Thoughts from Maddison

Well, I have let Maddison "type" on the computer a couple of times now, but for some reason I can't seem to get it to copy onto my blog.... I'll keep working on that.... and write a little bit more later!

To Winnipeg and Back.....

in 3 days!!! Dan's cousin Dustin was getting married on June 5th in the Steinback area, so we had a quick trip to Winnipeg over the last weekend!!!! We flew out of GP at 6 bells on Friday morning, got to Winnipeg at 11 am and spent the day with my good friend Allison and her family!!! Good times!!!! Then on Saturday we left their apartment and drove to Steinbach to meet the rest of Dan's family and attend the wedding. It was a beautiful wedding and a great day.... although it was over fast! Then on Sunday we drove back to Winnipeg, dropped off the things we had borrowed at Allison's and flew back to GP at 2:00 pm.

It was quick, but still very good. Maddison travelled VERY well and we were so proud of her. And now we have finally recouperated and are back into real life!!!!!

Food For Thought

I have felt spiritually bone-dry for quite some time now, and although I have been seeing God work in my life through my husband and daughter it has been a challenge. Part of it, and this is the major part, has been my decline in devotions. I have always been faithful in devotions, but for the past few months have started to put other things before them. Now I understand that devotions do not necessarily have to be spending a full hour pouring over the Bible every day, devotions can be singing worship songs, praising as you clean house, going for a walk and being reminded of God through creation and many other things, but there is still nothing like being refreshed by reading the Bible and being spoken too by the One who created the universe. This morning I finally put God first in my day. Amazing what that can do. I feel energized, alive and ready to survive the busy week I have ahead of me.

"All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in reighteousness, that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work" 1 Timothy 3:16-17

This morning I needed the reproof, correction, instruction, completeness and equipping. Guess what.... God gave me that. Yes people, God still speaks. I have to remember to tell Dan that God gave me the hug that Dan prayed for last night.....

What a Year

What a year it has been. One year ago today I was celebrating with my friends and family as I married my best friend Dan. We had a GREAT day and enjoyed our wonderful honeymoon in Radium Hot Springs, BC. We were full of plans and excitement about what we were going to do last summer. Not too many of them actually happened.....

Our Plans:

1) Sell my house

2) Renovate Dan's house (paint, redo both bathrooms, new windows, siding, furnace and hot water heater)

3) Do some landscaping

4) Do a some camping

5) Start my 3rd year of school

6) Save all of my working income

7) I don't remember what else we had planned.....

What Happened:

1) We discovered I was pregnant

2) We replaced the furnace and hot water heater

3) We found out that Dan's sister was pregnant and had cancer

4) We didn't sell my house but we rented it

5) We had multiple trips to Edmonton to see Dan's sister

6) We painted the baby room - that was the only thing we painted

7) I never started school because I was pregnant

8) Dan's sister passed away

9) We had a baby girl

10) After both of us said we never wanted to own a minivan - Dan's parents gave us there old one that his sister used to drive

11) We had to figure out a way to survive on one income because I was laid off

12) We had to furnish a baby room

13) A lot of other stuff happened as well.....

So basically this year turned out entirely differently then what we expected it to be...... but they say that if you want to make God laugh, tell Him your plans.... and so we did, and aparently He laughed a lot!!!!!!

It has however been a wonderfully great year and I have enjoyed this year a lot. We have had ups and downs and joys and sorrows, but through it all we have discovered that God is faithful and will sustain us though it all. We have grown closer together and are both still looking forward to the next 75 years (or however many that God gives us...) together.

I love you Dan!!!!

Maddison Renaye

So, this has been a while coming, but I finally am sitting down to post about the birth of my daughter, Maddison Renaye.

I won't post all the details and whatever, because really, who wants to read about every single detail of my labor?????? But here are the basics. My due date was February 7th, and I was seriously hoping she would come on that day, or before. She didn't, and I was getting cranky. So for the next few days I really worked on keeping myself busy. On Wednesday, February 10th I woke up at about 11:30 pm with contractions. They were between 5 to 10 minutes apart and so I couldn't sleep, so I went to the living room, where I spent the rest of the night. I woke Dan up at 6 telling him he wasn't going to work, and then we waited. We decided to go the hospital at about 9, but after getting there and getting checked we were told I wasn't far enough along, so we went home. Contractions continued throughout the afternoon and at about 5:30 I told Dan we needed to go in again. So we did. After getting checked I was told that I was far enough along, so they admitted me at about 7 pm on the 11th!!!! Blah, blah, blah.... labor, labor, labor..... and finally at 5:32 am on Friday, February 12th, after 30 hours of labor, she arrived!!!!!!

We had found out that baby was a girl, so from about 20 weeks along we knew she was a girl, and had decided on Maddison Renaye for a name!!!!! She was 6 lbs, 10 oz and was 19 inches long, so she was a small little package, but she was the perfect size!!!!

We have adjusted well to parenthood and having a baby in the house, and even Emily has adjusted!!!! Things are for sure different, but we are loving having a baby and the joy that she brings into our life!!!!

Waiting.....

So, while I am waiting oh so unpatiently for my baby to get here.... I just thought I would pop up and let you know what I've been doing for the past couple of weeks. The answer is.... pretty much nothing. My sister had her baby just over a week ago, so baby Abigail is now here but is still waiting on her cousin to show up. Come on baby! I finished teaching piano at the end of January and now have until the middleish of March before I am back to that (depending on when baby arrives obviously!), so literally I am pretty much doing nothing. And this waiting is not so easy at times.... oh well. What doesn't kill you only makes you stronger right?

Apparently Once a Month it is.....

Apparently I will only be writting on here once a month.... oh well! I'd better get used to it because once baby comes I'll have zero time anyway (at least that is what I'm prepping myself for)!!! Not to much has happened during the month of January. We've got all the baby stuff ready that we need, and the rest will come at the baby shower I'm sure, so we are ready for that. Our basement renter moved out and we have since rented it to another gentleman who will be moving in shortly. Our house is still for sale, and we are hoping that it sells soon! And that's pretty much it. The life of leisure sometimes!!!! At least I'm enjoying the rest and relaxation while I can!!!!