A New Series....

This blog is almost two years old. With each passing year, I take a lot of time to reflect on this space, whether to continue to use it or to be done with it. Actually, these thoughts don't just come to the forefront of my mind in the Fall, but often throughout the year: is it time to wrap it up or keep going? My blog is often quieter during these reflective times.

But when I prayerfully make the decision to continue on with it, I usually then embark on a new series of some sort. That is how the Book Talk came to be, as well as my series of Adoption and Infertility posts.

I have also done photo series, changing it up every Fall. The first year, it was Monthly Learnings, a post filled with pictures of the done month, which shows what we've all learned in those 30+ days. After a year of that, I started P.H.F.R.T.L. (I looked back and saw that my last PHFRTL post was in June. Oops.)

Anyway, seeing as another year has almost passed, I would like to start a new series called Before and After, using mostly pictures. How did I come up with this?

Well, it all started a few weeks ago, looking at the clutter in my house. I had a dear friend over, and I was explaining to her that I have a few hotspots that I just wish I could get rid of but I don't always know how to start. She stood up and said "Which spot bothers you the most? We are going to tackle it right now." And so, with her help, we tackled a cupboard and counter that just seems to collect every piece of paper, toy, paper clip, sticker, nail, light bulb, paint swatch, pen lid, scissor, "beautiful" craft, screw driver, keys, charger for this, charger for that......well, I think you get the idea. :o)

It took all of half an hour and I was left with a beautiful-cleaned up-everything-in-its-place (i.e. garbage or into Nathan's tool chest in the garage) -organized and very usable space again. And let me tell you, it felt good!! And left me with "Why didn't I do this earlier?!"

The unfortunate thing though was I never took a Before and then an After picture of it. But *that* is how this idea came to be. And since then, I've been snapping lots of Before and Afters. And while doing this has kept me motivated to get things done in the cleaning department, I am not limiting it to just that. So you'll have to stay tuned to see what I mean.

For now, I will leave you with a Before and After of my sliding door. As you can see in the Before picture, it kind of needed a cleaning. I never tackled it all summer long for obvious reasons. It would be like that saying that I am sure you've read before: cleaning your house with kids around is like brushing your teeth with Oreo cookies. That's right - useless.

And now the After.....drum roll, please.....

Aaaaaaand, proof of why I chose not to touch them all summer long:

I'll be honest - while I love that I now have an unobstructed view of my beautiful backyard, I am missing the intricate little designs the shadows made on my floor from the sun shining through my dirty windows. Good thing I didn't have to wait too long for those shadows to start showing up again :o)

Friday Night Thoughts

Nathan is at a meeting tonight (who has Friday night meetings?!?!) and so I have some time to put some thoughts down. Seeing as it *is* Friday, these thoughts are far from deep :o)

Another week has come and gone. While the weather has been on the cooler side, the sun has been shining brightly. But boy, when that sun goes down, it is chill-y!!! Tonight, our school put on a BBQ and that chill was felt right to the bones. Good thing the fellowship was so warm. We are so thankful to be part of the communion of saints, having an evening to enjoy one another's company.

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So Keziah had her first 3 day school week, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday. I must say, she has handled it quite well! Last night she did say she didn't want to go back to school the next day because school is so tiring, however this morning, when I woke her up, she was eager to get dressed (in red for Red Day, including a red bow! And yes, she is wearing red under her sweater :o) and off she went.

 I also actually went to school today. This afternoon I was in a Gr.5/6 classroom, supply teaching. Oh, how I love the classroom! Tuesday afternoons I also help out in a Gr. 3/4 classroom, with this past Tuesday being the first time. Man, that environment is just so 'home' for me. I look forward to being in this environment every Tuesday afternoon, as well as whenever I am called to fill in for a teacher.
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Any ideas on what book to do for Book Talk? I've been thinking about this again lately. I enjoyed doing one last May/June. Possibly thinking of doing another one sometime this Fall/Winter. So if you have an idea, do share! And it doesn't have to do anything with parenting....;)
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Keziah's next surgery is in less than a month. Eep.

