Advent

So my Christmas shopping is 95% done and now I can enjoy Advent and finish school well. There's something in that finishing well thing. Finish strong, finish well. It's a feeling a relish as we creep up to the end of another year. And I see that as I get older, order means more to me than it did a while ago. I used to be very fly by the seat of my pants. Now, not so much. I like calm and order. Not perfection, just calm. And with 2 boys and a music loving daughter, calm is relative. So I'm finding it where I can, like planning dinners ahead on the busy days, having the christmas shopping done sooner than later. Now if I could only apply this to laundry...ahhhh, laundry. Well that's just another story :D

Dundurn Castle..what a trip!

We went on a school field trip on Friday to Dundurn Castle..right up JP's alley because he is studying mid-ages..even though this castle is from the 1800's, it still gave him a sense of grandeur! So fun and great tour guides!

Heavens Rehersal 3

This is how far away we were...see those little girls on the left in red shirts..those are our girls from New Song Dance Academy. They danced for ever in the finale with 2 full numbers as well. It was such a highlight!

Heavens Rehersal 2

Getting on the bus, heading for The Rogers Center, Heaven's Rehersal..here we come!

Heavens Rehersal

So it was wonderful, beautiful and glorious! Here's a photo review! This is the group waiting for the bus to arrive! Our fearless choreographer in glasses early Saturday morning and her fabulous assistant Mrs. Leah!

Laundry

I really am a nerd...but this is just so cool~

Highschool?

My oldest highschooling child who actually goes to a building for that event, won a Limo ride for reaching the most group sales in a fundraising event. So at 7 in the morning we all waited for the Limo which showed up as an SUV Limo. Fantastic. The weird part was watching my 16 year old son get into this Limo with 4 cheerleaders. Tell me he hasn't figured this whole girl thing out? He was loving it. The good thing was these cheerleaders are the athletic nice ones, not the hoochie mamma kind. Anyway, it certainly was a good day to be Simon.

Thanksgiving Weekend

So what does Thanksgiving mean to you? To some, a time of reaching out to their Creator, to others a time to reflect on their lives, for others still a time to give back in gratitude for all they've been given. All to say, God is good. We all see Him in different ways but ultimately it's Him we need. To come to a place of sabbatical for a weekend if nothing more, brings restoration. But finding that peace in the hustle and bustle of cooking, peeling, baking, cleaning, shopping....wow. I read the book, The Rest of God by Mark Buchanan this summer or re-read it I should say. And I have to admit, it's transforming information in there. It's the kind of book that brings to light what it means to worship on Sabbath and to rest. What that rest looks like to one person may look like work to another. And so, the crazy mix of thanksgiving; not the holiday, the offering. How we offer our thanks to God on Sunday or anyday, should be an extension of who we are in our relationship with Him. What brings him honor? Sitting in the parlor staring blank faced at each other, or, preparing an awesome meal to share with family. Bringing real honest hospitality into our homes and showing the face of God through our faces makes more sense to me. If cutting the grass makes your heart sing and it happens to be Sunday, wouldn't God want your heart singing? If peeling potatoes rocks your world, wouldn't offering it up to God as an offering of love make great sense? But even more, stopping in the middle of it all and gathering in a house of worship to give him an exclusive amount of our time and just be in His presence with people who worship in the same way, doesn't that just say, God, I love you and your worth it. Your worth stopping for. Your worth the time it takes me to get ready and go, the busyness of leaving, the fullness of a day. Your worth it God. And by the way, thanks. For everything...the leaves that fall, the blue sky, the crisp air. I love oak trees God, the way move but don't fall over. The stars...gorgeous! I love how you love me. How even when I'm terrible, you love me anyway. Your an awesome God, and I just wanted to say....thanks.

