Thanksgiving usually comes with comments of things we are thankful for. Our health, spouse, children, money, time with family and jobs. Not many move past the status quo. This year I am thankful for...
1. Bruises on my legs from the toddler who uses me as a jungle gym
2. The buzz of a dryer... my husband did the laundry
3. Shoppers optimum points
4. Leftover pasta
5. Playing wii with Aden
6. Christ's forgiveness
7. Toddler speak
8. Secret messages of love from Mike
9. A new mattress
10. Baby squeeks while nursing
11. The sun reflecting off a car window
12. Sunny fall days
13. Nibbles from first teeth
14. Duct tape holding my computer cord together
15. Tylonol
16. Chocolate cake
17. Apple crisp hot out of the oven
18. The drool Evalynn just wiped across my face
19. Secret Christmas presents hidden and waiting
20. Sleeping in
21. A child's undying devoted love
22. Planned returns of those long gone
23. The fall fair
24. Sales on things we need
25. Sleepy eyerubs
26. Temper tantrums
27. Cuddles on the couch
28. Tickle fights
29. Persistence
30. Tangled hair
31. Gods promises, both fullfilled and coming soon.
more to come....
What are you thankful for this Thanksgiving?
Saturday, 8 October 2011
Friday, 9 September 2011
Here Kitty Kitty Kitty
About a week and a half ago one of our cats, Josie, went missing. We have 3 indoor cats (Melodi, Josie and Vee Vee - short for Valerie. Can you guess where their names came from?). The odd thing was that neither of us remember her going out. There was no mad dash for the door as she snuck between our legs. She was just simply gone. We searched our place high and low with no success. I even looked in the basement ceiling. Finally we concluded she must have somehow snuck outside.
Our search then began outside. We called, we shook food and kitty treats, we went on hunts in the forest behind our house. One night Mike saw her at a nearby apartment building. Scared and alone though she ran back into the forest. Over the next few days there were sightings by us and others we asked. She would not come to anyone and our attempts to chase her through an overgrown forest were less than successful. (We did however manage to feed a mosquito colony and obtain a few scratches along the way).
Finally we admitted defeat. We were unable to continue this way. We put up signs, prayed God would keep her safe and left it in his hands. My facebook read "
Our search then began outside. We called, we shook food and kitty treats, we went on hunts in the forest behind our house. One night Mike saw her at a nearby apartment building. Scared and alone though she ran back into the forest. Over the next few days there were sightings by us and others we asked. She would not come to anyone and our attempts to chase her through an overgrown forest were less than successful. (We did however manage to feed a mosquito colony and obtain a few scratches along the way).
Finally we admitted defeat. We were unable to continue this way. We put up signs, prayed God would keep her safe and left it in his hands. My facebook read "
Sunday, 14 August 2011
My husband
My husband is wonderful. He never ceases to amaze me in everything he does. He loves me with the everyday kind of love everyone longs for. Flowers sit on my table inscribed with "surprise" simply because he felt like it. My back and feet are rubbed without my needing to request it. He hugs and kisses me when he leaves and the same upon return (without fail, even as I sleep). I love you's are written in the steam on the mirror making me smile after a shower. He brushes and braids my hair, brushes hairs out of my face and tells me I am beautiful. He calls me Princess and Sweetie.
He thanks me when I do the simple tasks like dishes, folding laundry and vacuuming. He cleans up toys, stays home with the kids as I grocery shop in silence and wears our babies to give me a break. He kisses minor cuts and bruises while asking if I am ok. We watch chick flicks, play card games and cuddle on the couch. At night he crawls into the kids' beds with me just so he doesn't have to go to bed without me. He kisses me goodnight. He is my best friend.
He sends me "I miss you notes" when one of us is gone. He never puts me down - especially when I deserve it. He defends me, holds me tight when I'm sad and wipes away my tears. He kept our high school love notes and admires our wedding rings as we sit together. He scrubs my back in the shower (even though he knows I can reach). He looks into my eyes and tells me he loves me. He tapes my shows, tells me my stretch marks are beautiful and calls me pretty when I think I look my worst.
