In Jesus Name.

The other day I was emailing Jon about an email that we needed to send to a friend. I wrote, "would you like me to write the email in your name?"
It reminded me that of the classic closing to our prayers, "In Jesus name, Amen." It struck me that when I say this phrase I am saying, "God, I say all this through Christ." or " Hear my words as if it were Jesus talking to you." The whole concept of Jesus interceding at the throne has become personal and more dear to me with this insight.
Its amazing how we do and say things without realizing that they are a part of our theology. Or we do and say things out of habit even when it doesn't line up with our theology.
Food for thought.

artist at etsy

One day I'm going to spend my days looking for fabrics and then sitting at a sewing machine creating new wonderful things!
Hope you can apperciate this little video like I did

a day in the life

I'm a mother of three with what always seem to be full days, and yet when I sit down in the evening to write a blog I have a terrible time thinking of something to write.
My Moms and Tots group is doing at cookie exchange tomorrow. So today I did my best to make something for the exchange. I don't know why I had to try something new. I made Cream Cheese Swirl Blondies. All three of the kids were either crying, begging , or complaining during the mixing process. I was about to throw in the towel, but I sent to two older one's to their rooms and put the youngest down for a nap. Problem solved! The blondies didn't turn out the way I thought they would. Oh well. I'm supposed to have the recipe typed out for whoever takes my cookies...but that's not going to happen the way the day has gone.
It is so cold outside today. It seems like the past week I've either been in my house or in my van. Walking somewhere is not going to happen. This is not a particularly good thing seeing I've just had a baby, its Christmas and there are always more sweet things to eat, and when it gets cold I always want to eat things with either or both flour and sugar. What's with that? It is as predictable as the canada goose going south for the winter. The temp. starts dropping and I start baking. Hey it just hit me, that would be the good thing about living in the Kenyan heat...I wouldn't ever feel like baking. Who wants to turn on the oven when it's plus 30? Not me!
Well, wish me luck with my blondies at Moms and Tots tomorrow. Hope someone wants them.
Off to bed I go.

Christmas excitment.

The tree is up and cookies are made. Its christmas time at the Chalmers house. I'm so happy we are going to Ontario to celebrate with my family. Only 7 more sleeps until we go! Very exciting. We will be at Josh and Becky's house for 11 days and then in Hamilton for 5 days. It has been too long since Josh and I have celebrated Christmas together.
Last Christmas I was submitting to Christ as I was unable to see my family. Its amazing to me how when we give our lives completely to Christ, even what may seem like small things He often remembers us and our trust in Him. How many times have I longed for something and given it to God and He has in His own time blessed me. I want to trust my Father in heaven. He is so good. Even when I was crying last Christmas because I was not with my family, He was good then.
See you in seven sleeps

Food inc.

Official+Food%2C+Inc.+Movie+Site+-+Hungry+For+Change%3F

This was a really interesting movie. We definitely shopped a little differently today. Jon was really into reading all the labels. It really is unbelievable how many things that corn is in. I would recommend this to anyone who is interested in what they eat.

Soup, a night out and my growing boy

So this is a mix-mash of the last week.
I made some amazing soup on Monday. Cream of Pea and Spinach. I love the beautiful green color and texture was so smooth and velvety. Here's the recipie
1 small onion chopped small
5 tbsp of butter
1/4 cup flour
4 cups chicken broth
1-2 cups water
2 cup frozen/fresh peas
1 bag of spinach
1/2 cup heavy cream. I use coffee cream

1.melt butter in larger pot
2. add onion and cook unto translucent don't brown them
3.add flour stirring let it start bubbling
4.add broth slowly stirring all the time
5.add water
6.bring to boil and turn down to simmer stirring ferquently. let it thicken to consistency of cream. let it simmer for 10 mins to get rid of flour taste.
7.add peas and spinach. simmer until wilted and mushy.
8.puree in blender in batches. Don't fill blender too much with each batch
9.put back in pot add cream and heat. Don't boil or you may ruin your cream.
Enjoy!!!! Try using broccoli that's good too!

On Wednesday night Jon and I were able to go the Agrobition. We had a lot of fun together. Blayne and Penny Banting offered to look after Elijah and Grace. What a blessing that was. We felt so served and loved by them. We bought tickets for the rodeo. We saw some bucking broncos, cattle roping, calf wrestling, sheep herding dogs, mutten bustin' and lots more. Its a nice crowd, its not too loud and Jon and I were able to watch and have a conversation.

I thought I throw and picture of Ian in the jolly jumper for the first time. He just loved it. I think he was in there for a half hour or more. What a cutie. He's getting so big so fast. Always smiling expect when he's hungry or tired.

