I Love You LO

I finally put this one together. It's been in my mind's eye for quite some time, but I wanted it to be perfect, and now's the time. Journaling reads: "How excited we were to catch our first glimpse of our 1st baby. And how tickled we were when our little one gave us that special sign we are so familiar with - "I love you". Well, little one, we love you too."


And an update with my one little word: I've been taking Ali's class and I've really enjoyed the prompts and the way she has encouraged us to keep our word in mind. I've really been trying to "focus" on focusing on the important things. One thing I've really found that has improved is my goal of not procrastinating the thoughts and ideas in my head. If I know that I should do it, I have been doing it. This goes for crafty things, like the baby quilt I've been working on, and beginning to cut the master bed quilt I have in mind, scrapbook layouts and mini albums, for physical things I have been putting off for too long: EXERCISE!, and just plain old upkeep: doing the dishes right away. I even followed my thought pattern last week and made cookies (I haven't made cookies since Christmas time!) I am feeling good about my goals and my one little word!

One Little Word

Hello again everyone (does anyone even read here anymore?!) Yes, it's been some time since I last posted. Let's see.... excuses:

1. I'm pregnant and tired. Lots of naps when Otto naps.
   
2. I have a busy little boy running around all the time. [How do people get anything done with more than one?!!! Maybe my next one will sit still more? Ah, who wants a sedentary child anyway?]
3. I lead a pretty boring life and I haven't done any post-worthy crafts of late.
4. We were all sick on and off through December and a bad cold for me this past week.

I "follow" several blogs by some inspirational ladies who scrapbook and/or craft. They have kids. I honestly don't know where they find the time. I suppose most of them probably have some child-care and/or cleaning help.

So, this issue of TIME has got me thinking. For several years now, I have been familiar with an idea that Ali Edwards set out regarding choosing one word to live by/remember/focus on to help enrich your life through the year. I've often thought it's a nice idea, but with all the thoughts and ideas in my head, I could never narrow it down to just one word. This year is going to be different. I pored over the comments in Ali's blog post about her word, which you can read here, and I wrote down some of my thoughts and some words that were coming to my mind.

My process went a little like this:

• first word: ENJOY. I want to enjoy each moment this year and concentrate on making my time and efforts enjoyable. But this word wasn't quite it.
• second word: TIME. Heaven knows I need more of it... or maybe I just need to learn to manage my time better and use my time for things that are most important. This still wasn't quite right.
• third word: BETTER. I'm constantly thinking to myself and saying in my prayers that I want to be a better mother, wife, daughter, sister, friend, etc. But I think that is always going to be a goal I will constantly be working at.
• fourth word: LISTEN. Stop and listen for what is really important. Listen more to those around me. But that's still not right.

Then, I found it and it spoke to me and I just can't get it out of my head.

focus

My main idea: to focus on what is important in the moment. Focus on not procrastinating. Focus on who is important in my life. Focus on things I want to accomplish - unfinished projects, scrapbooking ideas in my head, sewing, etc. Focus on feeding my family better. Focus on my personal spirituality, which has been seriously lacking of late. If I can only remember to focus, my hope is that my life will be enriched by my more focused choices in the use of my time.

I'm really excited about this and especially excited that I actually have a word this year! I will also follow along in Ali's new class for her prompts to help me keep my one little word in "focus" throughout each month this year. She will be sending out prompts only once a month, which I think will be easy to handle. Join the class yourself and see how your one little word can change your life this year!

Read more about Ali's One Little Word here, here, and here.