He prays for me, gets me ice cream with various toppings, and holds an umbrella so I don't get wet. He listens to me, ohs and ahs over my latest wrap, puts his arm around me in church, and kisses my cheek. He brushes off the car in the snow, makes me breakfast and lets me sleep in. He buys me sweet treats, tells me I am a great mom and talks about when we get old. He shares his pop (when I just said I did not want one), says I am hot and holds my hand. He forgives me instantly when I mess up - even when I find it hard to forgive myself.
He makes me smile, sigh and relax. He gives me strength, hope and determination. After 10 years together and almost 7 married he still amazes me with his love for me.
He loves me like God loves us and it is nothing short of awesome to be a part of this God given marriage.
~ Carly
He thanks me when I do the simple tasks like dishes, folding laundry and vacuuming. He cleans up toys, stays home with the kids as I grocery shop in silence and wears our babies to give me a break. He kisses minor cuts and bruises while asking if I am ok. We watch chick flicks, play card games and cuddle on the couch. At night he crawls into the kids' beds with me just so he doesn't have to go to bed without me. He kisses me goodnight. He is my best friend.
He sends me "I miss you notes" when one of us is gone. He never puts me down - especially when I deserve it. He defends me, holds me tight when I'm sad and wipes away my tears. He kept our high school love notes and admires our wedding rings as we sit together. He scrubs my back in the shower (even though he knows I can reach). He looks into my eyes and tells me he loves me. He tapes my shows, tells me my stretch marks are beautiful and calls me pretty when I think I look my worst.
He prays for me, gets me ice cream with various toppings, and holds an umbrella so I don't get wet. He listens to me, ohs and ahs over my latest wrap, puts his arm around me in church, and kisses my cheek. He brushes off the car in the snow, makes me breakfast and lets me sleep in. He buys me sweet treats, tells me I am a great mom and talks about when we get old. He shares his pop (when I just said I did not want one), says I am hot and holds my hand. He forgives me instantly when I mess up - even when I find it hard to forgive myself.
He makes me smile, sigh and relax. He gives me strength, hope and determination. After 10 years together and almost 7 married he still amazes me with his love for me.
He loves me like God loves us and it is nothing short of awesome to be a part of this God given marriage.
~ Carly
Thursday, 4 August 2011
The things that matter
We are blessed. There are those blessings that everyone can see. We have wonderful kids and a great marriage. Then there are those some can't see. We squeeze the 5 people and 5 pets into a 3 bedroom townhouse - and we are blessed. Our van is missing half a bumper, air conditioning and has a ghetto style vcr with a 6 inch screen - and we are blessed. Our income is at poverty line and we have $50,000 in school debt for educations that are not (yet?) used - and we are blessed. Our bbq is rusted to the point that one day it will fall over, we have a window a/c in one room, we live in the ghetto - and we are blessed.
You see, life has a funny way of tricking us. It tells us that it matters to have an education, a "good" job, the big pretty house on the right side of the tracks. We need two cars, vacations and gadgets. Gym memberships, the movie network, satellite radio.
I have realized it doesn't matter. The house, the car, the fancy degrees in the frames on my wall, and the tv don't matter. What matters is what we do with it and the relationships we form or break in the process. Are they a status symbol or a way to help others? What good is it all when it isn't helping others. What good is it if it isn't bringing glory to God?
Often I get questioned on my desire for these things. Don't I want "better" for our family? We work hard, don't we deserve a (insert item/trip here)? Will we have these things? Likely one day, but we also know it is not what life is about. I need to constantly remind myself throughout the years that these things are not what matters. The size of my house and the places I have sun-tanned do not change the world or my eternal destination. They are not what matters.
~Carly
You see, life has a funny way of tricking us. It tells us that it matters to have an education, a "good" job, the big pretty house on the right side of the tracks. We need two cars, vacations and gadgets. Gym memberships, the movie network, satellite radio.
I have realized it doesn't matter. The house, the car, the fancy degrees in the frames on my wall, and the tv don't matter. What matters is what we do with it and the relationships we form or break in the process. Are they a status symbol or a way to help others? What good is it all when it isn't helping others. What good is it if it isn't bringing glory to God?
