Grandma Kathy and Aunt Sara!!!

Who would believe it? After all the fun, suprise, laughter, and outright mockery :) I received for making Sarah a Grandma Kathy doll when she moved away - now Aimee calls my attention to someone else who displays an Aunt Sara doll - declaring that you can make as many as you like of YOUR relatives who live far away!!! So - go wild! And don't forget friends who are far away also. You'll notice that Grandma Kathy is more intricate, has 'real' hair, and clothes and can HUG. And I promised not to make any more...hmmm. Here are the dolls pictured for your viewing pleasure.

 

 

http://angrychicken.typepad.com/angry_chicken/2007/01/aunt_sarah_doll.html

PS Mini Me has had a lot of fun living with Sarah at camp - including a picnic, doing acrobatic manouvers, and playing in the snow.

Full Days

Last night we had our staff dinner/party. I was feeling so tired and generally blah when we left but then after all the people came, it was all good. The food was very tasty and I was able to enjoy salad, baked potato, chicken breast and veggies. In my secret bag I brought plain non-fat yogurt for the potato and salad dressing, also an curried chutney for the chicken. Yummy. After dinner we watched a couple of Mr. Bean episodes - the calculus one and the church one. Then we played some version of pictionary, which never seems to get old. Cara and Sarah dropped in near the end to say hi to everyone. Then we went home and hung out with Steve and Courtney.

Sunday after church a friend, Becky, ran up to me at church to say that Steven had walked into a door and was now Down on the floor! Yikes. Turns out just as he was walking along talking with a friend a door opened into his pathway and WHAM he walked into it and instantly thought he got punched in the face, what else could it be? What else? The impact of the door end - corner to head. Down he went. He felt embarrassed - but hey it could happen to anyone. I found him in the parking lot with an instant goose egg and his eye print perfectly imprinted on the backside of his glasses. Today he is wearing purple eyeshadow.

Sarah and I had a little while to play with plasticine before she left for home with her mommy. It's a little stiff to work with for her little hands but we decided what to make together and then we'd play with the pieces. Here she is with our happy creations - a bird on a nest, two small red birds (not pictured), a squirrel (Sneaky Pete of course), a mouse, a cat and two flowers. The cookies we did not make. Isn't Sarah pretty?

Finally we took my parents' Christmas decorations down today - LK and I. I brought over potato soup and tuna cheese melts to broil. Very tasty - although the soup was sort of peppery - fine with me but kind of a surprise for my mom. Whoops. When we finished boxing the decorations I said I thought these were the last decorations up in anyones home in the city - NOT so. As we drove away - not a block from their home was an apartment with decorations and lights glowing in a living room - OK so that made me feel better.

After an enormous nap - napping being one of my specialties - as opposed to night sleeping of which I am not an expert - LK and I went to see the movie Freedom Writers and were spellbound throughout. I am only sorry about the marriage - but could see it coming a mile away. We left feeling inspired. On marriages - I am sorry that so many people seem to come to conclusions and give up on their marriages without support and as islands in our society. This is just not right. Did you know that most couples come to conculsions about their marriages in the first year that lead to the success or failure of it? If they are mentored the success rates are very high. Normal problems are seen as just that - normal. Skills are picked up in the mentoring relationship and conclusions change for the better.

So - I think I'll try a night nap now. :)

A January Picnic - Thanks for the sun Lord!

  

Home Again - Home Again

Who else likes that store? But that is not what I am talking about. I am home again from Alberta. It was a lovely visit - even got to see Lance a little bit which was great. Most of the time was spent caring for babies. Babies who were not sleeping well at night - but who were delightfully cheerful and charming in the daytime. When they napped - pretty much Aimee and I both napped as well. We did get out some and though I did not think I was obsessive compulsive before - I did notice we did things in twos. Two trips to the Lefse House, two times to church, two Rawling Brothers concerts (Lance played bass for this tour), two trips to Tim Hortons. It was alomost only one - but jeepers we were on a roll and HAD to make it two - my suggestion. Oh yes - two sewing projects - livingroom/dining room drapes and an tablecloth invention of Lance's (picture tomorrow).

