Beautiful Sunday 31/12/06

Beautiful Sunday 31/12/06
Originally uploaded by dynamo_momof2.

2 Peas Sunday Blogger Challnge - Traits to Pass On

Join us if you blog today/Sunday. Challenge~ If there is one thing you hope to pass on to someone in your life. What would it be and why? The thing I would hope to pass on to those who know me, especially to my girls is my love of God. I have a strong belief that God guides and challenges us in all we do. That we are forgiven because Jesus died for us, and that being as close to Him as possible is the only way to lead a life that will be full of love, blessings, grace, and honor. I can not imagine living my life without Christ in it and in charge of it, and I spend every day trying to live a godly life, living with a heart of God inside me. I hope this is shown to others in all I do and that they are encouraged to choose a life similar for themselves.

2 Peas Saturday Blogger Challenge - TV Shows

Join us today/Saturday if you blog Challenge~ What show do you miss from when you were growing up? Blog about it

I had many different tv shows that I watched growing up. They all seemed to speak to me at that certain period of my life. Some of the ones I related to the most, and got the most out of were:
The Wuzzles
Saved By the Bell
Rags to Riches
Charles in Charge
The Eddison Twins
Growing Pains
High Mountain Rangers
Dr. Quinn Medicine Woman
Life Goes On
Beverly Hills 90210

My Favorite Things Saturday 12/30/06

My Favorite Things Saturday 12/30/06
Originally uploaded by dynamo_momof2.

This is one of my absolute favorite Christmas ornaments. It was given to me 10 years ago by a really great friend.

2 Peas Friday Blogger Challenge - Resolutions

Join us today/Friday if you blog. Challenge: The New Year is almost here.. thinking of any resolutions?? What do u hope to accomplish in this new year of 2007??? Blog about your goals and aspirations. I have a lot of goals for the new year, well really things I want to accomplish. Sometimes I find it very hard making resolutions though and actually admitting my goals out loud or on paper. I think it is because if I admit them out loud or I put them down in black and white I become very upset if I do not accomplish them and feel like I have failed. Here are some of the things I would like to accomplish in the new year: - find a new place to live (I have to move by Jan 31st) - spend more time crafting (scrapbooking & painting - develop a couple of closer friendships - develop my faith - read more books - keep my house more organized - keep finances better balanced Maybe I'll have to do a layout about my resolutions and challenge my thinking.

Feeling So far Away

I heard somewhere someone say that God never moves, when we feel like He is far away it is us that has moved. For some reason I have been thinking of that all day and today I am feeling so far away from Him. When I first got clean almost a year ago, I know it was because of God. It was God who brought me to that place that I needed Him to guide my life and be with me to show me where He wanted me to be. God was the #1 focus in my life. The past little while though I have felt like I have drifted away. I actually feel like I am so very far away, that I am not sure I can get back to where I want to be. To be where God is leading me to where I need to be to where He is the most important thing in my life. Sometimes I feel so unworthy of His love, and His guidance. It is a difficult thing feeling so far away.

10 Things I Love About Christmas

I love Christmas time. Here is the 10 things I love about Christmas:
1. being able to celebrate the birth of Christ
2. being with my family
3. sitting in a darkened room watching the lights on my Christmas tree
4. decorating my house for Christmas
5. going to the Christmas Eve service at my church
6. listening to and singing Christmas carols
7. seeing the joy and excitement on my girl's faces
8. going to the Nutcracker ballet
9. the scents of Christmas (pine & cinnamon)
10. giving gifts to those I love

CHRISTMAS DAY

The girls woke up so early (and so excited) on Christmas morning. Amber was up at 5 and Emily at 5:30. They were so excited to see that Santa had come and that he had eaten the cookies and drank the milk, and that the reindeer had eaten their carrots. They had so much fun opening their presents and were such thankful little girls. It was so amazing watching the excitement.

Christmas Eve At Our House

This year was my year to have the girls for Christmas Eve and Christmas morning and it worked out so well. I ended up not being booked to work Christmas Eve and so the girls and I had the whole day together. We all got dressed up and went to the regular Sunday morning church service. Amber wore the dress she picked out to got o the Nutcracker Ballet and Emily wore a red velvet dress. The red velvet dress was the one I wore the year that I was 5 on Christmas. It is still in amazing condition and looked so beautiful on her. In the afternoon we baked cookies for Santa and hung around the house just relaxing as a family. It feels like it has been forever since I have had a chance to do that with the girls. I made a beautiful dinner for the girls, my mom and I. It has always been a tradition in my family that we have ham and scalloped potatoes on Christmas Eve. Another tradition has always been to open 1 gift on Christmas Eve. That gift has always been new Christmas PJ's. The girls also opened a gift from friends of ours from New Jersey. They were given beautiful musical dolls. The girls changed into their pj's and we went to the Christmas Eve service at our church. It was beautiful!! There is so much talent in our church. I am so blessed to be part of a church that can worship so freely and openly. When I worship there I can feel the presence of the Holy Spirit and I am so blessed. After the service we went over to Sue & Fred's for a little while. The girls had a blast hanging out with their teen girls. We then went home and put out milk & cookies for Santa, letters that Amber had written to Santa, Rudolph and the Elves, and a bag of money Emily had found around the house so that Santa could get himself a present. Out on the porch we left a bag of reindeer food that Emily had made at school and carrots for the reindeer. Then the kids went off to bed. It was an amazing day. One I am so very thankful for.

