Got to love Money, right? WRONG!
I hate how money runs our lives. But it's still there and we still have to make it work every month.
My husband works. Alot. And makes good money for us. I'm always so thankful when he gets paid. Not because I know our bills our paid but because I know he is supporting our family. I make a point of saying thank you to him every 2 weeks when we get his pay cheque.
The government gives us money for the boys. We have money from Q, for being under 6 years old. We get $100.00 a month from them for child care costs and then a bit more for having kids under 18.
I make money as well. I provide daycare for a few children. Currently it's one child. I have a little boy who comes on random days. His mom is a nurse so I don't have him 5 days a week. For example, this week I had him 2 days.
My family has been working on budgets for a while. This is the year of the budgeting in our extended family. We need to budget and make it work for our own families.
Well this month I took a hard look at our budget and I took out any income I had. The little boy I have for daycare, his mom is having another baby in January. I will lose my income in December, or maybe before. I am bringing in a new little girl for after and before school care but nothing compared to what I was bringing in before. But with my income being so random we have taken it out of the budget and will be using it for certain repayment sections.
We may not be able to save as much for things that we wanted to before but we have a very realistic view of where our money is going. For example, we have to get our Christmas/Birthday budget back up. After the boys birthdays in April we somehow manage to "forget" to take that money out, or spend it elsewhere. This year we need to keep it going. SO now our budget that would have been spread over 11 months is being crammed into 3 months. Since our budget couldn't possibly make that work normally we will be using some of our budget money and some of my income to make it topped up. Say hello to the mason jar with Christmas ribbon on it! That's how we are saving this time around.
Every 2 years we have a big "vacation" in our family. Last year, Arnold and Kyler went to Alberta for a week. They got to visit family out there and really have a great time. It was Kylers graduation gift from going from SK to Grade 1. And Kyler got to remember being on an airplane.
Next summer (2013) Quinton and Arnold will be going. You never realize how much tickets cost until you are buying them yourself! So our budget is $2000.00 for the tickets and spending money. This means we have to save alot and have it saved up in time to get a good deal on tickets. Quinton is SO excited to go on an airplane and to see his family. This time around he wants to go and see some dinosaurs. They are his new love.
So not only do we have Christmas/Birthday budget to fill and our Trip fund to fill but we have our normal expenses. We have to stay current on all our bill payments and make sure we have everything under control.
This is easier said than done. I always used to joke that I would love to get all our money for the year at the beginning and let me spend it as I need but I know it would never be able to do it all like that.
So this year (as my life revolves around school years) we are going to be super careful how our budget goes and where our income is placed. So for now we are under strict budgets. Hopefully we can make this work :) As always, only if God allows us to use the money He has given us in the places He wants.
Showing posts with label Blessed. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Blessed. Show all posts
Friday, August 24, 2012
Wednesday, December 28, 2011
Merry Christmas!!
I hope everyone had a very Merry Christmas this year. We were so blessed and spoiled it was nuts! I kept feeling like we needed to load it all in the car and go as fast as possible. You know that commercial for IKEA where the wife is leaving the store yelling to her husband "star the car! Start the CAR!" like she robbed the place? That's how it felt. I can't get over the wonderful gifts and love shared to us from family and friends. Thanks!
We are now in recovery mode for a week or so. We have to re-find our house, get the stuff organized that we were given and figure out what we want to bless others with when the Canadian Diabetes association comes by to pick up our donations.
Anyway... if I miss you guys this year before this weekend. Have a FANTASTIC new years! We are very excited to see what it brings for our family and friends.
We are now in recovery mode for a week or so. We have to re-find our house, get the stuff organized that we were given and figure out what we want to bless others with when the Canadian Diabetes association comes by to pick up our donations.
Anyway... if I miss you guys this year before this weekend. Have a FANTASTIC new years! We are very excited to see what it brings for our family and friends.
Sunday, August 28, 2011
My "Post Race Report"
Talk about Energy, Friends, and Enthusiasm! That’s the best way to sum up the energy at the Triathlon this year. My breakdown is as follows:
I got there this year by taking the 7am ferry. The squeezed as many of us as they could on and that was alright. It was *so* foggy. You could barely see the ferry as you got on, I don’t know how they drove it in the water! Shocked really! But thankful. When we arrived I was “late” compared to last year so I bike down to the transition area and got moving. I racked my bike and got my race information packet, t-shirt and got a move on. My bib number this year, even with registering as soon as it was open was 258.
