Recent Recordings.

Miss Lannie is learning to play the violin. Private lessons began two weeks ago. Practise at home is being both encouraged and tolerated. Thanks Mo for advice on uploading the video!



Kayleigh's recently pronounced self-analysis. "I'm half-Irish, half-Dutch and half-Canadian." Whoa. That's a lot of halves. After seeking an explanation of the Dutch aspect, we were dogmatically informed that since Engie was part of her "family", the Nederlands naturally become a part of the mix. Alrighty then. Wat je zegt!

Little helper in the kitchen. Irish stew. Carrots. Gravy. Mashed purdies. She may actually be three-quarters Irish. Just sayin'.

Morning walks to school are typically brisk, and pretty much non-verbal. Afternoon walks home are usually full of conversation about how the hours were passed at school. But this week, on our quiet Tuesday morning walk, we encountered some roadkill. One family's beloved cat had met with fate, and likely just a few hours earlier had lost its ninth life once and for all. Still intact, it lay sprawled on the grassy part of the sidewalk, mouth gaping, eyes bulging. The girls were mesmerized, so a gawk stop was mandated. They got way too up close and personal for my liking. Don't worry, they didn't touch. But yuck. And participating in the "dead cat wake" became an incentive for our morning walks, with much of our morning conversation centering around the daily decomposition of the cat. I'll spare you the morbid details. But curious little minds must discuss these things.

And now that I've successfully grossed you out with imaginary pictures of rotting felines... we made brownie pops to celebrate Love Month. Brownies and raspberry jam, rolled in white chocolate, sprinkled with delightful little red and white hearts.

Which were devoured this afternoon at break-neck speed, by everyone but the blogging lady. Since I'm pretty sure brownie balls will definitely not decrease the numbers on the bathroom scales.

The little ladies are off to school this morning, sans uniform and instead decked out all in rouge for Valentines. By the sounds of it, the classroom focus today will be on parties and not academics. That's ok.. everyone needs to take a breather on Valentines Day. Even me. And when darling hubby lovingly offered to drive the girls to school on this wet and dreary morning, I... crawled back into bed.

Happy Valentines Day!

L.O.V.E.

February. They call it Love Month. Triggered by Valentines Day, I guess. Not that the 14th has ever been a special celebratory day in our house. Yeah, of course we recognize it... you know, send the chocolate treats for the classmates in school, bake the heart-shaped shortbread cookies. But, since I know I am already loved EVERY day of the year, I see no need for ONE day of commemoration.

L.O.V.E.D...

By my husband, the peacemaker, with his quiet spirit and uncomplicated ways.

By my own little girls who, despite wearing me out on a daily basis, are loved inexhaustibly in return.

But most of all, by my Saviour, the Lord Jesus, the One Who loved me and gave Himself for me.

And we have known and believed the love that God hath to us. God is love; and he that dwelleth in love dwelleth in God, and God in him.
Herein is our love made perfect, that we may have boldness in the day of judgment: because as he is, so are we in this world.
There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear: because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love.
(1 John 4:16-18)

God Will Take Care Of You.

If you're feeling a little down, or maybe just need to be entertained, watch this video link. True words sung with incredible enthusiasm by a two-year-old child.

And that from a child, thou hast known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation, through faith which is in Christ Jesus. (1 Timothy 3:15)

I LOVED it!!

Watch it again, and if you don't know Him, trust the One Who will give you eternal life and has promised to take care of YOU!

No. More. Junk.

Reading over the last several entries on my blog... sort of made me realize just how much of a junk food freak I am.

OK, so I just got back from Ireland where I'll admit to inhaling insane amounts of the best chocolate on earth, and even brought a stash home with me. Which I've been, you know, delving into, every now and then. Fairly often, in fact. Every day, a couple of times, actually. 

However... when I stepped on the bathroom scales this morning, it was merely with the notion of reaffirming to myself that my recent wandering ways in the sweets department had not really done any damage. At all.