Hidden Gem

I've been going through all my childhood memorabilia and I happened upon this little gem. My uncle, Tim Lilburn, is an award winning poet both provincially and nationally. I found this poem he wrote for me back in 1987:
Kitchener, June 17, 1987
Dear Kaly,

My neice asks for a poem
so I will praise her corn-coloured,
goat-eye yellow hair, her eyes'
hot June blue and the beginning-
of-the-world bright
of her face, as I speak
highly of stones, pumpkins and horses'
musical pasture turns
for she is beloved and glad to me
as mornings
and the towering sky
and wheat
and prairie's forever,
her rising bread joy
great to me;
speaks of her intelligence
as poets do of roses
opening,
happily if she will
accept these mutterings
from an eccentric uncle
as downpayment for verse she will,
quick as a whisper,
send to me.
Love, Uncle Tim


Now, how warm and lovely is that to come upon?

Not a Funny Girl.

I admire my friends Becky and Erin for just putting it all out there, so here I go.

I am not the funny girl. You won't find me the center of attention at a party. I am not rude or overly sarcastic. I am not clever or witty, though I wish I was and admire it in others. My tongue just doesn't work that fast. My brother-in-law is the champion of witty remarks. I don't know how he thinks them up so fast. He's also extremely sarcastic, so maybe that has something to do with it.

I am quiet. I enjoy meaningful conversations that get to the heart of the personal humanity of those involved. I care deeply for my friends and family. I care about others and hope I am empathetic towards all. I am genuine and sincere. I am loving and hope that I am kind always. I am musical, creative, and spiritual. I am loyal and consistent. I am strong. These values rule my life and I ever aspire to be better at them than I currently am. I know I shouldn't care about what others think of me; I should just live my life how I know I should. I don't need anyone's negative interference to sway my beliefs, goals, or nature of who I am. I know I must plow forward, doing those things I know will bring myself and those closest to me happiness.

Erin said exactly what I've been feeling lately, and I just don't feel that I can make a better spin on it, so I will end with her words:

"I remembered once again that God's perspective is the only one that matters. It really doesn't matter if anyone notices me, if anyone thinks I'm valuable or important, or reads my blog. ;) It doesn't matter if people take me for granted, are rude to me or ignore me. My legacy has to be one that mirrors the one whom I am living for. If I'm living for myself then I will chase that ego trip. But if I'm living for Jesus then His example has to be my lead. Jesus didn't seek attention, or significance. He came with a mission to save us from ourselves and He lived His 30 years on earth to that means. No ego trips just truth and hard hitting messages. Time to let go of ourselves and the desire to have amazing biographies written about us when we die. Time to deny ourselves and walk with Christ, as challenging as that path can be." {Thanks Erin.}

Top 10 Wishes

I'm list-lifting this idea from my friend Haley's blog because I think it's good to have a wish!

1. I often wish for more time. If only sleeping and eating were optional because we just felt like it, we'd have 24 usable hours in a day. Think of all that we could accomplish! Now, don't get me wrong, I love food and a good nap, but if we could just do so when we wanted to, like if we had some extra time....
2. I'm with Haley on this one: I wish winter weather only existed through the months of December and January. But, maybe not all of January because I'm sick of having cold weather on my birthday. But let's just wish further than that: I wish spring could be for everywhere like it is on Vancouver Island - fluffy white and pink cherry blossoms, magnolia blooms, flowers everywhere, and greenery would last all through the year! Summer would be the majority of the year, but not too too hot. And fall would last a few weeks and be like Eastern Canada, with all the lovely maple and oak trees turning magnificent colors.
3. I wish yard and house work would magically do themselves. 'Nuff said.
4. I wish I could go hiking every weekend, and climbing once a week.
5. I wish I could get all of my closest friends and family together and live in a co-housing community like my friend Annie's. We'd have house concerts and house potlucks ALL the time!
6. Speaking of concerts, I wish that I could go to any and all concerts I desire. I really miss going to classical music concerts with my classical music friends, jazz concerts and gigs, and I lament the fact that I didn't go to Folk Fest this year.
7. I wish that I could do all the musical things I desired, such as pick up the Foothills Girls Choir again, and learn a bunch of new piano pieces this year. I would also love to learn to play the guitar. This wish would work if only we could have wish #1.
8. I wish that when we looked at older people, we could see their life story in front of us. They would receive more respect and admiration from us than they get now. I suppose that could go for regular people we meet or know as well. It would certainly eliminate all sorts of judgements.
9. I wish we could travel like they did on Star Trek. I'm not even sure how that was, but I know it was super FAST. We could travel all over the world in seconds.
10. Lastly, I wish I were asleep in my bed instead of staying up to write on my blog. Sometimes I just want to kick myself in the pants for not going to sleep when I should!11. I lied, here's one last one. I SO wish that babies (especially mine) didn't spit up so much! Andy caught this one of Otto WHILE we were doing our family pictures. We took his bib off for only a few minutes and of course, he spits up. It never fails.

