HE WAS A JOLLY HAPPY SOUL!!!

With the emphasis on WAS a happy soul! I've gotta be nuts to be sitting at my computer at 2 am in the morning writing a blog. I know I won't sleep now unless I write you all just a short note. I was on my way to bed when I looked out the window and saw this poor ole white man sitting slouched in my front lawn. This time I am not kidding you! I saw this man the other day and he was looking pretty happy. Every time I looked out my window he was there with a big smile on his face to warm my heart. Well, tonite when I looked at him sittin there on my lawn, well my heart went out to him and I thought I'd make him famous for a day on the worldwide web.
I'm not too worried about him though, I am sure he'll be back

Goodnite!!

JUST FOR MY BLOGSTALKERS!!!

Ok, to all you blogstalkers out there!! Although it is very late already, I felt I should leave just a little something for those of you who check to see if I've posted anything daily. I've been a busy girl and there is sooo much in my head right now that I can't sort it out to even blog about it! So I thought I'd fill you in on just one little incident I had the other day.

I was in WalMart buying a large bag of Purina Cat Chow for our barn cat and was in line to check out. A woman behind me asked if I had a cat........ Duh! I was feeling a bit crabby so on impulse, I told her no, I was starting the Purina Diet again, although I probably shouldn't because I'd ended up in the hospital last time, but that I'd lost 50 pounds before I awakened in an intensive care unit with tubes coming out of most of my orifices and IV's in both arms.
Her eyes about bugged out of her head. I went on and on with the bogus diet story and she was totally buying it. I told her that it was an easy, inexpensive diet and that the way it works is to load your pockets or purse with Purina nuggets and simply eat one or two every time you feel hungry. The package said the food is nutritionally complete so I was going to try it again. I have to mention here that practically everyone in the line was by now enthralled with my story, particularly a tall guy behind her. Horrified, she asked if something in the cat food had poisoned me and was that why I ended up in the hospital. I said no.....I'd been sitting in the street licking my butt when a car hit me. I thought the tall guy was going to have to be carried out the door.

Gotcha!!
Ok, it didn't really happen but I got you laughing right??
Have a great day!!

BEST FRIENDS!!

I remember so well what it was like growing up an only child. I so badly wanted to have someone to play with. All my friends had siblings and it almost would make me feel like I wasn't normal. (no comments from the peanut gallery on that one!) I did OK though. I had close cousins and they would come over often. My mom would make a huge meal and everyone would come over for a feast. And of course, dessert would always be cream puffs! She's famous in our family for those.
My cousin Christine was my age. She's the one beside me. She had a younger sister Diane. She's the one front and center. Jeanette is the cutie in the picture on the right in the middle. She came along after they had moved away so I never got to know her as well. But I love her just the same. I was always a little envious of Christine for having 2 sisters. I remember one day when we were about 10 years old we were talking about being auntie's. We soon figured out that I would never really be one unless I married someone who had siblings. I was very upset about this! Despite the fact that we were cousins, Christine told me that if she ever had kids she promised that they would call me Auntie Lori. This really made me feel special. She doesn't know this but I thought about that promise all the time. Literally a decade passed and it was still just as fresh in my brain as it was the day she promised me. I never knew if she would remember that promise but hoped she would. Today Christine has 2 amazing boys, Jordan and Dylan(with help from a great husband named Dan of course). She never forgot her promise to me, for when Jordan was born, I was immediately honored with the title. Thanks Christine for always sharing your sisters with me and for giving me the honor of being an Auntie.

I thought of this story today as I watched my own boys look out the window together at the falling snow. I could feel their excitement and was so thankful they had eachother to share it with. I pray that they will always be close like they are in this picture. Best Friends! I love you guys!

IT'S BEEN AWHILE

Hello once again to all my faithful readers! Do I have any of those! I'd love it if you'd leave me a comment sometime. Keeps me inspired to keep on bloggin. Call me crazy but it's quite exciting when I see that someone has left me a comment.
So what to blog about today! Well, we are finished our first week in 2007 and I was thinking about how old I was and it hit me. This year will mark the year that I have officially been out of school as long as I was in. I feel like I just graduated. I mean I totally feel that way! (But then, I look at some old photos and I am quickly brought back to reality!
Well, it looks like another crazy storm is coming in to greet us. We are expected to get 15cm of snow tonite. The boys are excited so I hope it's still here when we wake up in morning.
This morning the boys went for one of their immunization shots. Ryan chose Jacob to go first. Smart for 5 years old hey!! Well, I expected a little more drama from Jacob but he didn't even move. The nurse said it's just gonna be a little poke Ok Jacob?! He says OK! and it was done. Ryan on the other hand wasn't as calm. I am convinced all the crying out was all drama because when the needle went in he didn't even flinch and when we told him it was done he just stopped and looked like he felt a little silly. He didn't even know he had already gotten the poke. All in all they were brave. How bad is it when your kinda glad you yourself didn't have to get one!!

So we had a nice afternoon this week and Dwain's brother came by to burn his Christmas tree and a few things and decided to stick around for awhile and play with Ryan. Ryan got some sidewalk chalk for Christmas and was eager to try it out. So was Uncle Ken. They drew a race track on the pavement to ride bikes on and Uncle Ken continued to add a few artistic touches while Ryan rode around. Here is a picture

Well if you've read my previous blog entries you will remember that I started a quilting club as well as started teaching on the side. Well so far I have had 2 students and really look forward to getting more. My first student was my friend Fiona. I haven't been able to show her masterpiece because it was a Christmas present and I had to let her post it on her blog first so as not to spoil the surprise. I really enjoyed this project as it was my first time working with photos in a quilt. It turned out amazing. Well done Fi! You did the old "Friday night" quilters proud!! Here's a picture of the proud new owners and one of the creator! Fiona made this a rag quilt on one side as seen to the left and like a regular scrappy quilt on the right. Here's a close up of what the ragged side looks like.