I made sure everything was ready in transition and I got a move on. I headed down to the beach before they closed the area. When you got there… WOW! You could barely see the people in front of you. They called for a 15 minute delay to hopefully be able to see. My start time was pushed from 8:14 start time to an 8:34 start time. When they got the blue guys out I went to the water to see how freaking cold it was and guess what… it was INSANE! I was SO cold. I went out to my hips or so and got wet. I wanted to see if the cold factor would go away and guess what, it did, but my legs were numb! What a crazy feeling. I tried to channel all that energy I had as a kid to go swimming in the lake when it was freezing. But somehow it didn’t come. I couldn’t force myself to get totally wet. I gave Arnold my glasses and stood around the starting area. I visited with a few people and splashed myself a few times with the cold water. It’s such a shock to the system. The guy announcing it even said that if you feel like your lungs are going to explode you should roll on your back, do some back stroke and take some deep breaths. If that doesn’t work and you think you are in trouble take your cap off and wave it around. Someone will come and get you right away. He wasn’t kidding. I think more people were pulled out this year than I have ever seen (which doesn’t say much since this was the second year for me). I got ready and moved into position. I didn’t try and get first out of the pack because I wasn’t in that much of a rush. I waited a bit. My parents joked I had a plan, everyone would get in and pee and the water would be warmer before I headed out! Sad but was kind of true!
The Swim:
My time: 13minutes, 51 seconds, 400m swim | 3minutes and 28 seconds per 100m
Overall Rank: 283 out of 450+ racers
No wet suit
Course: triangle like, out around and back
Waves – barely any
Water Temp: 17.5C / 63.5F
*This year’s time compared to last year’s time –
2011 time was 13 minutes and 51 seconds
2010 time was 15 minutes and 2 seconds
**Faster this year by 1 minute and 11 seconds**
When I finally headed out it was so cold that I just couldn’t make myself put my head under water so all that breaststroke paid off! I did most of it in breast stroke and head up front crawl. What a difference it made. I just about choked a few times but that’s alright. Lake water is NOT meant to be swallowed. I passed 2 blue caps (first wave) and at least 3 yellow caps (second wave) and a few of us pink caps. I did ok. COLD and you couldn’t see in front of you. What a scary thing. For me it was more of a “if I can see the buoys I should be ok, but if I can’t I need to get help. The Lifeguards were great at directing sometimes as well. They just needed to stop a few of us who went off course a bit. I got out, got my glasses and began the part I *HATE*. I hate the sand and the walk way back to the transition area. Not only is it hard to run on sand but the goose poop on the other side is hard not to step on! AHH annoying!
Plans for next time:
I said this last year but I really have to practice running on the beach. It’s my least favourite thing to do but I know it would help me a lot to have that part mastered. I’m seeing some more trips to the beach next time and lots of walking and running on the beach.
I was greeted by my hubby after the swim to get my glasses and then over the wooden walk way to some cheers from my parents, my sister, my boys and my niece. I swear, next time I’m wearing a shirt that says “yes my family is that loud group”! I loved hearing them cheer me on! What a fantastic feeling!
I got into T1, also known as transition area 1. This is where you change from your swim stuff into your bike stuff. To NOT get DQ’ed you have to have your helmet on before even touching your bike. I have learned that’s the thing to do. My shoes are always prepped (very loose laces and socks on top of them) and my helmet is on my bike. I generally take my cap off between the beach and the transition area and the helmet is the first thing on my head before anything else. Then I know I’m covered so helmet on, socks on and shoes on. A bit of balancing issues but that’s alright. Grabbed the bike and off I went. Heck! I even ran a bit of the way from the transition area to the mounting area. Something I never did last year!
T1:
Time: 2:23
*This year’s time compared to last year’s time –
2011 time was 2 minutes and 23 seconds
2010 time was 2 minutes and 33 seconds
**Faster this year by 10 seconds** - which surprises me since I was further away from the bike exit this year!
Next was my bike ride. I knew I could do this. I’ve been training a lot on my bike. Most have been splits but I knew it was something I could do. Last year I remember not pushing as hard as I could. I was so scared if I did I would be toast for the run so I pushed myself this year. I managed to pass 5 people on the 10km loop. I was passed WAY more than that. But I made a point of encouraging everyone who passed me or who I passed. The smile on people’s faces was so cool! It was a good path out there and back, flat and fast! The biggest problem for me was that the morning when we were leaving I had a flat tire! Arnold fixed it for me before bringing the bike to the ferry and I was SO worried. I hit a bit pot hole as well. I don’t know what happen but I just hit one! I was mad at myself but I did alright. I went right back up the other side and kept biking. It was about ¼ of the way through. I told myself *if* I did have a flat I would just bike it all the way and buy myself a new rim next time! I remembered I had a water bottle just before half and took a drink and got a wonderful surprise! See the night before I prepped my water bottle and put a bit of water in the freezer and then pulled it out this morning and added some more water and I was good to go… well... I forgot that I had added some Kool-Aid mix to the bottom of the frozen water and wow was that a little energy boost! I was watching those riders with food in their hands thinking I should have done that but the Kool-Aid mix was wonderful! And because of it, and the taste, I think I drank too much water!
Biking:
My time: 24 minutes and 4 seconds 10km bike | 24.9km/hour
Overall Rank: 279 out of 450+ racers
Performance: Good, pushed myself harder than I thought I could
Wind: none but MAJOR Fog, to the point that if no one was in front of me I would have had no clue where to go, also had to wipe my glasses a few times on both sides to just see out of them.
Course: Out to the other end of the island then back past transition area, a quick turn and then back to transition to dismount.
Road: a wet feeling, but not wet more fog than anything, some potholes (that I managed to hit on bad)
Turns: average, I did good on the turn at the far side and lost LOTS of time at the one after transition
Race pace: comfortable
Drinks: maybe too much?
*This year’s time compared to last year’s time –
2011 time was 26 minutes and 21 seconds
2010 time was 24 minutes and 04 seconds
**Faster this year by 2 minute and 17 seconds**
Transition 2 was a bit easier. You bring in your bike, rack it, and run! Pretty much! I did take off my helmet and add my hat this time. It wasn’t too hard to transition this time because where I was racked was SO close to the exit and not too many people were back on my rack yet so we were good. I just did it and ran!
T2:
Time: 1 minute and 10 seconds
*This year’s time compared to last year’s time –
2011 time was 1 minute and 1o seconds
2010 time was 1 minute and 22 seconds
**Faster this year by 12 seconds**
My last part is always the hardest for me. The run. I am not a runner by any means at all whatsoever. Just lately I’ve been trying to get my running up. While it’s not an instant fix it does help. I do about 60 steps walking and 60 strides running, and so on. I think if I had started that first I would have been ok. I had so much encouragement on the way it was great. My family was cheering for me, and even some fellow competitors. One girl came out of T2 with me at the same time and told me I could just jog. I did for a bit then when I passed her again she told me she was watching me, in a friendly way. It was a nice kick in the bum to keep going. The first time around the “lollypop”, as it was called, is so hard. I feel like I’m going to die but I don’t! Thankfully. The second time around I can convince myself to go faster. This year my mom came out and kicked my ass. The last little bit she made me pick up the pace of speed walking and go go go! Then I met up with a new “friend”. She and I jogged to the end. She pushed me to get under the clock moving to 1 hour and 20 minutes. I did it! Just. And what a help she was. Our times are .2 of a hundredth away from each other! It was so nice. I found her later on the stands getting a photo and I got one with her, only to find out that she went to St. Pats (a high school I did as well) and we were both on the same swim team! How cool! This is always the hardest for me. And always my goal to do better so that’s the plan for next time:
Run:
My time: 24 minutes and 05 seconds
Overall Rank: 375 out of 450+ racers
Performance: less than average. I mean it was much better than last year, I actually ran some, but I was so tired. I really have to work on this part next time.
Course: out and around the transition area, out to the street and 2 “lollypops”. On the way back the second time back to the start.
Keeping Cool: not very
Drinking: could have used 2 cups instead of just 1 each time around. Even if to just pour on my head to cool me down.
*This year’s time compared to last year’s time –
2011 time was 24 minutes and 05 seconds
2010 time was 25 minutes and 35 seconds
**Faster this year by 1 minute and 30 seconds** - which I owe all to my mom!
Overall feeling – It was fun. I love them every time. Getting there is sometimes hard but what a feeling! I really enjoyed it. Hopefully next time I do it I can knock off some more seconds.
