After months of what seemed like non-stop studying (for Zac) and non-stop mothering (for me) we both needed to get a away and just forget about school and books and get to know eachother again. We all had a lot of fun and managed to fit in some relaxing!
Here are some pics.
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So, Sophia will not be participating in her recital. She missed all of her March classes because of either her or Ellie being sick and she just hasn’t enjoyed it since the new year. Since January the kids have been practicing only their recital routine. For one hour. Every week. You can see how that can get old quick to a 3 year old. She had fun before they started practicing their routine, but I honestly had to drag her there every week in February – so come April she just didn’t want to go back and lost all interest in ballet . . . until we picked up her recital costume. She has since begged to go back – especially when I told her what a recital was. Yes, she does like attention. Anywho here is a video I took last night of our own personal recital!
A few weeks ago Alabama experienced a rare occurrence that caused mayhem and a frenzy like no other event could in Alabama. My Canadian friends and family would laugh if they knew how this one singular event could affect the whole state. I’m talking about an inch of snow that lasted for about 24 hours. No joke. But I digress, for a state that sees snow like this once in a decade I suppose all the commotion is justified. Just don’t ask me to get excited.
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Rachel happened to be visiting that weekend and we got some pictures our girls with her experiencing her first snow. This first picture is of the girls when they were happy to be outside – catching Alabama snowflakes with their tongues.
Here Sophia attempts to throw an Alabama snowball at Miss Rachel. Alabama snow makes some fine snowballs – I however do not make great snowball throwers. I think she missed. You will notice that there are no mittens on any of the girls.
This last picture pretty much sums up how the three girls felt after ten minutes outside with no mittens, and how I feel about the snow here, there and everywhere. Crazily, Alabama snow is no different than Saskatchewan snow; cold, wet, and miserable.
Here’s another one for good measure.
And just in case you are wondering, I didn’t deprive these Alabama girls of an Alabama snowman.
The next time we get enough snow to make a snow man – in ten years – my girls can make it themselves. Maybe by then I will learn to have an emergency pair of mittens hanging around.
Last week I got the bright idea to drive to Virginia – which is over a 10 hour drive. With stops it took us 12 – 13 hours each way. Still the 25+ hours in the car was worth it! We used to visit the Rondeau’s once a year and we hadn’t been to see them for a year and a half. I needed a fix. We were down, they were down so on Sunday we commenced on our road trip. We were treated, upon our arrival, with the most delicious venison steak and a balsamic reduction sauce and a yummy side dish – mashed butternut squash and potatoes I think. The Rondeau’s know the meaning of hospitality!
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Anywho, here are three of my favorite pics from the few days we spent with them. The first is Isaac on the swing looking very sweet, as usual. He and Sophia got along swimmingly – which might pose a problem for Sophia’s future with Caleb:).
The next pic is of Micah – who I almost stuck in the van to bring home. I love all the Rondeau boys, but Micah was my little pet when I was there always begging for a tickle from the tickle monster. He is so precious and DOES NOT look like Tom Brady. He’s way cuter.
And last but definitely not least is Caleb. That kid has energy. A big head. Lots of brains. And he can read. He is five. He’s reading chapter books. I sat with him one day and pointed to all these words that I thought too difficult for him, and he said each one quickly and well. I couldn’t believe my eyes. The craziest part of it all was that Matt and Liz did not do anything systematic to teach him to read. From what I remember Liz told me that they did teach him the sounds of the letters and letter groups and he just learned to read. Crazy.
We had a wonderful time with everyone and look forward to when the Rondeau’s visit us next this summer. See you guys soon!
When Sophia was just a few months old and we talked about having another baby soon people were a little stunned – and that’s an understatement. Why would we want another time-consuming, money-consuming, wake-you-up-in-the-middle-of-the-night-creature so soon after having one. We even got advice that it was not fair to your first child to have another baby before the first was 3 years old. Well we had many reasons why we wanted another baby so soon – but I see the wisdom of our choice most of all in how good of friends our girls are. They do fight over things on occasion everyday – but they also have the most tender moments that I sometimes catch on film digital picture card.
This morning when Ellie woke up we brought her into our bed to cuddle for a while. Often times she will just lay between us, other times she will crawl right into our arms on top of us. This morning when she heard Sophia awake she quickly lowered herself off of our bed and all I heard was quiet for the next 5 minutes. Very unusual. Our girls normally wake up with lots of energy. So, being curious, I got up and peeked into their bedroom. This is what I found.
They really do love each other more than any other siblings I have seen. They are not perfect and they do fight – but it never prevents them from still loving each other and having these tender moments. Giving Sophia a constant friend was the best thing we have done for her (besides of course sharing Jesus with her).
