Should I Start Giving These Some Sort Of Title?

Tonight they are throwing a baby shower for Christina and her new baby girl Jorja. Sherry and I are going but again, Mom and Kellie are staying home. Last week there was one forJanice who is due next month. Since Christina had a girl this time( she has three boys) people want to make a big fuss. Christina is scared that all she is going to get is pink, pink, pink......oh and great big "Scarlett O'Hara" dresses. We'll have to wait and see. I told her I would go through my old clothes and give her some of them. Sherry is still not one hundred percent sure she is done having kids so I can't just give her anything. I think just things we got new for Abby, nothing that she bought for her girls.

Last night Jason went playing hockey. Needless to say he can barely walk now. He hasn't played a game really since high school. He really hopes to get on a team in the Gentlemen League this year. So last night I had some quality time alone after the kids went to bed. Not that I did anything special. I just watched some t.v. and cut out some things out for Sunday School. Gilmore Girls was on last night. I love that show. Dean is becoming quite the pig, but I love what is going on with Luke and Loralie! They're so cute together. Then it was time for One Tree Hill. I just started watching this show at the very end of last season, but it's really good.

I have to make squares for the shower tonight. I'm going to try a new recipe. I mean how many times can one make Sweet Maries? The recipe is called Double Coconut Dessert Squares. I found it inside a box of pie filling. They look relatively easy to make.....I hope. I've kinda been on a coconut kick. Earlier this week I made a Coconut Cream Cake. It was really good if I do say so myself. I found that recipe on http://www.duncanhines.com . There are a lot of good recipe ideas there. I'm always looking for new recipes. You can get so bored making the same thing over and over again.

Oh and I actually did send Jules' cute story to Reader's Digest. You can do it online at http://www.readersdigest.ca. Pretty easy. And if they ever choose to publish it, you can get up to $200!! Now I'm like say something funny! I'll keep sending them in until they finally pick one. I know they said something funny last week....................What was that?

So yesterday was my first day teaching Sunday School. It was a little hectic. Some more kids came this week that hadn't come last week. So we had to shuffle a few around. Now I teach grades one and two, instead of kindergarten and grade one. I also got moved to a smaller room which was already painted, so there goes the color dilemma. There is still just three girls in my class. Although yesterday there were four, as I had to take Abby with me. She behaved very well. She just sat and colored. I think next week she will be a little disappointed that she is not going. It's kinda cool to have my own classroom. We are going with a whole Fall theme. Yesterday, being so hectic, was just spent decorating. I even have their names posted on the door outside, just like real school. I'm not so nervous now. I can do this.

Later in the afternoon, Mom came over with food for the kids(of course). She was sitting with Jules and asking her about her time at Sunday School -what she did, etc... Jules was so sweet. She told Mom that she had prayed, and could even remember the first line. "Our Dad who works in Heaven". Mom and Kellie say that story is so cute and funny I should send it to Reader's Digest. Apparently they have a "kid's say the darndest things" section. I think I just might, for fun.

We watched some old home movies from when Abby was just a baby. It's funny to see Jules and Samuel when they were only two. They look the same, just squished. Little mini-me's of themselves. Mom said that it is a sin how fast time goes, and that soon they will all be in School. Then somehow we got talking about if I went back to work.(I say "back" as if I had somewhere to go back to.) She mentioned that when she retires in four years, I should take her job as a School Cafeteria worker. In four years, Abby will be going into grade one. Which means that I would have had one year home alone. Now of course, me being me, I am obsessing about a job that won't even exist for another four years! Last night I could barely get to sleep because I was debating if I would want to go "back" to work at all. There are so many pluses to working at the school. Summers off, snow days off, weekends off and working the same hours as the kids. For the first year or two they could just stay at the cafeteria with me doing their homework until 3:00pm. Then I could just drive us all home together. You only work around six hours a day. Mom said you won't make much money but I said it's more than I am making now. She even asked me if I wanted to sign on as a spare now. Basically I would just cover for someone when they were sick. But then I would have my foot in the door. I like the idea of increasing my chances, but don't particularly like the idea of working at all right now, as Abby is still so young. Like I said..........Obsess, obsess, obsess...