Time: 1 hour 5 minutes and 30.3seconds
Overall Rank: 350 of 450+ racers
*This year’s time compared to last year’s time –
2011 time was 1 hour 5 minutes and 30.3 seconds
2010 time was 1 hour 10 minutes and 50 seconds
**Faster this year by 5 minutes and 20 seconds** - next time, under 1 hour!!
I got there this year by taking the 7am ferry. The squeezed as many of us as they could on and that was alright. It was *so* foggy. You could barely see the ferry as you got on, I don’t know how they drove it in the water! Shocked really! But thankful. When we arrived I was “late” compared to last year so I bike down to the transition area and got moving. I racked my bike and got my race information packet, t-shirt and got a move on. My bib number this year, even with registering as soon as it was open was 258.
I made sure everything was ready in transition and I got a move on. I headed down to the beach before they closed the area. When you got there… WOW! You could barely see the people in front of you. They called for a 15 minute delay to hopefully be able to see. My start time was pushed from 8:14 start time to an 8:34 start time. When they got the blue guys out I went to the water to see how freaking cold it was and guess what… it was INSANE! I was SO cold. I went out to my hips or so and got wet. I wanted to see if the cold factor would go away and guess what, it did, but my legs were numb! What a crazy feeling. I tried to channel all that energy I had as a kid to go swimming in the lake when it was freezing. But somehow it didn’t come. I couldn’t force myself to get totally wet. I gave Arnold my glasses and stood around the starting area. I visited with a few people and splashed myself a few times with the cold water. It’s such a shock to the system. The guy announcing it even said that if you feel like your lungs are going to explode you should roll on your back, do some back stroke and take some deep breaths. If that doesn’t work and you think you are in trouble take your cap off and wave it around. Someone will come and get you right away. He wasn’t kidding. I think more people were pulled out this year than I have ever seen (which doesn’t say much since this was the second year for me). I got ready and moved into position. I didn’t try and get first out of the pack because I wasn’t in that much of a rush. I waited a bit. My parents joked I had a plan, everyone would get in and pee and the water would be warmer before I headed out! Sad but was kind of true!
The Swim:
My time: 13minutes, 51 seconds, 400m swim | 3minutes and 28 seconds per 100m
Overall Rank: 283 out of 450+ racers
No wet suit
Course: triangle like, out around and back
Waves – barely any
Water Temp: 17.5C / 63.5F
*This year’s time compared to last year’s time –
2011 time was 13 minutes and 51 seconds
2010 time was 15 minutes and 2 seconds
**Faster this year by 1 minute and 11 seconds**
When I finally headed out it was so cold that I just couldn’t make myself put my head under water so all that breaststroke paid off! I did most of it in breast stroke and head up front crawl. What a difference it made. I just about choked a few times but that’s alright. Lake water is NOT meant to be swallowed. I passed 2 blue caps (first wave) and at least 3 yellow caps (second wave) and a few of us pink caps. I did ok. COLD and you couldn’t see in front of you. What a scary thing. For me it was more of a “if I can see the buoys I should be ok, but if I can’t I need to get help. The Lifeguards were great at directing sometimes as well. They just needed to stop a few of us who went off course a bit. I got out, got my glasses and began the part I *HATE*. I hate the sand and the walk way back to the transition area. Not only is it hard to run on sand but the goose poop on the other side is hard not to step on! AHH annoying!
Plans for next time:
I said this last year but I really have to practice running on the beach. It’s my least favourite thing to do but I know it would help me a lot to have that part mastered. I’m seeing some more trips to the beach next time and lots of walking and running on the beach.
I was greeted by my hubby after the swim to get my glasses and then over the wooden walk way to some cheers from my parents, my sister, my boys and my niece. I swear, next time I’m wearing a shirt that says “yes my family is that loud group”! I loved hearing them cheer me on! What a fantastic feeling!
I got into T1, also known as transition area 1. This is where you change from your swim stuff into your bike stuff. To NOT get DQ’ed you have to have your helmet on before even touching your bike. I have learned that’s the thing to do. My shoes are always prepped (very loose laces and socks on top of them) and my helmet is on my bike. I generally take my cap off between the beach and the transition area and the helmet is the first thing on my head before anything else. Then I know I’m covered so helmet on, socks on and shoes on. A bit of balancing issues but that’s alright. Grabbed the bike and off I went. Heck! I even ran a bit of the way from the transition area to the mounting area. Something I never did last year!