My next student was a friend of my sister Tammy. Karen also made a beautiful rag quilt. She went with a woven cotton so it feels soft like flannel. Very beautiful! I'd like to have this one for my own! Karen got a new sewing machine for Christmas so I hope I'll get to make another one with her sometime. Well done Karen!!

This week we had a new addition to my extended family. Little Eligh Benjamin was born on January 7th in Texas. Congratulations to the proud new parents Ben and Romay! You have just received one of God's greatest gifts! May God bless you as parents as you raise this little man!

So that's what kind of week it's been. I hope you all had a fun New Years and pray that it will bring you all good health and happiness. My New Years challenge for myself this year is to remember to make more time and a solid effort to nurture the friendships I have with my loved ones and to try to create as many new ones as I can. I think I've got my work cut out for me!!

I love you all! TTYL!

CHRISTMAS DAY 2006!!

Well another Christmas Day has past! Overall I'd say it was a very relaxing day! We woke up around 8:00am. Dwain lit a fire in the living room and we sat down to open gifts. The kids were really excited this year. Ryan figured that Christmas didn't come when he woke up cuz there wasn't any snow on the ground. A little disappointment to start the day but seeing he had some presents to open all was forgotten quickly. I got fabric to make the boys Christmas quilts for next year. I have got a really neat idea for these quilts and I will share it with you when I start the process. Here's a photo of Christmas morning and my fabric.

Christmas Gift from Dwain

We went over to Dwain's parents place in the late morning where mom made us all a wonderful brunch. We then preceeded to the living room where we opened our gifts. I got fabric for my next years Christmas Quilt for our bed and a few other quilting supplies and gift certificates from my favourite quilt store. Here's a picture of my Christmas Fabric.

We went home mid-afternoon to prepare a turkey dinner for my side of the family. I put the turkey in the oven and had a short nap with the kids. My parents came over around 5:00pm and we ate just after six. It was a delicious meal if I do say so myself. The whole family was here so we took a family photo. Josh is in the red shirt. He's my cousins son but he's considered one of the family. After dinner we opened gifts and guess what I got!! That's right MORE FABRIC!!! YEEEEHAA! Here it is!! This will be for a Fall Quilt for our bed.

Yesterday Dwain's parents came over for lunch. My friend Michelle made me a quiche and so Dad and Dwain went out to do chores and then came in for lunch. It was very tasty Michelle. You're a good cook! Thanks! Tonite we are going out for dinner with my extended family. My grandfather takes us all out for turkey dinner to a local restaurant. It's nice to see all my cousins and aunts and uncles. Hope you all had a wonderful Christmas!

TWAS THE NIGHT BEFORE JESUS CAME...

Twas the night before Jesus came and all through the house,
Not a creature was praying not one in the house.
There Bibles were lain on the shelf without care,
In hope that Jesus would not come there.

The children were dressing to crawl into bed,
Not once ever kneeling or bowing a head.
And mom in her rocker and baby in her lap,
Was watching the late show while I took a nap.

When out of the east there arose such a clatter,
I sprang to my feet to see what was the matter.
Away to the window I flew like a flash,
Tore open the shutters and threw up the sash.

When what to my wondering eyes should appear,
But an angel proclaiming that Jesus was here.
With a light like the sun sending forth a bright ray,
I knew in a moment this must be the day.

The light of his face made me cover my head,
It was Jesus returning just like he had said.
And though I posessed wordly wisdom and wealth,
I cried when I saw him in spite of myself.

In the Book of Life which he held in his hand,
Was written the name of every saved man.
He spoke not a word as he searched for my name,
When he said "It's not here", my head hung in shame.

The people who's names had been written with love,
he gathered to take to his father above.
With those who were ready he rose without sound,
While all of the rest were left standing around.

I fell to me knees but it was too late,
I had waited too long and thus sealed my fate.
I stood and I cried as they rose out of sight,
OH! if only I had been ready tonite.

In the words of this poem the meaning is clear,
The coming of Jesus is drawing near.
There is only one life and when comes the last call,
We'll find that the Bible was true afterall.

Author Unknown

THESE ARE A FEW OF MY FAVOURITE THINGS PART 2

Six more sleeps till Christmas!!! I'm still sewin my little heart out! I don't have my gifts done yet and the pressure is starting to mount. I know I'll get them done I just can't seem to get myself started into sewing mode till around 9:00pm every night. Then I sew till close to 1:00am. Call me crazy!

Well this is part 2 of My Favourite Things. As you can see, it is a Nativity Scene. Dwain and I received this as a gift from his Grandma and Grandpa the first Christmas we were married. (1994). It has sentimental value to us because the day we got it was the last time we saw Grandma. She unexpectedly passed away 5 days later. She was so excited for us as a newly married couple. I didn't know Grandma very long but she was a special lady. Every year when I put it out I can't help but smile and I think of her. Grandpa has since passed on as well. Dwain was very close with Grandpa as he chicken farmed with him for many years as a young boy and then as a young man. Fond memories of just hangin out with Grandpa in the barns can't help but flood the mind when we take out our Nativity Scene. They had a great love for their family, but most important they had a love for Jesus that shone through them like a light in the darkness. Many grand kids today will never know what it's like to have grandparents like we had. I know they prayed for us all regularly and were passionate about it. Even though they aren't with us anymore we will be forever thankful for the spiritual commitment they had to our entire family. They passed on a great legacy, one that Dwain and I feel blessed to continue.

Merry Christmas Everyone!!