A Little Boy and His Teeth

I know I'm biased just a little, but can you really stop yourself from smiling when you see this grin?

He's such a happy guy....most of the time! His smiles melt my heart!

Oh how I love my little man who's growing up so fast!

Happy Valentine's Day!!

A very happy Valentine's Day to each and every one of you! I wanted to jot down a few things, in the few minutes left on this happy day. :)

Stephen brought these roses home for me, aren't they beautiful?! The first time he ever bought me red roses was the first time he came out to visit me when we were courting. :) There's something so special about red roses!

He also brought the delicious salt and vinegar chips (my total favorite!) and the chocolate, and.....the monkey. :) I have wanted a stuffed monkey for many, many years. Yes, there's a story behind that. No, I'm not going to tell it here. (If you really want to know, ask me sometime, and I'll tell you. :)

I hope you all had a wonderful day today, and that you were able to focus more on God's true love, than the world's fake version!

"Love suffers long and is kind; love does not envy; love does not parade itself, is not puffed up, does not behave rudely, does not seek its own, is not provoked, thinks no evil; does not rejoice in iniquity but rejoices in the truth; bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.

Love never fails."

(1 Cor. 13:4-8a)

Mediterranean Salad....and Other Things

I've spent a nice chunk of my day so far doing something I really enjoy, reading about healthy food, delicious recipes, in between doing dishes, working out, washing diapers, holding Ian (as I speak, I am balancing Mr. Personality on my lap as I type :P), and even taking a wee bit of a nap! :)

Food, and good, healthy, gourmet cooking is so much more important to me now than it ever was growing up! My philosophy before was, if everybody likes it, why come up with something new!? In fact, I really hated trying new recipes for fear of them not being good, and everyone just sort of grimacing their way through the meal.

But I have changed. A lot. I love finding new, amazing recipes now, discovering new ways to put food together, and really please the palates I am cooking for! There is Nothing like cooking for people that Enjoy eating! :)

One of my goals is to gradually replace all (okay, most of) the unhealthy food in my kitchen with healthy alternatives. Sometimes it means paying a little more money. Sometimes it means going to a few different stores. But I know it will be worth it in the end!

I admit, I'm not as diehard as some people are. I still enjoy eating foods made with sugar, especially if they come in liquid form and are served in a Starbucks mug. :)

Yes, I think balance is important in just about everything, especially in food! I mean, seriously, if it tastes horrible, no one is going to want to eat it, no matter how good the health benefits are! :)

All that being said, I want to quickly share with you a salad recipe I just made up the other day that was Delicious!!

Mediterranean Salad :)

Start with a bed of lettuce

Add chopped peppers

Cucumber

Avocados

Chopped, cooked chicken (if it's still warm, it's really nice!)

Sprinkle some roasted sunflower seeds

(you could add some cheese if you're extra hungry)

Dressing:

Pour a little olive oil over the salad (about 2 T)

Sprinkle some balsamic vinegar (about 1 T)

Add about 1 teaspoon of maple syrup

sprinkle some rosemary and salt on top

Stir it all together and taste!

Of course, you can use different vegetables, or slightly different amounts of the dressing ingredients, but this is pretty close to what I did and I loved the result!

Home Alone, and Happily So!

For the first time in over a month, the first time since we've moved to Edmonton, we're alone in our little home, Stephen, Ian and I. As much as I Love having company, there is something so peaceful and wonderful about it just being us.

It's been an intensive couple of weeks. Besides just having people staying here, (which isn't all that intensive, since they were all family or very close friends) our car was rear-ended two days in a row, making things that much more complicated. About two weeks later, we're still waiting to hear back from our insurance company about maybe getting a new car. (Yes, unfortunately it was that serious)

But life goes on. Things come up, and you deal with them, because you really don't have any other choice.

Oh yes, and we have internet back now, after being without it for almost two weeks. :P I began to realize just how much I enjoyed having access to so much through the internet! But, on the flip side, in spite of the few minor inconveniences that came with being without internet, there were a lot of positives as well. For instance, it's hard to waste time on facebook when you can't read it! And also, when I wasn't able to spend time on the internet, getting some real writing done happened a little more!

This is one of my favorite things about living in Edmonton. :) I honestly never thought that Breanne and I would live close enough to have tea together, to get together for scrapbooking and talking, or to be able to get together doing fun things (like the West Edmonton Mall, for instance. :) I love being so close!

