Summer So Far

We've been busy this summer so far.  I know I posted previously about summer but I thought I'd say some more on the topic and share some pictures.

Taken at the Canada Day Parade in Elk Point.  We went to the pancake breakfast and then enjoyed the parade before heading to meet some friends for afternoon water fun!

Enjoying some water with my dear friend Jen and her daughter.  Jen and I have been friends since we were 10 and now we live 8 hrs apart and only see each other 1-2 times per year.  We make good use of the phone though.  She and I became moms about 20 days apart.  She was pregnant when I found out I was getting Jacob and had a beautiful baby girl, Mackenna.  She is one of the cutest kids I've ever seen in my life, I could just eat her up!

Then we went camping with some other friends.  My friend Jodie and her family.  A busy family; 4 children under the age of 4, including twin boys who are 8 months now.  Busy, busy, busy! 

Then my sister-in-law came with the kidlets.  She's the wood chopper and fire starter!

Of course we brought Gert with us and Jacob insisted on taking her swimming.

I'm not so sure she enjoyed swimming as much as he thought she would though.

Enjoying some yummy cherries.

Playing in the lake with his cousin, Madison.

Then we had a rainy day and what do you do when it's pouring outside with 4 kids??  Movies, face painting, games, snacks, whatever you can!

After it finally was done raining for the day it was time to play in the mud puddles.  More Aunty Jen's idea than mine, but your only a kid once!

Then it was someones birthday!!!!  Yep, Jacob turned 4!!  Party at the lake.

My first attempt at a cupcake cake.  Turned out pretty good!

After a week of camping with family at one lake we moved to another lake and camped with other friends.  Jacob didn't jump off the dock the entire time at the first lake and then by the last few days at the second lake he would jump off; but only towards the shore!  I am glad he knows his limits and doesn't try to jump from the other end!

Lots of fun was had and we camped for 2-1/2 weeks.  Now though when I ask him what he wants to do each day his answer is "go lake".  Can you blame him??

Summer

It's summer now and I love summer.  It's such a busy time of the year with so many things to do and places to go.  So far we went camping with my sister-in-law and kids last weekend.  For the first camping trip of the year it wasn't optimal weather, rained a lot, but we made the most of it and still enjoyed being in the outdoors and around the fire.  Next week we are going camping again, this time for a week and a half at one lake and then the following week we are going to another lake and camping with some friends, I have to work that week but Jake will get to stay and hang out and play all week. 

I tend to feel really busy in the summer; like there is so much to do and not enough time to do it!  To try and manage my time better I've made a few changes.  One being I'm off facebook again.  I spend too much time surfing, popping in and I need to make some time to do my school work so facebook is gone.  I've struggled with facebook for a number of reasons.  One being too much time spent on it.  Another is that I feel that you carry on surface relationships.  People post little glimmers of their lives and I do the same but then when you see each other face to face there really isn't that much of a relationship.  I'm also bothered by the fact that some people post nothing and yet look at others information and then it is a one way relationship.  This last reason probably bothers me the most.  I admit I have stopped posting as much or putting as many pictures on to almost "punish" those people who don't equally share.  Now I realize how all silly this seems so therefore to just avoid these internal arguments with myself I'm just off facebook. 

I've also fell way behind in my other blog.  I was still trying to at least save a post and then get back to it later but even that has become difficult to find the time to do.  I'll go back to it again I'm sure but for now the posts will be sporadic. 

I find I'm tired a lot lately so I've started taking a multi-vitamin, something I've never faithfully done and I'm also looking at changing my eating, removing bad carbohydrates and most fats.  I read the 17 day diet book last night; well skimmed it, and I think it sounds good and realistic to do so I'm going to prepare to do that I just don't know if I should do it while on holidays or wait til the fall.

So that is us right now.  Jake starts pre-school in the fall.  He's going to go to the French school because the class sizes are about 1/4-1/2 the size of the English school.  I'm not really that concerned about the language thing.  I looked at a video of him just last October and really he still wasn't talking that much.  Now you pretty much get everything he is saying and in sentences.  I've had other friends that sent their children to a french immersion program who didn't know French before and they adjusted and learned the language.  Kids are sponges and just soak everything up. 

So below is a picture of how I'd like to be spending all my summer!

Taken at the local splash park.

The Wedding

This past weekend my baby brother married his best friend.  I got the honor of performing the ceremony.  This was a special day and special wedding.  Not that all weddings aren't special but my brother and his now wife have had a relationship for almost 20 years already and they are only 23 and 24.  They truly do have a love story that goes back to diapers.  I always knew that they had known each other for a long time but when I saw the pictures of the birthday parties, kindergarten graduation, teen years, and now it became evident just how long they had really been together.  They've always been friends.  Even when Casey was seeing other people Lisa was in his life as a friend. 

