I'm One of Eleven - Glimpse Giveaway

I entered a contest to win a canvas bag from Blushing Bags - I just had to send in a photo that will be put onto the bag and now there are 11 photos in which you can vote for! I'm #11... if you can take a second to go to this blog: GLIMPSE and vote for me that would be great!! :)

While you are there, check out all the giveaways! There are quite a few fun things to enter to win!

Phun with Photography

To see my list of 26 photos for this challenge visit my Photo Blog by clicking this --> Phun with Photography AND click the icon above to see a list of other participants... and vote if you like! :)

Alexa and Laurie also participated (click their names to see their post) ~ it was fun! There will be another challenge in June.

Word Filled Wednesday

Last week we were on the Sunshine Coast for the purpose of celebrating the life of my Grandfather ~ he lived a long life of nearly 94 years ~ what a celebration! We spent our last day on the Coast at the Beach - right across (literally) from the home in which my Dad, my Uncles and Grandparents first lived when they lived on the Coast. This stream (or rather a river) caught my attention as it was feeding into the large Pacific Ocean. This is the passage of scripture that came to mind.

For more Word - Filled - Wednesday posts please click here and be encouraged!

Pay It Forward

Well, Lucy at Lucy's Life Blog, who hosted the "House a Home" Giveaway has a fun post on her blog right now and I am participating! I hope you will too! (you don't have to be a blogger to participate, just be the first five to leave a comment even if you use "annonymous" with your name and email addy)

Lucy found a post about a Pay It Forward chain and she decided to sign up. And now Lucy has a post on her blog to find the first five readers to sign up on her blog for a Pay It Forward surprise! I am one of the five! So in the next year Lucy is going to send something to me 'out of the blue' as a RAK of sorts (RAK is Random Act of Kindness)... I can't wait!!!And so I'd like to do this too for the first 5 readers that leave a comment on my blog! (PS, I know I have a lot of readers that don't have blogs, but you can just tell me you'll do this P.I.F. for 5 people of your choice too)

Don't be shy!!! The first 5 people to leave a comment on this post indicating that they want to participate in "Pay It Forward" will receive something special from me at some point over the next year. It could be next week, it could be in a few months, it could be 364 days from now.

Here are the rules:
1. Leave a comment letting me know you'd like to participate. You must be willing to provide me with a mailing address, obviously.
2. Post a "Pay it Forward" on your blog where you link back to me and extend the same offer to 5 of your readers. (again, if you don' have a blog, you can still participate maybe over FB, Twitter or just in 'real life' situations!)
3. Promise that you will follow through and send something special to those 5 who comment on your blog (or however you choose to do it!)

(I'm sorry but I can only open this contest to residents of Canada or the United States)

The little something something's don't have to be extravagant, just something that you select with that specific person in mind. What fun!!! Who can I bless with this Pay It Forward?!! C'mon, leave a comment!

Ranger Rick Earth Day Giveaway!

Happy Earth Day!!! I took a picture of a Burger King cup a couple weeks ago in honor of the celebration of Earth Day!In honor of Earth Day, Amy at Moms Toolbox is giving away 8 Ranger Rick magazines that her children are done with but in perfectly good condition for your Family to enjoy! click HERE to go to this post to enter to win!

LaBella Hand-Stamped Jewelry

These giveaways I keep finding on all these cool blogs are just amazing!!! Look at this great necklace that comes personalized...you have til Thursday to head over to "We are THAT Family" blog for this giveaway provided by LaBella Jewels.

