Remembering my blessings

This time of year can be really hard. The high of the holidays is winding down and you can feel more alone than ever.
When I read Aurie's post this morning I knew exactly that was what I wanted to do.
I want to make sure I focus on all the blessings in my life. I need to start 2014 thankful.

In December we bought a house for the first time!!!! (Squeal!!!!)
I'm thrilled but the move is draining me. Also a sad teenager is thrown into the mix, not to mention the fact that I'm sad about leaving behind friends.
So I must let that go.
When you are happy you share happiness and more people become happy, which in turn spreads it farther.
Soooo
I'm thrilled that we have a beautiful view.

I'm thrilled that I've already made friends in the new church we will be attending.  Marie and 

Carla I look forward to getting to know you, your families and your church family better in thecoming months. 

I'm blessed with two wonderful parents you are still here this side of heaven to enjoy. 

I'm thankful that this year we don't have tons of snow as we are not going to bother getting our sleds fixed nor do we have something to properly plough our driveway. 

I'm thankful for a hubby that works so hard to provide for his family he gave himself a much longer commute so that we could have a nice home. 

I'm blessed beyond measure. The good Lord has brought so many people into my life. 

Thankfulness doesn't even really describe how I feel. 

I'm linking up today with Aurie. Hop over and list your blessings as well. 

Winds of change

Well it's that time again. The time for resolutions, for reflections, for celebration, for new promises. 

2013 was a year of incrediable change for our family. 

January saw us facing the very real possibility that hubby would no longer be working for the company he had been at for the previous 8 years. We had no idea where our income would be coming from and how we would pay our living expenses. 

We were in the process of fostering to adopt and had to make the very hard choice to pull out. 

February blew in some deep complex thoughts and conversations as we tried to decide what path we should take. 

March saw us making the decision which wasn't completed until May. ( one of the best decisions we've made!!)

It also witnessed our beautiful girl turning 15. 

April saw Sarah and I crazy busy with dance and also saw me really start a long blogging break as I was figuring out where I wanted this blog to go. 

May was hubbies and mine 22 wedding anniversary. As well as my handsome man changes careers and companies. 

June mainly saw us outdoors. We were busy in our yard getting it ready for summer and soaking up the sun after a very long winter. 

July was a blast. I managed to have an amazing first ever girls weekend with some fantastic friends. 

We bought a new vehicle AND spend a great time at a family reunion. 

August took Rob and I on a life changing holiday. We normally travel west to visit friends and see the mountains. This time we decided to travel east to my home province. 

That's not really life changing you might say. No?? Well I'll explain more in the next few months. 

August was also a time for family. All my siblings came home for my neice's wedding. Although I think we only were able to see each other for a little over 24 hrs it still was great to have all if us together. Something we never take for granted. 

August also blew in the winds if change for our oldest. After almost 3 yrs at a job he totally changed directions as well and is now working in becoming an electrician. 

September... Well this is the month hubby and I decided to make a gianormous leap of faith and look at buying our very first home. But... Not where we were living oh no we decided to go and check out places in my home province of Saskatchewan. 

So September saw us looking at houses. 

We made a bid and after a bit of debate settled on a price. Everything for the first time was going great, move in date was for the end of October. If was Rob's dream yard. Then we had the inspection done and we had to pull out. The foundation was in terrible shape. :(

This was a hard blow. 

October we decided to spend thanksgiving at Rob's parents. We also decided to take some time off if house hunting and maybe go at it again in the new year. The week after thanksgiving we had changed our minds again and were once again out looking at houses. 

By the end if the month we had once again made a bid and was facing the very real possibility we were actually doing it. 

November was filled with uncertainty as we waited to see if everything was going to go through this time. Then it was filled with craziness as we packed and attempted to buy some Christmas presents. 

December what a crazy month. The 15th was possession so we spend a week moving. Trying to get in and somewhat settled before Christmas. We had all the kids and the girlfriends for Christmas. 

