A Weekend At The Lake

Sunshine, water, children, babies, beaches, boats, SeaDoos...

All these things spell: F-U-N!

We had a blast! Can't every weekend be this much fun?

Ten Years & Three Children Later

Dwayne -

I remember the moment that I realized that I wanted you to be mine. I was 14. You stepped up onto the school bus. I was the 'goody-two-shoes' and you were a little on the bad side. You had long hair (when long hair was cool), you skipped school, you smoked, you were hot.

You didn't know I existed.

We started to get to know each other. My heart would race when you sat in the seat next to mine. We quickly became friends. I don't know why...we had absolutely nothing in common. For two years we were the best of friends. I told you way more than I ever told my girlfriends. Girls can be so girly - backstabbing, gossipy, competitive. You didn't care about all that stuff. You were just you.

I so clearly remember that day at Grandma & Grandpa's. Remember it? Listening to Suspicious Minds, Love Bites and Lady In Red on the stereo? Playing rummy? Eating candies - peppermints, I think? That's the day we started looking at each other differently. Like more than just friends. Looking back, I was just a baby (16 years old). But I was pretty sure that you were the one.

Our wedding day was beautiful. I was still a baby - 20 years old. It was a hot, hot summer day. On our way to the wedding, us girls ran into construction. I was ready to get out in my wedding dress and ask them to let us through already! It did make us a bit late for the wedding, but it could hardly start without me. *wink*

We didn't know the Lord and churches made us a bit nervous. Remember ditching my gum for me on the way out of the church? I forgot it in my mouth and was hoping I wasn't going to choke on it, hidden in the top of my mouth, while I was saying my vows! And remember the minister wearing sandals?!?! I was flabbergasted. I had on $200 lace boots and the minister was wearing sandals!

After the ceremony, we did the traditional drive around town, horns honking. We drove around the traffic circle enough times to make me dizzy. When we went through the A & W drive-thru that poor lady ordering didn't know where to go to get out of the way!

Remember Frank during pictures? He was a resident at the care-home where I was working. Our pictures were taken there because of the beautiful gardens. Frank was in the background in nearly every picture!

We were fashionably late for the dinner and dance. Our first song was It's Your Love by Tim McGraw. Dad & I danced to Butterfly Kisses. Remember how Auntie Barb ripped the button that bustled my train right off my dress while we danced to The Locomotion?! I was exhausted by the time we left the dance.

Good times!

Now, ten years later, you are still the love of my life. I often feel as if I'm living a dream. We have both found Jesus, we have 3 precious boys, friends and family who love us, and a beautiful home in a beautiful place. When I see you somewhere unexpectedly, my heart still skips a beat. I still feel like that teenager in love! Thank you for making my dreams come true!

Happy anniversary, Dwayne! I love you!

His Precious Name

"Oh my God..."

"Jesus Christ..."

"For Christ's sake..."

These words can be said to mean different things. They can be said with awe and reverence. They can be said angrily and cursing. They can be said off-handedly, in general conversation, without much thought at all.

There are many people in my daily life that use these words without honour or reverence. When I hear it come out of their mouths, especially in a cursing sort of way, it hurts me. It cuts me somewhere deep inside.

That is my God. The one who breathed life into me.

That is my Jesus. The one who was nailed through the hands for something that He did not do. For something I did.

Deuteronomy 5:11 says: You shall not misuse the name of the Lord your God, for the Lord will not hold anyone guiltless who misuses his name.

That sounds scary. He will not hold anyone guiltless. But fear is not what drives me to honour His name. It is love.

Jesus said, "Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind." (Matthew 22:37)

Please use His name only in awe & reverence. Choose something else for your not-so-nice words.

Are We Organized Yet?

Our old house had a long counter in the kitchen that separated the kitchen from the living room. Everything collected on that counter. It was the drop-off spot for grubby ball caps, outgoing mail, incoming mail, things to be returned to somebody, money, keys, you-name-it. Anything either coming into the house or going out of the house landed there.

I couldn't stand it!

I like clean countertops. I don't like clutter.

When we were designing our new home, we decided to put in a high counter to sit at. You know, like a bar with high stools. The problem? Our kitchen is right next to our family entryway. I was not going to repeat this drop-off-spot thing.

I created an outbox in our entrance. Nothing fancy, just a plastic tub. Anything needing to leave our home goes into the box. Library books, mail, borrowed things to be returned, cheques to go to the bank, all go into the box. I also have my keys, sunglasses and cell phone in it. Diaper bag? Right beside it.

