True Confessions: Thanksgiving Edition

At the risk of sounding like the beginning of an addiction meeting, I’m Rachel and I’m obsessed with organizing. My label maker and laminator are some of my favorite inadament objects I own, I love to be able to know where to find something I’m looking for and get extremely distressed when I have no idea where something is. I thrive in order and freak out in chaos. I find comfort in knowing what to expect of the day and find a sense of accomplishment in making lists and checking items off as they’re done. I like things to match and be pretty - bookshelves and baskets are wonderful to have!

This is my personality and as with anyone, there are strengths and weaknesses with this which became very apparent on this particular Thanksgiving. 

It's been quite a few years now. Thanksgiving for us is usually a quiet affair as we don’t live anywhere close to family. With Wayne so busy on weekends, we usually save our big turkey meal for Monday. This particular year we decided to do something different. We had a couple in our congregation that worshiped with our church biweekly due to the distance they traveled from their home in upstate New York. They’re missionary kids and I think got a kick out of attending church in Canada and having to cross the border to do it. We wanted to give them “the Canadian experience” of celebrating Thanksgiving in October as opposed to the American version in November. In order to do this, we had to have our dinner on Sunday afternoon - after all, they were already in town and it made sense to have them come over after worship. I figured while I was at it we might as well invite a few more members we’ve been meaning to have so why not? It may get a bit tricky being at church all morning and at the same time be preparing for a big Thanksgiving dinner, but I figured I could plan my way to success by setting the table and preparing what I could the day before. I’d leave the turkey until the morning and leave it in the oven while I was at church - not ideal but that was the plan. 

I also play the violin and hadn’t played awhile for worship so I thought this would be a good opportunity and was working on a beautiful, albeit challenging version of “Now Thank We All Our God” with a CD accompaniment. The tune went pretty fast and since I was being accompanied by a CD, I couldn’t slow it down so I worked really hard to practice and keep up with it. I spent HOURS practicing and even brought it to my violin teacher to go over it with me. But I was ready! I could make it through and was excited to use my gift of music to glorify God in this special Thanksgiving service. At the same time Will was practicing his violin along with the Sunday School choir in anticipation of them performing the following week. We encouraged this use of his God given abilities to praise the Lord and enhance worship! 

Sunday morning of Thanksgiving weekend arrived and I had successfully accomplished all that I had hoped to the day before and now it was just me and my turkey. I had decided that I was going to take the kids to church for Sunday school but instead of attending Adult Bible Study like I normally do, I’d come home to dress the turkey and still make it to church on time. I felt extremely weird dropping the kids off while wearing my sweats and leaving but I hoped God would understand just this once...  I was trying a new turkey recipe and it required a rubdown of a yummy paste followed by placing it in one of those turkey bags for cooking.  

Back home and still in sweatpants, I was cleaning my bird in the sink when I nicked my finger on a part of protruding bone and quickly drew my hand back as to not get any blood on the bird. The small cut really wasn’t any big deal but the thought of serving my turkey to my guests with a “special ingredient” is not what I had in mind. I washed it off and put a bandaid around my finger and went back to attending to my foul. I was feeling pretty good - right on time. I still needed to get dressed for church and wanted to run through my song one more time.  

I was massaging my turkey with the well seasoned paste into the succulent feast I desired, popped it into the turkey bag and placed it in the oven. I was wiping off the counters and about ready to head upstairs to dress when I noticed. WHERE IS MY BANDAID?!!!!! I looked on the floor, in the sink, in the trash trying to not face the inevitable - could it be in the turkey?!!! After exhausting the other possibilities, I went into the turkey bag to check for the offending missing article and could. not. find. it. Now I was running out of time - I needed to get dressed and I didn’t have anytime to practice now. I put the turkey in a new bag and dejectedly went upstairs. I was horrified! Would if the charred remains of my bandaid showed up on my guests plate? 

