Bring on the snow!

It's hard to see in this picture but the forecasted snow has started to fall. They’re calling for quite a bit of snow to fall over the next day or two. Call me crazy but I’m dying for a doozy storm . . . you know the kind where no one can go out? Where we call snuggle up and watch the flakes come down . . . or bundle up to go out and play in it? I feel like we haven’t had one of those in a long time. Last year the snow was pathetic (at our place anyway). This year has been better but we still need more. I know the phrase refers to the month of March but let’s hope February comes in like a lion.

BRING ON THE SNOW!!!

The dog . . . a boy's best friend

Couldn't resist posting these cute pictures of my boy . . . and his friend. Too cute!

Cozy Bed

Speaking of the dog, his toys and bed are also pretty fun. His crate at first was a fun place to play and pretend to be a dog. We put a stop to that but still once in a while find someone sitting in his bed. This is what I found this morning after changing Denver's diaper but not catching him fast enough to put the rest of the clothes on.

Frodo

Have I told you about Frodo . . . not the Baggins type . . . the Carmody type? He's soft, fluffy, buff in colour, well behaved, a great companion, and pretty much the best dog EVER! I was seriously hesitant about getting another dog. For those of you who know what we went through with our last one, you’ll understand my hesitancy. However, I have to admit, I’m glad I was persuaded. It’s been so great having a dog around again. The kids LOVE him and he loves the kids. He’s gentle with the kids and has so much fun playing with them. Denver even loves him (yes, we’ve come a long way since a year and a half ago).

Mike has always loved and wanted a bigger dog but I wasn’t raised with dogs. I guess you can say I’ve never been a dog person. And in particular, I just can’t do the hair. So a small, non-shedding dog is our compromise. Frodo is a Havanese dog and so won’t get very big. He loves being around people. He constantly seeks someone out and will lie on anyone’s feet. Even if I’m making supper and standing at the stove for a minute, he’ll come and get comfortable with his head on my feet. He fits perfectly into our family since we’re home a lot. He’s definitely not lacking attention.

We’ve had him since October when he was 11 weeks old and so the real test was the month of December with all the busyness and traveling here and there. He did really well. When we drove any distance, he would make himself comfortable on the backseat of the van in between Victoria and Austin . . . or on their laps. At one point when we were driving home at night, I looked back to find Austin fast asleep with Frodo also fast asleep on his lap. So cute!

It was kinda cute when he was at the groomers getting his hair cut. Samara kept saying, "I miss Frodo". So I explained to her that the lady was taking really good care of him and giving him a bath, combing him, trimming the hair around his face so he could see, cutting his nails, etc. I went on to tell her that the lady was making him look really handsome. Samara's response was: "Oh, so now we can take him to church?" LOL! No sweetie - I don't think that would go over very well!

Here he is after his haircut. The smudge on the top of the picture is because he licked my camera. LOL! (Thankfully it was my camera and not Mike's new one he got for Christmas!)


Here he is in the snow. He loves it!

So there you go . . . the best dog ever!

Interior Decorating

It's nothing major but I finally got a few things done that I've wanted to do for a long time. Just a few little things hung up. I've had each of these items for well over a year or more.

When I went to hang up the border, I all of a sudden realized that I didn't know what the Chinese characters meant. I thought I should probably find out before I hung it up. So I asked my friend who assured me I wasn't hanging up anything crass in my dining room. Phew! (thanks MC) The characters stand for the four seasons: spring, summer, autumn and winter. Nice. I like that.


The wall words I got from my mom a long time ago. It’s one of my favourite sayings and I’m so happy to finally have it on my wall. Thanks Mom.


The clock idea I saw a long time ago online somewhere and loved it. Again, I’ve had the clocks for a really long time but just got around to hanging them and cutting out the words on my cri¢ut. (The picture looks a little warped - the letters and clocks are actually all the same size).

So there you go. It’s the little things that make me smile.

Happy New Year!

Okay, I know I'm eight days late on that but so be it. That seems to be the way my life ends up more often than not . . . a little late here and there with this and that. What can I say? I'm busy. :)

I’ve never been one for making New Year’s resolutions. Over the last year or more I’ve been reading and hearing a lot about picking a word for the year. So this year, for the first time ever, our family is choosing a word for the year. So for the year 2011 our word will be PRAYER. We will spend the year working on and improving our prayer life as a family and as individuals. And we will pray for God to help us in this area.

Here are some encouraging Bible verses (NIV) regarding prayer. These are just a few of my favourites. There are many, many more.

Psalm 5:3
My voice You shall hear in the morning, O LORD; in the morning I will direct my prayer to You, and I will look up.

Psalm 55:17
Evening and morning, and at noon, I will pray and cry aloud; and He shall hear my voice.

Proverbs 15:8
The LORD detests the sacrifice of the wicked, but the prayer of the upright pleases him.

Matthew 7:7-8
Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened.

Luke 18:1
Then Jesus told his disciples a parable to show them that they should always pray and not give up.

Ephesians 6:18-19
And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the saints. Pray also for me, that whenever I open my mouth, words may be given me so that I will fearlessly make known the mystery of the gospel.

1 Corinthians 14:15
So what shall I do? I will pray with my spirit, but I will also pray with my mind; I will sing with my spirit, but I will also sing with my mind.

Colossions 4:2
Devote yourselves to prayer, being watchful and thankful.

1 Thessalonians 5:16-18
Be joyful always; pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus.

1 Timothy 2:1-4
I urge, then, first of all, that requests, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for everyone— for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness. This is good, and pleases God our Savior, who wants all men to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth.

Hebrews 4:16
Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.

1 John 5:14-15
This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us. And if we know that he hears us - whatever we ask - we know that we have what we asked of him.

Philippians 4:6-7
Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.


May 2011 be a year that sees many more people around the globe crying out to God in times of need and in times of joy.

Melkam Genna!

To all our little Ethiopian Canadian friends and our dear friends in Ethiopia . . . we wish you a very Merry Christmas. Melkam Genna!