You are naturally born with a gift, whether it be
poetry, writing or song. You love beauty and
creativity, and usually are highly intelligent.
Others view you as mysterious and dreamy, yet
also bold since you hold firm in your beliefs.

What Type of Soul Do You Have ?
brought to you by

This Fall I made a resolution to become more involved in life. To participate in things outside of my house. So far I have signed up to do the Children's Wish Foundation Walk For Wishes, started teaching Sunday School, and now I have agreed to write a column for http://www.breadnmolasses.com. It's a DVD review column. Basically I will watch the latest DVD movies and then write a review. Roger's Video has been kind enough to sponsor me. They will offer me free rentals in exchange for free advertising. I am supposed to get my first movie today. I am very excited and a little nervous. Excited about getting to watch all the new releases for free, but nervous about my writing skills. I hope I can rise up to the challenge.

Last night as I was lying in bed, I started thinking about the last year. It has been a bit of a journey of self discovery for me. I remember back in January, I had made a New Year's Resolution ( another one) to "do" more. To stop talking about things and start doing them. And looking back, I think I have. I have gone to a local art show, attended local poetry readings, opened my own online store, started writing this blog, was published for the first time at http://www.mommytales.com and bit the bullet and hung a For Sale sign on the trailer. Not to mention all of the things listed above that I have done just this month. Granted there were stagnant periods, but over all not bad.

I think this journey is happening because I am edging close to 30. I really believe that 30 years is a milestone. I have to say I am embracing it. Bring on 40!! I have never been one of those women who lie about their age or shiver at the mention of getting older. To me, age brings wisdom. I know without a doubt that I am so much wiser than I was even just 2 years ago. I can only imagine how much I will know ten years from now. To all of you who do dread it, just think of the alternative............YOU"RE DEAD!!!

I am also reading the book Simple Abundance for the first time. It is helping me a lot. She is the one who began the act of keeping a gratitude journal. I have to say it is nice to look back and only read what you are blessed with, instead of all your complaints and lackings. I try to write in it every night but have missed one here and there. It really captures what women put them selves through. I highly recommend it.

Yesterday morning I took Jules and Samuel to Sunday School for the first time. I was a little sad about it because it was their first "school" setting, a sign of times to come. As I walked the kids down the stairs to the basement of the church, I was overcome with memories. I never hated church as a child. I always loved Sunday mornings. Mom and I would go to Sunday School, then walk upstairs and go to church, and then back home. Every year Mom was always my teacher. I don't know if it was intentional, or just a coincidence, but I can not remember having anyone else.

Anyway, I had decided to hang around just in case the kids got shy, upset, etc.... So I sat there, in the lounge area, listening and watching the happenings of each classroom. It's funny how those rooms seemed bigger then. I had flashbacks of cardboard angel wings and tinsel halos. And then something weird happened.....I felt a sense of contentment or peace of some kind, wash over me. Almost a feeling of coming home. It was quite disarming, actually.

I haven't been to church in a long, long time. It's not that I ever hated it, I just never went. Jason and I consider ourselves to be very spiritual people. Spiritual, not religious. There is a big difference between the two. I believe in a higher power. God, Buddha, whatever you wish to call it, I don't care. It's all the same to me. Needless to say my views or opinions are not restricted by what the church says I should think or feel. In the past, Jason and I have even considered not sending the kids to Sunday School in fear that they would get "brainwashed" or become closed minded to other religions. But then I realized that it could never happen, because we were their parents. I know they will always respect other people's religions because we do. As I listened to the kids in their classrooms, I remembered what I felt like when I went to Sunday School. I had always enjoyed it. There was no propaganda being pushed on these young children. All they were being taught was the basics of humanity. To do unto others as you would have them do unto you. Granted, they will also learn the Lords Prayer, the Ten Commandments, etc... But is that really so bad?

Later on, as the hour drew to a close, I was informed about the shortage of teachers this year. So.........guess who's going to be teaching Sunday School?? That's right. Me. To say I am a little nervous would be a gross understatement. I have never taught before. And, as I have said before, I don't exactly go to church every Sunday. I'm not sure how well I will be at it. The good news is that there will only be four kids in my class. I get my own classroom and have been given the choice of what color the room should be painted..........This decision could take me weeks. What really gets me excited is to think about the Christmas Pageant! Maybe they will need new costumes? One can only hope.