Speaking of surgeries, Lincoln is now at the exact age of when Keziah had her first bubbles put in. Here she is, waiting to go in to get her bubbles placed. She just seemed to be a whole lot......older than what Lincoln is at the same age.

And a close up of her at 4 months before turning 3. Ugh, my heart stirs when I see pictures of her and her full birthmark. I don't know if I miss her birthmark or just miss her at this age.....probably a bit of both. Just wanna kiss that darling face!!!

And now to post a picture or two of Lincoln at the same age. Hmmmm, well, I'll be honest - I don't have a whole lot of him! Not because he is the second child, but more because this boy doesn't stand still for a moment! But, just before I gave up, I remembered I grabbed one of him at the only place he does sit still - at the table, waiting for food :o)

 

But no, not a whole lot of close ups. Something I shall work on, but yeah, he's a boy. He doesn't have time to pose for pictures. There are more important things to do, like cars to line up, people!!

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I have not forgotten about Tough Mudder. I had mentioned that I would post pictures of our very fun, very muddy day, but I do not have all the pictures yet. But once I do, I will post them so you can see what kind of fun you are missing out on!! :o)
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Nathan was gone for 4 nights last week. I can tell the kids are getting older - it is a bit easier when he is gone now. We had a good four days, spending the last two days at my best friend's house. She is like a sister to me. I love her and her family so much. They are very dear to us. And we must be dear to them, because they named their youngest after me, taking my first and middle name, switching it around and named their daughter. I still can't believe they did that. So, so special. But yeah, we moved in for those 2 days and it was just so relaxing and fun. We will be sure to do this again the next time Nathan leaves!
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I am glad Scotland is staying, not separating.
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With Fall around the corner, not only do I look forward to the leaves changing colour, but for one of my favourite sports to start up again - the NHL. I know, I know. They are sooooo overpaid. But I just love the game. Maybe, just maaaayyybeeee the Leafs will do okay? No? Oh well. At least they are consistent......sigh.
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Well, it's getting late. Time for bed. I hope all of you have a wonderful weekend!!

A Lonesome Soul

Time for an update on this handsome boy!

Keziah has gone to school now 4 times. So how is Lincoln faring with that?? Lonely. Desolate. Disorientated. Clingy. Restless. Just a few terms to describe how his days have been without his best friend. Poor guy!

He has certainly needed a whole lot more cuddling - which his mother sure didn't mind, seeing as she was experiencing similar feelings in regards to her daughter being gone.

But, despite a few days of restlessness, we are finding a new normal on the days she is gone. Lincoln is able to play nicely on his own, which is great!

And I am learning to have him by my side, "helping out" in the kitchen. I am finding out though that whatever we bake, the yield is smaller than usual, thanks to his need to lick, touch, put in his mouth every. ingredient. before it hits the oven. Usually I can get 16 muffins from one batch of batter. We are down to 14. (350 degrees is a good temp to kill all those germs, right?!)

And not only does this boy love to bake. He LOVES to clean up his mess as well (his future wife will certainly be thankful for this :o)

It has been a lot of fun spending time with just him. I always knew he brought a lot to our family, and I am reminded daily of his ability to bring simple tasks to a whole new level, like grocery shopping. He was just *thrilled* to be able to take Keziah's spot at the back of the cart, rather than in the cart!!

However, that status didn't last long. For when I turned around to grab some produce and then place them into the cart, this is what greeted me:

So back in the cart he was. Maybe next week we'll try again?! ;)

Linc and I are definitely figuring out how and what to do on the days Keziah is not home......and learning to enjoy them! However, that bus in the afternoon is still probably the most exciting time of the day for him!

And once home, back together, they just pick up where they left off......"knitting"

.....or playing "doggies".

And yes, that skipping rope got changed to being tied around the wrist rather than the neck!

A sister is worth 1000 friends!

School Days!

Doesn't she look chipper and excited for her first day of school?! She was definitely eager and ready to go!

As mentioned in my last post, we will be driving her to school in the mornings, rather than sending her on the bus at 7 am. Seeing as it was her first morning, we hung around for a bit at school, until her teacher took the students into the classroom.

