Summertime

:: Summertime, it can be full of action, or just lazing around the house...both things to me mean Summer. I love it, I love seeing my kids enjoy their friends over something as simple as an ice cream cone ::

:: So if you're in the area, in need of some Summertime love, I'm sure we've got an ice cream cone for you too! ::

:: Savor the last of the Summer, because it's sure to swiftly run away! ::

:: Tim & Lacey Wed ::

:: Back about a month ago we attended the wedding of Tim & Lacey. It was a beautiful day with lots of details that reminded me of our wedding day! ::

:: Here are some of the shots I took from the ceremony ::



:: Lacey & her Father Grant, just before he gave her away ::

:: Tim willingly accepting her ::

:: Vowing their forevers ::

:: Once the ceremony wrapped up we headed straight out to the farm {Lacey's Parent's Farm} to set up the cake ~ Brides special request, a Rice Krispie Cake with Strawberries & Chocolate sauce...apparently it's Tim's favorite dessert ::

:: The details of the white flowers in all the different containers were beautiful, placed on the burlap and yellow plaid table clothes, it was beautiful! The details were all so well done - it was my kinda decor! ::

:: Here are some photo's of our friends from the reception ::

:: We had a lovely time dancing well into the night, what a great bash you threw Tim & Lacey...thanks for getting hitched, can we do it again next year ;) ::

:: Summer Lovin' ::

:: Boy oh Boy! I can't believe we're already into August! Seriously, where has the time gone!??!!? ::

:: We've certainly been enjoying the summer weather we've had around here, however the past 24 hours has been less than lovely...can you say H U M I D I T Y! ::

:: Here is JJ enjoying a treat at Maddy's birthday party by the lake ::



:: We've spent SO much time in the motor home and out celebrating life with friends and family, it's been a record summer for us -- we've had a few firsts but just lots of family time ::

:: This is the valley where we've spent so many of our summer days ::

:: I can't believe that in just a few short weeks we'll be back from another vacation and gearing up to start school, which means Fall, and you all know how much I LOVE Fall!!! That means anniversary celebration, cranberry creek, a family trip and lots lots more, SO EXCITING! ::

:: Here's Cole enjoying summer too..can't really get him to be quiet or smile for a photo, he doesn't get the concept of "CHHEEEESE" - he just ignores me and keeps on chatting! ::

:: Hope y'all are having a delightful summer full of BBQ, watermelon and family fun! ::

:: XO, *S ::

:: Stranger Danger ::

:: Ha Ha Ha - do you remember that statement we were taught in elementary school, well now I'm using it on myself, on my own flipping blog! ::

:: Anyway, I've been a slacker around these parts. Life has not been overwhelmingly busy, nor has it been boring, I've just been trying to achieve my goal of living my life with purpose -- Cause do y'all know that it's less than 6 months until Christmas? Holy Shamoly!!! Which means that 2011 is right around the corner, so if I want to achieve my goals for 2010, I better get acting on 'em! ::

:: I've got SO much to blog about and want to write about, but I truly just haven't had the energy to do so...but, do not fear! I'm going to be doing some motorhoming (if that's such a term?) with my little family, so here's to hoping that I can get a bit of time to actually blog! ::

:: Here is what we've been up to...gardening, lots of gardening/Mom's birthday celebration/quick trips in the motor home, including parking int our local WalMart parking lots...yeah, we're ghetto like that/trip to celebrate little Miss D's birthday/hitting the water park on those really hot week days/surviving being a partial single mama/hitting the lake with the fam in the motor home, and again parking at the local WalMart...So there you go, in between everything else in life, those have been the key highlights over the past few weeks ::

:: So that's it, I hope y'all have been well, I've been around the blogging world -- just haven't been spending much time on my own blog! ::

:: Happy Friday Y'all, hope you have a fabulous weekend and keep an eye on my blog, I just might have up some eye candy for you to look at ;) ::

:: Welcome July! ::

:: We live in one of the most beautiful places in the world...truly we are blessed! Happy Canada day y'all!!! ::

