Wednesday, February 28, 2007

Seven Months Already!


Now that it's about time for me to post the Eight Month Picture, I guess I should finally get around to putting this one up! I took the pictures ages ago, but just never got around to finding Dolly's corresponding one... then of course there was more procrastination due to everybody getting sick or out of sorts and then there were just other things that needed to be posted and couldn't wait for me to get around to this picture.

Just around PC's 7 month birthday, he started getting some more teeth. Only he decided to be a little different than most kids who are just getting their teeth and skipped the top two center teeth in favor of the two that are supposed to touch the two center teeth. So, he looks very snaggletoothed... or if he's grinning just the right way, he does resemble a mini vampire at times. I think he's cute with his weird teeth, but that doesn't mean that they don't work! With the two center bottom teeth, he can get quite a good bite in when he really wants to. He also started standing up with the aid of a stationary device just after he hit seven months. He would get brave and use only one hand at times until he'd lose his balance and fall down.

I think I should stop there because I want to leave the news that relates to him turning 8 months for the 8 month post which should be within the next week if I don't get myself too far behind!

Monday, February 26, 2007

January 18, 1920 - February 26, 2007

Toward the end of 1919, a young woman set sail for England with her two small children to visit her mother. She was expecting a third child and intended to complete her holiday abroad and return home to Canada before the arrival of the new baby. But the baby girl came early while the young mother was still in England. Half an hour later, saw the arrival of baby Margaret's twin sister Ruth Maree. After an extended stay in England the little family returned to Winnipeg, Canada where the little girls grew up, married and started their own families.

In 1941 Ruth married a young man named Stan. They raised two children together and greeted the arrivals of four grandchildren. In the late 1950's Stan and Ruth moved out west to British Columbia where they lived until Stan died in April of 2002. They had remained best friends for over 60 years and Ruth kept a picture of the two of them taped to the inside cover of her bible.

In 2004, after being diagnosed with breast cancer, Ruth underwent mastectomy surgery. After the death of her twin sister's husband, the twins set up house together in the Lower Mainland, each grateful for the company of the other. Then in the summer of 2006, after seeing the doctor about a pain in one of her arms, Ruth was informed that she again had cancer. This time though, it was in her neck, arm, shoulder, back and later would quickly move to her spine, liver and lungs. The cancer was too advanced, and too spread out for very much hope regarding it's removal, but she went through radiation to slow the growth and was given strong medication for the pain. She kept on until January, just before her 87th birthday. By then, the cancer had progressed enough that she had difficulty even walking and getting about. Finally it was too much for her to even go out to the weekly bible meetings that she loved so dearly. Her sister Margaret cared for her in their home until after a succession of falls, Ruth was admitted to Richmond General Hospital for one week before being moved to a hospice care center, where she stayed two more weeks until she passed from this world February 26th at 7am to be with her savior the Lord Jesus. "...having a desire to depart, and to be with Christ; which is far better:" Philippians 1:23.

So, in this time of sorrow, there is great joy! 'Aunt Ruth' as I came to know and love her, is no longer here in body - in pain and suffering, but is instead, in the blessed presence of our wonderful Creator, Saviour and everlasting Friend! She is indeed in a place that is 'far better'. How could we wish her back here to the misery and suffering that she so patiently and silently endured? We can't, but we will miss her dearly at the same time, and there are those who truly need comfort, sympathy and love at this time. 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18

Thursday, February 22, 2007

Chili and Cornbread

I wanted to make chili for supper today since I figured that it would be a quick meal to eat. When we're rushing to get to meeting on time, a quick meal is a good idea. I guess I should point out that although it won't take long to eat this meal it will take some time to create. Unless you're going to take shortcuts like using canned beans, plan to leave yourself about four hours from start to finish.

The chili recipe is my own creation since I couldn't find any online that I liked. Instead I read a bunch of chili recipes and gathered ideas to throw into this one. As for the cornbread recipe, I only made one small change to the recipe that I found online so I won't claim it, but instead will just pass it on to you since it turned out so well!

Chili
Serves 6
  • 2 cups dried pinto beans
  • 2 lbs regular ground beef
  • 1 large onion
  • 2 stalks celery
  • 5 cloves garlic
  • 4 Tbs beef bouillon
  • 2 tsp salt
  • 2 cans stewed tomatoes
  • 1 can tomato soup
  • 1½ tsp cumin
  • 2 tsp paprika
  • 3 tsp chili powder
  • 1 tsp red pepper flakes
  • 2 tsp oregano
  • ½ tsp pepper
  • 1 tsp Worcestershire sauce
Directions:
Rinse pinto beans and place in a large pot. Cover with water and bring to a boil. Reduce heat and simmer until beans are tender. Stir occasionally and replace water as necessary. Keep beans covered with water. When beans are tender, add bouillon, 1 tsp salt, stir and continue to simmer. Brown beef. Leaving grease in pan, add beef to beans. Saute onion, garlic and celery in the pan from the beef. Drain if necessary and add to beans. Continue to simmer. Add stewed tomatoes(with juice), tomato soup, 1 soup can of water, and spices. Stir, bring to a boil and simmer for about an hour (more or less won't hurt anything) stirring occasionally. Serve topped with shredded cheese and hot cornbread.

Cornbread
Serves 6
  • 1 cup flour
  • 1 cup yellow cornmeal
  • ⅓ cup sugar
  • 4 tsp baking powder
  • ¾ tsp salt
  • 2 eggs
  • 1 cup milk or buttermilk
  • ¼ cup cooking oil
Directions:

Sift together flour, cornmeal, sugar, baking powder and salt. Add eggs, milk and oil. Beat until just smooth - do not over beat. Turn into a greased 9x9x2 inch baking dish. Bake at 425° for 20-25 minutes. Can add drained corn, bacon, finely chopped jalapeno peppers etc. Serve hot with butter and honey.

Monday, February 12, 2007

Our Wedding Program Poem

Yesterday, The Chatty Housewife's mom (well, to be technical, it would be The Mr.'s mom) was up in our area visiting. When I got a chance to say 'Hi' to her, she mentioned my blog and said I should put up more poems. I had completely forgotten about poems, and recently I've been just dragging. Dragging my feet on blogging, dragging myself through a normal day... just dragging. Anyway, the poem idea sounded brilliant and since I've already done all the work of writing them, it would be an easy way to appease my guilty conscience for not posting anything sooner.

I was cleaning the meeting room on Dolly's birthday, which is why I didn't get a birthday post done for her already, and then Sir and I got a very impolite flu bug that gave no consideration for active little people, and then the little people here stopped sleeping at night (not just through the night, but almost not sleeping at all) due to four more teeth for PC and a sinus cold for Dolly (it appears that decongestants actually keep her awake instead of incurring drowsiness).

So, now that I'm starting to feel like myself again, and the worst seems to be over for my nocturnal children (they actually slept through most of last night! Yay!!), and I have a easy idea for a blog post, I guess I'll get on with posting!

I wrote this poem years ago... I guess it was when I first realized that I was in danger of being interested in Sir. It was the one we chose to put on our wedding program and for that I changed the pronouns so it would be 'our' poem instead of just 'my' poem.

What We Would

What we would our life to be
Only our Lord be our guide,
In all that we do, the path that we take,
Regardless of old-nature's pride.

What we would our heart to be
True nearness to our God.
With child-like faith and honest truth
May we know what our Lord would want.

What we would our soul to be
Acceptable to our King.
Fully filled with His pure love
May we His praises sing.

What we would ourselves to be
In life, and heart, and soul
A testimony for all to see,
That God's likeness is our goal!