By the time I got to church I was a wreck. I immediately dragged Wayne into the office to fill him in on the tragedy. “I cut my finger on a piece of turkey bone and put on a bandaid...” Sob sob “And I looked all over and couldn’t find it and even opened up the turkey but it was no where! It’s got to be in the turkey, so when you cut it up could you be discreet about it and get rid of it if you find it?”  I could see in his eyes he thought for sure he had married a crazy woman. What was he supposed to do with me minutes before the service was to start? Not my finest moment...

As I was coming out of the office the Sunday School choir director took me aside to ask me Did I know that Will’s violin was broken in half? Well, no, I didn’t. I was shocked. She says he pretended to be surprised by this discovery after opening the case but it was clear it was not new to him. That would mean it happened at home - when was he going to tell us? Was he praying for some miraculous violin healing so that he wouldn’t have to? I was seeing red. But I headed for the balcony with my children where we would sit so I could play my piece during the offering after the sermon was given. I’m sure the sermon had something to do with thanksgiving but all I could think was his violin is broken in HALF? and where, Lord, is my bandaid? and please don’t let the house burn down since the oven’s on and I’m not home!  

I heard the “amen” to close the sermon and stood up to position myself with my violin and play the piece I had worked so hard to play - nodding to the music director to start the music, the introduction began and I began to play about 4 notes before my little daughter decided to run circles around me. My bow went directly into her head, throwing me off my piece and that was the last straw. The music director frantically looked at me for guidance in what to do next as the music played on without me. Forget it. I mouthed to him. I packed up my violin, grabbed by daughter and left church, peeling out of the church driveway, the pastor’s wife, on Thanksgiving, before the service is even over, leaving the music to play without her.....

I’ll be honest - I screamed on the way home. I got home and howled. I poured myself a glass of wine (before noon) and sat out on the backyard patio wondering how everything could go so wrong. I kept repeating to myself - why do I bother? I had everything organized. It should have worked. I had planned for everything. I had made lists, menu planned,  tirelessly practiced, provided my son with an instrument and lessons, welcomed the opportunity to extend hospitality to others - what went wrong? 

This is what I learned :

• Life happens  - Robert Burns said it best the best laid plans of mice and men often go awry.  
• I was trying to do too much. Granted, I had good reasons for all of the above.  I can honestly say I was doing it for the Lord  (with the inevitable sins of mine mixed in there). But I had overextended myself and went beyond my limits. No matter how good our intentions are, we all have limits.
• Don’t we try to do everything? Don’t we want a Martha Stewert table and meal? Instead of trying to be Martha, learn from Biblical Martha’s sister Mary. It is better to sit at his feet and listen to his words. It wasn’t wrong for me to skip Bible class but it would have been better for me to be there and be mindfully present for worship than physically present but distracted. 
• Sometimes when we plan or organize we mistakenly think we are in control. Sometimes our plans work and this just solidifies this thought. But the Lord reminds us in Proverbs 19:21 Many are the plans in a man’s heart, but it is the Lord’s purpose that prevails. I don’t want to be in control. I don’t have the perspective he does. Planning isn’t a bad thing - it’s good to use our time and resources to the best of our ability and planning and organizing can assist us in doing that - but the trick is to keep it balanced with the constant awareness found in Jeremiah 29:11 “For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.”
• We are not failures when our plans fail. Practice what we teach our kids - learn from mistakes, repent where needed, rejoice in Christ’s forgiveness, trust that he knows best and move forward. Look up, not back.

In case you’re wondering how my Thanksgiving story turned out, it thankfully did not get worse. I greeted my guests with puffy, red eyes (from crying, not wine;) but managed a smile and pulled off the hospitable hostess although not my best! We never did find the bandaid. 

Happy Thanksgiving!!! 

