As Long As You Are Glorified

In America, we are about to start Thanksgiving "week" - this is a new favourite song of mine. Even if it's not Thanksgiving where you live, it's a good song for life. Our pastor preached today on the life of Job, and wow. I mean, the poor guy, really. Every time I read about/hear about/think about Job I am amazed at the magnitude of his story. As Pastor Daniel was saying today - the problem with Job wasn't that he doubted or had issue with the character of God-- His problem was with the government of God. God had to show him that suffering is ok for His people, and doesn't require an explanation. Job is my hero.

To read about a few of mine, here is a post from last year.

 Enjoy this song and think about all the trials you've experienced, each one, being undertaken by the One who draws you in, and holds you there.

   

As Long As You Are Glorified - by Mark Altrogge

Shall I take from Your hand Your blessings
Yet not welcome any pain
Shall I thank You for days of sunshine
Yet grumble in days of rain
Shall I love You in times of plenty
Then leave You in days of drought
Shall I trust when I reap a harvest
But when winter winds blow, then doubt

Oh let Your will be done in me
In Your love I will abide
Oh I long for nothing else as long
As You are glorified

Are You good only when I prosper
And true only when I'm filled
Are You King only when I'm carefree
And God only when I'm well
You are good when I'm poor and needy
You are true when I'm parched and dry
You still reign in the deepest valley
You're still God in the darkest night

Oh let Your will be done in me
In Your love I will abide
Oh I long for nothing else as long
As You are glorified

So quiet my restless heart
Quiet my restless heart
Quiet my restless heart in You

Cheesy Chicken Risotto - Recipe

I tried a new to me recipe this week - I got it awhile back from my sister, and never got around to making it. Big mistake. It is versatile, SIMPLE and delicious. My kids were all kinds of suspicious as I was preparing it, because I told them it was new...

Kenna: I hope this is one of your good recipes {because I always make them terrible food, right? ;-)}
Me: Well, I think it's pretty good, it's Auntie Lauryn's recipe and you like her cooking
Brooks: Is it as good as Uncle Mark's pancakes?
Me: uuuuuhhh, probably not, because there is no syrup involved
Brooks: awww, he makes good pancakes
Kenna: I ate eight!

So it might not stand up against pancakes, but everyone liked it, even Brian:-)

CHEESY CHICKEN RISOTTO BAKE

1 can mushroom soup
3/4 C water
1/2 C milk
1/4 C parmesan cheese
3/4 C white rice, uncooked
2 C spinach, raw leaves (can omit if you don't have any)
1 C red pepper, chopped (or use green, yellow etc)
1 t thyme
3/4 lb cubed chicken, raw (I use 2 large boneless skinless breasts cut up for a double recipe)

1 T parsely (optional as garnish)

- Mix soup, water, milk and cheese in a shallow 2 L casserole dish (bigger if you are doubling of course). A 9X13 works fine

- Add all remaining ingredients, stir and cover

- Bake at 400 F for 35 min (covered)

- Stir, and then bake for 15 min (uncovered) - *or until rice is hot and tender (I find this usually requires an extra 10 minutes or so for a double recipe)

- Sprinkle with parsley

Let stand for 5 min before serving

What makes it easy is that it's all in one dish, chicken can still be semi-frozen (thawed enough to cube up, but not thawed all the way), is definitely an "eye ball it" recipe, as far as chicken and veggies go (add more, or less, and it'll be fine) and it doesn't take forever to cook!

This one is a winner, and perfect for the 'throw together' type of last minute dinner. I don't know about you, but I stock all these ingredients (maybe except the spinach) in my pantry/fridge at all times. Easy Peasy!

Picture Day Prep

Well, picture day came and went...with no pictures! We got all ready for the day with haircuts

Grey: Before

My friend Elizabeth cuts hair - she gave up her salon job, and comes to your house. SOLLLLLD! She does all our hair now, conveniently for me - whenever it suits us:-) 

Grey: After! We got Brooks trimmed up too, from his cut last July

But on the day, it was WAY too cold to get pics taken, without full winter gear on. So we had to postpone. Boooooo. But next weekend the weather will be better:-)

On the way home from soccer, I saw this really picturesque place - and decided I'd like pics here someday! It's on a golf course, I wonder if we can get in! But pretty gorgeous...maybe next year.

Soccer Grey

Saturday was technically the last soccer game...though due to rainouts earlier in the season, they added another game on the end of the season, next week. But kept the trophy the same as it would have been. Grey is confused by this. He was also confused by the fact that I made him wear pants (pictured) over his soccer socks, and his shirt over top of his winter jacket.

It was the fault of a "polar vortex" apparently blowing through...it was COLD. Like 45 for the high of the day, cold.

I was putting his shirt on, over his coat, and this convo occurs:

Brooks: What are you doing?
Mom: Putting his shirt on, so you can see what team he's on
Brooks: Why?
Mom: Because it's freezing out! I used to do this to you when you played, don't you remember?
Brooks: Uh, yah, but I was always really embarrassed
(Grey's face was already like "are we sure this is kosher" and now transitions to "I'm going to die, this is ridiculous")
Mom: Seriously? Why would you say that when you know he obviously has to do it?
SHEESH!