Thanks Haley for the idea!

37 weeks.. and all that that implies...

Just when I thought I could get no bigger... my ever-expanding belly surprises us all!




















Highlights of this past week (or not so highlights) include:

1. Ode to my Mother. She keeps asking me what I have left to do, and I told her of some sewing projects I wanted to do: hemming the drapes and making the diaper bag. She said it most aptly: "I can do it faster than you." And true to her word, she spent one day and had it all done! So thanks Mom! Now everyone will want a bag like mine!






2. Andy is almost finished staining and polyurethaning the dresser for the baby room, yay! And, my talented husband also made an attachment for our kitchen tap that will aid in filling our "birthing pool". Nice work, Andy!

3. This was my last week at Kids Are Special Jr. Kindergarten. Sad, but it had to happen sometime! Unfortunately for me, it happened sooner than later, but more on that next. The kids made a list this week of their guesses as to what sex the baby would be, and what we should name the baby. We had names ranging from "Sweetie" (cute, huh?) to "Tina" to "Princess Annalese". A few of the children thought that their own name was the best, so we got some Calebs and Davons and Connors, etc. I will miss these kids!

4. I had another kidney attack. This time it wasn't a gradual thing - it literally attacked out of nowhere. Stabbing, completely dibilitating kidney pain. Lucky for me it didn't last as long as it did the last time. We (actually, my afore mentioned wonderful Mother) rushed to the hospital and they put me on the monitors to check baby, and in about an hour and a half the pain had subsided considerably. Our midwife suggested we go to Calgary, but when we left High River Hospital, I felt like the pain was going away and we didn't want to spend another night and day waiting around for tests at the Rockyview. So, I stayed home to rest and we went to our pre-scheduled ultrasound on Wednesday morning. Now, there's some prestory to this ultrasound. It wasn't just kidneys that they would be checking. At my last appointment, TWO midwives were stumped by a big lump in my belly that apparently wasn't a discernable baby part. I am also measuring small, so they wanted to check if there was a growth that was taking away from baby. Well, I was very worried. But I know the Lord watches over us and answers prayers (thanks for all your prayers). If there was a lump there, there's not one now! The ultrasound showed baby as happy as a peach. Babe is moving a lot and gets herself into some strange positions, so they think that the way baby is sitting has stretched my uterus into some strange shapes. The spot that was in question turns out to be baby's bum stretching out. Andy was funny, saying that our baby might be born without a bum since everyone's been praying for the lump to go away.
We're so glad that baby is okay. We only have to worry about kidney pain, because they found a small stone in the left kidney, and quite some fluid in the right kidney. It's funny because all this time I've been having a lot of pain in the right one, and the left one never gave me any pain until Monday. So... still a lot of kidney pain, but it's manageable. I've been drinking a tonne of fresh lemon and water and have cut back on many things that may aggravate kidney stones. These things include animal products: meat, milk, dairy, fish, etc. And sugars (which I wasn't having much of in the first place). But now I'm stumped as to what I should eat. Last night I made a really yummy minestrone soup and a roasted red pepper hummus, but I can't just eat beans for the next few weeks! Any suggestions? Please!