It was a lot of fun and overall just a great wedding.  This picture has a story behind it.  You see they have just done their vows and now are going to do the ring exchange.  So Cory, the best man and my other brother realizes he doesn't have the rings, Ashley the maid of honor and sister to Lisa sees Cory's panic and bursts out giggling.  Cory is trying to blame James, other grooms man for not bringing the rings and Casey and Lisa are staring lovingly into each other's eyes, oblivious to it all.  Thankfully the rings were only 2 miles away so Cory's wife went and got them.  Needless to say it was a hilarious and unforgettable moment in the wedding.  The rest of the wedding went smoothly, and of course Cory was teased all night for his forgetfulness but he took it in stride and went with all the jokes.  I had a great time and can't wait for the next Dunlop wedding, oh wait that would be mine!  No I'm not engaged but a woman can dream can't she!

You grew in my heart

I know that's such a cliche but last night I used it.  We had gone to my brother's and got back late and so Jacob fell asleep on the drive.  As I carried him into the house I told him how I loved him and that he was mom's big baby boy.  To which he asked, "grew in mom's tummy?"  I didn't know what to say.  I  was caught off guard, I was thinking this conversation would happen later, a different time, a more alert time.  I should know better though and know that life doesn't work just like you plan it.  It's not that I was avoiding this conversation.  It wasn't an option to lie to Jacob about the most important thing of his life.  That I am not his biological mother but I am his mom forever.  I've made no secret about the fact that he's adopted and when I get a shocked look and people say, "he looks so much like you" I smile.  God planned it perfectly I guess, what or who else could take credit? 
So off I carried him to bed and told him that he grew in another mommy's tummy but that he came to live with me and he grew in my heart and I would be his mom forever.  I know that this won't be the last conversation of many and that's okay.  One day I will open up the pictures I have stored away for him and show him the picture of his first mommy.  The one that loved him enough to make sure no harm came to him in birth and for this I'm forever grateful.
So you might be wondering why this came up.  I'm only assuming that his little buddy who he goes to the same sitters her mom is pregnant, a good friend of mine, and I'm sure that there has been lots of talk about Savannah's mom having a baby in her tummy.  So the conversation may come up a lot over the next several months and that's okay.

Personality

Jacob's personality has really began to develop in the last few months.  Here are a few shots to show what a tease he has become.

This was taken at his cousin, Charity's, birthday party.  What fun that was playing in all the blocks and activity centre.



Dancing with Gert, his "favorite friend".

So what if there is still snow on the ground, the sand box is free and so in the sand he will play!

He came into my room with his pjs on his head saying, "I'm Jesus, see jammies on my head."  Now I'm not sure why having jammies on his head equates to being Jesus but I'm pretty sure he was trying to make the cloth like moses wore in Prince of Egypt on his head.

 

Being a space monster at Chris and Marlene's.  He thought that this was great fun!

 Hiding for the camera.

I found you!!

The struggle, the challenge, the unknown

So I'm dating.  Yep he's a wonderful man.  I can remember over the past year slowly I started praying for a mate.  Someone who would be nicer to me before I could be nice to them.  Sounds silly but seriously in the past it always felt like I was doing the work, so I wanted someone to swoop me off my feet, literally even.  A little dream of mine to be physically picked up by a man.  Maybe it's because I'm a bigger girl, but just the thought of a man grabbing me and picking me up gives me butterflies. 
Okay, anyways, so I'm dating.  Did I mention that I'm dating??!  Just kidding.  So if you've followed this blog and my other blog at all you know that I'm a Christian.  Being a Christian by bible aka God standards is that I accept that Jesus came to earth, died for my sins and that I acknowledge that I'm a sinner and he paid the price for me to be able to go to heaven, so I love Jesus essentially.  With that comes certain rules laid out by God and ways to live life.  One is that Christians should not date non-Christians.  Sugar coat it as much as you want, it says it in the bible not to do it.  Then of course it also says Christians are not to be unequally yoked in marriage, aka Christians and non-Christians are not suppose to marry.  So what happens if this does occur?  Well there are going to definitely be differences of opinions because I will believe what God has said in His book and want to live like it says.  I will love God and Jesus more than my husband and children.  I know!  But I will and do.  God loved me enough to sacrifice his only son. 
So now the struggle.  I have Christian friends who tell me that I should missionary date.  This means date as if he were your brother.  Yeah, no.  That is just odd to me and seems incestuous.  That means touch and explore only as much as I would with my brother, again this leads to the ickyness.  Can you imagine dating like this and then on your wedding night you have sex with the man you've been treating like your brother??!!  This totally doesn't fit for me.  So then there's the non-Christian dating.  Date, kissing, sex, move in, get married when you both feel its finally time.   Well this also doesn't fit for me.  I won't live with any guy before I'm married.  This is for a number of reasons, primarily being Jacob but another is that I did live with a guy before marriage once before and when it ended I was homeless.  I have a little one to think of and we can't move in with my parents if this doesn't work out, although I know it's going to. 
So what do I do?  Well I'm going to be a sinner I know.  I know I'm not going to date like a Christian.  I struggle with the advice and what others have said.  I struggle with it because I have yet to come across someone who is giving the Christian dating advice that lived it, or has lived like me.  So people that have so far given me advice or I've heard speak have been in the two categories: 1) grown up Christian and never crossed the boundaries before they married.  2) became a Christian after they were married and then their spouse also became a Christian.  So these two people have never been a non-Christian single and then a single Christian.  I'm waiting to meet a person like me and that person can tell me how to date and I will wholeheartedly listen.  Right now I'm hearing a lot of "wa wa wa".  The only person's advice that I've heard, value and appreciate was my pastor's wife.  She said to me, "if you choose to marry him and he's not a Christian, that's between you and God, however we're going to pray for him and that God just continues to open his heart."  Thank You!!!  This is the best advice and the true advice. 
So I'm dating.  Oh, and this man also has actually picked me up and carried me.  He did it on our 3rd date.  Help me I'm falling!!!   NO don't help me, I want to fall madly in love with this man and never look back. :)