And with that, Linc and I went home. We didn't stay home for too long, but spent the day out, so that we wouldn't feel the hole that this girl has left behind. Despite being away from home, this boy asked me every 7 minutes: "Where's Keziah, mom?" and "Go get Keziah, mom."

Finally, the time 3:07 came and we went to the bus stop to wait for our dear girl. And we waited, and waited and waited some more.

While Lincoln loved watching all the trucks with trailers, and cars pass us by, that school bus could not get there soon enough for him. Finally, close to 3:30 a bus came rumbling to a stop, and off came our very tired but happy little girl!

It was come and go with the stories that she shared. She would all of a sudden tell a story of something that happened, and then we wouldn't hear a word about her day till hours later.

Although she isn't as tired as I thought she would be, times like this are very much needed after a whole day of school!

She has gone twice now, with tomorrow being her third day. She is excited to go, which I am so thankful for!

This boy, however, isn't so excited. More about how him and how he is handling this new phase of life next time.

The Inevitable

My last blog post was about Keziah - that she is now 5. This is exciting stuff!! She is now the age that I can remember myself. I can't remember too many things before 5, but I do remember quite a few things when I was 5, the biggest being the start of my schooling career.

Well, one more night sleeping, and our daughter will embark on her schooling career! As I type this, she is sound asleep already, looking so little and too small to leave the home for school.

Tomorrow, bright and early, she will be heading to school. I am supposed to have her at the bus stop at 7 am. That's right - I told you her day will be bright and early!! But seeing as I have to drive her to the bus stop, I might as well let her sleep longer and drive her to school, which is only 7 minutes away.

As the start of her schooling becomes closer, I am feeling like any other first time parent out there. I am filled with so many mixed emotions about it all. And all these emotions come over me in waves. Sometimes the waves are nicely rolling in, while other times it feels like I am drowning in them as they crush me.

Just coming to terms with the fact that she will be out of the home more on the days she goes to school than in the home has been difficult. It leaves me breathless and frantic - worrying and feeling guilty for all the times that I shooed her away the last 5 years instead of spending each and every waking moment with her.

But then I reassure myself that it is just Kindergarten, which means she will not be going everyday, just Tuesdays, Thursdays and every other Friday. That means I have every Monday and Wednesday with her yet. Phew!!

Then, just when I think everything will be okay,  I think about her all on her own with her birthmark, and the waves come crashing down around me again. For the most part, the last 5 years we have been there to help her through so many difficult social situations, where she was put on the spot for her birthmark. Every time she answered like a champ, but I (or Nathan) was always there to help her along. Now she'll be out on her own and having to deal with it without us keeping an eye on the situation. That makes me feel engulfed with doubts of whether I have prepared her enough to handle these situations.

However, I did mention that some waves come rolling in nicely. These are the waves that ease my thoughts, waves that wash over me and make me feel relaxed, thankful and at peace with this new stage that is about to start.

We are ever so grateful that we have the privilege of sending Keziah to a school where she will be taught by people who profess and believe the same promises that we do; we are so thankful that she may attend a school that is a sister school that was started by our grandparents, people who worked very hard to start our own Christian schools. She will not only learn her ABCs and 123s, but will continue to grow and learn what it means to be a fruitful citizen in the kingdom of God.

Our gratitude continues when we realize the privilege that our daughter may actually *get* an education - with no fears of being shot at; or having to walk 2 miles in the heat; she may go each day with a full stomach; she may go where there will be new pencils, workbooks, crayons and glue waiting for her, a beautiful playground filled with lots of children.

When the realities of life come washing over me, I need to remember to look for the one and only Life Preserver - our Father. Not only will Keziah go to school tomorrow with a new back pack, shoes, a lunch and a stuffie, she will be going with her Lord, who is constantly watching over her. And it is that fact that makes tomorrow a little easier to welcome.

We pray for all those who will be involved in Keziah's education. May God continue to bless schools and teachers everywhere. And may He be especially with those in countries where parents would love to send their children, but have absolutely no money to buy food, never mind finding a penny for education of their little ones. We pray that ways may be found for these little children to also learn to read and write. And we pray that the privileges we have here in Canada may never, ever be lost on us.