Saturday, December 18, 2004

my first cold

Sarah has her first cold. She's all stuffed up and I call her snuffalopogus. Her sneezes spray out snot and she is more moody than usual. We were up more at night so when it was morning Andy took care of Sarah so I could sleep till the afternoon.
Went to a Christmas party at my friend Keela's house in Langley and Sarah was a little overwhelmed. Dad did a good job of keeping her good comfortable company. Baked some cranberry orange loaf today which smelled up the house real nice - like Christmas I think. Brought one loaf to the party.
Yesterday I went to a couple thrift stores on my bike. Found some gifts for AA that I'm excited about. It was a beautiful day. Mt. Baker looked really cold and crisp.
Cherise and I are planning on going to the Atlantic Ballet's presentation of Merlin in Mission in February. I'm looking forward to that.


Thursday, December 16, 2004

killer gingerbread and talking pumpkin seeds

...would have been the title of my blog yesterday, so it will be today's title. That gingerbread I rolled out more of yesterday did a number on my wrists (almost all recovered now today) and as I was heating up the oven to bake it so were some pumpkin seeds Andy had heating up. When I took them out they were sizzling, which kind of sounded like talking.
Sarah tried out her Merry Muscles again today. Didn't bounce too much, but I think she liked it.
Felt today like I understood the phrase "house wife." Have kind of felt like I'm kinda always behind on house work and have felt married to the house.
It's fun to see Sarah's body language when she gets excited to see me. I'll approach her little chair that she's in and maybe say something to her, leaning down to her, and she'll start kicking and wavying her arms and smiling. Also, I enjoy our silent communication - like when I smile at her silently and she smiles back. I think it's so cool when she smiles when she's waking up - looking at me from her playpen/bassinet.

Wednesday, December 15, 2004

a few days

It's been a few days. Some recent highlights include having some friends over Friday night. Brent and Jody and their son, Joseph (18 months) who really initiated our highchair. It was fun. We share a lot of the same perspectives. For example re: consumerism.
Saw my good friend Amy from Cranbrook at the Midnight Gladness Sale at the House of James that same night as well. We got caught up in the coffeeshop, devotional section and children's department. I grabbed some apple cider on the way out the door too. Yum. I brought Sarah and a few other people met her too.
Made cookies today with Cherise. This gingerbread recipe was really dry so it's hard to role out and the cookies are really thick - hardy things they are. To the gym tonight - not many people there...then to get some green vegetables. I was pretty tired when I was at the checkout so I asked the girl to count out my change for me :) Then I turned around to rush out (Andy waiting with a getting hungry Sarah at home) and I ran into one of those metal pole-dividers that makes the aisles. Oh boy.
Saturday we went out to Sumas mountain to get a tree. We thought maybe it was just fir trees that gave me a headache. We tried a real tree our first Cmas. So we got a hemlock (actually the top of one). Andy says all the trees out their won't survive so it's like we're thinning them (only one). Anyway, we brought it home and it did give me a headache too. Oh boy...and it was bigger than I thought it would be - took up a lot of space. So now it's in the backyard outside our kitchen/computer window. That's pleasant. We may put lights on it, but I like it how it is too. I took a picture while we were there that will be entitled "The Trinity." I took it looking up the trunks of three trees. I think some sun was there too and blue sky behind the trees...beautiful.
Sarah Bara...had some uncomfortable hickups today and was crying a bit with them and I made up a song that repeated, "You have the uncomfortable hickups," and then, "and you're ok." I thought, 'with a baby, my life is kind of like a musical. I break into spontaneous song about all sorts of things.' But I can seldom remember the songs afterwards.
It would be good to go outside tomorrow. Yes, that will be high on the priority list...and roll out the remaining gingerbread.
Is everyone in Abbotsford entering the "Win Your Cmas List" contest in the Times? I wish you could enter online. That would be simpler. Don't know if I'll make it out to Peardonville Rd. Perhaps just send in one entry.

Sunday, December 12, 2004

Rich this Christmas

I am rich because I have...
...Christ in my heart to guide and teach me
...a lovely husband
...a precious daughter
...plenty of clothes
...nourishing food
...a very warm house
...family who are related by blood and through Christ
...gifts and talents that are fun to operate in
...a strong healthy body
...joy
...peace
...life in Christ
Thank you for coming...to be man...God with us...among us...to know our weaknesses.
Thank you for coming and starting into motion the plan - to save us...if we give up and surrender to you.
Thank you for life forever, starting now.
Thank you. Thank you. I smile. I am rich.

Wednesday, December 08, 2004

but I was ready

Another day of milk puke...got two shirts doused today. One time when I was burping Sarah, with flannel recieiving blanket cupped under her chin, the milk flowed off the blanket, ran down the arm of the couch and into a library book that was inbetween the couch cushion and arm. I thought to myself, "...but I was ready."

