserole dish...I don't cook it first. I've found that if I boil the pasta first I find that it will get a bit mushy.

I put my favourite pasta sauce in...I also had a bit of water to the dish as well (just put about a 1/2 a cup of water and swirl it around the jar to get out the rest of the sauce). This will make up for the amount of sauce that the pasta will absorb while cooking.

I added fresh mushrooms today, sometimes I will add red peppers...or canned mushrooms...whatever I have on hand. No I didn't wash the cutting board between cutting the sausage...but since it all cooks together it is okay.

Mix everything together

Grate some mozzarella cheese...

Put the cheese on top if it all...cover the dish and bake at 375 F for 45 minutes, uncover for 10 minutes

and there you have it...

Add salad and there is dinner!!

Hope you enjoy this, this has always been a great meal for me because you can make it the day before and leave it in the fridge until the next day.

Menu Planning Monday

Well last week a few of my meals weren't made...all for good reasons! I was either going to someone's house for dinner...or I was going to someone's for a potluck!!

I've wanted to make my goal this year to only shop once a week...I almost made it! Because we had a funeral at our church and a potluck, both on Saturday, I did have to run to the stores on Friday...but for me twice in one week is still pretty good!

My menu for the week is pretty simple...I'm also trying to clean out the cupboards a bit!

Monday - Chicken, potatoes and corn (missed from last week)

Tuesday - Sausage and pasta bake

Wednesday - Pork chops with rice and veggies

Thursday - Beef and snap pea stir fry

Friday - Fish with veggies and dip

Saturday - Homemade pizza

Sunday - Whatever we can find!

Org junkie has hundreds of people posting their menus for the week!

Busy day...and cooking!

Today is a busy day for us...not normal for Saturday. Saturday is usually our do nothing day...maybe get dressed...maybe not!! Today there is a funeral at our church for the mother of a woman who attends, her children also attend the school Michaela goes to...I think it is important for me to go for a show of support of her church family and school family. I'm also making sandwiches for this...it is such a blessing to be able to do it. When Ron passed away my church did everything!! I mean it was completely overwhelming, the love and support shown to me was so evident...my family (which has some nonbelievers) could clearly see it! I feel privileged to have God use me to support someone else as well!

I also have a Christmas potluck for our school staff tonight...yeah we didn't quite get it together in time to do it before Christmas...so here we are! I'm actually quite happy it is now...just a little bit of joy in the normal after Christmas and New Years slump!

So I'm going to post a bunch of pictures of what I've done this morning...wow just after 11am!! I'm amazing myself today!

First I'm making stuffing for the dinner tonight, I do have to say that I make a pretty amazing stuffing (yes it may be boastful...but it is also true)!!

I make my own bread filled with spices and dry it in the oven then break it up.

Now I love sausage in stuffing...I use Johnsonville hot Italian...browned.

Chop some onion, slice some celery and fresh mushrooms.

Saute them on the stove with a bit of butter, using the same pan you browned the sausage in...give it great flavour.

I like to cook it all in a slow cooker...it is just easier. I know you're thinking...there is no way that is going to fit!! Oh silly you...I will make it fit!

Add a little chicken broth...and mix it around...

voila!

Now that is all slow cooking away...I will mix it up now and then and check and see if I have to add a bit more broth or not!!

Now that isn't all I did today, will this was going on I decided that Michaela and I should make some butter...yes that's right BUTTER! I've seen on a few blogs how easy it is so I thought it would be fun...yes there are pictures (I've decided that my kitchen is really where my camera should be..that is where all the action is)!! I'll post about that later...I also made some egg salad and tuna salad sandwiches for the lunch today...I even took pictures of that. I was in the zone!! I'll have to do it more often, it is fun and I think makes it all a bit more interesting!

Now it is all cleaned up, I can sit and relax for a bit...until I need to shower and get ready to go!