Friday Night Lights

Last week I returned back from Wisconsin after spending a long weekend visiting Will and staying with family. It was sometimes more than my heart could take and I often found myself crying while driving the hour back and forth from LPS to Jeff and Steph's. Alone in my rental car with some pop station from Milwaukee playing in the background (do you like piña colada's and getting caught in the rain?!) I was overwhelmed with emotions of how proud I am of my kid, what dear and wonderful friends I have in my life, what a great school LPS is and and how blessed we are to have it as an educational option, and the love of my sweet family that housed me for 6 nights while their crazy, busy lives continued!  

There is nothing like the American high school experience - pep rallies, school spirit, Homecoming, dances and yes - Friday night football. My own high school experience included all these things and some of my fondest memories were in the stands or out in front cheerleading for a game I really knew nothing about (first and ten, do it again!) and let's be honest, I was there for the socializing. 25 years later I found myself back in the stands, cheering on my son's team and watching a game I still know little about. I still responded to the peer pressure and cheered along appropriately with those around me in hopes of not giving away my cluelessness. Go Phoenix!!!!

Not only was I there on Homecoming weekend but it was also Parent's Day and Alumni weekend. There were special activities planned for those able to attend. As mentioned in my previous post, I was allowed to follow Will to several of his classes. Both classes I attended were unique to Prep and specifically to our Lutheran synod. They were both ones I had too about 25 years ago. 

Funny how the view from the student's seat is different than the view of a parent's. 

The first few minutes of Senior year music class was chatting about the recent Shakespeare play field trip taken earlier that week. A Midsummer Night's Dream seemed to have been slightly overshadowed by the unusually hot September temps and sunburns on the neck. But nobody was complaining that they got out of a day of regular classes! After the discussion, it was time to sing and the students got out their first piece of sacred music they had been working on for the upcoming Reformation festival. It was My Hope is Built on Nothing Less set to a different tune than the one from the hymnal. This was my confirmation hymn and I love it dearly. To hear it sung in four part harmony by the 17 year olds surrounding me was incredibly moving. The class also listened to Rodeo by composer Aaron Copeland and wrote their thoughts on it as the movements transitioned. 

The other class I observed was Doctrine.  The first 10 minutes of class was silently reading the Bible. Can you imagine?!!! Then the rest of the period was spent discussing the doctrine of the Trinity. They read through the Augsburg Confession and sited the proof passages of Scripture related to this. They learned what a Fundamental Doctrine was.  This was serious business. 

That afternoon was the Pep Rally which in years past I've watched the Livestream of from home. It was great to be there in person and to watch the silliness (and line dancing) from the stands. 

The football game was amazing! It was a beautiful, hot day and the evening cooled just slightly. The sights, sounds, and smells all brought back so many memories of my own time at MLPS. The Phoenix didn't win that night but they played a good game to be proud of. 

I went back to campus on Sunday so that I could attend church service with Will. I'm impressed with how much they incorporate the musical skills of the students in their worship. They are truly equipping the next generation of church goers to use their God-given gifts to His glory!

Afterwards we went out for lunch, did some shopping, got his hair cut at the local Chop Cutters (haha), and found a coffee shop to sit down at with our iced coffees and played the game of Life app on my phone for an hour. We did nothing spectacular or exciting but just being together was enough. I bought him a Jimmy John's sub, dropped him off at the school, and we said our goodbye's until November. 

Are you starting to understand why I was a blubbering mess?

What really surprised me about the weekend was reconnecting with some friends from my past and the common thread through those short moments of catching up. The interactions that I was most affected by came from friends I knew in a variety of ways:

Prep days (friends since 14, watched each get married, have families, become pastor's wives)

Seminary days (our husbands attended at the same time, we were "Sem Gems", we also became mamas to boys during those years)

Grafton days (last year of Sem, attended same church, fellow hairdresser, spiritual mentor)

Canada connection (among MANY other interwoven WELS connections)

I don't see these people often and I sometimes don't hear from them in years. Maybe it's even just a Christmas card and picture. Maybe Facebook.

