Friday Favorite Things

On this note my Friday Favorite Things;
I am very grateful this week to the children in my care and the opportunity they give me to learn and grow each day.
For the chance to be home with my Son everyday.
For our home and it's bountiful garden this year.
My ability to create.
Our chance to get away and relax.
My family.
My health (no matter how up and down it may be right now)
For my fellow bloggers.
For my wonderful crazy dogs ( who are wrestling on the trampoline as I write)
Our amazing Vet.
The sunshine and my country.

Happy Canada Weekend Everyone!

Graduation Day!

Today I am thankful for my wonderful Son who graduated Kindergarten today, he is the second of love my life and I can't imagine it without him.

Sorry it's not the best picture in the world our camera went missing this week, bad timing but I am thankful for BB as a stand in.

I am also thankful today for the beautiful Sun which is shinning so brightly!
I am thankful for our church, the wonderful people who work in it and for our amazing friends who are always there in need.
I am thankful to have know a wonderful women whose life ended to short, we miss you and look forward to seeing you again one day!
I am thankful for her amazing daughter who despite losing her Mom has gone on to become an amazing Women and wonderful Mother in midst of her mourning, Marg I love you!
I am thankful to be celebrating 10 years of marriage in the coming weeks.
I am thankful for the opportunity to write here and have my voice heard.
Mostly I am thankful to Heavenly Father for my life and his protection of it.
I am also thankful that tomorrow is Saturday and I can sleep in a little.
 

Happy Friday to all and best wishes for a wonderful weekend!

For all the Dad's out there!

A day late but...

Sorry it's a day late but here is my Friday Favorite Things list;






I am thankful for my job
For my wonderful support system both those near and far
For my spirit
For my amazing Son
My wonderful Husband
For my soon to be beautiful garden
For the rain that is helping it grow
For the wisdom, patience and love of Christ in my heart each day
For all things good and bad that make up my life
For this beautiful world and all the little people who occupy it

What are you thankful for this week? May your blessing be great and this coming week wonderful!

Friday Favorite Things

I am so grateful to the Author of Finding Joy, she always seems to have something to say that takes me out of my "Mommy funk" on the days when I find myself struggling in that position. I am so grateful for the words of someone so honest who is willing to tell it like it is in hopes of  helping people like myself who are eternally grateful. I have decided to join her in Friday Favorite Things, to express some intentional gratitude for the wonderful parts of my life.
So what am I grateful for today;
My loving, supportive Husband
My wonderful, amazing little boy
My "Mentor" Roslyn Maxwell
The wonderful children I take care of during the week and their amazing parents
My job
My home
Our 3 amazing dogs

This beautiful day
All the wonderful, amazing women in my life

I have many things to be grateful for and recognizing that shows me I have nothing to be grouchy about and my rough morning was only a moment in time! Thank you Rachel Martin for reminding me how blessed I really am.

Let's Get It Started

I can't seem to get this song out of my head and I am beginning to think there is a reason why maybe things are just getting started for me?

None the less it's a good song to dance to and dancing is good for the soul.

Quote for the day

On Infertile Ground

I wanted to share this video clip with all of you On Infertile Ground, as some of you may know and some of you may not I have Secondary Infertility. This is heart breaking for me and many other women like me. I am sharing this with you in hopes that someday the medical and political community will recognize this a medical condition not  a matter of choices and give us funding for treatment allowing so many couples to be able to create the families they deserve to have.

I shared this clip on Facebook and on the some group pages I belong to and one women who may also suffer from infertility commented that she is a Wife, a Sister and Aunt that is enough for her that infertility is not the worst thing. I agree it is not but, the point of this film is that with funding we could help so many people.
 I am grateful everyday for my Son who is my greatest blessing, I am grateful to the Doctors and Science that helped us to have him but I do grieve the family we dreamed of, the family my Son prayed for and the family that I hope someday some special person will honor us with the gift of adoption and allow us to complete our family. I am also reminded everyday in so many ways of what I am not capable of doing, that part of being a woman and a Mother that my body is no longer able to do. I am unable to handle the medication required for me to become pregnant and possible even the pregnancy itself, I still grieve that and may till the end of my life. But I set out to enjoy each day and the little miracle I have been given and feel comfort in my heart knowing the babies I lost are in Heaven and my Great Grandmother is up there holding them and comforting them until one day when I can. All of that brings me comfort and the smile on my little Man's face everything morning fills my heart with a joy I can't explain.  I sincerely hope that one day all of my friends who have yet to experience this will be able to and believe that films like this can help us to achieve this.

