Patrick Swayze Interview

So tonight I'm watching the Patrick Swayze interview with Barbara Walters...it is so interesting. It really brings me back to two years ago...I really feel where he and his wife are, I know the conversations they must have with each other...I've been there. The questions that have been asked and trying to answer them...it is a tough place to be. I also appreciate that they enjoy laughter and have a sense of humor while fighting such a beast...it really does help.

I think one of the craziest questions to ask is how long to you have to live...there isn't a single person who can answer that. Once conversation Ron and I had was him being afraid, we ended it with know the fact that none of us know how long we have. Some where some one will die...they don't have cancer but they will die. It could be an accident or whatever...the point is we aren't promised tomorrow we are promised right now!! So just because a person has terminal cancer doesn't mean that they know the day they will die, they may live longer than statistics...or like Ron...shorter than them.

As for Patrick Swayze, I pray that he and his family will have strength and peace as they continue to fight such a horrible illness, I pray that he knows Christ as his Saviour and will draw closer to Him!!

I've also found out today that a woman who goes to my church and is in my small group has breast cancer...please remember her in your prayers. I'm not sure what type it is and how advanced, my prayer for her is that she will draw close to the Lord. I also pray for her husband and two sons one who is in his first year of Bible college and her younger son is still in high school.

Menu Planning Monday

Well now that the new year is here I can get my schedule back in order...while I really did enjoy the relaxed schedule we had over the holidays it is time to get back at it!!

Monday - Beef stroganoff with broccoli

Tuesday - Taco Salad

Wednesday - Beef and snow peas

Thursday - Clams with tomatoes

Friday - Stuffed manacotti

Saturday - Chicken, potatoes and corn

Sunday - Whatever we can find!

There are a lot of great menu plans at Orgjunkie.

Happy 2009

Michaela and I had a quiet New Years Eve together...we went out for dinner then put on our jammies and hung out at home. We had a good time together laughing and fooling around...she got to sleep with me and said it should be a new years tradition.

Here are a couple of pictures of our celebration!















This is our self portrait...it was tough because we were laughing so hard.















Michaela enjoying her sparkling apple-pomegranate juice...and giving Buddy a squeeze.

This year there are a few things about my life that I would like to change. I need to be a bit more scheduled, I need to have a cleaning schedule to keep ahead of things instead of playing catch up. I will have one shopping day a week...that way I'm not running to the store too often. I find that when I stroll around Wal Mart I tend to spend a little more than I need to!

I want my life to reflect my relationship with the Lord. I want to make memories with Michaela and continue to raise her to be a caring, loving person.

Christmas

We had an amazing Christmas, spent a lot of time with my family and we really enjoyed ourselves.

I was going to post a video of Michaela opening her Nintendo DS (classic Christmas video) but Blogger wouldn't post it...I'll try again later!

In the next couple of days I'll be changing Michaela's bedroom from flowers and butterflies to Hannah Montana...well just a few things need to be changed (pictures and wallpaper boarder).
We have had a great holiday, just relaxing and enjoying each other. we're having a pajama party tonight, which means Michaela picks a movie and we put on our pajamas and snuggle and enjoy a movie...I love these times!

Oh and seriously how cute is my cat Dixie! I was in the kitchen and seen she had jumped up into my shelves...I had to grab the camera.

Merry Christmas

Wow where did November and December go??? I am amazed that Christmas is 3 days away...I am all ready and quite relaxed. I don't buy into the busy, crazy overbooked Christmas time stuff. I like to kick back, what gets done get done and what doesn't didn't really need to.

This attitude didn't come easy, 7 years ago on December 21, 2001, my mum passed away very suddenly. She was the most amazing woman ever!!! I was very close to her and this was such a shock to all of us...she had a heart attack. 2 years ago today, December 22, 2006, Ron was diagnosed with a brain tumor...no one ever expects this.

Now, while I still love Christmas I realize that it isn't about the perfect this or that. It is about Christ's birth, and celebrating it. I love decorating and spending time with my family. I love giving gifts that I've either made or bought (I actually made quite a few this year...hopefully more next year). It is spending time with my family and friends, having fun playing with my daughter and making memories.

