and mortify me.

Yesterday I got a little lost down the blogosphere rabbit hole and ended up seeing the Nester was hosting a “it doesn’t have to be perfect to be beautiful” link party. Now, I’m not really a link party kind of girl, but I DO enjoy other people’s imperfections, so I decide to click a few links and read around. For serious?! I mean, the Nester specifically said not to post a gorgeous project or creation and just happen to use the word imperfection in the post and decide to show off. But apparently the majority of linkers couldn’t resist the opportunity to make all the REAL imperfect people feel lousy. The intent of the link party was to let us all feel a little better with the happy perspective that people and projects aren’t always as bright and shiny as they appear on screen, we’ve all got dirty laundry and not everything goes as planned. Nay nay! I didn’t leave feeling any sort of encouragement or relief, instead I was shown time and again that all these fancy bloggers mistakes turn out prettier and more polished than my best effort. Muchas Gracias, Nester and friends.

So I decided to bless you all with some real imperfections, the kind that will help you sleep the sleep of the self-satisfied “I’m at least better than she is” …

Meet: the cake bowl.

On Saturday we decided to make a cake and have a little post-valentines party with the kids since we were away for the real deal. We bought ice cream and I offered to make any cake of their choosing. There were cheers for another double decker cake, which consists of alternating layers of chocolate and white cake, all topped with cream cheese chocolate icing and strawberries. It’s ridiculous.
I was feeling a bit lazy however and didn’t want to make a homemade white cake (side note… does anyone know of an easy homemade white cake recipe? Like one that doesn’t call for 6 eggs and is as dense as a brick?), so instead I used a white cake mix and only made the chocolate cake from scratch.

Problem was, when I went to ice the cake and stack the 4 layers, the cake mix cake was too fluffy and had risen too tall, and the white cakes began breaking in chunks and no amount of icing was going to keep that 4 layer cake standing. It was getting uglier and uglier by the second, and did you know? I have a temper. Like – should have been born a red-head – kind of temper.

I grabbed a big butcher knife and began hacking that cake apart and throwing the pieces into a tupperware bowl. Then I emptied the icing bag onto the top and said, “WAAA-LAAA!” (no just kidding Debbie, I swear!) – and served it to my somewhat frightened family. Being Sodemans, they dug right in and we enjoyed our valentines cake in a bowl. Only problem is… now I’m stuck with a bowl full of cake leftovers that are too hideous to share with outsiders and too delicious to throw away. (did I mention the chocolate cream cheese icing?!)

So tonight found me confirming every suspicion that over weight equals no self control, as I stood alone in my kitchen at 9:00pm with my fridge door open, shovelling back that bowl cake straight from the bowl. The very picture of gluttony.

So there are 3 true imperfections for you… the inability to put together a pretty 4 layer cake, the inability to control my freaky short temper (back off when I am standing near the knife block), and the inability to stay away from the ugly cake. Oh and now I have one more to add… I cannot for the life of me cook a beef roast. I have been trying for 9 years, and CANNOT get it right. Could a meal be any simpler? Season, roast. Usually they are overcooked, tonight it was horrendously undercooked. As in, head wound bloody. (though in Ecuador that would be considered medium well.) Any Susie-homemaker types want to take me under your wing and teach me your secrets? I was at the point of despair tonight as I watched my family microwaving slices of bloody beef for dinner. I boycotted most of the meal (freaky temper, remember?) and just ate steamed cauliflower. Yum. Yum. No wonder I gorged on that ugly cake later.

And one more picture I that I think MAY actually fall under the “It doesn’t have to be perfect to be beautiful” category (though I’d never officially “link up” because I’m a blog snob that way)… Juno and I made art today!

We got out the watercolours and painted hearts all afternoon and it was cathartic and fun and she was most delighted with my work (I love her 3 year old tastes). So we framed this one in an old frame I had in the basement and for now it’s sitting on top of the painted dresser in the hall. I doubt it will stay for long, but for today it’s a happy reminder of the time we spent together.

And just for fun… some more thoughts on cake…

Greetings from the centre of the world!

After a full day of travelling yesterday (and making it to the Toronto airport in the nick of time), we arrived here in Ecuador around 11:30pm, got settled into our hotel rooms around 12:30. We are spending most of our time in the capital city, Quito, which we are told is the second highest capital city in the world (elevation is around 9000 above sea level). Thus leading to a teeny bit of altitude sickness… mostly just a dull headache, occasional rapid heartbeat, and a little bit of dizziness. I’m told this passes fairly quickly as long as we stay hydrated. Besides that though, wow! It feels great to be here!

This morning we were able to attend a morning church service at one of the local Compassion projects, and had a wonderful time of fellowship, teaching and worship. The pastor of that church is passionate about the Word of God and teaching the truth without apology (remind you of another church?). We were warmly welcomed and so enjoyed the morning with them. After the service we met on one of the project’s rooftops to meet the pastor and the project director and also a woman who heard and received the gospel through a child survival project (which is like an early intervention project that helps mothers with pre and post natal care up to age 3). So amazing to see the way Compassion helps equip the local church to influence and support the local community.