The box has solved part of the clutter problem on the bar. It's also a great reminder of what needs to leave...when I'm leaving. No more rushing around last-minute trying to find that thing that I borrowed and need to take back.

Wordless Wednesday

Caught In The Act

I was playing, clicking away. Bobbie caught me...

I was shooting this...

And this...

An Award...For Me?

Christina gave me this award.

Blogging is a way for me to journal our lives...with pictures. Blurb is going to make it into a book for me. I blog for selfish reasons. That's why it fascinates me that people actually follow our story. I love it! *grin*

When you get an award, I guess you're supposed to pass it on. Here are my Brilliant Blog picks:

1. Bobbie - My best friend in real life. We are as different as day and night, except for the things that really matter. Hop on over and take a look at her journey.

2. Melissa -A most wonderful photographer.

3. 4 under 3 - She is in love with her children. Her emotions about them pop right through the computer.

4. Katherine - She's further along in the family thing than I am. Her family seems amazing. She is a wise woman with much to offer any young family. Grab a coffee and take it all in.

5. Kilikina - One of the first blogs I happened upon way back when. She parents very intentionally and has 2 beautiful boys.

6. Renata - She faithfully reads my blog since stumbling upon it. She is Mom to four little blessings. City gone country Down Under.

7. Tara - Canadian girl! Need I say more?

Okay, there you have it. Never done this before. Not sure if I'm doing it right. Copy and paste the award onto your blog. Link to who you got award from (me). Tell us your top 7 to that deserve the award.

Gottcha!

Yesterday afternoon brought a bbq at our friends' house. After we finished eating, the guys visited while Bobbie and I played some games with the children. We played Kick-The-Can and Sardines. Kick-The-Can was restricted to the backyard. When we got to Sardines, the whole yard was fair game.


Kobe (2) and I partnered up. B was hiding and we each had to find her and quietly hide with her until everybody had found her. Sounded easy enough.


It was. We found her right away - under the car-hauler trailer at the side of the house. Kobe & I quietly scooted under with her. We were laying on our bellies looking around like bandits.


We could see others coming our direction. For some reason, when you're not supposed to laugh, everything strikes you as funny! I was laughing so hard (trying very hard to be quiet).


Then I saw Bobbie scoot under there with us. She was on her belly looking around like a bandit. That made it funnier.


Two 30-year-old women Bobbie is 31. Just for the record., an 8-year-old girl and a 2-year-old boy all hiding under a carhauler trailer. All laying on their bellies, looking around like bandits. I realized we were very visible from the neighbor who lives across the street. It also looked like the curtains were pulled back just a tad. Funnier still.


Now we were both under there laughing. B (8) was looking at us as sternly as an 8-year-old girl can. After all, it was her hiding spot. Another fit of laughter. (Very quietly, of course!) *wink*


E (10) and Dylan (6) came running down the side of the house. E was a touch in front of Dylan. E went running by and next thing we knew, Dylan was under the trailer on his belly looking around like a bandit!


It happened so fast! I whispered to Bobbie that it from E's perspective, it must have looked like one of those drive-by kidnappings. You know, where the van pulls up and they are whipped away before anybody sees. Only we didn't do it. He just flew under there, quiet as a mouse. More laughter.


By the time we were done, we were giggled out and out of breath. Such fun!

Marriage Material

We were eating spaghetti. Dylan was slurping it and shovelling it in. I watched him for awhile and then this conversation started:

Me (in a very joking, teasing way): "Honey, who are you going to find to take care of you? What kind of wife is going to want such a messy guy?"

Dylan (in a very serious, thoughtful way): "Well, I'm going to find a wife that loves God more than she loves me and is silly."

That sounds like the perfect match for my little man!

Wordless Wednesday

Damage Control

Here is how my afternoon played out yesterday...

After a walk & the park downtown, the boys played outside. Dylan wanted to make a dam and a waterfall in his sandbox. I knew it would be messy. I decide that's just part of having boys.

Dwayne & I stripped the boys down, cleaned them and put fresh clothes on them for dinner.

On the menu for dinner: rice. I make rice often and have no idea why. It's messy! I usually wait until it dries before even trying to clean it up.

Dwayne had to go out, so I left the boys at the table while I went to pour a bath for them. Big mistake. When I came back, there was rice all over all of them (including the baby), on the windowsill, across the whole table, on the floor...everywhere. Rice food fight!

I stripped Dylan down again and sent him to the tub. I stripped Kobe down again and sent him to the potty. Not necessarily because I wanted him to go pee, just to keep him occupied while I cleaned the baby.