NOVEMBER & DECEMBER UPDATE

Man, it has felt like it has been forever since I had a chance to get on my computer and blog. This past month has just flown by with working 65 hour weeks. I am absolutely loving my job though and have not minded the extra hours. I have never before loved a job so much.

There has been so much happen with our family in the past month or so so here's my very quick update.

Emily's Birthday Party

Emily had her birthday party at her gymnastics club. Our friend Cisco the clown came and made balloons for the girls. It was awesome. Emily's favorite coach was the one who did the party. She had so much fun!!

The Nutcracker Ballet

My mom and I took the girls to see the Nutcracker Ballet at the National Arts Centre in Ottawa. This is Amber's third year that she has gone and Emily's first year. We went into the city and had supper and then saw the ballet. The girls loved it and were in awe and I love watching their delight.

Amber's Birthday Party

Amber decide that she wanted to have a Canadian Idol themed birthday party this year. It was cool. She even made her own invitations. The girls had a lot of fun - believe me I have never in my life seen girls tear apart a pinata so viciously. It was hilarious!

School Christmas Concert

The girls had their annual Christmas concert this past week. It was beautiful. Amber was asked to be in the choir again this year and did an awesome job. She did not seem as timid singing as last year. Emily's class "I'm the Happiest Christmas Tree", "Twinkle Twinkle Little Star", and "He Came Down the Chimney." Amber's class dressed like little elves and sang "Time to Pack the Sleigh". They both had a lot of fun!

2 Peas Sunday Blogger Challenge

Challenge: Blog about the things in life that are offensive to you.. do you take offense easily, or not???? Blog about it.
10 Things That Are Offensive to Me
1. People who spit on the ground
2. People who smoke while I'm eating
3. People who are late
4. People who are rude
5. People who have no manners
6. People who don't use their signal lights
7. People who are lazy
8. Telemarketers
9. People who are always negative
10. automated phone messages when you are trying to get ahold of a real person

My Favorite Things Saturday - 11/25/06 -Old Barn

Old Barn
Originally uploaded by dynamo_momof2.

I absolutely love seeing old barns. I'm not quite sure what it is about them thast draws me in, but I am drawn to them everywhere I go. I love when they are falling apart, or even falling down. The less perfect the better.

2 Peas Blogger Challenge - keeping in touch

Join us today/Saturday if you blog. Challenge: Blog about how you keep in touch with family/friends over the holidays... via the written word. Do you send cards... store bought or handmade? Do you send a Christmas letter??? Share about how you keep in touch.
I love sending mail to my family at Christmas time. I would love to be able to send out handmade cards to them all, but am working like crazy right now and just do not have time. I will be sending store bought Christmas cards this year with a quick personal not in them all. It seems every year at Christmas time I just keep getting busier and busier and am having a harder time getting cards out on time.

My Baby Turned 5

My little baby turned 5 yesterday. It is so hard to believe. Some days it feels like just yesterday when she was born. I can not believe how fast this past 5 years has gone by. She is turning into a real little lady with a mind of her own. I am so proud of the girls she is becoming and can't believe how blessed by God I am to have been given the care of such precious little beings. I am the luckiest mom in the whole world!!

Loosing Trust

It has been so hard for me in the past to truly trust people. I have often acted like I trust them and in reality do not. I pretend to be who they want me to be so that I do not loose them in my life. I find it so hard to honestly open up and let people in. I have such a hard time believing that it's worth it, that I am not just going to end up getting hurt, and that I won't just end up loosing them. I hate feeling this way. I think though, that perhaps God is trying to teach me to trust in Him, and in myself, and love myself before I can trust in anyone else. Perhaps if I remember to ask God to always guide me to the right people, and to show me what He wants for me, than I will learn to trust again. For now, I will keep a part of myself closed, and afraid.

30 Things To Change The World

I came across this blog challenge on the Word Press website and thought it was a great one - especially with the holidays coming up http://lorelle.wordpress.com/2006/11/13/blog-challenge-changing-the-world-in-30-seconds/

make a list of 30 things they could do in 30 seconds or less to change the world.