Am I Mom Enough

This post has been many days in the making, and was a result of the Time Life cover Are You Mom Enough, it struck a cord with me and many other Mothers I am sure!

First let me say I am not opposed to extended nursing nor do I have anything against so called Attachment Parenting. What I am opposed to is labels, judgement and criticism, I feel the title of that article just sets us up to feel unless meet some stereotype we aren't Mom enough. Like the mother that after seeing me for I don't how many weeks at Story Time finally talked to me and confessed she felt like a bad mother because she couldn't give her 3 yr old the attention that he was used to getting before his brother came along, does that mean she isn't Mom enough or what about my friend who had to stop nursing her baby at only a few months old because she wasn't getting any support and sacrificing her own health to continue or myself who when my Son was only 3 weeks old crying in my kitchen because I was having to supplement him with formula because I wasn't producing enough breast milk to meet the requirements set out by his Dr at birth or am I less of a Mom because I have been unable to conceive another child even with the help of the Doctors,  does that mean my friend who nursed her daughter till well over 4 and much to the dismay of her partner does that mean she is a better Mom then all the rest of us?
Who and what determines how good of a Mom we are, in my opinion it is our children! Are they happy? Are they healthy? Are they growing? Are they meeting their milestones? But most importantly are we happy, do we feel Mom enough? The best piece advice ever given to me is that any decision has to reflect the best interest of the child but also the Mother. If we aren't happy then the child will not be either.
 I think as a society we are setting the bar so high for today's Mother to be this picture perfect Pinterest board, magazine ad Mom and that is not the reality. The reality is Mother hood is hard, it is messy and it isn't glamorous in any way!
I have been following this wonderful blog called Finding Joy she reminds me to enjoy the little things to let the mess happen because that is part of being little, to put one foot in front of the other and make time for one task off my list a day so I can feel like I accomplished something other than caring for a multitude of children ( I have 4 - 6 children in my care on any given day plus my Son)  and feeding my husband. She reminds me that I am "Mom Enough" even if I did not nurse my Son past 11mths or haven't birthed multiple children that I am "Mom Enough" just the way I am with all my flaws. So take some time today read her post Dear Over Worked Mom and realize that you are the perfect Mom for your child just the way you are even if your house is a mess and your baby is bottle fed!

Count Your Blessings

I ran across this incredibly sad story today of a young mother who gave birth to a beautiful baby girl and sadly contracted a deadly infection that took her life in one short week, leaving behind her newborn baby girl, two little boys and her husband. It's stories like this that reminds that although we weren't able to have the family we had hoped for we are blessed to be the family we are and have one amazing little man who we love and adore! God has a plan for us all and I believe with all my heart there is a reason our life has turned out the way it has and in time we will see that plan. We just need to remain faithful and know that this is the very best plan for our lives. So today I will hug my guys a little tighter and remember how truly blessed I am!
Please take and a few minutes out of your busy day and read this tragic story of this wonderful woman and if you feel moved make a donation to her family.
Alice Hansen Family

My DIY Kitchen ReDesign Part 1

So last night we went on our first pallet picking expedition one of many I am sure. It went ok the quality of the wood really varies so I learned that we will have to shop for the ones for our table and benches for while till we have a enough good quality ones but right now we are just working on our garden boxes so it doesn't matter too much.

We took a little trip though Home Depot last night DH (dear husband) needed some accessories for fence and gate building. I wandered through some of the aisles searching out some ideas for my kitchen reno. I found a couple of wall papers samples to take home and test out see what I think, one is a big bold pattern and the other similar pattern just smaller scale. At first I thought I liked the bigger pattern but now the smaller one is growing on me, what do all of you think? Be sure to leave me a comment and let me know which you prefer remember this is only going on one wall which is only 10-15 ft long. I am also going to be installing wainscoting and chair rail at the bottom of that wall too.

I also spent some time looking at the tiles and flooring. I was looking for a plain white what Nate Berkus called penny tile for my back splash but the closed I could find was a 1" square tile which would work but isn't exactly what I had envisioned. For the floor I think we are going to go with a vinyl plank system at Home Depot and we are thinking tile or cork look for that I didn't really like any of the tile options I looked at last night but found a cork one I am sort of interested in so we will see what I think of it in the coming days I brought home a sample to ponder on.

I also looked at some paint samples didn't really find the colors I had in mind I am still really liking the ones I found on Design Seeds but we will see as I keep looking.

