Bed head…

That pretty much describes our entire family today. All 9 of us are in serious need of some hair cuts. I am responsible for all of the kids’ hair cuts- which I will take care of tomorrow. After all, we can’t have them walking around looking like this…

Scott will go see his favourite barber… and I… I will attempt to give myself a much needed trim before the weekend.

 

I’m trying my very best to save every extra penny for Christmas shopping. I’ve done well so far! While I was talking to my mom on the phone tonight I said, “I get Old Navy coupons and I tell myself, ‘No, they don’t need any more clothes!’”

 

And then all three triplets in unison, piped up, “Then you go buy them anyways!”

 

Excuse me!?!?

I have been extremely frugal lately. Atleast according to my standards.

 

My darling husband on the other hand…

Today, we couldn’t find Ella’s black sweater that she was going to wear this Sunday. (All 4 girls have matching ones) We looked for hours- literally! I checked the van… everywhere we could think of. When Scott called and heard that I was annoyed over the sweater he said, “Where’d you get it? Worst case scenario- you go buy another one before Sunday.”

He always wants to see me happy, and make my life easier. Regardless of what it may cost him.

Remember the Nikon incident?…

 

By the way, we finally found the sweater. In Elijah's drawer. The 3rd time I sent him to check…

 

Hoping for a less busy, and more productive day tomorrow.

 

I’ll end with my new favourite picture of Elijah.

Just so you know that he doesn’t look that crazy all the time… ;)

Counting down…

… the days until Scott and I are off for a weekend getaway! Which will include shopping over the border! He has never been cross-border shopping, and I’ve only been to Walmart and Cracker Barrel- so we’re looking forward to it! Any places that we MUST hit in the Niagara/Buffalo area?

 

Also, counting down the items on my to-do list before we leave.

I have 3 boxes full of Christmas cards calling my name.

They may wait until next week.

Piano, voice, and verse practices for our program at the seniors’ home this month. The kids are putting on a Christmas special for them. Last month, we missed our visit to the seniors’ home because we were at my sister in law’s wedding. We called ahead of time to let them know. Well, apparently they didn’t let all of the residents know… One of our most faithful men, Ernie- came down expecting us. The lady who works there told us that he sat and cried when we didn’t show up. :( This month when he saw the kids, he left his walker and practically ran back to his room to bring them some candy he had picked up for them. He doesn’t know it- but he is way more of a blessing to us than we could ever be to him.

Another man named Stanley, said to Scott, “I enjoyed your preaching cause I could actually hear you this time!”

 

I came home from my photo session on Saturday, and found Jeddy like this on the couch…

Speaking of Jeddy…

We made a trip to Ikea two weeks ago for some much needed plates! We were down to only 5 large dinner plates- and two of those had chips in them!

I couldn’t decide between the apple green and the classic white.

Guess who persuaded me to go with the green?

Then my wonderful husband decided to grab the white as well. So we can alternate colours for Christmas dinner! ha… Now Jeddy insists on always using a green plate or bowl.

 

Ella is learning to draw people. I just snapped this picture quickly while I was colouring with her the other day- but I’ll have to try and get a better one of her “people.”

She can almost write her name, as well! No, she didn’t write the one on her paper… :P Her E’s have about 10 sideways lines instead of 3. I said almost…. That little pink flower however, is hers.

 

Well, I’m off to make a program for the senior’s home, and then hopefully make out some Christmas cards!

 

I’ll end with my favourite picture of Prayer.

Just cause…

i heart faces: scenic B&W

Our youngest daughter seems to think she is royalty. Having 6 older siblings, who wanted to carry her around all the time as a baby- has made her think that she should still be carried around all the time. Even though she is now two and a half… She most often demands requests piggy-backs from her siblings, who all too willingly comply. This shot of her big brother piggy-backing her down to a beach in Cavendish, PEI is one of my favourite memories from our family vacation.   

Time

They say, "Time heals all wounds", though, we don't know who "they" are, nor if that were true. Perhaps we should suppose time could at least numb most stings.

