Trip to Calgary 2011

We started our trip at 5:20am with our van and Josh and Rebecca in tow with the car. At 2:00pm Alberta time (YEAH, we gained an hour :) after stopping 2 times (once for gas, and the other time to see the movie set where "Corner Gas" was filmed (Josh and Reb needed pictures to make a "certain someone" jealous :)) we arrived in Medicine Hat, Alberta. 

We checked into a hotel, where we had my birthday supper and some time to relax. Poor daddy was sick, so he could not join in with the celebration, but it was fun anyways :) 

I thought I'd put another picture of my YUMMY cake.... just to make you all drool. Man, I'm starting to drool just looking at it!! LETS MOVE ON!!! 

After breakfast we hit the trail again and drove the remaining three hours to Calgary, checked into the hotel... and the fun began :)

This lovely little contraption's name is Wendy. She helps us.... lots.

First came some swimmin'....

After the kids were in bed we found some comfy couches and did some catching up on missed years.

After a "good" (ahem... rather short) nights sleep, we went to a Fort/museum that told the story of the beginnings of Calgary.

Ker, Jade + Becky

Cousin Zoe and Mikaya

Uncle Dave, Andy and Dad (don't they look like brothers??? :)

Believe it or not, this picture was taken in the windows of the museum... we were not all there, but it was to fun not to post :)

Jes liked the truck/car. 

So did I.... it was a Ford.... nuff said.

I LOVE museums. Looking at all the stuff makes me wish that I could go back in time!

I was REALLY hoping that this saddle had some stories that he wanted to tell, but alas.... he remained silent :(

I tried out the whole "Royal Canadian Mountie Police" getup.... let me just say that it didn't suite me so well..... maybe it was the pants, ya, I needed the pants :)

After lunch it was off to the MOUNTAINS!!!!!!

After about an 1 1/2 hours of driving we arrived at a place called Kananaskies Country. It was SO beautiful!!!

Then it was Pauls family picture time!!!!

Back Row (Left to Right): Aunty Karen (Dad's sister), Aunty Lisa (Uncle Dave's wife), Uncle Dave (Dad's brother), Josiah, Dad, Joshua, Grandpa Pauls

Middle Row (Left to Right): Megan, Kerri, Jora (Dave + Lisa's daughter), Caleb, Me, Mom, Jaden, Rebecca, Andy, Uncle Jason (Dad's brother), Grandma Pauls

Front Row (Left to Right): Jesse, Nathan, Zoe (Dave + Lisa's daughter), Mikaya, Brooke and Zachary

Brothers and sister....

Left to right: Uncle Jason, Aunty Karen, Dad and Uncle Dave

Now, the reason that there are no more pictures of the rest of our day is simply because we were having to much fun!!!

When we got back to the hotel we all jumped into the pool and began a game of keepaway (with a ball), it was boys against girls with Uncle Dave.... we had a blast :)

Aunty Karen took some of us to see her apartment, on the way back we stopped for ice cream at DQ, then it was back to the hotel.... laughing all the way. It was a happy ending to a happy vacation :)

Come 7:30 the next morning, we were on the road and headed for home.

We had a great time, although it would have been nice if it was a tad bit longer.... we all agree that it was worth it.

I got to see where my Calgary Flames play as well as the Calgary Stampeders, got my fill of Italian food, saw enough Mustang Convertible and Ford Super Duty 's to last me for the next couple of weeks, and last but not least... we had a great time just being together as a family.

I was SO glad that Josh, Rebecca and Andy were able to come along with us!! It's not very often that we all are able to go on vacation together, because usually someone has to stay home to take care of milking the cows and feeding the chickens.

Thank you to Gary for milking for us as well as Teresa and Sheri for taking care of the chickens while we were gone!! We appreciate it bunches!!!

Yuppers, so that is about it!

The very next day after we came home, Dad and Josh started swathing canola. And harvest is nearly upon us! We also need to put up 2 bins before we start combining, so the next couple of days are going to be CRAZY. 

Hope you all are having a great summer!!

I'M BACK!!!!

Bet ya didn't even know I wuz' gone :)

My family along with Josh and Rebecca (who... I guess are my family too :) went to Calgary. Starting July 30th (my birthday) we drove all the way to Medicine Hat, Alberta and then did the remaining 3 hrs the next day. I had a LOVELY birthday party in the hotel, complete with Pizza Hut pizza and a DQ ice cream cake!

We had an amazing time in Calgary and then headed back yesterday morning and arrived home at midnight.

I only have 2 pictures because Meg hasn't finished editing the rest yet.

So.... more pictures.... and stories to come soon!!!

My Peanut Butter Reese Icecream cake... it was YUMMY!!!! :)

This picture is to prove that we saw the mountains... ah, I LOVE the mountains :)

p.s. Thank you all for the kind birthday wishes!!!

Guess Who Is 20????

So I (Meg) thought that I should probably HACK Jen's blog tell you all that today is...

Jennifer's 20th BIRTHDAY!!!!!!! WHOOP WHOOP

I know a lot of you have been blessed by reading Jen's blog. So I was wondering if you would mind blessing her back and leave her a little happy birthday note? I know that she would love it! :)

Speaking of blessings I am SO blessed to have Jen as my older sister.
God knew what He was doing when He gave her to me and I am so thankful he did! I don't know what I would do without Jen in my life! :)

And now how about I show you some pictures that....
ummm...you wouldn't normally see (I will now run for my life!!!!! :)
(the pictures are not all from this year, they are from the last 6 years or so. But I am sure you would have guessed that :)



Um. Give her a break. Her friend was really tall and she was still learning all the ropes to cutting hair! :)

She seems a little frazzled that I posted that picture :)

Holding a pail is quite confusing you know!!