1. say hello to everyone you pass
2. smile at people
3. take back someones grocery cart
4. hold the door open for someone
5. put some cans in the food bin when you are leaving the grocery store
6. donate your change to whatever organization is collecting money outside the grocery store
7. picking up some garbage on the street
8. leaving an anonymous note for a co-worker telling them they are doing a good job
9. tell someone that they are loved & cherished by God
10. say I Love You to your family
11. phone a friend you haven't talked to in a while
12. carry bags out of a store for a senior or a mom with her hands full
13. buy the coffee of the person behind you in the drive thru
14. tell someone they look beautiful / handsome
15. put money in someones parking meter
16. let someone in front of you in the check out line
17. forgive those who have hurt you
18. praise God
19. stop and truly listen to those you are with
20. put a quick note in the mail to brighten someones day
21. pray for someone else
22. put extra money in the offering plate at church
23. bringing your own bags to the grocery store
24. give someone a flower
25. hugs those around you
26. Tell someone you are proud of them
27. use a thermal mug from the coffee shop instead of a throw-away one
28. recycle
29. donate clothes or toys you no longer use
30. turn off all the lights I'm not using

Quote

The nursing home I work at puts quotes up on the bulletin board daily, and this one has really stuck with me:

"Don't tell God how big your storm is,

Tell the storm how big your GOD is!"

2 Peas Tuesday Blogger Challenge - Languages

Join us today/tue if you blog. Challenge: If you could learn another language, which would it be and why? When I was a kid I took French Immersion in school from grades 5 - 9 then just regular french the rest of high school. I could speak fairly fluently, could read it and write it. The problem is that I live in a small town (about 10,000 people) and there is nowhere to speak french here. In having many years pass now I have almost lost all of my french skills just because I have not had the opportunity to practice. i would love to be able to study it again.

2 Peas Monday Blogger Challenge

Join us today/Monday if you blog. Challenge: Answer these questions. 1- your worst habit? biting my nails (especially when I am stressed) 2- your best feature? my smile 3- what you like most about your significant other/spouse? he loves me for me and doesn't expect anything more from me than who I am 4- if you could travel anywhere, where would it be? Tuscany 5- what do you admire most in a dear friend you have? she is so full of love for God and for others

I found this really cute site about Christmas that has a "which Christmas tree ornament are you" quiz. I thought it would be fun to try. You can check it out at http://www.christmaslightsanddecorations.com/quiz/ Here is which one I am. You're an Angel Tree Topper! Which Christmas Ornament Are You? brought to you by christmaslightsanddecorations.com

2 Peas Saturday Blogger - Serving Others

Join us today/Saturday if you blog. Challenge: How will you make a difference to someone less fortunate this Christmas/Holiday season? Blog about it. If you haven't considered doing something for another human being, consider it. Now's the time. We can all reach out and help someone this Christmas! At our church, they have been collecting shoeboxes for Operation Christmas Child. You fill a boy for a child with hygiene supplies, school supplies, toys ect. My girls had so much fun deciding what age group of child to shop for and then being able to pick out all the stuff to fill the box. They thought it was so fun. The children are also picking out a toy to put under the toy tree at the mall which are then donated to needy children./ I think that teaching my kids now about helping others will help them to see that they are serving as Jesus did. The point of Christmas is to celebrate the birth of Jesus and I feel it is the perfect opportunity to teach the girls to be more like him.

Chucke Cheese & Strawberry Shortcake

The girls and I finally had a whole evening together last night. We had so much fun. We went into Kingston planning to go to Cosmic Adventures. As we drove there we passed Chucke Cheese's. The girls got sooooo excited about it. How they even knew it existed is beyond me. We had an absolute blast!! Emily got a birthday balloon and a birthday crown which she thought was the best. The girls played games and were so excited winning tickets. They started jumping up and down when tickets came out of the games. They went on rides and climbed on the jungle gym and just had so much fun. Things have been so stressed and rushed around here lately with me working so many hours and it was so great to just see them relax and have fun. After going to Chucke Cheese's we went to the Kingston shopping centre where they were having Strawberry Shortcake and the arrival of Santa. This is the first show that they kids have seen like this and they thought it was the neatest thing!! There were kids everywhere singing and dancing - it was absolutely adorable. At the end of the night we were all tired but so relaxed and happy as a family. Amber even said that it was the funnest night ever!

2 Peas Thursday Blogger Challnege - Clothing

Join us today/Thurs if you blog.
Challenge: What is your clothing style?
Do you dress casual/or do you like to dress up? If you could have $1000 to buy your dream wardrobe, what would you buy???



HHHMMMM clothing.... I definitely need some new clothes. I would say that over the past few years since my life has become so insanely crazy busy that my style has become much more casual. My staple outfit is jean and a cotton shirt, either long or short sleeved. I love clothes that wash really easily and don't wrinkle too much, I hate folding laundry. I love to buy my jeans from bluenotes - they are the only ones who see jeans my length. I also love Old Navy. If I had $1000 to spend on clothes these pics would be my wish list from old navy, plus some new jammies and some jeans from bluenotes. I would also splurge and buy new bras and underwear from La Senza.

2 Peas Tuesday Blogger Challenge

What's a trip you took as a child that you will always remember. and why??? blog about it.

When I was 16 my family and I drove across Canada. It was my all-time favorite trip. We took 3 weeks and drove out to Banff Alberta. I loved the whole trip. I loved sitting at night planning the route for the next day with my Dad. He and I were in charge of the map and making the plans. I sat in the backseat and gave directions. I took videos and pictures out the window. We stopped at all the amazing cool sited on the way. I was so excited to see so many things that I had never seen before. I will never forget the fun of the Calgary Stampede and buying my cowboy boots. I will never forget the beauty of the mountains and lakes, the colors and the sites. I will never forget being terrified on the horse called "Wacko" on the trail ride along the bow river. The whole trip was incredible. It is a trip that I will someday do with my girls so they too can see the beauty of Canada.

