One Part Inspiration...

Today, after the soccer game, where my #2 son was playing in a district final, my husband and I took a trip down (his) memory lane.  The soccer game happened to be in the area where my husband grew up.  His elementary years were spent there.  Instead of driving directly home, we took the roundabout route. First, we drove by the house where he lived.  Apparently, it looked very similar to when he and his family lived there.  He reminisced about which neighbours gave the best candy at Halloween and how his mom made him give up the pillow full of candy so she could re-gift it to the other neighbour kids who were trick-or-treating there.  He slowed down beside the house where they gave out pop.  We had a minute of silence for their generosity, which forever imprinted him with what is the proper stash to have beside the door when the doorbell rings on October 31. Next, we dropped by the entrance to the park where he got in big...

I am particularly pleased with this picture because it took me three hours to create it.  When the kitchen and dining room were torn apart, I had to take everything out of the pantry cupboard and move it into the mudroom.  When it was time to put it back,  I decided to design a cupboard with super-functional order. First, I re-purposed some metal shelves I had originally put in the dining area.  This essentially gave me two shelves in one, as you can see on the bottom shelves. This way, I had room to put the mixing bowls higher and storage items on the 'lower' shelf. The flour and sugar containers were the biggest, so they had to occupy the only shelf that would accommodate them height-wise. On the third shelf down from the top you will see that all the spices are alphabetically ordered.  (Good job there's only 8 of them).  The baking spices are on the left.  The baking condiments (like chocolate chips) are on the righ...

This is a project I did with one of my groups.  We made a photo collage with their thoughts written down of things they were thankful for.  I can't show you their faces, but I can show you their signs.  Counting our blessings isn't that hard, once we start - and when it boils down to it, it's the simple things (that aren't so simple) that we name when we are asked.

The Thanksgiving hymns I chose this year for the Special Services, were particularly meaningful to me.  In the programs, there wasn't time to go into why I chose them, but this is the venue right here.     This is My Father's World v.3 This is my Father's world Oh, let me ne'er forget That though the wrong seems oft so strong, God is the Ruler yet. This is my Father's world, The battle is not done.  Jesus, who died, shall be satisfied And earth and heav'n be one. Oftentimes, I get discouraged with the here and now.  There are so many sad things that happen - both in world events and in the lives of people whom I love.  I find it so encouraging to know that "the battle is not done".  The story isn't finished.  God is still on the throne.  There will come a day!!!! Children of the Heavenly Father v.3 and 4 Neither life nor death shall ever From the Lord His children sever; Unto them His grace He sho...

This week, I was looking for excuses not to go over the material that would be on my final exam for Floral Design Basics 1.  This seemed the perfect video to encourage me.  It made me laugh and I thought I'd share it with you.

I haven't had a bath in three years.  I like to say that to people, just to see their reaction.  When we moved to The Pokeaway, we made the decision not to put a bathtub in the upstairs bathroom.  Our reasoning was that most people like to take a shower and we didn't really need one. We planned to put one in the ensuite.  - What I didn't anticipate was that the ensuite would be three years in the making.  Many times during these years, I have bemoaned the fact that I couldn't just hop in the bath when I felt like it. Most of the people who were close to me heard me mumble on more than one occasion "If I had a bathtub, I would be in it right now."  I would dream about it sometimes.  Bubbles.  Candles.  A good book.  Music.  It called to me, but like a butterfly, it eluded me. Friends offered to let me use their bathtubs.  Much as I appreciated it, I could never quite bring myself to call them up and say "Hey, just feel li...

Something I have always wanted to do is take a Floral Design Course.  The first year we were married, I looked into it but it seemed too expensive.  Other years, I looked into it, but the kids were too little, or their schedules would conflict with the hours of the course. This fall was the culmination of the dream.  I was waiting for the brochure to come in and it didn't.  The week after school started, I looked online to see if the course was being offered.  It was.  The start date was that same day.  I scrambled around and called my husband. He knew I'd wanted to take this course for a long time and right away said "Well, you'd better register for it". This was a sacrifice on his part, because the course ran on Saturdays, which would mean no pancake breakfasts for a while.  However he was willing to take one for the team and I ran off to register and begin the course. Right away, I knew I was going to love it.  I began learning abo...