Went to the House of James today while my mom looked after Sarah. Rode my bike. That's exactly how I used to go to work, so it kinda felt like I was going to work. Wierd. It was sure easier to look around when Sarah is not with me. Sarah slept lots today. This evening was Andy's work dinner for Cmas at Earl's in Langley. Fun night. I had their warm spinach salad with chickpeas, olives, sundried tomatoes, red onions...Yum. And gingerbread with roasted apples for dessert. Talked to another wife there who has a 2 yr. old. As we left she said, "She looks fabulous" and said to Andy too, "Nice wife." Awh, how encouraging. I borrowed a skirt from my Mom for the evening. My old ones don't fit yet. Sarah was babysat by the other grandma - Andy's mom, and she slept the whole time.
I am so looking forward to my friend Amy who is coming to visit in the next little while. She's from Cranbrook and worked at camp with us (You can see pictures of Andy and I etc. on this site. See COLTS sections). She is a delightful person.
Weirdest snack tonight...leftover baked soybeans and oatmeal with Udo's oil. The chocolate chip bar I had earlier just didn't cut it:)
Well my friends and visitors, that's all for now. May you know His peace.

Monday, December 06, 2004


Sarah on our bed. Taken a couple of weeks ago?

Sunday, December 05, 2004

riding by

Nice weekend. Sat. I slept a bunch, I think, and Andy took care of Sarah...VRC in the evening. We also did some 'Christmas creating' in the evening. That's all the details I can give on that. Went on a short bike ride this morning. It was cooold on the ears. I rode past our old house and the house of our neighbors where we played so often. The bushes at our neighbor's place that we hid in where ripped out...and the house was gutted and I'm not sure what kind of state it was in (being renovated or torn down?). That was kinda sad. Then, I found a five dollar bill stuck to the road. It was wet. Wow. That was the second five I've found. The other was at Ska-Ha in Penticton on a trail that leads up to a climbing area. It was very dry there and that one was almost blowing away.
On another part of my ride I went past "Bevan Park", where we used to go sledding. One particular sledding adventure down this steep treed hill (which looks much shorter and not so steep now) ended up with me face-planting a tree. Ouch. That was hard
!
Went to Andy's parent's place for lunch. That was very nice. Good to talk with people and see them interact with Sarah. Then home and slept and watched a movie with Andy.

Saturday, December 04, 2004

wet coast

Was thinking about how it is so wet here where we live cause it's been rainy for a while. I like this weather though - the rain and our wet moderate climate. What do I like about it? I like that we don't have a long hot summer where I have to hide from the sun (I burn easy). The air is stinky in the summer (pollution gets stuck in our valley). You can go outside all months of the year without spending 10 min. bundling up, like you'd have to for most Canadian winters. So, I'm happy where I live...especially in the fall and winter.
Was also thinking about how when it's rainy for a long period of time, the promise of good weather seems more sure...or is it that it makes the promise more valuable? I know this weather cannot and will not go on indefinately so it's kind of interesting to wait it out and see when it will end. You know there are mountains behind the clouds and it's just a matter of time before you see them. When these dry days come I tend to not take them for granted.

Friday, December 03, 2004

a few words

...before I sleep. Walked a bit around town today. To the House of James (HOJ) then to Human Resources, back to the HOJ where I fed Sarah and sat with my grandparents and Mom and Dad who where having lunch. Then Sarah was squirmy and tired so we took off back home.
Got the decorations on the tree today. And set up our Peruvian nativity scene (Joseph, Mary and Jesus).
I got Michael W. Smith's "Christmas" album - the old one, complete with keyboards and songs I remember from yesteryear. It's short, but I feel a part of my history :)
Made those falafels for supper. Andy made tortillas and we had the falafels in them with lettuce, cucumbers, tomatoes and this tahini-tamari sauce. Quite an intensive meal but we have lots of leftovers.
Went to this Christmas dessert gathering with young couples at our church this evening while my parents babysat. We met two new couples. One had been married 3 weeks, the other 6 years and had a 3 year old. I got some '80s fruit ceramic coasters from the gift exchange. They had a hilarious description on them - "Sophisticated and rich, the perfect ambiance coaster to set the right mood for that special evening." So hey, if anyone has a special evening coming up, let me know and I can lend you these 'special' coasters.
Andy is hoping to repair the flat on my bike tomorrow and I hope to go for a little ride!! I last rode in March - so long ago. No, I was on a kid's bike at camp when I was pregnant, but that hardly counts.
Talked to Sarah Kamp tonight who has a 7 week old. Boy he is small. It's hard to imagine Sarah (our Sarah) was that small. Andy said she was smaller. She is a very rapid grower.
Read Psalm 10 today and thought of the so many who've suffered and died at the hand of other nations/people. Here is Psalm 10:12-18 NIV
"Arise, LORD ! Lift up your hand, O God. Do not forget the helpless. Why does the wicked man revile God? Why does he say to himself, "He won't call me to account"? But you, O God, do see trouble and grief; you consider it to take it in hand. The victim commits himself to you; you are the helper of the fatherless. Break the arm of the wicked and evil man; call him to account for his wickedness that would not be found out. The LORD is King for ever and ever; the nations will perish from his land. You hear, O LORD , the desire of the afflicted; you encourage them, and you listen to their cry, defending the fatherless and the oppressed, in order that man, who is of the earth, may terrify no more."
Amen. Goodnight.

