Maybe a scorpion???

I'm off to town to try to find something gross. Last night K let me know that she needed a gift for her Secret Pal today. Oops - we forgot! Each week for the past 3 weeks they were supposed to sneak their Secret Pal a little something without revealing who they were. Today at their Christmas Party they find out who's been giving them gifts. Said Secret Pal has a penchant for snakes, lizards, and similar creepy creatures. She's already given him a squooshy snake and a stretchy rubbery bean bag tarantula. Such lovely gifts. :oP (He loved them.) They were cheap - but K's insisting that today's gift has to be the best yet. I just don't know how I can top the tarantula if I only have time to shop in Altona. We'll see what our bustling metropolis has in the way of creepy crawlies . . .

For the party today her whole class is spending the day at her teacher's house. K's backpack was stuffed with a gallon pail of Puppy Chow (see earlier post), a head of Romaine lettuce (they're making tacos for lunch), gifts for the janitor and secretary at school, and her swimsuit and beach towel because they get to go in the teacher's hot tub. Her backpack would not even zip shut. She was sooo excited.

Okay - gotta run. I'm thinking I may end up buying candy . . . Unless I hit the jackpot and happen across a really cool scorpion or something. I'll keep you posted. :o)

Yay!

J got her braces off today!!!!!

Pictures yet to come . . .

Somebody made it home in the storm

Okay, so we're having this blizzard outside. It's 10:30 p.m. The phone rings. I answer it . . .

me: "Hello?"

caller: (in a loud, friendly, happy voice) "Hello!"

me: (thinking - who is this? sounds kind of like my step-mom, but quite unusual for her to call this late. I'm not committing myself by saying her name, but don't want to come off as rude, because whoever it is is being very friendly, so it must be someone I know.)

me: (friendly) "Hi!" (racking my brain, wondering WHO this could be)

caller: (pause) "We're home now!"

me: (longer pause) "O-kaaay. . . " (pause) "I think you might have the wrong number."

caller: "OH! Is this not Esther?"

me: "No. . . but I'm glad you made it home!"

-45 to -50 windchills

BLIZZARD TONIGHT AND SUNDAY MORNING THEN ENDING SUNDAY AFTERNOON.
ISSUED BY ENVIRONMENT CANADA
AT 9:17 PM CST SATURDAY 13 DECEMBER 2008


AN INTENSE WEATHER SYSTEM MOVING THROUGH THE NORTHERN STATES WAS EXPECTED TO GIVE SNOW AND BLOWING SNOW TO SOUTHERN MANITOBA TODAY AND TONIGHT. THIS SYSTEM HAS TRACKED FURTHER SOUTH AND AS A RESULT NOT MUCH SNOW FELL ACROSS SOUTHERN MANITOBA EXCEPT NEAR THE INTERNATIONAL BORDER. HOWEVER COLD ARCTIC AIR CONTINUES TO FEED SOUTHWARD INTO THE AREA TONIGHT AND SUNDAY. EXTREME WIND CHILL VALUES BETWEEN -45 AND -50 ARE EXPECTED ACROSS MANY PARTS OF SOUTHERN MANITOBA TONIGHT AND SUNDAY. NORTHERLY WINDS OF 40 GUSTING 60 KM/H CAN BE EXPECTED IN THE RED RIVER VALLEY THIS EVENING AND OVERNIGHT. VISIBILITY WILL BE REDUCED IN BLOWING SNOW AND BLIZZARD CONDITIONS ARE EXPECTED TO CONTINUE IN THE RED RIVER VALLEY ESPECIALLY NEAR THE US-CANADA BORDER TONIGHT. CONDITIONS IN THE RED RIVER VALLEY ARE EXPECTED TO IMPROVE OVERNIGHT. HOWEVER EXTREME WIND CHILL VALUES WILL PERSIST THROUGH SUNDAY. TOTAL SNOWFALL AMOUNTS WITH THIS SYSTEM ARE MUCH LESS THAN EARLIER FORECAST AND AS A RESULT VISIBILITIES WILL BE MUCH BETTER. HOWEVER THE EXTREME COLD WILL CONTINUE TONIGHT AND SUNDAY WITH WIND CHILL VALUES OF MINUS 45 TO MINUS 50 EXPECTED IN THE WAKE OF THIS MAJOR WINTER STORM.