It's just different this time

Okay, I'm going to try and not make this a long post but I'm a woman and tend to go into all the details so I apologize in advance if I go on and on.


About 2-3 months ago a friend of mine told me how his sister and her boyfriend had broken up.  I jokingly asked if he was going to set me up with the boyfriend.  He then in all seriousness said, "yeah I told him you were the perfect girl for him and he's been asking for you phone number ever since." 
So back up 4 years.  I met this man at my friends home 4 or so years ago when he was dating my friends sister.  After I met him I told my friend that the guy was the nicest guy I'd ever met in my life and that if the couple ever ended to "hook me up".  Now I was absolutely joking about the last part.  I wouldn't ever wish hurt via a break up on anyone.  Over the years I've seen the man and his girlfriend together and alone.  I think I've known for a few years that this was a relationship that was doomed though.  She wanted big city life and he loves the farm.  So it was only a matter of time.  Now at the end of it I never thought I would work into the equation at all. 
Well now to present time.  They did break up.  She chose big city and career over love.  My friend, the brother, had told the guy about me and the guy then began pursuing my phone number.  My friend though held him off for about a month in giving him my number.  The friend felt like he was going to be put in an awkward situation because he was supplying the phone number to his sister's ex boyfriend for a new potential girlfriend.  I get it but at the end of the day who cares, she dumped him for her career. 
So guy keeps asking for my number for 3 straight weeks before my friend finally caves and gives it to him.  All along i know about the guy asking for my number.  My biggest concern being that does guy know who's number he is wanting.  Friend tells me he's sure guy knows.  Then one night guy tells friend, I know who she is just give me her number, friend says no you don't, guy: she works for government and her name is Jody, give me her number.  Okay, good sign.  He knows who's number he is pursuing and still wants it.  Finally friend is on the phone with me one day and guy calls him again for the number and friend tells me that's it I'm hanging up from you and giving him your number right now. 2 minutes later guy called!
So we talked for almost an hour and then made arrangements to go out the following Friday.  He wanted to go out that night!  I have no idea why but a few times after friend and I had talked about this I got the feeling that if this worked out it would be good.  One reason is that he's the nicest guy I've ever met, as said before, and that both he and I want the same thing.  Marriage.  At the end of the day we are both at the place where we want to find that person we can wake up to everyday.
So we had our first date, which lead right into the second date, which lead into plans for the following weekend, and also we had the "talk".  He brought it up.  He wants relationship, as do I, we both want to go slow but at the end of the day I think we won't be able to take it slow.  I think that we both 'want' to take it slow because he's protecting his heart and I'm protecting Jacob.  However I'm not sure that our hearts will allow us to take it slow.  Its one of those situations where you just love spending time with the person because you want to know everything about them and you can't get enough of them. 
So I titled this post, it's different this time.  Well it is.  He pursued me.  I've never had a man pursue me.  NEVER!  We got the relationship talk out of the way and agree we both want the same thing.  Again, never happened before.  Last time I was actually in a relationship the man didn't know if he wanted me as a girlfriend, nanny, friend, housekeeper.  Each week he changed his mind.  Then any other guys have not wanted relationships at all.  I am myself around him.  I don't seem to have a sensor or filter of things I shouldn't say or in the past wouldn't have said.  It all comes out.  It's different.  It's just different this time.
Oh and one more difference; it's not a deal breaker but it definately is a big deal, both my brothers really like him.  Now this is a big thing.  My one brother will pretty much accept anyone, he may not like them but he'll accept and put up with them.  My other borther though will not be so nice, he typically is very judgemental and if he doesn't like someone he isn't going to try and pretend he does.  Well both my brothers really like him and think he's a nice guy.  So huge!  It's just different this time.