After that we took a little drive up onto a mountain overlooking the city so we could enjoy a very scenic lunch at a restaurant that serves both traditional Ecuadorian food and more North American fare. I have to shamefully admit that I chose a giant hamburger and a coke instead of the Ecuadorian options. We did have delicious plantain empanadas as an appetizer, and I loved them. But by the time we ate lunch (3-ish) I was so hungry I just wanted a meal I knew I could devour! We will have some more opportunities to sample more local dishes throughout the week though.

The valley that Quito sits in is incredible beautiful, with lush vegetation in the mountains all around. We can see snow capped mountains, and even an active volcano from where we are staying!

This afternoon we did a quick tour of the old town, including a tour through one of the most ornate churches I have ever seen. The carvings were so intricate, and all covered in gold- floor to cathedral ceiling. We weren’t allowed to take any pictures, which was a shame because it was beautiful! We also saw the president’s quarters and government buildings, and even the Ecuador version of the statue of liberty… I guess Ecuador was the first country in South America to cry for Independence, even though they were not the first country to achieve independence. Their voices started revolution in South America.

It’s been fun getting to know both the Compassion translators as well as all the other pastors. There are 34 of us in total! Pastors and their spouses from all over Canada have met here to experience Compassion in action… very cool. I feel a tiny bit bad for our translators and guides though… herding pastors seems to be much like herding cats (or Juno!)! Apparently leaders don’t always listen and follow directions well? lol Our dear guide has to keep sweetly asking, “will you listen to me please?”

Anyway… I need a quick rest before we meet for dinner, so I am going to sign off and hopefully be back later with some photos. Goodnight! Happy shovelling my London friends!

Just for fun and to fill in time while we are travelling…

This is what our house looked like 3 years ago:

And here is what it looks like now:

Crazy, eh?! I so wish I had pictures of what the inside used to look like too!

So…. the big trip is almost here! We are off to Ecuador with Compassion on Saturday! It’s sheer craziness how fast this winter is going, and that it’s time to get packed up for this adventure!

I had wanted to post so much more heading into this about Compassion, about why on earth WE are going, about Ecuador… but I guess much of this will have to be incorporated to the posts I hope to write while we are actually there. Which… fingers crossed, I will be posting from Ecuador. I’m trying to coax Jon into blogging for Sodemanland too while we are away, he is so much better at it than I am!

I was blessed by a dear former Compassion co-worker with the opportunity to view her pictures (stole one for this post!) from a 2009 training trip she went on in Ecuador. And now I’ve caught the fever… I can’t wait to be there meeting those sweet faces myself, and be reminded of how big the family of God is!

One interesting factoid I hadn’t realized: it rains a ridiculous amount there. I checked the weather today so I could begin to consider my wardrobe (so on the ball I am, eh?!) and discovered there is a fairly high chance of thunderstorms and precipitation every single day we are there. And the temps float between around 15-20 degrees. So… I’m still stumped on how to pack. Pants or skirts? Tees or sweaters? raincoat? Shoot…. I don’t have a raincoat. Perhaps Wal-mart tomorrow will be of service. Anyway…

I better get to it.

I’ll be posting again tonight or tomorrow with more information about Compassion, so be sure to come back!

So last week’s resolution was to attempt to follow the very old fashioned “Good Wife’s Guide”. I should have picked a calmer week for it though… we had company with us for a few days, 3 nights out in a row, followed by a weekend youth retreat that didn’t have us sharing quarters. But here is my report card anyway:

Have dinner ready. Plan ahead, even the night before, to have a delicious meal ready on time for his return. This is a way of letting him know that you have be thinking about him and are concerned about his needs. Most men are hungry when they get home and the prospect of a good meal is part of the warm welcome needed.
I think I did had dinner ready every night when he got home, and I tried a few new recipes that he liked. I give myself an A for this one.

Prepare yourself. Take 15 minutes to rest so you’ll be refreshed when he arrives. Touch up your make-up, put a ribbon in your hair and be fresh-looking. He has just been with a lot of work-weary people.
hmmm. No ribbon in my hair. And not entirely sure how fresh I looked every night, although I did put forward a bit more effort. I’d say this one was more of a B grade attempt.

Be a little gay and a little more interesting for him. His boring day may need a lift and one of your duties is to provide it.
I think I was more upbeat this week, despite still fighting a nasty cough/cold. I was definitely more interesting this weekend, though I’m not sure if he found this to be a positive thing.  B+ for this one.

Clear away the clutter. Make one last trip through the main part of the house just before your husband arrives. Run a dustcloth over the tables.
I didn’t do the dust cloth thing, but I did run around and pick up a bit before he came home each night.

