Purpose

February is the month known for LOVE! (and my birthday). So I just thought I'd share some thoughts..................

I love that in life things come and go. I LOVE that with that we grow...or at least have the opportunity to grow with these things. I LOVE that we ask for help and give help too. Life is such a happy occassion with little bumps(some see as huge) to help us pay closer attention to what we are supposed to.

I LOVE that we all have a purpose...whether realized or not. I LOVE that we are given the chance to try and try and try again until we get it right or realize it's just not THAT important so stop wasting your time. I LOVE that we are never alone. I LOVE that there is always someone looking out for us. I LOVE that music is available everywhere(just stop and listen). I LOVE the sound of siblings playing and talking to each other about what matters to them. I LOVE seeing children walking hand in hand. I LOVE that I know who I am and where I am going. I LOVE that you are who you are and that you're a part of my life.

I LOVE that I can laugh at myself and cry with others. I LOVE that we are all on this journey called LIFE where we can give purpose and meaning to others who may feel they have not got any purpose. Let's help LOVE one another and build each other up and give meaningful purpose to all. After all doesn't it feel nice when you feel YOU HAVE A PURPOSE. Allow yourself to LOVE and BE LOVED.

Blessed

So life goes on....

We've had a crazy year and I can hardly believe that it's coming to a close so soon. Our trip out west, of course, was too short. We have adventures both on the way out and on the way home. Severe storm in South Dakota on the way out and sleeping in a Walmart parking lot, helping some other stranded travels by unloading the car to get to the jumper cables on the way home. Successful memories in the making!
Once home McKalyn wanted every thing "western" and the other two just wanted to return to their cousins soon!
All three kids are enjoying school and their other activities. Tanner has taken a big interest in gymnastics and is working hard at that. Sarah tried dance for a bit but is now doning some gymnastics too like Tanner and McKalyn. ( No skating this year for the girls...I can't totally say I'm happy but I sure won't miss the carnival sewing!)
Dennis is working, working, working and I am doing what I can where there's a need. It's been an interesting year. Of course with all three kids in school full time that has brought to the table a completely new chapter in my life that I'm still trying to adjust to.

LIFE IS GOOD!

Yee Haw

So as some of you may know....I grow up in Alberta until I was 12 and a half! I have always loved going back and visiting with family and friends and this year will be no exception.

As we plan to be there for July 1st fun, I can hardly believe that it's so close to our departure date! I feel like a kid at Christmas. I can hardly wait to leave, drive, and arrive in the west! (wondering about the drive home though).

My hope is that my sisters kids and my kids get along well or it could be a disaster!!! They have only been around each other once before at my youngest sisters wedding three years ago(I think that's right). I look forward to going to some of the places we would visit as kids ourselves and let my children experience the beauty of the country they are a part of and the wonderful things that God has created for us to love , appreciate and care for. I hope that we can create a beautiful memory for each of the children to remember for years to come.

I've been working at getting the house in order so that while we are gone I don't have to think about all that is waiting at home to be done when I get back too. I'm not so sure though that I should have planted a vegetable garden???? The weeds may be something to behold when we return. Well, whatever will be will be and that's all there is to it. Like I said at the beginning of the year...simplify! And so it was simple to plant and it will be simple to weed. Simple to see dead plants...flowers...houseplants...boxes of stuff without a home! It all takes time and so I will continue to use the time I have to get a little done each week! (Notice I didn't commit to a daily act?).

So I guess the lesson for today is if you fall off that horse you've been trying to break.....just holler shout Yee Haw and get back on!!!!

Ode to Me ~ self

It's a cloudy day...soon to be a rainy day and I thought I should fill all my followers in on my thoughts.

So my thought is that I've put away the going back to school idea. I've decided that I need to be doing the best I can and ALL I can with my children no matter how old they are and no matter what others think I should be doing instead of JUST being a stay at home mom. Though the challanges never cease I find that a blessing. As the children grow and learn and change that forces me to do the same. I have the opportunity to think about things differently 3 times (my kids are all individuals!) and it's a good challange for me. Not only do they learn new things through this process but so do I.
It has been nothing short of a miracle that I have the people in my life that I need in my life. Each and every person has a different outlook and opinion and I appreciated all of them and learn from each one. I sometimes think how much different I would be had these people not been around? What would I do differently than I do now? It's truly been a blessing in more ways than I could ever begin to count.
I've been able to see more clearly the plan that my Father in Heaven has put in place and I am so greatful that I have been able to follow some of it ~ of course I want to improve to the point that I can say ALL of it but in time that will come and I just need to keep that in perspective! I know that if we focus more on the positive things in life, the things we can do than life is so much more filled with joy and happiness. Who cares what others can do so well and you can't...who cares if others think a certain way....what's more important than the way we treat others is the way we treat/think of ourselves. I think the way we think about and treat ourselves is how we think and treat others.
So I've decided that I'm just going to work at being the best person I can be, teach my children what I can, learn new things myself and just be who I am and not who I think others want me to be. AND I want anyone reading this to do the same.... you are all awesome just the way you are and you can do things that others can't and need from someone who can! Keep smiling and don't keep those smiles for yourself ~ pass them on.