Erin from Schnookums Bows sent me over to Soapbox Mama to check out "the biggest free Gift Basket on the web"... you ought to check it out too! The Gift Basket is full of gifts with the value of $1100!!!I've added this to my sidebar too --->

Date

On Friday it was high time I got to take Elijah on a date. Anita, a friend of mine, once heard to plan monthly (or how ever often you want to do it in the year) dates for each of your children on their birth-date day... get it? Like IF Elijah was born on 25th (he wasn't), then I would (could/should) plan to reserve the 25th or as close to that date as possible each month for him and I (or alternate between Jason and him) to go on a date together. I thought that was a pretty cool idea! This date didn't happen to be anywhere close to the date of his birthday, but it was a special date none-the-less! With that idea, the more kids you have though the more often you are going on dates if you did it monthly... might then be considered to be 1 date/month alternating between kids. ANYWAY-
do you have dates with your kids? If so, tell me about it! When, why, how, what????
I know a Family {that did and probably still does since they are still having kids (12 kids so far) }- where the Dad takes the child out for breakfast on his/her birthday to a restaurant of their choice. I thought that was a cool idea too!

Elijah and I went to White Spot - we never go to real restaurants with the kids... but one on one we(I) can manage and enjoy! So White Spot it was, with a cool Pirate Pack and a milkshake - lucky bum! I brought books along that we read together... it was nice! We then went to HOJ to find a gift for a birthday party he is going to this coming weekend.

Schnookums Bows

Well, THANK YOU to all who participated in the "eparty" I hosted 2 weeks ago! It was a great success for Erin (owner/creator of Schnookums Bows) and for myself. I am happy to fill up this very cool "bow holder" (Wendy, do you have a cool name for it?!) that my friend, Wendy, made for Gabi at the beginning of the New Year - if you would like one, leave me a comment and I can probably get an "order" in for you and you can even pick the design you'd like! I chose a purpley one for Gabi's room - this one has little ballet slippers on it! So adorable!And well, here are all her Snappies, Large Snappies and Bows filling it up quite nicely!Next I owe you and I'll send Erin a picture(s) of Gabi sporting her new hair-wear! :)
If you didn't get to order but would love to try these bows (or if you did order but want more!) - if you leave me a comment I can get you in on another eparty happening in May!

I'm a Big Girl Now

Gabriella is now 21.5months and it just awes me! I think she still should be my little baby - but she's nearly two and acts like it! She talks quite a bit - has a number of 4-word sentences. Which, really, from one of my last posts I did of Gabi and her words she has - it exploded after that!
She is sleeping better lately (before she'd wake up between 11-12 and I would just take her to sleep with us since I am too lazy to get her back to sleep on her own and because I was certain it's due to teething)... she's been waking up in the morning in her own crib, which is nice but funny because now she has to call for us to come and get her, rather than just get down off our bed to join the boys when she hears them... so today Jason lowered her railing so we can teach her how to get out on her own - not sure if this idea is going to work or not, but in reality we had Elijah in a big boy bed by age 23months and Sammy was in the bottom bunk also at 23months... so lowering her crib rail a bit is more than what the boys had less than 2 months from now. And the reality of Gabi's crib is, unless we decide to have a 4th child, she'll have it til she literally outgrows in size or in 'maturity', which is what might come before her height! LOL. This crib transforms into a daybed, so unless it's too "baby-ish" at some point, it will be her bed for quite some time yet.
I am pretty sure she is sleeping better too because her final Eye Tooth just cut through last week! Yea! So we should be in the clear for a couple months until her 2-year-molars decide to start making their move... THEN we are in the clear. :)

When Jason and I were away on our vacation, we spend the last night in a hotel just across the Border so we could take full advantage of our week-long trip in the USA to be able to shop and get a good $amount to bring home with us... one of the things I picked up were 2 packs of panties for Gabi. One Dora pack and one Little Mermaid pack.
She likes to wear them - well, shall I say she is in a new stage lately in that she likes to dress and undress herself (pants mainly), so now with underwear on about half the time, I'm finding these going off and on too.I've been just holding Gabi on the toilet... we hadn't had successes, but I did know she knew what she was doing as I'd watch her stomach muscles push to try... BUT then this week (April 14-16), on Tuesday Gabi peed on the toilet!!! And then on Wednesday she pooped and peed on the toilet! And then on Thursday she did these about 3x! So what do we do? The Happy Dance - here she is showing it to me so I can snap some pictures: here she had just brought me a whole line of TP to wipe up something - she may have dribbled, I can't remember nowWah, my Baby isn't a Baby anymore... I will be sad to say she is two years old in a short while... for now, keep treasuring each moment! :)

Music Box

On the way to the Gym this morning, the song I am so familiar with from a local Christian Radio station, sounded a little different to me today as I sang along.