In each of these moments with my friends it was like picking up where we left off. We had no time to waste with platitudes and discussion about the weather (although it was seriously warm!).  There was this baring of souls; This is what's hard in my life. These are my struggles and these are my joys. God is good. Great is His faithfulness! 

It wasn't complaining or whoa is me ... it was being real and honest about the struggles on this side of heaven. It was the body of Christ sharing in our constant wrestling of the old and new man that lives in each of us. It was opportunities taken to share something real with a sister in Christ so that I can better pray for you and you can better pray for me. It was humbling to have such intelligent, beautifully diverse, godly women be so open to sharing all this with me. And it was comforting to know that I have friends all over that are cheering me on too. 

Would if we lived our lives this way as Christian brothers and sisters? Why do we protect ourselves by keeping our hurt so close and our burden so heavy? Why do we believe in Christ but fear the body of Christ? 
This weekend in Wisconsin reminded me what a gift we are to each other. 
Keeping in touch doesn't have to be regular or routine but keeping it real when we do connect can be a relief and repose. 

Finally, I'm so very thankful to my BIL and SIL who are always so agreeable to opening their home to me/us/passerbys. I appreciated that Steph still made time to hang out with me even while battling a cold while teaching and going to school. I was also included in the "meet the parents" dinner of the first Halldo grandchild to almost be engaged. It's an occasion in the midwest that can only be accompanied by an old fashioned (says the crazy auntie from Canada).

After the meet the parents dinner in Milwaukee, we made an evening stop at Wisconsin Lutheran College where two of my nieces and my sister-in-law go to school. I'm loving this statue of The Servant - Jesus washing his disciple's feet. 

Jesus did that perfectly as He came not to be served but to serve and to give His life as a ransom for many. Matthew 20:28. That righteousness and perfection is now ours through faith. We are now free to serve others in our lives, roles, vocations and jobs whatever they may be! Kinda puts things into perspective, huh?! 

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Back to the Future/Back to School

Ya'll. I can hardly stand it. My mama dreams are coming true!!! I'm actually being allowed to follow my teenage son around school for a whole day! I'm flying to Wisconsin to spend Homecoming weekend and Parent's Day with Will. On Friday I get to go to all his classes with him. Then I actually get to go to the pep rally instead of watching it on Livestream. Then I get to be at the football game and cheer the Phoenix on to victory (or whatever)! I'll be walking him out during halftime. I might just hyperventilate from excitement:) 

But meanwhile, life has been happening at warp speed. I wanted to make sure I posted these picture before a month had passed and it just was weird. So... last week Z did another two night stay at Upper Canada Village with a group of homeschoolers. For 48 hours she lived life in 1866. She wore the dress, she sewed, baked biscuits over a fire, carded wool, fed the animals, milked the cow, picked vegetables in the garden and shelled beans. They played games, sang songs and swung on the rope swing. 

Such a neat experience! We're so grateful she was able to do it for a second year and spend it with such a great group of friends. 

Finally, last week I finished Whole 30. It really was a practice in self-control. I know I was getting pretty crabby there especially at the end. The final weekend ended up like a final exam and a push to the end! We had company stay with us first of all. I had to figure out how to serve several meals that appeared normal and didn't make me look weird (weirder than usual, thanks). I always serve my overnight guests homemade waffles during their stay. Not wanting to shortchange this nice couple I did. And then I watched them eat it. 
That weekend I was also attending a conference for woman at church. It was catered. They had the baker from Bridgehead come in and make all the scones fresh that morning. There was cheese. It was a nightmare.
For lunch when everyone else ate their catered sandwiches, I reheated last night's leftovers. My BBQ meatballs with cabbage slaw were good and everything but it was when they ate pie that I wanted to cry. 
But I did survive!! I felt great, gave me a real sense of accomplishment, and for a brief time anyway have shed those annoying "snacking" pounds. Rest assured that my first day back to normal included pastry;) 

Z  holds up a very long zucchini noodle

God At Work

I haven't talked much about a particular vocation I have. I'm sometimes embarrassed about it. It can seem so shallow. Yet God continues to humble, bless, and provide for me and my family through this vocation. The timing of it is what I can only describe as God-directed. The people that it brings into my life are precious blessings that I am honoured to serve. The financial benefit it has provided has been ... just. enough. The joy and challenge it gives me is awesome. 

