Let's Do Our Part!!

Please click here to read of a wonderful friend of mine's current problem with an adoption agency. I was brought to tears this afternoon as I heard of what is going on. This is a complete travesty and we should all band together and try to make our voices heard. I will be printing off the article and going to our MP's office tomorrow to see what he can do.
Please pray for beautiful Gwen and her family. There are strength in numbers and I know that our prayers, and voices can be heard.
~Jenny

Chicken Delish Salad

One of my family's favourite summer meals is a hot chicken salad.
There's really no directions per se....it's whatever you want to add to your salad will work.
Tonight's salad includes:
2 chicken breasts(the boys had already eaten so I only needed 2 pieces of chicken)
sliced mushrooms
red and yellow peppers
bacon strips(I usually cut them up,but didn't this time)
butter lettuce
cucumbers
tomatoes
kosher salt
ground pepper
2 cloves of garlic
and the secret ingredient....(read along and you'll find out what it is...)



In a frying pan with some olive oil start to cook your chicken. Cover the chicken
with the secret ingredient.
Grate the garlic cloves over the chicken and sprinkle with kosher salt and pepper.
Cook for a few minutes before adding the vegetables.


One of my favourite "secrets" is to use salad dressings as
marinades or quick sauces. Western family has a sweet onion
sauce that is spectacular to use with chicken as is their house
dressing(which is beautiful when used over salmon and then
baked).
So...the secret ingredient is....Kraft Pesto Parmesan Olive
Oil....


Add the red peppers, yellow peppers, bacon, mushrooms(and
whatever else you may have)....
Stir frequently and sautee the vegetables and chicken until each
are thoroughly cooked.


Meanwhile in a salad bowl add butter lettuce(or whatever
lettuce you have on hand) tomatoes and cucumbers.

Add a couple tbsp of the Pesto Parmesan to the salad. Add
some pepper and a sprinkle of kosher salt. At this point
other members of your family will begin to congregate
in the kitchen and ask you what glorious food you are
cooking....

When the chicken and vegetables are cooked, serve over the
salad. Top with some grated cheese(if you so desire)...serve
with a glass of merlot(or in our case a Bud Lime) and you
have a fantastic, easy and succulent Hot chicken salad.

What is some of your favourite summer dishes?

~Jenny

Gavin-isms

My boys continue to amaze me.
Gavin just asked how Jesus died. I replied he died on the cross for man's sins and he said,"How did he get on the cross?"
I responded, "He was nailed to the cross."
"Oh I bet that hurt." he said solemnly.
"I wonder why they didn't call an ambulance and take him to the hospital?"he asked.

The minds of little ones.

1 year lotsa tears and smiles.....

Honestly, I don't know whether time has gone by fast or slow. At times it seems like it's been a lifetime ago and other times like only yesterday.

As I've mentioned numerous times during this past year the grieving process sucks. This winter was awful for me. I felt like a big ol' mama bear who wanted to hibernate away from the world. I had no motivation, or energy and felt really sad.

Thankfully the new year came along and brought me some new sense of spirit.

I've been dreaming lots of my dad these days. Just wonderful little dreams where he comes to say hi and then tells me he must go. Scott has had a couple of these as well. I love these dreams as I feel like I am still connected to him.

The boys have handled the year as well as to be expected. Seamus gets emotional every now and then. Gavin has been more inquisitive than ever.ie: details of cremation, if Grandpa wears clothes in Heaven, does Grandpa look like Grandpa in heaven. Jonas doesn't voice his opinions like his brothers,but you can tell he is deep in thought.

My mom has proven herself to be a strong and capable woman. Not that I ever thought otherwise, but I'm astounded at her strength during this year. We have grown closer. Actually much closer than I ever would have imagined. I'm blessed by the closeness that came out of my dad dying.

I have learned alot this past year. Try to live for today and not for tomorrow. Money is not the answer to life's problems. Tell those you love how much they mean to you on a regular basis. Love the life you live.

I am thankful for the beautiful family and friends I have. My husband has not only demonstrated his compassion and patience this past year,but has been my warrior in this battle. Nothing is more beautiful than sharing the raw emotions with your spouse...revealing it all, the good, bad and the ugly.

I believe we managed to get through this year as well as we did because of those around us. Those that lifted us in prayer, that cried with us, that talked us through the sadness. A special thanks to my inlaws who went above and beyond the call of duty with their help. My mother inlaw helped in so many ways that I could never write everything she did. All I can offer is a simple thank you. We love you. Words could never touch on how important these actions were for our family.

I cherish the memories that my dad and I had. We had a close relationship. One that will always remain.

His grandsons were the light of his eyes and I am honored knowing that my boys gave my dad lots of joy.

I think of all the little things a person can take for granted. Often, I would get so easily annoyed at my dad's bellowing voice and boisterous personality. Oh how I would love to be annoyed by him once again!!

Today we are honouring my dad. We survived a year without his earthly presence. We are going to the riverbank and each casting a line into where his ashes were put. I know he will be watching down on us with a heartful of love and a smile as wide as a rainbow.

"We only part to meet again."

~Jenny

61 Years Ago

He would have been 61.

Happy thoughts of my dad today.