The day was amazing!! Better than I expected. Better than I hoped. 

I learned to let go and not get saddened by the fact that I didn't do all I normally do. 

Our oldest even made breakfast in the morning. 

That winds up our crazy year of change. 

We went from not knowing how we were going to do it, to buying our first home and moving away. 

Life definitely took us on a ride this year but I was accompanied with an amazing hubby and a beautiful daughter. It also introduced us to some people that I'm confident are going to be great friends. 

Oh and just in case you thought that wasn't to crazy. We decided 4 days before Christmas to get a 6 week old puppy. Yep definety nutso. Lol

Everyone meet Skylar. She's managed to capture all our hearts already. 

Happy New Years everyone. May 2014 find you all blessed beyond imagine. 

May God make your path sure and may you never falter. 

Here's to an amazing new year!!

65 years

This past Saturday was my parents 65th wedding anniversary. 

As I sit and think about this I can't help but be in awe of what an accomplishment this is. 

This past year has been really hard but it wasn't the first of some really tough times for them. 

In their 65 years together they have had many ups and downs. 

6 children 21 1/5 years apart. Yep you read that right. I'm the baby and my oldest sister is not quite 22 years older than me. 

They buried both sets of their parents. 

They've lost numerous siblings. 

They farmed for 35 years. During some interesting times. 

They built a life together that although has been rocked numerous times has never been completely broken. 

They came from that era that if something breaks, fix it don't throw it away. 

The longevity of their marriage is something I aim for in mine. 

Being married is from from easy. It takes work, it takes commitment, it takes choices. 

I love that these two people, who although they may have faults made those choices, did that work and set an example for not only their children but also their grandchildren. 

So Mom and Dad thank you for showing me how to work at it. How to try and fix it, how to care enough to make those choices. 

I'm honored. 

Happy 65 years!!!!!

3 in 30 final update for 2013

What a crazy month December has been. 

Of course when I look back at it what a crazy year 2013 has been. 

We went from not sure where hubby would be working to moving and owning our very first home. 

As for this month 3 in 30... Well at least the month is almost done. Lol

1. Time with The Lord. 

As far as my personal time this went pretty well actually. There was a few days in the move that I missed that time and by the end of it I sure knew it. I was snappy, depressed, feeling really out of sorts. Then I sat down and caught up on my study and by the end of it I was a much better person. 

As far as the family I think I failed. We did have birthday cake on Christmas Day but it wasn't really met with fan fare. However I plan to keep this tradition. 

2. Making sure I'm somewhat organized. 

Well I started pretty organized and then things went nuts. The move has taken way longer than I anticipated. I thought maybe 4 days. Nope 8 days on the road with one more to go yet. At least by the end of tomorrow we will be done. Completely. 

3. Focus on being less stressed. 

Bahahahahahahahahahahaha

I did pretty good until exactly a week after possession. I was snappy and irritable. As of that day I had spend every day but one on the road moving. I dug in my heals and we stopped for three days to have Christmas. 

Christmas itself went pretty good. I did my best not to stress over things I had no control over. So it was a pretty laid back day. My oldest made breakfast. All of the kids went out to play in the snow while I finished up supper. After supper we watched a movie while a bunch of them slept. Then we played games until about 1:30 in the morning. All in all it was a pretty great day. 

I'm so looking forward to all 2014 has to offer. 2013 taught me that with Jesus by my side I can handle anything. Although I know that this year is going to have its own set of challenges, aging parents, hubby's longer commute to work, new church, new friends, new community, unpacking, etc I just am so excited to find out where He is leading us to next. 

3 in 30 update

Well as predicted things are on the full swing crazy here.
Yesterday we got possession of the house so I spend 3hrs driving one way to get the keys and clean. It's honestly sad what a mess they left. They never even swept the floor let alone anything else. Then I drove back here to spend the night. Today I'm off doing the same thing.
The bad part about all of it is the terrible winter driving conditions. Yesterday I drove there in freezing rain and home in blowing, drifting snow. Praying the roads are better today and that we have good roads the day we are hauling everything up.