5. My good friend Rebecca Smart had her baby 5 weeks early by emergency C-section a week ago Friday. At first things seemed to be going well (at least he was a relatively healthy birth weight of 6.1 lbs), but her baby, Sean, had a few seizures and now has some blood pooled in his brain. After a week in ICU, he seems to be doing better - a few minor seizures, but he is able to breathe on his own and has been able to cut back on some of the tubes and monitors he was hooked up to. They are hoping that if he can feed on his own, the blood will dissapate and he should be able to go home with his parents. The doctors are optimistic, which sounds good. He is in our prayers.

6. This afternoon, Andy and I attended a gorgeous a capella choral concert in High River. My good friend Candia sings in the Spiritus Chamber Choir, who happened to be performing in High River today. What a treat to hear a professional choir like this one! They were BEAUTIFUL!

So, exciting week say the least. I have one more week of teaching piano, with the student recital this Friday, so anytime after that the baby can come! (We hope!) I'm still trying to putz around, doing cleaning and setting up for baby, but in all the essentials we are ready.

Thank you for your thoughts and prayers. It means so much to us at this time!

Random things in my life right now

I'm such a sporadic poster!
But to let you know some things I've been up to lately:

I started an online "Art Journal" class with the amazing Dina Wakley. Check out her blog through the link on the side of my page. I'm learning how to layer textures and how to use paint. I've always been intimidated by paint because I usually use way to much or not enough and it ends up being disaster. But my first assignment from last week actually turned out not too bad. The part that is way harder than the painting is the journaling! Who would have thought?! When I have a few pages actually completed (in another few weeks) I'll post them then. Or maybe I'll post week-by-week so you can see the beginning to end process? I'll have to see what I'm up for.

Christmas is coming quick! Especially if you are making some presents by hand! Quick quiz: How many of you will be giving home-made gifts? What kind of gifts do you make? I seem to always make peppermint popcorn in glass jars, and shortbread cookies. They are both Christmas staples in this house!

Now that I've sat down and written the above, I entirely forget what else I've been up to lately. I thought there was more, but it appears that I am just really very boring.

Well, Andy is back home and he did a fantastic 1st year welding, so way to go Andy! And I'm glad to have you home again.

"the coming of the winter"

I was recently on a blog I frequent. I was asked the question, "What are you most anticipating about fall?"
I had to think for a minute, because already the colors of the leaves are changing and it's getting cold - I've been sleeping with wheat bags in bed since Andy has been away at school! And you who know me well know that I absolutely hate the cold (why do I live in Canada?). So asking myself what I'm most anticipating about fall just makes me think of how depressed I will be when it keeps getting colder and colder and colder and colder.
But I dug deep. There are some things that I've always adored about fall, and when I remember these things, I don't feel the woe of winter coming on so strong. So, I'm making a list of all the things to look forward to this fall that will make me happy and help me count my blessings.

My list:

1. Wonderful smelling crispness in the air. Just breathe it in!
2. My first wedding anniversary! yay!
3. Fall colors (they're best in Eastern Canada or Northern AB,SK,BC)
4. Crunching leaves underfoot
   
5. Snuggling
6. Sleeping under the stars in the back of the truck (with many many blankets)
7. Less yard work.
8. More scrapbook time!
9. Getting back to work with all the kids I love! - piano, girls choir, Cantos tours, pre-K
10. Birthdays to look forward to
11. Soups. yum.
12. Lovely, heart-warming wintery songs. John Denver "Rhymes and Reasons" comes to mind, "so you speak to me of sadness and the coming of the winter..."(then it gets happier)
13. Scarves. You know me, I love my scarves.
    
14. Sweaters and vests and blazers.
15. Hot chocolate, herbal teas, hot carmel apple ciders, and steamers.
    

This picture was taken a few years back at the farm in Rosemary. It's one of my favorites. Reminds me of good times.
Well, there's my list. What does yours look like?