During the cooler months of the year you should prepare and light a fire for him to unwind by. Your husband will feel he has reached a haven of rest and order, and it will give you a lift too. After all, catering to his comfort will provide you with immense personal satisfaction.
I did this!!!! Once. I tried a second time on a night we were going to be home together, but a good, lasting fire eluded me. Kindling shortage. I have to say that this truly did give me immense personal satisfaction… though I’m not sure if it was in providing a haven of rest and order or just satisfying the hidden pyro in me.

Minimize all noise. At the time of his arrival, eliminate all noise of the washer, dryer or vacuum. Encourage the children to be quiet.
haha. my children do not have a mute button.

Be happy to see him.
Always.

Greet him with a warm smile and show sincerity in your desire to please him.
I’m not the wife that runs to the door when he gets home (though YES I have read a million books that say I should), but I DID try to come to greet him with a hug and a smile this week, and I have to say that *I* enjoyed that. I don’t like the idea of bombarding him before he can even get his coat off and fighting the kids for his attention, but the hugs were very nice, so I might have to make this one more of a habit.

And… this is the part of the show where things get REALLY sexist. Please note that this is all in fun…

Listen to him. You may have a dozen important things to tell him, but the moment of his arrival is not the time. Let him talk first – remember, his topics of conversation are more important than yours.
I do try…. but my long, detailed, fascinating stories have been storing up for like 10 hours!!! I love to hear my husband talk, I wish I was a better listener so he would do more of it.

Don’t greet him with complaints and problems.
…

Don’t complain if he’s late for dinner or even if he stays out all night. Count this as minor compared to what he might have gone through at work.
Actually… I think this is one I do well on most of the time. Sexism aside… my husband is very respectful of our family time, so when he can’t be home or has to be late, I know this truly IS minor compared to what he might have gone through at work.

Make him comfortable. Have him lean back in a comfortable chair or lie him down in the bedroom. Have a cool or warm drink ready for him.
F

Arrange his pillow and offer to take off his shoes. Speak in a low, soothing and pleasant voice.
F (my voice was husky and low, but I wouldn’t call it soothing and pleasant, what with a hacking, phlegmy cough interrupting every few minutes . TMI? Just the truth peeps, just the truth.)

Don’t ask him questions about his actions or question his judgment or integrity. Remember, he is the master of the house and as such will always exercise his will with fairness and truthfulness. You have no right to question him.
Haha… pretty sure my Jon given nickname “Correcto” speaks to what grade I should get for this one….

A good wife always knows her place.
I might have gotten a passing grade for this one if it weren’t for this weekend. Unless my place is filling my husband’s bed with live crickets… in that case A++++++++

Boooooooo-YA. 30 or so hoppy little surprises, juuuuust for you.

I think I might need a do-over on this resolution.

But I sure do love my husband… as he would say… #BLESSED.

So last week of getting up and ready for the day before leaving my room at 7am was a success. I missed one day, and it was a terrible day… but I was/am sick, and this getting up and ready immediately certainly helped me with productivity while being sick. You just feel better when you aren’t in your jammies. (although I put on my jammies to feel better sometimes… maybe it’s unslept in jammies that make you feel better. So if I just changed into clean ones in the morning…) Or not. Anyway… this one was a winner. I’m going to keep it up, though perhaps be a bit more flexible on the time. If the kids are sleeping in past 6:30, it’s nice to have a few more minutes of quiet rest in bed for me too!

This week I have a new resolution, but I’m going to keep it to myself for the week and fill you in at the end… trying not to sabotage this one! It’s a bit retro, that’s all I will give you.

Rusty and I went tobogganing for the first time last week…

He loved it and when I got over my nerves (it’s been a long time and it’s hard to send your kid hurtling down a big hill!), it was great fun going down and watching him!

Anyway, just posting those because no post should really be devoid of pictures.

What I really wanted to blog about was this week’s “resolution”. I’m hoping this one carries on through the year, but my current goal is just 6 days this week (saturdays off). Every morning this week I will be setting my alarm for 6:30, with the goal that when I leave my room at 7:00 I will be totally dressed and ready for the day- hair done, make-up done- everything. I’ve found myself lounging lately for good chunks of the day in my pjs. If I am having a home day and cleaning or baking or whatever, I find it hard to get motivated to clean myself up. And yet I am SO much more productive if I am ready for the day, with the added bonus of not flying into a crazy panic if a new neighbour knocks on the door and I am not dressed for company (been there, done that). Plus it allows my dearest husband to not always have to look at a slovenly wife, can I get an amen, husband o’ mine?

The 6:30-7 time slot is nice because on days I am staying home it allows me some extra time to lay in bed and read the news on my phone. That is my favourite way to start the day (I know it should probably be my Bible, but that time of day doesn’t seem to provide the most fruitful quiet times for me). I like browsing the current events as I slowly wake up. I am not one of those that can spring out of bed when the alarm goes off… it’s more of a slow transition for this girl.

So anyway- that’s the plan for this week. Starting off slowly, don’t want to fizzle out on something big right away, got to build up to a bigger challenge!