I took a day off after coming home, then it was time to take down our Christmas stuff. I KNOW it's SO late but remember right before I left I got this 5 hour dizzy spell and had to recover from it. Sheesh - this is the latest ever. Wednesday was Bible study and Single Mom's, Thursday Cara and Sarah arrived for Missions Fest. Hurray. Jay moved out the day before so Cara and Sarah got the spacious accomadations Thursday night. Firday we enjoyed a warm January picnic at the playgound and lake. SO NICE. SUNSHINE. Cara's into Vancouver for two nights and back here tomorrow. Sarah is off to see the Abraham grandparents - then in just over a week we will have a turn hosting Sarah while her parents are down again for a camping conference. Grandchildren galore. It's wonderful. I better start resting up now - Sarah doesn't nap as often as babies do!

My next biopsy has been postponed a month - so the first week in March now. I feel good about this because it gives my pancreas longer to heal. It can take 6 months for pancreatitis to heal and this will put the next ultrasound guided biopsy at very close to 6 months. I found a diet on the internet for pancreatic diseases - posted by a gastroenterologist. I am happy for more detail. I am now able to eat two ounces of red meat - the leanest most expensive cuts - YUM. Only two ounces so it really isn't very expensive per meal. I also can eat 6 almonds a day and even two teaspoons of peanut butter. Three tiny servings of fats a day. Mostly I can see I was doing well - I just have a bit more detail now.

Enjoy the photos - especially the priceless stealing of the soother series. The poor lad didn't even know what was beeing taken from him :)

Peace. Kathy

Elijah Drops His Soother - Aimee captured this hilarious series - Enjoy!

 
 
 
  

Setting Goals and Reaching Them - by Eva

 
 
 
  

Avacado Day - Someone eats more neatly than her brother

  

Curtains

And the star of the show - Elijah Mats Odegard! First to peek though the new curtains and what a joy it is!

It's almost a week

Tomorrow it will be a week that I have been in Alberta helping Aimee. I'm feeling better so I'm enjoying my stay much more and I feel more useful. I don't know what I got there - must have been a virus. Oh - I should tell the blog friends that one night I woke up with chills - just a shakin' - but strangely I felt hot - and cold - still I shook. I had been dreaming that my upper body was inside three connected polar fleece boxes that Shannon sewed. Shannon yes the queen of beautifully made cloth diapers - apparently now makes boxes?? My legs did not fit in the boxes - so that must have been why they were cold and my upper body hot. Yes - the next day I went to the doctor - ate Tylonol for a couple days - and I'm good.

So I went to post a few pictutres my favorite way - through hello to bloggerbot and sadly the day has come - blogerbot is dead. I posted with blog this. Can you not write something with the photo when you post with blog this? And how can I make the Picassa logo go away. I have not switched to the new Beta Blogger - mine is ready (so they say) so perhaps I should switch. Will I like the changes?

Tonight Lance comes home - for a couple nights. This is great. Part of the tour is close to home. We are all glad he's coming back especially Aimee and the kids - I know they miss their Papa.

I'm reading a great book by Brad Jersak - "Kissing the Leper: Seeing Jesus in the Least of These". He's taking off from the words of Jesus - whatever you do for the least of these - you do for me. Each chapter is exploring another topic - homeless people, developmentally challenged people and so on. It's a lovely book. I wonder if there will be a chapter on drug addiction. I think people who have substance abuse difficulties are definitely treated like the least of these. What did Jesus say about the least of these - that what we do or don't do for them - we do or don't do for him. It is Brad's premise that Jesus is somehow present in folks that society often views as dispensible.

The twins have made the switch to cloth it it's going great. This mountain of beautiful diapers is made by Shannon. Babes check out the great quality.

 

Your Winnie the Pooh feet look interesting - do you mind if I chew on them?

 

Big Boy Birthday and Babies

I'm back in Alberta helping Aimee with the babies while Lance is on a tour with a band called the Rawling Brothers - country mountain bluegrass. I arrived very tired after having endured a doozer of a dizzy spell (5 hours) two days before I came. The day after one of these I feel like I got kicked in the head - so one recovery day and then I flew out. Today I had a huge Sunday nap and I'm feeling pretty good. I arrived on Thursday. Aimee is appreciative - about food - about me helping her get the babies to bed - even if I'm not super energetic.

I've posted a few pictures of Steve's birthday party at our house. On his real birthday Courtney suprised him with a surprise party at her house. Way to go Courtney.

Marsha thanks for the book ideas cook books and otherwise. I checked out the website of Dave? I will definitely be getting some of those books for - well for some people I know. What a guy!!

