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

So Long Summer

As I was sitting here freezing this afternoon I began looking through my computer at all the photos I took this summer. Summer is coming to a close so I thought I'd post this collage of summer flowers as my own little farewell.

I CHOOSE

Taken from the oh so talented Carrie Colbert & BonnieRose. What's your personal declaration? What do you believe in? What do you stand for?

I CHOOSE:

• To live my life to the fullest every single day!
• To follow wherever God asks me to go!
• To love unconditionally!
• To live with integrity!
• To not be afraid anymore!
• To be honest with those I love!
• To show forgiveness!
• To use my gifts to help others!
• To matter. I am worth it!
• To cross my lines and take that first step!
• To allow my self to soar!
• To reach all my dreams and goals!

Fall Is Here!!

Well, today is the first day so far this September that I have felt fall. It is freezing here and I must admit I have caved and turned on my heat. I absolutely love fall. It is my favorite time of the year. There is just something I find so very inspiring about the colors and sights of fall. I absolutely love the colors of fall leaves and I am so blessed to live in a part of Ontario which gets to see all the magnificent changes that God makes in these trees. I love seeing fields of pumpkins, squash, and gourds. I love visiting the pumpkin patch with my girls. I love going to the apple orchard and picking apples. I love making apple and pumpkin pies. I love thanksgiving. I love having a day set aside just for thanking God for all the amazing things in my world, in my life, and in my heart. Fall just seems to bring out the best in me!

2 Peas Tues Blogger Challenge - Sept. 11th - 5 years later

Join us today/Tue if you blog. Challenge: The day after 9-11, 5 years ago. Since that day, how has your life changed? How are you different???
I think that my life has changed in the biggest way in that I don't always see things on the news and think that they could never happen here. I am so much more compassionate now for what I see. It has helped give me that drive to want to go out there and try to do whatever I can to make this world a better place. I cherish my time so much more with my girls and try to live every minute I can with them as if it is the most important one.

Beautiful Sunday 10/9/06

Beautiful Sunday 10/9/06
Originally uploaded by dynamo_momof2.

I think mountain views are the most beautiful sight.

Favorite Things Saturday 9/9/06

Favorite Things Saturday 9/9/06
Originally uploaded by dynamo_momof2.

I absolute love having all kinds of beautiful notebooks around. I love to write out prayers, or journaling, or just doodle. There is something about these books that mesmerizes me.

2 Peas Monday Blogger Challenge

Join us today/Monday if you blog. Challenge: Answer this question.... What do you know now that you wish you knew when you were younger? Elaborate.
I wish that I knew when I was younger that it was okay to love who I am, to feel I deserved love in return. I wish I had known that I did not deserve for bad things to happen to me. I wish I had know that I had it in me to be strong and powerful enough to make all my dreams come true. I wish I had known of the love that God has for me so I could have started developing a relationship with Him before now. I wish I had have known that I am a good person.

2 Peas Blogger Challenge - Scrapping Plans

Join us today/Thursday if you blog. Challenge: You love to scrapbook. You love to create something with paper. With all the cool papers out there, or the ones you already have, what is something on your heart you really wanna start... an album, a layout, a project -- anything...!! Share on your blog what your scrapping plans are.. what things are just in your head, itching to get done??? There are so many new and interesting ideas and projects out there, but in all honesty the projects I am working on now are the ones dearest to my heart. I am still behind on my girls albums and would love to get them caught up, they enjoy looking at them so very much. I am also working on two albums dear to just me, a faith album and an all about me album. I feel it is so necessary and important to document who I am, someday my kids will see these and know what I was like when they will little, someday they will be able to show their own kids and say that "this is who your grandma was and what she was all about." Sometimes through this documenting just me I am even learning more and more who I am and what is important to me.

First Day of School

Well, the first day of school has come and gone for another year. This is a picture I took of the girls as they got on the bus for the first day. Sometimes I look at them and can not believe how much they have grown up ... I remember holding them in my arms as babies as if it was yesterday. I am so proud of the little girls they are becoming. So full of confidence and full of love - it is amazing to watch them changing more and more every day.

2 Peas Tuesday Blogger Challenge - Best Friends

Join us today/Tue if you blog. Challenge: Think of one of your best friends,: what is the first thing most people would notice about that person?
I have been thinking about this challenge a lot this morning. In all honesty I can say that I do not have a best friend. This is something I have been dealing with for years now. I am always so afraid of getting hurt that I never let people close enough to let them become best friends. The majority of the relationships I have are purely superficial. I felt that if they stayed superficial then I would not be disappointed when they decided I wasn't good enough to be friends with. This attitude is now changing for the better. I have been taking seminars through http://www.pathwaysseminars.com and what I have been learning about myself through the work I have done in these seminars is that I am a great person. Most people would be lucky to call me a friend. In finally realizing my own importance, I am realizing the need for close intimate relationships in my life. It is a process to let someone close enough to call them a best friend. To me it involves honest sharing, support and unconditional love. I am now working on creating this with some people who I am beginning to love dearly. Some day through my sharing, my openness and my love I will be able to call them my best friends.

Saying Goodbye is NEVER easy...

Saying goodbye is NEVER easy... even when you know it is for the best. This past weekend I said goodbye to this man. He was my best friend. He was the person I have loved the deepest in my whole life. He was bad for me and I knew it, deep down. For a long time I accepted it because his love meant more to me then how I felt when I was around him. Truth is, after all this time, I finally realized that I never had his love. He had mine. Every piece of me loved him and wanted his love in return. Inside me though, I was loosing myself in trying to gain his love. I was allowing myself to become unimportant, to become someone who never felt good enough, who never felt supported and who never felt like her emotions or opinions mattered. I have had enough!

I AM IMPORTANT!

MY OPINIONS MATTER!

MY EMOTIONS MATTER!

I AM GOOD ENOUGH!
So goodbye dear friend, my love. You have meant a lot to me and I will never forget the journey we took together but it is now over. I will not allow myself to feel hurt by you again. I will be happy!

2 Peas Monday Blogger Challenge

Join us today/Monday if you blog. Challenge:
Let's all make a wish upon a shooting star .... what is your wish?
I wish for a life for myself and my girls that completely follows the life that Christ has set out for us. I wish to be able to always say "Yes God" and "Deeper, God". I wish to always be able to do what God asks of me and just always follow where he leads without questioning Him. To just be able to say "I am yours Christ, to do whatever you wish. Use me to do your works, and to be who you want of me."

My Favorite Things Saturday 9/2/06

My Favorite Things Saturday 9/2/06
Originally uploaded by dynamo_momof2.

Yet another photo of my girls - they will always be my absolute favorite things.

Beautilful Sunday 9/3/06

Beautilful Sunday 9/3/06
Originally uploaded by dynamo_momof2.

I took this at the floral clock in Niagara Falls. It is so simple yet so beautiful.