Nine out of ten people you ask will tell you that fall is their favorite season including silly Canadians. When I was living in Canada fall was not my favorite season. I think it was my least favorite season. For me it was the end of reasonable weather, the beginning of cold hands and feet that lasted for at least 8 months. It was the ushering in of winter; cold, ugly, clothes-always-wet-because-of-the-snow winter, walk-three-miles-to-school winter (well not really but that is what I am going to tell my children when they won’t get out of bed to do homeschool), snow-drifts-three-feet-high-on-your-front-door-cold. The fall season does not last long in Canada – at least not in Saskatchewan as we are usually some of the first in North America to experience the bitter cold winds that come from the Arctic. So when fall arrives in Canada it lasts all of three days before the inevitable bitter cold follows. I find it hard to enjoy those three days when I know what is soon coming. Brrrr – I get cold just thinking about it.
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Thank the LORD for Zac stealing me away to the south! Now I can say that fall is my favorite season. Unlike Canada fall here seems to last, well, all winter. I LOVE IT! I especially love it since having children and we can actually stay outside for more than two minutes without melting. We have been outside a lot lately. Yesterday I managed to rake up a small pile of leaves for the girls to play in. It was one of my best ideas to date, besides marrying Zac of course.
Before the destruction. Any kind of playing that does not require cleaning up afterwards is a good thing, for both parents and children. Where there is some kind of order it is not difficult for my girls to know what to do.
I think she is imagining how big the pile is going to be and the potential mess she can make when ALL the leaves on those two big trees are on the ground.
There she goes!
Playing in leaves is a full contact sport. Oh, and if you plan to do this soon make sure to take of ballet tights BEFORE making contact with the leaves.
Just look at her form! Incredible.
And don’t worry Grandma’s – Ellie did get in on the fun too.
In America we wonder what to wear to church on Sunday and what we will eat for lunch afterwards. In Iraq, particularly in Mosul, the Christians wonder if they or their kin will be killed because they love their Savior and refuse to stop meeting together. Thirteen Christians in this Iraqi town have been killed in the last few 
weeks because of their devotion to Christ. When I have shared the gospel with people I get a “thanks, but no thanks” or I lose friends. When they share the gospel they risk their very lives. Over 3000 Christians have fled Mosul because of the persecution there. Let us pray for them as they have lost precious family members, and brothers and sisters in Christ. Let us empathize with them using the best of our imagination to think about what it might be like for them that we might fulfill the commandment to “Remember those in prison as if you were their fellow prisoners, and those who are mistreated as if you yourselves were suffering.” Hebrews 13:3.
From the little bit of reading I have done online I have learned that the church is quite active in Iraq and particularly Mosul. Since the American Invasion of Iraq, for whatever reason persecution of Christians has increased – first starting with abductions of Christians to more recently the killing of Christians. The good news is many of these Christians are not abandoning their faith but they are instead abandoning their homes. They are remaining faithful to Christ. Here are some scripture to consider as you pray for our brothers and sisters in Iraq.
>”Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, For theirs is the kingdom of heaven.” (Matthew 5:10)
>”Rejoice and be exceedingly glad, for great is your reward in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you.”(Matthew 5:12)
>”Remember the word that I said to you, ‘A servant is not greater than his master.’ If they persecuted Me, they will also persecute you. If they kept My word, they will keep yours also.”(John 15:20)
>”And we labor, working with our own hands. Being reviled, we bless; being persecuted, we endure;” (1 Corinthians 4:12)
>”We are hard pressed on every side, yet not crushed; we are perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed, always carrying about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus, that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our body. For we who live are always delivered to death for Jesus’ sake, that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our mortal flesh. So then death is working in us, but life in you. And since we have the same spirit of faith, according to what is written, “I believed and therefore I spoke,”* we also believe and therefore speak, knowing that He who raised up the Lord Jesus will also raise us up with Jesus, and will present us with you. For all things are for your sakes, that grace, having spread through the many, may cause thanksgiving to abound to the glory of God. Therefore we do not lose heart. Even though our outward man is perishing, yet the inward man is being renewed day by day. For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, is working for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory, while we do not look at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen. For the things which are seen are temporary, but the things which are not seen are eternal.” (2 Corinthians 4:8-18)
>”Yes, and all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution” (2 Timothy 3:12).
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I encourage you to look up the context for these verses as you pray. If you want to be more intimately acquainted with the persecuted church in other parts of the world look here and here. The first link is especially valuable as you can get to know more personally the actual people who the Black’s minister to who are persecuted.
The title for this post is a little weird. I know. However there are many things I want to say about my favorite musician that include his most recent album, his show I attended on Sunday, and his work to date; all of which I have utmost admiration for.
