Just a bit of Life

Today was GREAT! The kids and I had a wonderful afternoon.

After their various activities in the morning (dance and karate) we got groceries, had lunch and then we went to the pool. They are little fish and it is getting easier and easier to take them on my own. Their confidence and skills just keep improving. Last week Owen went off the diving board for the first time. This week all 3 were diving off the edge in the deep end. Anthony and Alexandra were practicing and, of course, Owen needed to try too. It was really funny to watch him try with is water wings on. I love the fact that our pool offers a discounted family pass for the 10 weeks your kids are enrolled in swimming lessons. We decided to get it this time since we opted not to re-enroll Anthony in Swimmer 4....he needs to gain some endurance before he can complete some of the requirements and we didn't want him to get discouraged. Hence the karate lessons (which he is LOVING) and the golf lessons (which will start at the end of June)

Tomorrow the kids are I are off to a movie after church. We have two for one coupons from cereal boxes so figured we should use them up before they expire and there is finally an movie playing that all 3 will enjoy! So another busy day tomorrow!

Troy had applied to teach summer classes at the college and there is a 2 year contract for a math teacher starting in Sept at the college that he is also applying for. It would be wonderful if he could get that..to know what he is doing for 2 years...that would be incredible. Yet, I know that God has a plan and the growing and trust that has been happening with the wondering and waiting and the stretching has been good.

I'm not gonna lie, there has definately been stress and struggles and moments of why? But over all, I can see Gods hand leading, guiding, providing. And it has been so. so. good.

So I trust that He knows the perfect place for Troy to be. Both over this summer and coming up in September.

Alexandra is dancing at the Folklore Festival next weekend. She is really looking forward to it.I am hoping to get some pictures....I have a new camera that is just sitting in the limbo that is customs right now and I am really really really hoping to have it by Friday so I can try it out at the festival!!

Yes....I bought a new, well new to me, camera :) Thanks to the babysitting I have been doing I have been browsing Ebay and won an auction for a Nikon d700 (!) Yup!! I have wanted one for a year and just couldn't justify spending the money for a new one. Thankful for the opportunity that came for me to buy this one!

Just a Saturday

Some days are just about perfect.

Today was one of those days.

Nothing special, same old Saturday routine and then dinner with some friends.

But it was needed.

It was good.

It was grace-filled joy.

This week, I have been doing better. . .

The proof is in the fact that laundry is no longer taking over my house (just the bed in our bedroom...),

I ran the dish washer 3 times today (yeah....I know.....!)

Xanj is learning to ride a two wheeler. She is doing good. Today was W.I.N.D.Y (and she was tired) but even still, we tried a bit (at her insistence) and it went well!

Anthony is devouring books like they are going out of style. Diary of a Wimpy Kid, Hardy Boys (the original, written in 1927 ones), Geronimo Stilton. It is so great to see him be able to disappear into the land of books. And I am beyond thankful for his choices in books too. I don't have to pre-scan them yet because I am not worried about the language or content.

Owen is 3 weeks away from turning 4 and is growing so much. He is in love with all things diggers/cars/trains and he L.O.V.E.S to colour. I should take a picture of the fishing picture he drew me yesterday. I love it!

"When words become unclear...."

I sit here watching the rain pour outside my window and I a thankful that it is rain and not snow! It is dark and dreary but that's OK.

I am finding life overwhelming lately. I walk past the kitchen and see the dishes piled high and want to cry, the laundry...well, I can wade through the piles in the laundry room and thankful that my children have so many clothes!

None of those jobs are hard, none of them take very much time and yet it overwhelms me. So I let it sit and it gets worse which only adds to the feeling!

But I got out last night after dinner. Just me and my camera and got some pictures of life just happening. It made me feel some what better.

I love the God has given me a joy in looking at life through the lens of a camera. It is so much easier for me to see beauty and joy and life when I look through a lens and I am grateful for that.

I can't believe that April is speeding by. I am starting to think of a birthday party idea for Owen. 4...WOW. I still have a hard time wrapping my mind around the fact that my baby is turning 4 this year. He is changing and growing by the day and it is wonderful to be able to watch as he masters a new skill, or tries out his independence in some way.

God's grace abounds everyday and despite the overwhelming-ness, I know I am secure. I know I am loved. I know I am taken care of. For I know Who's I am.

I'm Back!

I've been neglecting the blog lately! Life has been happening and I find that it is the same thing day after day, which is fine by me, but it makes for some boring blog posts!

I got a wonderful surprise Friday via Facebook 

http://www.alandickson.com/article/moment-in-time-photography-2037.asp

I felt pretty special and I may have cried a few happy tears over it. Sometimes it is really nice to read what others think of you and your work. I needed that encouragement last week and the timing f it was perfect.

We had a really good Easter weekend, after two family dinners though I am stuffed full of turkey and ham!  It has been great to be able to spend some extra time with the kids and not have to worry about the rush of school mornings. 

Anthony has learned how to tie his shoe laces and I am so very proud of him!

Spring is slowly coming. I have two photo sessions today. One is a family of 6 and the other is a maternity session. Looking forward to both of them!

I have spent the last little while working on my business website. I wasn't really happy with the layout of it so I took the time to play around with it and try to make it flow better!

Check out the new Moment in Time Photography site

Hope everyone had a great Easter weekend!!