FYI, -40 Celcius and -40 Fahrenheit are the same. It's miserable out there!

Saturday crafting

K and I have been working on a wreath and just finished it. I had this plain vine wreath that I got at a craft store a few years back. Every winter it's been whispering to me from the closet - "Remember you were going to make me into something beautiful?"

We added some pine that we cut off one of our trees and some pinecones. Also found some fake berries, etc. at the dollar store.

Yes, I know - the white pinecone at 9:30 sticks out like a sore thumb. Oh, well. It was part of a decoration from the dollar store.

Now - where to hang it . . .

We made Puppy Chow!

No, not the canine variety, but the yummy peanut butter/chocolate snack that does kind of resemble dog food! For the past few years during the pre-Christmas season, the local IGA has put out a stack of Puppy Chow recipes next to all the ingredients needed. This year I thought I'd give it a try. Here's the recipe:

1 box Crispix cereal
1 package chocolate chips
1/2 cup margarine
1 cup peanut butter
2 cups icing sugar

Melt chocolate chips, margarine and peanut butter. Pour over cereal in a large bowl and mix thoroughly. Pour the icing sugar into a large brown pager bag and add the cereal. Fold the bag to seal and shake well to coat evenly. Spread on waxed paper to cool and dry.

Sounds easy enough, and it was. K helped me and even A had to give the bag a few shakes. Kind of weird to use a paper bag, but it worked! The icing sugar only seeped out a little during shaking. It's really quite a yummy treat. And of course, if you eat it on the weekend, the calories don't count. ;o) Right?

For J

Ugh - I have really been lax with posting lately! I've been wanting to post some pics of J since she had her 17th birthday the end of October. Yes, she's SEVENTEEN! (gasp! . . .we JUST brought her home from the hospital, didn't we?)

There are next to no pictures here of when she was a toddler - I'll have to dig deeper to find them! I know I took lots!

Here we go:



Bathtime in the kitchen in our apartment in Winnipeg . . .





Visit from Dad & Brenda . . .




Kindergarten . . .




First Grade . . .




Third or fourth grade (don't remember!) . . .




With A R during a visit to Minnesota . . .




With K in their matching dresses that I made them . . .




Ninth birthday . . .




Tenth birthday with K in front, C in back, and A on the right . . .




I don't know what grade this is!(but I'm guessing 5th?) . . .




J helping work on the piano. This is the piano that I learned to play on (somewhat!) when I was a kid. Dad and one of my stepbrothers brought it up to us from Minnesota. We refinished it and then had a piano technician do some work on it, but we did as much as we could ourselves. This step is replacing the stirrups (I think that's what they're called - little straps). We discovered that it was easiest for J to do this part since she had such small nimble fingers. She did a great job. Thanks, J! . . .




On a trip in the van somewhere . . .




J riding a friend's horse, Blackjack (BJ) at 4H. Funny, but we now have BJ in our corral keeping Prince company. He's on loan.




7th or 8th Grade . . .




Graduation photo for junior high . . .




Ninth Grade . . .




Tenth Grade . . .




Eleventh Grade . . .




Twelfth Grade . . .




Where has the time gone? Whoooooosh! We recently found her grad gown - had a fun time shopping in bridal shops in downtown Winnipeg (well, I had a fun day - I didn't have to change a gazillion times!) Now she's got her eye on a car she likes. Today she borrowed our car to go to Winnipeg on her own (with a friend - A) to go to the orthodontist. Soon she gets her braces off. She's pondering her future after high school - considering working a year, and then maybe training in nursing or paramedics or wherever the Lord leads her.

We love you J!

Love,
Mom

More Zimbabwe News

Just got another message from Fiona in Zimbabwe. The "new owners" of their land (those who just moved onto it) have stolen their tractors, put new signs up on the property, dividing it into three. Thirty squatters were on their land, threatening with axes. Fiona's father in law was able to get one policeman to come out, but he was powerless against such a show of force. Under duress her husband agreed to let them plough up 10 hectares, even though he is protected by a court order against the squatters. This will have to go to court again, which could cost them up to 3 thousand dollars US funds. Court costs are going to eat up all the profit from the crop they just planted. Inflation is crazy there. $1 USD = 642,371,437,695,221,000 Zimbabwean Dollars - it's the worst currency in the world.