Beautiful Sunday 11/12/06

Beautiful Sunday 11/12/06
Originally uploaded by dynamo_momof2.

My Favorite Things Saturday 11/11/06

My Favorite Things Saturday 11/11/06
Originally uploaded by dynamo_momof2.

My girls having fun at the pumpkin patch

Suffering From Blogging Withdrawl

AAAAAHHHHHH.... I am totally suffering from blogging withdrawal lately. i think about blogging every day and often think of my post in my head, but then the little bit I am home I am either too busy or too tired to actually write it. Things have been insane here the last few weeks. I have started both my new jobs and am working crazy hours, usually between 40 - 65 hours per week, doing shifts. I have had my kids more than usual because their dad has had back surgery, and my new boyfriend seems to take up the remaining bit of time. Some days I feel like a big bouncy ball going from one thing to another without taking time to relax. Hopefully it will slow down a bit in the future.

Work, Work, Work, Work , Work

I am so very thankful to God that He has answered my prayers for finding work. I am now juggling three jobs which can some days be insane. The job I have had for years is at a government institution that is going to be closing down in the next two years. Therefore, there has been hardly any hours at all for casual workers. As a single mom I wasn't bringing in enough money to pay my bills. So, my Pastor and I prayed that God would help me find work so that I can support those beautiful girls of mine. God answered almost immediately. I was hired at Dollarama. I love it. I have done health care for so long that I think I am absolutely loving the change of being in a different field. Instead of physically taking care of people I am now able to just have fun and have amazing conversations with people all day. I am so loving it. Then last week, I got hired at the local nursing home and started my training there this week. Hence, a 65 hour work week which is having me feel a little frazzled and a little guilty about not being here quite as much for the girls as I would like to. I am amazed every day at God that I am able to just hand my troubles over to God and just ask that He lead me in the direction that He wants for me. God is incredible!!

OFF TOO THE LAURENTIANS

My boyfriend Cory and I took this incredible little road trip to the Laurentian mountains a couple of weeks ago. We were so relaxed and we had so much fun!!We just decided to get in the car one afternoon and drive. I was telling Cory about the amazing colors of the fall leaves in the Laurentian mountains. My grandpa owns a bunch of property in the Laurentians and it is my absolutely favorite place to go to. It is my get away place, the place where I can relax and be totally me and I wanted to share it with him. The drive was amazing! The colors were so gorgeous. We also went to Montebello and saw the hotel there. Every time I see the log hotel I am amazed at it's beauty. We just drove, sang, talked, listened to music and relaxed. It was amazing!!

Beautiful Sunday 10/29/06

Beautiful Sunday 10/29/06
Originally uploaded by dynamo_momof2.

My Favorite Things Saturday 10/28/06

My Favorite Things Saturday
Originally uploaded by dynamo_momof2.

One of my favorite things is the absolute joy my girls get in doing the simplest things - just in being together as a family.

2 Peas Saturday Blogger - Thanksgiving Recipes

Join us today/Sat if you blog. Challenge: Let's talk turkey. What are you fixin this Thanksgiving??? Re food??? Share your fave Thanksgiving fare on your blog.. let's share some recipes!
My absolute favorite parts of the Thanksgiving meal is the stuffing and the cranberry sauce. I'm not quite sure what it is but turkey does not seem the same without them. Here are two of my favorite recipes.

Basic Brad Stuffing

1/2 cup butter

1 large onion, chopped

3 medium celery, chopped
15-ounce bag cubed bread
1/4 cup chopped fresh parsley
3 cups homemade turkey stock or chicken broth
2 teaspoons poultry seasoning
Salt and freshly ground black pepper

In a large skillet, melt the butter over medium heat. Add the onion and celery. Cook, stirring often, until the onion is golden, about 10 minutes.
Scrape the vegetables and butter into a large bowl. Add the bread and parsley. Stir in enough of the stock to moisten the stuffing, about 2 1/2 cups. Season with the poultry seasoning, if desired, add salt and pepper to taste. Use to stuff the turkey, or place in a buttered baking dish, drizzle with an additional 1/2 cup stock, cover and bake as a side dish.
Makes 10 cups.

Cranberry Sauce

1 cup (200 g) sugar

1 cup (255 mL) water

4 cups (1 12-oz package) fresh or frozen cranberries

Optional Pecans, orange peel, raisins, currants, blueberries, cinnamon, nutmeg, allspice.

1 Wash and pick over cranberries. In a saucepan bring to a boil water and sugar, stirring to dissolve sugar. Add cranberries, return to a boil. Reduce heat, simmer for 10 minutes or until cranberries burst.
2 At this point you can add all number of optional ingredients. We typically mix in a half a cup of roughly chopped pecans with or without a few strips of orange peel. You can add a cup of raisins or currants. You can add up to a pint of fresh or frozen blueberries for added sweetness. Spices such as cinnamon, nutmeg or allspice can be added too.
3 Remove from heat. Cool completely at room temperature and then chill in refrigerator. Cranberry sauce will thicken as it cools.
Cranberry sauce base makes 2 1/4 cups.

