Saturday, October 30, 2010

A Few Interesting Things

  I have found a few interesting things. 
One is this site that you can buy brand name things at discount prices.  Actually a friend on FB posted it and I have checked everyday since, but not bought anything yet!
http://www.beyondtherack.com/member/signin/event-calendar

I was looking for Christmas gift ideas for my older nephews and I found this.
http://www.giftbee.com/for/gift_ideas_for_12_year_old.php   There are tons of ideas for all ages on Giftbee!

This looks like an awesome Advent idea for the family, http://www.familymanweb.com/store/advent-craft-kit
plus I really like the family man guy, Todd, he has great homeschooling articles on The Old Schoolhouse newsletter.
http://campaign.r20.constantcontact.com/render?llr=v8kuxxbab&v=001oa6YnRfZhAX2h1HqcF0e00VlCNQ9u9EUbMNyq5XwCRsfv29zDgoyV7Iznuy4qW945QSn5Q8Rs7QeHWYVHbMSjVaQli9CaiLUCaSJqGhh8FD0NLQHM-KYPgY9s3ERC0J5f_6f53Fa4hMf7VTbwpLZvrAALWlk9PDTGgii4Nyw1hcNKEerygKoRnuKlmdoATtUE8WNipXwW5QLyUYZjTT1tMBEUEl4WPPhMVGtWtnsrl0%3D
Sorry that's a huge link.  It's the Old Schoolhouse Minute if you need to google it. 
Well the house is falling apart around me I better get it back in gear!
We're getting our cars ready for the races tomorrow! Should be fun!

Tuesday, October 26, 2010

The Christmas List

(I couldn't remember if we had a tree up last year, but look we did!)
   What do you do first?  Do you plan your decorations, get out your ornaments, clean?   Do you write your food menus and grocery lists?  Write a list of all the gifts to buy?
    I wish I was that organized.  If I ever am, which I'm not, I usually get a list of gift ideas written down.  Whether or not that's what I actually do depends on my mood at the store.  If I see something better I'll switch, if I think I can make it, then I switch.
    This year I think I'll be doing a lot of online shopping.  I may check out the local toy store and see if anything catches my eye.  I will be avoiding Wal-Mart this holiday season. 
   For my own kids I plan on making Duvet Covers.  The one that doesn't have a duvet will get one, and the one who doesn't like duvets (I know! crazy right!) will get a comforter set.  
    I haven't figured out Madi's gift yet, since I don't want to smoother her with a duvet in her crib, I'll have to come up with something else.
   I have a pretty good idea what I want to get the little nieces and nephews.  Just not sure about the big ones yet.
  
   I also have to plan a family picture.  Last year we had Ruth come and take pictures.  This year I think she's too busy with her beautiful new baby.
   Gotta think about that.....what to do??

I am thinking about food a little bit.  My new Brother-In-Law is a great cook I hear, so maybe I'll be getting him to do the Christmas cooking!

   There are also Christmas cookies on my brain.  Maybe I'll get the kids to do them all this year.  It might be fun for them!

Christmas is coming fast, and I'm starting to feel the pressure, panic, well whatever it is!!

Tuesday, October 19, 2010

Hey Dad!

  Posting a picture from the 80's on facebook yesterday has got me thinking about my Pa.
  I remember the day, it's forever etched in my mind.
  I had waved goodbye to Dad from the kitchen window about 5am Sunday morning.  I waved until I couldn't see his truck anymore, like I always did.  I went back to bed, later went to church.  
  Saturday night had been my first officially date with Josh.  He had taken me out to dinner at the Grand Trunk Restaurant. 
  Back to Sunday.  I think we went sledding that day.  I was up late hanging out with friends. 
  I slept in Monday morning and was awakened by a knocking on the door at 8am.  I was shocked to see a man in a suit and a police officier. 
  The coroner proceed to find out who I was and if my Dad was Charles Jeans.  He then told me there had been an accident and that my Dad had passed away. 
  You never really know how you will react in these situations, well I don't anyway.  I felt my knees giving way underneath me so I sat down on the step.  It wasn't really sinking in.  They wanted to send one of their counsellors over, which I didn't want.  They wouldn't leave until I called someone to come and be with me.  You see my Mom and sister were 3hrs away.  I had moved in with Dad, it was just me and him.
   I did meet some wonderful people the couple of months before Dad's death.  Josh and his family being some of them.  You might be wondering why I didn't think of calling Josh, I knew he had worked a night shift and would be sleeping.
  I called a girl friend and she came with her Mom and Dad.  Before they arrived the officer and coroner left.  I was alone for a little bit.
  I calapsed on my bed and I felt the world crashing in on me.  I felt the Lord grip me by the shoulders and He whispered "Pray" in my ear.   The only words that I could get out were "Jesus help me".  That was more than enough.  I felt His love rushing in and I cried.  But it wasn't the despairing cry that had threatened to swallow me moments before.  I could cry for my loss and then I was able to get up and do what needed to be done. 
  I called another friend who was able to convince me that I needed to call my Mom.  I was afraid to call her at work.  That was really hard to do.  But thinking back it was probably harder for her knowing I was alone.  But I wasn't really alone Christ was carrying me. 
  My friend and her parents arrived, they prayed with me and for me. They kept me company.  My friend called Josh knowing that it was ok to wake him up. 
  Josh and Sheldon both came and stayed with me until my Mom and sister arrived. 
  The next week is kind of a blur.  I remember moments of it. 