The song is by Chris Tomlin "I Will Rise" and here are the lyrics:

There's a peace I've come to know
Though my heart and flesh may fail
There's an anchor for my soul
I can say "It is well"

Jesus has overcome
And the grave is overwhelmed
The victory is won
He is risen from the dead

[Chorus:]
And I will rise when He calls my name
No more sorrow, no more pain
I will rise on eagles' wings
Before my God fall on my knees
And rise
I will rise

There's a day that's drawing near
When this darkness breaks to light
And the shadows disappear
And my faith shall be my eyes

Jesus has overcome
And the grave is overwhelmed
The victory is won
He is risen from the dead

[Chorus:]
And I will rise when He calls my name
No more sorrow, no more pain
I will rise on eagles' wings
Before my God fall on my knees
And rise
I will rise

And I hear the voice of many angels sing,
"Worthy is the Lamb"
And I hear the cry of every longing heart,
"Worthy is the Lamb"
[x2]

[Chorus:]
And I will rise when He calls my name
No more sorrow, no more pain
I will rise on eagles' wings
Before my God fall on my knees
And rise
I will rise

With my Grandpa being called by name by our Father two days ago - this song just rings a little new tune in me and the words become so real. Take a listen:Oh, how will it be to hear the voice of many angels sing, Worthy is the Lamb! Sometimes it's inconceivable to realize I know someone who has now met Jesus and experienced what we were born for, what we are to long for...this is last September when we were there for my Grandma's Memorial Service.

We will be headed to Gibsons next week for the Celebration of his Life. Elijah is quite excited to go to Gibsons again - we all are, though as I said before it is a weird thought for me to think that this is our "last" trip to Gibsons for the sake of visiting my Grandparent's.
Anyway, Elijah has asked if "old Grandpa" (that's what we called them when we went to visit both my Grandparent's in May 2008) will be in a Music Box like Old Grandma was (music box is the casket). I'm not sure where the "music box" idea came from while at the viewing of my Grandma... but you know, it could be a great description of a coffin - Music Box - where our body lies while we are making music with the Heavenly Hosts. (I'm not an analytical thinker, so someone might have a better idea of I could have said, but for me, this will do!)
Be encouraged!

Edit: My Mom told me today that it was actually Sammy that had the conversation about "old Grandma" in the Music Box last August when we were there to view my Grandma... Sammy wanted to keep going up to look at her with my Mom... regardless the "music box" idea stuck with Elijah from hearing Sammy talk about it I guess, because we don't believe Elijah actually went up to see "old Grandma" in the casket...
For Old Grandpa's service, apparently there won't be a viewing at all but the boys have been told by my Mom that Old Grandpa will be in a flower pot instead... Elijah of course is quite interested in how Old Grandpa fits into the flower pot and has now learned about cremation.

pizza picnic in the park

On Wednesday we went and grabbed some {cheap} pizza from Little Cesaers and headed up E.Mtn (where I took Sammy on a date a few weeks ago) for a picnic and play.(this will be my Shadow Shot Sunday this weekend on my photo blog)running to the lookoutclimbing up and on big rocksand then a walk up to the "top" for a look out a slightly different directionwhen we were up at this part of the mountain, I said "I hope we don't see a bear up here" (only partly joking, mostly not - though Jason didn't think there would be any)... anyway, so on the way down, Sammy says to me "we need to look for the bear" I said "no, no we don't want to see a bear" now I can't remember how the exact conversation went, but something like he wasn't afraid to see a bear and Daddy wouldn't be even if I was afraid or didn't want to see a bear!