I'm a hairdresser. Hairstylist. Beauty operator (going old school there). I cut, colour, highlight, perm (if you really wanted me to which I doubt you do), and style other peoples' hair. 
I offer a service: hair grows, I cut it. We usually seem to want what we don't have so: curly? straighten it. Grey hair? cover it up. got mousy brown? I can fix that. Wanna look like Angelina Jolie? there's only so much I can do;)

Up until recently I didn't have a lot of time or space for this vocation of mine I was trained for when I was 19 years old. It went on the back burner once I got married and we moved quite a bit in those early years. I had kids and became at stay-at-home mom turned homeschooler. My hair vocation took a back seat (like, a way back seat in the old station wagons where the seat faced backwards). It was regulated to friends and family who were OK with sitting in my kitchen for haircuts and leaning face forward in my kitchen sink to wash their colour out.

Even in those days long ago when my kiddos were little, this bit of work I did was enough for to pay for the violin lessons I took up again as an adult- until it was time for Will to start lessons. They were also bartered in exchange for weekly French lessons for Will from a friend on leave from teaching while she stayed home with her young children.  I had a couple families where I would go into their homes and cut all the kids' hair so mom didn't have to take them into a shop and hope they'd behave.  I appreciated the friends that were comfortable enough to let me keep my practice up as I foiled their hair at a snails pace because I was slightly out of practice. I made sure to give them a good deal for their good natured humouring! 

I had maintained my Wisconsin license through this time. By that I mean I sent the licensing board of WI a check every two years or something to keep it active. But when they changed the laws and required continuing education within the state I lived too far away from I was motivated to look into my options. So about 7 (?) years ago I went through the process of earning my Ontario license. It was a pain, I studied, I paid money but I got it and now I pay them a check every year. 

Which brings us to the summer before Will went to high school. We were going to do it. We were finishing the basement of our home after saving up for this huge project and dream. We found a contractor we knew and felt very comfortable with who was a gem! We had an office for Wayne put in, an open area that's a TV/lounging space with a queen size futon that overnight guests to use, plenty of storage closets, a pantry, a small but complete bathroom, a cute laundry area and yes, a hair studio for me! Now I could get out of my kitchen (no more other people's hair in our food!). 

So Will's school. It ain't cheap. They're not giving away a private, Christian education with room and board. However it's highly subsidized by our church body and we have also benefited from eligible scholarships that have greatly helped the bottom line. My father-in-law was always passionate about Christian education - not just for his own kids/grandkids but for all Canadians. He helped numerous Canadian kids over the years who wanted to pursue a Christian education in the States through our church body. He was also extremely generous with his grandkids and always said he would "take care of it". That first year of high school he did. Wow! 

Then this dear man passed away unexpectedly. Unfortunately his intention to "take care of it" for the future was gone. I'll be honest and say that I panicked. At that same time the Canadian dollar plummeted! We needed Will to be there. We are a family who is very passionate about Christian education so much so that we homeschool through 8th grade since we have no other viable options here. Luther Prep is an extension of what we do in our home and offers what we can't at that level and time in life. 

For me to get an outside job seemed hard to do with me still teaching Hosanna at home. I was not anxious to give away the freedom of schedule to make visits to see him and family back in Wisconsin. But here I had a salon space ready to go, a few clients I'd had over the years, and a God who knew our needs. 