Saunders Farm

We have a family tradition of going to Saunders Farm every year. I have so much fun taking the girls. It is so neat looking back at pictures from past years and seeing how much the girls have grown. They have so much fun with all the activities. Amber loves poking her head through the cardboard cutouts and playing in the dollhouse. Emily loves jumping in the hay. Both girls loved the show that was put on the stage. It was awesome. We also went on the haunted hay ride, mommy should have thought that one through a little better as both kids ended up crying. Lesson learned for next time.

Once Again Amazed by God

Once again I am totally wowed by what God is doing in my life. I have learned that trusting God to make the things happen in my life that He desires is the best way to live my life. Because I have opened the door to letting God lead my life the way He chooses instead of me trying to direct it, amazing things are happening. I have been looking for work for the past month and God has allowed me to get two new jobs (one I started this week, then the other next week.) He is allowing my needs to be met because I turned to Him and asked for Him to lead the way.

I'm Back

Hello all - I'm back to the blogger world after my computer breaking down again. But I am now back and ready to blog away. I will update all when I get home from work today.

INFO Requested

I would absolutely love to compile a list of blogger buddies so that i can send out some RAK's and little notes. If you would like, please email me at scollins_7@sympatico.ca with your name, blogging id, address and birthday and then watch your mail!!

2 Peas Friday Blogger Challenge - Excitement

Here's the challenge!!! Blog about something that has really excited you.. something you were really anticipating perhaps.. blog about it.. share your excitement!!!!!
The thing I get the absolutely most excited about is the love I have for Christ. I have been a Christian for just under a year now and I get more and more excited everyday!! I love learning about Christ and about the love I have inside me for Him. I am so humbled and so blessed to have His love and His acceptance. It means so much to me to live each day in the excitement that He is the one guiding my day. I love being able to just praise Him and say "Please show me what you want from me today, show me who You want me to speak to, who I am to share You with." I love seeing what happens after that and just opening myself up to whatever may happen.

2 Peas Thursday Blogger Challenge - All About Blogging

Join us today/thurs if you blog. Challenge: Blog about how you feel about your blogging. Is it too time consuming? Do you love sharing? What are the benefits of blogging? and the negative things of it? With Rhonna's and Cathy z's blog ending, I am wondering why both of them are doing it... it's just interesting to me. how about you?? blog about it...
I too was disappointed to hear that Rhonna & Cathy Z's blogs were ending. I often look to these (and many others) for inspiration. I love journaling and often feel better being able to put my thoughts down somewhere concrete. Sometimes when I journal in a notebook, I tend to forget to go back and keep at it. When I discovered blogging I was so excited because I could journal in such a creative way. I love photography and fonts and colors. I love computers. Being able to blog gives me a chance to release the many thoughts (and sometimes emotions) that are going around in my head. Blogging does take time, but to me it is time set out just for me. Time to figure out what's going in in my head, time to share the joys and hurts in my life, and time to praise God for all He does in my life. It gives me a release, a chance to just be 100% me.

2 Peas Wednesday Blogger Challenge - Favorite Holidays

Join us today/Wed if you blog. Challenge: The Holidays are coming. Blog about the things about the holidays you are looking forward to.... no matter what they are!

There are 2 holidays I really focus on with my family. The 1st is Christmas. I believe this is the most important holiday of all because it focuses on the birth of Christ. I can't even begin to imagine where we would all be without this event occurring. God allowed Christ to be born so that He could eventually die in order for everyone's sins to be forgiven. Imaging the love that God has for all of us for Him to have made all this possible. I would hate to see the world if this had not have taken place. Sometimes I have a hard time comprehending the amount of love that He has for me. This then, brings me to my second favorite holiday to celebrate, Easter. Easter is the celebration of the death and resurrection of Jesus so that we can all be forgiven. Imagine living a life solely for the purpose of saving others. That is what God sent His Son to do so that all of us could be forgiven of our sins and develop a more intimate relationship with both the Father and the Son. Because of these holidays I know I am blessed and forgiven and I know that I will have a place in Heaven because I choose to follow Christ in all I do. I look forwards each year to both so that I can celebrate the love I have for Christ and so that I can use these to teach my girls about Christ.

Beautiful Sunday 10/15/06

Taken on Thanksgiving Monday at Otty Lake on our final boat ride of the year.

My Favorite Things Saturday - 10/14/06

My favorite season is fall, simply because I absolutely love the colors that are present in this season. The weather is great, the smells are great, and the sights are more beautiful than words can describe. I am amazed at the beauty that God has created with this season.

AWESOME MAIL DAY!!

WOOOOHOOOOO!!!!! This book that I ordered off ebay finally arrived yesterday!! I am so excited!! I have always loved Elsie's Style, but have been afraid to try lots of the techniques that she uses. I have also been having trouble getting motivated to scrap at home, so the challenges will hopefully get me off my butt, making pages and documenting the lives of my girls & I. I can't wait to get started!