He got his medal!

He looks like Brooks here to me!

Next weekend it should be back in the mid 60's, which is normal for around here this time of year. Whew. Our thin blood can't handle these sudden temperature drops!

Bible Quizzing

Kenna has been asked to join the Bible Quizzing team representing our church at this years Bible Quiz (Jan '15). She is excited...but nervous! She has lots of studying to do, and will be coached once a week with her "teammates". Her version is NKJV,

Brian was also a Bible Quizzer (something I am actually very unfamiliar with, so I am interested to see how this works! I picture something like a mixture between a spelling bee, and Family Fued...only about the Bible, of course;-)

Here is Kenna holding one of Daddy's trophies for inspiration! The trophy says:
Bible Quiz 92/93 - Gospel of Luke
B League - Eastern Section
High Quizzer - Brian Bolger

We enter a new world of word-perfect recitation, and facts, I'd imagine. Hang on to your hats! ;-)

Instagram Dec 2013

 

Grey did this, and loves the way it looks, a lot. He will be sad when they mysteriously get repositioned. 

A little "midnight dinner" for my hard working man. Ain't nothing like reheating;-)

Spider-Man and Superman are playing very hard today

Tidying up the bookshelf:-)

Loving fall!! #countryinthecity
I guess it's technically winter now:-)

Pic - taken by Brooks

Souring my milk. And now we wait.

Ladies, are you ready for this? Tomorrow is the day we make coasters!

Sonny, making something for his daddy for Christmas...shhhhh!

Pizza party for Christmas!

It's Maisy Daisy!

Look, I have a beard!

The many faces of b.j.b.

Multiple personalities?

Lazy Monday breakfast. White chocolate raspberry coffee, with white chocolate drixxle, and biscotti. #homemade #delish

Jamberry experiment, just applied! Day 1 #jamberry #juliejams

Brian came home late, and I made him fresh salsa...then lost motivation to clean up after myself before bed. Good morning to me!

Kenna: how many more days before we can skate on the lake?
Me: Uhhh, never
It might feel cold, but it's not that cold!

Mini Christmas store - for Cubbies only. Fun is about to be had by all!:-)

My first loaf of bread in my new-to-me bread maker!

Jamberry nail wrap experiment, day 3. I'm pretty much sold on these things!

A weird pancake flip yields devilish results:-)

It's a little chilly today, but the ducks are out!
Which you can't see from this pic haha

May, saying cheese, eating cheese

My slave labour

Oh no, they're back! Perhaps I should issue a warning;-)

Mini quiches, coming right up!

Kids pic!

Kids waiting for their cue in the first of two performances. Christmas cantata time!

Pic from our Bible Study Christmas party on Sat

A little late getting them out this year...but getting it done!

A pencil in a cup of ice - what are you doing? "it's just my test, mom. I'm testing it out"

Christmas party conundrum. Decisions, decisions...

Bib necklace...target jewelry for Brian's work Christmas party

Go fish in the sun

Getting my party face on!

This is happening now:-)

Grey: Wow where did we get this huge can?
Me: it was daddy's
Grey: What!?! He drank from that girl can?
**pink is never for boys** ;-)

Mornings are about to get a whole lot more gooder 'round here

Ducks, this time, a better view;-)

A vintage Christmas village. Given to us by Brian's uncle & aunt (Bill & Jonne). They didn't have room for it when they moved. The kids adore it!

He does it better than me 

White hot chocolate with "whup" cream of course. In a favourite mug:-)

All our presents are wrapped and ready to go! We are blessed

Pancake Friday!

Ok, kinda gross. Grey sustained a little eye injury this week while playing with Sonny. It was just an accident/play getting carried away, but it actually was a real injury. I suspected over-drama at first, of course. This is above the colour part. The blood is fading, so I think it's healing well. He hasn't complained of discomfort for a few days. Praise the Lord!

@riekefamily all I did was make cookies...around 12:30. Haha. I would put my mess making abilities up against the best of them;-)

Snowman fun! #bigcookie

Merry Christmas!

And for my Canadiana...:-) Merry Christmas

Two blondies bathing...:-)

The peas cancel out the chocolate(s)

Every time I'm in East Beach a different house captures my fancy. Today, this is the house

You better watch out, Santa Claus is coming to town!

a quick pass through downtown on christmas eve:-) we love our busy downtown with all the cranes and ships

ice cream for dinner on Christmas eve!

Burning off Christmas sugar by making snow angels on the carpet:-)

If you can measure happiness by bags of trash, and I think you can, we've had a good day. So blessed! Merry Christmas to all, and to all, a good night.

I love it so much! Thanks babe!

Epically moody child. Nap time?

Wish me luck! Vintage toy fun, coming up!

Oh boy! This is only about half the people...people only!! Yikes. This may be more than I bargained for!

Progress...

I did my first Jamberry nail application on myself today! Looking good! Lets hope I like this look for 10+ days:-)

Cake decorating