I had to! :)

Ahem....No comment!

It's called...impressing our Southern friends!

This is Jen and I back in 05 or 06....

Kerri, Jen and I...
We love eachother :)

 And now for some more serious pictures....

Happy birthday to my dear BEAUTIFUL big sista!!!!!

Jader is ONE!!!!

It seems like just yesterday that I recieved the best birthday present that I have ever gotten. The first thing I noticed when I saw him was his red hair. It hadn't been washed yet when he got home, so I was able to take him and wash his sweet little head for the first time... and his flaming red hair stuck out in all directions... cutest thing ever :) And he is STILL the cutest little thing ever!

Jade LOVES popcorn (he calls it pop,pop,pop :), so I brilliantly decided to make him a popcorn cake! :) I had planned exactly how I would make it and how it would look like while I was trying to fall asleep the night before. (that's usually when I figure out all of lifes problems... :)  But, sad to say.... it didn't turn out AT ALL like it was supposed to.

I spent 3 hrs. icing the cake, and just as I was putting the finishing touches on it thinkin' about how nicely it turned out when.... it began to fall apart. And it continuted to fall apart up until it sat on Jade's highchair.

Needless to say... I was pretty much really very sad. :'(

But Jady liked it... so I guess that all that really matters.... I guess....

Jade liked the candle the best.... that is until he tasted the icing :)

Ya.... I AM holding up a part of the cake for the picture.... it got worse ya'll.

Happy baby.... happy Jenny :)

I LOVE YOU JADER!!!! HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!!



Treasured Moments

I got to thinking about my life.

I started thinking about how much fun it is to live in such a large family. 

Then I began thinking about how when/if I get married, I'm going to miss these days! 

I'm going to miss all the fun that comes with living in a large family and the unique situation that I have to grow spiritually and learn all the fun stuff that I'm learning without all the pressures and stress that comes with having a home of my own.

I came to realize that these moments that I'm living right now are once in a lifetime moments. When/if I get married someday, my whole world will change. My days with my beautiful large family will be over and I'll be starting a new life.

I decided to change the name of my blog to Breathe Deep (moments like these are treasures to keep) first of all because I love Guy Penrod's song "Breathe Deep" but also because I want to take in every single moment that I have as a Pauls girl. 

God has given me each breath and I want to breathe em' deep because I don't want to take any moment for granted.

And that is the reason that I have this blog, to capture all the moments that would otherwise be forgotten.

Every single moment is a gift, a treasure.  


It's what I do with these moments that will count for a lifetime.

My God, in Whom I trust

Photo credit goes to Meg

I've heard of situations where girls feel that they need to just get out of their home and go to college, get a job, meet new people in different crowds and even go to bible college because they are afraid that if they don't "get out there" they might miss the opportunity to find Mr. Right and get married.
I've heard girls say "well, my mom and dad met in college... what if the Lord has someone for me there, and if I don't go.... I'll miss out!?"

And then there are girls that believe that the reason that they are not finding their "soul mate" is because they don't look good enough, or that they don't have the right personality.
I have fallen into that trap of thinking along that line many times.

I have a hair dresser that asks if I have a boyfriend every single time that I go to get my hair cut. Every single time I say "umm... no"(all the while I'm trying not to laugh out loud :) And then she feels like she has to make me feel better and replies with something like "well with this hair cut.... you'll have a boyfriend in no time".  Its like she thinks I'm looking for help to find a boyfriend (not to mention that she thinks I'm crazy for not having one...) and that I need to try to make myself look better or feel better. Her tone changes like she is talking as if she pities me.

Whenever I have feelings of doubt and feelings like "I'll never get married if I keep waiting around here" or "No one will want me, I'm not pretty enough or funny enough" I have to keep turning my heart back to God and remember that as long as I am doing what I know that God has called me to do, He will bring the person He has for me wherever I may be in life.

It's all about trusting in the One who can see the big picture. Trusting that He knows the plans that He has for me, plans to prosper me and not to harm me, plans to give me a hope and a future. 

All I simply have to do is wait....He'll do the rest.

I'm not saying that I just sit at home all day waiting for prince charming to come waltzing into my life. I believe that the Lord wants us all to be productive in whatever situation that we are in.
Nor am I saying that I crawl into my little personal shell and not allow myself to think or feel.
It's not about hiding, but rather about being open to what the Lord has prepared for us.

If God has a husband out there for me, and if it is His will for me to get married... then it is going to happen! I don't have to go lookin', I don't have to get all excited and worry my head off about it. Because if it is God's will.... it is just gonna happen, not matter what I do.

And if it is not God's will for me to get married, then I will choose to be joyful in whatever situation He puts me in. 

We are not here on this earth to make ourselves happy anyway. We are on this earth to bring glory to the name of the Lord.

Proverbs 3:5-6

Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding.

In all thy ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct thy paths.

~ Friends ~

As we walk the path of life,

We meet people everyday.

Most are simply met by chance.

But some are sent our way.

These become special friends

Whose bond we can't explain;

The ones who understand us

And share our joy and pain.

Their love contains no boundaries.

So, even when we are apart.

Their presence enhances us

With a warmth felt in the heart.

This love becomes a passageway,

When even the miles disappear.

And so, these friends, God sends our way,

Remain forever near.

LOVE you LIZZY, MANDS and BECKA!!!!

Miss you MUCH and MORE every day!!!