T1:
Time: 2:23
*This year’s time compared to last year’s time –
2011 time was 2 minutes and 23 seconds
2010 time was 2 minutes and 33 seconds
**Faster this year by 10 seconds** - which surprises me since I was further away from the bike exit this year!
Next was my bike ride. I knew I could do this. I’ve been training a lot on my bike. Most have been splits but I knew it was something I could do. Last year I remember not pushing as hard as I could. I was so scared if I did I would be toast for the run so I pushed myself this year. I managed to pass 5 people on the 10km loop. I was passed WAY more than that. But I made a point of encouraging everyone who passed me or who I passed. The smile on people’s faces was so cool! It was a good path out there and back, flat and fast! The biggest problem for me was that the morning when we were leaving I had a flat tire! Arnold fixed it for me before bringing the bike to the ferry and I was SO worried. I hit a bit pot hole as well. I don’t know what happen but I just hit one! I was mad at myself but I did alright. I went right back up the other side and kept biking. It was about ¼ of the way through. I told myself *if* I did have a flat I would just bike it all the way and buy myself a new rim next time! I remembered I had a water bottle just before half and took a drink and got a wonderful surprise! See the night before I prepped my water bottle and put a bit of water in the freezer and then pulled it out this morning and added some more water and I was good to go… well... I forgot that I had added some Kool-Aid mix to the bottom of the frozen water and wow was that a little energy boost! I was watching those riders with food in their hands thinking I should have done that but the Kool-Aid mix was wonderful! And because of it, and the taste, I think I drank too much water!
Biking:
My time: 24 minutes and 4 seconds 10km bike | 24.9km/hour
Overall Rank: 279 out of 450+ racers
Performance: Good, pushed myself harder than I thought I could
Wind: none but MAJOR Fog, to the point that if no one was in front of me I would have had no clue where to go, also had to wipe my glasses a few times on both sides to just see out of them.
Course: Out to the other end of the island then back past transition area, a quick turn and then back to transition to dismount.
Road: a wet feeling, but not wet more fog than anything, some potholes (that I managed to hit on bad)
Turns: average, I did good on the turn at the far side and lost LOTS of time at the one after transition
Race pace: comfortable
Drinks: maybe too much?
*This year’s time compared to last year’s time –
2011 time was 26 minutes and 21 seconds
2010 time was 24 minutes and 04 seconds
**Faster this year by 2 minute and 17 seconds**
Transition 2 was a bit easier. You bring in your bike, rack it, and run! Pretty much! I did take off my helmet and add my hat this time. It wasn’t too hard to transition this time because where I was racked was SO close to the exit and not too many people were back on my rack yet so we were good. I just did it and ran!
T2:
Time: 1 minute and 10 seconds
*This year’s time compared to last year’s time –
2011 time was 1 minute and 1o seconds
2010 time was 1 minute and 22 seconds
**Faster this year by 12 seconds**
My last part is always the hardest for me. The run. I am not a runner by any means at all whatsoever. Just lately I’ve been trying to get my running up. While it’s not an instant fix it does help. I do about 60 steps walking and 60 strides running, and so on. I think if I had started that first I would have been ok. I had so much encouragement on the way it was great. My family was cheering for me, and even some fellow competitors. One girl came out of T2 with me at the same time and told me I could just jog. I did for a bit then when I passed her again she told me she was watching me, in a friendly way. It was a nice kick in the bum to keep going. The first time around the “lollypop”, as it was called, is so hard. I feel like I’m going to die but I don’t! Thankfully. The second time around I can convince myself to go faster. This year my mom came out and kicked my ass. The last little bit she made me pick up the pace of speed walking and go go go! Then I met up with a new “friend”. She and I jogged to the end. She pushed me to get under the clock moving to 1 hour and 20 minutes. I did it! Just. And what a help she was. Our times are .2 of a hundredth away from each other! It was so nice. I found her later on the stands getting a photo and I got one with her, only to find out that she went to St. Pats (a high school I did as well) and we were both on the same swim team! How cool! This is always the hardest for me. And always my goal to do better so that’s the plan for next time:
Run:
My time: 24 minutes and 05 seconds
Overall Rank: 375 out of 450+ racers
Performance: less than average. I mean it was much better than last year, I actually ran some, but I was so tired. I really have to work on this part next time.
Course: out and around the transition area, out to the street and 2 “lollypops”. On the way back the second time back to the start.
Keeping Cool: not very
Drinking: could have used 2 cups instead of just 1 each time around. Even if to just pour on my head to cool me down.
