This week, as I had written earlier, was supposed to be full of great appointments and planning and crocheting.
...Then this week actually happened.
Little Red had her eyes checked again. They are doing much better and there isn't even a smidgen of a possibility that she'll need surgery now! Hooray! She keeps her glasses for now, but we'll go back in about 6 months to see if she will even need those!
Tuesday we had workmen in our house creating a bit of chaos. Things are back to normal now, but it wasn't exactly a pleasant day.
Enter yesterday. Yesterday we ate our breakfast and waited for our lovely friend to come to watch the girls so I could take Buddy to our new occupational therapist. It was going to be the first time she had seen him in person, but she was going to give us the results from the different surveys and questionnaires we've already filled out regarding his how he responds to his world. I was super hopeful, as I've only heard great things about this woman, and it has been a long journey to even get to sit in her office. The results she gave us yesterday were like wiping another layer of grime off of a dirty window. We can't see perfectly, but we can see better how Buddy's tomorrows will be. The picture isn't a good one. With this therapist's help, though, there is much hope that Buddy can live a relatively normal life!
About 3 minutes from our arrival S's phone rang and he handed it to me. It was my dad. Strange. I answered, and in those 3 minutes I learned that a woman I have considered to be my grandmother had passed away.
ugh.
My own blood grandmother passed away when I was really little. I have a few memories of her, but mostly they consist of stories my mum tells.
This woman, though, Grandma T, was the one who helped me learn how to make rice krispies, start a row of knitting, took me to Swiss Chalet for special dates, and learned how to skype with me and my kids. She prayed for me, encouraged me, and always wanted to be up on the latest news of my family.
Those three minutes of a phone call made me glad I had made an emergency trip to my parents house in Ontario back at mother's day. I was able to see her for the last time. I was able to introduce Little Bird to her and give Grandma T one last hug and kiss.
I will miss this dear woman. I am glad, though, that she is now with Jesus and far away from the pain and body that gave up.
Hopefully, the rest of this week will look up.
xo,
J
Soli Deo Gloria
Thursday, September 25, 2014
Saturday, September 20, 2014
Preparing for the week
So, I have to admit I failed. Badly. In my apple craziness, I started some apple cider vinegar. I looked up how to do it and was all gung-ho. The first week went well, I watched them, added water to them, and then....I relaxed my watch on them. BIG mistake.
A day or two later, I noticed a smell. It was not a good one. It was a rotting apple stench. The water levels had dipped way WAY too low. The top layer of the peelings/cores was molding and grody. It was super unfortunate. S scooped out the yuck and we replenished the water, hoping all would be well. It was not. In the business of the week, I left them alone again....the smell returned, and this time, we put the jars outside to quell the smell in the house.
...let's just say they were a big hit for the little critters in the great out of doors. Sigh. As we did dispose of them, though, we were encouraged! Once you got rid of the gross bit at the top, the bottoms seemed to be doing exactly what it was supposed to. It was still in the alcoholic part of the ferment, so as we were dumping them, our kitchen smelled like a brewery.
Oh well! Now we know better for next time!
This week is going to be insane for our family. We have appointments galore, friends visiting on the weekend, and Little Red turns THREE!! We aren't doing anything huge like a party or anything, but we are going to have some friends and cake and gifts and the normal type things.
I'm working on a surprise for her, though, right under her nose. On Thursday, I went to the second hand store that is just down the alley from us. They were having a clearance sale. I found a few shirts for Little Red, who is growing like crazy, but more importantly, a dolly crib! The surprise is a little crochet blanket to go along with it. She already has the crib, as if was impossible to hide it when I walked through the door with it.
I'm using up some sock wool that I used to edge Little Bird's special blanket. It's bubblegum pink, and I think it's going to be adorable! I'll post a picture when it's finished - hopefully before next Sunday!
Today, we're going to prepare for the coming week - make sure sheets are washed for friends, decorations for cake started, priorities in order ....those kinds of things!
What's in store for your weekend??
XO,
J
Soli Deo Gloria
A day or two later, I noticed a smell. It was not a good one. It was a rotting apple stench. The water levels had dipped way WAY too low. The top layer of the peelings/cores was molding and grody. It was super unfortunate. S scooped out the yuck and we replenished the water, hoping all would be well. It was not. In the business of the week, I left them alone again....the smell returned, and this time, we put the jars outside to quell the smell in the house.
...let's just say they were a big hit for the little critters in the great out of doors. Sigh. As we did dispose of them, though, we were encouraged! Once you got rid of the gross bit at the top, the bottoms seemed to be doing exactly what it was supposed to. It was still in the alcoholic part of the ferment, so as we were dumping them, our kitchen smelled like a brewery.
Oh well! Now we know better for next time!
This week is going to be insane for our family. We have appointments galore, friends visiting on the weekend, and Little Red turns THREE!! We aren't doing anything huge like a party or anything, but we are going to have some friends and cake and gifts and the normal type things.
