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vendredi, mars 24, 2006

A yucky discovery in our closet last night: MOLD growing on the carpet and wall! Two of my pairs of flip-flops tucked in the corner for coming summer weather were rendered toss-worthy only! They were taken over by the mold- eewww!!

Jer and I have both had a stuffy, runny nose and sore throat perpetually for the last couple of months. This could explain why we haven't been able to get over it! It's been in the air in our room- eewww again!

Jer bleached the area and hopefully that will kill it for now, but there is obviously a nasty leak from outside. Our storage room underneath this closet has also been leaking and getting our belongings wet. Hmmm. What to do?

We have looked around at real estate- considering our options for the Fall, once our debt is paid up. But with the way the market is currently set, it just doesn't seem feasable for us to buy a bigger home just now- "bigger" refering to larger than a two bedroom townhouse. It's kinda discouraging, but we continue to trust that He who owns a the cattle on a thousand hills is our Abba Father. He will never withhold what we need in this life. We don't, essentially, need more than what we have right now- mold and all! We are very blessed, and extremely thankful for our current situation.

Posted by Jeremy J Harnett :: 8:36 a.m. :: 0 comments

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mercredi, mars 22, 2006

Adventure Walkin'

This week and next I am not day-caring Bridgette. It sure has been fun just to hang out with m'boys! There is definately more freedom in toting two kids around town in a buggy, as opposed to three! And the weather these past few weeks has been warm and sunny and wonderful to be out in.
We went on a great long walk around town on Monday- a Date! Zach had been asking that we go on "a date" sometime. So, at 9:30am we packed our day-bag and took off for an undetermined time and only a couple planned destinations. First stop took us to see some ducks at the creek:










After coaxing and then chasing the ducks, we headed further on our adventure walk. Our stops included "Quality Greens", my favorite local produce shop. After that, MTF to see what kind of discounted treasures awaited us there; I bought a small bottle of Nesquick drink mix- a treat I've never bought in my life!! (Zach, for the record, after trying chocolate milk, prefered the good old "straight up" white.)
After returning to MTF to give back the toy car Zach had snuck out without paying for, we carried on hoofing it to the bank to exchange cash for rolls of quarters- laundry day would be upon me before I knew it!
One destination I had planned on was the Golden Arches! Yes, I took my boys to McD's. It's the only restaurant in town with a PlayPlace, and so Zach, Ben and I split a burger and fries. A little goes a long way when you've packed snacks and drinks from home to suppliment!
After nearly an hour at the PlayPlace, and meeting new friends there (a Christian family with three little ones, and a nine year old girl who "babysat" Ben) we were ready to move on. We walked over to the main Mall- Orchard Park- and popped in to visit Grandma working at Chleo's. The store next door is a maternity store and, after trying on a few garments, I purchased myself a pair of slacks which transform into capri's, and a t-shirt on sale! (This was afforded outside of the budget due to a personal sale -of some of my Usborne books- which I made earlier in the week.) The boys were fairly patient during my clothing spree, but were eager to get out of the buggy and move on.
After another potty break, Zach found himself face to face with another opportunity for fun!

(*Here there is supposed to be a fun little photo of the boys riding a loonie horse together, but our computer is once again giving me grief!)

We stopped by the Marble Slab Creamery for a special treat. Zach got to choose a flavour of icecream and a mixin', which they smush into your icecream right in front of you... on a marble slab. Zach had bubblegum icecream with gummy bears smushed in, and I chose Keylime icecream with fresh strawberries smushed in. Ben puked after eagerly "schmeking" too much of both kinds! (oops on my part!)
The mall also has a playroom which we enjoyed for a little while while I sipped a cup of Cherry Hill coffee- local, fair trade coffee company.
The boys were getting pretty pooped by this time, as was I. But we still had a long walk home and a few other stops to make before we had nap time.
We buckled in to our faithful little buggy and off we went. On the way we spotted a couple of "wild" bunnies on the side of the highway. They are rampant here- in the middle of town!! (no photo; Zach was too eager to chase them to pose for a shot!)
Next stop Babies R Us to buy a little baby shower gift in the color pink! Then a scrap-booking store to buy a few sheets of card-stock for Ben's album I'm still working on. Then the Bread shop for loaves and loaves of "near expiry" toast bread. (I purchase 10 bags of miscellaneous bread bags for 7 dollars, and then I stock my deep freeze for a month!)
And then... I think we headed home at that point. We walked in our door at a quarter to 4pm, just shortly before Daddy arrived home from work. Yes, we were out-and-about for six hours or more! What a walk! Then it was time to unwind with Daddy, eat supper and off to bed!