Yesterday looking at Dad's picture I realize how much I still miss him.  I wish I had more pictures of him.  Some with close ups of his hands.  Close ups of his face.  There are details I feel I've forgotten.  He didn't have any tatoos, but he did have scars.  I've forgotten about the scars. 
  His left or right knee clicked everytime he took a step.  There was no way he could sneak up on us we could always hear his knee!  He always had great advice. 
   I miss our long converstations about life, God, people.  I miss his laugh.  
   
  If you've lost someone you'll know that there are people who tell you that they look down on you from Heaven.  I don't believe that, for my Dad that would be Hell.  To have watched us go through the pain of lossing him would have been hell to him.  To not be there for us in our tough times, yep that too.  So I am not comforted by hearing that.  I am more comforted by thinking that I may see him again one day in Heaven.   If you are comforted by thinking your loved ones are looking over you, please disregard my words.  They are for me.  What I have learned is that we all grieve in our own way.  That grief is multi-facited, there are many parts to the process, some of which surface years down the road.
   God has repaired and healed my broken heart.  My heart is full of the beautiful children and wonderful husband that God has given me.   
   I still will think of him, I still will miss him.  I've learned a lot about God through the pain.  I am thankful for that.  I wouldn't be who I am today without it.  I still wish he could have been here.  But I am now content and look forward to a reunion of epic prepotions in Heaven!  With not just my Dad but all my family who's gone on before me. 
  For more about my Dad go here.
I made this one large so you can see it.  My Dad in 1978.  I'm the 2yr old.

My Dad age 2 or 3.

Left my Dad is in the green shirt about age 19. Right my Dad About age 28-30

My Dad and Me 1976

My sister, Dad and Me. '88 or '89

Me and Dad my Grad '94

My Dad age 12.  And His Mom I think in '92?

Wednesday, October 13, 2010

TV shows I like!

  Because I'm bored and should be sleeping. Because I know I won't get time to blog tomorrow when the kids are up.  Because I just visited Starlit Home my friend in real life who is a blogger too, and I got this idea from her.  And well just because I can....Here's my list of shows I like to watch.

Covert Affairs.  A fun spy girl show.

Hawthorne. I like Jada Smith.

Parenthood.  Big family.

NCIS LA.  Who wouldn't want to watch LLcoolJ take down some bad guys!

Packed to the Rafters. Nother big Family.

In Plain Sight is about WITSEC.  She's a tough Marshal

Castle.  I really like Castle. Unlike other cop shows it doesn't creep me out.
Can't believe I almost forgot! CHUCK!!
Spy show, but not what you'd expect.

Thursday, October 7, 2010

Eczema Update

  Here's an update for you.
Well Madi reacted to the Lanolin in the Lansinoh.  The eczema spread across her tummy and her neck, then down her back.  It was terrible.  I prayed and prayed.  It's funny how the Lord helps you remember.  I remembered that Bradon also reacted to Lanolin in the same way.  I remembered that we used a low steroid cream to get it under control and then Glaxal base keep it down.
   So I used this with Madi and it's under control again.  Thank you Lord!
  We are keeping up with the Glaxal Base, the Oatmeal baths and on red flare-ups we're using Cortef cream.

Wednesday, October 6, 2010

Tuesday, October 5, 2010

Unfinished things

  I am very intolerant of unfinished things.  This is one of my biggest pet peeves. 
    I really don't like going in the basement and only will if I absolutely have to.  Bare concrete and ceiling open to the floor boards above, yucky.  Not to mention the layer of concrete dust and drywall debris for previous renos.  Plus stashes of unused appliances and boxes of "things".  Not my cup of tea!
   It's funny how that dislike carries over into the rest of my house and the way I think and feel about it.  I have never been really good or diligent when it comes to house work.  Cleaning is for the birds I say.  It's one of those things that looks nice when done, but is never really done, cause you have to keep doing it.  I like puzzles.  When you are finished, you're finished, you don't have to do it ever again.  Unless you want to.
   My house (the parts that are finished) is nice.  It has nice colour (I dislike white walls).  It has character (there isn't another house like this one trust me). 
The first few times I walked through this house I got lost.  Not because it's big, but it has levels that confuse you. 

  It's amusing to me that something like being unfinished can bother me so much that I lack the motivation to finish it.  Well motivation I have, skill I have not, nor the muscle needed.  I find it amusing because I myself am not finished.  None of us are.  We continue on this race for Christ and we won't be "finished" until we're home, in heaven.
He is patient with me in my unfinished state and I must learn to be content in my circumstances.   And still get my work done, no excuses!
Umm well maybe after another coffee!
This is the same space as the picture above, only finished.
To stay nice though, it needs maintenance.  Cleaning, decluttering and sometimes replacing broken things.
Just like me. Only I get maintenance though God's word.  But hey some paint and polish doesn't hurt;)