I'm working on a surprise for her, though, right under her nose. On Thursday, I went to the second hand store that is just down the alley from us. They were having a clearance sale. I found a few shirts for Little Red, who is growing like crazy, but more importantly, a dolly crib! The surprise is a little crochet blanket to go along with it. She already has the crib, as if was impossible to hide it when I walked through the door with it.
I'm using up some sock wool that I used to edge Little Bird's special blanket. It's bubblegum pink, and I think it's going to be adorable! I'll post a picture when it's finished - hopefully before next Sunday!
Today, we're going to prepare for the coming week - make sure sheets are washed for friends, decorations for cake started, priorities in order ....those kinds of things!
What's in store for your weekend??
XO,
J
Soli Deo Gloria
Saturday, September 6, 2014
When Life Gives You Apples...
This week has been insane. A neighbor of ours has incredible apple tree that bears wonderful fruit. Thing is, though, they don't want any of it this year. Knowing that we asked for a few last year, they were gracious enough to come and let us know that we could strip the tree bare if we were so inclined.
Inclined we are. The first night, three days ago, S and I picked about 60 pounds of apples. SIX ZERO. I came in a little bit earlier than S and started peeling and coring my bag to make apple sauce. S came back with two IKEA bags mostly full, got me to empty them all into one and he went back to fill them up again.
It's been a bit of a blitz to get these apples processed. So far, I've made applesauce, an apple cider vinegar starter (or 6), and apple pie filling. Going on the stove and crock pot right now are apple jelly and apple butter. In my head, I'm dreaming of dried apples and cider.
I'm having to take a break right now from all the coring and peeling because my hands are literally starting to swell from the effort. I have only about 10ish pounds left from the first picking, and I'm thinking they are going to be boiled down for jelly, too.
It's amazing, really, and I have a better understanding of the origins of American Thanksgiving - people who have an abundance of food giving it to others to make it through tough winters. Being on the receiving end gives much cause to be grateful.
The saying about life giving you lemons refers to turning bad situations around...well, I would like to offer a new spin with a different fruit - when life gives you apples, share. Keeping the good things of life to yourself will just end up giving you indigestion and an under appreciation for life. Sharing your joy tends to multiply it!
In apple bliss,
J
Soli Deo Gloria
Inclined we are. The first night, three days ago, S and I picked about 60 pounds of apples. SIX ZERO. I came in a little bit earlier than S and started peeling and coring my bag to make apple sauce. S came back with two IKEA bags mostly full, got me to empty them all into one and he went back to fill them up again.
It's been a bit of a blitz to get these apples processed. So far, I've made applesauce, an apple cider vinegar starter (or 6), and apple pie filling. Going on the stove and crock pot right now are apple jelly and apple butter. In my head, I'm dreaming of dried apples and cider.
I'm having to take a break right now from all the coring and peeling because my hands are literally starting to swell from the effort. I have only about 10ish pounds left from the first picking, and I'm thinking they are going to be boiled down for jelly, too.
It's amazing, really, and I have a better understanding of the origins of American Thanksgiving - people who have an abundance of food giving it to others to make it through tough winters. Being on the receiving end gives much cause to be grateful.
The saying about life giving you lemons refers to turning bad situations around...well, I would like to offer a new spin with a different fruit - when life gives you apples, share. Keeping the good things of life to yourself will just end up giving you indigestion and an under appreciation for life. Sharing your joy tends to multiply it!
In apple bliss,
J
Soli Deo Gloria
Wednesday, September 3, 2014
Contiuing On
Have you heard the news about Iraq lately? Things aren't getting better. Sure, there are people who have gotten out, but there are plenty who have not. It breaks my heart.
It's been weeks, months even, and the danger hasn't abated. You know what, though? If we didn't have the internet or a radio we would have no idea that this was happening. We would continue on in our daily lives blithely unaware. ...Maybe we even do that now, when we do have some basic information of what is happening.
Buddy still went to school yesterday. S still went to work. I still baked and had a friend over. My girls still played. S and I still went to our new psychologist (she is AMAZING and going to give us tools to help us with parenting our atypical little man as well as grow in resilience). Life, for us, still marches on.
It's crazy to me how little changes for the majority of people outside of the crisis zone.
We are continuing on in prayer, and raising more awareness, but not tons else.
What are you doing?
xo,
J
Soli Deo Gloria
It's been weeks, months even, and the danger hasn't abated. You know what, though? If we didn't have the internet or a radio we would have no idea that this was happening. We would continue on in our daily lives blithely unaware. ...Maybe we even do that now, when we do have some basic information of what is happening.
Buddy still went to school yesterday. S still went to work. I still baked and had a friend over. My girls still played. S and I still went to our new psychologist (she is AMAZING and going to give us tools to help us with parenting our atypical little man as well as grow in resilience). Life, for us, still marches on.