Aimee wants me to hem some curtains, fix jammy waistband elastic and Lance wants me to sew a special fitted tablecloth to go over a desk in the dining room - one the kids can't pull off and that can hide some of the unbeautiful things that need to be nearby - like diapers and such. Today we went to church, out for lunch at a new Tim Hortons (actually had atmosphere) and then when we swung by to drop off Aimee's friend Jenna - Jenna brought out her sewing machine for me to borow. I'm hoping for energy and happy kids tomorrow.

I'm really happy for this time to be here. Sure I'm tired. I think it's partly the way I have to eat, and maybe some malabsorption - but every time I think of the Lord giving me this time, I smile. I'm smiling now.

Goodnight and bless you all

Eva happy at play in the exersaucer.

Elijah doing the wild man in the Merry Muscles jumper. I love his technique - running man.

Pictures from Steve's birthday party. No we didn't serve any alcoholic beverages even if it looks like Steve is plastered in this shot. The game is from Schulzs'. It's vintage - you spin the ball around the circular track and try to do tricks with it. Carolyn is laughing so hard because the ball flew out and beaned her one on the forhead.

Steve's 23rd birthday party. Courtney's mom, Ricka made the cake - I - whoops - only had tea lights for candles. Steve has requested cherry chip boxed cake with vanilla canned icing for as long as I can remember. This year my mom didn't feel up to it and wondered if Courtney would do it. Courtney worked - so her mom did it - thankyou.

First Installment of Photos

Weather report - Gross - then Dismal - then one Bright day - then Howling - this morning sunny turning to clouds. Man have we ever had a lot of wind.

Steve's bithday is coming up and we are celebrating Sunday. I'm going to Alberta on Thursday and sometime while I am gone he is moving into a house with his Sterr bandmates. That will be a bit weird- him disappearing while I am gone. The empty nest comes. It's good, it's normal, but wow - it does feel like a chapter slammed shut too in a way. Time flies. Now well move into a let's do lunch phase - I hope - I'd look forward to that.

Car seats. If you have an infant under 23 pounds you might google Consumer Reports about a recent infant car seat safety test. Most didn't do so well especially in side impact. Latching was not so good as compared to using the seatbelt, sometimes bases released the seat. It was pretty big news on TV and internet so you young parents probably already heard this. Why not check the quality before marketing? Good changes are likely coming fast now.

Here are just a few pictures for you of our family. We are rich - rich in love.

Couples. Well, couples and a set of twins.

My brother, Mike, came for Christmas - very unusual. It was great to have him and he stayed many days after the kids had gone home so we got some extended visiting time in.

Anna gets some lovin' up from Auntie Aimee.

We had our family celebration on Boxing Day downstairs so my mom could walk right in. I put a couple little trees up and decorated the fireplace so it was pretty Christmassy. Here my folks sit amongst the presents.

Grandma Kathy's big lantern and Sarah's little lantern.

My dad with Eva and her new dolly Emily. Anna got the same dolly. Emily is very well designed with rings and rattles and a crunchy dress with lots of texture. A wonderful shop on-line discovery.

The little ones have a reunion.

Sarah on Boxing Day. Sarah is presently interested in tiny things. I wonder if she noticed the tiny nativity figures that I hung on the little tree. It looks like they are hanging backwards in this picture so maybe she'd been looking at them.

Sarah and Cara are icing special no fat gingerbread cookies just for me. Thank you - they were delicious. I like that this is taking place in the living room while everyone is visiting together.

We love it when Steve and Carolyn drop in with Anna and they drop in quite often - but not nearly too often! These pics are from a couple nights ago. Anna loves being on her dad's shoulders - I mean LOVES it - he demo'd this dancing smoothly around the living room. Anna worked on styling his hair. In the picture of Carolyn and Anna you can really see Anna's two little bottom teeth. We had another great playtime and visit.

Joy to the World...

Twelve Days of Christmas and Epiphany

I really value following the traditional church year, especially Advent with its longing, Christmas with its celebration of Jesus' coming, Lent with its sad recounting of our sin and our need of a savior, then Good Friday with its mourning and Easter with its astonishing hope and joyfilled victory.

