OCD

It’s August 31st.

Tomorrow is the first day of September. Which means… 3 months to go!

I am by nature, a numbers person. Today, I quoted my 4th grade bike lock combination to Keona. I can tell you every phone number of every best friend I’ve ever had, and I create a countdown to almost everything without even thinking about it, in my head. Call me crazy… Keona did.

I am also a planner. I like to plan something way ahead of time, mark it on the calendar, prepare for that date, and then count down the days while looking forward to it. Maybe that’s where Jeddy gets it from?

6 more days til school…

11 more days til Jeddy’s 5th birthday…

7 more til mine…

16 until the Blue Jays vs Yankees game…

93 til baby…

Did I mention that I may have a slight case of OCD?

Which wouldn’t be such a big deal, if it didn’t cause me such problems when things don’t go as planned. Or when I can’t plan things. Or when there is no way of knowing what is coming next, if anything at all.

It doesn’t seem like that long ago, that I was blogging about Scott finishing Bible college and us praying about where God would have us go from there. Now, we’re praying about what’s next. I’m not ready to share too many details yet- but let’s just say Scott has a big dream. I completely share this dream with him, but like I said… I want to plan, and be practical, and analytical… And well… God doesn’t usually work that way. I’m learning a big lesson on faith right now- relying completely on Him. Because right now, none of it is in my control.

I’m so thankful that He has a plan for us, a countdown in His timing, and that He is preparing us perfectly for the job He has in store.

Speaking of Jeddy, (kind of…) he was watching a movie of his choice in the basement with Ella and Elijah the other day while the girls and I sorted through this years’ school stuff when he came wandering up the stairs. He climbed up next to me on the couch, put one arm around me and the other on my belly, and said, “I love you, Mom.” Just like that. Then, he hopped back down and wandered back down to the basement to finish watching his movie. How could I NOT want another boy???

 

Speaking of school stuff… we are finally ready to go! I’m excited to have some routine back in our lives, the kids are excited about their brand new notebooks, and freshly sharpened pencils… but what I think we’re all most excited about…

I invested in some old, character-building novels for literature this year. Twenty-seven of them, to be exact. All written in the 1700’s and 1800’s.

I have had to guard them under lock and key to keep my girls from getting into them and reading them before the school year! Our plan is to read one together each month. It may work out to be more than one a month- we’ll see how it goes.

I have a feeling that we may be doing some extra reading while we are on our extended Christmas break in December… ;)

 

Ah, how I love feeling my baby kick.

 

Remembering to slow down and enjoy the moment,

Jac

 

P.S. All my kids made it home safe from camp. No tornadoes- praise the Lord!

P.P.S. Yes, I always gain 60-70lbs. With every pregnancy… :/

Camp, Thunderstorms, and Crocheting

Whew! Time is flying… I’ll be 25 weeks this Friday.

I’m currently sitting in front of the TV, watching the weather channel, and all these crazy storms that are passing right over the camp that 4 of my kids are currently at. Tornado warnings… Ugh! I’m sure the girls are just fine, and probably think it’s a great adventure. Elijah however, who has dreams about me leaving him behind and a tornado sucking him up… Lets just say I’m a little concerned that he may not find the Tornado drills quite so much fun.

Ella’s new favourite sayings, “What in the world!?” and “Oh gweat!”

Though she definitely has some attitude issues, she is irresistible.

Today, all she wanted to do was sword fight with her Daddy. Once he had to go to work, she spent the afternoon playing lego with Jeddy.

Ella and Jed, have been best buddies these past two weeks, as my only non-campers.

Poor Keona, has been bored out of her mind the last few days. She really doesn’t know what to do with herself without the other girls here.

