How time flies...

Oh the wonderful joy of spring is here!!!  I don't know if I've ever been this excited about it.  This past winter was so long and with so much snow, that I could hardly bear it.  I know we choose to live here and I should be grateful for all the things that don't happen here...such as earthquakes, tsunamis and hurricanes...but none the less now that spring is here I am rejoicing!
I met a lady a Wal-Mart the other when I was shopping for new rubber boots and I guess she could tell that I was debating about getting the tall ones or the shorter ones.  She looks and me and and says, "it doesn't matter which kind you get they will always be an inch too short!"  I had a good chuckle at that one.  "Booter" is the term my kids use when the the water comes over the top.  You would not believe how very proud they are when they don't get one!
Life has a way of speeding up for me in spring.  I am looking forward to working a bit more again.  I will be spring cleaning at the college again.  This keeps me busy for most of the summer.  The kids and Wes are so anxious to go camping.  It is not my favorite pastime partly because of all the work involved but also I don't enjoy fishing at all.  I need to find a hobby that can take up the time that they like to fish. (a portable hobby)  I have thought that it would be a great time for me to scrapbook but I am thinking that the humidity would not be great for the pics and they would probably blow away!
We (ladies group) are 3 weeks from being done our Beth Moore Bible study.  It has been a great experience for me personally.  I find that the Word has become my treasure once again.

So here we are, 2 months into the  house being up for sale and nothing:(  We've had 6-7 showings all to no avail.  I think I am okay with it actually.  I'm okay for now anyway.  Someday I would love to move to a home that is slightly larger to accommodate for family friendly events as well as hosting church events.  Until then, contentment is what I choose.

I have been extremely busy this month with work and I am thoroughly enjoying it!  I feel productive and like I am contributing financially.  Spring break is just around the corner, and I am so looking forward to being able to sleep in and catch up on some household things that are falling behind as well as catch up with the kids.  (Playing games, having people over, cooking for fun and baking for fun!) 

Today I also got an interview for helping in the Canadian census.  I am really excited about it because it gives me a chance to gain experience in what I have never done before.  The chance to earn a little extra money is also intriguing me!  I am hoping that this can get put away for a vacation in the fall or next winter.

I realized the other day that I had not taken a picture since Christmas and was a little appalled at myself.  These kids are growing up right before my very eyes and I am not taking in the memories with my camera. So there will be no new pics on the blog for a little while as I am hoping to catchup with this during spring break as well!

Hoping it's not all for Nothing...

Today we have our 3rd showing and the 4th is in the morning!  I am feeling at little overwhelmed at keeping the house in order at all times.  I am thankful these 2 showings are so close together because it then it feels like there's less to do in between!  Part of me is excited to move on and yet some of me has reservations...like how will this change our lives financially or is this move going to be the right one for our family?  Our kids are now very excited at the thought of moving...it only took them 2 months or so.  I guess from their perspective, this house is all they know in their lives.  I am noticing that I have an uneasy stomach most days due to the stress of it all.  God has really been a big part of this journey.  First of all, He loves us unconditionally no matter where we are in life and He knows what's best for us.  We are totally ok with whatever comes of all this! 

Here's some scripture that I have encouraged my kids to read this past week:  Psalm 133:1-3
"How good and pleasant it is when brothers live together in unity! It is like precious oil poured on the head, running down on the beard, running down on Aaron's beard, down upon the collar of his robes.  It is as if the dew of Hermon were falling on Mount Zion.  For there the Lord bestows his blessing, even life forever more."
Mostly I wanted them to understand the blessing of unity according to scripture but also that the scriptures talk to brothers (likely brothers in Christ) but that they can have that blessing in their own lives!

Field trip to the Mint and the Legislature...

