October Wrap-Up

YWAM had a "Harvest Party" on Friday night with a cake walk, costume contest, pie cook-off and lots of goodies! The kids had a great time, they ate more candy and cupcakes than I could keep track of and ran around with their friends all dressed up. Kiera wore a clown costume that I wore as a little girl (I think my mom even made it), Selah was a black cat and her tail was also mine when I was little and dressed up like a cat. Mason was a snuggly truck-attacking elephant. Here is a picture of Kiera (the clown) and some of her friends.

(left to right) Allie, Kiera, Asher, Isa, Kristal

Ella (age 3) and Selah, both dressed up like black cats

Selah and Kiera 

Mason, Selah and Kiera

One night before bed, the kids got the crazies and started putting underwear on their head and pjs all over themselves and then danced around the house, it was VERY funny (if only I wasn't trying to get them to settle down and go to sleep :-)

Ross was asked to speak at a Thursday Night Community Meeting here at YWAM. The topic was "The Kingdom of God" - no pressure :-) They asked 3 people to each share on what the Kingdom of God looks like to them - it was really interesting to hear the very different ways/things that each one spoke (about) and yet, each one had a central theme of Jesus and Love. Perfect. Ross did great! He is a born presenter, speaker... and he is passionate about this topic, so he thought it was really fun. I was nervous just watching, but he enjoyed it.

Kiera helping stack wood. She loves to help and is a really good, strong worker. I like having her by my side,

Pumpkin carving day. The girls getting out the insides of the pumpkin. Mason just annoying them by riding his bike through the pumpkin goop each chance he got.

Selah's pumpkin

Ross carving (Eden, Mason, Selah and Kiera watching). He asked them to draw the face they wanted him to carve. Selah ended up drawing the faces for each of them, so they all looked the same. Ross made Kiera's mouth bigger and then just changed Mason's completely to be happy!

Kiera's pumpkin (Funny Story: We walked outside to leave for school one day after the pumpkin had been outside  for a few days and we noticed that a big bite had been taken out of the pumpkin's face. The next day, the pumpkin was completely gone! You guessed it! Those pesky deer! Kiera was SO SAD!)

Mason's "happy" pumpkin

This Morning

Hello! After 3 month break from posting blogs I thought it was time to get back into the groove :-)

It has been a busy couple of months - I'll do some catch up postings - but in general: we moved, kids started school, had some wonderful visitors, took a trip to Calgary and Banff, Ross has traveled to Israel, I've been working consistently in 100 Fold, Selah started hip-hop and Kiera started ballet.

This morning I thought I'd write about this morning. I have been getting up earlier in the morning so that I can have a few minutes of quiet time to read, shower, plan day... before the kiddos get up. I find that this sets the tone for my whole day and helps me to be more loving and patient towards the kids. Normally the kids get up at 7, so I get up at 6:30. Great idea, right? Wrong... It worked for a few mornings, but now they get up with me. They sit at the kitchen table with me and ask me what I'm reading, what I'm doing, what I'm writing. They tell me they are hungry, they fight, they complain that they are tired (even though they are the ones who got up so early :-) This morning I was smart and I set my alarm for 6:15. I'll get up even earlier today, I thought. But guess what? They both got up at 6:15 this morning, also - so today, I stayed in bed. I prayed, I planned my day, I snuggled with my husband. I just couldn't start my day that early with fighting, whining and questions.

Once I did get up it was a internal fight to keep a good attitude and remember that I am thankful for my 3 wonderful blessings. I took a picture to show you what was going on at our house before 7:00am.

It actually was great - Selah was teaching Kiera how to make scrambled eggs, Mason was stirring the oatmeal and I was getting lunches ready. No one was fighting (at least not when the picture was taken), everyone was contributing and all I had to do was stay calm.

Now, with everyone at school, I'm taking those much needed few minutes to myself. Mason and I leave for the preschool field trip in 5 minutes and I'm so excited to spend the day with he and his classmates. Thank you God, for a few minutes of alone time each day - even if it didn't look like what I wanted, at the VERY beginning of the day. God is teaching me to be more flexible, to not be so set on my expectations. It is a good lesson, but a hard lesson.