:)

Embarassing Moment

The other day Gavin and I had to run to the grocery store. I wasn't wearing a jacket(you'll realize the importance of this in a couple of minutes.) I quickly went and got my few goods, and went through the checkout.
At the van I was buckling Gavin up in his booster seat and he said, "mom, it looks like you are starting to grow a third boob."
"What?!"I asked.
"Yep...it's beginning to bud." he said in a matter of fact tone.
I looked down and sure enough there was a protrusion.
"What the?"I said.
I quickly shut the door of the van and went into my seat and began to investigate.
It certainly looked like I was sprouting a new nipple...quite evidently.
I felt around and there was something there.
I dug deep and pulled out an almond! Holy crap. No new nip, just a nut.
"Good thing it's just an almond!" Gavin said triumphantly.
My boobs are the biggest food collector out there.(remember the cheerio story...and I don't eat cheerios??LOL)
How embarassing though. I wonder if there was mentioning of the 3 nippled woman as I left the store??
I think an urban legend has been started in this great town of the North.
~Jenny

Oldies but Goodies

Here's some doozies of me....geekness factor:100%!!

My brother and I...I remember this picture being taken.

I hated that I had to wear that dress!LOL

My sister and I....when I wasn't trying to hide her

or booby trap her crib....yah I had some issues!

I think my mom must have ironed my hair,because

it looks awfully straight.

Another dress I didn't want to wear....

But...I remember being able to pick out the outfit

for this pic and this is what I WANTED to wear....

The shirt said "Disco is King"...teeth and glasses...

ughhh...

Bad hair....big teeth!LOL

Grade 7 grad...and yes, I picked out my own

dress for the occasion....

I loved this blue shirt and black necklace...

gotta love the '80's.

My grad photo from 20 years ago...

~Jenny

L.O.V.E

(not sure why there's a green patch...scanned from the photo

and it's not green??)

Father's Day

On this Father's Day I choose not to feel upset.

Instead I am counting my blessings.

My dad was an unconventional father. During my youth he wasn't around a lot. He was actively involved in the union movement and it did take a toll on our family life. I'd be lying if I said I hadn't resented him. It took many years for this resentment to go away.

A few years ago, while enjoying a late night on our deck my dad turned to me and said, "I wish I would have been a better dad." And with tears in his eyes he said, "I'm sorry." He then told Scott and I that his grandsons were his way of reconciling the past. After that moment I never looked back.

The other day I was thinking about the sacrifices he made for his family. I am proud of them. I wouldn't be the person I was, nor the parent I was if he hadn't done so.

Thank you Dad.

He was the best grandfather any child could have. The day before he left for Vancouver he told Scott and I that he "just needed enough time to see his boys graduate". I know that he's not here physically with us, but I know without a doubt he'll see his boys graduate.

We were blessed to have him in our lives as long as he was. "It's not the years in your life that count, it's the life in those years."

~~~~~~

I cannot even describe how blessed I am to have the husband I do.

To say he's an amazing father is an understatement. He is selfless and always puts our needs ahead of his own. I'm not so good at this I have to admit. On his days off he always makes sure there is time alloted for the boys. This is something I'm not so good at either. (if I had a day off I'm running for the hills....alone!!!) A couple of months ago when I was complaining about not having enough time to myself he said, "babe, just think, in a few years you're going to want these days back. We'll have many years of time to ourselves." He always knows how to put things in perspective.

He teaches the boys right from wrong. (Even those unintentional lessons...the right way to curse). He's not afraid to show emotion. He tells them constantly how much he loves them and says everynight before they go to bed, "someday you're not going to want me to hug and kiss you...until then...this is what you're getting."Jonas summed it up today when I asked him why he loved his dad so much, "mom, he's everything you'd expect a dad to be and more."

Happy Father's day to my gorgeous,selfless quick witted, loving, funny, athletic, charming, kind husband.

Now that's a sentence that is over filled with adjectives. I could have written many more.

But simply put, we love you.

Happy Father's Day!

~Jenny

Life

We had a wonderful camping getaway. We are so blessed to live minutes away from the rugged beautiful wilderness. God is always so apparent when you look out on the lake and see the shorelines with the reflections of the mountains shining through. The beauty of life is indescribeable...fragile-like, awe inspiring.
We took our canoe and paddled and spent alot of time on the water. Pure serenity. It was amazing. During the afternoons we'd explore the hiking trails. (The only downfall was our inadequate supply of bug repellant. We all got butchered with bites!)At night we'd sit around the fire telling tales, singing songs and listening to the "night creatures".
It was so nice to get away. Reflect. Count our blessings....(and we have many.)
I came home feeling rejuvenated and refreshed. Tomorrow it will be a year from when my dad first went into the hospital in Kitimat. His anniversary of his death is slowly approaching and I feel like I'm going to come undone.
My wonderful friend Cheryl wrote this tonight on her blog, and it made me cry:
"Life is too short to worry about having to be someone you aren't when you are around people that don't bring out the best in you. Friends, good friends, should see you for who you are and always want the best for you - and help you find that for yourself. My friends - I love you lots."
This is the truth. For my friends that believe in me, love me, and stand by me, thank you.
I hope you all can stand on nature's shoreline and take in this majestic beauty of life.

~Jenny