2 Peas Friday Blogger Challenge - Thanksgiving

JOIN US TODAY/FRIDAY IF YOU BLOG. Challenge: Describe your favorite Thanksgiving gathering. What made it special to you? Blog about it.
I have so many fond memories of this past Thanksgiving. I am getting to know an amazing member of my my church, Sue. She is helping me through some things that God has brought to my attention and is there for me all the time. This woman is so full of love for God and for others. She and her husband, one of the pastors, invited me to have Thanksgiving with them this year because they knew that I was going to be alone because the girls were at their dad's. I was amazed that in just getting to know me they wanted me to be a part of their family time. I was honored and felt so accepted. I see in them the qualities that I so desire. The way they live their life totally for God inspires me to do the same. I am blessed to know them both.

I am Officially Divorced

Yesterday I received my Divorce Decree in the mail. It's one of those things that I knew was coming but that hit me very hard. I didn't know what day to expect it so opening my mail was a shock. I've known for so long that the divorce was going to happen and that it is for the best. I am happy - in a relationship, and my ex husband is happy and has found love. I'm not shaken at not being with my ex anymore, I guess it just felt like I had failed. I am turning 30 next week and I am now divorced before 30. That hurts. I always grew up wanting to have an awesome family with a mom and dad together and now I feel like I have failed at that. I know my girls are happy and that they have a mom and a dad that love them very, very much - but I also know that it is not quite the same. I guess the best I can do now is to continue to love them unconditionally, to teach them of the love of Christ, and to make them feel secure.

2 Peas Thursday Blogger

Join us today/thursday if you blog. Challenge: Blog about the struggles you face as a scrapbooker. What are the challenges in your life, related to this craft? Anything you have trouble doing/understanding? Blog about it.
Most of the time my biggest trouble is just doing it! I am always filled with ideas and thoughts about scrapping, but I never just start it. I gather so many ideas on 2 Peas, from magazines and in my favorites and then I don't get started. Sometimes I wish I had a better area for scrapping but I know that the one I have would be great if I kept it clean and organized. I think I might just see a challenge in the next few days - I will clean and organize my scrap are and get off my butt and get something done.

Thanksgiving at the Lake

We had Thanksgiving at the lake with my mom and dad this year. It was awesome. We ate out on the porch with a fire nearby. The air smelled so amazing and fresh. I loved every minute. We also went on our last boat ride of the year. The lake was almost empty. It was so peaceful and so quiet. The colors were so amazing. Bright color everywhere I looked. When the kids are on the boat they enter their own little world. Amber went into her space where she was thinking about Eva (the Canadian Idol winner.) She was saying she was so happy that she was pretending to fly. It was beautiful watching her. Emily turned into a little comedian constantly sticking out her tongue and making funny faces. She tries constantly to make other people laugh and when she succeeds she turns it up even more. It is hilarious to watch her. I had so much fun and was so relaxed.

My Computer Broke!!

I came home on Tuesday after being away overnight to a broken computer. I didn't realize how much I rely on having a computer available to use at all times until it was no longer working. I had no use of a computer for 2 days and thought I was going to go crazy. GOOD NOTE though: I cleaned my house. It's amazing actually how much I was able to do because I wasn't sitting at the computer!!

Join us today/Wed if you blog. Challenge: What is the last thing you created? Could be anything.. scrapbook related, papercraft, artsy, whatever.. share on your blog about what you created and post a pic if you can!
I went to a crop this past weekend and started an album of my trip to Niagara Falls with my girls. This is the title page I did for the album. I completed 16 pages, but still have to journal them. I will post more pages as I get them done.

2 Peas Monday Blogger Challenge - I am Thankful

Join us today/Monday if you blog. Challenge: Thanksgiving is drawing near. List 10 things you are most thankful for, in no particular order.
I AM MOST THANKFUL FOR:
1. Having a God who loves me unconditionally
2. Amber
3. Emily
4. being clean & sober
5. having somewhere I love to live with my girls
6. finally loving me just as I am
7. having family close by
8. finding happiness with a new man
9. being creative
10. being able to support my girls

God Is So Incredible

I am doing this course right now at my church called Discovering the Real You by Ron Susek. It is amazing! The more I learn about God and the more I learn about His love for me the more I am humbled and in awe. It is so incredible learning of His unconditional love for me. He is so patient and it is so amazing that He waits for me and understands the many screw-ups that happen in my life. He knows everything that is in my heart and mind and still He loves me unconditionally. I am the absolute luckiest girl in the world to have a God who loves me so unconditionally and waits for me to come to Him.

