Home

Well Im home. Vegas was incredibly hot and very busy! The weather was 45 degrees celcius!! Hot, hot, hot!! there are also so many people, and the buildings are incredible! Did some shopping but I didnt feel like the shopping there was any more incredible than at places here in Canada. Maybe I didnt look hard enough! I also gambled, and doubled my money! Are you guessing how much I doubled?! A whole dollar!!! It was an interesting place to see, and visit but I cant say I loved it, and I dont know if Id jump to go back.

For those of you that Iam friends with on facebook, you may have gone looking for me only to not be able to have me turn up. I've decided that I need to quit FB because Im wasting too much time, and in a sense I feel like its almost like an addiction. Every free moment I have, I pop open the laptop and jump onto Facebook. I dont think this is healthy, and I need to focus on my relationships including my relationship with God. There are some days where I dont pray or do my devotions, yet go on facebook multiple times a day. Something seems wrong about that!

So if you want to find me, Im still on here, and will continue to post about whats happening in our little world, but just wont be on facebook!!

Pictures & Paintings

Only 24 hours until I leave on a jet plane! I cannot wait! Im pretty much ready to go, just a few odds and ends things and then Im ready! My girlfriend and I went to get pedicures this morning, and since I had a sitter for another hour I headed home to do some laundry and pack a few other things.

Yesterday, Eli and I went to the zoo with some family and it was an awesome day! The weather and company was great! We've been reading books with Eli about Curious George going to the Zoo, and so it was a special trip to go to the zoo to see the monkeys, elephant, birds, etc. However he was disappointed there was no puppy. My plan for the day was to go to the zoo for a few hours in the morning, head home and we'd take a nap. But Eli was doing so good, and we were all having such a great time that I decided we'd stay for the afternoon. He did great, and I was totally impressed with him. Eli even got to take his first ride in a paddle boat. After we left the zoo, we stopped for an ice cream at McDonalds with my mother in law. For those of you who have small children, if you go to McDonalds for an ice cream, ask them if they have a baby cone. Its about a 2 inch (if that!!) cone with a very small amount of ice cream in it. Eli loved it, and it was the perfect about for him... even a bit much actually!

At the beginning of the week, I had a lady contact me saying she wanted to buy one of my paintings. Actually, what she told me was, "I cant come today, but I need that painting, so can I come tomorrow?" Generally, if you know Kiijiji you know that people usually bail last minute so I didnt actually expect that things would work out. She came by on Thursday afternoon, and checked out all of my art work. She ended up buying not one but two of my most favorite paintings!! She bought two paintings from me! I cannot believe it! These are the 2 paintings she bought:

She also mentioned that she'd like me to do some custom work for her! I cannot believe it! Im feeling so blessed!

I havent posted any pictures of our little guy lately so here are some of the past weeks of us being out and about!! I will post when I get back from my trip!!

Sleep

Im tired today. Its been a pretty busy week, and today is no different. Andy is part of his best friends wedding today, and so this week has been busy with getting ready for the wedding today. For me it means that Andy has been gone a few more evenings and Ive been with Eli a bit more. Usually its not big deal, but Eli decided he wasnt going to nap yesterday and although he was in great spirits the whole day, he slept horrible last night and was up early this am, and today he is whiny and grumpy.

I knew that because he didnt nap, it would either sleep incredible last night or horrible, and too bad for me, it was the later one. Horrible! He woke up at 11:00pm, then 11:50, and was up for half an hour or so. Then this am at 7:30 for some reason I opened my eyes to find my 2 year old watching me. Yup, he was standing right in front of me, just watching me. "Mommy, wake up." "Eli, its too early, go look at books in your room!!" I also fell asleep with a headache, and woke up with a headache. Great. Andy was off to get ready for the wedding by 9, so that leaves me with Eli again today until the afternoon when I head out for the wedding without Eli!! Yes, we have a babysitter coming and I am so thankful!

This is also a cleaning weekend for me, and I only have one client on Sunday as I did the other one mid week which was nice. Then one final client to help do some organizing with on Monday and then only a few days till Vegas! I could really use the break, and cant wait!!