 

Some wounds hurt more with time. As we grasp at the faint reminder, once sharp images and sweet voices in memory, we wish to see and feel and hear just once more that which time hath stole away. In this a scar may be torn, and a wound remade, a regret reborn. Perhaps time only seduces our emotions, or numbs our senses, dulling the truth, or just distorting it.

 

"Time the great healer." So they may say. Yet the finality of our finite, time-bound state is a constant reminder that there is little constant in time. The waves of its massive unsearchable depths flow constantly over the good and the bad, dissolving all alike, taking all without regard. Soon, we shall all rest far beneath its depths, with a new crop of memories dwelling upon the face of the deep, awaiting time's cleansing work. Our wounds still hurt, Time. Where is thine effect? What dose shall we suppose would purge these deep wounds? Perhaps time will be no cure at all.

 

They say, "Time is money", though, we don't know who "they" are, nor if that were true, perhaps time should make us take account of that which we have to spend. A wise man once said, "Time is life." Therefore, time could be money, but time could also be pleasure, love, taking, or giving. Time will be what you are, for where you spend you is where you spend your time.

 

Many look back through time from a deathbed or final hour and see all the account of that which they have purchased with their small fortune of time, and yet weep. Some few rejoice. For the most part, they all wish to have more time to spend where they think it could have been spent best. As such, we're all bound to give account of ourselves one day, for that which we have poured ourselves out to, like a drink offering of times gone by, spilled out on the ground in the name of that which we worship most and best. At what altar will you have poured yourself when all of time is done? Money? Shall it be feelings of pleasure, or follies of thrill? Where go your moments? Like pennies poured down a drain, your life runs from your hands each time the clock ticks. Where does it run?

 

 

"Lay hold on eternal life." Our Saviour said. Not so as to suggest that somehow eternity could be bought with the act of a moment. For we finite creatures of dust have nothing of value to offer Him that is timeless in exchange for eternity. Lay hold on Him, for He is eternal life. Don’t waste yourself spending yourself to build your “Tower of Babel” in an attempt to get yourself to God. Get Him, and get all. Invest in Him, for His dividends far surpass the purchase price. Love Him, because you can.

 

Yet within our given moments are the chances to give something back that can never go away, some things that costs us a part of us, moments. By giving our time, we give ourselves. One beloved, nearing the end of time, would always rather have partaken in the moment of a loved one rather then in their money. Sure, in some cases our money represents a great investment of our time with which we earned it. But love takes time to give.

 

If you seek to give yourself, and you should, it will cost you time. It will cost you some of your life. And in the end, when it's reckoning time, you shall be one of those few that rejoice in the investment of your time, for your time did that it was intended for. You gave time to those you love most, you offered time to the One who offered Himself, and in these there is no regret.

 

Redeeming the time, because the days are evil. – Eph 5:16

 

Whereas ye know not what shall be on the morrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapour, that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away. – James 4:14

 

For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also. – Matt 6:21

 

Lost in translation

For the first time, since the year that we got married- we have a fake Christmas tree! Woohoo! And that first year doesn’t really count cause we bought our 2ft tall tree at the dollar store, and it’s very few-and-far-between branches wouldn’t even hold up little ornaments- so we went back to the dollar store, bought some red ribbon, and tied bows on the branches. We sat on our foam couch, and green lawn chair, in our basement apartment living room, drank hot cocoa out of dollar store mugs, and thought it was the best Christmas ever!

It was great.

But the tree… not so great.

 

So this year, we were blessed by a surprise cheque in the mail (don’t you LOVE those!?) and decided to invest in a fake tree. We spent half of what we planned, and got a perfect tree and let the kids each pick some ornaments! Keona picked red and silver feathers. I have no idea what feathers have to do with Christmas- but they’re pretty…

This is what my boys picked.

They keep calling it “their” ornament. I tried to suggest that maybe, perhaps, they had picked it out for me and it was “mom’s” ornament. They disagreed. Do you see how cute that is!? They’re in an acorn! Joseph’s hat- an acorn! The cradle- an acorn! My favourite ornament by far.

