First Horsey Ride

Don't forget to pack your ANGRY EYES!

Just imagine that title spoken in a Brooklyn accent by Mrs. Potato head on Toy Story 2. Why on earth is there a Mr. Potato head on our couch you ask? Did Liam's skin rash get really bad or did he have an allergic reaction and "blow up like my Aunt Roberta"... that last one was a quote from While You Were Sleeping, the single most quoted movie between Alysun and I during our college years. I'm not sure about all the movie talk here but I will get back to the point of this posting. One of our Awana/Sparks nights fell on Halloween so we thought we would reward the kids who came out with some candy. How boring would it be to just hand out candy? So, we decided it would be fun to make a pinata. The night at Sparks was also something special called 'Tator Night. All the kids are supposed to bring a potato, the weirder the better, and they get Awana bucks and then play games with the potatoes. You can probably see where I am going with this one. It just wouldn't work to have a butterfly pinata at 'Tator Night so that's how Mr. Potato Head came to be in our apartment. One balloon, lots of glue, lots of newspaper, and $30 worth of candy and tada, you have a pinata. The kids had a great time and I must admit, it was fun to put it together.

Just chillin' and watching the Riders WIN!!!

Liam doesn't get to see a lot of TV yet (and now that I look at this picture he usually doesn't sit that close to the TV either...the mother in me talking) but he did get to witness the Rider game last weekend when they beat out Calgary (sorry Sheila :) for a spot in the Western final tomorrow. Linds has been excited about these two days all week. Tonight he gets to watch the Canadiens play the Maple Leafs on Hockey Night in Canada and then tomorrow we get to watch the Rider game. We usually only get to hear the Rider games on the radio because the games are often blacked out and we have peasant vision. They play BC tomorrow and as much as I love the Leppingtons...I really hope the Riders win this one. The only bad part of all this is that it means the CFL season is coming to an end. I have learned to enjoy hockey but remind me again why it lasts so long? October to June...there should be a law against that and a longer football season. Go Riders!

Remembrance Day thoughts

I turned on the TV this morning, as I often do to watch a bit of Canada AM while I feed Liam. They had put together a special day of programming to honor the troops that are around the world and especially in Afghanistan. I didn't watch for very long but I happened to catch a family being "reunited" over the air. The mother looked not much other than myself and she was saying hi from Kandahar to her family back in Eastern Canada. You could tell that it was difficult for her to keep her composure while seeing her husband and children on the screen and hearing their voices over the line. Her husband was telling her how their son's 2nd birthday went well and how he just started stringing sentences together. I sat there on our couch, with Liam in my arms and had some trouble myself keeping the tears at bay. I don't know if it's the emotional mommy I have become or maybe I just realize a bit more that life is precious and family is often taken for granted. Here I sit in Nipawin, SK working, what I feel are long days as a mom when there are mothers and fathers serving long days for our country that aren't able to enjoy the pleasure of tucking their little ones into bed at night. My biggest concern lately is fretting that Linds isn't able to spend lots of time with us because of the busyness of ministry at NBI. It is a valid concern and we will continue to work out the balance but life was put into perspective for me this morning and I thank God for that and for the sacrifice of those that are helping the people in Afganistan. As Canadians we might have differing opinions on the fight in Afghanistan but again today I was reminded and encouraged to pray for our troops. Not just for the fight and the work there but for them as individuals who have left family and friends to be there. The special veteran license plates here remind us that we are surrounded by people that have fought and worked for the freedom we now enjoy. So much sacrifice today and in past years. If is something that I want to teach Liam and to remember myself.