A little family

We just came home from a wonderful long weekend away, it is so nice to have a little break every now and then. We don't do it very often and probably not as often as we should we will be working on that over the summer. I have been starting to stand up for myself when people comment on my little family and on how lucky my Son is to get all the attention etc. I say yes he is and that is the beauty of having only one child. It's hard because sometimes I want to say more or get angry at them but I know most times it is not meant as a dig at me personally it's just once you have struggled as we have you are sensitive to those comments. People don't understand that for me just going out is a struggle that seeing so many people with the family we hoped for, dreamed for, and sacrificed my health for is hard. That a simple thing like taking my Son to a birthday party I dread, I cringe at the idea knowing comments will be made and that DS will see his classmates interacting with their siblings and that will make him say, "Mommy I want to be a big brother too" all he wants is to be like his friends. I have to say though he is getting better it was only just last week that he made a comment about it I hadn't heard it in months, that makes it easier. I had a chance to chat with a good friend while away and she too has only one child it was good to hear that she too has the same struggles and feels the same pressures.

I find it interesting that as mothers we find it appropriate to judge each other on our abilities to parent and raise our families instead of supporting one another and realizing that you do not know the full extent of that person situation and given time you may too experience the same thing. So instead of lifting that mother up and being encouraging we would rather stare and comment. I feel as mothers we should bond together and encourage one another be our own support system because lets face it this is the hardest job we will ever face with the toughest critic. I have been reading the book Bringing Up Bebe by Pamela Druckerman, I am really enjoying it. I am finding some of things I did or do naturally but some of the history behind the french parenting method is very interesting. I really recommend reading it is worth the price or check it out of the library although very popular so hard to get.

I am setting myself a goal to not be judgmental of other Mothers when I am out and to try and give them a little smile or help them out when faced with a difficult situation. I will remember that I have or could be in their shoes one day too.
Had to add a link to this post by a fellow blog Mommy out there: 10 Days of Intentional Parenting Day Six: Grace by finding joy.

Rayna's Day of Play

I came across this today and I had the honor of meeting this beautiful little angel in my previous work I thought I would share this in her honor!

Rayna's Day of Play - August 26th 2012 

We are now in our planning stages for this years Rayna's Day of Play which will be held on Central Ave in Sutherland (replacing HarvestFest) Noon to 4 p.m. There will be rides, games, a Tea Party, Talent Show, parade, kite making and flying,  Entertainment including a show by Singing with Sylvia, craft stations, Concessions, Teddy Bear Clinic, Man Cave and Mommies Corner and more. A family filled event with family values of fun family time.  Wristbands will be on sale shortly for the cost of $15.00 which will include all rides, crafts and child's lunch, ages are 3 years and up for the wristband. This years event will be a growing stage from a very successful Tea Party we had last year on May 1st which was in honour of Rayna Korte, sadly Rayna passed away the next day on May the 2nd from a long battle with Cancer. Her very last wish was for a 100 days of play when she found out she was terminal and Rayna played for exactly 100 days to the day she passed. To keep her beautiful spirit very alive and in her honour, her Mother Cindy has let us rename the event to Rayna's Day of Play and we shall Play rain or shine. If you are interested in participating in either purchasing a booth space, providing a service, or entertainment please contact Kristy at the Children's Wish Foundation or Leanne at 384-4791 or email raynasdayofplay@hotmail.com

She also has a Facebook page feel to visit and like it! 

What have we been up to?

It has been awhile again since I posted life is keeping us busy as both my husband I are continuing to work on our recoveries. Slowly but surely we can see a light at the end of the tunnel! Our Son turned 6 in March can you believe it, I can't! This year we hosted a Star Wars themed Birthday Party and it was fun, crazy but fun! I purchased a wonderful party kit on Etsy from Delightfulprints it was wonderful and made it so easy!

Shown are just a few of the items included in the kit! We also made for the party a pinata replica of the Death Star from the a soccer ball pinata thanks to pinterest! We also did pretzel light sabers and Star Wars sugar cookies, all and all it was good fun!

After the Birthday I have gotten myself busy crafting here are a few of my latest creations!