 

And yes, we have our tree up, (pre-lit!) gifts underneath it, (Jeddy told me that his present has a rip in it but he didn’t do it…) Christmas music playing, and hot chocolate all ready to go! Oh, and those cinnamon-scented pine cones from Michaels… Mmmmm…. I think they are incredibly “Christmasy” even if my sister disagrees…. My wonderful sister who came up here to take our family picture today, in the rain no less.

 

Here’s a sneak peek…

 

It went well, wouldn’t you say?

Ella looks a little confused… ha!

 

I love my kids.

The other day, Scott was giving the kids a Bible lesson on revenge. Right after Elijah “accidentally” round-housed Jeddy in the face… and he asked them, “So if someone punches you on one cheek- what are you supposed to do?”

 

Prayer’s response, with all the enthusiasm of knowing the right answer-

“Smoke them on the other cheek!”

 

I think something may have been lost in translation.

A Bad Hair Day

We all have them.

Some worse than others…

 

Here’s some proof that I do indeed do her hair most days.

Or one of her big sisters does it for me.

   

Yeah, so she draws on her hands with marker. Daily. Usually while trying to trace her hand on paper.

She was playing with a camera that Keona built for her out of Lego the other day, and she kept turning it over to pretend to check the picture.

She’s looking at a picture of me sticking my tongue out at her.

 

A little photographer in the making… ;)

Today in school…

we studied… zoology!

Conveniently, at the Toronto Zoo. ;)

 

I didn’t take a ton of pictures, as I wanted to be able to just enjoy the day with my kids- but… when the baby gorilla came out and was jumping around like a crazed-toddler- I couldn’t resist!

He would get up on the ledge, look at the kids, and then bang on the glass with both hands before jumping and rolling down the hill. He was so cute!

 

I think Ella’s favourite part was chasing the peacocks around.

Eve went to one of the information booths, with all of these claws and furs out for show. The lady working there, had a very strong Chinese accent. When we left, Eve said, “I didn't understand anything she was saying, but I just nodded my head and said ‘Ohhh!’ so that she wouldn’t feel bad.”

I remember doing that to my great-grandma as a child. She has a very strong Jamaican accent, and I often had a very hard time understanding her. After say, “Pardon?” about 10 times- I would just nod my head and answer ‘yes.’ Then I would hope that she didn’t just ask me if I was the one who coloured moustaches on all of the family portraits…

(Ahem… Sarah!)

 

I love taking the kids to the zoo during the cooler weather. Especially on school days! No crowds. No sweaty kids drinking so much water that we have to run to the bathroom every 5 minutes. Makes for a much calmer day.

 

Oh yes, and here’s Jed with his favourite giant toad statue.

Ella was terrified by it. She wouldn’t believe me that it wasn’t real.

 

Just for fun- “i heart faces” is hosting an orange photo challenge this week, and it immediately made me think of Keona. I could only enter one photo, but made a quick collage just because.

i heart faces- Orange

It’s been a while since I entered an i heart faces photo challenge- but when I saw that it was “Orange” week, I knew it would be perfect for my oldest daughter! She loves the colour orange. Me.. not so much! She is always insisting on wearing orange nail polish. I try to convince her otherwise- but this girl knows what she likes.

 

She thanks you for the opportunity to wear (and drink!) all things orange!

 

What are YOU known for?

The other day, I listened as my girls chattered away about camp, and friends at camp. One would say, “Remember so and so?" When the other didn’t remember- she would say, “You know, the one who cried every night…” or “The one who had long braids…” or “The one who kept lying to people….” fill in the blank with whatever you like. They didn’t mean any harm by their statements. They were just stating the most memorable characteristic of said person. As I sat there listening in, I wondered- what would other people remember about me?

 

As I was walking through Old Navy with all my kids two weeks ago, one of the ladies who works there came up to me and said, “I’ve seen you here before with all your kids, and they are the best behaved kids that I’ve ever seen in my life.” Quite the compliment. (Apparently she didn’t see Jeddy trying to shake toys out of the quarter machine at the back of the store…) Then, we came out of the store, got in the van, and a car pulled up beside us and motioned for me to roll down my window. When I did, a man said, “My wife and I were watching you, with all those kids, and we were betting on whether or not they were all yours. Are they ALL yours?”