Ill post again before I leave!

Selfish little old me & my birthday

This past week was my birthday! To be honest, birthdays always make me a little sad. Not because Im one year older, but because its kinda like Christmas. At the end of the day you always feel a little bit disappointed. Its something you look forward to, there lots of hype about it, and then it comes and goes just like every other day!

I do have to say though, I spent my birthday with some very special people. I went out for breakfast with my MIL (mother in law) and when I told Eli that it was my birthday, he exclaimed "Happy Birthday!!" My love tank was very full!! I dont know how he knew to say happy birthday, but it sure made me feel loved that my 2 year old would say it!

In the evening I went out with my bestest friend for wings and drinks. We had a great time chatting, laughing and planning our trip to Vegas!! Its coming up in less than 2 weeks, and we're so excited!

On Friday night, Andy planned a surprise party for me with our family and again my dear best friend! We went bowling, and even Eli got his own little pair of shoes and his own lane to bowl in!! It was very special!

But let me be completely honest here... I was a complete cow to my husband this week when it came to the topic of my birthday.  There were a few things that happened, and I was angry and moody with him. At the end of the day I was so frustrated and again disappointed.

"Why didn't so and so call me to say happy birthday?" "If my birthday was important to _______, they would've come to my birthday party!" "This is the second year ________, didnt come to my party!" "She didnt______" "He didn't_______!!" "Its my birthday, if I want to be in a bad mood I can!!" "Its my birthday, the one day of the year where I should get to_______!!" Fill in the blank I probably thought it in one way or another! It was all about me, and no one else! I went out of my way to make Andy feel bad because of one thing or another that wasn't done right or how I thought it should be!

Lets skip ahead now to church this evening. Eli & I went to church the 2 of us because Andy was at his best friends bachelor party (which he helped to plan!). Im always a little insecure sitting by myself at church. I sat in the 3rd row from the front, and there was no in front of me to look at. During worship I was feeling insecure, like all eyes were on me (of course, its all about me right?!) and God said to me, "Its only about me and you, Karla." And that was enough to make me feel secure and comfortable sitting there.

The sermons over the summer have really spoken to me. Its all about relationships, and it leaves me craving more! Thats how church should be!Thats how sermons should be. You leave wanting to hear and learn more! I dont want to miss a service because of how good the sermons have been!!

Tonight though... well it was again incredible once I could get over how uncomfortable it made me feel. The topic?  Selfishness    I sat there thinking "Really? Seriously, God? Selfishness??" After I've had one of the most selfish weeks ever in a very long time, I sit in church and hear a sermon about it? That can't be chance! There's nothing worse than sitting in church listening to a sermon that makes you so uncomfortable you want to crawl under the chair/pew! I think its always neat how God gets our attention, most of the time at least.

The sermon ended with talking about how a life centered on Christ will result in a life rich in relationships, and a life centered on yourself will result in a life void of meaning.

For me, this sermon was so convicting that 1) I owe my husband a huge apology for the way I treated him, 2) I feel like God just had a real talking with me, you know the talks you really would just rather sweep under the rug? 3) I really need to stop thinking about me and how I can better my life!

I've been wanting to write about my birthday for the past few days and Ive even sat down to write up a post, but nothing comes! Then tonight at church it hit me. I couldn't have been more selfish. It was poor me, and everything had to be about me, and no one else! Boy was I selfish. Way to get my attention and convict me, God!

If we lived our lives trying to serve others and not always make ourselves happy, how would this world be different? If I respect, and submit to my husband as Im supposed to, how would our marriage be different? If I wasn't so selfish to what I want, how would my relationship with God be different? How would my relationships with my family and friends be different?

Philippians 2:3-4 -Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, ⁴ not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of others.

Guest Blogger

I've been very lucky to get to know some incredible women from church through the ladies bible study! Tyler is an incredible mom, and she's also an author writing a book called "Mommy Why Are you Angry?" She has a blog that she frequently writes on, and today I get to be a guest blogger!!