But. Let's just say, that when I cringingly stepped off that dreaded measuring apparatus, I vowed to begin a whole new food regime. El pronto.

You're laughing!

Trust me, at the sight of those new numbers, I was NOT laughing.

So bye-bye Roses. Twirls. Toffee Crisps. Heros. Flakes. Lion Bars.
How do I love thee? Let me count the ways.

But I honestly didn't love the counters that showed up on the bathroom scales this morning.

So hello to scant and skinny and sensible portions of fruits and vegetables.



  

No mercy allowed. Today I filled up on the H2O and even did a 5k walk at lunch. And believe it or not, I sweated on a 5k walk. Embarrassing, I know.

So I'm bound and determined to see significantly lower numbers the next time I connect with those blessed bathroom scales.

Bah.

Sushi, anyone?

If you know me at all, you'll know I'm not one for sushi. Except for this kind of sushi.

Fun to make and yum to eat. And they didn't even need wasabi.

Chocolate Chip Cookies.

With a glass of cold milk, this has to be the best after-school snack ever. Hot from the oven, they're full of warm, melt-in-your mouth scrumptiousness. Scent the kitchen up good too!

Only problem is that too many of them will subtly expand your waistline.

And funny thing, it's pretty hard to eat just one.

This year, I think I'll postpone my New Year resolutions.
At least until the jeans no longer fit. And this morning I got them done up without too much effort.

So, pass me another cookie.

Jet Lag.

Back home again. Flew across eight time zones in twelve hours, so for the last few days my body has been desperately trying to overcome the effects of the dreaded jetlag. Hopefully this morning is the last of waking up bright-eyed and bushy-tailed at 3:30am.

My trip was good. Good that my mom actually had some pleasant days during my visit. Good to chat with my dad. Good to spend time with my little sister. Good to see extended family and friends.

But being there with the family definitely made the reality of mom's situation sink in. To see her constantly resting, swallowing pill after pill and gingerly moving around, was certainly very different to what I had been accustomed to seeing on trips home before. A huge change that was difficult in many ways to accept.

Yet, for a few days, just being a part of her world again meant the world to me.

Family.

Had supper with the siblings at a nice burger restaurant. Served us the biggest, juiciest whopping burgers I've ever seen. Too bad I couldn't finish mine! Good food, good times.

Then back to the brother's place for tea and biscuits. And Quality Street chocolates. Yum. More good food.

And lots of free entertainment, compliments of Grace!

A Cold Welcome.

It's freezing here. Has been snowing on and off, making some of the roads a little treacherous. Black ice, they call it here, and "it's wild slippery". You always have to "mind yerself"!

But other than the cold weather, the last few days have been mostly pleasant. Mom and Dad are holding up despite the circumstances, and I am grateful to be here with them, truly enjoying every moment in their company. The new pain meds seem to be giving Mom a little extra relief, for which we are extremely thankful. Her daily appetite seems to be on the increase, so hopefully her daily strength will increase also.

Met up this morning with some special friends at a coffee shop outside Newtownards. It was nice to get out for a visit, and enjoy some good table conversation. The coffee was amazing too, and the 500-calorie scone I ate with it was so delicious that it's bound to have parked itself on my hips for life! But never mind, I enjoyed every bite. And this evening, Little Sis and I are going out for dinner with Big Bro and his family. Looking forward to seeing my Irish nephew and nieces again.

Thank you to all our friends and family who have been continually holding us up in prayer. Please keep praying.

Safe. Sound.

YVR to YYZ. YYZ to LHR. LHR to BHD.

And BHD to Glenholm, where they all say... helloo, seven oh double one four five.

Definitely different circumstances, but thankful to be here safe and sound. Sharon got her cast off today and is looking quite normal except when she's doing her wrist exercises and wrinkles up her nose. Ouch. Dad is looking quite fine with a little midriff extra which also puts me a little more at ease. Mom is looking better than I expected and has a good appetite.

More tomorrow. Now off to bed.