My whole motivation for deciding to teach is simply to become more involved. This is kind of my Fall Resolution. I really think that sometimes we can get to be too self-involved in what happens inside our own four walls. I also have signed up to participate in The Children's Wish Foundation's Walk For Wishes Parade. It is only 1km long, so we are planning to do it as a family. I'm going to decorate the kids' wagon for them. After the walk, they are having hotdogs, hamburgers, etc.... and then those sequin dancers(I can't think of their name right now) are going to put on a little show. They will also be face painting for the kids, draws for door prizes and more. I really think this might become a yearly occurrence for us. Anyone who is remotely interested should participate as it is for a very good cause. And will make for a fun family day! It takes place October 16th across the province.

Christina now has a daughter!! Jorja Grace was born early yesterday morning. She weighed 6lbs 15oz. I didn't get to be there for her birth because she was born around 4:00am. So Yesterday afternoon I went shopping! I got her a pretty little pink outfit along with some pink socks, pink flowers, pink balloon, hairbows and a yellow and pink picture frame. It was the most pink I'll ever buy.... Christina was overjoyed. She said she couldn't believe that she was hers. She is soo sweet. I even held her for a while, and I don't normally hold other people's babies. She had her naturally, no complications, so she gets to come home tomorrow morning. Everyone is always talking or commenting on the negativity that is in the world. Sometimes I think people forget to notice the little miracles that are happening around us everyday.

Jorja Grace Donovan 

Dr. Harebottle, or "God" as Jason calls him, did the impossible and turned Christina's baby. So now we are just playing the waiting game until she goes into labor. She has had contractions everyday but so far they are not consistent. She has strict instructions to call me day or night before she goes to the hospital. I really want to be there because this is the last one. Not just for Christina, but for me too. I'm not going to have anymore, Sherry is almost 100% sure she's done, and Kellie doesn't want any. So I figure this is the last time I will have the experience of being there when the baby is born.............well at least until it is my grandchildren being born. And I'm thinking that shouldn't happen for at least another 15 years. But I guess it could be as soon as 10 years, you never know.....

Today is my father's birthday. I believe he is 59. Next year is the big 6-0!! We'll have to surprise him with a party next year. We gave him and Mom their presents on Friday because I knew the kids could not keep it a secret. Abby kept on saying "Grandad's Fish! Grandad's Fish!" We got Dad a beta fish. They are the ones that can live in a small space. They also cannot be in with any other fish or they will kill them. Whenever they are next to another fish their face flares up and they become agitated, ready to defend themselves. You can hold up a mirror next to the bowl, and he will flare up, thinking his reflection is another fish. It's kinda cool. Dad, of course, was not impressed. I had hoped he might be a little intrigued, but no. He loves birds, squirrels, the weather, etc... He has a million things in the yard - bird feeders, bird bathes, bird houses, humming bird feeders, rain gauges, weather vanes, thermometers, etc.... I couldn't think of anything else "outdoor" to buy him. Since the winter is on it's way, I thought I would buy him something "indoor" to keep him company. Apparently, he is not a "fish person". Mom thinks she might like to buy him doves. I thought that was perfect for Dad. His late brother always had doves. And we know that Dad looooves birds. I think that we should all get together and buy them for him for Christmas.

For Mom I bought her cleaning supplies. Not that her house is dirty, just the "cool" things that she will never buy herself. She is always saying that she is jealous of my Gain laundry detergent, so I gave her a little bottle of it, along with Swiffer cloths, orange Windex, orange Pine-Sol that keeps the dirt at the bottom of the pail, Lysol wipes and some paper towel. I one of those annoying people that can get excited about a new cleaning product. Needless to say I have had many a Mr. Clean Magic Eraser moment. Ironically, my house is rarely clean. With three young kids, ........it never lasts long.