Adding to the family!

So we've done it again! Four more little feet running around our home! Little ones are always so much fun...so much work...so much more cleaning to be done...and yet so warm and cuddly that none of the other stuff matters!

It's now been about 3 weeks and we are all getting into some what of a routine and familiarity about this new situation. Some mornings come too early. Sarah will lay in bed saying "be quiet, be quiet, be quiet!" ....I think she'll become a great mom??!! For me it's like I don't even need an alarm any more and even the kids are getting up and wanting to help or play! It's just bringing the family together and it's been so nice to see the willingness they have to want to help.

I know for my husband though this all came as a HUGE unexpected surprise and I've got to say that he is really trying to do what he can...it's just hard when he's only home on weekends so he's not familiar with the routine and the changes that occur so quickly while he's away. I kind of feel sorry for the guy.

So I guess you are all wondering about "Name"? Well our precious little Shi-Poo is called Lucky! Yes that's right we are once again dog owners! For a whole week the kids were able to talked to Daddy on the phone and not tell him we got a dog! I never thought they'd be able to do it. Sarah though nearly broke, well kind of did but thankfully Daddy didn't hear her! We picked him up and then took Daddy out for dinner before going home. Just at the end of dinner she said "Daddy we got a doggie!"...I was just glad Tanner and McKalyn were talking to him and didn't hear her.

I had left the puppy in his crate and all his toys were put away so there was no evidence (except for a bag of doggie treats that I left on the table....not sure how my husband didn't notice them) when we walked in the house. Anyhow, the kids got in the house first and I told them don't say anything just go play the Wii! I knew eventually Lucky would whimper and want out so I just stood by my husband while he talked about his week and what he wanted to do on the weekend. It took a few minutes and a couple of whimpers for him to notice. He just turned around slowly with this look in his eyes and a half a smirk on his face...."you didn't?"... "I did!" I said with an unsure smile and Sarah just ran to the crate and pulled him out to show daddy! I think she was the most excited about keeping the secret. All she said to Daddy was but Daddy I really wanted a dog and you said after Easter! (So it was a little before Easter, close enough!)
Though I do wish the addition was more of the human kind, I do think that it's good for kids to see the work and care that is needed in caring for living things. There are so many things in life that are so terrible and I just want to provide my children with as many positive things as possible!

Now I just have to figure out what to do about the dog when I'm away in the summer visiting my sister and her family! (Kind of didn't think that through).

In A Nut Shell

The sense of things settling down came and went. With Dennis now driving for a different company that requires him to be on the road I find myself to be a married/ single parent. He worked for this company when McKalyn was just a baby and I'm not so sure that it's been any easier just because the children are older. His first "trip" out sent him to Florida, Tennesse, Ohio and a few other places that I don't recall. He left on the 21st of January and arrived back to the house the 30th. Boy oh boy ...the kids did NOT like that.
The challanges of me trying to maintain the balance of sanity, patience, happiness and overall well being I must say is hard. I know I told him that I'd supprot his decision to do this but does it mean I have to like it??? NO, would be the correct answer, but I do have to figure out how to make it work.
So I have purchased him a calendar that he is to record things in to help me with the bookkeeping and which I too have put a few things in there for him to remember...important dates that he needs to be home for. This way he is able to inform his work that he is unavailable...so we'll see if it works.
Next has been the thought of me going back to school. I guess I've always had a love for children and teaching them...they just excite me so much. I love watching their little faces when they realize they understand the concept being introduced. It truly is a miracle to watch them learn. I think that there's just no time to waste and there's always more that can be done...it's just finding those things that are THE MOST IMPORTANT. Almost ten years since the begins of caring for my own chldren and I could only hope that I can touch other children in need too. So with a prayer and some questions I will move forward with this possibilty of going back to school. Let's get crackin'!!!

So here it is...a New Year!!! Just thought I'd update you and let you know that I am definitely doing much better. In fact so much so that I've been doing some drywall work for Dennis' Aunt. The mudding is now done and my shoulder/neck haven't even been overly sore. I am recovering!!! Now I guess this means that I'll need to get to work on my laundry room reno.. Dennis has the closet (4x8)up and drywalled so maybe I should mud it now too! I can hardly wait for it to be complete, though I'm sure what I am envisioning is not going to become the total reality but it's nice to dream! Actually over time I'm sure I can do it. Kids are settling back into routine and Dennis is trying to figure out this new job he's started...things are slow so he's still home more than working and that frustrates him. Poor guy!
Well I'm going to keep this short and hopefully be able to do more posts this year. My plan is to simplify, organize and just let it go if I feel overwhelmed. "Life is climb" (thanks Hannah Montana aka...Mylie Cyrus). And as you all know I seem to be one who takes on the challenges! (no offense Dennis!!! LOL)
God bless you all.