*This year’s time compared to last year’s time –
2011 time was 24 minutes and 05 seconds
2010 time was 25 minutes and 35 seconds
**Faster this year by 1 minute and 30 seconds** - which I owe all to my mom!
Overall feeling – It was fun. I love them every time. Getting there is sometimes hard but what a feeling! I really enjoyed it. Hopefully next time I do it I can knock off some more seconds.
Time: 1 hour 5 minutes and 30.3seconds
Overall Rank: 350 of 450+ racers
*This year’s time compared to last year’s time –
2011 time was 1 hour 5 minutes and 30.3 seconds
2010 time was 1 hour 10 minutes and 50 seconds
**Faster this year by 5 minutes and 20 seconds** - next time, under 1 hour!!
Sunday, May 8, 2011
Happy Mother's Day!
Last night my incredible husband took me out for supper. It was fantastic! I got a new dress, shoes, earrings, necklaces ect... AND then while out I got a new planter for the front yard. I'm very excited for it!! I can't wait to get it started this year. I'm still trying to decide what to put in it!
I just finished writing up my "Happy Mother's Day" post on the company blog and I wanted to share it.
To Mothers in all "Stations" of Motherhood/life:
Happy Mother's Day
I just finished writing up my "Happy Mother's Day" post on the company blog and I wanted to share it.
To Mothers in all "Stations" of Motherhood/life:
Happy Mother's Day
Wednesday, December 22, 2010
Yummy Food!
For Christmas I wanted a bread maker, in fact for a while now I've wanted one. When we moved into this house we figured it wasn't going to fit. Which is ok I guess but I still wanted one!
A few weeks ago my parents dug out their bread maker and brought it here to Toronto for me to borrow. I was so excited! I love trying out new "toys".
Last night I finally got to make some bread. Arnold headed out and got some yeast for the bread and I got everything together. I made the "rapid-rise bread" and it takes about 2 hours. Arnold stayed up for about 1 hour then he had to get some sleep. I stayed up for all of it and WOW was it worth it.
My first bread:
Blessed: I am blessed with warm clothes. Lately our house has been 'chilly' and I am very blessed with warm clothes and the ability to put warmer clothes on when I'm cold.
December Game: I know I've done count down calendars before but I love this one. It keeps the kids going until Christmas. It's a Milk chocolate Count Down Calendar:
A few weeks ago my parents dug out their bread maker and brought it here to Toronto for me to borrow. I was so excited! I love trying out new "toys".
Last night I finally got to make some bread. Arnold headed out and got some yeast for the bread and I got everything together. I made the "rapid-rise bread" and it takes about 2 hours. Arnold stayed up for about 1 hour then he had to get some sleep. I stayed up for all of it and WOW was it worth it.
My first bread:
Blessed: I am blessed with warm clothes. Lately our house has been 'chilly' and I am very blessed with warm clothes and the ability to put warmer clothes on when I'm cold.
December Game: I know I've done count down calendars before but I love this one. It keeps the kids going until Christmas. It's a Milk chocolate Count Down Calendar:
Tuesday, December 21, 2010
My Latest Project
On one of our first nights in this house we are in now (and almost 1 year ago) Jenn and Jason came and stayed with us. They brought their sweet little girl, Mya, with them. I love that family, they are adorable! Check out my post with them in it "Sweet Nothings".
While they were here we were going through some of my cross-stitching stuff and found some stockings. Jenn and Jason picked out one and I made it up!! It's now all finished and in the mail (well I'm *hoping* already there!).
Here's what it looks like (hope you don't mind me sharing Jenn!)
Blessed: We are blessed with a gift that God has totally given us. Being able to host people in our house (be it 2 days after we move in with Jenn, Jason, and Mya, or a year later with 13 adults and 3 kids!). It's a wonderful gift. And thankfully friends of ours have the same gift and help us clean up while over!
December Game: I LOVE getting together with friends. Even more so at Christmas time. We had our fondue and here are some of our friends:
While they were here we were going through some of my cross-stitching stuff and found some stockings. Jenn and Jason picked out one and I made it up!! It's now all finished and in the mail (well I'm *hoping* already there!).
Here's what it looks like (hope you don't mind me sharing Jenn!)
Blessed: We are blessed with a gift that God has totally given us. Being able to host people in our house (be it 2 days after we move in with Jenn, Jason, and Mya, or a year later with 13 adults and 3 kids!). It's a wonderful gift. And thankfully friends of ours have the same gift and help us clean up while over!
