to have Courage....In Family Life, In Spirituality, In Health, In Living Simply

I'm on a journey...... as we all are. Learning, remembering, re-discovering about health, spirituality, relationships, emotions and the mind.

Friday, December 31, 2010

A Sweet End & a New Beginning

We had the privilege of having my eldest brother and his son spend a few days with us, along with our own dd Layne, and last night we were joined Momentarily (1 sleep) with Rauchelle.  But it was a sweet way to spend part of the last of 2010 with some of those that we love.







And tonight was Shabbat so we celebrated with a Special Meal.
A wonderful way to go into the New Year of 2011.

New Years Apple Challah
(Toveli's Request)

Blessings to all of you,
and all the best for you and your loved ones
in the New Year.

Thursday, December 30, 2010

Don't Touch My Junk (the TSA Hustle)



Here's a light-hearted rap full of truths about the loss of freedom the USA public has accepted from the government under the guise of Protection.  It's got to stop.

Wednesday, December 29, 2010

100 Thing Challenge, an interview

Man vs Debt did an interview with the creator of the 100 Thing Challenge which I found encouraging, and hope to pass that encouragement on to you too. A great way to start the New Year.

Check it out!

Monday, December 27, 2010

Hours Upon Hours

A Boy's Imagination + K'Nex =  some military contraptions


PS.....December Photo Project (DPP) was officially over with
on the 25th, but here's a picture for today, anyways.
I enjoyed doing the DPP, although some nights it was a
bit of a chore, especially when I was ready to bed down
with the Littles.  (Sometimes I didn't upload till the next morning
because bed was better.....ahhh, confessions, now I can
enter 2011 with a lighter heart!)

Sunday, December 26, 2010

(DPP) Fourteen

A new ink-well.  A new calligraphy pen.  A new art, becoming.  
A new 14 year old. At our house.

Today we had Everette's family over to celebrate Danaka's birthday 
and feast on something besides turkey dinner.  
And feast we did. 

We played games.

Took lots of pictures.  
Even pictures of others taking pictures (thanks Laars and Tasha!). 

'Rock, Paper, Scissors' reverberating through our heads. 

Lots of giggles, tickles, and wiggles.
  
An extra 5 pounds, and still a stuffed fridge.

Fun Fun Fun

Happy Birthday, Danaka!

Saturday, December 25, 2010

(DPP) Tumble

Underneath there is the oldest sister, lovingly attacked by the 2 little brothers.  
Lots of fun and alot of noise.

Thursday, December 23, 2010

(DPP) Reflection

Laars points at himself in the silver globe candle holder.

Wednesday, December 22, 2010

(DPP) Patches

Making a Bed Skirt
Just in Time for Mom to come visit!

Digital Sabbatical

I've been taking a break from the computer every Saturday now for the past few months, and then I decided I liked it enough to add another Day-Off per week, so since Nov 30th I've been taking Tuesdays off too.

But I think I want more.

So, I'm jumping into taking a week break from the computer.  One whole week.

This has come about partly from reading this and this.

I find that the computer has added alot of simplicity to my life.  Like shooting off a quick email, or researching some trivia when the children ask a question and I don't know the answer.  I like keeping my genealogy on the computer, etc.  But I know that it robs me of alot of time every day that I sit there.

Not that its bad.  But maybe there is something better to do with my time???

Yup.  Spend time with my lovely family.  And that's what I'm going to be doing this week.  With some family coming home for the Holidays (we don't really Do Christmas, so I don't know what else to call it, but everybody basically gets a break from school or work, so it is a holiday).

So, I'm planning to be offline from Dec 23-29 (other than posting a quick photo for the December Photo Project I signed up for).

I trust that however you Celebrate Christmas or the Holidays or whatever, that you take time to breathe deeply, be in the moment with those around you, look into people's eyes and connect with their hearts.  Be mindful in everything you do, as if its the only thing you have to do today.

Blessings to all of you, my friends and family.

Tuesday, December 21, 2010

(DPP) Watching Movies

We pull the couches up in front of our biggest computer screen and watch a movie.  
No TV for us, but this works just fine.
And now those with needlework projects like to do it while watching a movie, 
or while Mom reads aloud.

Oh, and welcome to Winter (officially).

Monday, December 20, 2010

(DPP) Haircut

Laars doesn't like getting his hair cut.  
I don't blame him.
Those electric clippers buzzing past your ear
must be unnerving.
But Mitch asked me to clip around his ears,
then Laars volunteered himself for a haircut
so Mama jumped at the opportunity.

I love how his smile takes up 
most of his face!