I've been given so many good gifts. Thank you Lord.

my last day alone...kinda

Jon had been out of the house for the last three days in a row. I'm tired of parenting by myself. Today he went with his Dad to the Riders game. They had a blast. I'm really glad they enjoyed themselves. Jon has been wanting to do that for so long.
When I'm alone at home without another adult I end up on the internet all day. Today I became a member on www.lionbrand.com Its a yarn company. I don't know if its Canadian but they definitely had a canadian site with canadian prices. They have lots of free patterns. Some nice ones too. I hate it when free patterns are aweful looking.
The kids have watched the third Ice Age movie atleast 5 times over the past three days. They are still laughing. We borrowed from our neighbour. I think we'll give it back tomorrow so I don't have to say no to watching it for the sixth time.
Elijah was eating Cheerios this afternoon as a snack. I said to him, "I don't know if there are Cheerios in Africa" He said, "What will we eat for breakfast?" I said, "maybe eggs." He said, "you don't eat eggs at breakfast." I realize I maybe haven't given a lot of variety at breakfast for my family. :)
I'm praying Ian sleeps well tonight. I can't handle being woke after only sleeping for an hour.

I love these sites

I really wanted to share these sites with everyone. I you love beautiful things that are made by people who love their art form you love love these sites too.
www.etsy.com
This site is a host to thousands or artists and crafters. The amount of incredible treasures here is unbelievable. I'm on this site at least once a day being inspired.
www.sarahandabraham.com Sarah & Abraham is a site for those who love paper and stationary. Being a paper fanatic I feel in love with their stuff right away.
There is tunes of beautiful paper and stationary on Etsy too.
Enjoy browsing these amazing sites.

Amie

A new Chalmers

Yes, there is a new Chalmers coming. We are excited and scared and happy and nervous all at the same time. Adding another member to our family was something we really wanted to do but it being our third we were not innocent of the resposbilities and the drastic changes that a baby brings. So I've been hesitant to jump up and down for joy, not to say that I'm not very excited to meet the next member of our family and can't wait to hold him/her in my arms. Isn't life like that, so many things are hard and yet joyful all at once. I'm enjoying every minute of life right now, with out a new born. With the other two I could not wait for the day they came and all the days in between were just days waiting. This time, I'm savouring every full night sleep, every time we go out and the kids play and I can talk with my friends and I don't have a baby to feed or change or sooth. Yes, life is going to look a whole lot different...not bad different, but different. Its like the months before I got married and I was so wanting the day to come I couldn't think of anything else. Everyone said, "Amie enjoy your last days of being single." Not that they didn't want me to get married, but they knew what I didn't, that life looks very different once you are married and there's no going back.
I've been really sick this first trimester. Pretty much useless. Jon has been so patient and helpful. Its hard to explain to the kids that I'm sick because of the baby.
Anyways, for anyone who wanted to know, We're having Number 3.
blessings
AMIE

God has been so good to me. Jon has been away from us so much in the last four months (maybe five). God has been so faithful to keep my spirit up, to give me the encouragement I need just in time, to give me patience (most of the time). I look back and think, how did I get through that. I would have never imagined myself capable of being alone with the kids so much and still being sane. And not just sane but the most joyful and hopeful I've felt in a long time. As I contemplate this seemingly unnatural peace and joy I can only see God's hand. 1Peter 2.9 came to my mind last night. "But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people of God's own possession, so that you may proclaim the excellencies of Him who has called you out of darkness into his marvelous light." For you this might not seem to fit with what I'm talking about but for me it totally does. It says to me that, I'm God's for the purpose of His praise. All the good, all the trials and peace in them make me remember I am God's and I praise him for it. All I have, physical and spiritual, all I am, is because of Him who has call me.
Thank you Father.

A clean house

Lately my pleasure has been in keeping my house clean. In the past this joy has come and gone and so I don't know if this is just a phase or the beginning of something new for me. I just seem to have to motivation and organization to stay on top of most of the house. I am enjoying keeping things in order. I have to admit to myself that I have always loved order. Not just in my surrounding but in a perdictable day and so on. (something I inherited from my mother)
I can't believe the way it has helped me be a better mother and wife. I think its more my adittude. In the sense that if I am willing to serve my family by keeping the house clean I will be more likely to serve them in other ways. Looking at the people around me and their needs instead of being stuck on myself and my needs. Giving feels so much better than taking. I have felt so much love from my husband the last few days.(he's only been home a few days).
My moto is "No excuses" Just get up and do it. I don't know how long this motivation will last but I'm going to cease this God given blessing now and maybe I'll be able to make something of it.
Lord, I want all I do and say to point those around me, back to You. Maybe my service to my family will show my children what it means to love as Christ did. Laying down his life me.