Kobe had a huge pee in the potty. He pulled the pot part out to come show me. I was trying to tell him to take it back when he ripped around. Imagine a windmill-type motion. Pee went everywhere in the living room. All furniture was avoided, although I have no idea how. He turned around with his lips in an 'oh' position. The look on his face said, "HOLY CRAP, I didn't see that coming!"

While I was cleaning that up, Dylan decided to make a lake in my bathroom by splashing in the tub.

By the time I was done, I was pooped. I broke my most important housework rule: Don't go to bed until after you've cleaned up. I cleaned up the pee and the lake in the bathroom, but that's it. I woke up to rice on the windowsill and a chicken bone under the table.

I seem to have many days like this. You know, the ones where you do damage control all.day.long. Character training? Proactive parenting? No way, simply survival!

Do you all have days like these?

What's That Winners

Shucks! I thought it was harder than that. I even asked a friend first to see if she could tell and she couldn't.

The was the inside of a pepper - a red pepper.

I didn't realize that more than one person would guess right. But they did so here's the deal...Drea gets a prize because she was first. I randomly chose from the other correct answers and Shannon gets one too! Yay for you guys! Email me at queentomy3boys(at)yahoo(dot)com. I'll email you the details back.

Thanks for playing, everyone!

Pizza Picnic Friday

It's Friday!

All our friends and family know what that means...Pizza Picnic!

The tradition started awhile back. Homemade pizza, a big blanket on the living room floor and a video. The door is open to all who will brave 3 boys, tomato sauce, gooey mozza and softdrinks want to join us.

The next Friday you're in the area c'mon over! Bring your own pizza, though...there's rarely leftovers!

The Power Of Words

Imagine someone saying these things to you. Take a moment after reading each to imagine how it would make you feel:

"That was very thoughtful of you."

"What were you thinking?"

"Don't play with that. Don't speak that way to me. Stop whining. Why are you always into trouble?"

"Thanks for the help."

:::whispering about you::: "Look at her hair!"

"Why can't you be more like your sister?"

"Well done, good and faithful servant."

Words are powerful. God used them to create the universe. And God said, "Let there be light, " and there was light. (Genesis 1:3) Imagine...just like that. Jesus used them to calm the sea. "Quiet! Be still!" (Mark 4:39) Words can make someone feel special. Valued. Loved. Words can sting. Hurt. Scar.

There are many, many Biblical references to the words we speak. I chose a few from Proverbs to share:

With his mouth the godless destroys his neighbor, but through knowledge the righteous escape (11:9).

Reckless words pierce like a sword, but the tongue of the wise brings healing (12:18).

The tongue that brings healing is a tree of life, but a deceitful tongue crushes the spirit (15:4).

Pleasant words are a honeycomb, sweet to the soul and healing to the bones (16:24).

A worthless man digs up evil, his words are as a scorching fire. A perverse man spreads strife, and a slanderer separates intimate friends (16:27-28).

From the fruit of his lips a man enjoys good things, but the unfaithful have a craving for violence. He who guards his lips guards his life, but he who speaks rashly will come to ruin (13:2-3).

Also,

"But I tell you that men will have to give account on the day of judgment for every careless word they have spoken" (Matthew 12:36). That's serious stuff.

I have been thinking about this much lately. Words don't cost us anything to use, so we seem to spew them out without much thought or regard to others. We don't even have to say things with the intent to hurt; sometimes it just works out that way.

Think about your life...

Today, yesterday, last week, last year. How have you spoken to people or about people? Would your words have made them feel valued or hurt? During your life have you generally used kind, loving words or harsh, hurtful ones? How do you speak to your spouse? Your children? Do you speak kinder to a stranger or an aquaintance than to your family? When your children listen to you talk to or about others, what do they hear?

We need to be vigilant in thinking before we speak. Hurtful words cannot be taken back and they can linger, often for a lifetime. There are snippets of conversations I've had with people that are firmly implanted in my memory. Some of the things they've said are heartwarming. Some are heartbreaking. They weren't necessarily heavy conversations. Sometimes just a comment in passing. I don't know why I remember them....but I do. And chances are they don't. Chances are I've said hurtful things to people that they clearly remember...but I don't. Chances are I've said heartwarming things to people that they clearly remember...but I don't.

My prayer..."Lord, please help my words to be kind, tender, encouraging, fun, sensitive. Please help my words to show love, Your love shining through me. Amen."