This year Michaela and I have overloaded on Christmas movies and tv shows, we've had hot chocolate and drove around looking at Christmas lights...we've just relaxed and enjoyed the wonders of the season...it has been awesome!!

Organizing Round-up

So in November my pal Laura over at I'm an Organizing Junkie had her regular monthly round-up and this time it was the laundry room...oh my word it was the direct kick in the pants that I needed!!

I've never actually had a laundry room until we moved into this house 2 1/2 years ago...and only until a few months ago it was used as an entry into our basement suite which was rented out. Well now I have no renters and have combined the suite in with the house...so my idea was to have a "mud" room and laundry room.

BEFORE PICTURES...WARNING!!

This is the door way into the room..doesn't it look inviting...yeah I wouldn't want to come in there every day either!

And as if laundry wasn't enough of a chore I had to come here to do it...notice the plastic drawers between the washer and dryer this was an attempt at organizing last year. Yeah I'm glad I have a friend like Laura as well.

Sorry for the quality of this picture...I guess even the camera is afraid to work in such a mess as well. This is my deep freeze...or place to pile things on.

AFTER PICTURES!!

I moved the shoe rack (haven't gotten all the shoes moved yet) and the plastic drawer that wasn't being used between the washer and dryer here, now we can store our winter hats, scarfs and gloves...much handier.

Here I have the washer and dryer...now it is a much neater place. I've organized the shelves above to hold the things that I need for laundry (pretreater, dryer sheets, bleach and soap). I also picked up this laundry sorter basket thingy, it fits perfectly between the washer and dryer.

Now I was able to move the deep freeze into the kitchen part of the old suite and it created room for these shelves. I can now store some painting supplies (because this room is in desperate need of a paint job...maybe in the new year), overstock things (like the Charmin) and my fall decorations...I'm sure I'll find several other items to store there as well.

I'm loving this room now, while it may need a bit (and by bit I mean a ton) of paint and a new floor...that will get done eventually. For now this is working great...I'm just so glad that I was able to get it done!!

Christmas Meme

Michaela and I have been sick the last little while, we are both on antibiotics. She is doing much better...I'm getting there!

But we're still in the Christmas spirit...I found this meme on My Life as Annie's blog...and I really enjoyed it.

1. Wrapping paper or gift bags? both! I love wrapping presents, using nice paper and ribbon and bows...but some really need to be in bags.

2. Real tree or artificial? Artificial.

3. When do you put up the tree? Mid November...I know very early.

4. When do you take the tree down? January 2nd.

5. Do you like eggnog? No...gross!!!

6. Favorite gift received as a child? Commodore Vic20...yes my first computer had 20kbs of memory....wow I'm old. I was 14 and I actually cried with joy when I opened it...it was such a surprise.

7. Do you have a nativity scene? Yes, we got a porcelain one from Costco...gorgeous. Of course now Michaela plays with it so the pieces are slowing breaking...most have been glued together several times.

8. Hardest person to buy for? Ron's dad.

9. Easiest person to buy for? Michaela...which is probably why I've already gotten her too much!

10. Worst Christmas gift you ever received? A dream catcher.

11. Mail or email Christmas cards? Mail

12. Favorite Christmas Movie? Christmas with the Kranks.

13. When do you start shopping for Christmas? All year.

14. Have you ever recycled a Christmas present? Yes

15. Favorite thing to eat at Christmas? Garlic sausage, cheddar cheese and Ritz crackers (all together)...this was always our Christmas day lunch.

16. Clear lights or colored on the tree? Clear, I got a prelit tree last year with all clear...I'm kind of wishing I'd gotten coloured lights.

17. Favorite Christmas song? Oh Come Oh Come Emmanuel.

18. Travel at Christmas or stay home? Stay home

19. Can you name all of Santa’s reindeer? Dasher, Dancer, Donner, Blitzen, Comet, Cupid, Prancer, Vixon.

20. Angel on the tree top or a star? Angel

21. Open the presents Christmas Eve or morning? Pajama's Christmas Eve, the rest Christmas morning.

22. Most annoying thing about this time of year? Greed.

23. What I love most about Christmas? Singing, giving gifts, decorating, baking...pretty much everything.