I smiled and said, “Yep. They are ALL mine!”

Then the wife leaned across him and said, “You look good for a lady with seven kids!”

Ha! I wonder if I would look horrible for a lady with only 1 kid? Or 2? :P

This outing made me very aware of the fact that people ARE watching me. Watching you. Watching how I handle the children. How my children behave. How I interact with other people matters!

All of these people that I pass in day to day life will probably just remember me as “The lady with all those kids…”

 

Then, I thought to myself- What would my KIDS say about me? What will they remember most about me?

Would I be remembered as the mom who…

 

- Loses her temper too quickly?

- Lets us away with more than dad?

- Plays games with us?

- Reads us books everyday?

- Let’s us sing our lungs out in the van?

- Is grumpy far too often?

- Gets upset over spilled milk?

- Worries about everything?

- Goes to God with every care?

- Never has any fun?

- Is too busy for me?

- Is there when I need her?

 

How do I WANT to be remembered by MY children?

Is the question that I chewed on. I so badly want to always have a close relationship with my kids. I want to one day, when they’re grown up with kids of their own- have them be able to call me their friend.

What do my everyday actions say to them?

Lately, I fear that it has been far too many of the unwanted above…

 

And then what do we, as a family, say to others when we are out and about?

As ambassadors for Christ- just as an ambassador for a country- I wouldn't want to do anything that would cause others to think badly of Him.

Ghandi said, “I like your Christ, I do not like your Christians. Your Christians are so unlike your Christ.”

So often, people are turned off of God because of other PEOPLE.

I pray that God will use our family to bring others TO Him.

 

What you do speaks so loud that I cannot hear what you say. 

~Ralph Waldo Emerson

And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by him.

-Colossians 3:17

A good name is rather to be chosen than great riches, and loving favour rather than silver and gold. 

-Proverbs 22:1

P.S.Thanks for letting me think out loud…. definitely needed to re-evaluate myself and my priorities.

P.P.S. Did not re-read or spell/grammar check this- so forgive me! :)

If you put off taking Christmas pictures until November…

You may find that one coat isn’t enough…

Ella pulled Elijah’s coat open and tried to squeeze her way in. Being the nice brother that he is- he tried his best to keep her wrapped up.

 

The sad part about this is, I bought matching sweaters last month while they were on sale to do the pictures in.

 

And when I insisted that the kids take the coats off for “just a quick minute”- these are the looks that I got…

Keona looks especially impressed.

 

Here’s one of the pictures that I”m not using.

I had to keep telling Elijah, “You look cold. Just pretend you’re warm for a few minutes! PLEASE!”

Apparently he couldn’t pretend to be warm… “Cold” was written all over his face.

 

Oh well, I will have to make do with what I got this year- and procrastinate less next year.

gift

 

Nothing cuts so deeply as a gift. Nothing heals a wound like a gift. Scarring the soul with eternal remembrance, the gift's essence can last a lifetime, and beyond.

 

Gifts are rare these days. Sure people give but not in entire.

You may buy a coffee, or some small desire for a workmate, but is it truly for them, or for you? If they would never know who bought it would you still give? Where would the value for you be in a gift without return? No gift is a gift if given without risk of loss. What kind of giver will only give if they receive as much back? No giver at all.

 

Take our Pattern, Jesus Christ to mind. Without a hint of self-motivation, removed from gain's guise, totally consumed with the benefit of others, Christ gave Himself entirely. He was born to give. He grew to give. He rested to give strength to the weak. He slept to offer rest to the disturbed. He ate to sustain Himself so He could fill and sustain others. He lived the perfect life so He could give us, unholy sinners, His righteousness and name. He died a vile man's death to save vile men. He gave Himself. What an image to be conformed to.

 

We say we give, but we don't. Often chances to be like Christ, and give, come in life. In fact, the more you succeed in them, the more arise. Yet we find so many excuses to hide His nature in our lifestyle. We ignore the poor, because they might just be a scammer, faking like a bum on the street. No. We don't want to buy your chocolate bar. No. We don't want your poppy. 'No thanks, I gave at church.'