The Best Scones!

I have discovered the Best scone recipe ever! I have also discovered something about myself. :) I love finding new, amazing, delicious recipes, and trying them out! I love trying out new foods and being delighted when I find something I love! I've been on the lookout for a really good scone recipe for some time now, and I'm convinced I've found it!

Featherlight Scones

3 cups all-purpose flour

• 3 teaspoons baking powder
• 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1 cup cold butter or margarine
• 1 egg
• 1 cup vanilla yogurt
• 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 2 teaspoons milk
• sugar

1. In a bowl, combine the flour, baking powder, baking soda and salt; cut in butter until the mixture resembles coarse crumbs. Stir in the egg, yogurt and vanilla just until combined. Turn onto a floured surface; knead 6-8 times.
2. Roll into a 9-in. circle; cut into eight wedges. Place on an ungreased baking sheet. Brush tops with milk; sprinkle with sugar. bake at 425 degrees F for 12-15 minutes or until golden brown. Serve warm.

They're amazing served with butter and jam, or cheese, if you prefer! And of course, pots of tea, served with cream and honey. :)

I definitely think my English blood is coming out very strong, I love stopping for tea, and sitting down and really have a real cup of tea, not just drinking one on the fly! I love the tradition of having tea every day, I think we should try to reinstate in our culture. :)

Hello World, We're in Edmonton Now!

I haven't been posting a lot lately, because our life has taken some different, unanticipated turns, and we didn't want to say too much to anyone until our current life plans were slightly more concrete.

Firstly, we're no longer British Columbians. For the next six months, Stephen, Ian and I are temporary citizens of the wild and wonderful province of Alberta, Edmonton, to be exact.

Secondly, the reason that we're in Alberta is that Stephen has a new job here.

Thirdly, all of this was confirmed about two days after Christmas.

Meaning, in the last two weeks, we have: returned home to BC (we were at my parents' home for Christmas), loaded up the truck with boxes, finished all the cleaning of our apartment, driven back out to Alberta, looked for a home, found a home, moved in to our home, and are now attempting to bring the level of sanity somewhere back to where it ought to be!

It's actually pretty amazing how it all worked out! It was a little nerve wracking (alright, quite nerve wracking) to be driving out to Alberta, on the road, knowing that we didn't have a home to go to. Some good friends graciously offered their home to us to stay while we looked, otherwise, we might have been out on the streets!

It was a huge lesson to me in trusting God. I knew He would provide a home for us, but there were some times it was very discouraging. We looked so many different places, and couldn't seem to find anything that was suitable.

But God did provide a home for us. An adorable, cottage-like home, it even has a fireplace! I prayed for a fireplace in our new home. :) It was really exciting to see God answer that little prayer for me!

We're still in the midst of unpacking and setting up, but we have two friends with us, they're practically family now, and they not only helped us with the packing and moving, they're staying with us for a month, and they've been a Huge help in setting up! I know I couldn't have done it without them! :)

Oakly Cottage, Edmonton, and Our Life Now

I've decided to call our home Oakly Cottage. It doesn't exactly look like it from the outside, but once you enter, it's totally a cottage. :)

As you open the door, you will be greeted by our welcome sign on the far wall. To your left, is our living room, and behind the curtains, our coat closet.

And this beautiful kitchen, with its' dark wood and black appliances, is so classy and fun to cook in!

Beauty is in the details.....I borrowed this idea from a beautiful home I used to go to for Bible study. I love using nature to decorate! Leaves, pinecones, branches, candles......so elvish. :) Our mantle, above our fireplace.

The view from our living room windows (three, large, tall windows!) I find it fascinating how anything, even something that's normally ugly, can become a thing of beauty, when covered, or even lightly dusted with snow.

My favorite little boy! He loves watching the snowflakes falling. He isn't always very cuddly, he loves to be very active, but he does love just being wrapped in a blanket, in comforting arms, standing by the window watching the snow fall.

Our main bathroom....

Office, etc. room :)

To be Ian's room eventually....

And our Very Cozy Living Room!

In the five days that we've been here, I've already grown very attached to this home! Everything is so nice and new about it, and it feels like home! And, in spite of enjoying country life, I have to say, I really like living in the city! :) We have like 4 Starbucks within about 15 minutes! :P God has really blessed us with this home!