October a new month. Join us today/Sunday if you blog. Challenge: What's your fave restaurant and why? Share about your place in your area/community that you love going out for a meal! My absolute favorite restaurant is a restaurant in Perth called Maximilian's. It is German cuisine and makes the absolute best ever wiener schnitzel I have ever had. I have been going to this restaurant with my family since I was 5 years old and I have never ordered anything but the schnitzel. I always order the exact same thing. i start with beef soup. It is a beef broth with a beef dumpling. Absolutely scrumptious. Then they have rye bread and a small salad made with tomatoes, onions, and celery with a vinegar dressing. Then I have the schnitzel. The plate is always HUGE. It comes with the schnitzel and then a choice of buttered potatoes or dumplings. I usually can't decide between them so I get both. I am absolutely telling you, this is the best meal in the entire universe. Absolutely amazing!!!

Beautiful Sunday 10/01

Beautiful Sunday 10/01
Originally uploaded by dynamo_momof2.

My Favorite Things Saturday 09/30

My Favorite Things Saturday 09/30
Originally uploaded by dynamo_momof2.

I absolutely love when I am able to catch amazing sunsets. they can make for some incredible photots.

My Newest Scrapbook Layout - My Bible

2 Peas Friday Blogger Challenge - Magazines

Join us today/Friday if you blog.
Challenge: You are at the magazine stand, what three magazines are you going to purchase?
For me it is always these same 3 that I buy as soon as I can find them in this small town.

2 Peas Blogger Challenges - Mon & Tues

Join us today/Monday if you blog.

Challenge: On the same note as fragrances, what are some of your fave candle scents?

My absolute favorite candle scent is vanilla. I find it gives off such a warm scent in the air. It is relaxing, not overpowering. Smelling it seems to bring me peace.

Join us today/Tue if you blog.

Challenge: Complete this sentence.. " What I admire most when meeting someone new is their _____________________."

What I admire most when meeting someone new is their overall outlook on life. It is so easy sometimes to see if someone is a positive person, or a negative one. I always admire those who have a positive outlook, those who look for the best in everything, those who are not afraid to be happy.

Answering The Call

Last night we had a service to Ordinate one of the Pastors from our church, Reverend Brenda. It was a beautiful and moving service filled with the Holy Spirit. Our Senior Pastor preached on answering the call and it really spoke to my heart. He talked about readying yourself to answer God's call in whatever it is that God asks you to do. Becoming ready to do the work God wants requires giving yourself wholly to Him, presenting yourself and your life to Him and developing a deep, intimate relationship with the Savior. Becoming ready to do God's work also requires one to look inside themselves and fix what is inside. It means going deep within to deal with and heal all the hurts and emotions that are inside. It means being real and doing the work it takes to heal yourself so that you can then go out and help others. Thanks to the work I have done in Celebrate Recovery and the work I am doing in Discovering the Real You I am now doing that work that it will take to develop the kind of relationship I want with Christ. It will allow me to go out and serve for His glory. To serve His people.

Beautiful Sunday - 09/24/06

Beautiful Sunday - 09/24/06
Originally uploaded by dynamo_momof2.

My Favorite Things Saturday - Amber's Smile

My Favorite Things Saturday - Amber's Smile
Originally uploaded by dynamo_momof2.

Amber's smile is one of my favorite things - It is so full of hapiness and love - how could I not love it?

2 Peas Saturday Blogger Challenge - Friends

Join us today/Saturday if you blog. Challenge: think about your friends. What is it about them that you like? admire? What draws you closer to them? What personality traits do they have that you admire?

When I think about the person I would consider to be my absolute best friend I think of Jesus. He is the One who is always by my side. He is the One I always talk to, the One I tell all my secrets, hopes and dreams to. He is the One I go to when I need help or comfort, strength or love. He is the One I always rely on to be by my side, the One who allows me to know I am NEVER alone. I admire His servant attitude, His unconditional love for everyone, His desire to please His Father, His forgiveness, and His desire to have me be a part of His Kingdom. What more could I ever want in a best friend?

Tagged

Tag....I'm It!
Maureen tagged me! Being tagged is a first for me - should be fun!

Four jobs I have had in my life:
1. Residential Counsellor
2. Community Support Worker
3. Marketing Director
4. Waitree

Four movies I have watched over & over
1. The Prince & Me
2. Armageddon
3. How to Loose a Guy in 10 Days
4. Ever After

Four places I have lived
1. Port Elmsley (in a house with my parents)
2. Smiths Falls (in a house with my husband)
3. Perth (in an apartment on my own with my girls)
4. Smiths Falls (in a mobile home on my own with my girls)

Four TV shows I like to watch...
1. The First 48
2. Criminal Minds
3. Dallas Swat
4. CSI (Vegas, Miami & New York)

Four places I have been on vacation...
1. Niagara Falls
2. on a trip across Canada to the west
3. the Bahamas
4. Florida

Four blogs/web-sites I visit....
1. 2 Peas in a Bucket
2. Yahoo games to play canasta
3. A Life Unrehearsed http://alifeunrehearsed.blogspot.com/
4. Bright Ideas Scrapbook Co. http://www.brightideasscrapbookco.com/

Four of my favorite foods...
1. Coffee
2. Spaghetti with meat sauce
3. Weinerschnitzel
4. Roast Turkey with stuffing & mashed potatoes

Four places I'd rather be right now...
1. In bed
2. on a beach
3. on a cruise ship
4. in Tuscany

Four people I would tag:
1. Bonnie Rose
2. Sarah
3. Dana
4. Jill

2 Peas Wednesday Blogger Challenge : If I could change one thing in this world

Join us today/Wed if you blog. Challenge: if you could change one thing in our world today, what would it be??? be silly or serious, it's up to you! share on your blog!

