Home Is Where The Heart Is

This Christmas has been a strange one for me. Working all through the holidays and basically talking on the phone all Christmas day in my room. After talking with all my family I get so home sick, but then soon I realized that there is no home. All of my family was not home for Christmas. I truly understood the meaning of "home is where the heart is". As strange as it all has been I am so grateful for where I am. Where all my family are.

Mike and I played as Mary and Joseph in the live nativity in Duncan. It was wonderful holding that little doll as if it were Jesus Christ. Mike did a great job as Joseph, he has never rubbed my back so much, at the moment I didn't realize it was because his hands were so cold :) I still enjoyed it :)

Happy New Years!

First Day

Today was my first day back at work in a long time. It was a great day learning about a million amazing kitchen tools, dishes, pots, everything. When my co-worker was showing me all the gadgets I was amazed at how easy these gadgets make cooking and how cool they are. When we were half way throw the first wall she asked me "Do you cook?" like I had never used a garlic skin peeler, ricer, cast iron pan, baking pan with removable bottom before. Oh wait I never have! I thought I knew how to cook.

Don't worry I can't afford anything in this store so I will continue to cook with out luxuries. The truth is as she was telling me about some products I was thinking "You could use a fork instead. I would just use my finger. Ooooh I need that one." I learned a lot today and that was just one little corner of the store. I was mostly on the till doing all the money exchange. That was good. My co-workers are all very nice and super relaxed. I did miss my kids, but I am very grateful for this job and will do my best!

Thank you Shelli for coming to the store today and supporting me. Taking my picture on my first day was really sweet too :)

Answered Prayer

Back in October I got an email from Norwex asking me to contact a customer that is interested in purchasing product. I responded right away to help a woman that was looking for a new Norwex consultant that lives in her area. I was happy to do business with her, and she asked me to bring her product to the store that she works at. Pots and Paraphernalia. It is a very fabulous kitchen and decorating store.

The next month Mike comes home with a record of employment slip. This winter was going to be interesting. With Mike soon to be home collecting EI, it only made sense for him to stay home and I go to work for the winter. I sent 4 resume's out to the local Wal- mart and Home Depot type stores, hoping for anything when I came across this ad in the paper for Christmas help at Pots and Paraphernalia. I got really excited. I started to feel like going to work could be fun at a cute kitchen store surrounded by beautiful things. I got help from my family on what to do, and what to say. Let's face it. I'm the youngest of five and I secretly love to be told what to do(by them only) :) I got all lined up to go talk to my previous Norwex customer. Make a good impression on her and other staff members. They tell me when to come in and meet the owner.

I came to the store today and finally met the owner. She asked me about my availability and when I eased her worries she said "Ok, let's do this." I couldn't believe me ears! Yeah, let's do this! I start this Saturday and I'm so excited.

The more and more i think about this, the more grateful I am to my Heavenly Father for guiding these chain of events. The Lords hand is in our lives and our prayers are being answered.

Christmas Quilt

I finished it! I am actually kind of impressed with myself about how quickly I got it done. I got the Jelly Roll in August? September? Thankfully I had white material that mom had given me last Christmas to use. It was tricky finding time to do it with out Lyla eating the foot peddle and Owen climbing on my lap, but I set my mind to it and decided it was easier then it looked :)

This makes me think of the first quilt I ever made. It was a Christmas quilt as well. There is something about Christmas material that I'm drawn too. I was 12 and using my Grandma Pearl's old machine. That machine drove me nuts, but I was determined to win the fight. It was a simple little quilt, small, and I really have no idea where it is now. It was a great way for a little girl to avoid homework and make something pretty. I did a pretty good job. I made 2 more quilts after that one with help from my mom and sisters of course. The pictures you see above is the first time I cut, sewed, quilted and hand sewed the binding all by myself. I love that :)

The memories I have of sewing with my mom, grandma's and sisters are some of my best.

A Pair

The other day Mike set up the Christmas tree. He laid our lounge chair on it's side so Lyla couldn't get to the tree.

Norwex just came out with chemical free bubble bath and I was so excited to try it out. I love how well they play together :)

Oh Baby Lyla

Lyla is 9 months and crawling, climbing up a storm. She figured out how to fall down on her bum after she climbs up the side of the couch. She's a smart mobile little lady.

Rides in the wagon are a favourite! Owen and Lyla snuggle in the blanket and enjoy the ride.
Thank you Aunt Tracey for the knitted leg warmers! So cute!
She is so happy when she wakes up from her morning nap. I love it! She even has a little bed head :)

At the Train Station!

Halloween Party!

Corrina had the great idea of coming up to Duncan to go to the BC Forestry Discovery Center and go on there spooky train ride. It was such a great idea it became a party :)

Here we are in the parking lot putting on last minute costumes. Yes, the monkey dressed as Michael Jackson is Mike :)




awwww Mike made Lyla's costume and it's sooooo cute!

Monkey Owen. Isn't every costume that much better with a monkey mask on? Haha we think so :)

Sunday Best

Lyla got church star with the watermelon hair clip :)

Feeling Good/Sore

On Tuesday Morning I got the most pleasant email from the Bakers. Corrina had given birth to there second child. They had a baby boy :) In the email they said she was available for visitors in the hospital after 11am. I was going to Victoria that night to do a norwex presentation and so I called Mike "Hunny! I need to drive to Victoria as soon as you get home from work!" He didn't mind at all :) I got to meet Logan Anders(not sure how to spell middle name) Baker. I am still on a high from what a wonderful experience it was to spend time with my good friends and celebrating there new son. I miss you Baker family!

After our visit I did my presentation. I must say that going to my norwex meetings have helped me so much! I feel so much more confident. I have shortened and improved my presentation a lot. When the show was over and ladies were leaving a few mentioned how much fun they had, and how much they learned. That was my goal! I am so grateful to my friend for hosting :)

So this morning when I was getting the order into the computer Owen wanted me to use our computer mouse that had the dead batteries in them. I said "No thank you" many times trying to explain to him why i'm using the old mouse, but he wasn't satisfied so he throw it at my head. Yep. I burst into tears and got a nice lump on my cheek. I didn't yell(something I'm working on). I just picked him up and put him in his room. He has said sorry to me many times today and I forgive him :) He is my wonderful little Owen, and I understand how frustrating it can be when mom doesn't listen.

Something I am very excited about is going to the temple this Saturday! Ruban and Faith Rebalkin our dear friends are being sealed in the temple with there daughter Myrtle. Mike and I get to help watch Myrtle :) Can it be Saturday already?! I want to have a day long date with Mike now please :)

This week

Owen got a hair cut this morning. He clearly did not want his picture taken at this moment :)

The desperate measures of a parent, to cut there 2 year olds hair. We have the flowbee so no hair touches Owen. The video glasses so he can watch a mickey mouse show with the ear phones in because of all the noise(the vacuum is hooked up to the flowbee). Owen actually did very good :)

Smiley girl! I can't believe she is 8 months now.

This is the picture I took on my 26th birthday. I forgot to put my lipstick on.

Fun outside!
Owen and Lyla love wagon rides!
Mike got us a bike so we can ride bikes with Owen.