At his show on Sunday Andrew Peterson (AP) mentioned a quote: “Being spiritual is nothing more than paying attention” (this is a paraphrase but I think it captures the idea). AP is paying attention. He’s paying attention to the little things and big ideas and bringing them together to make profound and beautiful music. On his latest album Resurrection Letters, Volume II, to be released today, he wrote these words in a song titled The Good Confession (I Believe) about his own salvation and sanctification: “Through the years I barely fell; I mostly dove right in. I drank so deep from the shallow well only to thirst again. . . All I know is that I was blind but now I see that though I kick and scream, Love is leading me. And every step of the way His grace is making me; with every breath I breathe, he is saving me.” It is these intricately woven lyrics set to beautiful and memorable harmonies that make a lasting impression on my mind. The lyrics are not what I admire in and of themselves but the vulnerability – exposing the soul and giving glory to God. It is not just in this song but in many, many songs. I find it impossible to pin down one favorite in his many albums. Hours after listening to his music you will find yourself thinking about “things that are pure . . .noble. . . just and true” (Phil. 4:8). It’s not that I think that his music is the inspired Word of God, but rather that he is inspired by the inspired word of God and writes about things that are pure, noble, just and true.
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If you aren’t already convinced that you will enjoy AP as much as I do then I encourage you to check out one of his shows coming up. It was a serendipitous blessing that I got to attend one of his album release shows this Sunday night. I just happened to check my facebook a few minutes before we were leaving for Birmingham and noticed his status update said he would be in Birmingham. The show is free in most places so there is no excuse for you cheapskates frugal music lovers. You will not only hear AP sing and play each track but he will give you the story of each song; why he wrote it and the significance. If you are not into music or his music go anyways because his humor is well worth the price of admission (+ from now on this + is your cue to laugh). Here is a link to the listings of his tour. And since I didn’t say much about his work to date as promised, come back and read about “Our Story” because two of his albums play a crucial role.
Homemade bread that is! Because of my love for the feminist movement I thought it vitally important to learn some vitally important skills that will help in the advancement of my workplace – my home. Every time I make this bread I can pretty much get whatever I want from both my employer – my husband, and my underlings – my children. I feel so empowered It makes me want to do something crazy like cook up a batch of jam. I know, I really am aiming high and seeking to smash all kinds of glass ceilings. I’m okay with that. Anywho back to the bread.
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Although I do buy the rare loaf at the grocery store during exceptionally busy weeks we mostly eat homemade bread. Kids LOVE homemade bread. I have never had them ask for seconds of store bought bread, which suits me fine as the ingredient list on even the more expensive loafs is so long no doubt containing preservatives we can live without.
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One of my favorite recipes leaves little excuse to not make homemade bread. If your reason is “lack of time” this loaf takes only about 1 hour and 15 minutes from start to finish. Hands on time is about 15 minutes. Since I make it so often I don’t even need to hunt for the recipe anymore. Anywho, here it is.
Cuban Bread – 2 loaves
Just look at them clinging to each other – they know they are about to be devoured.
3 cups of flour (you can use half whole wheat)
1 Tbsp salt
2Tbsp sugar
1 Tbsp yeast
3 Tbsp freshly ground flax seeds (optional)
- Mix these ingredients well with a whisk in a large bowl
2 cups hot water (125-135 degrees)
- pour water into dry ingredients and stir with wooden spoon for 3 minutes – ish, or until both arms are tired. You can thank me later for those strong, toned arms.
- Mix in another two cups of flour and blend until all the flour is absorbed into dough.
- Dump dough onto floured surface (kitchen counter or table) and kneed for 8 minutes, adding flour when the dough gets sticky. Don’t be afraid, you can do it, and remember to come back later and thank me for those strong arms – just don’t beat me up for getting you addicted to this bread and gaining 5 pounds. Please.
- Now place dough in a bowl that you have covered in a thin layer of oil – canola or vegetable. Let it sit, covered with a kitchen towel, in a warm-ish place for 15 minutes.
- Divide dough into two, and form into round balls, very unlike non-round balls. Place on a greased light colored cookie sheet. I am not discriminating against dark colored cookie sheets as they are great for things like oven fries, but for this use something light so the bottom of your bread does not get too dark. As you will notice the bread does not go in a loaf pan. It is free form – rather fitting for me, right, since I am such a free spirit. Maybe we should change the name of this bread to Candace Bread or Free Spirit bread.
- cut a shallow X on the top of your bread and put in a cold oven
- Place a oven safe dish with hot water on the rack under your bread
- Turn on oven to 400 degrees and cook for 20 – 30 minutes, or until golden brown
- Enjoy. It is especially good toasted or grilled. And remember this is not just baking bread it is one step forward for womankind. Be empowered – get in the kitchen!
