Sunday, November 30, 2008

FIRST ADVENT - The Candle of HOPE

May the God of Hope fill you with all joy and peace, as you trust in Him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.” Romans 15:13

Next to Christmas, Advent is my favourite time of year! The preparation for the holidays and the reminder of the birth of my Saviour is so special to my family. I love the candle of HOPE because that's a great way to start a new year -with hope.

Last week was an ugly week for me - but a ray of hope shone through. Hope of the strength to get through, hope of friendships that are stronger and deeper than I could have imiagined and a hope that the Father is taking care of me.

Thank you to my dear friends Marguerite, Kelsey and Ki for showing and giving me hope! Your friendship is amazing to me!

Love to you all!

Tuesday, November 18, 2008

The Simple Woman's Day Book

Check out The Simple Woman's Day Book. I love it!

FOR TODAY November 18, 2009...

Outside my window... it is dark and chilly today.
I am thinking...of how little I really want to go to work today - I want to crawl back into bed.
I am thankful for...coffee at this time of morning
From the learning rooms...I am doing alot of autism reading and getting programs ready for school
From the kitchen...busy making lunches today
I am wearing...shorts and a tshirt - haven't gotten dressed yet
I am creating...a 12x12 calendar for my mom
I am going...to work in a few hours
I am reading...Heart and Soul by Maeve Binchy
I am hoping...to have a much better day today
I am hearing...the news
Around the house...everyone is still sleeping - no one is stirring yet
One of my favorite things...the quiet of the early morning
A few plans for the rest of the week: finishing my calendar, doing a mini album for my new niece
Here is picture thought I am sharing...


Monday, November 17, 2008

Good Monday Morning

How was your weekend? I hope it was relaxing for you. Mine was quite busy. I enjoyed watching the Edmonton Eskimos get beat by the Montreal Alouettes on Saturday morning. Then I spent most of Saturday trying to get my house cleaned up and then my vacuum cleaner gave up. So, I didn't get all my cleaning done and had to go out and buy a new vacuum cleaner. Yesterday I spent most of my evening getting work done for school. The school I am working at is great, but its a new special needs program, so I am helping to put the programming together. Needless to say that I have to work few hours a night so that things are ready for the morning so that we can work with these kids. I love my job but I can't wait until everything is finally in place and we can just work with the kids.

I haven't done this in awhile so I thot today I wanted to get back to doing this again. Here are my Monday 7:

1. I love my job. Alot of people can't say that. Not only do I love my job, I have a great boss who is very supportive, understanding and laid back. I love that I enjoy going to work every day. I am so grateful that I have such a wonderful place to work.
2. There are days that I would rather pull my hair from my head and my nails from my fingers than deal with the issues of my children. But most days, I love autism and what it has done for my family. I am grateful to have 2 of the most amazing kids in the world!
3. I am so grateful that it is +2 degrees outside, we have no snow and it is already November 17.
4. I am excited about the fact that Christmas is only 37 days away - the Christmas season is always an exciting time in our house.
5. I am soooooooo grateful that my Christmas shopping is done and that I can truly enjoy the holiday.
6. I am so grateful for my daughter's sense of humour - she is a real card. On Saturday my husband was singing in the car on the way to see the doctor for an ear infection and my daughter asked my husband to stop singing. Chris said "But Kiana, I thought you loved my singing" and she replied "I do daddy, but I have an ear infection and my ears need to rest."
7. Every man's work, whether it be literature or music or pictures or architecture or anything else, is always a portrait of himself. I am grateful for scrapbooking!

Hope you have a wonderful week!

Saturday, November 15, 2008

For fun!

Saw this on a friend's blog and thot I'd do it too:

1. Started your own blog
2. Slept under the stars
3. Played in a band
4. Visited Hawaii
5. Watched a meteor shower
6. Given more than you can afford to charity
7. Been to Disneyland /world
8. Climbed a mountain
9. Held a praying mantis
10. Sang a solo.
11. Bungee jumped
12. Visited Paris
13. Watched a lightning storm at sea
14. Taught yourself an art from scratch
15. Adopted a child
16. Had food poisoning
17. Walked to the top of the Statue of Liberty
18. Grown your own vegetables
19. Seen the Mona Lisa in France
20. Slept on an overnight train
21. Had a pillow fight
22. Hitch hiked
23. Taken a sick day when you're not ill
24. Built a snow fort.
25. Held a lamb
26. Gone skinny dipping
27. Run a Marathon
28. Ridden in a gondola in Venice
29. Seen a total eclipse
30. Watched a sunrise or sunset
31. Hit a home run
32. Been on a cruise
33. Seen Niagara Falls in person
34. Visited the birthplace of your ancestors
35. Seen an Amish community
36. Taught yourself a new language
37. Had enough money to be truly satisfied
38. Seen the Leaning Tower of Pisa in person
39. Gone rock climbing
40. Seen Michaelangelo's David
41. Sung karaoke
42. Seen Old Faithful geyser erupt
43. Bought a stranger a meal at a restaurant
44. Visited Africa
45. Walked on a beach by moonlight
46. Been transported in an ambulance
47. Had your portrait painted
48. Gone deep sea fishing
49. Seen the Sistine Chapel in person
50. Been to the top of the Eiffel Tower in Paris
51. Gone scuba diving or snorkeling
52. Kissed in the rain
53. Played in the mud
54. Gone to a drive-in theater
55. Been in a movie
56. Visited the Great Wall of China
57. Started a business
58. Taken a martial arts class
59. Visited Russia
60. Served at a soup kitchen
61. Sold Girl Scout Cookies
62. Gone whale watching
63. Got flowers for no reason
64. Donated blood, platelets or plasm
a65. Gone sky diving
66. Visited a Nazi Concentration Camp
67. Bounced a check
68. Flown in a helicoptor
69. Saved a favorite childhood toy
70. Visited the Lincoln Memorial
71. Eaten Caviar
72. Pieced a quilt
73. Stood in Times Square
74. Toured the Everglades
75. Been fired from a job
76. Seen the Changing of the Guards in London
77. Broken a bone
78. Been on a speeding motorcycle
79. Seen the Grand Canyon in person
80. Published a book
81. Visited the Vatican
82. Bought a brand new car
83. Walked in Jerusalem
84. Had your picture in the newspaper
85. Read the entire Bible
86. Visited the White House
87. Killed and prepared an animal for eating
88. Had chickenpox
89. Saved someone's life
90. Sat on a jury
91. Met someone famous
92. Joined a book club
93. Lost a loved one
94. Had a baby
95. Seen the Alamo in person
96. Swam in the Great Salt Lake
97. Been involved in a law suit
98. Owned a cell phone
99. Been stung by a bee
100. Read an entire book in one day

Tuesday, November 11, 2008

Lest We Forget


Whether you believe in it or not, I hope that you spend at least a moment today remembering those whose lives were lost so that we could have the freedoms we so richly enjoy. Whether it was in WWI or II, Korea, Europe or today in Afghanistan, I am so grateful for the sacrifice made by the millions of men and women for my freedom.
Thank you Paul and the millions of others past, present and future who sacrifice everything they have and are for the rest of us.

Tuesday, November 04, 2008

Good morning!

How are you doing today?! Well, life is finally back to normal here - its like were were never even gone! Chris and the kids are back at school and I started back to work yesterday. I really lucked out. I got called for a job interview for a junior high school last week Thursday and Friday they hired me. And its permanent, so I will be there for awhile! I am VERY excited to know that I am going to be at the same place long term. Makes me feel a little more secure that's for sure. I enjoy the students and the staff are a wonderful group of people to work with.

I am getting our Disney photos printed so hopefully I will be able to start on the Disney albums for me and the kids. Hopefully by the weekend I will have something to show you.

Outside my Window...is a dark, clear morning
I am thinking...a hundred and one jumbled up thoughts
From the learning rooms...ASL for communication purposes
I am thankful for...a God that that takes care of me even when I am so busy with life that I don't take care of myself or take time for him
From the kitchen...a wonderful hot cup of coffee
I am wearing...black jeans and a red wool sweater
I am reading...Heart and Soul by Maeve Binchy
I am hoping...to reach someone who I am having difficulty communicating with
I am creating...Disney layouts
I am hearing...sounds of lunches being made and kids getting ready for school
Around the house...Christmas presents that need wrapping and finishing ones that are being made
One of my favorite things...a glass of wine at night with my dh
A Few Plans For The Rest Of The Week...getting my house in order, having a sleepover with dd's girlfriend and hopefully catching up on a good movie
Here is a picture thought I am sharing with you...
I love this photo of the ocean - its so strong and peaceful at the same time - I love the way the
ocean makes me feel!