On Friday when it was about -36 degrees Celsius, I went along with a very bumpy bus ride to a grade 4 field trip.  It was a blast!  I was dressed for the weather but somehow my face still burned at the end of the day.  The mint was actually sort of a boring thing to look at but our tour guide was incredibly intriguing!  That guy totally made the entire visit a blast.  I don't have much interest in how things are made but thanks to Lucas who remembers the details and could fill Wes in at the end of the day!  We had lunch at the legislature building.  I don't think I have been there before and so the building was really interesting .  We had the tour which was also very well done and learned many facts about the building.  Did you know in fact that the project manager at the time of construction actually stole materials from the building supplies to build his own home?  He was arrested before completion but needless to say there is an apartment building 3 blocks away, named after this Thomas Kelly guy.  It's called Kelly apartments.  He was sentenced to 2 years in prison and restitution of $1 million.  He ended up only paying back $30 000 and serving his sentence.  This story was really the highlight for all the students.  Of course the story of the golden boy was quite incredible too.  Did you know that he weighs 3000 lbs?  He was fixed up in 2002 due to the anticipation of a visit from the queen!
This field trip is one of my favorites that I've been to in a while.  (My fave of all time was the Royal Winnipeg Ballet!) 

Did You Know...

that with anticipation comes the ever dreaded stress?  I don't know if I really like the combination of emotions that I've been having.  We have decided to try and sell our home.  I look forward to things yet to come but am very afraid of what might not happen...like for instance if the house doesn't sell.  I don't know why it makes me feel so anxious.  I suppose having lived here for 10 years plus could do that to me!  When we were thinking about this decision we kept in mind a few things; the mortgage, living within our means, and expanding without becoming greedy. I find myself living in a very materialistic world as you may have noticed by watching a few commercials or listening to people talk, but being conformed to the world isn't exactly my idea of joy!
We have put all of this into God's hands and we will choose to be joyful regardless of the outcome.  We have checked out a house that we would love to live in but it already has an offer on it.  The contractor told us he could build us one like that in the summer if we were interested.  I am praying that I can have peace instead of worry and joy instead of fear!

Hi My Name is Lisa and I am Addicted to Christmas Baking...

For the sake of repeating myself, this will be my last post on food for a while, I promise! 

I have accomplished all of those items on my baking list plus a few extras.  The total where it stands now is 13 recipes!  Can you see what I mean when I say I am addicted?  I have one more favorite that I would like to make but would also love to try some Christmas candy or balls.  I am a little afraid of trying new things like that...  For Christmas dinner this year, we will be having a variety of deep-fried items.  I am looking forward to that because we never have that at home.  The menu will consist of deep-fried perogies & mozza sticks, chicken wings, and homeade cream of mushroom soup.  I will add a small fruit or veggie tray to that as well.  My recipe books are definitely my friends and do a lot of the talking at this time of the year:)  I hope to try a recipe for Toblerone swiss fondue.  It has brandy in it and seeing as I have never cooked with it before, it would be a shame to ruin such good chocolate, so I will have to do some more research before I begin.  Each year I think it would be a fantastic idea to host a Christmas party where I could try all sorts of appetizers...maybe some day.  All right, enough of the food talk!!

No Christmas Baking yet...

I was totally going to start my Christmas baking at the very beginning of December but it seems as if though life doesn't just give me a day to do but rather that I will have to plan for it.  Curtis has invited ALL the boys in his class to his b-day party for tomorrow so I will be baking and cooking for that but with hopes that there might be extra to put in the freezer!  He wants X-large monster cookies for his "birthday cake". He doesn't really like to eat cake so it seems easier for me.  I will decorate each cookie with M&M's to make a number 6 on the top.  Simple but fun hopefully!  I never know how to decide what to do with kids birthdays...I really just wanted Curtis to pick someone to take bowling and that would be the end of it but I also wanted the opportunity to meet the friends/parents of the kids he hangs out with so here goes! 

On another note I thought I might share my dream baking list:

1.  Grandma cookies (shapes with colored icing)

2.  Egg-free donuts (they turned out better than the ones with eggs)

3.  2 batches of Eat-more bars cause they are a serious favorite around here

4. Oh henry bars

5.  Mars bars

6. Chocolate peanut butter slice

7. Butter Bud cookies

8.  Monster cookies

IF I get these things baked and I have time leftover which I highly doubt, there are a few more recipes that I would like to try.  (Sugar cookies, chocolate crunch brownies and maybe a Krispie roll and puffed wheat cake)  I think that would be too much but I with all my family coming out, I hope to get rid of some!  I always try to make most of the recipes on the same day so I can freeze them as an assortment and then when I need to bring something that I can just grab it and go!