:: Today Mr. L is working and so I'm taking it upon myself to be very patriotic and wear red and white with my boys and make red jam. We're going to head out to a local farm and pick up some raspberries & strawberries to make freezer jam out of. But we'll do that once the littlest boy has his nap and after I do a once through of the house...clean the floors/windows/bathrooms and finish up the laundry for the weekend ::

:: We're going to be heading out to another part of our beautiful land to celebrate a certain little someones birthday. Should be a blast, especially if the weather were to smarten up! ::

Happy Canada day - hope y'all have a wonderful day celebrating our freedom!
XO, *S

* * *

Psalms 119:1
Blessed are they whose ways are blameless and walk according to the law of the Lord

:: From Start to Finish ::

:: This was the first day of Preschool, September 2009 ::

:: This was the last day of Preschool, June 2010 ::

:: My little big boy has gone from size 4 to 6 in most of his clothes, his feet are a size 12 {probably as I'm writing they are growing into a 13}, he's grown 2" since March. His language is fabulous {not sure why we ever doubted him}, his memory is outstanding and his attitude is usually joyful {except when Mama is demanding you smile for a picture! Ha!} ::

:: Happy first year of Preschool JJ - We delight hearing all that you've learned and seeing you play with your friends! Can't wait to see what next year holds for you! ::

:: All our Love, Mama & Daddy ::

:: Today ::

:: We've been busy little people today! By 11:30 am we had already been on our bi-weekly trip to the States to stock up on groceries & gas prior to the long weekend ahead - that in itself can sometimes take 6 hours! But for some reason today it took much less time - thank the Lord! ::

:: We came home to unpack all the groceries and re-pack them all into the pantry {aka: garage cupboards}, then off into the van we go again to run a few errands. Just to return home to have lunch and do some gardening ::

{ our first red strawberry...I thought strawberries were easy to grow! Not so much! }

:: Then we had hair cuts, well not me but the boys did...ahhh, love the look of fresh new hair cuts! This was prior to the hair cuts having a treat on the porch ::

:: Here is our first red berry on our raspberry plant. Shortly after I snapped this shot Cole hit the bush with the baseball bat and now we have raspberry stained fence. Nice. I picked up the pieces and ate them. That's just my style! ::

:: Over the past few days I've been cleaning carpets, organizing cupboards and cleaning up the gardens. Our weather has be less than beautiful, the rain pretty much holds off, but it's not "Summer" weather by any means! So this has meant more time inside, organizing and such. It's not bad, most of it is much overdue but makes for a couple c r a z y kids! I'm really looking to VBS starting on Monday! ::

{ some of my hydrangea's from the plant we've had since the spring after we married, it started out white, then went to blue when we planted it at our first home {the townhouse} went back to blue when we planted it here and now it's decided to be pink! And I've decided it's a female, can't ever make up her mind! Ha! }

:: Well, I better get off of here and do some more organizing, I hear the toiletries/cleaning closet calling my name! ::

:: Thank you all for listening to my rant the other day and not sending me hate mail. Even if you don't understand what I was talking about or my feelings, I appreciate that you just listened and did throw stones ::

:: Happy Tuesday Lovelies! ::
XO *S

:: Recently ::

:: I had the pleasure of doing up a cake for a diamond wedding anniversary - I learned something with this cake ... I like doing things because I want to do them, not because I have to do them. Some of you may think, yes, of course that makes sense! Duh, I know I know I know, but it's almost like because I may have to do a cake, project or something, my insides just want to rebel against it and not complete the task ::


:: This cake was last minute, and a new challenge for me, I didn't do it for the big bucks - it was truly just out of the goodness of my heart. That is why I like to do things, because I want to help someone, do something nice or just because. Not because it was expected ::

:: This may be something that y'all have learned long ago, if so, please excuse the slow learner over here! ::

:: Here's to changes I'll be making to make sure I enjoy doing more things just for the enjoyment of the sacrifice and for nothing else! ::

:: Inspiration to go on ::

:: Here is the poem that Meg passed on to me, and I've thought about it and read it quite a few times this weekend. I'm feeling good today, more in control {of my emotions and home}, that is all partially due to getting that post off my chest and out of my mind. Writing really is therapy ::

:: So this is for all of you beautiful women out there, who are Mamas to the wonderful little beings you've been entrusted. I pray this encourages you as much as it has me ::

* * *

My willingness to carry life is the revenge, the antidote, the great
rebuttal of every murder, every abortion, and every genocide. I sustain
humanity. Deep inside of me, life grows. I am death's opposition.