Thursday, December 02, 2004

social butterfly

It seems overnight that Sarah has become a social butterfly. When Andy came home from work I told him my back was sore. Now, at the end of the day I think I know why. Because I've been bending over the change table where Sarah lays for some open air time and 'talk' with her. She smiles so much more now. She was laughing more today too...a kind of cough-happy sound combo...yah, it sounds like a cough, and she's got a smile at the same time and she kinda brings her shoulders in. She likes being tickled on her face with my hair and on her tummy.
We set her up in her reclining highchair in the kitchen today while I made dinner and she just watched my every move. I think she may have liked my singing too.
Andy got some new material for tying flies. He's pretty excited about it and tried it out today.
Went to the VRC this evening...ran for 20 minutes. That felt good. There were'nt many people there, so it was nice.
Got some manderin oranges from Mom today that she got at a 2 for 1 sale. Wonderful. Yum.
Planning to try a new recipe - falafels - tomorrow. Cooked the chickpeas for those today.
Andy vaccuumed and put up our 3 foot Christmas tree today. The tree is actually my parent's, which we borrow, and our 6 foot tree, my grandparents borrow. We felt our 6 footer was too big for our last place and we feel the same for this place. I like having a small tree...keeps things from getting out of hand :) I'm sensitive (allergic kinda) to real trees, which Andy would really love.
I think Sarah's getting that bald spot babies get from laying on their backs and turning their heads. You're supposed to do something about this right? I'm inclined not to cause I don't really care, but if I don't do whatever it is I'm supposed to do will she not grow hair there eventually? Anyone have any feedback on this?

Wednesday, December 01, 2004

ufos and bark beetles

Went for a walk today...partly through Mill Lake park. I was almost the only one there. It was a little cold and misty (fog). Then I got onto Gladwin rd. heading into town to check out a few shops...and bamm-o - that's where everyone is. All the cars rushing around made me feel a little uptight...wished I'd stayed back in the park and finished the walk around the lake. But it's a decision, how you feel, so on the way home I decided to breathe deep and focus on the peace and joy that comes from Christ and is not effected by circumstances.
Last night we went grocery shopping - prunes, tofu, soymilk, cabbage, carrots, oats, canned tomatoes, bananas, rubber gloves, neutogena hand cream (yipee), toliet paper...hm toliet paper. We had gotten a cart and put the toliet paper in the bottom. Sarah was on the highest level and then the groceries below that and TP was on the lowest level. After we got home and had put the groceries away Andy goes into the bathroom and asks, "Where's the TP?" and we looked at eachother knowingly and I said I'd go back to see if it was possibly still in the bottom of our cart - now stacked with the rest outside Superstore. So, at 10:30 pm I took off. Making the story shorter (maybe)...talked to someone dealing with carts in the underground parking lot...scanned the carts for our unclaimed butt wiping material, then made my way to Save-on but drove past cause I remember we had Cmas napkins left from last year we could use till tomorrow (too detailed? sorry), cause I really didn't want to buy any other TP than this inexpensive recycled kind only Superstore and Extra foods has. Got home and thought, well I'll check the trunk just in case. Ah ha! Our TP lay with the prunes behind the roofrack and fishing rods. Andy says, "at least you got to go for a drive." Yah, my tiredness didn't really desire that...but anyway.
We haven't applied for maternity benefits yet - it was a little crazy at camp and I never got around to it. I looked into it today again and basically we just missed 9 weeks of benefits but can still probably get something. Applied for the child tax benefit today too.
The work never ends...it feels like this when I do more loads of laundry, other than diapers. Last night Sarah spit up and pooped at the same time. The milk puke landed on the couch so I washed the couch today. We keep blanket over it - perfect for occasions such as this.
Sarah and I just had the most wonderful conversation. I was just walking by the little chair she often sits in and stopped to tell her she was beautiful and she smiles and opens her mouth and coos at me several times as I continue talking to her. Precious moments.
Andy and I think Sarah may be left-handed. It's her left hand she looks at. Only today did I see her stare at her right.
Wondering what ufos and bark beetles are? The names of some of the flies Andy has tied recently. He was putting some away today and I asked what they were called and when he told me the names I just laughed and laughed and had to include it in here. Yah, he's gotten quite proficient at this new 'sport' of ty flying (ha, didn't do that on purpose).

Can anyone recommend a good Christmas CD other than Phil Keaggy's with the Philharmonic Orchastra?