She had a great time at camp during her week though! Other than coming home and having to straight to the hospital with a spasming neck muscle…

You can see how she was holding her neck in a crooked position here…

(Camp photos courtesy of Calvin)

Keona and her friend Kaitlyn

Apparently, her Uncle Robbie was her personal bodyguard for the week and he did a good job protecting her from some boys who were angry with her for trying to save the toads they were torturing. Robbie stepped up and said, “Touch her and die!” Hahaha… Gotta love that.

Keona’s cabin

Before she went to camp, Keona was able to finish the blanket she was crocheting for Danica.

I’m pretty impressed with her first attempt at such a large project. She already has plans to make another blanket for our baby. It will have to be neutral, since we have no idea what the baby is!

Did I mention there are only 99 more days to go!?

Jeddy has me doing a countdown.

On another note, I can’t believe how quiet my house has been this week! Making half a dinner, doing half the dishes, only putting three kids to bed- it has been so strange! We even took the car when we went out for ice cream on Monday night- no bus! ha…

Anyhow, it’s late and I’m exhausted. I’m really due for another belly pic- I’ve atleast doubled in size since the last one. A lady at church asked me how far along I was and when I told her I was 24 weeks, she said, “Oh, you’re big!”

I nodded and laughed.

“You’re going to have a big baby!” She insisted.

“No… I have small babies. I just get really big…” Was my reply.

And it’s true. Sixty to seventy pound weight gain, for a 7lb baby…

Oh well… More details of my last OBGYN appointment coming up with the belly pic! 

Family

 

 

They say, “Birds of a feather flock together.” Is that family? It’s family in kind perhaps, but not in spirit. It’s family out of necessity even, but not a loving cushion against the world’s harsh realm. No, thousands of blackbirds flocking together are no family. Just being a group of a kind who stick together for mutual benefit doesn’t make it family. Being a part of the Geese’s “V” in the late fall, when the leaf colours begin to change, doesn’t make you part of the family. If one were to fall or tire, and drop from the sky, the flock would not stop to aid, the rest would not carry him through. None would mourn that one’s death, but instead, they would simply fly on, as though nothing had happened. No, family is more than being together, and its more then just a social collection.

 

Family is knit in love, and broken by nothing. It is gained by gift, and given forever. No matter what the effort, one is always family. Though they live in a different home, or fly with a different flock, when it comes to who you are, you are still a member of your family. Some by birth, some by adoption, some by vow, but all in the gift of love and forgiveness, received in that eternal bond that never breaks, family.

Family are the ones you want there when it means the most. Family share “popping the question” and family see the vows exchanged. Family rejoice in excitement at the announcement, and then anxiously await the climax of birth. Family are there to help when we recover. It’s family who celebrate birthdays, and anniversaries, and magnificent accomplishments. We want family to be proud, and we want them to see our best, through really, to family, that’s not really what’s important. Families are constantly trying to reunite, to somehow gain the good given from our last great meeting. It’s our family that we would labour all day to give a half hour meal. It’s our family that we would labour our life away for, and deny ourselves for, so that they can enjoy some good of our labours.

We trust family when we are at our weakest, and when we are most in need; it’s family we can call. When disease attacks, it’s family that toils late in the night in prayer, and works without reward to see that nothing is lost for that shaken one. Family stands by in the darkest times, and in the most perilous of hours.

There is always family to call, if a tire goes flat, or a cheque bounces. It’s family we think of first, when bomb siren rings, or the earth shakes, or the storms devour the land. Tragedy only strengthens our resolve and fortifies our wills. We will not be torn apart no matter what comes, no matter how bad, no matter the circumstances, be it life or death.

We know we will never go hungry, if we are so humble as to ask our family. We know, as long as we have family, we have a safety net if we should fail. We also know, there is always someone who needs our help. There is always a channel to be unselfish, to give, and to show our love from within.

It hurts to lose family. When one is gone for a time, it nags constantly of worry and doubt. When one is gone forever, mourning wrings the tears without notice or schedule, when smile or charm passes briefly within our memory. So much love given, so much time spent, and so many memories shared; was that all lost with the losing? What is the worth, if we eventually fade and leave, and part ways in death? The truth, family is meant to be forever, not just for life.