I have pushed back the hand of darkness today. I have caused there to
be a weakening tremor among the ranks of those set on earth's
destruction. Today a vibration that calls angels to attention echoed
throughout time. Our laughter threatened hell today.

I dined with the greats of God's army. I made their meals, and tied
their shoes. Today, I walked with greatness, and when they were tired I
carried them. I have poured myself out for the cause today.

It is finally quiet, but life stirs inside of me. Gaining strength, the
pulse of life sends a constant reminder to both good and evil that I
have yielded myself to Heaven and now carry its dream. No angel has
ever had such a privilege, nor any man. I am humbled by the honor.
I am great with destiny.

I birth the freedom fighters. In the great war, I am a leader of
underground resistance. I smile at the disguise of my troops,
surrounded by a host of warriors, destiny swirling, invisible yet
tangible, and the anointing to alter history. Our footsteps marking
land for conquest, we move undetected through the common places.

Today I was the barrier between evil and innocence. I was the gate
keeper, watching over the hope of mankind, and no intruder trespassed.
There is not an hour of day or night when I turn from my post. The
fierceness of my love is unmatched on earth.

And because I smiled instead of frowned the world will know the power
of grace. Hope has feet, and it will run to the corners of earth,
because I stood up against destruction.

I am a woman. I am a mother. I am the keeper and sustainer of life here
on earth. Heaven stands in honor of my mission. No one else can carry
my call. I am the daughter of Eve. Eve has been redeemed. I am the
opposition of death. I am a woman.

- Christianna Reed Maas, 2010

:: Freezes mean Carpet Stains ::

:: You know how you have "just one of those days" - well I feel like I've been having one of "those" days for the past two or three weeks! ::

:: Nothing is enormously wrong or out of sorts, things just are. You know, they just are what they are! It all probably started on a huge downward spiral when someone said to me this exact sentence "being a stay at home Mom is a luxury" ::

:: Now this sentence is true, being able {aka: not having to work out of the home} is a luxury. Staying at home day in, day out with everything that it entails isn't necessarily a luxury. The constant repeating of the same sentence "don't hit your brother", "listen to me", "listen and obey first time", "be kind and loving", "eat your food", "now, you get a consequence" is not a luxury and frankly every mom out there would agree with me. We as stay at home mom's don't think that being a 24 hour a day on call nurse, cook, cleaner, dry cleaner, librarian, professional organizer, accountant, budget keeper {not really a term, but you get what I mean}, social organizer, party planner etc. etc. etc. is a luxury ::

:: YES, having that glorious smile of your child come to you from across the table or seeing your little boy clean up spilled mess without being asked can be all the thanks you need to get you through the day. But as a mom you do know that is your payment. In trade for all the daily stuff you go through with bringing up your children and having the luxury of staying home, you get a smile or small example that the work and effort is actually paying off...that is your payment, your pay cheque if you will ::

:: Some days, to be honest, that pay cheque does not feel like it's enough ::


:: Yes, being at home is a luxury, but amidst the small list of "to-do's" that I have to do in a day, I also have to encourage and edify the young men that we are raising, teach and train them in the right way and try to stay sane while doing it. Let alone getting in time with my big boy {Mr. L}...all of this is nor does it feel like a luxury all the time. I do it all in love and most of the time with a cheerful heart, however when this sentence came and slapped me in the face, I was honestly gob-smacked - what did this person really think I did/do all day? ::

