Friday 20 December 2013

Snippets from my Heart

For the past few months, it has seemed too overwhelming to write a couple of paragraphs on anything.  That is why my posts have been made up of activities and photos.  It may because there are far too many interruptions in the day to be able to formulate a thought long enough to communicate it in a post or that the things I have been pondering are too complicated to put down in one post.  However,  I have been feeling quite shallow in my blog as of late, so am leaving you with 10 things that I have learned and have been praying/thinking about lately.  If there are any topics you would like me to expand on in future posts, please let me know.



1. I will find true joy when I fix my eyes on things above and not on the things of the world.
That is, instead of stressing over my kids behaviour, how my living room would look if it was decked out in all Ikea or how much happier I would be if I could own a pair of tall boots "like everyone else", I will give praise for the abundant grace of God in my life, each day as I make mistakes and am forgiven,  praying for friends and family who don't yet know the great love and relationship that is available with God through Jesus and how I can exercise more fruit of the Spirit like love, joy, peace patience, kindness….

2. I am responsible for my own feelings.  
People "can't make me" feel anything. I choose to feel and respond to people's actions in the way that I do.  I can choose to respond graciously and with forgiveness in all circumstances.

3. This is the stage of my life where there is more death.  
Aunts, uncles, grandparents and even friends are more prone to sickness and long-term illness.  I need to get my will done.

4. Why am I surprised that my kids want to be on our i-technology all the time….we are.  
How do I find the balance in my face time and FaceTime?

5. Consistency in discipline is key.  
It is so hard to do with a cute 15 month old but if I am not consistent now, I will have a monster of a 3 year old.

6. Marriages are falling apart all around me.  
It doesn't just sadden me, it literally breaks my heart to pieces.  Many men are not rising up to role they have been given and many women are giving up on those men.

7. I must constantly surrender my family to the Lord. 
 I could do all the "right" things as a parent and they could still make poor choices and even though I have made many mistakes my kids could still turn out "normal". ha ha

8.  Nobodys family is perfect, even if it looks like that from the outside.  NOBODYS.

9. Generally, most Christians do not live in the victory and freedom that is offered to them through Jesus Christ.  
They do not walk in their new identity but are still living in the lies of their past and their circumstances.  What does it take to get us into that freedom? 

10. I am so grateful for the abundance in my life.  
I have food to choose from, I have a safe home and I have friends and family to call on when in trouble.  I am rich.  There are many people that I can share this abundance with, I just needed to look.  

Enjoy the next few days before Christmas.  Thanks for stopping in! -Angela 



Sunday 8 December 2013

Freezin' Fun

Man, it's cold outside.  It is not even officially Winter yet and I am freezin my buns off.  If you are from Canada or even part of the States, you know what I am talking about.  It is just too early for this type of cold. 

The other day, the boys and I decided to make the most of it and had some fun.  

Freezin' Bubbles 


I braved the -40 while the boys stayed in side (with jackets and boots on) to blow bubbles and watch them freeze.  Munch suggested we don't do that one again because "It was way toooo cold!" 

Freezin' Inside 

 I buried some marbles in bowls of snow and had the boys use spoons and warm water to search for their "treasure".  It went over even better than I thought it would. 


Even Baby Goose had a good time.  Easy clean up too! 

Freezin' Beauty 

We made a sun catcher out of ice, marbles and food colouring.  I am all about being real here, so I have to say it was a real headache as it kept cracking on me.  Thankfully, in this weather, all I had to do was add a bit of water to the crack and wait another hour.  Totally worth it!  (The marbles will be fun to discover on a chinook day.)  

Freezin' Balloons 

I cannot take credit for this photo as our attempt did not work.  Take your leftover water balloons from the summer and fill them with water and food colouring (and then tell me how to do it without spraying water all over the place!), leave outside or in the freezer until completely frozen and peel off the balloon. Mr. Bubblegum, in complete three year old style, found ours before they were totally frozen and smashed them to smithereens. 

Freezin' Education 

After the crazy snow storm of 2013, my friend Jenn took an "educational moment" to show the kids how much it had snowed in that one day according to the pattern on her newly snow-plowed driveway.  I like my science-ey friends!  

All in all, this cold weather has been pretty fun.  However, I don't know how much longer I can stay cooped up in the house.  Here's hoping that sledding weather for littles is on it's way! 

Here's the thing. We live in this crazy arctic climate and Winter is not going away anytime soon, so might as well make the most it. 

Send me some of your ideas for fun in the Winter and I will pick my faves to highlight in an upcoming post.  Send them to angelastockert@gmail.com.  

Stay warm!  

Angela