 

Even in our giving, we don't give. If you received no tax credit, would you give as much? Could your “missions” budget survive a bill destroying religious charity stature? Question: What gift is a gift at all when you simply get it all back? What sacrifice was it? Where was your faith shown as you invested, rather than gave. Money lover. Gain lover. What the world needs to see is some who are loss lovers. Counting all as dung that we may for a brief moment in life reflect back that which He is to us all the time. Christ gave it all. Do you even really give any? Would you still give if there was no reward or return. If it said, “Give and get nothing, but I will know you loved me.” Would you give? Christ did.

 

So many hearts need a gift of love. Things can only do so much. Yet, when we truly share a gift from soul to soul, we can heal that deep hidden part that every one wishes to hide, the hurt we all face. Damaged at best, every one is hurting now and again. Without those hurts, joy would be hollow. We all face hill and valley in time. So when you see a hurting soul, give as you would receive when you're hurt the like.

 

Try giving yourself away. When you do, you'll wish you could have another of you to give away. Give your self away to your spouse. Give your self away to your children. Give your self away to the Lord who made you. Give you away. Today we are told, 'look after number one'. This is the counsel of the fool. The wise say, 'look after every one'. In fact, if everyone was concerned about every one we each would get a whole lot more looking after then if every selfish troll hides in his hole and ignores the needs of others.

 

Maybe there is someone reading this today with wealth. Use it to drastically change the life of someone. Give. Maybe there is someone reading who is a hoarder of gifts. Gifts are all given to give away. You will never know joy until you learn the secret to the satisfied life. Satisfy others. Give.

 

 

“For whosoever will save his life shall lose it; but whosoever shall lose his life for my sake and the gospel's, the same shall save it.“ – Christ (Mark 8:35)

“Hereby perceive we the love of God, because he laid down his life for us: and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren. But whoso hath this world's good, and seeth his brother have need, and shutteth up his bowels of compassion from him, how dwelleth the love of God in him?” – Ijohn 3:17-18

Enjoying Autumn…

Spring and fall have always been a toss up for my favourite season. I love all the leaves and the wind in fall- but I also adore all of the fresh colours and the rainy days of spring. I think that fact that fall brings cold weather along with it- hands the win over to spring for me though.

 

Last week, I bought Jeddy a new winter coat while they were on sale. Little did I know that he would already need it this weekend, as it SNOWED on our way to church on Sunday!

As much as I’m looking forward to Christmas, with all the trees, and lights, and music while drinking hot chocolate… I am NOT ready for snow yet in October!

Tonight while dinner was cooking, and the big kids were in the basement cleaning up their mess- I took Jeddy and Ella outside to play in the leaves for a bit. Mostly because I thought it would be a great opportunity for some pictures ton of fun for them! And it was! Both of the above… :)

 

I have no idea where she gets this crazy-eyes thing from…

 

Then, Jeddy wanted to join in the fun and “throw some leaves at Mom’s camera” too!

And so he did…

Those two are so much fun! Except for maybe when Ella decides to pull all of the clothing out of the bottom drawer of her dresser, and then sit herself in it.

The drawer didn’t survive.

Not so much fun when they break things…

Does that face say “trouble” - or what?

 

I can’t believe that it’s November 1st!? I have yet to even TAKE the pictures for our Christmas card this year. I finally have an idea! Now, just to find the time to take all the kids out and get the pictures done. I wanted to do a whole family shot- but I think I’ve given in to the fact that it isn’t going to happen. So, I’m settling for pictures of the kids, and a separate picture of Scott and I. Not that anyone cares to see us on the card anyhow! I know they just want to see the kids. ;) Maybe I will work up the energy to take them all out tomorrow after school and attempt a group shot…

 

As for tonight, there is one, single, lonely laundry basket calling my name… For anyone who has ever seen my laundry piles- Can you believe I only have ONE basket of laundry to do!?!? Yay me!

 

Oh, and my talented friend Stef is hosting a GIVEAWAY on her blog for two of her amazing paintings!

Be sure to enter! :)