:: Now, this person really has no idea as to what I do or accomplish in my day, nor do they care to know. I have full knowledge that this person is speaking in ignorance and really has no clue as to what I conduct during my "working" hours {now isn't that a laughable statement!}, and really probably never will - that doesn't denote the fact that the comment hurt me ::

:: I paid a lot in counselling to say that; "the comment hurt me" ::

:: I work my little rear end off trying to save money, pre-plan gifts/celebrations and the money that will be spent for them, along with meeting the current need of my family by preparing the fridge for the coming BBQ's, year end parties etc. plus ensuring that our bank account is planning for the future of our lives and our kids...this is a daily effort and a lot more work since we only have one steady income - this is not a luxury, but something that we do so I can stay home and raise our children {and that is a luxury} ::

:: Now let me say this, I think that working moms are unbelievable - honestly I don't know how you do it! Obviously, making more money makes the wheel go round that much better, disposable income and the ability to just go out and get something without having to account for it in the pocket book is there, which is a luxury that I don't have. Being a stay at home, I can stay home with my sick baby without worrying about work is a luxury. They both have their pros and cons and honestly it really made me angry that this person felt that they were educated enough in my employment to make such a statement ::

:: My life without working is less then glamorous, and yet worth every minute. I don't feel deprived when my working friends are wearing name brand jeans that make their butts look like they are H O T or when they pick up and head off for the weekend {alone!}. Really, those benefits we don't have the luxury of and yet in the grand scheme of life, it's really all worth it ::

:: I don't often feel the need to give reasons as to what I do/don't do in my day, but this comment caught me SO off guard - I didn't even know what to say. The amount of sacrifice I personally make by being home is some days so overwhelming and not worth it. Other days it's SO worth it a thousand times over. Like today when I came downstairs from putting down a very tired two year old and Jacob had taken the dust pan and the little hand duster and started dusting up a mess of dry fruit loops that Cole had dumped a few hours earlier and I had yet to clean them up - we are constantly trying to train our children to clean up after themselves and when I came down to see Jacob cleaning up after it wasn't his responsibility made it feel like our constant "clean up your mess, it's your responsibility" was worth it all...at least for a moment! ::

:: This is not a working mom vs. stay at home mom post...not in the least, because we all know I do work - partially from home for part of the year, so I do get the juggling that goes into being a working mom and truly my hat goes off to all of you. This is a post about how I need to understand that just because I have kids and do stay at home with them means that unless you do the same as me, you just don't get it. Nor do I get what you do. I don't know all that your work entails, but I don't pretend I do either. I don't negate the fact that you put in an 8 hour work day...I don't know what your day is like...and frankly, to me your life is a LUXURY that I would be willing to trade in for a day or two! ::

:: Because, I don't know about you but my hands stink like poo because my 2 year old refuses to wear a diaper and still {day 7} refuses to make it all the way to the potty for number2 - that's my luxury for the day oh and to top that all off I had a moment of peace to make a phone call by giving my two children freezes as a treat, just to have them come to put them in the garbage {because it's their responsibility} with the open portion down all the way through the carpeted family room, so now in my luxurious life...I get to clean carpets, ah heck, just add it to the list! ::


:: Bottom line, I love my life, all of the crap included. But I will from now on, never, I say never, ever think I know what it's like to be in someone else's shoes or make an assumption that what they do is a luxury. Because truly in each of our lives there is the good and the bad, and some days it would just be nice to have to get up, wear ironed and coordinating clothes and work with others who call washroom a washroom, not "potty"! ::

:: No need to leave any sort of comment on either side of the this debate, because really it's not a debate, but just cheaper for me to write it out instead of pay for therapy! ::

:: Happy Day in whatever your day is made up of {including toddler poo}! ::

** Edited to Add **

I wanted to leave y'all with this quote from the Mission of Motherhood by Sally Clarkson

:: The fundamental mission of motherhood is now the same as it always was: to nurture, protect and instruct children, to create a home environment that enables them to learn and grow, to help them develop a heart for God and His purposes, and to send them out into the world to live both fully and meaningfully ::