Often I get questioned on my desire for these things. Don't I want "better" for our family? We work hard, don't we deserve a (insert item/trip here)? Will we have these things? Likely one day, but we also know it is not what life is about. I need to constantly remind myself throughout the years that these things are not what matters. The size of my house and the places I have sun-tanned do not change the world or my eternal destination. They are not what matters.
~Carly
Sunday, 31 July 2011
Love
Today I heard a sermon about love and how it is a word that is casually thrown around and misused. It reminded me of a song that is closely based on the following passage:
1 Corinthians 13
1 If I speak in the tongues of men or of angels, but do not have love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. 2 If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing. 3 If I give all I possess to the poor and give over my body to hardship that I may boast, but do not have love, I gain nothing.4 Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. 5 It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. 6 Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. 7 It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.
8 Love never fails. But where there are prophecies, they will cease; where there are tongues, they will be stilled; where there is knowledge, it will pass away. 9 For we know in part and we prophesy in part, 10 but when completeness comes, what is in part disappears. 11 When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I put the ways of childhood behind me. 12 For now we see only a reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known.
13 And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.
Thrice - Moving Mountains
I'm reminded today that everything I do, everything I say, and everything I have is nothing without love. Love is an action, not a feeling or emotion. It can stir up feelings and emotions but it stands alone. If I cannot love - truly love - then I can do nothing. Today I remember what love is.
Mike
Monday, 25 July 2011
Happy Birthday Evalynn!
Yesterday was our little girlie's 2nd birthday. As a celebration of this event she gets a whole blog post to herself.
Hurricane Evalynn (as we like to call her) is trouble with a capital T. Her nickname does not do her justice. Simply leaving the room for a moment will result in Vaseline on a couch, diaper cream on a dresser or strawberry syrup on the floor and fridge. When she sets her mind to something she goes all out! Mike will often receive messages at work detailing the path of destruction that has occurred that day.
Then comes the eye of the storm. You know the destruction will return but you can't help but enjoy the calm. In these moments she is sweeter than sugar. She rocks her baby brother saying softly "shhhh baby, oh baby baby it doh-day", she nurses her dolls, she feeds you from her kitchen and brings you unlimited drinks from her singing tea pot.
She is determined, focused, and stubborn (where on earth could THAT have come from?). You know she won't let anyone push her around. Much to Daddy's delight she refuses to hold hands with the neighbourhood boys or kiss cuties on a bridge while on vacation. Evalynn loves kitties, purses, shoes and pink. Painted nails, makeup and playing mommy are on the agenda.
Evalynn, for the past 2 years you have brought joy and excitement in our lives to a new level and we look forward to many more years of the same! We love you!
Hurricane Evalynn (as we like to call her) is trouble with a capital T. Her nickname does not do her justice. Simply leaving the room for a moment will result in Vaseline on a couch, diaper cream on a dresser or strawberry syrup on the floor and fridge. When she sets her mind to something she goes all out! Mike will often receive messages at work detailing the path of destruction that has occurred that day.
Then comes the eye of the storm. You know the destruction will return but you can't help but enjoy the calm. In these moments she is sweeter than sugar. She rocks her baby brother saying softly "shhhh baby, oh baby baby it doh-day", she nurses her dolls, she feeds you from her kitchen and brings you unlimited drinks from her singing tea pot.
She is determined, focused, and stubborn (where on earth could THAT have come from?). You know she won't let anyone push her around. Much to Daddy's delight she refuses to hold hands with the neighbourhood boys or kiss cuties on a bridge while on vacation. Evalynn loves kitties, purses, shoes and pink. Painted nails, makeup and playing mommy are on the agenda.
Evalynn, for the past 2 years you have brought joy and excitement in our lives to a new level and we look forward to many more years of the same! We love you!
Sunday, 17 July 2011
The Stash
I have a stash. An addiction of sorts. I can already see some of you smiling with the knowledge of what I am writing about. Yes, anyone who knows me knows I love my wraps. Not sandwich wraps, baby wraps. Wonderful, pretty long pieces of material to carry the kids in. It is my secret sanity saver. No, just one won't do... or even two. I have 14. I could name them all, but will spare you the list of words you can't understand. Instead - a picture!