(*And here, once again, I had planned to place a great shot of Jer cuddling with the boys as they sipped their milk and watched the evening news together. Dumb computer!)

And so ends my ramble for today!

Posted by Jeremy J Harnett :: 2:22 p.m. :: 1 comments

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vendredi, mars 17, 2006

Preggy Friends!

My friend Kendra is due any day now, and I still have... a long ways to go.
It's alot more surreal with the first one (Kendra and Kevin are on their first), but by the third child, it is no less miraculous, but not nearly as ... thought-consuming! I'm quite distracted by the first two miracles. Oh JOYS!!

Posted by Jeremy J Harnett :: 1:06 p.m. :: 0 comments

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mercredi, mars 15, 2006

Encouraging Lyrics of Late

There's more that rises in the morning than the sun
More that shines in the night than just the moon
There's more than just this fire here that keeps me warm
In a shelter that is larger than this room
There's a loyalty that's deeper than mere sentiment
A music heigher than the songs that I can sing
The stuff of earth competes for the allegiance I owe only to the Giver
Of all good things

So if I stand let me stand on the promise that You will pull me through
And if I can't let me fall on the grace that first brought me to You
If I sing let me sing for the joy that has born in me these songs
But if I weep let it be as a man who is longing for his home

There's more that dances on the prairies than the wind
More that pulses in the ocean than the tide
There's a love that is fiercer than the love between friends
More gentle than a mother's when her baby's at her side

~Rich Mullins

Posted by Jeremy J Harnett :: 3:20 p.m. :: 1 comments

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mercredi, mars 08, 2006

WARNING: Construction Zone! (or should I say, "re-creating" zone!)

My character is always "under construction". If it's not fighting for fruit of the Spirit to be evidenced in me, then it's wondering if I've shared too much with someone- or, in my vulnerability, resulted in boasting somehow. (my tongue, indeed, can get ahead of me sometimes). My self-analyzing doesn't seem to end.
Is this normal?
Is this right?
Are we meant to be constantly aware of our weaknesses, flaws and "issues"?

I suppose, perhaps one day- if God so chooses- I will feel like I've come to some maturity. I'm sure I've come some short distance already in the last 27 years. but I also suppose that, until I reach glory, hopefully at a ripe old age, I will always feel less than perfect and full of flaws.

To this I humbly choose to "raise my glass" and say, "To God, Who uses chipped and leaking vessels, and foot-in-mouth pilgrims! Cheers!"


My Five Pledge Statement of Faith

1) I believe that God is Who He says He is.
2) I believe that God can do what He says He can do.
3) I believe I am who God says I am.
4) I can do all things through Christ Who strengthens me.
5) God's Word is alive and active in me.

(Taken from the Beth Moore study "Believing God", which the women of Kelowna First Baptist- that is, our church- are thoroughly enjoying and being challenged by.)

Posted by Jeremy J Harnett :: 3:07 p.m. :: 3 comments

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mardi, mars 07, 2006

Some Fun (funny) sights around our home!

Gotta wear shades!!

The boys devouring their wonderful books!!


Signs of Spring in the boys' room!! How exciting!!







Hangin' out in the Supermarkt!
Anyone got a good caption for Noah in his new wheels?

Posted by Jeremy J Harnett :: 6:59 a.m. :: 2 comments

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samedi, mars 04, 2006

I Must Say...

