How about right now?

How do you share your heartbreaks with your children?  Do you sit them down on the couch after dinner and share your deep hurt?  Do you tell them casually while you do something else so that it doesn't come off like a big deal, even though it is?  How do you stand strong in the face of slander and keep them safe when all you want to do is hide under your blankets and cry?

Isaiah 41:10

The Message (MSG)

 ^8-10"But you, Israel, are my servant.
   You're Jacob, my first choice,
   descendants of my good friend Abraham.
I pulled you in from all over the world,
   called you in from every dark corner of the earth,
Telling you, 'You're my servant, serving on my side.
   I've picked you. I haven't dropped you.'
Don't panic. I'm with you.
   There's no need to fear for I'm your God.
I'll give you strength. I'll help you.
   I'll hold you steady, keep a firm grip on you.

pigs in a blanket.

Right about now...
Saturday was a very busy day....my hard working hubby was out the door at 6:30am and I followed him at 8:30am, I should mention that we made a u-turn about 20 minutes into our trip together and drove back home to pick up my phone that I forgot on the bed.  note:  I gage my stress level by if I can find my phone and keys or not....about a month ago I lost my blackberry (truth!) ...and I haven't seen my keys in days (jk!).

Anyways, off to a life brunch with friends, then some Vancouver shopping (Anthropologie with a stop at Front & Company), then off to hang out with special friends for supper on Cresent Beach and then strong coffee and good conversation that went way into the night (think 2am).  So after arriving home to our wonderful "sled dog" who had been home alone for the majority of the day (he did get his run and extra treats) I wanted to make sure he knew that we still loved him so.  I pitched the idea of sleeping down stairs and it was accepted!  The next thing I knew my husband was carring down our matress so we could sleep on the floor with our hairy dog.  My knight in shinning armour is very strong - but just so you know we sleep in a double sized bed, he didn't carry down a king size - although I'm sure he could have/would have!

When we picked up the boys last night, our mattress was still downstairs and it was decided that we sleep down stairs again - but this time with company.  Down the other mattress came and pillows and blankets gallor.  We popped popcorn and watched Dragon's Den (our latest family show) while our puppy chased his tail in front of us as we laughed at him.....then fell asleep one at a time, I think I was last as I heard the boys breathing change as they drifted into dream land.

The alarm went off this morning and I made cinnamon buns and school lunches.....we got ready and headed off to school...before drop off and the "I love you's - have a great day!" the question was "Can we sleep down stairs again tonight?"   "We'll see" I replied - I've learned the power in that answer :)

Happy Monday!

It's said that the way to a mans heart is through his stomach....

And I have found this to be true.....
As a single girl, even as a dating girl my meals consisted of tofu, quinoa, hard boiled eggs and fruits and veggies...my guilty pleasures were and still are Starbucks drinks and plain potato chips.....but to even them out I'd blend up spinach and lime juice and would drink it with hemp hearts....to me these foods and creations tasted pretty good.  Until I didn't eat them for awhile....then all of a sudden I understood the 'birdseed' and 'mush' opinions about healthy eating....

I've now fully gone to the other side as I tried out the saying...."a way to a mans heart is through his stomach".  It's fun to plan a meal the boys will enjoy....I like the response of a kind word or empty plate or even second helpings.  And I've finally successfully learned just how much food to prepare for our family, I still have yet to master this when it comes to company however (we always have way too much) but at least our guests take home lunches for the next day.

I'm also finding Jessica Seinfeld's cook books and blog to be very helpful in sneaking in healthy foods into family favourite meals and baking.  Check out her website out here.

Right about now....
Last nights menu was personal pizza's.  I found a pizza dough recipe online that I made in the bread maker, we preheated the oven to 450 and we each created our own individual pizzas.  The boys with turkey pepperoni (they don't have to know it's turkey) and o so much cheese and no veggies; mine with mushrooms, peppers, basil, fresh tomatoes and goat cheese.   As we sat down to the table I instructed that everyone must have a bowl full of salad because it is "very good and good for you"...no one said anything...I've learned to just wait it out and see if the obedience takes place.  As we were eating our pizzas, the youngest inquired "Whose idea was this?", I didn't understand....  He continued "I like making our own pizzas, whose idea was this?"  Their Dad gave me the credit and I just smiled....very happy to win the dinner brownie points, but more than anything happy to be sitting at the table with the 3 men I love.  For the record the boys enjoyed Fudgeios for dessert (3 each)....but yes, they did eat their salad in these awesome bowls (I have 8 in all different colours - even yellow) I found at Anthropologie (one of my favourite places to dream up ideas).  

2OT

It has been a while since I began considering writing a blog, for quite a while I've been talking about writing a book and have even come up with a few interesting titles that reference times it my life that I think it might be healing (not to mention hilarious) to share in book form...for me and hopefully for others.  Until then, I offer you 'Space Mom' - 'cause as a step mom you really might as well be from outer space in the eyes of the children.  A blog that will share the odyssey of my journey into an instant family.  I hope you enjoy :)

It all began....
Last year I married the man of my dreams, you know the guy that makes you weak in the knees, gives you butterflies in your tummy, makes you smile instantly and gives you the ability to feel that you can do just about anything.  That's him.   He's tall, dark and o so very handsome to boot!  He has a gentle manner, is the hardest worker, he is strong, and humble....seriously I could go on and on (did I mention good looking?).  He loves God and those around him and I have been learning from him from the get go.   Any who, we got married and now I'm a wife which is something I aways dreamed of being (dreamed about being the kinda wife who would be vacuuming naked when my hubby got home from work).  I am also a step mom to 2 wonderful boys who live with us full time. (So no naked vacuuming needless to say!).  I can not believe how much I love being apart of a family.  It's WAY harder than I thought it would be (and I thought it would be hard), but it's always WAY WAY better than anything I could have imagined....finding love in a family....unconditional love.

Right about now....
Tonight we are sitting in our living room watching what hopefully will be the game that sends the Canucks (GO Canucks GO) for the chance at the Stanley Cup.....eating non-microwave popcorn because I'm the meanie that doesn't want a microwave in our house because of the...well, I'll leave for a later post.  It's a good night, home made pizza for dinner, homework, peace, technology and a crazy dog who is eating our jelly beans.

Hope you're having a good night!
GO CANUCKS GO!