Sunday, December 19, 2010

(DPP) Neighbourhood Rounds

The fire department does rounds of neighbourhoods, collecting non-perishables for the local foodbank, and helping Santa do some PR and handing out candy canes.

Saturday, December 18, 2010

(DPP) A Teacher Visits

Miss Mac comes to visit and bring gifts for the children.
Here she marvels over Maret's art work.

Thursday, December 16, 2010

(DPP) Bowl of Love

This is what my hubby served up for me today!  It was so delicious!
Thanks, sweetheart.

Monday, December 13, 2010

(DPP) Big Sis Little Bro

Mix together Big Artistic Sister with 4 year old Little Brother and some colourful nailpolish the other Sisters just got from Santa's Early Elves and you have Happy Faces!

Sunday, December 12, 2010

(DPP) Santa's Early Elf

I suppose I should say "Elves", the two workers who collected and delivered stickers, and tape, and purses & nailpolish (for the girls), and swords (for the boys, of course), and chocolate bars or Smarties for everybody (amongst other stuffs).

Thankfully, much of it was consumable.

Saturday, December 11, 2010

(DPP) My Cute Red Shoes

Ever since I purchased these shoes, I've loved them.  And I've gotten plenty of compliments on them.

The funniest was when I was strapped on a gurney in the hall of an over-crowded hospital in Mesa, AZ after an ambulance ride.  The ambulance attendents noticed my cute shoes while we waited to get into an emergency room, and they were shocked at how little I paid for them since their wives both purchased expensive, expensive shoes and purses, one of which was like a $500 purse so she could carry her little dog.  And the other wife had had a pair of shoes that had been hundreds of dollars that got chewed by their (bigger) dog and so the wife went out and bought another pair of the expensive shoes.  They went on and on about their expensive wives, and I jokingly said that maybe they were married to the same woman.

Anyways, I've enjoyed my cute red shoes, and while sitting on the ferry today I decided to take a pic of them.  Because I like them.

Thursday, December 9, 2010

Tuesday, December 7, 2010

(DPP) Celtic Knots

These are my favorite candle holders
Remembrance from our time spent on Cape Breton

Sunday, December 5, 2010

(DPP) Nature Journalling

Gaelyn observing her environment.

no internet

This is Karen's eldest daughter, Layne, popping in to say that Karen has no internet until Wednesday.  An imposed sabbatical.  She will see you all next week.

PS. Rebecca, she's still taking photos daily and will upload later.

Saturday, December 4, 2010

Wednesday, December 1, 2010

Photo Project (DPP) and a Writing Workshop

What a day of New Things for Me.

I've never been a part of a photo project but decided "What the Heck" so I'm doing it.

The whole month of December I am going to commit (as long as I can remember on a daily basis) to taking and posting a photo for the day.  Sounds simple, but here I am at 11 pm just remembering that I was suppose to get this up and posted.  And this is only Day One!!!

I know I'm plenty busy, but this appealed to my Creative Side.  The Side that is so often neglected because I'm a busy mom.  And because the Research side of me easily wins out when its helpful with my childrens' school work.  I can always justify the Research part.  But the Creative side seems.....well......somehow selfish.  I know intellectually that it isn't selfish. But a conflict inside makes me feel like its selfish.

But, I'm doing this.  I'm gonna take some pictures everyday, and even if I don't have time to say something or explain, I'm just gonna shoot and put it up here.  Starting Now!!


This is Sigmund Brouwer.  Yeah, looking a bit retarded here, but hey, he was talking about silent but deadly farts, or maybe it was about the spider crawling over his French teacher's head for 15 minutes while everybody stared (rather than listened), or discussing whether any of us would have told him if he had a booger hanging from his nose.
 
I've never ever been to a Writing Workshop, but today I had the privilege of taking Danaka, Maret and Toveli to one put on by Heritage Christian Online School where Sigmund Brouwer shared.
He is from Red Deer (& Tennessee) and spends his time writing, and speaking to homeschool and public school students to encourage them to change their approach and attitude towards reading and writing.

And it was a Wonderful workshop!

Sigmund was totally down to earth, entertaining, utterly honest with tact and huge amounts of encouragement.  We all left there feeling that we can certainly write a whole lot more, with fun, creativity, and purpose.  I know my girls had a great time.  It was an afternoon well spent.

We were all encouraged to Dream.  Get our imaginations going and get it written down.  The editing and spelling and grammar can all be tinkered with later.  But the important part was Story.  Get the Story.  Figure out who your audience is, then tell Story that will draw on the audience's feelings.

Whether its to make us sad, or worried, or get us to laugh, tell us a story that effects our emotions, or else we aren't going to be drawn into Story.



PS....if you want to join the photo project, check-out the green button on the left side there.