 

Death is a thief easily caught. He is a foe already conquered. We need not part forever, from our family. God did not make family so that we are missed when we’re gone, but rather to remind us that we should seek to meet again. Eternity is but a step away for us all, a lesson often restated in remembering those we miss.

God would give you family forever, His family, the same way we have given others our family. The same way we accepted those, to whom we’ve decided to love, and made them as blood, and took them for ours forever, God would vow to you today. He gave His Son on the cross to give you and your family an eternal reunion. Don’t miss it.

Receive His forgiveness and love today, in His gift of eternal life. Become a part of His family, and enjoy the goodness of family that is forever.

  

“He that hath the Son hath life; and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life.” – 1 John 5:12

“But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name: Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.” – John 1:12

“Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God: - 1 John 3:1

Wordless Wednesday: I don’t even remember what was going on…

I know I mentioned the wall colour yesterday, but in my defense- we painted the walls this colour when we had white couches…

Can’t. Wait. To. Paint.

Baseball, Boxes, and Benches!

Last Friday, Keona turned 11. Hard to believe my baby is getting so close to her teen years! She spent the day at a St. John’s ambulance course, and became certified to babysit. She has a little card for her wallet and everything! Not that I’ll be leaving her at home with all of her siblings any time soon… But I will feel more confident about it when the time comes.

While she was out for the day, Robbie and I went out to pick up her present. It was an amazing find on kijiji, and she was more than a little surprised when she walked into the livingroom to find it sitting there waiting for her!

Scott told me to take it for a spin when Robbie and I arrived home with it- I declined.

On Saturday, we took Keona, the triplets, Elijah, Robbie, and the girls’ friends Somiya and Aislinn, to a Blue Jays game. I didn’t realize that we wouldn’t be able to see the jumbotron from our seats. The upside- we were in the shade, and a ‘no alcohol’ section! Elijah paid attention through the whole game and learned alot about baseball. The girls on the other hand, when asked if they enjoyed the game- replied, “We enjoy the food!”…

 

Speaking of baseball, the kids have wanted to play it every time we go outside! Except Keona, she’s busy riding her new bike… Anyhow, tonight I told Elijah and Jed that I would play with them after dinner. After pitching a few to Jeddy, Elijah wanted to try and pitch to him. He threw one underhand, and Jed just missed it. He threw one overhand, and Jed got it right in the mouth. Did I mention that we were practicing with a softball because Elijah is going to play a game with one this weekend? Ugh… Bad idea, Mom! It bled. He decided to ride his bike after that…

 

Can you guess what time of year it is???

That’s right, preparing for back to school time! I think that we had a package arrive almost everyday last week, full of curriculum. There were still 3 more boxes to come after I took this picture. BUT… we’re almost set! I’m still on the look out for a good wall map of Canada, and possibly one of the world as well. I’ll need to pick up some binders, pencils, erasers, etc... But the big stuff, is taken care of! What a relief. Especially since I made alot of changes to our curriculum this year. I’m looking forward to sharing our Literature books in a post soon. :)

Last but not least, this table was an $8.99 Value Village find. This same table that we found both of our cats locked in one morning. BOTH cats, locked in the table, with a handful of food… And of course, no one did it! We eventually found out that our first guess, was correct. Our little animal lover, thought that it would make a good cage for the cats. Atleast he remembered to give them some food!

Ok.. back to my before picture. Yes, before! I just refinished this table, and am so pleased with the results! Now, I just need to paint over the hideous colour currently in my livingroom, and it will look right at home!

BTW- both of our cats are fine… :)

Oh, and as for the “benches” part- the bench with all of the boxes sitting on it, is my next refinishing project. Is it too early to be nesting?

 

124 days to go until baby!

Jeddy wanted a number…