No Device Day

We woke to a blizzard this morning, and the crazy weather made the kids (big and little) a little crazy.

We decided that today we would all put away our devices for the day and spend time together. Once we were finished school and cleaning, and this pretty little thing opened her gift...

We broke out the snacks and games a partied hard. 

We played Bob's new game "Watch ya' mouth". It was hard to play because everyone was laughing so hard. So much fun.  :)

Ker and the little kids played "Sorry". 

And now we are all cozied up in the family room together watching "Full House". 

We all miss you, but hope you are having a great time!! You sure picked a good week to be soaking up the sun in Mexico! ;)

Shopping and Pizza

After school today, Kerri, Becca, Taylor, and myself went to Winkler for appointments and shopping. We shopped for wedding shoes, dresses, and onesies. :)

We brought pizza home for the crew and had a big old pizza party. We accidentally fed the kids sugar (seriously... I don't know how it happened?!?) and they were UP THE WALLS. The full moon could have done it too. :)

Mikaya opened her gift today. The smile tells it all!

These three had a drumming session with the free Aveeno products we got at Super Store. 

I put on one of your shirts today. Maybe because I miss you. Maybe because they are easily accessible, or maybe because you are not here to complain... you'll never know. ;)

Right now I am at Josh and Rebecca's house babysitting while they are curling. It is quiet. I can hear the clock ticking. The end.

The Usual

So today we didn't do anything fantastic or interesting. 

Since the boys worked at the barn this morning, we decided to postpone school for everyone until the afternoon so that teaching was not spread out through the whole entire day. 

Ker and I worked out and cleaned, and we did some relaxing. We also got to open our gift! (we were SO surprised! ;).

Mikey was quite cuddly today. He snuggled with us and we watched movies for quite a while. I think he has been feeling better too, he has been getting into trouble again. Silly monkey.

Jaden is still doing great! So... thumbs up!

Anyway, that was the sum total of today. Right now the boys are spreading some straw bales for the cows as it is supposed to get to -43 degrees wind chill! I hope you are enjoying all of that warmness!

ER visits and stuff

What is a babysitting adventure without an ER visit right?

Apparently that is what a certain little son of yours thought when he decided to place what he described as "a little metal thing" in his mouth that he found in a toy, and then... accidentally swallow it. 

It was 8:30 yesterday evening when he came up to me and told me this tale. It took me a while to figure out what it was, and while we were doing that, I did some research on kids and swallowing objects and what not. I found that as long as the object wasn't sharp and wasn't a battery, it would be fine, it would pass through, and all would be well. 

So I was like, ok... good. What are the chances that it is a battery? A little round piece off of a toy. It's going to be no big deal. 

But... once we found another intact toy that was exactly the same, he pointed to the one thing I didn't want him to point to. The battery.

Josh and Becca came by on their way home, and Becca called the health line while I texted you and did some more research. The conclusion was the same. Bring him to the ER immediately.

So off we went. Kerri came with us since most of the kiddos were in bed and since she knows so much more about doctors than I do.

The ER was pretty much empty, so Jade was able to get x-rays right away. Turns out that the battery was intact, and in his stomach. So, (as you already know) as long as it withstands the stomach acids, doesn't break apart, and passes through, he should be just fine. 

So, besides the fact that I have to "keep an eye out" for the little beast of a battery, it seems that the crisis is over. Hopefully. 

Ker and I laughed when we thought back to the few moments before you left and how we talked about the health cards and how we were sure we wouldn't have to use them. Now we are just hoping that we don't have to use them again!

We got a bit of a late start to our day. Something to do with being up late, I can't remember what we were doing. ;)

It was a normal day. School, some cleaning, some more school and the usual routine. 

It was snowing most of the day. Big beautiful white flakes. 

It has been so cold that we have been keeping the fires going constantly. Enjoy that weather especially lots for us! :)

Mikey picked Caleb's name from a hat today to be the one to open his gift. I would say that he loved it! We would have played his new game together tonight, but the boys had hockey, so we hope to tomorrow! 

Mikey randomly searched for the both of you today. He was quite emotional today, I think he misses his mommy/daddy time! Today was a day filled with "moments" for him. :)

Anyway, we are doing good!

Hope you are having a great time!!

Fire and Ice

It is time once again for Mom and Dad's annual Mexico trip... and our annual ten-day-long sibling party! (Whoop Whoop!!)
As per usual, I'll be posting everyday to keep the parents updated on how we are doing, and to help them remember our faces. :)
Today, is the first day...

Dear Mom and Dad...

We just finished eating birthday brownies. Dad, we all thought of you as we sang "Happy Birthday" and ate an extra bite or two in your honour. ;) (Happy birthday by the way!)