So as you can see from the many pictures I have kept myself really busy which has been good for me in many ways. It has helped to keep my mind occupied while we wait for our adoption to move onto the homestudy part of the process we are still waiting for our application to be approved for homestudy. This process is very long and at times feels very frustrating. We have recently come to the conclusion that in 3 years when our mortgage is up for renewal we will see where we are in the process and if we haven't progressed at all then we will pack up and go travel for a year at least! Also once we return from our mini vacation I plan to start a 30 day Hot Yoga challenge and will blog through that for all of you to read. I have a friend who completed one in January and she has Lupus and says it made a huge positive impact on her health. I am hoping to kick off our traveling by taking a one month Yoga Teacher training through Rainbow Kids International at least that is my plan at the moment.
As for the next little while well we are working on putting in our garden soon I have it planned out now we must gather our supplies we plan to build a raised bed garden this year making the containers out of pallet would, find our inspiration here on Pinterest of course! I will post finished photos for all of you once it is complete and planted. After that we are going to start a partial reno of our kitchen, this will be the first time in any of the houses we have owned that we will have done a kitchen and I am really excited. In this house with my daycare and my lifestyle the kitchen is the one room I spend the most time in. I am planning on doing it in mustard yellow with plum, white and black accents. See this color combo on Pinterest it is one of the ones I am considering for the plum and yellow. We are also going to doing our own farmhouse table and benches as well as wood counter tops! So as you can tell from this list we will continue to be busy, I will try and take some before pictures for you all and post our progress as I can. Looking forward to a busy spring and summer!

New Year New Food Choices

Well the New Year for us entered on a bittersweet note, my husband fell on November 11, 2011 while we were walking our dog and shattered is Tibia/Fibula this is his worst fracture to date (he has Osteogenesis Imperfecta). I have been struggling with my digestive issues since September 23, 2011 when we had our most recent pregnancy followed shortly after by another miscarriage. Unfortunately on January 4th things took a turn for the worse for me and ended up taking steroids again to clear things up. We just had another colonoscopy which again showed no issues but we are still waiting on the biopsies to come back. They are now thinking some form of IBD but our having trouble finding evidence other than symptoms and blood work. I am now making some more dietary changes in order to try and control these symptoms, I drink a cup of hot water with fresh lemon and ginger prior to eating anything in the morning I follow this by 1/4 of Gluten free oats with 3Tbs Hemp hearts with a little agave nectar and a 4oz glass of Kefir. This seems to be making a difference as of yesterday I am off all meds and doing ok! I am also trying to focus on eating more whole foods and excluding flours and sugars. I recently picked up this book from the library Simple Food for Busy Families I am finding it very informative.

http://www.amazon.ca/Simple-Food-Busy-Families-Nutrition/dp/1587613352

Last Friday night I  made a treat for my Husband, he used to love Wendy's Bacon Mushroom Melt which they no longer have here but I found a Gluten Free Cheese Recipe and made this for him. It was extremely yummy and unfortunately I forgot to take a picture for you.

Gluten Free Cheese Sauce
2 Tbsp Butter
2 Tbsp Gluten Free Flour (I used Bob's Redmill All Purpose Flour)
3/4 Rice Milk (personal preference)
1.5 C Sharp Cheddar

1. Melt 2Tbsp butter in a saucepan. 
2. Whisk in the flour and cook until fragrant and light brown in color.
3. Slowly whisk in the rice milk and bring to a boil. Cook while whisking until smooth and thickened to the consistency of gravy.
4. Remove from heat and blend in the shredded cheddar cheese until melted.

I added some mushrooms and kept it on low while the burgers cooked. After which I topped the burgers with bacon and the cheese mushroom sauce, so yummy!

Today I made a Banana Snack Cake for the daycare  for afternoon snack, I have been reading of the importance of kids having protein throughout the day to fuel their growing bodies and minds. So altered the recipe which I found here to be Gluten Free and contain a source of protein.

Gluten Free Banana Snack Cake
1 Large Egg
1/3 C Loosely packed Whole Brown Sugar
2 tsp Vanilla Extract
3 ripe Bananas, mashed
3/4 C Fava/Garbonzo Bean Flour
1/4 C Brown Rice Flour
1 tsp Baking Powder
1/2 tsp Cinnamon
1/4 tsp Salt
3 Tbsp Extra Virgin Coconut Oil

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Spray an 8x8 pan with non-stick spray
2. In the mixing  bowl, whisk egg and brown sugar until smooth. 
3. Add in the vanilla and mashed bananas, mixing until combined.
4. Add in the flour, baking powder, cinnamon and salt, mixing until the batter comes together.
5. Add in the melted coconut oil and mix until evenly distributed.
6. Pour batter into pan and bake for 20mins or until the center no longer jiggles and the edges are golden.
7. Serve warm.

To finish off our day we did some yoga including several rounds of Om's what a wonderful sound coming from children!