They are hoping for no more drama this week.

Months ago when they saw this coming they wanted to get travel documents so that they had the option to leave the country, but the government stopped issuing them, leaving them without that option.

So far . . .

. . . Fiona and her family continue to be safe. She appreciates prayer - her words:

"Please pray for us , we know and believe all your prayers not just lift us up but they really help ."

They are getting very little sleep. Legally they have title to their land, but the police will not be coming to help them.

Inflation in Zimbabwe is unbelievable - people are mostly using foreign currencies now or just trading goods. If they get Zimbabwe money they have to spend it quickly before it loses value. I cannot imagine.

Urgent Prayer Request

For the past year or so I have been in contact with a homeschooling mom from Zimbabwe. We met through a Yahoo homeschool group we both were members of. Anyway - the situation is dire there, and my Zimbabwe friend fears for the lives of her family. They farm, and there have been people coming onto their property, demanding their land and threatening them. Yesterday a group of seven youth came and moved into a vacant house on their property, said they were going to kill her husband and deal with her and the kids in the morning. Her husband raced into town to contact the police. She's under immense stress and is asking for prayer. So please pray for Fiona and Hannes and their children. Pray for Zimbabwe. You can check out the Zimbabwe news at:

www.zimbabwesituation.com

Psalm 138

I will praise Thee with my whole heart: before the gods will I sing praise unto Thee.

I will worship toward Thy holy temple, and praise Thy name for Thy lovingkindness and for Thy truth; for Thou hast magnified Thy word above all Thy name.

In the day when I cried Thou answeredst me, and strengthenedst me with strength in my soul.

All the kings of the earth shall praise Thee, O Lord, when they hear the words of Thy mouth.

Yea, they shall sing in the ways of the Lord: for great is the glory of the Lord.

Though the Lord be high, yet hath He respect unto the lowly: but the proud He knoweth afar off.

Though I walk in the midst of trouble, Thou wilt revive me: Thou shalt stretch forth Thine hand against the wrath of mine enemies, and Thy right hand shall save me.

The Lord will perfect that which concerneth me: Thy mercy, O Lord, endureth for ever: forsake not the works of Thine Own hands.

Memories of Morning Star Camp - 2004

I know this is going a LONG way back, but I thought it might be neat to post some pics of our much-enjoyed trip to Bright and Morning Star Camp in Wyoming in 2004. This will be very picture-laden! But everyone likes pictures, right? J has had the opportunity to go back a few times since then, but the rest of us have not been back since. We had a wonderful time - it was a grueling drive (UGH!) but well worth it.

It was a spiritually refreshing trip, and we met a lot of people we had not known before. The kids loved it. The scenery was beautiful. The question and answer times were interesting and helpful. Mr. P's outlines and related discussion were thought provoking. The sings were special. The trail ride, raft trip, side trips, etc. were fun. The visiting with those of like precious faith was encouraging. The food was AMAZING. The fire was warm. The tent, however, was NOT. Nights were very cold, which was bearable in the teepees where they had a fire. We brought our own tent, which is basically a screen octagon with a fly over the top that let the cold breeze whistle through all night - we've never done camping in anything but the summer heat, so didn't even think of the fact that this tent is not for cool temps since you can only zip up some of the screen. Everyone else in the family seemed to be able to be sleep well, but I kept waking up, wondering if the kids were warm enough and making sure they were still covered. I didn't want my pumpkins to freeze! A very kind lady offered us some extra blankets that she had, which really helped. We slept in our winter jackets, long underwear under pj's, toques, and 2-3 pairs of socks. If we go again, we will be even more prepared for the cold nights! It was the only downside. Sorry if I'm stressing the cold so much, but it's a large part of what I remember. Truly - the days more than made up for the nights! I loved it.

On to the photos . . .

This pic is taken somewhere on the drive there. The kids have grown a lot in 4 years!



Camp:



Caterers and family on the left, host family in middle, bus driver in back, A LaB's dog in front (I think), us on right:



K, just hanging around:



J spent a lot of time playing volleyball with the young people and discovered her hidden talent for serving.