So, if you'd like to check out what I have to say today, head on over to her blog and see what I have to say, take a peek at her webpage and let me know what you think!! Here is a tidbit of my post:


"A few weeks ago at church Andy and I heard a sermon that both really spoke to us! It was so interesting, and I honestly feel like its changed my vision of our marriage!

When Andy and I first got married it was definitely a challenge adapting to being married, and living with someone. I was 19 years old, and had never lived anywhere but at home. So all of a sudden I was thrown (which I welcomed!!) into this job of being a wife. The small things and huge differences that at first intrigued me when we were dating, now at times drive me nuts because we're so different!! Like night and day!!"

To finish off reading this post head on over to Tylers Blog by clicking Right Here!

Water Slide

Yesterday, we took Eli to the swimming pool. This is a treat for him because of his ears, and it doesnt happen too often! But we decided to venture out as a family and go! The swimming pool we went to has a kids area, and then the large pool area with an awesome water slide! After playing in the little pool for a little bit, we thought we'd try and take Eli down the slide. Andy took him first because he's taller, and stronger. Needless to say, Eli loved it! After we went down the slide the first time he said "Again!? Slide!? Splash!!!" So down we went again, over and over, and over!! Thats all we did for over an hour. Up the stairs and down the slide. I wont be able to take Eli back to that pool anymore just to play in the kiddie area because he loved the slide so much!

When Eli woke up crying at 4:30am, I went in to check on him and he said, "Mommy?? Mommy?" I replied, "Yes, Eli. Im here. Im going to pray, sing Jesus Loves Me, tuck you in, then go back to bed okay?" "Yah. Mommy. Pool? Slide??" He loved the slide enough to chat about it at 4:30am! I had to laugh.

Its been a good weekend, it always goes by too fast though. Andy's back to work tomorrow evening, and Eli and I start the week off! Im heading out to Vegas in just a few weeks and I cant wait!! Warmth, relaxing, shopping, and spending time with my bestest friend!!

Dangerous Person

Yesterday I had the TV on as back round noise. The show on was The Talk. Have you seen it? It has a few celebrity women on it talking... kind of like the View. Same premise. They brought up the topic of your spouse being friends with someone of the opposite sex. Is it okay with you? Rules? Not okay? Some of the ladies had a double standard. "I love having guy friends, I have lots of them! But my husband isn't aloud to have lady friends." Kind of a double standard isn't it? Others did not have friends of the opposite sex because they didn't think it was wise for their marriage. 

I recently had a conversation with a good friend about protecting your marriage, and what that looks like. Honestly, Im proud to say that Andy and I are well on our way to protecting our marriage. And have been for awhile!

Infidelity. It can happen easily by letting your guard down. A couple whose been married happily (or what appears to be happy!) for twenty some years with grown children who are gone and married, or a couple whose been married for a couple of years gets bored, or becomes good friends with a co worker and one thing (that starts off harmless, or just as friends) turns into another and ends up being an affair. It doesn't even have to be physical, what about an emotional affair? Chatting with an ex online, or through texts is really actually harmless, or is it? Ive always thought if I receive an email or text from someone of the opposite sex, if Im not comfortable to show Andy, is it actually harmless? Emotional or physical its still an affair, right?

One of the things that Andy and I have always had in place is a rule that we wont hang out with someone of the opposite sex one on one. That includes friends, too. We don't actually have friends of the opposite sex if we're not both friends with that person or couple. 1)It opens a door to temptation, 2)We need to avoid what something may appear as.

 After my conversation with my girlfriend, Andy and I have added in one more thing to protect our marriage. The label: A Dangerous Person

What is that, you ask?! It could be anything from someone who I feel may be attracted to Andy, someone that I feel I may potentially be attracted to, a couple who we feel we're uncomfortable with, or we feel that someone could come between us and open the door to temptation, the list goes on. If we feel that a person or couple is a threat and could open a door to cause an issue we label them as a dangerous person(s). We dont have to go into details if Andy comes to me and says "I feel like so and so is a dangerous person." Its plain and simple. Its like a safety word.