Some cotton, some silk, some wool and even one linen. With flowers, swirls, fishies or just plain. Blue, red, pink and green. Didymos and Storchenwiege. They would be grabbed when possible in the case of a fire. The ramblings of true obsession.
But they are more than just 4.6 meter long pieces of material. They snuggled my babies when they were less than 2 days old. They allowed for nap times while older children played at the park. They held them close while nurslings ate when mommy's hands were otherwise occupied. They are a blanket on the couch, a carrier for dolls, an accessory. They put cranky toddlers to sleep, soothe teething pains and make the owies go away (emotional and physical). They are worth every penny (and for those of you who don't know - sticker shock would have you stunned).
One will stay with me forever. Millie - blue with daisies. A wrap made for me! She was the first. Yes, like a man with his car they get a gender prescribed to them and even a name. She was a teacher's college graduation gift from my wonderful husband way back when I said "Why would you need more than one?" I will wrap my grandchildren in her during visits. Then there are legacy wraps. Wraps that will be saved and given to the kids to use with their children. A priceless hand-me-down that I hope they will love then like they do now.
And yes, I am crazy :)
~ Carly
Some cotton, some silk, some wool and even one linen. With flowers, swirls, fishies or just plain. Blue, red, pink and green. Didymos and Storchenwiege. They would be grabbed when possible in the case of a fire. The ramblings of true obsession.
But they are more than just 4.6 meter long pieces of material. They snuggled my babies when they were less than 2 days old. They allowed for nap times while older children played at the park. They held them close while nurslings ate when mommy's hands were otherwise occupied. They are a blanket on the couch, a carrier for dolls, an accessory. They put cranky toddlers to sleep, soothe teething pains and make the owies go away (emotional and physical). They are worth every penny (and for those of you who don't know - sticker shock would have you stunned).
And yes, I am crazy :)
~ Carly
Friday, 15 July 2011
The Back Rub
One of my favourite things to do for Carly is to give her back rubs. Partially due to the fact that she has a mild case of scoliosis, I know that she is prone to getting a stiff back and shoulders. Beyond that fact I know that, as the mother of 3 young children and a wonderful wife to me, she has the weight of the world on her shoulders from time to time.
The daily stress of fulfilling the needs of our 3 kids alone could be enough to make any ones back hurt. Our kids have a lot of energy! Hurricane Evalynn makes her way through the playroom on a regular basis and spreads the debris to as far as the hallway and kitchen. Aden, bless his soul, must be busy at all times. Whether it is playing a game, wanting to do a craft or going to the park, he always seems to be 2 tasks ahead of the rest of us. Andrew does seem to be the mellow one so far. He does still need the constant attention that any 5 month old would though. He loves to eat and he loves to be held!
I would hope that I help Carly with the daily requirements that our children and our marriage need. I do know that I have my ways of heaping the weight onto her as well. It could be being a grump after a long or challenging day at work. Perhaps my anxiety for any given reason has picked up and caused me to be distracted by other things.
I am glad that at the end of a long day she doesn't hesitate to hand me a bottle of lotion and lay down on the floor/bed/couch. As I rub her back or neck and I can feel the tension slowly melt away I know the weight is lifting. As I hear the gentle breathing grow deeper and louder I know that she is leaving the troubles of the day behind her. As I realize that she has fallen into a peaceful sleep I can sit and watch her and know that all is well.
Mike
The daily stress of fulfilling the needs of our 3 kids alone could be enough to make any ones back hurt. Our kids have a lot of energy! Hurricane Evalynn makes her way through the playroom on a regular basis and spreads the debris to as far as the hallway and kitchen. Aden, bless his soul, must be busy at all times. Whether it is playing a game, wanting to do a craft or going to the park, he always seems to be 2 tasks ahead of the rest of us. Andrew does seem to be the mellow one so far. He does still need the constant attention that any 5 month old would though. He loves to eat and he loves to be held!