It's raining today. Normally I would love a day like this, but today I have to go to town, so ......not so much. I tend to get nervous driving in the rain. I hate how the water lays on the road. I'm scared of hydro-planning, especially when I have the kids with me. We are going down and meeting up with Jason at work, then it's off to get groceries. I'm also picking up birthday presents for both of my parents. Mom's is today and Dad's is on Sunday.

Tomorrow my cousin/best friend is having baby number four. Well,.....probably tomorrow. Her baby is in the breached position. The doctor told her to come to the hospital Friday and he will try to turn the baby. However, the baby is literally the opposite of where it is supposed to be so he will have to turn it the full 180 degrees. Ouch!! He told her to come prepared to stay because if he is unsuccessful, he will perform a c-section immediately. She does not think the chances are very high of him being able to turn it, so she is fully prepared to have the baby tomorrow. She is 38 weeks pregnant. I am going to try my best to get to the hospital in time for the delivery. The plan is to take the kids down with me and then Jason will meet us at the hospital. Hopefully all will go well.

Gotta go and get supper for the kids. We were supposed to leave for town at 4:00pm. Oh well.......late as usual.

It's been another busy few days. Jason sold his old black Oldsmobile. He had been trying to sell it in early Summer, but when no one bought it, he took it as a sign that he should keep it. Cars are his passion. But when a young man surprised us the other day and wanted to buy it, Jason caved and took the money. He says that since we don't drive it, it would have just rotted sitting there. He wants it to go out in a blaze of glory.

We showed the trailer to a local woman earlier in the week and have a older couple coming from town to look at it tonight. I find it so hard to be optimistic without getting my hopes up. After the last couple fell through, I had pretty much accepted that we'd be here for another winter. Which is really ok, we will just try again in the Spring. But now I can't help but start to think again about being in our new home for Christmas, and how exciting that would be.

I babysat for Liane on Friday. Her son Brett is the same age as Jules and Samuel. She had a meeting and had to do some grocery shopping, etc... Her baby is six weeks old and is going through that growth spurt where all they want to do is eat all the time, so he kinda slowed her down. It ended up that Brett was here for nine hours!! His Dad had called and even dropped in to pick him up, but Brett didn't want to leave. He was having way too much fun. I didn't mind because Brett is really good and the kids loved having him here. It's my first experience hosting the "play date". I know as the kids are getting older, that we will start to have them much more often.

Last night Mom had a pot luck supper for Jessica. It was her thirteenth Birthday. Mom has babysat her since Jessica was a baby. We all played some games and had a campfire. It was nice. And today at around 11:00am, Mom is having a big brunch. Pancakes, sausages, bacon, eggs, hashbrowns, etc..... With all the food we had yesterday, I think we will be eating left-overs for a week! Then we are taking the kids to Deanna's Birthday party from 2:00pm - 4:00pm. She is two years old. They are having it at the Blackville Park, so it should be lots of fun for the kids. More food!! And lastly, it will be time to come home and tidy up the house for the couple who are coming to see the trailer at 7:00pm. Like I said....Busy! Busy! Busy!

September has arrived. Although it's not official until the twenty-second, to me Summer is over. I have to say that I'm ok with it. We did a lot this year. We had our first outdoor summer party, rented a cottage for three nights in PEI, spent the night while visiting my cousin in Fredericton, went camping to two different campgrounds, and took the kids to the Ex. Not to mention all the little family picnics, barbecues, etc... It was definitely a full, fabulous summer for the Keenan family!

I enjoy the Fall weather and all that it brings. The multi-colored leaves, pumpkins, and that crisp cool air. I'll never forget the first time I drove alone. I was about twenty- one years old. Even though I had gotten my license when I was sixteen, I had never driven in a car by myself. My parents had just got their Jimmy insured for me because I, along with my sister, was working at the mall and they didn't want to play chauffeur everyday. It was Thanksgiving and I was going up to my boyfriends house after dinner. The sun was shining, the wind was blowing - your typical beautiful Fall afternoon. I remember feeling so free, looking back in the rearview mirror to see all the pretty leaves kicking up behind me. Now, a stay at home Mom of three, it is very rare to drive alone. So sometimes......especially in the Fall......during one of those rare moments alone in the car, I'll look back to see the leaves flying in the air behind me, and feel again, a sense of freedom, solitude.