Its a New Day

Besides the 31 Days of Thankfulness, because that isn't enough writing, I've signed up to do the National Novel Writing Month.  I have friends who have done it in the past.  The challenge is to write 50,000 words in the month of November. So I've been thinking about what to write about.  I've always wanted to write a book.  From the time I could write I would write up stories (I still have a copy in my keepsake box of a story called Twisted Sisters - a mystery that I wrote in Grade 4) and always dreamed of writing a book. The last few days I was doing some brainstorming and then when Tristan came downstairs the other night - very excited - to tell me that he finished reading the chapter in his book the light bulb came on.  I know what I'm going to write about. At lunch time yesterday I talked with the kids about how I was going to try to write about book about a bunch of kids that live on a farm.  Well their ideas just came pouring out.  "Auntie...

I've read through past 31 Days challenges in the past (from the Nesting Place thenester.com) and though this is my busy time of year I thought it might be a good idea to give it a try.  Some extra 'motivation' to be more active in writing and maybe help me prepare for my National Novel Writing Month Challenge that starts in November.  (nanowrimo.org). There are a number of topics to choose from: Beauty & Fashing, Blogging & Internet stuff, House & Home, Too Awesome to Categorize and Faith & Inspiration along with a few others.  I think I am going to write on the last one and focus on Thankfulness (appropriate for October). If you're on Facebook, you may have seen a few people with the status of Five Days of Thankfulness where they write 3 things that they are thankful for each day.  This is maybe more of an extreme. Over the last month there have been a number of changes and challenges going on and as September/October come closer there are ma...

I have been reading a few different blogs that have been talking about being more proactive about taking pictures and making sure that you are in them - even if they aren't perfect.  You know, those pictures that you wouldn't DREAM of ever sharing.  Interesting in theory, but to put it in practice... that is another story altogether.   Sunday afternoon, I had just come home from lunch at a friends and the 3 oldest were outside playing.  Just as I was going to the sliding doors, Julia came in crying that she wasn't able to play soccer (Tristan is teaching Hannah what to do so that when they play in a few weeks she'll know what to do).  So I told Julia she could come down with me for a bit of a rest until they had to go to church.  We laid down under the quilt and talked about Sunday School, friends at school and then I thought 'I should take some pictures'.  So out came the phone and we decided to make different faces. Julia is the first one to ...

Usually, I am content in being single.  In fact, it would be safe to say that about 95% of the time I am thankful to be single.  Then there are days that that 5% comes crashing through. Today feels like one of those days. It started about 2 weeks ago when we had a baptism at church.  It was just one of those things I was 'merrily' going about my way, vowing with the rest of Riverside to help to with this child, and it hit me. I am probably never going to be standing up there with my husband and our child receiving the sign of the covenant.  While doing dishes in the kitchen, one of the dear men in our church came and put his arm around my shoulder and asked me how my week had been.  It really took everything not to break down in tears.  It was something done out of love but I was just thinking that I didn't have anyone who LOVED me that would do that. This week I was watching R&R's 3 oldest kids while they went on a short holiday.  For 3 da...

The Bad It seemed like a good idea at the time.  Not really a great way to end off the year, but an iron infusion looked like the way to go to try to get my iron levels up.    Betty Ann came with me on that first appointment.  It was nice to have her there to laugh with during the infusion :)  I was in the room with other folks who were getting chemo treatments and blood transfusions.  They all had a good laugh at the dark brown substance that was coming down my IV tube.  The joke was to add a bit of rum to the coke or baileys to the coffee (as it looked as brown as coke or coffee) and I would feel much better.  The whole thing took about 2 hours so not too bad.    After the first infusion, I was a bit light headed afterwards and spent the rest of the evening laying on the couch.  Saturday morning I woke up with a burst of energy - I can't tell you the last time I felt that good!  Admittedly, I overdid it, but I wa...

Today is 6 months of going gluten free.   (It really doesn't feel like I was just in Winnipeg 6 months ago!!!) Yesterday morning, the gastroenterologist called that they had a cancellation so I went in for my 6 month check.  He asked me how I was doing.  Well, my original appointment wasn't until next week so I hadn't fully thought through what or how I was going to say it, so I just blurted out. Terrible. He just looked at me. "What do you mean?" "Well," I started "my migraines have been substantially worse over the last 6 months.  In fact, if I didn't have Celiac disease, I would have given up on this gluten free stuff months ago". He just looked at me and rubbed his head.  "I've never had a patient feel worse." Which made me feel worse. "Well, just keep going and we won't do a blood test or scope again until the spring.  It really isn't worth checking at 6 months." Great (a huge sigh of rel...

 Funny how times just "flies" by when you don't look through the camera.  I was going through some pictures for my next Encourager's Newsletter and came across these from back in May... Cher's birthday! Opening presents with the family  It wasn't a surprise visit for me this time, but there were a few surprises in store for dear Cher and her 40th birthday! First of all, late Saturday night, some people came and snuck some flamingo's on the lawn (the kids counted more than 40).  Cher had gotten up with the dog and thought she saw someone outside and figured it was Agnes doing something.  Good guess! (it wasn't Agnes but she did make the arrangements).  We were going to play it cool (well... we forgot to tell Rich we were going to play it cool) and not say anything about who sent it till we went out for dinner on Monday night, but Rich let the cat out of the bag right away. Monday night was a surprise dinner with some friends.  We had a...

I really don't like change.  Well... that isn't really true.  I love to change the layout of a room or how I organize things, change my clothing and sometimes my hair colour (nothing too radical though to win a bet with Ryan I did do a purple streak in the back - underneath where no one could see it except for Hannah who would look for it and twist that lock around her fingers). I'm talking about change that I have no control over  (there comes that 'control' word again).  Over the last number of years I know that the Lord has been working in my life - to give over control of things.  I have learned that I enjoy fellowship so much more when there are other people in charge, and that my way isn't the only way (this is shocking!!!).  Even as far as health things, I've learned to give over control of planning and accepting that having to cancel last minute might happen (like yesterday when I was supposed to take the kids to the zoo with the Oosterhof'...