So now what does that look like then, once the person has the label as dangerous? It doesn't mean that we cut that person off from our life, and never talk to them again, never be in the same room as them. But it means we do limit and watch how much time we spend together, or what we say, how we talk, what conversations we have, etc. Sometimes when you become close or comfortable with a person you let your guard down and sometimes your "filter" isn't there as much when your speaking. This is one thing we need to watch. Am I cracking lots of sexual jokes, or lots of sexual conversation with someone of the opposite sex. Is that dangerous person flirting with my, or my husband? Could that be deceiving to someone or appear in appropriate to others around? It also means that if I am somewhere and a person that we've labelled as "dangerous" is there, I need to make a point of not talking to him if Andy isn't beside me, or involved in the conversation. This also doesn't mean that we go and publicize that a certain person is a dangerous person to us, but Andy and I know in our marriage. And its something we commit to doing.

This is something thats been on my heart for awhile. I've always said that there is nothing more important than my marriage. Its so easy to let your guard down, and think something is so harmless. However, I need to watch everything I say and do around a man who isn't my husband so I know Im not deceiving or leading anyone on.

ENT 1 year check up

Our appointment this morning went great! Eli lost it when the intern looked in his ears, but luckily Ive had to do the "hold" enough times that I know the drill and how to hold him still while everything in his body is trying to squirm! Poor kid! When she asked to look in his ears I almost wanted to say no because I knew he would loose it. I was right, he did. I was relieved though when Dr.Eksteen came in and he asked if everything was okay, and if Eli was okay. I explained that he was 2 years old and that probably had more to do with the fit than anything else. Well, he pulled his special glasses down and started whispering to Eli, "Eli, Im going to use my special glasses to look in your ear. I think there might be a squirrel in there, so I need to see if I can see him okay?" He peeked in his ears, didn't stick anything in them and just used his glasses that he had! Meanwhile, he continued to whisper to him telling him he could see the squirrel in his ear! Then once he was done in the one ear, he said "Oh, Eli guess what!? The squirrel jumped into the other one, could I take a peek in the other ear for him?" No crying, no issues, no screaming, completely calm, and just listened to Dr.Eksteen whispering to him!

The Verdict?! One tube is still visibly there, and the other has probably come out. He couldn't see it because of some wax, so he is assuming that that one has probably fallen out. We go back in 6 months for another check up because ear infections usually peak over winter, so we'll see what happens. If there is a family history of ear infections (which there is) there is about a 30% chance the tubes will have to be put back in! We'll see what happens. He also mentioned that usually by around age 7 kids will grow out of the ear infections!

Again, after another appointment, I just feel so blessed that we were referred to Dr.Eksteen. He is one of the best doctors I have ever seen in my life, and is so caring & considerate!!

Short week!

What an incredible weekend!!

We were able to relax, get out for supper (without a 2 year old!) and a movie (without a 2 year old!) yard work, time with family, naps, and a clean home! What could be better!? Plus to top it off we have a 4 day week!

This week has an important appointment that Im looking forward to. We're heading back to the Stollery Hospital to meet with Dr.Eksteen (Our Ear, Nose and Throat specialist) to have Eli's check up! He hasn't had an ear infection in longer than I can count (Praise God!!!) but one of his ears is looking a tad goopy. So to me this says 1) there is something going on in his ear and 2) his tubes are still in (at least in the one!) so when we go in to see Dr.Eksteen he'll be able to tell us for sure whats going on in his ears, if the tubes are still there (they told us the tubes would last up to a year or more, and its been over a year since his surgery) and what the plan of action is if they tubes are no longer there!

We prayed for such a long that time God would fix Eli's ears, and being referred to Dr.Eksteen was an answer to prayer! He is so good with children, he listens like I've never had a dr listen to me before, and he never seems like he is rushing the appointment so that he can get onto the next one!! Such a huge blessing, words cannot even express! Even better, Andy will be able to come to the appointment because he is working just a few blocks from the hospital! So he'll come to the appointment and then maybe we can grab lunch before we drop him back off at the jobsite! Perfect!!

Crossing my fingers the weather will be nice so we can spend some time outside, and do some yard work, but also go on some bike rides!!