As Sundays usually are, so today went. Since non of us were on the worship team this Sunday, we got to sleep in a little. Except for me, my sleep was interrupted by the chorus of calf deprived cows. But they are all in their pens, so that is good.

Once we were all ready to go, we decided to let Joey open his gift from you to kick off the birthday cheer. Since you told us that these three little boys' gifts went together, they all got to open them at the same time. They were all pretty excited!!

Jaden got us to read the card for him before he opened his gift. I think the words meant the most.

As he was getting ready to rip into the present, he asked me "How many days until Mom and Dad get home?". When I told him ten he exclaimed "That's a lot!". Someone already misses you!

They had to try out the car track thingy right away. Of course, the bigger boys got involved and tried to get the car to fly as far into the air as possible...

We went to church, then to DQ afterwards with the Thiessens. It was also Eliana's birthday today (Happy birthday Eliana!!) so it was a big old birthday party. Just missing you. :)

We stopped at GT to pick up a few things for supper, and then headed home.

Of course, Joey wanted to play hockey, so his big brothers took him out to play for a little while, and then we played a new version of "Sorry (Fire and Ice)" that Kerri found at GT. 

He liked it. :)

Now we are snuggled up in the family room watching movies together. 

It was a good day.

Mikey has been wondering where you are. Yesterday he wandered around the house saying "Daaaaddy, I looooove you!" over and over again.
Then today he kept saying "Mama" repeatedly, so I showed him a picture of you, and he smiled. Really big.

We were glad to hear that your flight went well, and that you have safely landed in Mexico! Enjoy that sunshine for us. 

Awake in His Likeness

I have been trying to take time to sit down and write this post since last year.
Ya, go ahead. Roll your eyes, fake a chuckle, it is a joke that is lame and overused, I know. 
Even being on holidays for the past few weeks, it has been hard to find the time for this blogging thing, partly because our family has had sickness run through the house, and partly because life just hits me busy in the winter time.

Anyway, as per trend. A New Years post is on the menu.

As I was thinking back on 2016, and several years preceding, I noticed a pattern. The pattern was even more obvious as I read through journal entries. A whole lot of desire to become, and little to no "becoming". A swamp of hope followed by the devastating pit of despair when month after month, year after year, nothing changed.

When I looked at this new year, I knew that I would have to approach it completely differently if I wanted to break this pattern.
I didn't write a list of things I wanted to accomplish. Not even mentally.
Instead I became quiet, which was in of itself was a challenge.
Normally I think things to death. I find dwarf thoughts and turn them into giant problems. My brain transforms solid ground into quick sand.
So, at the beginning of this year (ahem, a few days ago) I first worked on being quiet. There were times when I literally had to yell "Shut up!" every time I would allow debilitating thoughts to begin their circles in my mind.

Once I managed to maintain the quiet, I began to search myself, and ask the question, what is really important?
Before creating the branches, I needed to discover the root.

As I read through my journals and the scriptures, I came across this verse from Psalms 17:15 that I had randomly scribbled on a piece of paper once upon a time.

I shall be satisfied when I awake in Your likeness.

Before, all of the emphasis for my year, even my every day, was placed on the result of drawing closer to God. The things that I would benefit from a closer relationship with Him. The person I could be if I could just be more like Him.
While all of these blessings, are just that... blessings, I was focusing more on the rewards, then to just wake up in the morning and be satisfied to know in that moment, I was awakening in His likeness.
Waking up each morning, knowing that I am a representation of the God I serve. Better than that, reveling in the fact that I am His child.

So far, it has caused me to hold my head a little higher. To resist the temptation to dip into the well of dissatisfaction and disappointment.
No matter what my previous day looked like, I can wake up every morning and know that I am still the woman that was formed by the hands of the Creator that loved me enough to send His Son to die on the cross for my sins.
He loves me enough to grab a hold of my hope and give it wings.

I am just beginning to open my eyes after resting in this revelation.
The smile grows wider on my face as I think of all the things I can do to grow, to change and become more.
As long as I continue to remember that it all begins in His likeness. It begins where I remember to thank God for breath and breathing.

If I could pick one word for my year it would be "Peaceful". I want the peace of God to reign in my heart.

So many days I get caught up in the madness of everyday living. If anyone knows me, they know that I don't deal well with chaos and stress (which is unfortunate when you live in a house with thirteen other people ;). This year, I want to learn to be ok. To discover inner peace, the peace passes all understanding. The peace that will guard my heart and mind in Christ Jesus, no matter what life throws my way.

I just want to wake up every morning, amidst the chaos, and the mess that naturally accompanies life, with a smile on my face, a song on my lips, and peace in my heart.
To rest in knowing that no matter what is taken away or added to my existence, I will ever awaken in His likeness.
And that is enough.