I can't really explain it. They've come. They've sat in my chair and allowed me into their lives. They've let me comb the tangles out of their hair! They share their stories and ask about mine. We've laughed and sometimes cried. 

I get to fix hair for prom. I give first hair cuts and pose for pictures that'll be in the baby book. I snap off ruler lengths of hair that will be donated to charity. I coloured a teenagers hair red, then mermaid colours, then green. I get to do the back to school cuts, the getting ready for Christmas cuts, and little boy cuts that take all their will power to sit still. I cut men's hair and try to be suave in cutting their wiry eyelashes as to not embarrass them. I get to share in the few hours of respite a young mother gets so she can do something for herself. Long time friends sit in my chair and new friends too.  I shaved off the remaining hair of a cancer patient. I cried when she sent me a thank you. 

I'm not booked solid or rolling in the dough. All I can say is that it's enough. It's busy enough to fit into all my other vocations and duties. It provides enough extra income to just cover the tuition bills. I mean it. When it happened the first time I thought it was a fluke. We pay two instalments over the course of the school year so it gives me time to build up in between. But when it happened again, and again, and again? Ok. I get it. Thank you, Lord! Will plans on attending MLC next year to pursue the pastoral ministry. Tuition will be twice as much then and I wonder how that will work. I look forward to seeing what God has planned! 

Like the other vocations I hold this too has opened more ways for me to serve my neighbour, use my gifts and help my family. In turn it has blessed me with relationships, satisfaction in a job well done, and a creative outlet. 

I love my space in my little corner of the world. It's just how I like it. I have no commute, people come to me. I walk down the basement stairs with my favourite oversized Canada mug filled with tea, turn on the lights and find the Spotify station I want to listen to. I put my styling apron over my head and tie the strands around my waist. They come and I serve, I create and I share in my vocation. God at work. 

Whole 30 Halfway

I hesitate to write this because I really don't know if anyone cares or not. But I've decided to because it's consuming my life right now and like anything consuming it helps to talk about. 

Today is day 15 of Whole 30. I'm halfway done! 

If you don't know about Whole 30 I encourage you to check out their website. It's not a diet as we know it but a 30 day eating challenge. I've been motivated to do it for the following reasons:

• After a summer of saying yes to pretty much everything, (remember my German schnitzel and bier diet of late spring?) and a summer of multiple batches of no churn homemade ice cream, and most recently my Wisconsin trip where I thoroughly enjoyed myself and ate/drank what I felt like I decided to say no for 30 days. For me a little self-control after a time of self-indulgence may not be a bad thing. My body and soul could use a little challenge!
• I think I eat pretty well. As the meal planner and preparer I try to include all the food groups in their proper portions. Could I do better? Probably. Let's see how ...
• More and more people I know are becoming gluten free not always by choice but necessity.  And it freaks me out when I have them over for a meal because what does that even mean?!!! What's left to eat after you take out bread products? There's gluten even in canned soup!!! Being forced to live without said products opens my eyes to other ways of cooking, other foods to prepare and ways to do it. 
• I could use some new habits. I'm not getting any younger and the old habits will start to catch up with me faster as I age. Look - I know I'm aging and that's fine. But what's not fine for me is giving up and letting things spread and fall (I won't go into any more details - you get the gist). Maybe starting each day with an English muffin of one side peanut butter and the other Cheez-whiz is not the best habit. Hey - you can't change what you don't acknowledge. 
• I'm curious. Weird, unexplained things happen to my body all the time. Will they go away or improve during the 30 days? Will I notice a difference in my energy level, overall health, or my sinuses? I won't know unless I try. 

I researched this concept for months. I asked around and talked with those that had done it. I scoped out some recipes and meal plans on Pinterest. I checked out cookbooks from the library. I trolled stores wherever I was and slowly picked up one thing here and one thing there as I came across them. Some items are hard to find in my area so picking them up ahead of time down south was handy. I printed the list off of "common additives cheat sheet" from the Whole 30 website so I could start familiarizing myself with what to look for to avoid. I even introduced my family to a few recipes like substituting rice for cauliflower rice. 