December Game: I LOVE getting together with friends. Even more so at Christmas time. We had our fondue and here are some of our friends:
Monday, December 20, 2010
Auntie Jaime's Christmas Gingerbread Open House and Silent Auction
On Sunday after church we did some running around and went to drop by Auntie Jaime's "Christmas Gingerbread Open House and Silent Auction" at Christine's house.
Jaime is this incredible friend from Church. We met her our first day there (thanks to Karin) and have loved her ever since! She has been so welcoming into her home for Ladies Bible Studies, helping out with the Kids Klub at church and even allowing our little one to come *years* before he should so we can help out with the youth. It has been so inspiring to get to know her and realize what a passion she has for kids and for this mission God has blessed her heart with.
On Sunday we went to the silent auction. People had donated gingerbread houses and they were up for auction for raising funds for Jaime for her trip to Ireland. She has paired with Greater Europe Mission for her time in Ireland. Right now she is working on having all of her support in line. Things are falling into place, faster some days than others. But this helped her out just a bit more. We were so happy to help out in anyway we could.
Since it's not in our budget right now to support Jaime I thought I would "push" her information onto friends and maybe, if God leads you, you can help her reach her goal and get on her way.
I know that our family will miss Jaime more than words can express but I also know God has a very big plan for this woman's life and He will bless her more than she can even imagine while she is there.
For more information on what Jaime wants to do and how she is doing check out her website here.
Without further adieu here are some photos from the silent Auction:
Blessed: Our Family is blessed by the young adults that come to our house to "hang out" ever other week. We have a group of them that come over, eat supper, and just chill out. We get to visit and re-connect with each other. Since Sundays are so busy at church sometimes we don't get to see each other! It's nice to have that time together. And they bless our family so much by the love they show us and the love they show our children. Thanks guys!
December Game: Speaking of the YAH group we have a fondue once a year, at Christmas time. It's always our last one before we break for the holidays. This year was great timing! It's tonight!
Jaime is this incredible friend from Church. We met her our first day there (thanks to Karin) and have loved her ever since! She has been so welcoming into her home for Ladies Bible Studies, helping out with the Kids Klub at church and even allowing our little one to come *years* before he should so we can help out with the youth. It has been so inspiring to get to know her and realize what a passion she has for kids and for this mission God has blessed her heart with.
On Sunday we went to the silent auction. People had donated gingerbread houses and they were up for auction for raising funds for Jaime for her trip to Ireland. She has paired with Greater Europe Mission for her time in Ireland. Right now she is working on having all of her support in line. Things are falling into place, faster some days than others. But this helped her out just a bit more. We were so happy to help out in anyway we could.
Since it's not in our budget right now to support Jaime I thought I would "push" her information onto friends and maybe, if God leads you, you can help her reach her goal and get on her way.
I know that our family will miss Jaime more than words can express but I also know God has a very big plan for this woman's life and He will bless her more than she can even imagine while she is there.
For more information on what Jaime wants to do and how she is doing check out her website here.
Without further adieu here are some photos from the silent Auction:
Blessed: Our Family is blessed by the young adults that come to our house to "hang out" ever other week. We have a group of them that come over, eat supper, and just chill out. We get to visit and re-connect with each other. Since Sundays are so busy at church sometimes we don't get to see each other! It's nice to have that time together. And they bless our family so much by the love they show us and the love they show our children. Thanks guys!
December Game: Speaking of the YAH group we have a fondue once a year, at Christmas time. It's always our last one before we break for the holidays. This year was great timing! It's tonight!
Sunday, December 19, 2010
Church Christmas Concert!
First off, I'm sorry! I seriously thought I was doing this right but I'm not! I couldn't get these updates to actually post on their own. I'll post this and an 'update' post!
Today was our Church Christmas Concert. It was good. So much singing and some great times had by all. The kids did a little thing. It was so cute!
I managed to snag a few photos and here's what I have. I hope to post the video this week:
Blessed: I'm blessed by the tutorials of how to post things on blogger, now, hehe!
December Games: I love this part of Christmas:
Today was our Church Christmas Concert. It was good. So much singing and some great times had by all. The kids did a little thing. It was so cute!
I managed to snag a few photos and here's what I have. I hope to post the video this week:
Blessed: I'm blessed by the tutorials of how to post things on blogger, now, hehe!
December Games: I love this part of Christmas:
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)