A view of our Prairie - it's a neat view in person because you can see all the grids of farmlandHere we are on future lots for not-too-much-less-than $1million houses which is overlooking another mountain that you can see, where friends of ours livethen Elijah, our rock and tree climber (Sammy is too but he's a bit too small still to maneuver like Elijah can) was off and climbing when he saw this pile of rock that exists from clearing the lots by blowing it upa lone tree left - guess it will be in someone's backyard someday!

goodbye Grandpa

This morning my dear Grandpa was called Home. I haven't quite collected all my thoughts - but it is weird to think now both of my Grandparent's are not with us on earth but in Heaven where I'll meet them again - which is the HOPE we have in Him. :) This photo is from a year ago, May, when we went over for the day to visit my Grandparent's! (I think I have more to say, but not now...)

Home Sweet Home

I'm doing the Challenge from Lucy's Life blog - what makes your house a home? And although we've moved six times in our 10+ years of marriage, every house we have is still our home as soon as we get possession! But hopefully this house will be our home for more than our record of 2 years 7months (our last place)... I am very hopeful!!

Family makes this house a home first of all... but I don't have a picture of the five of us recently.

Framed pictures of Family and Friends...and on my fridge...and decor like this H-O-M-E I made...and this in my entrance way:and this special gift I received from Alexa that is stationed above my stove to act as a reminder to have JOY always as well as remembering what J-O-Y could stand for (Jesus, Others, Yourself):

...and house plants...memories - scrapbooking is a hobby of mine - and my kids love to look through themAnd as much as I love going on vacation, it is always good to use my own bathroom...and sleep in my own bed the sound of windchimes in my backyard is something I love to listen forand the sight and scents of candles which I only tend to light when we have company overand finally popcorn has to be on this list since it is Jason's all-time favourite snack - and is becoming a favourite of our kids tooI could add more of what make our house our home... like my kitchen and my laptop... as well as important aspects of living, laughing and loving!

What makes your house your home? You have a good amount of time left to come up with a list too and share it with Lucy!

Asparagus and Ham Pasta

I have spent a bit of time on the weekend blog-surfing the many (400 participate, I didn't look at even 10 of them b/c it's too time consuming!) Participants in the Menu Plan Monday 'hosted' by Laura at Organizing Junkie blog! It's quite interesting to read some of the 400 participants that post their menu plan for the week on Mondays... you can get some good ideas!I did copy and paste some of the recipes I saw... including this recipe!
It included asparagus - which we love - and ham - which I happened to take some leftover from my Parent's house from Sunday's Easter Dinner... put the two together and add in some pasta (I used Organic Orzo that Jason brought home from work)... it was a delicious dinner tonight!! :)

Here's the recipe, which I found on Joy In My Kitchen's blog. I had added her blog as a link in my sidebar on the weekend as a good place to go for recipes. :)

8oz whole wheat pasta (I used 1 cup Orzo)
1/2 lb. asparagus, trimmed and cut into 1/2 inch pieces
8 oz fresh mushrooms, sliced
3 T water
3-6oz precooked ham, cut into cubes (use as much/little ham as you'd like - or use whatever meat you like!)
1 C light whipping cream (I had in my mind that it was written "light cream" so I bought Half & Half which is "light cream", not whipping cream)
1/4-1/2 C shredded Parmesan cheese (I didn't have fresh parm. but the "bottled" worked great too)
salt and pepper, dash
garlic (optional)

Boil pasta according to package directions. Meanwhile, place asparagus and 3 T water in a microwave-safe dish and steam for 2-3 minutes until asparagus is slightly tender. In a 10-inch skillet, saute mushrooms, and cubed ham until mushrooms are cooked. Add steamed asparagus and cook until desired tenderness is reached.

Drain pasta, and add pasta to veggie/ham mixture. Pour whipping cream over the pasta and veggies, and simmer to allow whipping cream to thicken. Sprinkle with salt, pepper and garlic powder, if desired.

Remove from heat, and add Parmesan cheese. Stir in to allow cheese to melt. Serve warm and enjoy!

As for meal planning Monday - I didn't actually participate but I did try to get a good menu plan for the week. :)