In the church year (followed by Catholics, Anglicans, Lutherans, "main line" denominations, Christmas begins on Christmas day and lasts twelve days (yes the song does symbolically tie in here) ending with Epiphany when the arrival of the wise men is observed. For me at home, this is a time of quiet after the big bang of celebration. This year I printed off an Advent devotional from the Lutheran Hour on line and it continues though the 6th. I noticed the book takes a journey - early in Advent the writings were about our need of a saviour - our longings, then his coming and since Christmas Day they have focused on the adequacy of our Saviour - who he is and what he does - that he is more than enough. Hebrews would be a good book to read during this season it strikes me as I type right now. Jesus - in every way better than what we had before.

We used to entertain friends during this time more than we have in recent years - but sadly friends often commented on our decorations still being up and told us they couldn't stand theirs up after Christmas. Also our church does not celebrate after Christmas Day either. There are all sorts of themes that could be followed - he is here, worship him and come as you are and bring him your needs. I saw some treasure chests at Michaels and thought what a wonderful place to store written prayers and know they are in God's hands – write those needs down and put them in the chest. Seeking would be another theme because that's what the wise men were doing - I'm sure a hide and seek game with finding symbolic clues or verses could be invented (not that we did this). Finding - once the wise men found the Saviour they worshiped him and gave him gifts. Seeking and giving.

I googled Advent and Epiphany and will paste below a little bit that I liked. I thought it was a neat idea to have the wise men working their way through the house on their way to the manger (I realize that Jesus was actually in a home by the time they got to him but I think this at least the kids understand.) I don't think my kids would say they really noticed any particular celebration other than Christmas lasting longer. Then we stretch it a bit further to Steve's birthday on the 11th - that's our take down time - after his birthday and that has no church year significance :)

The season of Christmas begins at midnight on Christmas morning, and lasts until January 5, the 12th day of Christmas. January 6 is Epiphany, observed in church on the following Sunday.
One way to counter the letdown of the day after Christmas is to continue the celebration in small ways throughout the 12 days. Leave the Christmas decorations up and the nativity scene in place. Read Christmas stories and continue to enjoy Christmas cookies and music. Use this time to bring gifts to your neighbors and friends, rather than rushing to get everything done before December 25. Help your wise men make their journey around the house to arrive at the manger on Epiphany.

Being aware of and talking about Advent and Epiphany, as well as the full season of Christmas, helps us and our children feel the rhythm of this time of year, and makes this an even more wonderful time of year. Barbara Laufersweiler http://www.faith-at-home.com/tips/advent.html

Denise - thanks for asking.

A New Year

Woah - it's been so long I don't even know where to start! Perhaps a few random point form bits. I've tons of pictures - but I'll start with these words.

Christmas was so much fun. The Odegards were out for TWO weeks. Abrahams for one week with a sleep over here one night. My brother came also for a week. It was really good, very good, to be together. Melanie came out too for a visit before Christmas.

Saw the movie In Persuit of Happyness the other night - LK, my brother Mike and I. I really enjoyed it. Talk about perseverence.

Difficut times for staff. Three of our staff members had some death in the family over Christmas. We've got some grieving members in our store family. That's what it gets to seem like - family.

My last test went pretty well - except I didn't wake up fast enough to suite the nurses who wanted to go home - so they gave me something to wake me up faster. This was TERRIBLE and frightening. Never again. The biopsy results were uncertain. Some atypical cells seen on the slide during surgery and the more advanced test looking normal. The whole pancreas is affected and this would not be typical of cancer with no other symptoms. A big question is WHY do I have pancreatitis? All bloodwork looks good. I am scheduled to have another ultrasound guided biopsy Jan. 30. They aren't done with me yet - but this gives me a total of almost 6 weeks with no tests - a welcome break.

I have a ticket to fly out and help Aimee again with the babies this month while Lance tours with the Rawling Brothers band for 10 days.

We have a house guest for 20 days - Jay Duncan. He is a builder of guitars soon on his way to Africa to set up a shop and teach men how to build them. He's got the suite and eats with us. He's an easy houseguest. While he is here, he is building an electric stand up bass for Steven. There is some bartering going on.

I'm still enjoying my Christmas lights and decorations. First there is Advent when there is the longing and looking forward to Jesus' coming. Then Christmas comes. Some churches celebrate then 12 days of Christmas beginning Christmas Day. I've been thinking this is a fitting way to savour Jesus coming - not boxing everything up so fast. Still enjoying Christmas readings and my Advent book which goes a few more days still. Savouring is something I'm enjoying this season.

Now that I've written again, I'll try to remember that I have a blog (ha) and write sooner.

Blessings and Happy New Year,
Kathy