It has been one of those weeks.  Well a few of those weeks.  And then yesterday happened. Last Friday I had the last of my 6 iron injections and on Monday I had some blood work done to check my iron levels.  Yesterday I got a call from my family doc saying that my levels went from 4 to 9. 9. I almost started crying over the phone.  I could tell that having those 6 (painful and expensive) injections hadn't done anything.  If anything my migraines were worse.  Every Friday afternoon I would have to lay down for at least 1/2 hour and then would come the migraine that had me in bed for at least a day and a half.  It was one of those things that you really hope is going to work but don't want to hope too much because what if it doesn't. And it didn't. I had a long chat with dear Betts afterwards - and we're going to see if waiting till I've done 6 months of gluten free might help.  Once my stomach has had a chance to 'heal' a bit I might be...

This morning my dear opa went home. It seems odd to be writing those words.  I have been very blessed with not only knowing my grandparents but most of my great-grandparents.  Only a few years ago my great grandmother died. But this is opa. It's just one of those sad/happy/holding back the tears kind of days.  Sad that, though I planned to visit him this afternoon, I didn't get to see him one more time.  He didn't know who I was anymore, but just to put my hand in his big hands and tell him I love him and see him smile.  Happy because the last few weeks and months he has been in some pain and very confused.  What a wonderful thing to be able to grieve with hope - knowing that he is no longer confused or sad or tired or restless or sick.  Now he is in his Father's arms. Holding back tears because oma didn't get to see him this last week.  He was in isolation at the hospital because he had some sort of an infection and she had a cold s...

I was just reading someone's blog post about aunts and the blessing that these aunts were to her.  As I was thinking more about it, I know I have a very unique opportunity with my nephews and nieces that I am so thankful for. This morning, as I realized that I forgot to set my alarm and I had missed the morning news, I was awakened to a still quiet voice in my ear "Auntie Jen, can we watch Wild Kratts?" followed by a quick smooch on the forehead and the sound of feet skipping across the floor to turn on the TV.  "Auntie Jen said ok, but we have to be super quiet".  Living with my sister and brother in law and their 5 children may seem like an odd thing for an almost 40 (but not really almost 40) year old woman to do.  I've written before about how I moved in with them, how well we got along and how when I did leave the kids asked me every week when I was bringing my bed back.  It may not be the 'normal' of how most single people live, but I wou...

Just a quick note before I post this one.  It was hard to write, mostly because I'm in that situation.  Being single.  My hope is that folks reading this will be encouraged and sensitive as well.  If you would like to pass this onto someone, please feel free to do so (does that make sound vain... that someone might WANT to pass it on?!?!) but please do not publish it without asking me beforehand (just so I know where it is going).  This was originally published in the ARP Encouragers Newsletter. _____________________________________________ "So, what does your husband do?" "I don't know, I haven't met him yet." It was an innocent question.  I was meeting a minister for the first time and he was tying to 'place' me.  I was so thrilled to have come up with that response right away (it doesn't happen often) and the poor man turned every shade of red and quickly walked away. When people reach a 'certain age", one naturally pres...

"So, was I right?" I glubbly asked the gastroenterologist yesterday afternoon. "I'm not celiac right?" Then there was that dreaded pause.  "Well, Jennifer" he started thoughtfully "your scope was worse this time than the last time.  I was careful to keep the upper biopsies separate from the lower ones but they were the same.  If the upper ones were worse, then it would have been from acid, but they were the same.  That, along with the 2nd batch of blood work that we did point to Celiac." It was not what I was expecting to hear! He then proceeded to tell me that I'll need to have a bone density test (which is basically just an xray) and if my bones are looking thin (there goes the "I'm just big boned' excuse) then it will be a slam dunk.  My non-existent iron levels, black eyes and migraines would all be explained by Celiac. So over the next few weeks I'll be having that test and hopefully will also be able to have...

March 1st is the deadline for the Wee Quilt Challenge submissions for McDougall Cottage here in Cambridge (is it just me or did that feel like a long sentence?)  The theme this year is "This Ald Sod" and as soon as I heard that I knew what I was going to do (and if I didn't get it done in time I had a postcard size picture already done). This is from the picture up at the top of the blog (I had some time to redesign and since spring is coming I thought I'd take away the dark 'winter' colours).  As Hannah so 'kindly' pointed out, there is not smoke thing coming out the top or a window in the roof - well, with the ladies' retreat the same weekend I ran out of time so blagh :)  The finished product is 11.5"x12.5" and the plaid that needs to be included is in the 'grass' and 'sand' near the bottom of the picture.  I was able to use some 'fancy' stitches from my machine to do some of the quilting, but I didn't...

I was thinking yesterday of 'crazy' things and then my computer when into hibernation and some of the pictures on the slide show started.  I was struck with the realization that I might not be the only 'crazy' one.  Looking at the pictures of the kids it is easy to see that the apples don't fall from the trees (of their parents... not me... oh no... not me..). They start so young - the twins in their laying on the floor can't really move stage (how we miss that!!!) Trying to take a picture of the 3 of us - guess who the nutbar is here? It doesn't get better than trying to stuff a chocolate covered marshmallow in your mouth Looking with great anticipation as the ball goes down the lane.  They were like pros - funny stances and all I'd like to have big ears in this picture Aunti Jen The proof of weirdness is in the pudding This is how they are at home - Anthony is a laughing maniac and Blake, well, Blake always has his mouth op...