After my trip to Wisconsin I was ready to start - after the Saturday day-long 50th birthday party of a friend that is. I made sure to appreciate the birthday cupcakes and cake, beer and wine, cheese and crackers, and everything else that would be off limits for the next 30 days. 

And now that I'm halfway done, what have I learned so far?

• I can start new habits. My favourite breakfast has been replaced with chia seed/coconut milk pudding with berries and toasted almonds on top. 
• Homemade mayo is way better than Hellmans. I will never go back. Homemade salad dressing is way better than anything from the store. Both take literally a few minutes to assemble ingredients and whirl in the blender. No, they won't keep in my refrigerator for 4 months but is that what I really want? Um, no.
• I don't need bread to get a sandwich in my mouth. I can put egg salad, tuna, or chicken salad in a scooped out cucumber or pepper and that's a tasty meal, my friend!
• Pasta's over rated. Don't get me wrong - in two weeks you'll be able to find me at my favourite Italian restaurant eating a plate of veal marsala with a side of their tomato spaghetti and a glass of wine. But at home I can make noodles out of zucchini with my handy dandy little spiralizer and it's some yummy stuff. I don't miss the heavy pasta and I don't feel gross afterwards. 
• I can make some really good food that's gluten free and worthy of having guests over. 
• Forcing myself to try new recipes has also inspired my own creativity to come up with my own. That's the key to continuing good habits going forward. 
• It's worth reading the labels. I can't believe the crap they put in stuff. Also worth noting ... there's no labels to read if I'm using whole foods. 

A couple items that have helped me be successful so far:

• The Well Fed cookbooks   Her method of having a mini-cook up day at the beginning of each week saves me a ton of time day to day. 
• La Croix water - I'm pretty sure I've got 6 different flavours right now. Hard to get around here and expensive when you do so I stocked up this last trip. Totally worth it but kinda sad when it's "wine time" and I crack a water instead. 
• Bone broth that's Whole 30 compliant. Yes, I could make my own but the idea exhausted me so when Costco had it for a short time? I knew I could do this! 
• Sunflower butter - who needs peanut butter anymore?
• Coconut aminos - never heard of it before. Thank goodness I can get it across the street!!
• Larabars that are Whole 30 compliant. Dang those things are good! I always carry one in my purse just in case. My favourite is Coconut Cream and Apple Pie. Although I haven't tried Lemon Pie yet ... 
• Our local Farmer's Market. A great place to be inspired by good food! What a great time of year to start new habits of eating more vegetables. 

Final thoughts:

• It's hard. But it's only 30 days. 
• It takes a lot of time and planning. But now that I'm up to preparing for week 3, it's getting easier and more streamlined.
• My family has humoured me but is not doing it with me. So when they grated cheese for the pork carnitas at lunch I may have wanted to rip their eyes out. But just for a second;)
• I have had nightmares not of the struggle but of eating something I shouldn't have and then dealing with the now what?! I am NOT starting over again! 
• I really want a cinnamon roll. Just saying.  

Wisconsin Summer

 The kids and I headed to Wisconsin the end of July. It was that time of year to take Will back to school in time for football camp. 

The longer I'm away from the Dairyland, the more I appreciate it.  And with Will going to school there and my parents, grandparents, and WI Halldorson's calling it home, we always end up there eventually! Or several times a year as the case may be.

My parents live just north of Minoqua, a popular tourist destination for lake lovers and cabin renters/owners. The town gets pretty crazy busy this time of year but their home stays nice and quiet sitting on the end of a chain of lakes. The traffic we watch from the fire pit are the boats and canoes that dock across the way on an island that offers free camping - first come, first served. 