I must say I am married to an amazing women! I love you Tanya! Because of who you are and how all of you is expressed in all that you do. I am amazed!

Posted by Jeremy J Harnett :: 6:13 p.m. :: 0 comments

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---------------oOo--------------- Keeping the juices flowing...!

I've been trying to keep the boys occupied and interested in all sorts of activities and crafts. Here are some ideas for you other moms:

Now, obviously you're not all going to have access to an accordian, but whatever instruments you can get your hands on (or make) will help your kids with coordination skills, rythme and developing an ear for music. Zach and I also made a drum set (no photo) by duct taping an icecream bucket, a couple of yogurt containers, and some cereal boxes together, and he whacks on it with a spatula or chop-stix. We made "tamborines" (shakers) by gluing two paper plates together and filling it with lentils or beans. The plates are fun to decorate before you stick them together!
Then, Zach's Spiderman fascination has developed into an interest in spiders. We made these little critters from egg-carton cups and construction paper. I tied them to a string, and Zach's been making puppet shows for us.

For mealtime he's been asking what spiders eat, so we made some wiener bugs, with carrot-stick legs and antennea. We also made beatles with dates and pretzle legs. Zach gobbled those up without using his hands.
Play dough is always a good one to fall back on. I have made several batches- some for continual play, and some for one time "make-and-bake". This photo here is of a puzzle I made for Zach out of play-dough. It's tough, yet flexes a bit. The shapes are numbered also, to help him learn to count and match etc.
Ogo-pogo is our Kelowna maskot, or something like that. So, Zach and I made one to glide in and out of the table.
We've also made cookie dough, and used the cookie cutters to make edible crafts!
This hand is a trace of my own, and I sent it to work with Jer on Valentines Day. The kids also chose who they wanted to give a plate of cookies to.






Blanket forts and "circus tents" are a hit to unwind in. I hand the kids some books and snacks and they think they're in another world!

There you go. Just some of the ideas we at the Harnett home have tried to keep the creative juices flowing!

Have a good day!

Posted by Jeremy J Harnett :: 8:54 a.m. :: 4 comments

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mercredi, mars 01, 2006

Catching up on our lives...

It's "CURTAINS" for me...
I purchased some fabrics a couple of weeks ago, with the goal of sewing curtains for some of our many "unclad" windows. I'm happy to say this was one project that was not procrastinated on. The boys' room now has lovely blue gingham drapes, with room-darkening liner.
Our living room no longer lacks the coziness that drapery brings. This "funky" fabric was an excellent find, though I wasn't sure how well it would match our decor. They turned out to be a perfect combo to our earthy tones. They fall all the way to the floor and "puddle", as it's called, in a bunch behind the couch. I like that look, however, with the infrequentness of behind-furniture-vacuuming, I don't know that I want to be cleaning the drapes all that often!

CAST AWAY!
Jer has longed for some time now to try his hand at fly fishing. He's made a couple connections with other men who would teach him, mentor him and lend him some of their equipment for starters. On some Saturday afternoons Jeremy can be found at a near-by park practicing his hand at "casting".
Zachariah is facinated with the pole and the motion of casting. He loves to immitate his dad... in many ways.

Besides Daddy, Zach's other "hero" of late is SPIDERMAN. After having watched the movie with us, he has been swinging all over the house! The other day I helped Zach and Bridgette make masks of their favorite characters. Of course Z was Spiderman; B chose her favorite animal: a puppy!
















TEN AND A HALF MONTHS!

"Mommy, PLEASE cut this ear-tickling stuff off!!"
Benjamin got his first haircut the other night. Of course, as most moms understand, cutting a baby's hair is not as easy as 1-2-3. After grabbing at the scissors, holding his hair in tight fists, and squirming every which-way, I finally reduced Ben's "mullet" , "mohawk" and "old-man tufts" to a decent, clean-cut ... chop!

"Hey mom! Not bad. I like it!"

Posted by Jeremy J Harnett :: 7:51 a.m. :: 4 comments

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