Time lost

It has been so long since I last posted.  I regret that.  There's been so many little things that will probably be lost because I didn't record them.  Things like Katie starting to scooch (I think it's been 1 1/2 months).  She puts both legs to one side and then pushes.  She then alternates sides.  It's not the fastest means of locomotion, but it works for her.
Things like Mark calling hamburgers "hamburgergers", which he no longer does.  His language skills are amazing.  He speaks so clearly and has such a large vocabulary.  Frequently he'll accuse the inanimate of calling him an "idiot" or a "dum-dum".  He will also inform people that he has the right to do something  because "Mama said so", that doesn't work with me so he'll change it to "Patrick said so" or less often "Daddy said so".  He's only two.
We've all had birthdays except for Katie.  Becca bakes our bread.  We went to Fort MacLeod for holidays this year in a TENT.  That is such an act of penance for me, let me tell you.  It was so cold at night in the middle of August and Katie is still not sleeping through the night, so I would have to get up with her.  Yuck.  But the historic sites we visited were great.  We also spent time in and around Innisfail, where we went to Markerville Creamery and Stepphanson House.  And of course we spent time in Medicine Hat.
I have canned and canned until I have no jars left and no space left in my cold room.
We planted and harvested our garden.  It was a cold, wet summer, so things didn't grow as they normally would.  Our potatoes are few, but our raspberries were many.  Our roses did amazingly well.  It seems that they really like water.  Who knew?
That is just a smattering of all that has happened in the last few months.  I'm hoping to stay more on top of things now.
By the way, I passed my course.  83%.  But there was sweat involved, I assure you.  It is sad how one's brain atrophies if not put to proper use.

The Gift of Christmas

This is the last Sunday of Advent. This prepatory season has flashed by, quicker even than it normally does. I think the biggest and most obvious reason for this is the birth of Katie. It is hard to sit back and just accept that this Advent, normal is not normal. That there are things that just won't happen this year. And.that's.okay. It is. Really. Breath in, breath out. It's okay.

This is the season of our lives and we just need to enjoy this beautiful gift that God has blessed us with, so close to His own birth. And she is a gift. It is this graciousness, mercy and generosity of our Lord that I meditate on. Here is this amazing little person, who smiles at us with great simple joy. How can I not be grateful? I don't know when God will decide that's it - no more little souls will come our way. But for now He has sent us one more precious child and I am so happy to delight in her and in our God's love for all of us.

These thoughts lead me to think and ponder the birth of Jesus. The hardships, the joys and hopes that sprung from one small human, who was divine, but who knew? There was so much faith required by everyone, including Herod. Herod who heard and believed in the majesty of the small boy, but he denied and misunderstood that lordship. He believed enough to kill who knows how many little boys to protect his earthly throne. Mary and Joseph who were told by an Angel and they believed. It would have been so much simpler to pretend those visitations didn't happen. But they believed. The magi who by faith of their sciences travelled so far to worship a small boy, who was obviously poor. Today's scientists would probably scoff. This can't be right. But their faith was pure. And the saints who followed them imitate that faith. It is a long line of faith, that we are called to imitate. This is our heritage.

All Hail

After a long day of anxiety driven labour fueled by induction and lack of control, Katherine Isabelle Rose was born at 3:11. She is a benevolent little princess, who rules her kingdom with docility and sleepy eyes. Her courtiers are slaves at her feet(figuratively speaking of course) and plead to hold her (great reward for school work well done). She is so beautiful and we all adore her. Her languid movements and little squeaks make my heart swell. Who would think that a 6th baby could still be such poetry. She's not prosy at all.