Off to bed now.

God's blessings

Just sitting here on a windy Monday afternoon. Both the kids are sleeping and I have nothing to do. Well there is always something to do I guess. Nothing I want to do.
Jon is gone again for the week. God is so good to keep me going. Keep him going too. Its just as hard for Jon as it is for me. He really dislikes being away from home. I wish there was a way for me to make money magicly appear so that he wouldn't have to be gone all week for the whole summer. God is providing for us. I just have to trust that he knows the best for us, even when it doesn't look like the best at the time.
I found a nice wading pool and some toys for the kids at a garage sale the other day. There was a really nice bunk bed set there too, but I didn't have the money to get it. So I left it. It was actally my girlfriend's garage sale and she phoned me and suggested that I have the beds in exchange for teaching her kids guitar. I assured her that I was not a professional and had limited knowledge, but she was confindent that a little would go a long way, so I agreed. So now I have bunk bed! Elijah was not very happy that they would go in Grace's room. Now I have to get them together some how. It might be a bit before that gets done. Anyways, see God provided again. Even things we don't exactly need but just want. Wow how blessed are we!
So that's all I have to say. Really nothing else going on. Going camping this week with the kids and Cheri. Jack, Joelle and Jon are hopefully joining us on the weekend. So that will be fun for everyone. It will be nice to get away from the house for a little break.
Ta Ta For Now.

Don't waste your life!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DKNFbZa9cH4

I hope this can be as much of an encouragment to you as it was to me.
Blessings

wasting

Am I wasting this life I've been given? What would a "waste" look like? This is so simple. I don't want to make it seem more profound than it is. Christ asks me to value Him above all else. Actually, I don't think He's actaully asking me to, He's expecting me too, because valuing anything above Him is putting my affection on the lesser. He is most valuable, He is most worth, He alone gives worth to everthing. (Col. 1.17)So am I wasting my life? Yes. Everyday I turn to milk when I could have the meat. Everyday I live off waffers that disappear as soon as they have been comsumed when i could drink the living water and never thrist again. All that energry given to nothing, given to things, and Christ stands forgive me everytime I chose the "other" over Him. Forgive me Father? Grace unmeasured. The knowledge of my idolatry and your grace dispite it, make me praise you all the more.
Crown Him with many crowns, The lamb apon the throne.
Thank you for sending your Son for the sin you knew I would commit.
Praise the Lord, oh my sould and all that is within me, praise His holy name!

Christmas tree

Well i gave in this year and bought a cheap fake Christmas tree. I'm actually amazed at the many advantages to having a fake Christmas tree (FCT). I will list them for you
1. no pine needles in the rug
2. Sturdy bows to hold ordiments
3. Your fingers don't hurt after decorating. the FCT doesn't poke the way real pine needles do. And you don't have sap all over your hands.
4. NO WATERING!
5. Basically no fire hazard. I mean anything can burn but a dry light wood seem more likely to go up in flames.
6. Pre-lite. This was another one of those great ideas that has changed everything.
7. And though I did not buy the best FCT it looks as good or better than some of the real trees Jon and I have purchased in the past.
8. Don't have to pull it down right away after Christmas. I could potential leave the thing in the living room until July and we'd still have a nice tree.
9....I wanted to make it to 10 but I've run out of things to say about my FCT.

The one down side is no Real Christmas tree smell!
We've already had one Christmas with my parents before they moved back East. Elijah was pretty excited about that. Oh and we had our Koop Christmas. So only two more to go and we'll have to season over with. That sounds like I want it over with...I don't.
We were making ordments for the grandparents the other day and Elijah said, "Grandpa is going to love this." Then he said, "Papa is going to love this too." And I said, "I know they will!" Then we made cookies for our neighbours and friends and he said, "The big boy next door is going to love his cookie." and " our volleyball friends are going to love their cookies" and I said, "yes they are!'
So if anyone is reading this and you receive a gift from Elijah this Christmas, tell him that you love it.
So that's about all I have to say. I should get to bed so I'm rested to for tomorrow. Busy, busy, busy.
Oh and if you are reading this and you live is Caronport or MooseJaw come out Sunday Dec. 9th at 7:00 to the Alliance church. Terry Smith and I are leading worship at the young adults worship event. I don't know the official name of the evening, but it happens once a month and it looks to be fun.
good night all!

