Menu Plan Monday, Sept 29th

Menu Plan Monday with Laura at Org Junkie

So you're pregnant, what now?

Wow...I like actually can't get over the amazing support and crazy congratulations from our network on the internet - facebook, blog, etc. It's insane. We definitely continue to feel loved and supported on this whole journey. I mean...people were so so so excited and now they still are! I mean I know I'm excited...so it's pretty amazing to see how excited the people are around us. I swear, half of my pregnancy glow would be just from the joy of those around us!

So! You're pregnant, and you're allowed to talk about it. What now?

Menu Plan Monday, September 22nd

Menu Plan Monday with Laura at Org Junkie

Morgan Baby Announcement!!!!!

Summa Camp

I went to camp for the first time at 2 years old. We were at Family Camp. I went every single summer (except one) until I was 19. Later I started going to sleep away camp alone when I was 8. I went every single summer up to, and including, the summer I was 13. The summer I was 14 we drove across Canada - no camp for us but plenty of adventures regardless.

At 15 I started volunteering at day camp programs in the area and at 16 I went away to be a counsellor then work crew for the first time. Starting the summer I was 17 I went away to work at camp for two summer and loved it. The summers I was 19 and 20 I volunteered for a week or two. Finally when I was 23 and newly a christian, I went back to camp. I loved it but wasn't able to make it back until 3 years later at 26 where Paul and I got engaged during camp. Last summer I finally made it back to camp again (at 30) and this year I continued that streak again (31). Thus continues a lifelong love affair with camp.  

Of Books: My first love

“You can never get a cup of tea large enough or a book long enough to suit me.” ― C.S. Lewis

“Books are the quietest and most constant of friends; they are the most accessible and wisest of counselors, and the most patient of teachers.” ― Charles William Eliot

Menu Plan Monday, September 15th

Menu Plan Monday with Laura at Org Junkie

Death or the Wood between the worlds

Lately I've been reading to my mom - it's a new way of interacting with her. It has been really enjoyable for both of us. It only seemed fitting to start off by reading the Chronicles of Narnia to her - as she first read it to me years ago. 

We've started with "Magicians Nephew" and I'd forgotten how much fun this story is. How beautiful as well. The story centers around a young boy (the Magicians Nephew) and his friend, Polly, as they end up discovering a new world - or really they discover a place between worlds that gives them access to other worlds. This place between worlds is a forest, and called "The Wood between the Worlds." The description of this place is hauntingly beautiful and stuck out to me for a few reason. 

The next thing Digory knew was that there was a soft green light coming down on him from above, and darkness below.  He didn't seem to be standing on anything, or sitting or lying.  Nothing appeared to be touching him.  "I believe I'm in water," said Digory.  "Or under water."  This frightened him for a second, but almost at once he could feel that he was rushing upwards.  Then his head suddenly came out into the air and he found himself scrambling ashore, out on to the smooth grassy ground at the edge of the pool.

As he rose to his feet he noticed that he was neither dripping nor panting for breath as anyone would expect after being under water.  His clothes were perfectly dry.  He was standing by the edge of a small pool - not more than ten feet from side to side - in a wood.  The trees grew close together and were so leafy that he could get no glimpse of the sky.  All the light was green light that came through the leaves: but there must have been a very strong sun overhead, for this green daylight was bright and warm.  It was the quietest wood you could possibly imagine.  There were no birds, no insects, no animals, and no wind.  You could almost feel the trees growing.  The pool he had just got out of was not the only pool.  There were dozens of others - a pool every few yards as far as his eyes could reach.  You could almost feel the trees drinking the water up with their roots.  This wood was very much alive.  When he tried to describe it afterwards Digory always said: "It was a rich place: as rich as plumcake."

C.S. Lewis – The Magicians Nephew

I've struggled with the concept of death, especially as my mothers journey leads her closer and closer there. It's so unknown! I trust that when God says Heaven is a place we want to be and that we get to be with Him for eternity that it is true, but it's so foreign and so unknown. It scares me to think of her going there. 

Connor's Lego Party

My wonderful nephew Connor turned 6 in August and my sister and I wanted to throw him an awesome party. He loves Lego and loved the Lego movie! It was a natural fit. We wanted to make sure we didn't go to overboard - he's only 6 and while he'll like having a decorated party he didn't need us to go crazy in the progress! The idea was to go for bright colors with a focus on yellow and red. I picked up streamers & bunting, lanterns and puffs. We picked up a Parrot Pinata (nothing lego themed so we went for bright and cheery instead) and some easy party favours (a sticker book and slinky).