C, being attacked by little boys - he loved it. And another dog.



Lots of people brought their dogs, which K thought was great. She made friends with someone's great dane.



One of the sings:



Yours truly before our trail ride. It was great - brought back some of my fondest memories from childhood - of trail rides while on camping trips.



A Rare Sight Indeed - this is A:



K got to help prepare pineapple upside-down cake one day - she felt like such a big girl for helping.



Group pic of some who had taken a side trip one day. This waterfall was on the way, and we couldn't resist stopping to take a closer look.



C (in red jacket) and some new buds - he really did have a great time.



Mr. LaB was our alarm clock each morning - he walked around serenading everyone with his "It's time to get up, it's time to get up, the sun is over the ho-ri-i-zon" yodeling song. Wish I had a recording. :o) Some mornings he was like the pied piper, with kids and dogs following him around - it was neat. C always wanted to go with him but never managed to wake up all the way in enough time to join him.



We took a side trip to a thermal pool one day - it was nice and warm. But A and a few other guys decided to take a dip in this very cold mountain stream - the temp was 35 F or something.



Chow time:



J just relaxing at the door of our tent. You can see the doll carrier that K brought along:



K and a new-found friend. I found them more then once at this spot, having wandered off by themselves. In prime grizzly territory. We had a talk.



Pearly Gates raft. Don'tcha love the name? We did not do the white water trip, but did the scenic trip. It was beautiful. And plenty exciting enough for me. :o)



The view from our lunch stop during our scenic raft trip. I never got tired of looking at those beautiful mountains. Sigh . . .



J & K at the raft launch site near the dam. More gorgeous mountains.



We left our mark on a teepee, according to custom. If we ever go back (which, Lord willing and if He tarries, we will) we'll be looking for it.

No, I don't have a Halloween template up ...

. . . just be patient and the black and orange will go away! For some reason it's taking a few extra moments for my new template to load. Or maybe it's only happening on my computer.

By the way - I love the templates at "The Cutest Blog on the Block". If you're interested, click on the little blue box at the top left of my blog. They have LOTS of free blog templates and it's really not that difficult to use them on Blogger - after all, I was able to figure it out! I like to 'rearrange the furniture' now and then.

In Heavenly Love Abiding

In heavenly love abiding, no change my heart shall fear,
And safe in such confiding, for nothing changes here.
The storm may roar without me, my heart may low be laid,
But God is round about me, and can I be dismayed?

Wherever He may guide me, no want shall turn me back;
My Shepherd is beside me, and nothing can I lack.
His wisdom ever waketh, His sight is never dim,
He knows the way He taketh, and I will walk with Him.

Green pastures are before me, which yet I have not seen,
Bright skies will soon be o'er me where the dark clouds had been.
My hope I cannot measure, my path to life is free,
My Saviour has my treasure, and He will walk with me.

Ere yet another morning my spirit may be free,
As absent from the body, at home, O Lord, with Thee.
O sleep, O rest, how precious! As, guarded by Thy care,
I'm waiting for Thy promise to meet Thee in the air!

The Lord Himself, e'en Jesus, amid the ransomed throng,
Its glory, joy, and beauty, its never-ending song.
O day of wondrous promise, the Bridegroom and the bride
Are seen in glory ever; forever satisfied!

Thanks, F, for donating your time!

C's dog, Cowboy needed a doghouse for the upcoming winter. Last year we made him one out of straw bales in my flower bed in front of the house. It worked, but was messy and we wanted something more permanent. F became aware of this need, and offered to make one, letting the kids help, which they thought was great fun.

Previously houseless dog:



Cutting out the door:



Assembly begins:



Cowboy supervises, and seems to approve:



Since A sells P2000 insulation (great product), we have some on hand, and F put some on the doghouse. Cowboy should be quite toasty this winter.



K was busy putting the reflective tape over the P2000 seams.





C helped F put pieces of wood over the insulation so that they would have something solid to screw the siding to.





I suggested that they make it in such a way that it can be easily cleaned (ever the practical one). The lower portion of one side of the roof is hinged for easy access.






Finished product:



It's pretty nice - especially when you consider that it was made entirely of scraps, (except for the insulation).

Thanks again, F!