its been a while

I've gotten into this FAcebook thing and its hard to do the blog and the facebook, but I don't want to leave my blog for good, so I've come back today so refresh it.
Well, Caronport is turning out to be a very nice place. I'm enjoying having family close. Christine, my sister-in-law is here with her family and we ahve been able to spend some time together. Also nice for the kids to spend time together, since they are moving next year and who knows where we will end up. My other sister-in-law is here also. She is in college and I love to hear the excitment she has. Reminds me of the great years I spent in Caronport as a student. She's great o come over and just hang out, or babysit.
Jon is playing volleyball. Its a job basically. He's in the gym three hours a day, plus team meeting, and team time (they hang out together to bond) and then they are gone every weekend. I'm excited for him because i know he loves it. I'm always telling him to enjoy himself because I don't want to be alone with the kids if he's not having any fun.
I'll admit I've had my days that I've questioned whether this was the right decision for us (him playing volleyball), I've felt alone, and overwhelmed by the kids. But I'm trying my best to take life as it comes to me, make the most of it, and know that God's will is bigger and better than my own. I'd rather Jon be playing volleyball than working some silly job that he hates. Atleast when he goes out the door I know he's happy. I can always go over to the gym and watch them practice. The kids and I do that quite often actaully. They love it. the guys are all so nice to them. Grace love to collect all the balls. and Elijah likes to play on the bleachers.
Still trying to find our place in a church. A good friend of mine, who goes to the church we've pretty much settled on does worship and has asked me to help once in a while. I hope that works out. I need to invest in something, or I become purposless. ( is that a word)
So that's life right now. We're happy, God is providing for all our needs and ofcourse still teaching me how to become more like Him.

this girls got talent

Found this on YouTube just now, and had to share it with you. What an amazing voice. I guess she posts every sunday and her songs are amazing. Enjoy.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KjMRf4egAyA

Tess of the D'Urbervilles

Just finished "Tess of the D'Urbervilles" by Thomas Hardy. very good book. Written during a very interesting time in Europe's history, when the Evangelicals were gaining strength and titles and religion were beginning to lose strength especially among the educated. Tess's story is a tragedy. At times I felt like I could bare it anymore, but Hardy had made her such a lovable heroine that I couldn't but it down. The books subtitle is "A Pure Woman". Which is many ways she was night. But this was mostly by means out of her control. In all other ways she was a "pure" woman. Faithful, honest, hardworking, valiant, etc... I wonder if Hardy was pointing his figure at the church for writing off those of unfortunate circumstance. Or, what he perceived as their inability to be flexible. Showing what he felt where the wrongs with the Letter of the Law. It is fairly sinicle towards the evangelical movement. He writes alot of it up to emotional conversions with little weight and as I said perviously, rigid, unforgiving, law.
Tess's story ends in the only way approperiate for her time. She is caught between two "sins" with no way out but her demise.
Overall I really enjoyed the story. He rambled a bit at times, but I just skimmed over the landscape descriptions. I really enjoyed the detail he payed to the life and ways of life. Like the back sleeve adequately says, "Hardy poured all of his profound empathy for both humanity and the rhythms of natural life..."
Mom tells me there was a mini series made on the book, so I'm looking forward to looking that up.
I would recommend this book.

New, New, New

So we've moved into our new digs. Loving the trailer. The only two rooms that feel squishy are the kitchen and the bathroom. Other than that we are sailing with lots of room. We've had a good week to get settled in. We were so tired after the move that its taken this long to recover. Next week starting Monday, though, Jon starts volleyball and all the students come and life immediately gets busy. Its going to take some determination on my part to figure out how to do this family and the volleyball together with grace. I'm really praying God puts some creative ideas, abundance of patience and grace to give110% to my husband and kids. I know this is what God has asked us to do, School and Volleyball, so I want to trust He has a plan to make it work. All I can do it rely on Him in all things. Like Jim Elliot said, "He is no fool who gives up what he can not keep to gain what he can not lose." I'm giving up my husband, my supposed stability, all the other stuff in life I want control of, so that I can lean completely on Christ and gain eternity, and true joy in Him.
All things for Christ.

Packing...Again

We packed up dad and moved him at the beginning of July and now we are packing ourselves up. Too much packing for one summer. I am not motivated at all. The task a head looks too large and overwhelming. I packed some boxes today, but I kinda held out for tomorrow. Jon will be able to help and I'm hoping that we can motivate each other. With both of us working our every morning, it makes for a late start to the day, but I don't wan to give it up. When we get to Caronport Jon will move his workout to later on in the day. Anyways, I don't even know which room to attack tomorrow. Jon wants to do his books and office, so maybe I'll help him there...if he'll let me. I hope we have enough storage room in the trailer. I'm getting a little worried about that. Jack and Cheri have offered that we store some stuff at their place for the year.
Right now I'm too exhausted to think about it anymore. I'm going to hope there is something decent on TV and plunk myself down in front of the brain sucking thing. I don't care if it eats my grey matter tongiht...I'm too tired to care.