I didn't even have to think about this one. If there was one thing that I could change in this world today it would be that all children be safe. Safe from physical, sexual and emotional abuse. Safe from hunger and fear. Safe from being unloved. Safe from wars. Children are the absolute most precious thing we have in this world. They are the closest thing we have to look at that shows us Jesus. In these children we can see the love of Christ and the love that Christ has for us. I would want to do everything in my power to return that love and keep every single one of them safe. Make them feel secure and loved.

On A Recipe Roll - Roasted Root Vegetables

Roasted Root Vegetables
Ingredients:
3 parsnip, peeled
2 carrot, peeled
1 medium-sized turnip, peeled
1 medium-sized rutabaga, peeled
1 medium-sized celery root, peeled
12 garlic, cloves
pork, trimmings
olive oil
Directions:
Preheat oven to 425 degree Fahrenheit.
Cut parsnips, carrots, turnip, rutabaga and celery root into equal size pieces.
Add all remaining garlic cloves and pork trimmings to roasting pan.
Coat with olive oil.
Season with salt and pepper.
Place roasting pan on stove top.
Over medium heat brown vegetables.
Place seared pork trimmings on top and place in oven.
Cook until golden brown and fork-tender.
Remove trimmings and reserve for jus.
Place vegetables on platter.

2 Peas Tuesday Blogger Challenge - Fall Recipes

Challenge for Tues.. if you blog, join us! Tue Challenge: FALL IS UPON US. It's in the air. It's in the colors. Share on your blog one of your most FAVE cold weather/fall recipes!!

This is my all time "I know it's fall time" recipe!
INGREDIENTS:
1 cup pumpkin seeds
1 tablespoon melted butter or vegetable oil
salt, to taste, about 1/2 teaspoon

PREPARATION:
Rinse seeds well and get as much of the pumpkin pulp off of them as possible. Some of the small pieces are going to adhere, but they won't hurt the seeds at all, and might even add a little more flavor. Pat dry with paper towels. Don't let them dry completely on the paper towels, because they might stick!
Heat a skillet over medium low heat; add pumpkin seeds and cook, turning frequently, until nicely browned and crunchy. The seeds will probably start to pop. If using butter, you might have to lower the heat a bit more. This takes about 30 to 45 minutes, sometimes longer if the heat is quite low.
To roast the seeds in the oven, heat oven to 300°. Cook, turning from time to time, for about 45 to 60 minutes, or until nicely browned and crunchy.

2 Peas Sunday Blogger Challenge - Foods

How about participating in a meme today? (Well, today OR Sunday...you know the drill.)
Here's one about food preferences. Here ya go:
How do you take your coffee/tea? Coffee definitely black, tea with milk
How do you like your eggs? I like dipping my toast in runny yolks but don't eat the rest of the eggs
Favorite breakfast foods: granola bars and fresh fruit
Coke or Pepsi? definitely pepsi
You're feeling lazy. What do you make? spaghetti - it's so easy
You're feeling really lazy. What kind of pizza do you order? either Hawaiian or mushroom and bacon
You feel like cooking. What do you make? stir fry with chicken and tons of fresh vegetables
Do any foods bring back good memories? turkey dinners always brink back memories of family events
Do any foods bring back bad memories? banana pudding - reminds me of being sick and on antibiotics all the time when I was a kid
Do any foods remind you of someone? not really that I can think of
Is there a food you refuse to eat? oysters - and sardines yucky and slimy! gross!
What was your favorite food as a child? mashed potatoes
Is there a food you hated as a child but now love? broccoli
Is there a food you loved as a child but now hate? nope
Favorite junk food: caramilk bars and fuzzy peaches
Favorite dessert: chocolate cream pie
The perfect nightcap? coffee with flavored creamers
Do you have any weird food habits? I have a huge appetite and I love food - I can be a pig!

Beautiful Sunday 09/17

Beautiful Sunday 09/17
Originally uploaded by dynamo_momof2.

Taken at the fireworks display at Niagara Falls.

My Favorite Things Saturday 09/16

My Favorite Things Saturday 09/16
Originally uploaded by dynamo_momof2.

Emily's funny faces are always one of my favorite things. She always tries to make everyone laugh!!

Join us today/Friday if you blog. Challenge:What kind of simple things do you like to surround yourself with? and why? What 'ordinary' items in your life give you great comfort and/or joy? share on your blog....

> Having my girls around me gives me the absolute most joy in my life

> I love having my Bible available around me whenever I want it

> I love to surround myself with books

> Surrounding myself with candles makes me feal so peaceful

> I love a vase filled with flowers on my tv stand

> I love my collection of sandcastles

> I love having scrapbook and crafting supplies handy

> I love having magazines to look at for inspiration