Burst Training

I hurt. Not because I hurt myself but because I'm Burst Training. No, not a stress relieving technique per se but an exercise plan given to me and others by my Chiropractor. To say I hurt makes it sound like I'm incapable of movement, which is not true. I have moved and now I know it. There are places hurting that I didn't know could hurt. So the idea behind this method. Something something Cortisol, something something HGH, burning the opposite fuel, better to burn sugar fast then fat slow...blah blah, I work out for 3 mins 3x's a week. Yeah! And let me tell you, it is work! Could you work out hard for 3 mins 3x's a week? Wanna join us? So far there's 4 in our little group right now. If you'd like more details, comment or email and I'll add you to our little group mailing. Support is support and it's a great thing!

We went for a little drive together...

Pray for me.

He Got It!!!!

Oh my name he got it...what do I do now? I'm so excited for him and scared stiff at the same time. Wow. Nutty eh?

....hold on!!!!!!

Okay, today's the day....he' writing the G1 test today. For those of you unfamiliar with what a G1 is...that's a beginners driving licence. Ahh. Okay just Ahhh! So pray for him, and me and then get out of the way. St. Christopher, pray for us!

21 Rules

The 21 Rules Of This House
by Gregg Harris

1. We obey God.
2. We love, honor and pray for one another.
3. We tell the truth.
4. We consider one another's interests ahead of our own.
5. We speak quietly and respectfully with one another.
6. We do not hurt one another with unkind words or deeds.
7. When someone needs correction, we correct him in love.
8. When someone is sorry, we forgive him.
9. When someone is sad, we comfort him.
10. When someone is happy, we rejoice with him.
11. When we have something nice to share, we share it.
12. When we have work to do, we do it without complaining.
13. We take good care of everything that God has given us.
14. We do not create unnecessary work for others.
15. When we open something, we close it.
16. When we take something out, we put it away.
17. When we turn something on, we turn it off.
18. When we make a mess, we clean it up.
19. When we do not know what to do, we ask.
20. When we go out, we act just as if we were in this house.
21. When we disobey or forget any of the 21 Rules of This House, we accept
the discipline and instruction of the Lord.

I mean, do I really need to put these out so everyone can see them or can we just be decent to each other? Tidy up with a nice attitude? Please?????

Is it just me???

Maybe I've had too much coffee. Maybe I'm just in a bad mood. Is it just me or is it okay to expect the people you live with to clean up after themselves? Is it just me? or is it okay to expect that when you live as a family, you function as a family not every person after themselves? I really think there's a unity involved in living as a family, that each contributes, not for allowance sake but because we live here. We clean because we deserve a clean home, not because company is coming. That chores must be done before playing and when you use something put it away..right away. I don't know...is it just me?

My Baby is 16 Sept 4, 2008

So there it is...the 16th Anniversary has come and gone of me becoming a mother. Wow. Really, that went sonic fast. Now I'm not sure if that's because time flies when your having fun or time flies the older you get. I'm planning on believing its just been that much fun. And it really has. We love Simon. He's a fun kid. He's serious, but he has a really neat sense of humor. Simon was born 6 weeks premature and at nearly 6'1" you'd never know. We're so happy to honor Simon on his birthday and pray God's blessing over him as he grows and matures into an amazing young man.

The Boy Camper

We dropped Simon off in Port Sydney at his favorite summer spot of all time....CAMP! He's happily tucked in his cabin with 8 other teenage guys for a week of Praise and Worship, Adventure and well, guy stuff. When we were leaving after a stiff upper lip goodbye, we found several creatures in their natural habitat. A few deer and a hotrod. Deer, Teenage boys Christian camp, Hotrod...what else is there? P.S. The leaves are turning!

Spano-tano Picnic pg2

The Best most Bittersweet Family Picnic Ever

This year was our first family picnic without two of our matriarchs in the family. Nonna Spano and Zia Mella were both greatly missed, but as one cousin said, 'it was like all the rain were their tears of happiness raining down on us, celebrating family. The rain poured and poured and then when we didn't think we could eat another bite, the sun came out and the games began. We played bocce, egg toss, water balloon toss and sack races. There was fishing, and walks, and a whole lot of laughs. Even some new fashions were designed for the event. See for yourself!

just a little more Ontario Place

more Ontario Place...

Ontario Place

We had a family day at Ontario Place on Monday. Loved the whole day...here are some of the sites we visited...