We enjoyed the weekend before I had to take Will down to school. We had beautiful weather and were able to take a ride in the pontoon, had lunch out on the lake, and dragged the kids on the inter tube! 

 We had our traditional (weather permitting) fire pit supper of hotdogs, chips and Oma's special dip (which is really just French Onion Soup mixed with sour cream but Z thinks it gourmet), and smores for dessert (with marshmallows I brought from Loblaws that were maple flavoured). 

We worshipped together on Sunday morning in Tomahawk at a park for the closing service of their VBS. Afterwards was a big potluck mid-western style: brats, hamburgers, hotdogs, grilled chicken, tons of various salads, a cooler full of boiled corn, smoked salmon (Will was in heaven), fresh fruit, and a ton of dessert! 

Later in the day we were at another park for their "Music in the Park". We got lots of use out of the folding chairs that day! It was fun to listen to a live band and eat crackers with spreadable cheese;) 

My parents prepared for my arrival by making sure they were well stocked with wine.

It's funny because I'm not a big drinker but I admit to enjoying a good glass of wine. You'd think by the looks of it I had a serious problem!

Will and I drove down to Watertown and moved him into the dorm. LPS was hosting Synod Convention and the parking was ridiculous. I was hoping someone would get bored and leave so I could take their space but apparently it was riveting because I never found one. 

I stayed two nights at Jeff and Steph's in an effort to delay saying goodbye to Will by a day - and to actually go to dinner with Steph which I don't think we've done by ourselves for years! I really enjoyed catching up briefly with my nieces and visiting with family. 

It never gets easier saying goodbye to Will. It stinks. Some people complain about their teenagers but mine is charming, witty, caring, thoughtful, and does the dishes without me asking. True, he has his moments and he can't seem to change the toilet paper roll on his own but any possible wife in the future can deal with that. I've picked my battles and if that one fell through the cracks I can deal with it!

Note: if Will ever tells you we let him have two mugs of beer - this is the mug that was used. And it was used to specifically drink "Luther Bier" from Germany, which is certainly more acceptable than Pabst Blue Ribbon. 

Other highlights/memories from our Wisconsin Summer:

Fish fry/ whiskey old-fashioned (or is it brandy? My dad orders for me)
My sweet Grandparents having us for spaghetti dinner and cards
Hand and Foot and the women taking it at the end!
Just me and my kiddos
Will helping to drive the 16 hours
Taking Will to LPS for the fourth and final time (insert cry)
Feeling like Sue Heck. Story of my life:)
Lularoe Love and 40% off. Legging are back, baby.
LaCroix - lots of it
14 Hands - lots of it
Evenings of Downton Abbey
Flea Markets and searching for my Fenton hobnail milk glass obsession

Worshipping Jesus outside in a park
Worshipping Jesus inside a big ole church with hundreds of people, a pipe organ, and a 28 page bulletin
A new, white toilet (don't ask - toilets seem to plague our family)
Wandering Wausau with Will
Breakfast at the Island Cafe in Minoqua - their greek omelettes are the best!
Phone calls and texts from my hubby
Texts from my boy
Target stop in Marquette, Michigan - both ways
Zanna's Nancy Drew and Hardy Boys obsession
Just the girls and the long trip home

Listening to Jane Eyre for approximately 35 hours (give or take) - now my inner monologue is spoken in a British accent. Highly recommend Librovox version 2 - she does all the accents and characters. 
Rhinelander shopping 
Going through the bank drive thru to use the sucky thingy (only in the US!) Where's our suckers?!!!! 

Zanna catches a big fish and we eat it for breakfast.

Nothing like a Wisconsin Summer! 

Canada Luv {15}0

Canada may be celebrating her 150th this year, but for us it's been 15 years! July 2, 2002, we drove into Ottawa for the first time. Will was just over 2 (our ages started with a 2) and it was exciting, overwhelming, terrifying, relieving and wonderful to finally call a place home. Happy {15}0, Canada!