It's crazy to me how little changes for the majority of people outside of the crisis zone.
We are continuing on in prayer, and raising more awareness, but not tons else.
What are you doing?
xo,
J
Soli Deo Gloria
Monday, September 1, 2014
Plunking Notes and Praising Hearts
Back when I was 5 I had the pleasure of taking piano lessons. I didn't do very well, and I feel like I was the stereotypical kid who didn't practice enough, nor cared enough to even notice. I do remember crying in most every lesson, but I don't really remember why. My recollections don't really seem to be all that joyous.
I also don't really know what's changed in the last 22 years, but the switch has been flipped! Last week, a friend of mine came over to watch my girls while I took Buddy to his kindergarten open house (WHAT? how can he be that old already?!). When I came back, Mr. P and I talked until S got home. It was a great time to catch up and encourage each other. The other thing that came of our conversation was that he was willing to lend me/us an extra piano keyboard that he had 'just lying around'.
AH! I was silly-school-girl excited about the prospect of playing the instrument again. I had no idea where to start or anything. I know I am sort of still able to sight read, at least for vocal music, but the last few days have shown me that is a good start, but not as useful as I had hoped. I skyped with a dear brother/friend of mine who plays extremely well. He was able to give me some 'easy' direction of how to improve technique as well as refamiliarize myself with the piano. The excitement level went up a few notches. I really could hardly wait to unzip the keyboard bag and plug it in...but first, I had to procure it.
Friday rolled around and I asked (read: begged) Shane to go with me to pick it up (I have a serious phobia of getting lost...no joke). He said no. AAAAAAAAAAH! What was I going to do? How could I wait another minute. Then, he remembered he had to pick something up from work, so why not take the kids along and go get the keyboard too?
I was thrilled! We went to his work, then we were on our way to our friends' house. Twenty minutes later, I had the stand up, the keyboard out, and was able to make my first few notes. Oh how awful it sounded!
My goodness. Some things, like riding a bike, you never forget (so they say), but piano is, sadly, not one of those entirely rememberable things. Alas, I really had to start from square one...or at least 1.5.
I printed off the free music sheets my dear friend had pointed me to and I was on my way! It took about an hour or so of CONCENTRATED effort to even get the first exercise to a point where it kind of resembled what it was supposed to sound like. I was encouraged, but most of all, I was grateful.
It seems to me as if God is letting me enter in to a spring season in my life. Things are often muddy and gross, but the chill of winter is gone and new leaves are emerging! I am thrilled. ...more than thrilled, really.
Though I may not be making a beautiful sound on this new-to-me piano, you can sure bet that it is joyful!
XO,
J
Soli Deo Gloria
I also don't really know what's changed in the last 22 years, but the switch has been flipped! Last week, a friend of mine came over to watch my girls while I took Buddy to his kindergarten open house (WHAT? how can he be that old already?!). When I came back, Mr. P and I talked until S got home. It was a great time to catch up and encourage each other. The other thing that came of our conversation was that he was willing to lend me/us an extra piano keyboard that he had 'just lying around'.
AH! I was silly-school-girl excited about the prospect of playing the instrument again. I had no idea where to start or anything. I know I am sort of still able to sight read, at least for vocal music, but the last few days have shown me that is a good start, but not as useful as I had hoped. I skyped with a dear brother/friend of mine who plays extremely well. He was able to give me some 'easy' direction of how to improve technique as well as refamiliarize myself with the piano. The excitement level went up a few notches. I really could hardly wait to unzip the keyboard bag and plug it in...but first, I had to procure it.
Friday rolled around and I asked (read: begged) Shane to go with me to pick it up (I have a serious phobia of getting lost...no joke). He said no. AAAAAAAAAAH! What was I going to do? How could I wait another minute. Then, he remembered he had to pick something up from work, so why not take the kids along and go get the keyboard too?
I was thrilled! We went to his work, then we were on our way to our friends' house. Twenty minutes later, I had the stand up, the keyboard out, and was able to make my first few notes. Oh how awful it sounded!
My goodness. Some things, like riding a bike, you never forget (so they say), but piano is, sadly, not one of those entirely rememberable things. Alas, I really had to start from square one...or at least 1.5.
I printed off the free music sheets my dear friend had pointed me to and I was on my way! It took about an hour or so of CONCENTRATED effort to even get the first exercise to a point where it kind of resembled what it was supposed to sound like. I was encouraged, but most of all, I was grateful.
It seems to me as if God is letting me enter in to a spring season in my life. Things are often muddy and gross, but the chill of winter is gone and new leaves are emerging! I am thrilled. ...more than thrilled, really.
Though I may not be making a beautiful sound on this new-to-me piano, you can sure bet that it is joyful!
XO,
J
Soli Deo Gloria
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