I would hope that I help Carly with the daily requirements that our children and our marriage need. I do know that I have my ways of heaping the weight onto her as well. It could be being a grump after a long or challenging day at work. Perhaps my anxiety for any given reason has picked up and caused me to be distracted by other things.
I am glad that at the end of a long day she doesn't hesitate to hand me a bottle of lotion and lay down on the floor/bed/couch. As I rub her back or neck and I can feel the tension slowly melt away I know the weight is lifting. As I hear the gentle breathing grow deeper and louder I know that she is leaving the troubles of the day behind her. As I realize that she has fallen into a peaceful sleep I can sit and watch her and know that all is well.
Mike
Making Plans
We have a plan. It's not a 5 year plan or even a 1 year plan. Our plan doesn't involve having "x" amount of money saved in a specific time frame or having our dream jobs. It doesn't specify when we should be done having children or even how many children we should have. You see, there is a funny thing about making those kinds of plans. When they don't work out how you would like you are left feeling empty and disappointed. We blame God. Couldn't he see he was messing up our plans?
We have had those kinds of plans. It was our plan to get married right after Carly graduated high school and before she started university. It was our plan to have our first child, Aden, shortly after that. There are some plans that seem to come easily.
Then there are those events we didn't plan on happening. Mike getting a kidney stone RIGHT after the honeymoon was NOT part of the plans. Struggles with family member hardships weren't expected. Our plan for a second child didn't play out the way we expected at all. 3 miscarriages in less than half a year and then over a year and a half of nothing was definitely not part of OUR plan. Depression, anxiety, job changes early in the marriage - all not planned.
Our second child, Evalynn, is an example of the timing of two different plans clashing a little. I'm sure Carly didn't plan to have do deal with morning sickness and the worry of carrying a baby to term at the same time she was going to teachers college and doing her practicums. Andrew, our third child, was a plan that we weren't expecting at the time and possibly didn't feel prepared for. Surprise! First try after years of disappointment just shortly before.
After 10 years together and 7 years of marriage we realize now that we have spent so much time and energy trying to create and balance our plans for our lives. We also realize that we have regularly been excluding someone very important in our plan making. I can only imagine God looking down on all of us with a little bit of heartache as we create our plans with total disregard for HIS plans. So here is our new plan. Look to God, give him everything, and let him do with it what he pleases. He says "For I know the plans I have for you... plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future." (Jeremiah 29:11) Why fight against that? It is reasonable to assume that it won't all be easy to follow and there will be times that we don't understand where he is taking us with his plans but we choose to trust that his way is the best way.
We have had those kinds of plans. It was our plan to get married right after Carly graduated high school and before she started university. It was our plan to have our first child, Aden, shortly after that. There are some plans that seem to come easily.
Then there are those events we didn't plan on happening. Mike getting a kidney stone RIGHT after the honeymoon was NOT part of the plans. Struggles with family member hardships weren't expected. Our plan for a second child didn't play out the way we expected at all. 3 miscarriages in less than half a year and then over a year and a half of nothing was definitely not part of OUR plan. Depression, anxiety, job changes early in the marriage - all not planned.
Our second child, Evalynn, is an example of the timing of two different plans clashing a little. I'm sure Carly didn't plan to have do deal with morning sickness and the worry of carrying a baby to term at the same time she was going to teachers college and doing her practicums. Andrew, our third child, was a plan that we weren't expecting at the time and possibly didn't feel prepared for. Surprise! First try after years of disappointment just shortly before.
After 10 years together and 7 years of marriage we realize now that we have spent so much time and energy trying to create and balance our plans for our lives. We also realize that we have regularly been excluding someone very important in our plan making. I can only imagine God looking down on all of us with a little bit of heartache as we create our plans with total disregard for HIS plans. So here is our new plan. Look to God, give him everything, and let him do with it what he pleases. He says "For I know the plans I have for you... plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future." (Jeremiah 29:11) Why fight against that? It is reasonable to assume that it won't all be easy to follow and there will be times that we don't understand where he is taking us with his plans but we choose to trust that his way is the best way.
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