As for my 3 in 30... Well not to bad I guess.

1. Time with The Lord.
This is super important to me. I've been managing to stay up on my advent study so far. After tomorrow though I might fall a bit behind. Really praying I don't. I NEED that time with Him.
Sarah was in an amazing Christmas play and yesterday she asked me about making a birthday cake for Jesus on Christmas Day. I've long thought about this but wasn't sure how to bring it in. This year we are going to attempt it. I'm loving her heart and her honesty.
If you can remember she would love some prayers. She is struggleing with the move. Both with her friends and with God. She just really needs to be covered in prayer.

2. Making sure I'm somewhat organized.
I'm not sure this is working. Lol. For the most part it's not bad. I have things lined up the best I can and am praying it all works out.

3. Focus on being less stressed.
This week is going to be crazy, insane, intense, busy, nuts. But it's a good kind of intensity. I'm exhausted and I've only got day 1 done, but I'm really so happy. I am really praying for no snow and good roads as well as no injuries. We have our middle son helping so that's gonna be awesome. Also looking forward to just being still for a bit. I'm trying hard not to think about all the stuff yet to do for Christmas. We are also getting a puppy this Friday. Yep gonna add to the funny farm. Lol

All in all life is amazing. Yep we are going through a crazy period but we are happy, healthy and together.

'Tis the season

I love this season. I love everything about it. The baking, the memories, the love, the lights, the fact that we are celebrating Jesus's birth. We usually have our tree up the last Sunday of November. I normally would have the house fully decorated. However this year this is what we are dealing with.

This is our life this season. We are moving. We finally bought our first house!! Unfortunately it is almost a 3 hour drive away. We get possession this Sunday!! Unfortunately that as you well know is 10 days before Christmas. So... like instead of decorating, baking and fully enjoying this time of year I'm packing. 

I'm living in a different kind of chaos this month. 

Now don't get me wrong I'm really very happy but also a little bit sad when I look around at all the lights and see all the pics of baking when instead my reality is:

And:

And: 

Yet even through it all I'm learning some VERY valuable lessons. 

I'm learning to lean on Him. 

I can't do this without His strength. His peace, His grace. 

I'm learning to do without. A very good lesson on my part. 

I'm learning to let go. I have no control over this. I have no control over moving in the middle of winter when the temps have been hovering in the -20's and colder for over a week now. I have no control,over the fact that the forecast has lots of snow in it and is supposed to be snowing when we move. I have no control, but He does. 

No matter what happens He will see us through this. He will hold us each step of the way. 

So although this is not a 'normal' Christmas for us it is one I wouldn't trade for anything. 

I'm so thankful and so blessed. 

(Please ignore the poor quality of pics. They were taken on my iPad).

3 in 30 December goals

December 2013 goals

Yes I'm aware we are already a little over a week into the month but I decided I needed to set some goals anyway. 

1. Time with The Lord. 

I want to set some personal time aside every day so the advent study is working for that. I also want to really work on keeping Him foremost in our lives this season. My oldest is not a believer and my middle wavers so it could be a bit interesting. Praying groundwork will be laid. 

2. Making sure I'm somewhat organized. 

I've set up a binder with our bills as well as a house binder and information on the move binder. I'm making daily lists and I would like to try and ignore the preparations of Christmas until after we move. 

Lol which brings me to the next goal. 

3. Focus on being less stressed. 

This is hard but I'm oh so thankful for the opportunity to be able to do this.  I have so much confidence in the fact that this is exactly where The Lord is leading us. (Even if it freaks me out sometimes). 

We decided to take a break from home schooling. So we are done now until after the New Year. 

We move a week from tomorrow if all things work the way they are supposed to. Lol

Parts of me wish we had another month here and parts of me wish it was all done. I'm not good with living in this chaos. 

I'm praying that I remember that even though this is gonna be crazy I do not take it out on family members and friends.