Menu Plan Monday, Sept 8th

Menu Plan Monday with Laura at Org Junkie

5 reasons I buy online

Recently I read a fun article entitled “5 Reasons I Don't Buy Online.” Sarah at Tucker Up made some great points and I definitely agree with some of them. However I do buy clothes online and I do so for a few very good reasons. I thought it would be fun to make my top “5 reasons I buy online”

1. Shopping in a mall for me is like searching for a needle in a haystack – I have to go from store to store and try so many things on! Even at Old Navy (where I primarily purchase everything) it’s still overwhelming, I’m bombarded with everything I see. Online I have to search for what I want and thus don’t get as distracted by all the extras or options.

Online I can easily see all the rockstar jeans they have listed – in person I need to wander the store looking through different sections to make sure I didn’t miss some jeans somewhere. I buy less when I’m searching for an item online, than when I’m searching in person.

2. I love a deal. In person though I don’t always wait for the best deal since I’m there now and it feels weird to wait and return back. But online it’s easy! I just bookmark or save the item, and the second I get an email alert for the next sale, bam, I can buy it at a reasonable price. I haven’t paid full price for anything at Old Navy in ages! Online options for shopping often come with deals that are only online as well!

3. Returning items is almost addicting for me – it’s so easy! I can try things and there isn’t a huge pressure to keep them if they don’t fit. In fact when I’m at a store I feel bad for the employees who have to return all my items so I feel tempted to buy something to make up for the time I spent there. Not true online! I easily send it back if it doesn’t work perfectly. The return is money free and guilt free!

4. Shopping at a mall eats away at my valuable personal time! I have stuff to do, people!  The times I wait to shop in person to replace those jeans with a hole in the crotch mean weeks of wearing jeans with a hole in the crotch. When shopping online I buy it right away and it’s delivered to my door within two weeks, often faster than I’d be able to get to a mall myself!

On top of that, it’s a great use of the time I already have to set aside for sitting at a computer! My life in the evenings and weekends is hectic – I rarely have time to make it to a mall, let alone go any time I need something. I am forced to sit a computer all day and am supposed to take breaks (as mandated by labour laws) so online shopping is a relaxing and enjoyable use of that time.

5. Shopping online saves me money. It helps me shop for my needs and not my wants. When I look online I’m not as tempted by everything. In person I want all the things, but online it seems a bit more distant. I’m more suspicious of if I’ll wear something. I’m much more concious of the cost online – the bill tallies right there! At the mall I can’t see the total until I am already at the till about to pay. When I purchase online I find I’m often removing items from my shopping cart when the bill gets too high. Online I feel more responsible while still getting the thrill of new clothes! 

Plus when I shop at Old Navy online it’s a very different experience than shopping in person – in person when I’m done at one store, I’ll walk past at least 5 more stores on my way back to the car that all call out to me to shop…not to mention the food court and starbucks!

An Island Weekend

I am from a wonderful Island called Vancouver Island. I had the pleasure of growing up in Port Alberni, right in the center of the Island. It was a great place to grow up and remains a wonderful place to visit. This trip the weather wasn't as glorious as I'd hoped but it was still a lovely time. Our main purpose was to see our friends Dustin & Anne get married, and after that we added a visit to the Salmon Fest, lots of time with family, Sproat Lake time and a canoe trip to Newcastle Island. It was a short trip but oh so sweet. 

It was a real joy to be there for Anne & Dustin's wedding. I've known Dustin's family my whole life (though mostly remember Dustin as a kid running around the yard and such) and loved getting the chance to know him as an adult once he moved to Vancouver. You will never meet another person like Dustin. I met Anne through my friend Lyndsay - originally Anne was one of her campers and poor Anne was the "lucky first aid attendant" who had to help me at Anvil Island when a week after back surgery I danced a bit to hard and needed some first aid attention. She was very patient with me! These two are beautiful to watch and obviously in love. It was so great to see them surrounded by their loved ones and finally get to be married! Every time I saw Dustin during the reception he was bowled over by the fact that "I have a wife now!" It was very sweet. Congrats you two! I look forward to our friendship in the future!

The very lovely couple and their first married kiss

Menu Plan Monday: First week of September 2014

Menu Plan Monday with Laura at Org Junkie